As I lay down after a long day in South India, I take a second to reflect on where God has taken me with the World Race. The past two weeks have been so full of events I’ve barely had enough time to sit down (minus my 17+ hours in plane time). It’s been tiring, but it is perfectly fine with me. I’ve always been a busy person, and I’ve come to learn that when you’re busy doing something you love, it hardly feels like work. I love working for God.
Crunched for time, I did the best I could to see as many close friends and family as possible. So sorry to everyone I couldn’t but I hope you understand! I was able to catch a cheap bus up to my loving family in New York for a weekend, get all my affairs in order, complete all my training, obtain my necessary and numerous shots, and finally pack 2 bags which carry all my material items for the year. The “bare essentials.” About 4 outfits, a sleeping system (tent,sleeping pad/bag,pillow, hammock), mess-kit (pocket knife with a spoon and compact bowl),toiletries, medication,books, and a few electronic gadgets. What seems like little can be abundant in the eyes of others.
The reality has finally set in. As curious eyes watched our odd looking group navigate through the airport we faced some small challenges. Long lines, staying together with 49 people, inquisitive questions from customs, accidentally biting into hot peppers with the Indian cuisine on the plane,and language barriers. But challenges were meant to be conquered so we persevered to reach our final destination.
You realize many things. Tourists can be extremely loud, things like hugging each-other can be perceived as something more, it’s not the end of the World when you can’t connect to Wifi, we can be very sheltered, and that we are now the foreigners. As I looked over the city, I watched our neighbors step outside their tent built with an old tarp and sticks stirring up mixed emotions within me. And so I pray, “Dear Lord, I ask that you give me eyes to see the people you will unveil for me to touch, open my ears to hear your gentle voice, give me wisdom to depart your knowledge onto your people, protect our group and grow their hearts closer to you, send a mighty wave of revival for hope,and pour abundant blessings onto the people of India! In the name of Jesus” -Amen
We can’t change everything. Everything doesn’t need to be “fixed.” BUT we can send the love of Jesus to his people and build upon what he is already working on in India. We equip ourselves with the amour of God and move into what he has called us to do. Time to do the good work.
Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
