I once was asked accusingly asked, “how did you think the locals felt about you being in their city, do they even want you there?” and I was given an answer one day at a construction site. After many hours of moving bags of rocks and sand a man thanked me for my help and I said it was my pleasure, I was happy to be there. I almost began to cry when he said, “your “pleasure” is our blessing”. I cannot describe how kind and loving all of the people I have come into contact with have been and how welcome they have made not only myself but the entire squad. They have run around in circles and bent themselves backwards for us and for that I am forever thankful. I have met so many colorful and fascinating people this month. Our hosts John and Lawm Pudaite were once bible smugglers in Bhutan and John’s father translated the entire New Testament into Hmar (the local language) so that his people could find God for themselves. Our liaison Sawma has shown us nothing but patience and love even though we ask obnoxious question after question and are frequently behind schedule. As my time in India comes to an end, I am so sad to leave this place I have started to call home—Trinity Christian Seminary and bamboo huts in our host’s back yard in the village of Sielmat, in the city of Churchandpur, in the state of Manipur.
When I was preparing to go on The Race, people would ask me what I would be doing and the best I could come up with was usually, “a lot of different things.” it was amazing how accurate that vague statement. I wanted to write this profound in depth blog about all of these things but who would read all of that? So, here is something more my style
The Greatest Hits of India:
- Took cold bucket showers
- Helped build onto Sielmat Christian Hospital
- Shoveled, bagged, and carried hundreds of pounds of rocks and sand for cement.
- Took hot bucket showers
- Dislocated my ankle
- Had dislocated ankle healed by passerby
- Worked at a vacation bible school for over 2200 children from the Hmar tribe
- Played lots of cards
- Carried bricks and cement to make a wall
- Helped build a church
- Washed clothes in a bucket
- Slept in a bamboo hut snuggling teammates closely in the cold night
- Crossed a terrifyingly busy road (those motos stop for no one)
- Medical checkups in a remote grass hut village and prayer over the patients.
- Pet a lamb and wanted to murder a rooster
- Had lunch with the District Commissioner [mayor} of the state
- Walked A LOT
- Got a Hmar name—Buonzo: having a problem, taking it to God, wrestling with it, and solving it with prayer
- Felt the love of God in waves from complete strangers
This month has been very fun and very trying and very much full of growth in the Lord. The faith these people shown and the depth of their love for God has touched the deepest parts of me. Serving these people who so much want to serve me, has been truly humbling. God is working in Sielmat; spreading his words like wildfire and He is working in me by giving me a servant’s heart by daily revealing His grace to me in the faces of those I meet.
