After much traveling and
anticipation, our team has made it to our first ministry! It is the GEMS campus
in a small town called Bihar in Northeastern India. We are surprisingly close
to the Nepal border, and surprisingly cold! For some reason when my ears heard
India, my brain said hot…but, this is simply not the case. However, the
temperature is more than worth it, because our hosts have taken pitty on us
with endless amounts of tea and coffee J. I’ll put it this way,
it will be hard to enjoy Starbucks as much as I used to!
The
campus is astounding! It covers 22 acres, and includes ministries such as
education, medical, English, local evangelism, etc. There is a hospital with
capabilities far above anything in the area. There is a building for young
girls who have already had hardships to come and have a safe place to stay and
be discipled, as well as a ministry that teaches the trade of embroidery to
young girls so that they can take it back to their villages and make a living.
After completing their training, these girls are given a sewing machine to take
back to their village and begin training others. Our contact said that they
want to show the communities that, “being a Christian is not just about salvation,
but about getting your life.” This is just one of hundreds of examples that
show GEMS’ heart behind their efforts.
Their barely paid staff is helping
hundreds of thousands of people in Northern India who otherwise would never
hear the gospel. They are a true light in a world of chaos and depravity,
showing the natives who are bound by religious and cultural strongholds that
there is a way of life filled with peace and hope. The difference in the
atmosphere of this campus in relation to the other parts of India we have seen
would completely blow your mind. God has truly anointed this ministry, and
fulfilled the original vision in multiples!
This
month will be a wonderful time of service and learning. I pray that we can help
and encourage the people hear as much as they already have helped and
encouraged us.
