The India I have always dreamed of has come to life before my eyes.
It is…
Loud.Vibrant.Colorful.Energetic.Hopeful.Beautiful.Chaotic.Peaceful.Hot.Musical.Humid.Loving.Exotic.
I have heard rumors and stories about India my whole life. I heard good things and bad things and I had no idea what to expect when I got here. I won’t try to convince you of anything, other than that at some point I hope you get to come to India yourself to experience this place like no other.
For me, nothing I have experienced so far in my life beats riding in the back of an open safari jeep with the wind whipping across my hair and face; rocking out to the beat of loud Indian music. Where the horned cattle stroll lazily down the road and herds of goats cause traffic jams every few miles. Where beautiful, tanned children run as fast as they can to keep up with your truck smiling and waving the entire time. Where women and men no matter what age insist on sitting on the ground so you can have the chair . Where little boys who have no family bow down on their knees to sing songs to their friend Jesus. Where there are such beautiful colors everywhere you turn your head.
Where little boys steal your heart with their funny faces and gut-bursting laughter.
I was going to try and document every minute of India, but I’ve realized I can’t. So I want to tell you about the little boy who broke my heart, stole it and will hold it forever. I don’t know his name, and probably couldn’t pronounce it even if I did. But I call him my little boy in green.
He is an orphan and lives in one of the covenant homes with nine other little boys. His beauty, bright eyes, little giggles and huge smile melted my heart the minute I met him. From the moment we arrived in his village he stuck by my side. For the rest of the day we laughed together, played and took about fifty pictures together. We made funny faces, played hand-clapping games and I even got a hug. All day the thought of having to leave him left me near tears. In church I watched as he got on his knees, raised his little hands and sang songs to Jesus. In those few moments, I again got to see heaven on earth.
Later I watched as all of the little boys ran and climbed into their beds. They were so excited to show us which one was theirs. I watched my little boy in green carefully, just wanting to see how he was in every day life. He hopped into bed and layed his head on the pillow. In that moment my heart broke. It felt like he was mine and that I was losing my own child. My heart hurt because this beautiful little boy tucked himself into bed. I wanted to grab him and promise to take care of him for the rest of his life.
The dreaded time came where we had to say good-bye. He, along with the other boys, jumped up out of bed and ran over to us to say a final good-bye and get one more handshake or high-five. As we were leaving the house I turned to look at him one more time, and as I choked back tears I will never forget seeing his little face smiling the biggest smile I had ever seen, waving back at me. He grinned from ear to ear.
And then, we were gone. Back in our jeep leaving the village I didn’t know the location of where the little boy who I didn’t know the name of lives. I was glad it was dark as the whole ride home I cried silent tears. Looking up at the thousands of stars I prayed desperately to Jesus. Praying that He would bless those little boys, especially mine. That He would keep him safe and let him know how much he was loved….how much I loved him. The tears were bittersweet. I was filled with joy that I had the privilege of this little boy coming into my life, even just for a day. That I was more blessed by him than he ever could be by me. And also of sadness because I may never see him again. It is so bittersweet to think that as I go on with my life my little boy in green will be somewhere in the wild countryside of India running through the rolling green hills.
I knew the minute I waved good-bye that I would give it all up for him. I would give up America, future plans, whatever I had to if it meant I could love and take care of that little boy forever.
But Jesus only gave him to me for a day. And I would rather have one day with him and be missing him for the rest of my life than to never have met him at all.
My little boy in green.
