Month five in India is one I will never forget, as it has
been the most challenging, but most rewarding yet. Internet was hard to come by, so I apologize
for blogging so late. (And sorry for the lack of pictures – the internet is too slow to upload them!)
Alicia, Tommy and I were able to visit 5 teams around India
this past month in Pune, Bangalore, and Chennai, including a small village
about 12 hours outside of Chennai. We also
spent some time in Mumbai for our 4 month debrief at the beginning of the
month. We had many opportunities in
India, some of which included working with a school for deaf children, playing
with children at orphanages, singing and sharing testimonies at an organization
that rescues people off of the, and also shared the love of Christ in small
villages, where some people have never even heard of Jesus’ name before. The experience in India was amazing and quite
eye-opening. This month has impacted me
the most, by far.
India is filled with beauty – people, landscapes, fabrics,
colors, delicious food, and much more, but one thing that stood out the most to
me this month was the sound.
I write as I listen to the train tracks as I sit on a train
from Chennai to Hyderabad, where we will fly out to Nepal for month 6. Oddly, it’s the first time I can’t hear the
constant noise of traffic, cars, trucks and rickshaws honking every couple
seconds to signal that they are behind you, are turning or need you to move
over so that they can pass by. What I
can hear though, are variations of the 1,652 languages in the country of India,
spoken by fellow travelers around me as they exchange conversation over chai
tea. The sound of a young Indian boy
crying also fills the train as he says ‘goodbye’ to his father.
Speaking of children, the kids here love foreigners. I will never forget the laughter of the
children, nor will I forget the sound of the mosques and churches as people
preached from the speakers
around the villages.
We were woken up each morning at 4 AM to the sound of music playing from
a loudspeaker in honor of a wedding, as well as a variety of animals. The sound of goats, cows, roosters, chickens,
sheep and birds filled my ears, creating a pleasant melody of nature throughout
the day. People walked up and down the
dirt roads selling things as the bells on their anklets and bracelets jingled
about. At night, the wind produced a soothing rustling sound from the trees as
the booming fireworks filled my ears. Burning
trash was also a usual sound heard as we walked around the cities.
India is filled with an unlimited amount of sounds, some
more challenging to listen to than others, but there was one sound that will
live with me forever. I will never
forget it.
As we sat in on a devotional being shared with the children at
the school for the hearing impaired, they began signing the songs with their
hands being led by some of the Racers.
Slowly, the children began to let out a sound as they began to sing
along as they continued the movement of their hands. I was blown away and filled with tears of
joy. The sound will be forever imprinted
on my heart and the moment will never leave my memory. To think that these children may never hear
their beautiful voices, but refused to hold back a moment to release songs of
joy to the Lord, transformed me in an instant.
They have no ability to hear, but still rejoice and give thanks to the
Lord with all that they are.
So often I find myself upset or discouraged from difficult
circumstances in my life, but is my initial response to worship the Lord with
all that I am? Or do I allow my circumstances
to control my reaction? Do I give thanks
for what I DO have ALWAYS?
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
I will never forget the sound of India.
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