Continued from Amazing Day in India pt.1
We continued to sing and worship after that, but when we were finally all sung it out, a few of us walked outside and just looked at each other with that look…we had all felt it. As one teamie said, “moments like that are why I signed up for the race.” It was just so amazing worshiping with those precious children and you know that they really understand. In that moment my heart opened. I had been slightly frustrated previously because everything had been so formal, so structured, and it just didn’t feel like worship at all, it felt like singing songs with kids, but this time was just different and I thank God that it happened, I just wish it had happened sooner.
After kids club, we just hung out and played with the kids. There were two new girls that had come to kids club so we needed to walk them back home across the railroad tracks so drew and I did. They invited us in and we got to experience more Indian hospitality. Let me tell you, Indians don’t really take no for am answer when they offer you tea or coffee, and of course with that comes the yummy biscuits (cookies). Their mom thanked us sweetly for taking us and she told us that they were Christians and it was kind of obvious that they were different because her children all had non-indian names except for one. Names like peter or rose that you just don’t hear here. She even invited us back to her home to have dinner and talk about scripture!! These are the kind of spontaneous events, or divine meetings that you love to see happen. We prayed over her and her family before we left, and walked back to join the others.
Let me just say these kids are the sweetest. They have such selfless, servant hearts, I feel like we need to be learning from them! Case no.1, if you pull out your water bottle and its not full, they will ask to fill it, and its another won’t take no for an answer kind of deal. Case no.2, if we are ever walking anywhere they will say, “auntie can I carry your backpack?” That is normally one I will say no to. It makes me feel bad to let them carry my stuff, even if they did ask. Case no.3, I was standing outside with three or four of the younger boys (ages 8-11) and Harris. It was pretty much dark and some men were walking up the road and I was standing on the outside. The boys said “auntie, come stand over here” and led me on the other side of them, so that they all stood between me and the road. They said some people that walk around are not nice. That was the most sweet, thoughtful gesture, that they wanted to protect me. Chivalry isn’t dead, ladies, at least not here in India. Words just can’t describe my emotions, shock and amazement maybe.
Let me tell you more about these boys in particular. They come from broken homes, and the one they now live in is stable but not without its own share of struggles, yet they still mesh together like a family, and they choose love and are so filled with life and joy. They are street smart and know how the world is, and yet they still choose love and so filled with joy. It amazes me. My heart is so full, as I write this. Thank you Jesus for the opportunity to experience such quality of character in such an innocent, sweet face. I pray these boys and girls retain that when they grow up, and I have the upmost faith that Jesus will be in their lives, wherever they choose to go or do. But they don’t have it easy, in a country where the majority aren’t christian, and many of them still have families that are Hindi also. Please pray for these children, and Jireh home, for God to continue providing for their needs and that each one of them would come to know Jesus personally as they grow up.
India may smell funny, they drink an obscene amount of tea (reminds me of home lol) and have cows roaming the streets, and it may have taken me a bit to warm up to it all, but the people here are so colorful and beautiful, inside and out. These kids and our hosts have made an impact on our hearts and lives. I will never forget them, or amazing days like today.
