Literally translated, Meghalaya means "the abode of clouds." With the natural beauty of its rolling hills and small streams, Meghalaya is often referred to as the "Scotland of the East." This northeast Indian state is home to scenic waterfalls, and its high amount of annual rainfall (as much as 429 inches in some areas) makes it one of the wettest places on earth.

Approximately one-third of Meghalaya's 8,660 square miles (22,729 square kilometers) area is covered in forest. The state is rich with natural resources such as coal, limestone, granite, sillimanite and minerals. A variety of fruit crops, such as citrus, pineapple, papaya and banana, flourish in its moderate, humid climate. Some of the vegetables commonly cultivated in Meghalaya include cauliflower, cabbage and radishes. A variety of spices grow there, too, as well as beautiful flowers and many varieties of mushrooms and medicinal plants.

About 85 percent of Meghalaya's population of slightly more than 2 million are tribal people—namely the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo. A unique characteristic common to these tribal groups is their matrilineal society: property and wealth pass through the female rather than the male lineage.

Historically, missionary activity among Meghalaya's people has been encouraged from as far back as 1895, when the area was annexed to British India. Today, more than half the people in Meghalaya call themselves Christians (64.6%), yet a large percentage of these show little hunger for true spiritual growth. A number of Meghalayans practice animism (spirit worship), and most of the Hindu and Muslim population (14.7 and 4 percent, respectively) has not yet heard the Gospel, according to Operation World.

Gospel for Asia in Meghalaya:
Work began in 2004
Personal evangelism
Gospel literature distribution
Church planting
Bible colleges
Film ministry
Radio broadcasts
Bridge of Hope centers