Month 1: Manipur, India
Hello from Sielmat, India!! ATL to Chicago to Qatar (13 hours) to Kolkata (9 hours layover) to Imphal, India! Finally after a 1.5 hour bus ride WE MADE IT to the village of Sielmat in the city of Charachanpur in the State of Manipur.
Local Language: Hmar (pronounced Mar)
Currency: Rupees
India has held many surprises. The first being our entire sQuad is together and its not even our official all squad month! Its been great having everyone here, doing ministry together and having the chance to get to know everyone in our first month abroad.
We are not in the city or anywhere near central India. We have been with the Hmar tribe in North Eastern India, so the locals look more Oriental than what you would assume Indian. We are in a village of with small huts also some larger houses surrounded by great brick walls and fences. We have been staying in the Trinity Collage and Seminary (TCS) and also taking turns sleeping in the huts within the confines of property of our host. We are in the hills and its very rural. We are surrounded by beautiful mountains on every side and its simply breathtaking.
Ministry has been amazing! To my friends from SpringWell its looked very similar to Guatemala. We are with the Partnership Mission Society and we’ve had the chance to do a little of everything! The first week alone my team was part of construction at the hospital, packaging blankets to send into the hills, and crowd control at a Kids retreat with over 2000 kids. Since we have done VBS, a medical camp, more construction and kitchen duty. Our squad joined together to help in the construction of a church =)
Days off have included going to the markets to look around, eating passionfruit, finding chocolate, indulging in a coke, going to Life Cafe and just relaxing at home enjoying time together. Phase 10 and Dutch Blitz are our card games of choice and a little hammock time each day has been glorious! Laundry is done by hand in buckets and hung up to dry, and its so rewarding to wear clothes you washed by hand! I say that now, but I now ill kiss the washer and dryer when I get home =)
I cant believe this first month is almost over. Ive already experienced ups and downs and the Lord is teaching me so much! I told him we have 10 more months so He can slow down hahaha be looking for my next blog about what the Lord has done in my heart in India soon =) (internet willing hahah)
We will be heading to Kathmandu, Nepal on February 2nd! Thank you for your continued support and prayers! I am so grateful and humble. I miss you all dearly!!
Em
