We switched locations! It only took 15.5 hours on a bus, one broken window, and a few cups of tea with the state border police. My squad will spend the next six weeks in a new state of India. We are unsure of what ministry looks like, but it should be similar to our last home in India. It could include teaching, manual labor, and anything else under the sun. The culture here is a bit more blended and I am excited for the diversity. We are sandwiched between Muslim and Hindu communities in a majorly Christian region.
The morning after travel day, I prayed that God would highlight beautiful things to me throughout the day and show me a few things he loves about this place. He was so sweet to answer with the most abundant day! After lunch and preparing for dinner, my friend Sam and I met some local Hindi girls around ten years old outside of the meal tent . We introduced them to our Hmar friends around the same age. We went for a walk around the village with them. They taught us traditional dance moves from each of their tribes, introduced us to their families, and showed us their different places of worship. The girls noticed how much I would coo at the goats on the road and they led me to various homes with baby goats. They giggled and picked them up, allowing me to play with the kids. It was adorable! Right now, I am going through the gospels in my Bible. I was reminded that Jesus called little children His and adored the faith they carry. It was so precious to see young girls overcome cultural boundaries and play with and gain an understanding of each other. God is working in this village, especially through the children who are already so ready to love each other. They are such spirited and joyful souls, hungry for knowledge and community. After saying goodbye to our new friends, the day ended with a yummy curry meal and fellowship with my squad. It is so sweet that God cares about the small things and brings depth to seemingly insignificant moments.
I am so expectant of this new season and I pray that God’s will is done here in this place. Today is the last day of 2019. A new year and a new decade is fast approaching! My squad gets to celebrate the new year at church tonight. It is such a privilege to be able to openly worship God here in India as the decades roll over. This year I am praying for growth in the intimacy I have with the Father and more experiences with the beautiful people that make this race worth it. the present theme of the race and my word for the year is abundance! It is incredible that when we give the Holy Spirit space to move, He blows our imagination out of the water and gives us such glorious moments! The race has been filled with so many days of abundance and I praise Him for blessing me with all of it! Thank all for following my journey and supporting me in prayer. Happy New Year!
P.S. I haven’t forgotten about vlogging. There is more to come shortly:)
