India was a month where the hours were long but the days were short. We had so much activity and moving that when we caught our breath, the month was over. We worked with an orphanage/foster home that takes in children that have mental and physical disabilities. These children are not wanted, and this organization takes them in and loves them the best they can. And while we got to be the muscles and elbow grease for the organization this month, I’m grateful that I got to be a part of their life.
Sometimes, it’s Hard to Honor the Culture
India has been established for thousands of years. To change something that dates back before our country (USA) was even an idea, takes time. So it’s not surprising that there were so many rules that we had to follow in order to be culturally appropriate. Don’t smile a lot in public. Don’t look too long at men in the eyes. Your ankles and shoulders must be covered at all times. It’s a lot and if you aren’t rooted in Jesus but in the Western culture, this month would have been rough. However, if you humble yourself and take on the attitude of Paul when he says “to the Jews, I became a Jew, to the Gentiles, I became a Gentile” then you know that we left all of our “rights” at the cross.
The Countries are Blurring Together
I don’t know if it is because I’ve been to Sri Lanka or I’ve gotten used to traveling to places where everything looks different, but the astonishment and newness of India wasn’t there. It’s become my normal to find landmarks in order to get where I need to or to have everyone looking at me when I am in the grocery store. It’s no longer an adjustment to take tuk-tuks across the city and have five lanes of traffic with no lines. My new normal is something that in month one was a wild adventure.
I am a Big Baby When I am Sick
I got really sick this month. Like fever and upset stomach that had me under two sleeping bags in India sick. And it confirmed the fact that even across the world, I am still a baby that wants her mommy when I am sick. I ended up waking up a teammate by crying in my sleep because I was so cold. And even though I didn’t have the comforts of home (aka mom and mashed potatoes), my teammates were amazing and loved me so well throughout it all.
It’s Not About Us
This month we didn’t go build wells or preach in churches. We didn’t teach English or really have much contact with people. We moved beds. And tables and chairs and all sorts of furniture. We painted and killed half of the cockroach population. We cleaned and organized and made labels. And some of my team questioned whether we were being used by God at all.
But it is not about us. And God works in all things, not simply the obvious ones. Everyone who works for the organization daily has their hands full. They are caring for the emotional , physical, and spiritual health of the children. To add 4 house moves and deep cleaning to their normal duties would have been close to impossible and taken so much time. We were able to help them in a super simple way and just show Jesus by being there.
The Mosquitoes are No Joke
If I were a mosquito and needed blood to survive, I would go to the juiciest part of a person. But no. Not India mosquitoes. They play by their own rules. And for some reason, they have a rule to go for toes, sides of feet, fingers, foreheads and jawlines. They don’t relent and they are stealthy. There have been mosquitoes in other countries, but nothing prepared me for the army that awaited me in India. I finally had the brilliant idea to use my tent as protection in the night, but it was a battle until the end.
India was a mix of utilizing my organization and cleaning skills with honoring the way that the organization and culture operate. I don’t need to be the savior of the country to know I was used by God. I listen and obey whatever God speaks to me, and I honor our hosts and say yes to what they ask of us. Even if it’s moving a house on foot from one street to another. India was an adventure, and I leave it being grateful for the chance to be a part of it’s growth.
