Reflections on India

        It’s Thursday morning of the last week of ministry here at Mercy & Grace Orphanage.  I’m sitting on the third floor of the building, which no one goes to, except to use the boy’s restroom or to work out.  It’s one of the few places I have found where I can feel alone.  The kids go up and down the outside stairs that lead to the roof often, but right now they are in school.  The older students leave for school around 9:30, and the younger students are taking exams now.  This afternoon, my team will monitor the exams, but otherwise, we haven’t done much with the kids this week because of the tests.  The weather is still perfect, although our adventure day to Vijawada yesterday left me thankful that we didn’t come to India during the summertime.  We leave on Monday night to make our way to Nepal, where I have a feeling the weather will not be quite as pleasant. 

Month one of the World Race has been one of growing, adapting, and realizing that this Race is going to rock my world.  On the surface, month one has been easy.  We live in a very nice building with electricity and running water, a deluxe squatty-potty, 3 hot meals prepared for us daily (with no shortage of rice with each!), a very relaxed schedule with plenty of downtime, and a grocery store that serves amazing butterscotch ice cream just a short walk away.  The people of India are extremely welcoming, as we saw yesterday on our village outreach day.

Because our hosts graciously agreed to let the twelve of us invade their space for a month with no cost to us, we have been able to use the majority of our combined team budgets to bless the ministry here.  We were able to take the kids to the beach for a day and provide snacks for them while there.  We purchased oodles of sports equipment that the children love, including badminton rackets, a volleyball net, jump ropes, rings, and a pingpong set.  We bought four bicycles for the older boys here to be able to go into town more easily for much-needed errands.  We bought 200 blankets and twelve sewing machines.  The sewing machines will help the girls learn sewing as a trade to be able to support themselves after leaving Mercy and Grace.  Lastly, we purchased quite a bit of food for the kids.  

Being twelve young American “volunteers” in India has been a challenge.  The cultural differences at times are tricky to adjust to.  India time is relative matter, plans often fall through, teaching English without a translator is a challenge, and just learning to operate as a team have all brought challenges in themselves.  I am learning to be flexible and see the positive side of things, even when I don’t want to.  I’m learning that just being here is blessing these children, even when I feel useless and ineffective.  I’m learning that, just because the “India way” is different doesn’t mean it’s wrong.   Apparently, we all came with baggage, and not the kind you weigh at the airport. 

The main religion here is Hinduism, and it’s everywhere.  Images of gods and goddesses are painted on trucks, houses, and buildings.  Statues of people who represent gods are everywhere, as are temples.  There are many images and statues of Christ intermixed with these symbols, as though he works in there somehow.  We drove two hours yesterday to do village outreach in a community that has an established relationship with Modhava and his family.  Although the main purpose of our coming – in the eyes of the community – was to distribute school supplies – two members of our teams did share the story of Christ with the large crowd that came out to see us.  Afterward, a woman came to me and motioned that she wanted me to pray with her, which I gladly did.  She began to weep and would not leave my side for the rest of time time.  She walked with me to the school, where we handed out supplies, and I’m pretty sure she wanted me to come to her house.  Although we couldn’t communicate with words, I hope that somehow God used the encounter to bless her.  

Sometimes I close my eyes and still can’t believe I’m here.  Month one has been a blessing and a chance to adjust to life on the Race.  I’m pretty sure Nepal’s about to kick our butts.  

Okay, time for OBSERVATIONS FROM INDIA: 

1. The cars sing when they go in reverse.  Seriously.  They sound like cell phones.  
2. The whole “cow” thing really is true.  The cows hang out on the medians in the cities, because that’s where the only grass is.  Any they lay around on the side of the road, and the cars go right past them.
3. If there is one foot between two vehicles on the road, it’s totally possible for a third vehicle to pass between them, even if that vehicle is a bus. 
4. “10 minutes” in India time might mean 30 minutes.  Or five.
5. It’s not okay for women to show their shoulders or legs, but it’s perfectly normal to show off your stomach while wearing a sari.  It’s also okay for men to swim in the ocean wearing tightie-whities and a wife beater.  It’s also okay for those men to ask to take their picture with the white people while still wearing this outfit.  
6. Babies here don’t wear diapers.  Not even cloth ones.  I’m not really sure how that works.  Oh, and they wear eyeliner.  Yeah.  
7. White people are like zoo attractions.  You should stare at them and take your picture with them, even if it’s not your camera, so you won’t ever have the picture.
8. The water doesn’t always work.  So check it before you soap your face and hands up, and then realize that there is not water, andstand there trying to figure out what to do next.
9. A spoon full of peanut butter with chocolate cocoa puff cereal on it almost tastes like a real Reece’s cup.  Almost.  
10. Indian people (men, mostly) wear earmuffs this time of year, I think because they think it’s cold.  It would be like me wearing earmuffs in May.  It’s kind of funny.