So, last we talked, I was a little confused why God placed an all-girl team at an all-guy worship center in India, a country where men and women don’t interact, but trusting that God knew what He was doing. Well, he did know what he was doing.
India has been one of my two favorite months/countries so far. I love the ministry we’ve been doing, so don’t be surprised if I come back to India after the Race to start a worship school for women/plant a church! 😀
This has also been a very growthful month for me. I’ve grown in worship—how could I not when I spent 3 hours a day in worship, 1 of those hours in a language I do not know! I’ve also stepped up into worship leading. I was scared out of my mind the first two times, but the instant I started playing, I was at complete peace, and I connected
with the Lord more than I ever do when I’m in the crowd.
So by the third time, I was only excited, not nervous,
despite the fact that we were leading a song in Telugu, the
language here!
As a team, this has been a month of *awakening* as well (we’re Team Awaken :). Formerly, Bethany was the only one of us who led worship, but we have all stepped out in that arena. Additionally, we have all been activated in the area of art, creating prophetic artwork in our personal devotions, but also teaching three art classes during our time here. Those art classes included time for prophetic drawing, and look at the visions that God placed in the minds of our artists, some of them just 12 years old!
We also have matured in communication and resolving conflict, promptly addressing issues when we used to look the other way. And it has been such a joy to see my teammates stepping out in preaching/teaching, an area that I personally enjoy so much, as we provided the sermons and testimonies for nightly outreaches and weekly church services.
Needless to say, it has been an exceptional month! But that’s not the main reason I’m leaving my heart in India. The main reason is the people. One of our jobs this month was to collect the testimonies of the staff here at Covenant School of Worship, and through that process I’ve gotten to know and love many of them.
There’s Murali, a gentle giant from the Khammam district, whose heart is for the youth and children. He hopes and strives to plant a church with 50 believers, start a children’s ministry, and hold youth revivals in the largest stadium in the city, and in just one month he is already well on his way.
Then there’s Edward, the dear brother who escorted us on our nightly outreaches, translated for us, and answered our million questions all month. His dream is for his father to be freed from alcoholism and for the two of them to become a father/son evangelism and worship team. We are praying a fruitful ministry for him and also for the 80ish cysts on his body to be healed!
Speaking of, God has already answered one specific prayer of ours this month. John Babu is our tall and smiley brother who plays the keyboard and sings so beautifully, and his heart breaks for his family—for his four brothers who don’t know God, and for his recently widowed mother. We have been praying for his family all month, and his brothers have ceased to squabble over the inheritance—now we are just praying for their salvation!
I could talk about my brothers all day, and maybe I will write more about them in an upcoming blog, but I don’t want to flood you all in one sitting. Basically, they have incredible hearts for God and their people, and I and my teammates will be praying for them for the rest of our lives.
I hope you fall in love with them, too, through our stories.
My love to you all,
Katie
P.S. The video of us leading worship in Telugu is coming soon. . . 😀
