Well after a very 2 long flights and a bus ride I am happy to report that I am safe! We landed in India on Friday morning (1/13) around 2 am here so that would make it 3:30 pm EST on Thursday, the flight was incredibly long but had the Star Wars collection so I just watched those and was able to get some decent sleep! Jet lag was so real though. It took me a couple of days to recover from the flight and the crazy time change.
India is so different than I expected! The weather is a lot cooler than I was preparing for. It is actually very pleasant, imagine Michigan in late summer/ early fall, that is what is feels like here. You still have some humidity but you also have that cool breeze. Its pretty great. Although there is a slight smell, it’s not as bad as I thought it would be.
Sunday I was able to attend a local church service and I will post a video of their worship later on this week, it’s a must see! Their music is so upbeat and they clap and dance to everything. You can feel how much they love the Lord through their worship which is so encouraging because in India Christians are persecuted. Pastors are sometimes beat up, shamed in the ‘public square’, and can even be excommunicated from their families if their families are Hindu or Muslim. So to see them have no fear believing God will take care of them is encouraging. (Don’t worry Mom and Dad none of that will happen to me because I am American, seriously.)
We started ministry three days ago with an amazing organization that works with children with special needs, preparing them for adoption. Our schedule is typically 10-1 then 3-6 (pretty spoiled right?) Everyone who has worked for this specific organization has told us how much we are going to LOVE it! So on Tuesday we get up, do our quiet time, then walk over to the house we are going to be working at for the morning. Our excitement has reached the highest peak and we are ready to figure out with our first day of ministry is going to look like. Are we going to get to hold cute, little kiddos? Read books to them? Play all day? We walk in and talk with our host and she hands us 15 Mr. Clean magic easers and asks us to wipe down the walls for the next 4 hours. I would not consider myself someone who enjoys to clean. I actually don’t like it at all really. I felt so deflated, I was having an internal battle with myself and Satan. Is this really kingdom work? This is my month one assignment? Wiping down walls, for real? My thoughts were so dark, and negative. Finally 1 rolled around and we went back to the house we are staying at for some lunch. We talked as a team and we all felt the same way. Everyone we talked to built this month up and here we were, cleaning. We spent the next hour checking our hearts and then headed off to a different house with older girls in it.
We get there, feeling ready and willing, with a new perspective, and our assignment is to do inventory of all 4 floors of the building. Counting how many lights, A/C units, mattress frames, actual mattresses, tables, and other things are in each room. So yet again, not really what we were expecting but better than our last job.
We finished an hour earlier than we expected so we got to sit down and play duck duck goose with the kids and just learn about them a little bit. It was a great end to a long day!
Wednesday, we got up, talked as a team about no matter what the job, we need to do it with a joyful heart. Our hosts is not out to get us, these jobs that she is giving us are actually a tremendous help to her! Something that they don’t really have the time or energy to do because they are taking care of children. So although they are not very glamorous, it is very helpful.
I am reading the book Unashamed by Christine Caine and she has a chapter on setting your course. Starting every morning with God’s Word. Begin everyday checking the destination board and picking the right train of thoughts. Ask yourself where do I want to end up today? and set your course going in the right direction. Take God’s thoughts and replace yours with his. When you are armed with the truth of his Word, you are able to contend with the onslaught of fear, doubt, insecurity, negativity, and lies that the enemy hurls at us daily.
So after God broke me down and humbled me, he gave us the sweetest gift of all. Last night we were able to go on a walk with the little kids for about an hour. Then we were able to just sit with them after and play with toys until dinner rolled around. Our Father loves us so much guys.
So much has already happened in my heart and it is only day 4 of ministry!
I am spending this month doing every job with a joyful heart, thankful for this opportunity.
Much love,
Alyssa
Oh and the house I am staying at has a puppy!!
