This place warmed my heart in a mysterious way. It let itself in like it was already at home. Kind, but hard and unfamiliar.
I admit I was afraid. India was a big place, full of looming possibilities and stories and colors and hidden discoveries. A little nervous of what I would find amongst the folds. But then I opened up my arms to embrace it all; the beauty of India. I smiled wide when I saw their eyes, beaming with seeing ever so much how the Father loves them. I saw the colors in their lives and aching to reach out and say hi.
It feels like we’ve been in India forever even though it’s only been three weeks or so. All that’s happened in me and those around me is more than I feel like I know how to account for.
It’s been all the right kinds of wonderful with learning the head bobble and eating with our right hands, and seeing an extensive amount of curry, rice, and chai.
It’s been all the right kinds of hard with encountering God in new ways and being challenged in our hearts to grow.
I’ve learned more how God moves despite us and our faith. Every moment has been thought through to take care of us in just the right way in that season. (For example, this place we’ve been living has an incredible rooftop view and I’ve spent so much time up there with the Lord.)
For me, I learned the hard things of what speaking up looks like, putting yourself out there in boldness. I’ve learned more about hospitality, sacrifice, and selflessness. Letting go of my agenda and game plan to trust what God will do with what I have instead. I’ve learned more on what it means to be humbled by my humanity, coming to terms with the brokenness in our humanity and grace inside of that.
For others, it’s meant what it looks like to live in hard conditions like sleeping in immense humid heat, bugs everywhere, sick from who knows what, and the being challenged by what it looks like to give up the life they’re used to back home and grow in the uncomfortable.
I’ve learned more of what it means to embrace every moment while it’s been hard, as I’ve followed teams, had those hard talks, encouraged, and more. I’ve gotten the opportunity to see more villages and church bodies and ministries and how this culture experiences the Lord. I’ve had the privilege to pray for healing over countless people and see and hear about those miracles that have occurred. I’ve learned what it means to know myself better and when to rest and when I don’t feel well so that I don’t get sick. (Kind of failed at that, because I’m still sickish, so that’s fun. Prayers plz.)
I’ve been praying to be more interruptible for the Lord to move even when I don’t feel like it. To pray for a woman to be healed when I don’t feel like it. To stop and talk to that person for five minutes. To answer countless questions, and have spontaneous deep conversations. The Lord has moved in the moments when I’ve only been slightly willing, and it’s made me more willing to be more interruptible. I think those are the funnest moments for the best surprises from God.
This place warmed my heart in a mysterious way. It let itself in like it was already at home. Kind, but hard and unfamiliar. I admit I was afraid. But God sifted my heart and warmed it. Now my heart will never be the same, because India has entered it, but also because God has loved on it.
Nepal, we’re coming for you soon.
Thanks for reading this blog and checking up on me! It means more to me than you know that you read my blogs!
Please keep us in your prayers as we begin our travel days to Nepal and for all of us who have the sickies in one way or another. My cough is still very present and nasty, which I’m starting to believe is from the pollution, but I digress.
Pray that as we enter into debrief it will be a restful time to rejuvenate and process more through what God did this month in India.
I’m still fundraising to be here on the field loving and serving on this squad. If you feel the Lord calling to your heart in that way to financially support me, I’d greatly appreciate it. Any amount is loved. Follow this link to donate! THANKS!
Your Em.
