There is no room for pride in India. My team learned this as we received a huge dose of humility this month. Our hosts have lavished their love and honor on us by serving us so well… almost too well. We have not been allowed to wash our clothes, or even fill our own water bottles. Any need we’ve had, there has been someone to take care of it. The most humbling moment of this month was watching a 13 year-old boy wash my underwear. True story. (That is what I get for trying to sneakily do my own laundry and getting caught by Pastor.) 
I have never experienced so much hospitality in all my life. (This will come as a shock for those who know my mother-in-law.) Sometimes I feel like a burden to our hospitable hosts. They constantly put their own needs aside to care for us. It has been humbling to say the least. Dying to myself has never been so important. I have never had to let go of my pride and independence more. I constantly have to remind myself that they are serving us out of love, expecting nothing in return. We are their special guests and they wish to lavish upon us.
I was especially touched one afternoon after church. During the service, I saw SuJenna, Pastor’s wife, nodding off. I knew she was exhausted from taking care of us. She wakes up every morning no later than 5:00 and doesn’t go to bed until we are in ours’ around 11:30pm. She seemed exceptionally tired this day. She had gotten up extra early because one of my teammates was taken to the clinic at 4:30am. During lunch, my teammate was laying on the bed and SuJenna was there fanning her. My teammate kept telling her she didn’t have to do that, but SuJenna refused to stop. She wanted to comfort and tend to her guest. I nearly cried watching her fight to keep her eyes open as she fanned her sick guest. What selflessness!
I loved watching SuJenna worship… she is beautiful!!
Our Indian brothers and sisters have painted a beautiful picture of who Christ is and His desire to love and serve us. In Mark 10:45 Jesus said “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Our Messiah, the Son of God came to this earth not only to make a way for us to have eternal life, but He desires to lavish His service on us. Wow.
The amazing thing is that the Lord’s service is no burden to Him. He desires to simply delight in us and us in Him. There are no strings attached. His love is pure and selfless. I have been so blessed by my brothers and sisters in India. These beautiful servants of Christ have given me a tangible example of God’s love for me… what a gift I’ve been given.
Be blessed!
