Before coming to India, I was so excited. So many people I know have been here and most of them have loved it and it forever changed them. I had some big expectations.
One thing we get told a lot on the race is to have no expectations, which is honestly a hard thing to do. Sometimes you don’t even realize you have the expectations you do, until they are broken.
Well India you have officially broken my expectations.
I had no idea just how much I truly love Indian food. Almost everything I have tried so far has been incredible. So many flavors all over the place. It’s wonderful. And the food is beautiful! So many colors going on, I just love it. I’ve got to learn how to cook Indian food!
We are living on a compound of sorts that holds the school and housing for the deaf children that go here. All our meals are cooked here for us. I gave up the idea of being able to cook this month. Well God had already arranged to break that expectation and I had no idea.
This month, I am teaching a western cooking class for students and teachers! Well, I was told they want to learn as much as possible, so we make at least 2 items per class. Savannah is helping me teach a class of around 15 or so. So far we’ve made western omelets, doughnuts with a glaze frosting, banana pancakes with homemade vanilla syrup, French toast, hashbrowns, and a breakfast casserole, chili, broccoli cheese soup, potato soup, chicken noodle soup with homemade egg noodles, quesadillas, pico de gallo, homemade chips, Mexican rice, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, scalloped potatoes, spaghetti sauce, and more. It’s so great to learn how to teach how to cook better, and to teach these beautiful people who I can’t just speak to. Between the signs I do know, making up our own, and writing, we get along pretty well. They are becoming quite good chefs! I am learning a lot myself too and I’m loving every minute of it. My class has stolen my heart.
Every morning and evening we led their devotion time. We'd do a couple action songs and then one of us would lead all 100 plus kids in a lesson. It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever experienced. Watching these children pray in sign language to our Lord, then singing with any sound they were able to make without even knowing how they sounded brought such joy to my heart. Their voices were some of the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard. And then after devo time, the smiles, conversation, high fives, and hugs that came filled my heart. Thank you Lord for these kids!
Thank you God for breaking my expectations about India…beyond my dreams.
