It is official – Q squad has made it to India! After many obstacles and challenges we have entered the country. Travel days into India have proven to be the smoothest yet and with little to no hold ups. Let me just say that we have had a lot of favor and protection in our travels from South Africa. After 2 flights and a 3-hour layover, we made it to Hyderabad, India where we spent New Year’s night. We brought in the New Year on the roof of our hostel with lanterns, dancing, and fireworks going off all around us. My New Year’s with Q squad has been my best yet. I got a few hours of sleep and was up early to have breakfast and load a bus to travel to our ministry site in the village.
With very few details about our village, we were not sure what this would look like for the month. After the hour ride on the bus we switched buses to catch the next one to our village. After a 2.5-hour bus ride to another station, we dropped off another team and proceeded to board our third bus of the day. Boarding buses means putting our packs on the top of the bus and praying they stay there to the destination. It was on this ride that we discovered village life in India means living among 3 million other people. In my mind, village is in the middle of nowhere with few residents. Upon hearing this we knew that any expectations we had formed were already shattered.
After traveling for 6 hours, we finally made it to our village to unload and immediately we were surrounded by a group of locals checking us out. Come to find out we are only the 2nd team to have come to this village for more than 2 nights. This being said the locals here don’t see many white people and literally are fascinated with us. Then we loaded into tuk-tuk’s to make our way to the Pastor’s house. Upon our arrival the Pastor and his family, as well as many neighbors who all lived up the street, greeted us. Then the phones came out and many pictures were taken all evening. It is amazing to me how excited the locals are to see us and have us work with them for the month. The evening was spent having dinner at the Pastor’s house, where we had our first meal of rice and spicy chicken. It was so good and I would venture to say the best chicken I have ever had. After dinner we sang and dance until it was time to go to our apartment. This apartment is wonderful with 2 bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and 2 bathrooms equipped with squatty potties and a spigot for bucket showering. I walked in not knowing what to expect and to my amazement this is turning out to be one of the better living situations I’ve had on the Race.
Life in India is much different than anything I’ve ever experienced. The culture, daily life, and even the body language is different and taking a second to adjust to. For example, the use of toilet paper does not exist in India. Also, nodding your head yes here, looks like more of a bobble and leaves us confused if it’s a yes, no or maybe. I am so pumped and excited to see what the Lord has for Team Leo and Q squad here in India. If you don’t know, we had a few obstacles to get our visas into India and I know that God has HUGE plans for this month. So far on the Race this is the most uncomfortable I have been, but I know God will use this for his Kingdom. I ask for prayers that the Lord does so much this month and that we bring the Gospel every second we can. Here’s to month 7 and all that the Lord is going to do through each of us!
Pics from visiting local villages during ministry.
