Sam Mark Harry was a graduate student at Luther Seminary during the time that Pastor Mittag attended. Throughout their studies, they had many conversations that opened up new avenues of understanding about America and India. Sam has now returned to Bangalore, India, to be with his family and to continue the ministry that God calls him to bring to his people. Whenever another email is received, it will be posted on this page for your reading and prayerful consideration for Sam, his family, and his country.

From: Sam Harry
Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2002

Hi Lydia,

Greetings to you in our Lord's name!

Trust this finds you all doing well. Thank you for your kind letter. I appreciated your prompt reply. Sorry for the delay in writing to you.

I am surprised to hear that we all have same cultural background about women sitting separately in the worship. Yes, in many of our churches men and women sit separately. However, in our local church where we worship on Sundays we sit together with our families. Though the members are Indians, but have visited other countries or lived abroad and so have adopted the Western culture.

Last Sunday morning I spoke in one church in Bangalore where all people (including myself) sat on mats (on the floor). I wanted to take picture and send it to you, but I forgot to take my camera. But if I visit that church again, I will take a picture and send it to you. There are many churches in the villages and towns where women sit separately and all men and women sit on the floor.

Tomorrow morning I am going to Andhra, God willing. I will be teaching some students in my mother tongue. Kindly pray for this ministry. After I return I will inform you about the ministry.

Last Sunday evening and this evening I led a study from Galatians chs. 2 and 3. Ches four to six will be covered, God willing, on Feb. 3, and 17, and Mar. 3. Please pray for this ministry. Also pray for the ministry among the Indian Institute of Science.

Please do feel free to ask questions. Whatever is possible I will answer them. I am only afraid of the situation here. But pray that the Lord would continue to use us for His glory. I will write again after my trip. Praying for you. With all good wishes.

In His service,
Sam

From: Sam Harry <mailto:samshan7@bgl.vsnl.net.in>
To: Lydia Mittag <mailto:ljmittag@smig.net>
Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2002 3:12 PM

Dear Lydia and family, Greetings to you in our Saviour's name!
We wish you a Blessed and Fruitful New Year. May the Lord guide and lead
you in this coming year. "And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail." Isaiah 58:11

What the new year (2002) holds for us is certainly unknown. It may be good or bad. But the Lord who was with us thus far would continue to hold our hands and to lead us in His paths, just as this little poem speaks of:
Through shadowed days or sunlit,
Whate’er the year may bring,
This fact may be thy comfort:
God reigns in everything.

The sovereign God will override every situation and guide us with His gracious presence (Ex. 33:14). We must daily seek His help and guidance (Is. 55:6).

Truly our hearts are filled with gratitude to God for all His abundant goodness and faithfulness to us throughout the year 2001. We bless His holy Name for His loving help and guidance in enabling us to cross several milestones during the past year. Our words are inadequate to explain all that our Lord had done for us. We are thankful to Him for every blessing He bestowed on us. Thank you very much for your praying for us and for our ministry. We want you to praise God with us for all He had done for us during the year 2001.

First, we praise God for granting us health and strength throughout the year. We did not have any major health problems. We also praise Him also for protecting us from accidents and from other disasters.

Second, we praise God for helping me to complete my research successfully and to submit it in our institution in Bangalore on May 25, 01. Since my advisor’s report did not reach SATHRI (South Asia Theological Research Institute) Bangalore in time, there were some fears about my graduating in Feb. 02. Several prayed that God would help me have my viva before the meeting of the Senate Counsel in November and to graduate in Feb. 2002. The Lord answered these prayers and helped me to have the viva (the thesis defense on Nov. 9). I successfully defended my thesis and was declared as qualified for the Degree of Doctor of Theology. From start to finish the Lord helped me in my doctoral research, e.g., in choosing the topic and the title, in getting scholarship to go to USA in 1998 and 2000 for research and for writing the dissertation. He also gave me some lovely friends to encourage me all the way to its completion. I am looking forward to my graduation in Feb. 2002. The convocation is in Mizoram.

Third, we are thankful to God for extending our stay in the CIGM building yet for another year (till May 2002). This has been very helpful to us, since our children’s school and our church are close by. We trust the Lord to help us to be here till such time the Lord provides a place of our own. By faith we have begun constructing work on the little site the Lord provided for us. We are trusting the Lord to help us in the construction of this house.

Fourth, we praise God for helping me to come out in faith to serve Him as a full time evangelist. Since 1995, along with my research work and writing of the dissertation, I have been occupied with the preaching of the gospel and with teaching the word within the assembly. I have traveled to various assemblies in the ministry of the word both in India and in the USA. And since the completion of my dissertation in May, I have been even more fully occupied with the Lord’s work having been released by Bethesda, Bangalore, for the work of the Lord whereunto He called me (Acts 13:2). Although I have been in the ministry since 1978, I am now wholly released for the work of the Lord as an evangelist. The Lord has been good to us in supplying all our needs.
We are indeed grateful to God for every opportunity He had given me to testify, preach and teach in various cities and towns. Our prayer and desire is that He would continue to fill me with His Holy Spirit and use me in the preaching of the gospel.

