Ministry in Slum neighborhoods around the CBS campus from our Jan. - Feb. 2008 India trip.

ONE STEP INTERNATIONAL exists to:

• transform cultures with the knowledge of Christ
• network resources and skills
• mobilize Christ-centered believers
• provide training and assistance to unreached tribal peoples in restricted areas of the world

Earlier this year we completed a five week ministry outreach to India and Nepal. My daughter, Rachel, and I partnered with five national organizations,   and each location offered numerous ministry opportunities. Some of our memorable ministry moments were built during our stay at the Calcutta Bible Seminary. While at CBS, we visited in area slums of Calcutta, the Hindu temple of the goddess, Kali, Mother Teresa's Home for the Dying and Destitute, the Sundarban Islands, and we participated in children's, medical, and adult literacy programs.

Ruthie with a few girls from the Calcutta Bible Seminary's tutoring program.

Our first outreach from CBS was on Namkhana Island in the Sundarban Islands. We visited a local church service in the morning, met with area pastors, prayed over recently purchased land, and conducted two evening Bengali village programs.

The first program of the evening was at a remote fishing village, and the people were a bit shy as we walked through the paths to the program site, since we were the first light-skinned people many of them had even seen.

Rachel and her new little sister, Khuzbu. She lives in an open booth at the local market.

However, after a few songs and testimonies (with an interpreter, of course!) they warmed up to us and presented us with flowers and performed traditional dances for us. They also followed us as we had prayer, tea and fellowship in a few local homes before heading to our second  program of the evening.

Passing out treats at the close of Tuesday's children's program.

At our second program, we were again welcomed with flowers and traditional dancing. We gave a brief testimony and we showed a Billy Graham film "Asha" in the Bengali language. We were served tea and biscuits , then we headed to a local guest house, where Rachel and I immediately "crashed". We had not slept the night before, since we had just arrived from Orissa at 11:55 p.m. the evening before (and we left at 5:15 am for the Island ministry trip). We had been given grace and strength for the full day of ministry!

Adult Education Program, teaching local residents to read in Bengali and English.

After staying at a local guest house for the night, we returned to Calcutta on Monday evening (after a stop at DOMINO'S PIZZA!). Tuesday we participated in the after school children's program with approximately 200-250 local children, singing, sharing testimonies, and the children recited MANY Scripture verses.

Later that evening, we hosted the seminary girls in our guest house for fellowship, worship and testimonies! Rachel was able to share some worship songs and what God is doing in her life.

We thank all of you for your support in prayer- we have thankfully completed the INDIA- NEPAL 2008 Project, with many exciting friends and ministries to remember in prayer in Pune, Orissa, Guwahati, Siliguri, and  Nepal!! Stay tuned...

His for the Nations,

Ruthie and Rachel