We are officially 1 week into our month in India! And let’s just say it has not quite been what I had expected. During training camp and through launch they tell us to not set expectations of what we think the race will look like and I honestly thought I was doing a pretty good job of that. I was up for anything and excited to see how God was going to use us during our time here. However, things have been much harder than I expected.
I mean, I knew that India was going to be very different than what I am used to, not only comfort wise, but also culturally. But I wasn’t expecting for it to be as overwhelming as some moments have been. There have definitely already been a few moments where I asked God, how on earth did I end up here? It can be almost unbearable hot, both day and night. The language barrier is very difficult. There are SO MANY people everywhere. The food is delicious but very spicy and we only eat with our hands (no matter how runny the curry and rice are). Because our team is doing Unsung Heroes (where AIM wants us to find new contacts for them) this month, we did not have a set contact, host, translator, or really any idea what we were supposed to do or where we should go. All of the unknown in such a foreign place was really starting to get to me. So I did the only thing I knew to do, I started praying. That God would show up for our team, that I could find joy even in the difficulty of being overwhelmed by this new country and starting the journey for the next year. And guess what? GOD SHOWED UP!
By having a random conversation with one of the long term missionaries here we were able to find a vision and plan for the month in India. He knew of a contact in a city on the eastern coast of India who ran an orphanage and is an evangelist to rural and mountain villages. After a couple of phone calls, we had a place to stay, contacts to develop relationships with, bus tickets, and a plan! I don’t know why it always surprises me, but for some reason it always does when God uses my weakness to show me just how attentive He is to me and my desires. He gave me strength and reassurance that He has a plan for me for this time in India.
After a 14-hour bus ride through the night we made it to the orphanage and were joyfully welcomed by 24 sweet children and the family that cares for them. Our contact here in India is going to take us to preach and share the gospel in rural villages that are a short distance from where we are staying and he is taking us on a 6-hour hike in the mountains to reach the tribal villages that are unreachable by vehicle. This month is definitely going to be an adventure and it can still seem pretty intimidating when I think about where we are and how isolated we are from the world we know, but I have full faith and trust that God is walking with us hand in hand and leading us to bring His Kingdom to earth through sharing His love and gospel to the people of India.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Some of the beautiful girls at the orphanage making curry!
