I have been in India for a week now. Just getting here was a adventure. It consisted of a three day excursion. First we had to sleep at the airport in Romania because our flight left at eight in the morning, so it was just easier to spend the night at the airport so we could be there by five. I'm not sure if anyone else slept but I managed to catch a few zzz's. I have learnt to sleep anywhere while on the race. Before this I could not even sleep at someone else's house but now give me a scarf to put over my eyes and a pair of ear plugs and I'm out like a light.
Our next stop after leaving Romania was a 10 hour layover in Moscow. It was suppose to only be six hours but, welcome to the World Race, you learn to expect the unexpected. Luckily they had free internet, so I spent most of the time catching up on emails and trying to stay awake. The next flight was six hours to New Delhi, India. All I remember is something about lamb for dinner and then being woke up for the landing. After going through another security check we got on the subway to the train station. When we got to the train station, we had to go through yet another security check and then wait a couple hours for the train.
The one thing that no one ever told me about India is that they like to stare. Now, I'm not talking about a few people staring as you walk by. No, they surround you by the dozens just hoping that you will talk to them. I felt like they thought I was a entertainer ready to entertain them with some amazing tricks or something. We even had a boy about 14 years old ask us for our autograph. This is what it is like to be famous?!
The train! Oh, the train…
…the most interesting experience of my life. Indian trains are not like the ones in Europe. When I first stepped on, I'll admit I was a little shocked. Our ministry site is in Southern India in the state of Andhra Pradesh, so we had to take a 28 hour train ride there. The train was very rustic and reminded me of the cargo hold in a airplane. We were lucky to get sleeper carts but they were not as nice as you may be thinking. You get your own vinyl covered table to sleep on, in a section of the cart which you share with 8 other people. Beggars walk or crawl up and down the aisles of the train asking for money about every 15 minutes. Most leave when you say no but a couple persisted and got mad when they didn't get anything. When we stopped at stations women with babies would come up to the windows asking for money. They told us before we came that some women will rent babies from their mothers in the hopes of getting more sympathy from the people who they are begging from. Aside from the beggars there were also merchants selling food and trinkets. We were also told not to eat food on the train, do I need to tell you why?
Despite the discomfort from the noise, heat, dust, sweat and hundreds of people the experience was not all bad. We met a couple of indians sitting next to us and invited them into our card games and conversations. Our team is joined with two other teams for this month, so we got the opportunity to catch up on each others' experiences and stories from the last two months. Like I said I can sleep anywhere, so it was also good to catch up on some sleep.
Because India is a closed country we have to be careful on what we say about why we are here and we can't just share the Gospel with just anyone we meet. But we shared our friendship and love to some of the people we met on the train and at stations and we learnt more about there culture and values.
After the long and tiring train ride, we were sweaty and dirty but still had a 4 hour bus ride to get to our final destination. We endured the stares of the Indians again as a contact sent by our host shuttled 5 or 6 people at a time out of the 21 of us to the bus station. I enjoyed a Indian movie on the bus between sleeping and shielding my self from the rain coming through the windows that wouldn't shut, until we were finally at our new home for the month.
Even during travel days God is teaching us and using us to further His Kingdom. The challenges and difficulties that we face only force us to rely more on God and to look to Him for our strength. God has showed me from this experience that even though I didn't have any physical comforts and was very uncomfortable I still took comfort in knowing that God was still there and still providing. He was providing friendship, love, mercy and peace. I wanted to be there despite the difficulties because It was in His plan and purpose for my life. I knew and know that I'm not alone.
Although I was so happy to have a shower and a full belly at the end I will still not forget that because of it I am stronger and better able to serve God in whatever He has for me next.
