I swing my legs over the edge sitting on the rooftop in Hyderabad India. I have encountered God in so many unique places this month- on the top of a rooftop overlooking a sleepy city, laying in a sandy beach staring out into the vastness of the ocean, and looking into the smiling eyes of a child as he holds my hand and eagerly pulls me through the streets of his village. I know God cannot fit into the limited dimensions of my worldview, nor can He be restricted by the boarders of definition. However, this month I feel as though my worldview grew a little more God-sized as my definition of life abundant reached beyond known boundaries. Specifically, 3 factors in my walk with God contributed greatly to my adventures starting my 11 month journey.
Community: for the past three weeks I lived, ate, worked, and spent all other free time with the same seven people. A few things happen when you live that closely to and with one another. For one, you realize you can’t hide much about who you are. The good, the bad, the ugly- it all comes out one way or another. Two, there is something so incredibly freeing about being truly known, especially by the people you are doing life with daily. I can tell you I have never experienced anything like it before because we don’t usually live in true communion with people in the U.S. Of course we have friends, spouses, family. But how often are our encounters superficial or shaded by a facade rooted in a deep desire to cover up our not so pretty flaw. When the boundaries are stripped away, I realize walking in freedom with people who not only know the work in progress that is your walk with Christ, but loves you in spite of the mistakes you make while your walking alongside each other.
Creation: My team camped a short walk from the Indian ocean. I spent so many mornings running on the sandy beach or dancing to worship music by the rocky shore. On hot days after working outside, we would all dive into the refreshing water. I would sit for hours watching and listening to the waves crash violently onto the mossy rocks and sun bathed sands. “God created all of this in all His power and beauty and perfection,” I thought. “He created all of this and He created me. And He loves me.” How do you respond when the creator of the universe cares enough about you to speak about your value and worth through the sounds of an oceanic orchestra. I loved learning more and more about my omnipotent God who owns the whole world and loves me through dimensions my brain can’t comprehend. I’m absolutely in awe and in excited anticipation of where God will take me and teach me next.
Village Ministry: What happened with our ministry site was only possible with God at our sides. Village ministry turned into gospel street ministry- which is exactly what it sounds like. My team and I prepared and preached sermons in front of packed, one room church congregations, but we also walked the streets with unbelievers, usually with one or two kids in hand pulling us excitedly through the entire village. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was what it felt like to walk as Jesus’s disciples. I loved the feeling that maybe I spoke Jesus’s name into the heart of a child or a mother or father for the first time in their life. We walked where we felt lead and prayed healing for those who asked. And I learned that is was less about what I said than about the authority in which I said it. We prayed knowing that in the name of the LORD physical, emotional, or spiritual healing would take place according to their needs. I was so proud of our team for stepping out of the comfortable and taking the first step of walking on water with Jesus. We were reminded of this parable about the kingdom of heaven very often turning our street ministries.
” The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
-Matthew 13:44
Christians in India know what it is to give up all they have to gain life with Christ. They must choose to leave their family’s religion and pursue relationship with Christ. Many are shunned, some are beaten, others are thrown out of their homes into the streets, and for some it may cost their life. But those I talked to spoke of life abundant and life eternal as if they are priceless gifts. I think too often we forget that in America, myself included. We forget that what we lose from this world in order to gain life with Christ forever is truly the equivalent to trading rags for riches. If we stop working ourselves into exhaustion chasing the “American Dream” we would realize that everything we could possibly need to walk in freedom and complete fulfillment has already been given to us. We just have to receive it and choose to walk in it daily.
There was a new fire started in the hearts of many this month- embers that burns despite the ashes it surrounds. I’m sad to leave this beautiful country behind- India you were so good to me! But I have 10 months and 10 more countries to love. With every step forward walking in relationship with God, I feel the freedom’s embrace just a little bit stronger.
