I opened heavy eyelids and for a split second looked out the bus window before letting them lazily fall shut again; then they snapped open again, the realization of what I’d just seen dawning on my groggy brain. I sat up in my chair. During the night we’d passed through lots of flat terrain, and now there were mountains: giant, beautiful, reddish stone mountains rising up from the rich red dirt and the Palm trees. We were definitely not in Kansas anymore. This is India.
We arrived in Marthandam, on the southern tip of India, our third day in-country, and were met by our ministry host, Albert. He followed our bus on his moped and accompanied us back to his home, the parsonage attached to a disused church building next to a newer church. Albert’s father pastors the church here with his wife, and Albert and his wife Rachel pastor several in the area. They all live in the same home together with Albert and Rachel’s two children, Asher and Ashley.
I’ve been struck by the pace of everything; they are constantly moving and constantly doing some form of ministry. Since we arrived here, we’ve preached at a half-dozen house churches, three youth meetings, twice at a bible college, and several church services. Every day is new, and every day is interesting.
Suicide among youth in the area is growing in prevalence and has become a significant issue for church leaders to address, and Albert and Rachel shared their heart to serve these kids and show them love and support. I’ve been blessed that I’ve been able to use some of my education to be able to teach youth and bible college students some basic mental health first aid techniques in addition to some general information about suicide and suicide prevention.
Albert has several large projects on the go. Their satellite churches and the bible college are run through his ministry, and they also administrate an orphan-care program for 40 children. Their largest priority right now, however, is the purchase of a vehicle for ministry, which is something they’ve been working toward for several years. (By the way, if anyone feels led to help support Albert and Rachel with funds and prayer for the purchase of the vehicle, please send me an email and I will forward it on to them so you can get more information or ask questions.)
Worship and prayer services are unlike anything I’ve experienced anywhere else. Like Nepal, there are no chairs and everyone sits on the floor. The clapping and singing are so loud you almost become convinced the people are inside your head transmitting the sound out, and when they begin praying the room hums and throbs with the concerted voices. People are earnest in their worship and prayer, and they are enthusiastic about the work God is doing; really, really enthusiastic. It’s wonderful to see how God moves in another culture in such a unique way.
We had an opportunity to take a day to go and see some nearby cultural areas. I was quite pleased to be able to pass by a memorial for Mahatma Gandhi, the site where his ashes were kept before they were scattered. I have long admired him for his political acumen, his sense of justice, and dedication to his people, so it was a touching experience to realize I was standing on the shores of the ocean where he was laid to rest after his assassination. I am thrilled that we will be in India for its Independence Day celebrations this month.
The food is exquisite. Curries every day with rice and chapati, bananas, and hot chai every few hours is a heavy burden, but I’ll gladly suffer through my favorite foods if it means I can be here to serve the local church. Seriously though, the food is amazing.
The weather is also great, not too hot or humid, certainly nothing like I was expecting and certainly not as stifling as the “please-let-me-die-right-here-so-my-suffering-can-end” heat and humidity of Colombia.
One of my favorite spots is the roof of one of the churches that Albert pastors. It’s set back off of the main road a bit, and the trees have grown up around it. When you stand on the roof, you can look out and see the jungle stretching on for miles and the mountains in the distance. Standing there looking out on the Indian jungle is the culmination of years of dreaming of this beautiful country, never sure if I would ever see it but hoping someday I would. I am blessed to be here, and I am equally blessed to be here with the people I am with.
