So let me tell you about week 1 in India…
Our first 2 days were a cultural orientation to get everyone acclimated to the climate we are walking into, spiritually as well as physically. We learned all about the history of India and the reason our job is so important here! There are 1.32 billion people in India and 1.2 billion people are unreached- meaning they have never heard or seen the gospel presented in a language they understand. 1.2 BILLION! That’s more than all the people on the continents of North and South America combined! Needless to say, wehave great purpose being here and we are so happy to be a part of bringing Kingdom to the lost and brokenhearted.
After cultural orientation, we parted ways with the other half of the group and my team made it to SCH where we will be working and staying for the greater part of this month in India. We received an orientation on what SCH is as a ministry and what our role will be while we are here. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, SCH is a ministry which helps foster orphaned or abandoned children with special medical needs or disabilities in family style homes. It’s a fantastic ministry and I’m so pumped to be working here this month!
Our first week of ministry: Cockroach Extermination- Man vs. Bug
One thing I love about overseas missions is you are taught so many life skills. By the end of your trip you can literally build a whole new resume around a diverse skill set no four-year degree could possibly provide. During our first week we spent several hours arms deep in cockroach infested cabinets, drawers, refrigerators, stove tops, and basically any crevice you can think of. The work was tedious, labor intensive and often very dirty. But more importantly it was good, helpful, and beneficial for the ministry to serve to its greatest capacity and potential. The smell of Raid hangs thick on our Kurtas (traditional Indian blouse), but we are happy to say that we are professionals in the matter now and where we set our feet, God surely grants us victory over the evil buggies.
Our lodging situation was a little different than expected as well, but we have made a quaint home filled with constant love and laughter. There are 18 volunteers living in one house, so most of our team sleeps together in one room, mattresses wall to wall. It’s like one giant sleep over every night! While it isn’t the most spacious of living quarters, it had brought a lot of unity and unique bonding experiences in the first week. I am pretty sure God planned this one out himself.
We did also get to spend a fair amount of time with the kids this week! My favorite part of the week was getting to take 12 of the girls from the Jubilee home to the park. It was about a half mile from the home to the park which doesn’t seem like a great feat, but it was trickier than expected! Let’s just say there aren’t very many wheelchair ramps in India. It was an adventure, but a super fun one!! Seeing these girls have such a blast playing at a park and acting like normal kids with a normal life was incredible! They deserve to be treated like everyone else, experiencing the simplicity of childhood. That’s exactly what SCH tries to capture and they do it well. The outing to the park was a great example of this and generally just a really fun time for everyone involved!
This week was definitely one to keep my on my toes. On top of pretty labor intensive ministry hours and adjusting to a whole new culture, many of my teammates were sick. We made several visits to the doctor for everything from intense allergies to migraines lasting several days. Additionally, one of my girls was bit by a dog, and to be safe she is getting a full set of rabies shots. We were definitely never lacking in excitement and adventure!
With constant surprises around every corner, our energy was severely drained this week as we were juggling several balls at once and a little short staffed. However, my faith is steadfast knowing God has been here with us through it all. Spiritual warfare is potent here, and we are learning what it means to battle spiritually and emotionally as much as physically. Spiritual darkness is just another outlet God utilizes to express His glory as we speak life and light into our own circumstance and extend it to our neighbors. Darkness exists to be cast out, and we are the vessels chosen to carry the light which invades the very ground we walk on and every breath that leaves our mouths.
Life in ministry isn’t usually glamourous. It almost always means getting out of your comfort zone, learning that time is relative, flexibility is your new mantra, and making each moment one worth remembering. We as a team are learning that being uncomfortable is okay and often times even a good thing! Growing up in North America, most of us have experienced instant gratification our whole lives. We had beds and pillows to sleep with, hot showers daily, food in the fridge and supermarkets for whatever else we needed or wanted. Even what is considered as living at/below the “poverty” line in America is much different than a majority of the world. It’s good to be in a position where we count our blessings and enjoy close quarters with good company. We are incredibly blessed people.
Prayer requests:
- My team is recovering from some pretty harsh illnesses this month. Prayers for healing and overall health are much appreciated!
- Ministry itself will be beautiful and life-giving but also challenging and exhausting. Our team wants to put our best foot forward and be examples of Christ everywhere we go.
- Leading a team of 10 people is fills me with so much joy, but its also challenging and requires quick thinking and problem solving on a fairly regular basis. I am far from perfect, so please pray I will stay near to the Lord’s presence and make good, loving decisions for my teammates. I want all the help/intercession I can get during this time!!
