My time in India has been incredible! The sights, sounds and people are all amazing. As I look back I see that God has placed book ends on this month.
The very first day we arrived in India is the starting point. We had just got off the plane and had loaded up the buses when my stomach started to hurt a little. A soft pain just below my ribs on the right hand side. I thought nothing of it and got on the bus and went to my place, the pain increasing as I walked the twenty feet to my seat.
I'm the kind of person that when I'm sick I'll try to tough it out as long as I can before I tell anyone about. Like the time my arm was broken for several days and it took a swimming pool to convince me I should tell my parents how much pain I was in.
I laid across my two seats hoping the pain would go away. It persisted all the more.
Finally I had enough and asked my squad mates to pray for me.
They covered me in prayer and when they finished one of them stayed and we had an impromptu worship session as I lay there, pain receding. As we sang I felt this strong urge to pray for the people of India. That they would be changed by the working of the Holy Spirit. That we would step out in faith to do what He has for us this month.
Somewhere in there I started laughing over nothing at all which made the pain recede even more…kinda odd but it happened.
God took away my pain the first day I set foot in India, needless to say I was excited to see what came next. I won't get into that here as other blogs cover the time in between.
The day of departure came and we were loading up the buses once more. This time to leave India behind, heading forward to Nepal.
I found a seat on one of our buses but upon hearing the other bus had more empty seats, I decided to even things out.
As I made my way down the street and onto the other bus the pain from weeks earlier returned. I hadn't felt it since that first bus ride and there I was about to leave and it comes back. Just as strong as ever, in the exact same place, just below my ribs on the right hand side.
I made my pain known much sooner, initially forgetting what happened when we arrived. Then I remembered and told Lauren one of my teammates who was there the first time. She asked right away if I wanted prayer, I decided to tough it out.
As I moved to my seat Kirk Blade asked me how I was doing and if he could pray for my pain. I swallowed my pride and had the people closest to me on the bus gather to pray over me. Why hold on to pain that God could so easily take from me.
Once again my pain started to subside but not entirely so they prayed again. Upon finishing their prayer Lauren said that I should worship and got my iPad out of my bag along with my earbuds. I turned on my worship playlist and sang as I lay there, pain slowly fading.
As the time before I felt the urge to pray over India. That the people of this country would be changed. That their idols would be cast down among them and they would no longer be a nation of a million gods but a nation that follows the One True God. For my squad that we would be forever changed by the work of God in us and His love would shine through us.
I was overcome with laughter and joy before, this time my plea for India came with tears as I wept for a people in bondage. A people that now had a face and not simply a name.
Thus the book end was in place. My pain on arrival and departure bringing me to praise, worship and prayer. I hope that all my pain will lead me to that place of depending on the God who is involved in the details of life.
I made my last deadline and I have one left. The final deadline. Here are the details of where my fundraising stands.
Funds Raised: $12,986
Needed to be fully funded: $2,823
Full fundraising needed by July 1, 2013
(All Fund amounts are based off what has actually been processed, it does not show gifts if they are still in process)
Thank you so much to all those who have supported me so far! It means so much to me to see that you are behind me in this. Your continued support through prayer and finances is greatly appreciated.
If you would like to support me click the Support Me link on the side of the page.
To all my Canadian donors: If you are writing a cheque please write it out in US funds (ex. One Hundred US dollar). As this will allow the cheques to process faster and put the exact amount into my support account.
Also AIM is not able to give tax deductable reciepts to Canadian donors.
