I don’t even know where to begin on describing my experience in India. It was a month full of change and challenges, but also growth and experience.
India was my first time going overseas, so the culture shock was real. I’ll remember many things about India: the babies I saw sleeping on motorcycles, cows laying in the middle of the streets, mastering the art of using my ninja skills to kill the mosquitoes trapped in my tent, having to use squatty potties instead of toilets, herds of goats blocking traffic, using my hands to eat, riding tuk-tuks everywhere, finding a dead bat on my friends pillow, endless amounts of curry and the thousands of little black beetles that ended up everywhere.
Those are a few things I’ll never forget about India, but more importantly, what I’ll never forget is the impact the people and country left on me.
The day before my team got assigned to our ministry, I heard a rumor that sermons and testimonies were going to be a type of ministry. I prayed hard that night that I’d receive anything but sermons and testimonies because, once again, that was something way out of my comfort zone.
And what do we get?
Sermons and testimonies!
I found out that every night my team and I would travel to different churches and lead the service. I immediately began to feel very disappointed and discouraged. Other teams got assigned to children’s ministry or community outreach, and I wanted so badly to switch places with them.
But once ministry started, that feeling changed.
Each night when we arrived at the church, we were greeted by the pastor and people with a bow while saying “namaste”. We would take our shoes off before going inside and enjoy some chai tea. Kids would shyly giggle at us and attempted conservation with us, which was difficult because of the language barrier.
When church began we would sit on stage and listen to them worship in Telugu. I couldn’t understand one thing they were saying, but it was so beautiful to hear them praise our same God in a different language. You could see their strong faith displayed on their faces and feel the Holy Spirit fill the room.
After about an hour of worship, my team and I would stand up and introduce ourselves using our translator. Then it was finally the time for one of us to give a testimony and a sermon. The first time I gave mine I was nervous and uncomfortable, but each time I improved and it became a little more natural.
My favorite part of the service had to be the end when we got the chance to each individually pray for the kids, adults, and elderly that attended. Most asked for prayer for healing, education and blessings. It was such a sweet opportunity to be able to speak God’s words over them and to look up and see the joy in their eyes. There was one woman who had been terribly ill for months and was unable to move. Two of my teammates were able to pray over her for healing. A week later we stopped by that village on our way to another church, for a cup of tea. The pastor told us that a few days ago she sat up and drank water on her own for the first time in a long, long time. This was one of a few healings my team was able to witness.
At the end of the night, we’d either stay at the church or go over to the pastor’s house for dinner. We usually were served chapati, chicken, and, of course, rice and curry. We would use our right hand as our eating utensil and our left hand for drinking. The pastor’s wife would always make sure our plates were never empty, asking if we wanted more. Some days I’d be too full and would shake my head, politely saying no thank you, but was then given three more huge scoops of rice, remembering that shaking your head no, means yes in India. It’s safe to say we never left hungry.
I met so many amazing people, and made so many memories, but also grew closer to the Lord as he, once again, called me out of my comfort zone. And for that I will be forever grateful.
