I promised a few weeks ago that I would be posting a blog from my mom on her experiences during parents week in India. Here it is…enjoy :).
Hello all,
My trip to India was a short six-day journey. God was so cool to give me a fun travel buddy in Bret Vanderwall who kept me anchored when I wanted to drive across the United States to catch a connecting flight to London when ours was cancelled because of winter weather. 🙂 Bret and his wife Carol are awesome Christians with a gift of hospitality. Unexpected circumstances turned into great blessings of Christian fellowship in their home.
Hugging Jacob after 30+ hours of traveling and 8 months of being apart was quite emotional for me. I was immediately struck by how grown up he seemed ~ not just emotionally but spiritually. His long, pony-tail length hair was symbolic of the freedom he has found in Christ. There was a love and contentment about him that was contagious. Meeting his co-racers, Zach and Kate, at the airport confirmed the work of the Holy Spirit. Their eyes were bright and filled with excitement to share what God was doing in and through them.
I also had the opportunity to hear stories of how many of the racers and their parents were connecting on a deeper spiritual level. My favorite question among racers was “How did God lead you to World Race?” ~ answers varied in circumstances yet seemed to have a common thread of “When I heard about it, I just knew I was supposed to be a part of.” Their whimsical, disciple-like willingness to follow Jesus on that notion enticed me.
The next four days were sweet days of worshiping and watching God open doors of ministry. Jacob and I had the privilege of sharing how God has upheld our family since his dad died. I am awed by God who can continue to use our heartache for His glory. Hearing Jake talk about how God has been his father in real life renewed my passion for sharing our story of God’s goodness.
We shared our story with a community of people who live in the slums. Their homes are built out of materials they find in dumps. My heart was captured by one young woman, her husband and two children. They had nothing from our American perspective yet they have it all ~ a simple, unharried life filled with love for each other. I had the privilege of praying with this beautiful family and several others.
My favorite day was working in an orphanage for kids with special needs; who but God could have prepared me to fall in love with a visually impaired little boy who was so much like one of my students in the classroom I work at here in the States. My student is also visually impaired and through working with him, I was able to connect with the boy named Sedar at the orphanage. Giggling with him as we did sensory exercises in shaving cream warmed my heart and brought tears to my eyes.
Jake and I shared a room so we had some late night “pillow talks.” It is a moment to treasure in a momma’s heart when your child pours into your life. Jake tenderly talked to me about having an orphan heart; one caught up in the doing of all things “Christian” but not simply resting in the love of our Heavenly Father. Believing God loves me “just the way I am” is a daily battle for me. Jake gave me two reading assignments, Jack Frost’s “Spiritual Slavery to Spiritual Sonship” and “Jesus Is” by Judah Smith. I read the first one so far and highly recommend it to anyone whose love for God is in their heads and not their hearts.
None of what I did in those four days of ministry in India compares to what happened to me. I fell in love with my first love again; removing me from the comfort of my home and the busyness of my life gave me time and perspective to love and worship God in a childlike way again. Quite honestly, I wanted to stay on the journey with Jacob and his co-racers and experience the freedom they have found in life on the road with Jesus.
I frequently pull out my pictures of India because they are great reminders to me of what is important: love God, love others, and love yourself.
Love and Blessings,
Ella MacLean
