by Alvirda D. Pah'or Hugging Jesus
The mighty Himalaya mountains seem to cast a shadow upon the Prem Sewa Hospital and the Emmanuel Church School in northern India which lies south of the mountains near a small market town called Utralla.
When I returned to India, I went with Dave Moser and a nurse, Pam Thomas. I joined them in Winston Salem, N.C. at the church my son Michael attends. The year before I had met Dave Moser at Michael's cell group. I was speaking about my coming trip to India. After speaking, Dave Moser asked me: "Would God send someone like me to India?" I said, "Yes, if He calls you." And He Did!
We arrived at the hospital and school in the early afternoon, after travelling for two long days. Next morning we had the pleasure of joining the hospital staff for their devotions. Dave, Pam and I would take turns leading devotions for the next two and a half weeks. After that Dave and I would do a Puppet Show for the five hundred plus children, then Dave would teach Math, English and Baseball. The children especially liked Baseball . They had never played it before! I would teach Bible, and Pam joined the nurses going to the seven villages around the compound tending to the sick people.
The parents of the children, being Hindu or Muslim, wanted their children to be educated, but found it difficult to have their children taught about Jesus Christ. So they said to them, when they teach you about Jesus, don't listen to them!
One of the lessons I taught the children was about hugs. I started out by telling them about my mother who was very ill and only had a short time to live. One morning she said to me, when I see Jesus I am going to give Him a big hug. I remember what she had said after she died. When I was praying, I said, I would like to hug You too Jesus. Then I thought, I can do that! I had asked Jesus to come into my life a long time ago. I put my arms around myself and hugged Him.
I asked the children, "Do you know what a hug is?" They answered, "No! We don't know what you mean by hug." I called one little girl up to the front and I knelt down in front of her and said," Now I am going to put my arms around you and you put your arms around me." She did. "Now I said, "Squeeze." And I squeezed her. A big smile lit up her face and soft brown eyes shone. Many others came up to hug too.
Just before class ended I asked the children to do something for me. When you go home I want you to hug your mom and dad and tell me what they say to you about the hug and tomorrow I want you to tell the class. The next morning the children came in with big smiles on their faces. Many came up and told me what their parents said. Some parents said, that was nice, some said, thank you, and others said that was good. I had already told the children the Gospel, and how Jesus wanted to come into their lives, and now I said for those of you that have asked Jesus to come into your life, would you like to hug Him? If so, put your arms around yourself and give Him a big hug. Many of them did just that with big smiles on their faces.
The parents with babies and children brought them to Jesus so that He might touch them, and when the disciples noticed it, they rebuked and reproved the parents. But when Jesus saw it, He was indignant and pained and said to them, "Allow the children to come to Me, do not forbid or prevent or hinder them, for such is the Kingdom of God. Then He took them up one by one in His arms fervently invoked a blessing, placing His hands upon them. (Matt.19:13-15; Mark 10:13-14; Luke 18:15-17. Amplified.)
Alvirda Pah'or is a traveling Christian evangelist, bible teacher, and founder of Choose Life Ministries (1980). [Deuteronomy 30:19,20A]. Her work frequently takes her on extended travels to India, England, Ireland, Scotland, and many parts of the U.S.
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