We covet your prayers in the following matters:
First, our children’s education and admission into colleges:
Our daughters, Sheona (in 12th grade) and Sannuthi (in 10th grade) are in a very crucial stage of their studies. They have model exams of which will commence on Jan. 7. The final exams are in March.

Second, Sheona’s entrance exam and for college admission for both of them. We need God’s wisdom and help in guiding our children in their career.

Third, Shanthi’s job situation. Although she is qualified to be a lecturer in Psychology, she has been teaching Biology in a private school. Salaries have been poor and the work load has tremendously increased. There has been a lot of stress and strain as she is burdened with a heavy load of teaching and administrative work. This has been affecting her health. If the Lord wills, we are praying that she might get a better job.

Fourth, that the Lord may help us in the construction of our house. Shanthi and children join me in greeting you and your family members. Praying for
you. With all good wishes.
In His love,

Sam Mark and Shanthi Harry,
P.O. Box 552,
Fraser Town Post,
Bangalore 560 005.
India.
011-91-80-5470613

From: Sam Harry <mailto:samshan7@bgl.vsnl.net.in>
To: Lydia Mittag <mailto:ljmittag@smig.net>
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2001 12:59 AM
Subject: Happy season's greetings!
Dear Lydia

Greetings to you in our Lord's name!

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year! May the good Lord bless you and guide you in this new year. Isaiah 58:11: "And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail."

I am so glad I have been able to finish my thesis in time and have been able to successfully defend the thesis. Praise God for all His help. Without God's help I could not have achieved this. I am so glad about this. Thank you for your prayers.
The graduation is on Feb. 10th 2002, in Aizawl, Mizoram. It is so far away from here. There is no direct train service to that place. Its all hilly area and so it takes several days to travel even from Calcutta. But I am planning to attend the convocation, if the Lord wills.

I left for Pune on 27th November and returned a few days back. I had a wonderful time of ministry. I spoke in three churches. I also briefly taught a few classes in the Seminary in which I was a faculty member before 1994. They wanted me to go for a few days and help with a course in Romans in Greek for the final year BD (=MDiv.) students. I taught 15 classes.

Soon after I came back to Bangalore I was engaged in teaching in a small Bible college where they are training some evangelists. They wanted me to teach from a NT book. So I took studies from the book of Philippians. Praise God for His help. I had to spend so many hours of preparation to deliver the studies. I was down with fever and chest congestion. But I am better now.

Sheona and Sannuthi have their model exams from Jan. 7 (as soon as the school reopens after the Christmas break). Please pray for their studies. I am continuing with my evangelistic ministry.

We have started the construction work on our house. The foundation is laid. We are yet to obtain a loan. There are so many documents to be submitted. It is going slow and so is the construction. Even if we get the loan it is only 45% of the total estimated cost. But we are praying and hoping that God would provide all the needed help to enable us to complete the house before the end of April so that we can move in. Kindly pray with us for God's help and guidance.

I enjoyed my time at Luther Seminary and with you all. I miss you and other friends at the Luther. Thank you very much for your every encouragement. Hope everything is fine with your work. Trust your husband and children are doing well. Hope you had a good holiday. You must have been busy with Christmas program and other programs. Kindly pray for our ministry. Our desire is to reach out to the several Roman Catholics who speak my mother tongue. This requires a lot of prayer support. I want you and your churches to pray for this ministry.

Shanthi, Sheona and Sannuthi join me in greeting you and your family. Praying for you. Wish you all the best.

In His love,
Sam

From: Sam Harry <mailto:samshan7@bgl.vsnl.net.in>
To: Lydia Mittag <mailto:ljmittag@smig.net>
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2001 12:48 PM
Subject: Re:
Dear Lydia,
Trust this finds you all doing well. Hope everything is fine at the church and at home. Trust you are in receipt of my previous mail.

By the grace of God we are all fine. Children finished their second unit tests. They have to prepare themselves for the model exams which will be in the early weeks of Jan. 2002.

I should have left for Pune yesterday (Nov. 25) for a two-week ministry. But I did not have a confirmed ticket. When I reserved my ticket on the 10th of Nov. I was on the waiting list (#169). But it came down to # 59 on Sunday morning, so I had to cancel. I have now booked for tomorrow. I am again on the waiting list. Please pray that I may get a confirmed ticket so that I can be in Pune for the meetings in three assemblies.

On Saturday, I received official information stating that I am qualified to receive the degree of Doctor of Theology and regarding my graduation in Mizoram. It is on the 9th of Feb. Kindly pray that I may be able to attend the convocation and receive my degree.

