In India, we were never allowed to go anywhere alone (minus the time Candice and I snuck out to buy Sprite from the corner house market… only a 5 minute walk away). We always had our “bodyguards”. Our protectors. Like them, Jesus is always with me. And there’s no sneaking away. He sees my every move. Knows my every thought. Hears my every prayer. Gives me my every breath. I am not independent of Him. I am the opposite, dependent. On His protection, presences, and guidance.
In India, we were served, daily, by the most selfless of servants. The Raju family gave up their own home to let us stay there. Made every delicious meal for us with diligence and care. Selfless is what they are. The culture of India, especially Christians in India, is to genuinely put others above yourself. Take care of you when you’re sick. Make sure you are never hungry (impossible with the amount of food they scoop onto your plate!) Give you the most comfortable seat in the auto. Like them, Jesus is the servant of all. Washing the disciples’ feet. Even dying on the cross. Giving all He had… His life.
In India, the world is watching. White. Americans. The assumption that you are rich. The belief that you pray magical prayers because of your skin and place of origin. We couldn’t leave our house with people following us. We almost got into and caused accidents because of people following us, getting too close, or trying to get our attention. (Traffic in India is CRAZY. You simply choose whatever part of the road you want to drive on to get you where you want to go faster, left, middle, even the right. No rules. And traffic for white people is even crazier.) Like following Jesus, the world is watching. When is she going to mess up? When is she going to do something immoral? When is she going to do something, say something, or have an attitude that Jesus would frown upon? Waiting for you to fall. Like being under an Indian microscope, this microscope is just as tiring.
In India, there is so much color and beauty. A palate for the eyes. The homes and the clothes. Different dimensions and things to look at everywhere you go. The variety of landscapes and sceneries, animals, and people. Everywhere you look, there is something beautiful to gaze at. Enjoy. Take in. Like following Jesus, there are different elements of Him and characteristics to glean from every day. Different aspects of what makes Him holy to lavish in and pray to become more like each day. He is full of variety and even if you follow Him every day, each day will bring something new. New revelation. New beauties.
In India, we lived with a family who grafted us into their family. Calling us “sisters”, a term of endearment and respect. From day one, we were loved. Served. Taken care of. Helped. Healed. The Raj family became our family and we became theirs. Like Jesus, He is the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. The Prince of the King. He is my family. And I am His. His daughter. Grafted into the body of Christ. The church. To have a family of a believers surrounding me for all of my days. No matter where I go. I now have family in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Romania, Moldova, Mozambique, Swaziland, South Africa, and India. People who love me, care for me, and are long lasting. People who I can walk through this world with and live as the body was meant to live… beyond boundary lines. Beyond blood lines.
Of all the good, bad, easy, and challenging, there is always redemption. In India and following Jesus. Wisdom to be gained. Proper perspective to be had. And when all else fails, you can always crash and Indian’s birthday party at a hotel on your last night there J
Now, I am out of India and settling into my new country for month 9, Nepal. Living with the other girls team between two homes, safe streets to run on, me cooking as ministry for my first half of our stay here, and loving the quiet, fresh air, and freedom. Re-energized for my last 3 months on the field with a new team name (because of the loss of my team leader Rebekah as she moved on to become a squad leader and the addition of a new team member, Michelle)… Team Summit. We see the top of the mountain and will finish this race strong! While I love Jesus as my protector, I also love Him as my freedom. I finding Him here as that in Nepal.
