After our fist month of living in India we headed to our debrief in Tripura.
Debrief is a week long time of rest. It gives you space to connect with the rest of your squad and most importantly just sleep.
During our debrief we were looked after by a man named Boppi. Boppi was in charge of providing us meals and helping us find stuff in town.
While we stayed in Tripura word got out quick that 50+ white people were staying in their village, so naturally we get invited to view the English school and preform a “special number.” (For those who don’t know a special number consist of a song, Skit or maybe the occasional dance.)
After viewing the school and preforming we were shown around the rest of town with Boppi as our guid. They took us to the local christian church and upon entering the church Boppi shared with us how he was Hindi and how his father happened to be the priest of a Hindu church. When we entered the church we decided it would be a good idea to pray over it and bless what the lord was already doing there. As we walked around and prayed Boppi sat in the front pue and watched us. On the bus ride back home I over heard Boppi telling one of my squad mates that he was overwhelmed with positive energy as we prayed and he wanted to know how we did it. My squad mate explained to him that the positive energy didn’t come from us by any means, but it came from the one that lived in us. Jesus Christ. After that being said he didn’t ask much questions and we spent the rest of the few days just loving on him.
On the morning of the last day we gave him a bible and prayed for him. After a lot of hugs, and a long bus ride later we arrived at our train station at 12:00pm. We were supposed to leave at 2:00pm but our train got delayed till 11:00pm. During this 11 hour layover Boppi came to visit us and brought us food. During this time Boppi just chilled and waited around with us. About 10:00pm one of our coaches walks in front of us and announces that Boppi ACCEPTED CHRIST! We all started screaming and cheering! The look on Boppi face was priceless. It was the look of joy that can burn through the darkest of places. After 1000 hugs later I went up to Boppi and explained to him that literally as we were speaking God was throwing the biggest party ever for him in heaven. God was celebrating not only the fact that a Hindu priest son came to know him! But that he would be reunited with his beloved child in heaven.
It’s amazing and an honor to serve a God that knows each of his children by name. A God that loves you so much so that when you come to know him, he celebrates you in the heavens. A God that thinks about you night and day. A God that rejoices when you are happy and cries when you are sad. A God that never gives up, and will never stop perusing you till the day you die!
So cheers to Boppi! May your days be many more, and your heart be ever filled! And honestly man, just have fun walking in the freedom of Jesus Christ!
