If I had to choose just one word to characterize my month in India, it would be hospitality.
My team and I did a lot of home visits as a part of our ministry this month. We would walk through a village and be asked to enter home after home. In each place, we would be served cool drinks (soda), fruit, biscuits, or whatever they had to offer us. I was always struck by the generosity of these people, who have very little, but are so willing to give.
Several nights throughout the month, Pastor K would take us 15 kilometers or so to a home or church for evening ministry. Our role was to lead singing, share the message of Jesus, and pray for the people who gathered with us. After each evening service, we were taken to the home of the pastor for a meal. Our plates were piled with chapati, all sorts of curry, and rice. The host and hostess would stand over us waiting to serve us whatever we asked. I have never received such attention during a meal, even from a server at a restaurant.
Pastor K and Diamond opened up their home to us for meals as well. When we weren’t travelling for ministry, we would take our meals at their home. They never sat down to eat with us. It is customary in India to serve the guests, and then to eat when the guests have left. Diamond and her sister, Mamatau, cooked for us making dosa or egg-bread for breakfast, vegetable rice and curry for lunch, and chapati and curry for dinner. Each meal was followed with chai tea.
I was surprised, but I grew to really enjoy the meals prepared for us. The curry scared me at first, but my favorites quickly became potato curry and spinach curry. The chapati and chai are definitely my two favorites from this month! I stayed away from rice for the most part because I’m still scared from eating it so much in China and the Philippines.
I am reminded how important it is to fellowship with one another in our homes, over a meal, or a cup of tea. Conversation flows and hearts are softened as we share life with one another. Not only did I learn so much about Indian culture and the people we visited, but I learned and understood more about my teammates as we spent so much time together over meals.
It is my last day in Ongole. We just took our last tea at Pastor K and Diamond's home. I am very much going to miss the relationships built here and being a part of the good work that God is doing. The memories I have made here will remain vivid because this place is full of so much color and flavor.
