The things I’ve experienced in less than 1 week have been incredible! Here is a short video to recap.
It’s apparent that after 4 days in India, I’m on another planet. Things are so different from my home in the USA. Things don’t work the same way, people don’t act the same way, and there’s no telling what the next hour will bring. Here are a few brief experiences I’ve had so far.
The traffic – So what happens when you take away just about every traffic law away in a city of about 3.5 million? Well, things get very interesting. Drivers constantly keep their hands on the horn just in case the a rick shaw pulls out in front of them, or a wagon of bananas isn’t moving fast enough. It is hectic and I love it! Driving in India has no shortage of entertainment!
The people– In the U.S.A., women take pride in their freedom and empowerment. That’s not the case in India. The segregation between men and women is very pronounced and modesty in the culture is extremely valued. Women must double cover sensitive areas and opposite genders never spend too much time making eye contact. There are strict precautions my team has to take in order to make sure we don’t offend the locals.
The fortune Teller – As I was sitting in a park inviting the youth to a local event a strange man came up to me with a parrot. Through the translator he explained how his bird and the “spirits that be” can tell me my future. The Lord placed the right words in my mouth to open a conversation about the gospel, and our ministry partners explained the basic Gospel principles to him, later giving him the copy of the bible he requested. This man, along with a small crowd of about 20 people, gathered to hear who this Jesus man is.
There is so much to learn from these people and after four days I feel as though I am just now getting my feet under me – Make sure not to smile too much to women, look all FIVE ways before crossing the street (and double check), ask for two waters at a restaurant because of the spice, and don’t be afraid to ride a rick shaw (just make sure the driver understands where you want to go). I can’t help but wonder how other americans would view their country differently through the eyes of an Indian.
