Latest Updates for the Varghese Family in Bangladesh

jusvar
Oct 7, 2022
5 min read

Finally Here!

Bangla Blog Post #1

We are 5 weeks into our Bangladesh journey, but it is very evident the LORD has gone before us and prepared the way. The first line of the hymn “Day by Day” says our thoughts well. “Day by day, and with each passing moment, Strength I find to meet my trials here; Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment, I’ve no cause for worry or for fear. He whose heart is kind beyond all measure, Gives unto each day what He deems best.”

We should’ve sent this a while back, but we’re still new to this, so thanks for being gracious with us. If you want to know in great detail what we’ve been doing each week, keep reading and scrolling down. But if you want to be spared from a long read, I can give you the Cliffnotes version in this paragraph as well as our prayer requests!

Our first two weeks we spent in Dhaka (the capital city), and then travelled down to Chittagong for these past 3 weeks. Still trying to get used to how we sweat through our clothes just a minute after being out, and how every single second in traffic feels like a near death experience. As each day passes, we feel more and more of a confirmation of where God has called us to. We are seeing Him miraculously open doors, provide opportunities to build relationships, and be a light here. We are excited because we see God already moving powerfully through the local believers here, and we’re eager to be a part of that! Having two babies under 15 months has definitely been a parenting bootcamp and is teaching us a lot of patience with each other and our kiddos (I’m still trying to convince Eve that she has a spiritual gift of changing diapers and should continue to exercise it😊). We are in the process of signing a lease for an apartment in Chittagong, and are hoping to get it all move-in ready for when we return in January 2023. Please continue to pray for wisdom as we seek a language teacher, learn the city of Chittagong, and for our unity and vision as a team. We are doing well having six kids and eight adults under one roof, but it is not without a challenge. Thanks for praying that our love would be evident to all.

Week 1: Dhaka

Arrived in Dhaka! Our connecting flight to Dhaka got delayed by 9+ hours.
Right away we were shocked at how long it takes to travel in Bangladesh’s traffic. It took us 1.5 hours to travel 3.5 miles to our hotel. After a couple of days at the Holiday Inn, we went to our Airbnb where we would be staying the for the next two weeks.
We connected with our Dhaka contacts and set up meetings with them for the upcoming weeks.
We attended the service at Pastor Asa’s (Milena’s dad) church and were encouraged to see a church that is fruitful and engaged in many ministries. They were SO welcoming and loved on us so well.

Week 2: Dhaka

We met with a few textile factory owners (one of which is a major supplier for TJ Maxx) and built relationships that hopefully we can use in the upcoming years.
We met with the elders/associate pastors of Pastor Asa’s Church. They shared about the need for workers in Bangladesh, about their current ministries/opportunities, and how they are seeing God at work.
We met with a Christian owner of a coffee shop that is thriving and has several locations all over Bangladesh. They shared about their ministry and how the Lord has used this business.
As we were getting ready to leave for Chittagong, our Airbnb cancelled our reservation, saying he double booked the apartment. We continued to pray for a place to stay that would accommodate all 4 families. Thankfully, after a few days of praying the Lord provided a fully furnished apartment in Chittagong that could accommodate all of us.
We rented two vans through the church in Dhaka and made our way down to Chittagong (7 hour drive).

Week 3: Chittagong

We arrived in Chittagong and were pleasantly surprised at how green it is here! We were so grateful for the convenient location of the apartment which is right across the street from a grocery store and nearby a clinic.
Had lunch with the director of Chamber of Commerce for Chittagong (which we got connected through our landlord)!
We visited a church that was near the coast. It was special that even in a place like Chittagong we were able to break bread with believers.
Unfortunately, Owen and Mila got a respiratory infection. We took them into the clinic and it cost 500 takas each ($5 per kid!). We were definitely nervous knowing their preemie lungs have a harder time recovering from sicknesses like this. But the Lord was gracious and allowed them to make a full recovery by week 5!

Week 4: Chittagong

We visited a Bible Language Center that teaches Bangla to missionaries and other foreigners. They even have an AWANA at that place. While taking a tour of that center, we accidentally barged in on an American couple during the middle of their language lessons. We all instantly hit it off with them, and were invited to dinner at their house. We felt like we made a lifelong friend.
We attended another church in Chittagong that is a church plant of the one in Dhaka. The pastor there helped us connect with a good Pediatrician for Owen and Mila and attended appointments with us to help translate.
The church was also hosting a youth camp during the week, and it was so neat to be able to experience that.
We all went apartment hunting and saw a variety of apartments. We were praying for 4 flats in the same building (and one with minimal cockroaches). The Lord provided us an apartment building that met all of our expectations! We are so grateful! We found that most apartments here are rented out completely empty/unfurnished. Meaning no light bulbs, no fans, no shelves (or cabinets) in the kitchen, no shower door, no closets, no amenities whatsoever (fridge, washer, AC units, water heaters). We were surprised at all the items we need in the apartment to make it livable.

Week 5: Chittagong

We met with multiple AC/fan/water heater vendors to find the best price. We were blessed to find a kind, humble man that cared about us and truly tried to give the most affordable rate. He invited us to his daughter’s 4th birthday party! He lived in a very poor neighborhood (near a major sewage dump) with many cockroaches! We all had an opportunity to show Christ’s love to this family and were so humbled by their hospitality even though they didn’t have much.
We had the opportunity to have dinner with a Hindu family that was curious about Christianity. He has been very open to hearing the gospel and we pray that those seeds have been planted on fertile ground.
We met a waitress at a local coffee shop that loves our kids. Our team asked her if she is willing to have dinner with us and plan to ask her if she would be open to reading the bible with us.
Attended a church on the outskirts of Chittagong that Compassion International partners with and was encouraged by the kindness of the believers there.
We are slowly getting used to the culture here, and realizing that efficiency is not a priority (especially when it comes to time management), but intimacy and relationships are SO valued. For example, when trying to close a deal for some water purifiers for our house, the Bangladeshi would rather spend as much time as possible over some tea to talk about our families, instead of just signing the bill and receiving the money right away. Love how God is teaching us and sanctifying us through this culture 😊