Many of my previous blogs have been very introspective so I thought that this blog would be a look into what we have done practically in ministry during our month in India!
Kolkata (previously Calcutta)
Our first 6 days in India were spent in the city of Kolkata, a very large, populated, vibrant city, filled with great food, crazy taxi drivers, and very kind, Hindu people. My team, Beast Mode, stayed at a guest house in a very residential area. Our goal in Kolkata was to meet with a new ministry contact and see if they would be good hosts for future World Race teams.
Our contact was the founder of Lord Jesus Ministries(check them out at lordjesusministry.org). They are very involved in educating impoverished families on how to protect their children from trafficking, a huge problem in India. They also run a few children’s homes in villages surrounding Kolkata. We ended up getting to stay for a night at one of the homes 2 hours north of the city, and what an experience it was! Such a life giving, loving environment. The Rixons, who founded Lord Jesus Ministries, are an AMAZING couple! So full of faith and joy. Future Race teams will be so blessed by them!
Our team also got to encounter something we are nicknaming “Miracle Street.” You may or may not have seen all of the videos on Facebook posted by our squad leader, Jeremy(if not, check them out on my Facebook page). Hundreds of people were healed of injuries and pain, and some of the squad was able to stay back for a few weeks and disciple the people we met. It was the first time I have ever prayed for someone and witnessed the power of Jesus heal them. I am so thankful the Father allowed our team to be a part of such an amazing experience and to put English speaking people in our path, hungry for the Gospel! The book of Acts playing out in India!
Sielmat (Northeastern part above Bangladesh)
After our time in Kolkata, we flew to Imphal to serve at an established ministry for 2 weeks in the foothills of Northeastern India. The ministry we were at was founded by one of the first Christians in that area. He actually translated the Bible for the first time into his tribe’s language in the early 1900s after traveling for over 90 miles by himself in his teens to the nearest English speaking school. His son and daughter-in-law now run the ministry. It was an honor to be involved and do ministry with them! We helped with medical camps, vacation bible school, and construction at the hospital that is run by the ministry. My team also got to serve at a seminar for pastors and evangelists in Imphal for 2 days. Almost everyone at the seminar was a first generation Christian- what a privilege it was to serve them!
Varanasi (via Kolkata)
We flew back to Kolkata and took a sleeper train overnight to Varanasi, and what an experience that was! I felt like I was in Harry Potter on my way to Hogwarts. The beds were 3 tier (stacked 3 high) and man was I praising the Lord, because we had AC!! A rarity in India. Varanasi is located on the Ganges River and is considered the holy city of Hinduism. Cows roam the streets and bodies are burned in public next to the river(a holy ritual that Hindus believe leads to “salvation”). Needless to say, Varanasi is a dark, spiritual place and I have felt it the whole time. Not to mention, the heat. Everyone here says, “the heat is oppressive,” and man, is that true. About as bad as Alabama 🙂
In Varanasi our main goal was to find new World Race contacts. We did not have any names or leads, we have just been living life here and praying that the Lord will put people in our path, which of course He has! The first full day we were here, we met other “workers” in a coffee shop across the street from our hostel that live here full time. God is so good! Yesterday we were invited to a Christian Ashram (a sort of meditation and rest place run by a Christian, German woman). We got to interact with people from all over the world, Christian and not, but all seeking something more in life.
Headed to Nepal!
In a few days we will be headed to Nepal! I am not yet sure what our ministry will look like there, but I cannot wait to see what God has in store… and the cooler weather will be great too! 🙂
That’s it for now! Blessings from India!
