Hello friends!
Here’s a little update on what life has been like in India for me.
Our schedule for India is quite different than any other country on the world race yet. And I have to say, free time is not my most favorite thing.
Our ministry starts at five pm Tuesday through Friday & Sunday. When we talked to our translators about what we were doing specifically, they told us we were church planting and the age ranges were 15-30 year olds.
I was honestly a little disappointed.
I wanted so desperately to be working with kids this month. Or to be doing women’s ministry. I wanted to be walking through life with women who had been sex trafficked.
So 5:00 rolled around on that first day and we drove, not too far, about 30 minutes to a church in a village. We got there and were offered chai and I left with the 17 year old into her home to help. We ended up just sitting and talking. She told me about her life and that she was a dancer. I got to learn some of her moves and we danced until the chai was ready. Shortly after we finished our chai, kids started trickling into the church. The kiddos always love Rachel and her ukulele so we sat with them and they played her uke and we tried our best to learn each of their names.
By the time the service started we had a church full of kids and maybe five adults.
We taught them dances, sang, and laughed and it was just so good for my soul.
We go to a different church in a different village every night and each night looks different but also very similar.
We drive. We get there. We hangout until people start coming. We sing. We sing more. We give a message & testimony. We pray. We pray some more for each and every person in the church. We eat dinner with the pastor and his family. We pray for pastor and his family. We drive home.
I told you that little story because when we found out that we weren’t doing children’s ministry I didn’t get grumpy and sit in a corner, angry at God for not giving me what I wanted. I didn’t request a change. I kept my hands open to my Creator and decided that I was ready for anything.
Even public speaking. Which, if you know me, I hate and I suck at it.
My first day to give a message was to a church filled with children- so Jordan and I mushed my message with the story of Jonah. And it didn’t go terribly, I didn’t faint on stage. I got to remind those littles that no matter how far they ran our God would be there waiting to grab them back and hold them close in His arms.
The Lord knows the desires of our hearts.
He loves to fulfill them because He put those desires there in the first place!
He knows my heart for the kiddos. And He is growing my heart for people my own age to 90 year olds. I love that I get to stand in front of a church and remind them how fully known and truly loved each of them are.
This past month is not anything like I thought it would be and with the holiday seasons at home I can honestly say that I would much rather be sitting on the couch smelling the Christmas tree and cinnamon candle than sitting on the dusty floor of this huge building itching at the mosquito bites on my ankles.
We get to be here. We get to be in India encouraging people in their relationships with Jesus.
I’m learning everyday how to love being right were I am.
Love you, mean it.
Emma
