As world racers prepare to launch, they hear all sorts of stories about the countries on their route, experiences of previous racers, and all the potential of what’s in store for this crazy adventure we are about to embark on. Sometimes it’s horror stories of parasites, mosquito infestations, and unbearable heat. Other times it’s moving stories about intense encounters with the Holy Spirit where people are healed and bondage is broken. And no country is more hyped up than India.
After three full days of travel from La Paz, an ER visit in Queens, two accidental first class flights, and quality time with some of my closest friends on P-squad…all 56 of us arrived in Hyderabad, India. Jet-lagged and anxious to get settled, Team Awaken hustled out of the airport and made our way to downtown Hyderabad to find a place to stay for the night. After driving around for almost two hours, we tracked down a hotel that could accommodate our team for the night. And after resting most of the next day, we departed around 10PM for the bus station to head out for Bangalore.
The jet lag had messed us up pretty bad, but for the most part we were able to rest on the 8-hour AIR CONDITIONED (Praise God!) bus ride to Bangalore. We arrived with no concrete plans other than a phone number of how to get in contact with our host. So after some major struggle bus communication with the smorgasbord of potential tuk-tuk cab drivers who swarmed us as soon as we unloaded our gear, we finally found out where we were going and loaded into three motorcycle-driven taxis with all of our gear. (And me still feeling helpless because I can’t lift anything) We had an eventful, overwhelming, yet oh so exciting ride to our host home that included blasting Indian music, lots of ‘car dancing’, passing cameras from tuk-tuk to tuk-tuk, a U-turn on the highway, and some more struggle bus communication. But we finally made it to Abhayam, the drug & alcohol rehabilitation facility that we would be partnering with this month.
We were warmly greeted by Albert, our host, and his wife Laly, along with their two young boys, Isaac and Jonathan. They immediately welcomed us into their home, showed us to the comfortable accommodations they had prepared for us, and allowed us time to get settled into our surroundings. They’ve truly acted and cared for us as if we were already family. (which we are…in Jesus…and it rocks) And it has been such an honor to come alongside them and learn about how they do ministry here. We have so much to learn!
In the entire three days we have been in India, I have yet to see a white person. My senses have been overwhelmed with all of the colors, the sounds, and the scents. Truly indescribable. The people are beautiful, the landscape unique, the food packed full of so much flavor. I am eagerly anticipating all that I am going to learn from being in such a starkly different culture from my own. Team Awaken is already learning so much about how the same God that we worship in the United States is ever-present on the other side of the world. He loves and cares for His children, of all shapes, sizes, cultures, and backgrounds. He’s a good, good Father.
And today, on our first day of official ministry, we had the incredible opportunity to pray over one of the members of Abhayam, who was graduating from the rehabilitation program after six faithful months of perseverance and prayer. We had the chance to come alongside him and his fellow brothers in Christ to encourage and pray for him, and to send him off with affirmation and love, back to his family. It was a beautiful picture of the body of Christ coming together around a brother who has experienced freedom, and boldly proclaiming continued freedom and sanctification over his life. We are so thrilled to see what else God has in store for us this month serving alongside Albert & Laly, and the Abhayam staff. Please continue to keep us in your prayers!
