Erling Thu

I love the covenant community

We have been through a dramatic car accident in India and have just arrived back home in Norway one week after the serious event. We have been overwhelmed by the love and care from the covenant community in India and in Norway. We have had phone calls, SMS, emails, etc. from many of our covenant friends. It has been very moving to hear all the kind and encouraging words. Many covenant communities in India have been fasting and praying for us after hearing about the serious accident we met with.

Solveig sustained compression fracture

During our stay in Ongole Solveig's pain did not go away but rather increased. Therefore I ordered her to see an orthopaedic doctor and to have some X-rays. Then the doctor discovered that she had sustained compression fracture of body of first lumbar vertebra in the serious car accident we met with. She was advised not to sit for prolonged periods.She needs to take complete rest for 4-6 weeks. She was further advised to travel in laying down position. It may take three months time for her recovery.

The goodnes of God

Our dear covenant friend Zephry D'Souza, who travelled along with us, has written this report on what happened to us in the car accident. He also shares some very encouraging insight in how God caused people to pray for us to protect our lives.

This is his report:

God has saved our lives - once again!

Our journey in India has come to a halt. Some days ago we met with a serious car accident. God miraculously saved our lives. Together with our dear covenant friend Zephry D’Souza we were on the way to Ongole. We had just left Warangal. We travelled in an Innova taxi which is a very good, safe and comfortable car for long journeys. The estimated time to reach was six hours. The road from Warangal was very good and the driver was a fast driver, - to my delight.

Being ministered to by a poor lady

While we were visiting Kalimpong we had a most remarkable experience during the last day of the leadership seminar we attended. We were being ministered to by a poor lady in a way I have never experienced before. We had just had a wonderful time worshipping the Living God. The teaching seminar was about to start and the convener was handing the meeting over to the teacher. Then an old poor lady came to the front. She told us that God had spoken to her and told her to do a prophetic act by buying seven honouring scarves to bring to this morning gathering. Instantly she obeyed the voice of God and here she was with a packet in her hands. The leader allowed her to proceed.

A time of prayer and prophecy

Today we spent time with leaders of covenant communities spread out in many places of Nepal. First we had a blessed time in dialogue with one another from some part of the Scripture.As we looked at what the Bible really is saying we found some precious truths and deep insight. But the highlight of the day was the time we spent in praying together, waiting on the Lord, and bringing the word of the Lord to people and situation. Zephry, Solveig and myself were able to bring clear direction by the Spirit of Prophecy. I love these moments when the Prophetic Spirit is moving powerfully among us and the Body functions as it was supposed to do. We have had some very good reports of what God is doing in Nepal while we have been here, but today as we were praying and prophesying we felt we were in the middle of the move of God in this nation. A time of prayer and prophecy is a time in the dynamic move of the Spirit of God.

The Kingdom of God is advancing in Nepal

During our time in Kathmandu we have many leaders from covenant communities in several places of Nepal. They have one thing in common in what they share with us. They all tell of people coming to Christ and they all tell of miracles taking place. New covenant communities are being started and unreached people are being reached with the good news of the Kingdom of God.

Satal was brought back to life

Today I met Satal for the second time. We met first time in February. He comes from a remote place in Nepal called Jumla. Last time we met I gave him my book “Finding Your Place” in Nepali. He was very much blessed by reading the book and what he learnt helped him a lot in his walk with God. Ever since he read the book he was asking God to show him the place God wanted him. Four times a thief broke into his house and stole things from him, and Satal asked God why this was happening to him. God told him who the thief was and that he should forgive him and even give him the only thing of worth that was left in the house, a cooking stove. He did as God told him and it became a powerful testimony to the people of that community.

Free WI-FI

I have just discovered that I have a free Wi-Fi connection at the airport in New Dehli. We are on the way to Kathmandu. We had a lot of problems checking in as the computers did not work. At last we came through. As I connected to the Internet and was able to read my emails boarding started! Therefore I have to leave. God is good!

Visiting Nepal

Our stay in Jaipur is coming to an end today. In the evening we will be on our way to Nepal. We have enjoyed our visit to Jaipur very much. We have been with great people and we have been together in the presence of God. We are looking forward being with the covenant community this morning. We always hear some great stories of the goodness and power of God at work in everyday life when we meet with the covenant community in Jaipur.

In Nepal we will visit Henry and some of his friends. Henry has just been visiting us in Norway and we look forward to see him again. Nepal is in a transition period of time and we need to pray a lot for the people of that nation. When I visited Nepal first time in 1971 I was told that there only was 500 followers of Jesus in the entire country. Today I am told there is 700.000 to 1000.000  believers. The Kingdom of God is certainly advancing!

I don't know when I will be able to connect to the Internet next, but I will stay in tune with the Holy Spirit. When we are connected to the Holy Spirit we may transcend many barriers.