It’s weird to think that I am writing my first official blog since starting the World Race. I am currently sitting on a flight taking me to Hyderabad from Qatar. I haven’t even stepped foot into my first country I will be doing missions work in but I have already been exposed to an extreme culture shock.
Our flight from Atlanta to Qatar was 14 hours… just kinda let that sink in for a second.
14
Hours
My feet swelled and my back hurt so bad but honestly it was so fun. I bonded with my squad as we all rotated getting up, stretching, dancing in the bathrooms, switching seats, having conversation, and using each other as human pillows. I am already so in love with my squad and I truly believe they will be in my life forever… but that’s a topic for another blog.
When we arrived in Qatar after the gigantic flight filled with ice cream, 3 meals, and much bonding time, it was very immediate the change in cultural status from America to Qatar. The airport was crazy beautiful, fresh, new, sleek, and expensive looking. They had stores that sold Gold, stores that sold pristine and expensive outfits, and just really expensive things. The airport had its own hotel with a gigantic pool (I sadly did not get to enjoy it but my friends on a different route sent me pictures). It was also very clear the cultural divide amongst genders. There was a rest area that was segregated men and women. The men’s side had clear glass and the women’s side had foggy glass so that they could take off their head coverings and still not have their heads or hair be shown to the public. There was separate doors to get to each room. I found that to be so amazing to witness because we hear about these norms of people in the Middle East but rarely do people get to actually see it with their own eyes.
Just like in America when we see women walking around with head coverings we usually stare a tad because it’s not as common, they stared at us girls who had our long hair out for all to see. I felt truly away from home in those moments and the reality of what I have stepped into truly set in.
As we boarded our plane heading for India and we got settled in i quickly felt another jolt of reality hit me when I found out I was sitting between an India man and women. I squeezed between them and said a shy and tired and jet-lagged “hi” to the both of them… to which they replied with silence and glares. I realized they don’t speak my language and that they truly don’t want to talk to a small and weird white American girl. In that moment I decided I wouldn’t talk to them the rest of the flight and I would just enjoy my flight watching movies or sleeping… but God had a different plan. The women behind me was holding a beautiful little Indian baby and it would not stop crying. It cried and cried and cried some more. The women began to get visibly stressed and upset. The women sitting next to me decided to ask to hold the child for her to help the women find some peace and sanity. As the women next to me grabbed the child and got settled back into the seat next to me I couldn’t help but pause my movie, take off my ear phones, and touch the child’s head. I know that sounds weird but I was so blown away by the beauty in this cute, chunky, Indian baby. When I touched its head it giggled and the women next to me began to smile at me. We both began to try to calm the baby down together. We weren’t able to communicate verbally, but through facial expressions and hand motions we broke the verbal barrier and were able to communicate. The women next to me and I eventually got the baby calmed down and gave the child back to the mom who also began to smile. In those moments I felt God giving me peace.
“I have called you to this journey and no barrier cannot be torn down. I will provide you the way and I will work through you.”
No I didn’t get to share the gospel. No I didn’t get to preach to the whole plane… but I did get to provide peace to a stressed mom and break down language barriers through love and I count that as a victory. I praise God for these moments that aren’t official ministry yet because he is working even still. God can work through us in every situation wether it’s on a plane, at work, in official ministry, or sitting in our comfy homes. Don’t wait for the official moments to let God work through you, seek him in every moment and don’t discredit the small victories God provides.
I am so jet-lagged and I don’t even know how to end this blog. I land in an hour in Hyderabad and from there I will wait 12 hours for the rest of my squad to arrive from Mumbai (we got different flights). I am anxious and excited to see how these next few weeks in India will go and how God is going to work! Stay tuned and keep following along! I love you all very very much!
~~~PRAYER REQUESTS~~~
*Pray for us to have good health in India. India is dirty and stinky and riddled with health issues.
*Pray for God to enter our hearts and give us the wisdom, strength, words to say, eyes to see, and feet to walk out whatever God is going to call us too this month.
*Pray for our hearts to be open and that God will work through us in mighty ways for his kingdom and to help those hurting after the hurricane!
*Pray that we will live each day looking for ways to serve and glorify God rather than ourselves.
I am officially a world racer. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. Wow.
********update since I wrote this********
I am currently sitting in an Indian cafe to get wifi (PRAISE HIM).
Where we are staying at the moment has no wifi. Having no wifi has been amazing. I have been able to fully embrace the culture of India and adjust to my new normal without many distractions. We have been doing cultural training and shopping for culturally appropriate outfits (IT WAS SO FUN!!!!!). I will be starting what I came here to do tomorrow! 🙂 I am very excited to post pictures and show you guys this beautifully broken land. Pictures and videos could never do it justice but I will try my best to show you guys what I am experiencing and the ministry I am doing as much as I can. I already am in love. God is so good and so great. Ahhhhhhhhhhh. I AM IN INDIA!!!!!!!!!!
🙂