By faith we have begun the work on the site that God had provided for us. The excavations are made for laying the foundation. Foundation will be laid very soon. We are applying for a housing loan from a bank. We may be eligible to get only 45% of the total estimated cost. Please pray that God would provide all the necessary money to build this house before the end of April 2002.

Do continue to pray for the outreach work here that God may guide us in the right direction to the right people for His glory. Pray for us as well that we would be instruments of righteousness for His glory.

How is your work at the church? How is the family? Praying for you.

Shanthi and children join me in greeting you both and all the members of the Chapel. With all good wishes.

In His love,
Sam

Dear Lydia,

Greetings to you in our Savior's name!

Thank you for your kind note. It had refreshed us so much. It reminded me of our time at the Seminary. I was glad to meet friends like you who have been a great encouragement. I was away in Kerala over the weekend and hence I could not write to you immediately. I returned to Bangalore this morning.

Thank you for your prayers for us. May our Lord bless and meet your every need. Glad to note that you are ordained and that you had been pastoring two churches. Yes, how soon the time has flown. We are glad to hear that you are back in the churches where you worked during your internship. So they are not new to you and you are not new to them either.

I praise God, I have finished my dissertation. The viva will be in Sept./Oct. Kindly pray that I may do well and obtain the ThD degree for God's glory. I have already begun my independent ministry as an evangelist-cum-Bible teacher. As an evangelist I am involved in the outreach work concentrating mainly among my own language group scattered here in Bangalore. These people are from my home state, very poor laborers. During the last two months I visited several villages in Andhra Pradesh preaching the word among the simple laborers who are hungry word the God. Eight people accepted the Lord as their Saviour. Praise God. Pray for them. The follow up work is done by the local churches, but I keep in touch with them by visiting them. Next month I will be visiting another area in Andhra Pradesh.

Last three Sunday evenings I led the Bible study series in our local church. On Sunday morning I visited different places ministering God's word. Our ministry is a faith ministry. We depend on the Lord for our every need. Amazingly the Lord has been providing us our day to day needs. Praise God. Please continue to pray that the Lord would help us with all our needs.

Thank you for thinking about us and about our need for the house. We have been able to get that piece of land registered on our name. Some other details are being worked out--such as conversion of that piece of land and bring it under the municipal corporation Right now one of our friends--an architect--working on some plans for two/three (small) bedroom houses. The architect said that we would need a minimum of $20,000 to build a two/three bedroom house. We are still looking to the Lord for His help in meeting the financial needs for the construction of a house. If the Lord wills, we would like to get this house built before May 2002 to move into our own house, as they may ask us to vacate. Please do pray for this need that the Lord would help and provide.

In whatever way the Lord leads and guides you and the church in finding help for our building project, we would be glad to accept. Kindly pray for us.

We would be delighted to have the pictures of you and your family. You can send them by the global priority mail (upto 4 lbs costs only $5).

Here's our new mailing address:
Sam Mark Harry
P.O. Box 552,
Fraser Town Post Office,
Bangalore 560 005.
011-91-80-5470613.

Praying for you and your work. Our regards to you and to your family and to your congregations. We will also mail some pictures when we take them. Praying for you.

With all good wishes.

In His service,
Sam

To: samshan7@bgl.vsnl.net.in
Tuesday, August 14, 2001

Dear Sam, I'm sorry I haven't answered until now. The weeks have gone by so quickly from April to almost the start of school again and during that time, I have been ordained and am back serving the two congregations that I did during my internship. Life continues to be filled with joy as we look forward to what God has in store for us and our family. We are so happy for you and your family that you can stay in your house for another year. Prayer has power, doesn't it? We continue to pray for your future needs and the hope that you will be able to build on that piece of land in Bangalore. Now, as I serve this parish, it is my intention that at one of the meetings in the near future of the council I will tell them about you and your ministry. When I get a chance to figure out how to send pictures, I'll send you some of the latest ones we've taken. Again, Sam, it was wonderful to get to know you at the seminary and both my husband Ray and I look forward to continued correspondence with you. God's richest blessings to you. Lydia "O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures." Psalm 104:24

Hi Lydia,

Greetings to you in our Lord's name!

We are sorry to hear the horror-filled acts of terrorism in NY, DC and in Pittsburgh. What a nightmare it had been to all Americans. In fact what happened in America does not only affect the Americans but the people of all nations. It is a black Tuesday in the history of the world. Kindly accept our deep sympathies.

Hope and pray that the people of NY and the rest of the country would return to normalcy soon. We also hope and pray that the culprits would be found soon and that they would be dealt with severely to curtail anymore terrorist activities. Furthermore, we pray that God would use this incident to turn many to God not only for comfort and strength but also to obey His commands and experience the joy of salvation.

Trust everyone known to you in N.Y. and DC is fine. Trust this finds you all doing well. Thank you for your kind prayers. Hope you had a good Labor Day weekend. With all good wishes.

In His service,
Sam