India y’all. It’s been a struggle.
It’s been unexpected. It’s been dirty. I mean filthy. It’s been hot & sweaty. It’s been heartbreaking living conditions. It’s been diarrhea. It’s been vomiting. It’s been spiritual warfare. It’s been overwhelming. It’s been giardiasis for 2 weeks. It’s been tears. It’s been no appetite and nausea. It’s been hard.
…but God has shown up. He has shown up in big ways and in small ways. And sometimes Him showing up looks a lot like God not answering prayer…or letting me struggle a bit…or making His strength perfect in my weakness.
One early 4 am morning when I couldn’t sleep…God and I were wrestling. I cried out to Him for a couple of hours about all the hard things I had seen and struggled with in Kolkata. God so sweetly answered me, but not in the way I was expecting…it was through a new song by Bethel…
For The One Let me be filled With kindness and compassion for the one The one whom You loved and gave Your Son For humanity, increase my love Help me to love with open arms like You do A love that erases all the lines and sees the truth Oh that when they look in my eyes they would see You Even in just a smile, they would feel The Father’s love Oh how You love us From the homeless to the famous and in-between You formed us, You made us carefully Cause in the end, we’re all Your children Let all my life tell of who You are And the wonder of Your never-ending love Let all my life tell of who You are You’re wonderful and such a good Father
Although it was a struggle…I know my God works in mysterious ways, makes His strength perfect in my weakness, and teaches me the most precious lessons in the hardest times.
It’s been unexpected. It’s been recognizing the importance of infrastructure like garbage trucks and sanitary sewage. It’s been remembering to thank God for the comforts He provides. It’s been learning to pray for those living in the heartbreaking conditions. It’s been celebrating a real poop. It’s been marveling at how God created my body to fight off illness. It’s been learning how to recognize and battle spiritual warfare. It’s been overwhelming to see how precious each of us are to Him. It’s been thanking God for health. It’s been sweet tears of joy and peace. It’s been appreciating an appetite. It’s been easy to see {in hindsight} that God had me in His palm the whole time.
India y’all. The struggle has been…valuable.
Love y’all.
