This might be one of those “you just had to be there” stories. I’m going to write it anyway.
Let me start by telling you that where I’m living this month is next door to the boys hostel for Trinity College & Seminary (TCS). This essentially means that there are college students everywhere, all the time, and it has been SO FUN. I miss my college days. I loved those four years a lot, and often find myself deep in nostalgia thinking about the “good old days.”
The last few weeks we’ve slowly created really cool friendships with a lot of these students. My favorite part has been the opportunity to actually attend seminary classes every day of the week—this means I’ve spent a good deal of time back in school, learning things like Hebrew Grammar, the History of Israel, and Old Testament Prophets. What a treat it’s been to be able to learn the material without having to write the papers or stress out over exams! Later in the afternoon we have returned to the seminary for about an hour and half of conversations with the students, to help them improve their english. Topics of conversation have ranged from plant life in India to what is happening in the US presidential election (they knew more than I did.)
These guys also play volleyball every day at 3pm on the dot. Every time I’ve played it’s been an absolute blast (and a little intimidating because these guys are good.) They also have invited us to their worship nights and other events they host at their hostel—needless to say, we’ve gotten to know many of them quite well. I never expected that the relationships I would create here would be with dozens of seminary students, but they have been the biggest blessing.
Last Friday night was the pinnacle. The guys invited us all to what they simply called a “fun night” and reminded us about it every day until the night finally came. They were so excited, and it was contagious. There were students from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, as well as all of us from the US & Canada. More than 25 languages, all in the same room.
We worshipped. We did dances and they performed skits and we literally laughed til we cried. There were inside jokes and silliness and it brought me right back to my time in college. I was reminded that we’re really not so different—just a bunch of 20-somethings hanging out on a Friday night, having an absolute blast. We watched them gradually open up during worship—they started just singing and sitting, but soon they were standing, and then dancing and jumping and screaming and laughing and praising.
Tonight was my most tangible glimpse of heaven on earth. I can’t describe to you that feeling in the room when we had cleared all the chairs from the floor and were singing “Walking In The Light” at the top of our lungs (we even changed one of those verses to “Sweating In The Light” because that is precisely what was going on in that Indian heat.)
Revelations 7 tells us that in heaven, every nation and every tribe and every tongue will worship the Lord together—and isn’t that exactly what was happening in this dim, tin-roofed building at this Indian boys hostel? I know that as this year continues, I’ll be able to grasp more and more the glory that awaits on the other side of this life. It’s a comfort to know that even if I don’t see these friends on earth again, our souls will recognize each other in heaven where we’ll worship together once more. I doubt this is the last blog you’ll see me write on the topic.
After that night, they invited us back for more events and even threw us a little goodbye party. They loved us so well. They all have the most incredible servants hearts. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to learn both from them and alongside them, and to experience the slightest glimpse of eternity.
