How do I explain something when I don’t even have the words to explain it? Last month in India I never expected to feel so connected to the country and the ministry as much as I did. India was not even on my radar when I applied for this route. When the Lord pieces things together though, expect the unexpected. I find myself thinking a lot about how can I help after this experience is over and hoping that the connections I made will be ones that last.
Our team spent our month in a home with 9 other girls and had the opportunity to help them out in anyway we could at their homes. These women take care of children who have been abandoned and have special needs. From the very beginning we witnessed these women go non-stop for their children. It honestly was, and still is, so inspiring to me.
During this month there was a lot of transition happening in their organization plus all the major US Holidays. It was a really busy time for everyone, especially the people we lived with. However, when you were in their homes you would have never noticed because of their outpour and dedication.
Let me tell you a little bit more about these selfless, nurturing, and awesome women. Not only do they relentlessly take care of their children, but they are constantly at work to support their children as much as they can. That looks like continuous stories and updates on how all of the children are doing in their homes. I don’t think there was a night that I didn’t see at least one person on their computer typing away. When learning more about the heart behind this organization, I found out that these women willingly leave the comfort of their own country, family, and friends. They lay down their own “normal” for a year and even longer if they feel like the Lord is leading them to.
They love their children with such a fierce love. For the first time on the Race, I was feeling what they were feeling for their children. When their heart broke so did mine and when they talked about their kids I felt their joy. It was wild and so sweet. They are incredible.
We became a home of 15 under one roof. You never can predict what’s going to happen in a season. I don’t think these women ever would have thought that six others would be coming into a time of a lot of transition and questioning, but we did. I learned so much from them. I couldn’t believe that my heart could love people so instantly, but it did.
I saw, even in a time of my own transitioning season, that the Lord was making room in my own heart for this place and the people there. I think that was the biggest lesson I learned in India. I saw these 9 women open up their home and share everything with us. They didn’t have to. They could have even said no to lodging us that month, but they didn’t. They made room.
One of my favorite stories from my time in India was Christmas dinner. These women spent the whole day with their children, so our team decided to do a pot luck dinner with all of them. We made food and also Swiggyed in food (like uber eats back home). We all gathered around a table that was made for six people and added in more chairs to make room for everyone. We broke bread, laughed, and shared stories. We made room for each other and it was so sweet. It was the sweetest Christmas I have ever had.
I believe the Lord taught me that when we make room even when it doesn’t make sense, we can have the sweetest moments. How even more sweet it is when we allow the Lord to come in and speak to us and guide us. He constantly pursues and loves us, all we have to do is make room.
