Sielmat India October 13, 2016
About 8-10% of India Nationals are Christians. About 75% of the Sielmat population is Christian. The north eastern region of India we are in, has an overwhelming population of Christians. I love being surrounded by other believers with a totally different cultural background to what I have experienced. The children of this village get crazy excited to spend time with us, I feel honored being a part of their community. In all honesty India has not met a single one of my expectations- in all the best ways possible. I thought of India almost like the movie Slum Dog Millionaire. I expected the people to look similar to what you would see in Baliwood films, I expected to see and smell the slums. Because we are in this Christian bubble of Sielmat we drive 30 mins- 2 hours in order to minister to Hindi villages- hosting medical camps- and praying for healing for these people. A majority of our ministry has been serving our host with construction, medical prep, and spending time at the “Schss” OR “Sielmat Christian High Secondary School” which serves 2,700 students from pre-k to about 11th grade. Tears of joy have been brought to my heart several times being surrounded by the people of this village (Yeah- we all know I am a cryer.)
We have been in India for over a week. Our host “Bibles for the World” has been so nurturing, loving and hospitable I feel incredibly spoiled being here. Our host cooks all our meals which typically consists of noodles, rice, and curry. In the mornings we have chai tea and cookies. I resonate with Frodo from Lord of the Rings on this grand adventure. Every morning we partake in “tea time” and personal time starting at about 630am. They offer us cookies which they call “bae” I have somehow gotten the nick name “Yellow Bae” being the only blonde probably within a 100 mile radius. Everywhere we go people want to take pictures of us or with us.
I have been praying to see God’s people of this area as he sees them. The lord has immensely blessed these people. You can see the Joy in their eyes. Hope in their hearts. Their identity is truly rooted in the Lord, something I pray fiercely for. I am learning simplicity and being intentional with words/service is one of the best gifts one can give. As Simone Weil wrote “ the beauty of the world is almost the only way by which we can allow God to penetrate us.. beauty captivates the senses in order to obtain permission to pass straight through the soul… the soul’s inclination to love beauty is the trap God most frequently uses in order to win it.” The beauty God has created in people, through the mountains surrounding us, and the lush vegetation is overwhelming. I wish you all could be here to soak it all in with me…
Please Pray for our squad as we continue to pour into this community of Sielmat.
