I’m sitting on a bus, traveling from Bangalore to Chennai to meet the rest of the squad and head to Nairobi for debrief. We are watching our second bollywood movie on the loudest volume, but I’m not complaining because I have my own seat that reclines and it’s almost too cool from all the conditioned air. What a treat!
India was a very interesting month for me. I never felt like I was actually here, and was waiting for my expectations to be met regarding scenery, food, music… but I have no idea what I was waiting for. I watched Slumdog Millionaire half way through the month and realized I definitely am in India and it ws just like the movie depicted.
India has been about strength, perseverance, change, healing, newness, and communication… among many other things. I would love to tell you my favorite things about this month, but we experienced such a dazed variety of everything. We went to special needs schools to teach, orphanages to sing with children, Sunday schools to do bible stories… and I am still always Joseph, Jesus, Noah or Daniel thanks to my short hair… the streets of Bangalore to evangelize, and a homeless shelter to heal. I preached to the biggest congregation yet, I slept on the top bunk, I was called auntie by every adorable Indian child, Jesus, through my hands, healed women of physical ailments, I experienced very sneaky spiritual lies, I ate Pizza Hut more than I have in my life (99 rupee deal….), I am at a new intimate level with Jesus, and I realized how dirty washing my clothes by hand makes me feel. I can’t put one title on India… and honestly I can’t wait to leave. It has been a wonderful month as well as a stressful one. Intimate, yet clouded.
I wouldn’t exchange it for anything, because so much happened this month… but we’re leaving now… Here we come Africa!!
Here is a video that the talented Stephanie May made to recap our time here… check it out!
