Today it hit me.
I am only in India for one more week.
I’ve been trying to write a blog about my time here and in the villages for over a week now but each time I try, I end up scratching it all together. But I’m about to just go for it. What I write may be random and blunt but it is all from the heart.
Being here has not been easy but it has been life changing. Month one is coming to a close and God has already been doing so much in me and all around me.
When I spend time reflecting, I see how He has been preparing me for this trip over the past couple years. Though I still don’t feel cut out for everything we do here, I refuse to give up. I want to press in and continue to step out of my comfort zone. I have been uncomfortable and stretched the majority of the time I’ve been here in India, but God has been breaking down walls that have needed to come down for years. He has revealed to me that I don’t have to do anything in order to rest in His perfect peace… I can just, be. He has been showing me what it looks like to love and be loved by others, for me this is not something that is happening over night. It is taking time, patience, and trust. An example of this has been all the love and affection my team has shown me and the truth the speak into my life. Actually yesterday morning I broke down crying when thinking about how overwhelmed I was by all the love and affection that was coming from my teammates. For years I’ve had a wall up and would either not let people love me or I simply would not believe the truth they were speaking into my life. Love and affection always made me feel uncomfortable and confused which resulted in me shutting down or wanting nothing to do with it.. when really.. that is exactly what I needed was to let go and let both God and others in.
This morning I was up on the roof writing in my journal and I asked God why He has me here in India. My mind went back to the first village my team and I went to and how hard it was for me. I truly felt like an “attraction” for people to come see… I did not see how playing games with children for a few days was going to make a difference in there lives. It was hard for me to grasp and understand why I was even here. Rushing from house to house to pray for as many families as possible was extremely difficult for me because I desired relationships with them. Not a ‘dine and dash’ type of visit. But God reminded me that things don’t always work out the way we want them to or think they will. He helped me remember the importance of obedience even when things don’t fully make sense.
One of my teammates reminded me of how there are many times in the bible where children would flock to Jesus. He would teach and spend time with them and that is exactly what God had/has us ladies do in each village. I was reminded of the smiles on the kids faces, the joy that radiated from them when we attempted to reenact a bible story, play a variety of games, and throw dance parties.
Thinking back on the ‘house’ visits, I was reminded of the faith that the families showed. Even though a lot of them struggled with finances, health problems, and keeping a sponsor for there child to stay in school, they still believed that God heard their prayers and would intervene. Their faith grew my faith! And at one point our interpreter said the mere fact that we were there and had traveled such a far ways to spend time and pray with them, meant a great deal to each person. Perspective changer… I think so!
I still have to remind myself that it is not possible to form a relationship with EVERY person I meet or pray for and that that is okay. It is about trusting that our Father in Heaven will take the seeds that we plant along the way and will both water and bring them to fruition.
Here are some pictures from my time here in India so far. 🙂
Beach day in India!
Fun fact: Your outfit for the day is your swimsuit.
Team ‘Live Boldly’ living it up at the sea shore.
Swimming in the ocean is always better with friends.
One of our many bedrooms this month.
Our lovely host, Heymavathi (Pastors wife) cooking us our first meal at the village.
It may not look appetizing but Indian food is AMAZING!!
-Some photos from the villages-
I tried to resist but… I couldn’t.
Kanthini was quick to steal all of our hearts, (especially my friend Lindsay’s). She spent a lot of time with us, translated for us, and was quick to become part of our World Race family.
My teammate and friend Juliana interviewing a CCDC (Covenant Child Development Center) parent. Interviewing the children and parents in this program is also a part of our ministry here in India. We later edit and put together videos that the ministry can share on there webpage to gain support and sponsors for the children.
School time!! 🙂
My team and I outside of a school we visited and conducted interviews at. While being here we interviewed both the Principal and some of the students who are in the CCDC program.
What the majority of the indoor classrooms look like.
To cute not to post — (Thank you Caitlin for this awesome photo)
CHURCH TIME!! And let me tell ya… church in India is WAY different than what I’ve ever experienced before. To share about it would be a whole blog to itself. — It was really neat though because my friend Heather shared her testimony and Morgan preached a message!!! WOOHOO So proud!
Church friend!
These people were AMAZING!! We got to experience our first Indian church service with them and afterwards they fed us a phenomenal meal. The generosity in this culture blows me away!
Here is a brief glimpse at how life has been here in India. 🙂 More blogs to come soon.
~With lots of love~
