Since being in India, I’ve been surprised, inspired, and awed every single day. God has been constantly blessing me since I took my first steps here.
In these past few weeks, God our Father has taught me about expectation. And He’s taught me that He’ll exceed every expectation we have. That they’ll be even better than what we could have imagined. Our God is so very detailed. He’s the best author of our story. It’s like I create an outline, and then He comes along. He erases a few parts, adds so much more detail, and paints colors that speak to the very depths of our souls.
In India, the community we are staying in is predominantly Christian. Years and years ago, a 20 something missionary from America came to India to spread the gospel. Because of His faith and bravery, the people listened. And now, many of these families believe in Jesus. When I ask a local “do you know Jesus?” They often answer, “yes, since I was a child!” WHAT! How mind blowing. We have come as missionaries, hoping to share the good news, and they’ve already heard it and are living it out. What a beautiful surprise. Expectations succeeded.
We are staying with an organization that has housed World Racers before. They’re familiar with who we are and what we need when we come. Our whole squad is together this month. 60 people, 60 young, growing, hungry people who require work to house and feed and organize. They have mapped out our ministry for us for the month. We’re staying in an old school house, with electricity and running water. They cook and feed us 3 times a day. And the food… the food is incredible. Curry, and lentils, spices, and rice pudding. Food that fills you up. Food I love eating every day. Every morning, they provide us with hot, sweet, delicious Chai tea. The kind you buy for fun once a week, because it’s such a joyous treat. We have clean water every single day. And we’re constantly being blessed, and being served. We do what we can to help, but because they’ve got such enormous hearts for the Lord, they insist on doing as much as they can. We’re well fed, well taken care of, and well loved every moment. Expectations washed away.
Everyday we’re doing something different in the community, visiting schools, or youth groups, or helping with medical camps. And each time God amazes me. We were visiting a school, and come to find out, it’s a Christian school. 800 students that are learning about the Lord. We walked into chapel that morning, and all of these sweet faces turn, brightening up when they see us walk in. Waving so intensely I think their hands will fall off. And they sing. They sing about Jesus and shout to the top of their lungs. Some of them have prepared individual numbers of scripture readings, or beautiful songs. Then a little girl, only 3 years old, in her school uniform, white polo, plaid skirt, and cute little stockings gets up on stage. I expect something cute, I expect her to be a little shy. But instead, she sings, perfectly, beautifully, and ever so confidently “You Raise Me Up.” She’s on key, knows every word, and each time she recites the line “You Raise Me Up,” she slowly raises her hand from her hip, just above the hairs of her head. Expectations blown away.
At night, we sometimes visit area Youth Groups. And miraculously, because God is amazing, they turn into incredible choirs. Someone preaches, we share a testimony, songs are sung, and all the sudden they rehearse so effortlessly songs about the Lord. And though I can’t understand the words, I can feel His presence. I close my eyes, and I feel like the angels have come down to visit us for a short while. And again, my expectations are shattered. The glass pieces are broken, and God creates a new, more intricate and colorful picture.
My expectation for India, was that I would come, serve people, love people, and tell people about our great great Father. While we are still doing that, God is providing for me just as much. He’s served me. He’s loved me. And He’s renewed my faith in Him, all through this place and it’s inspiring people. Sometimes we forget, in the midst of thinking of others so much, and hoping to play a part in their salvation, that we need to be loved and encouraged, too.
So I thank God for where we are. I thank Him for that missionary, for these people, for that little girl, for the children, for me, and for you. I thank Him for expectations, and I thank Him for always surpassing them.
