All I want is to have authentic heartfelt blogs…but recently when sitting down, I have struggled with what to write. I almost feel like I am trying to manufacture something–to create an image. And I dont want that. So this blog is going to be a little different. I have taken excerpts of my journal which were written in times of inspiration or struggle, in times where I did not feel the pressure of trying to create the “perfect blog” that would bring in the most readers. Because that’s not the point.
This is my real India:
11/03 Arrival
“As we collected our baggage and headed to the bus, we maneuvered our way through many staring people. Some laughed, some took pictures, but pretty much everyone watched as we waddled through the airport, sandwiched between two bags. We eventually made it to our single bus where we stuffed it full with more people and bags than should be allowed. Thus we began our early morning journey to the hotel.
…
Upon arrival to our hotel, Erika and I were assigned a room. However, when trying to unlock our door and using at least 5 different keys, we were finally just given another room. This room held its own little surprise for us. Getting ready for bed, I noticed a lizard on the wall so Pablo and Rhakeem were called in to help chase it out. What pursued was quite comedic–at least to our sleep deprived minds (it was 5am already). The lizard’s legs were a blur as it sped across the wall. Pablo held a rag which he was swinging at the lizard to try and steer it towards the door. As he was jumping and swinging, the lizard must have momentarily latched on because, the it went catapulting across the room. Rhakeem ducked just in time as the lizard flew over his head and reattached to the far wall. I was one laughing mess and we never got the lizard out.”
11/04 First day at Ministry
“The school has just recently received some instruments and today, we had the honor to pray annointing over them and their musicians. We were calling forth songs from heaven that would release God’s presence here in India.
I pray for this month and for India…that worship would be the redemptive gift of India, that people would encounter God’s presence and His real heart through worship, that people’s chains would be broken off, that they would be healed, that they would be delivered from demons. I want to see people coming into a real encounter with the God of love.”
Psalm 89:1 // I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. //
11/08 Worship Night
“We all piled into the back of the cruiser thinking we were off to a simple night of worship, but we have been learning to expect the unexpected. As soon as we started driving, sister Madu turned around and asked who would be sharing a message and who would be giving a testimony. Of course. We should have known. As we sat in the trunk, we laughed it off as Kirsten and Amber stepped up to the plate. Amber sat bumping up and down in the trunk of the car as we weaved through Indian traffic and wrote her sermon right then and there. And God spoke through her.
…
Our worship night took place in the alley were a tent was set up. People were sitting on the ground before a keyboard, guitar, and mic, waiting to begin as a motorcycle drove on by. This is church. It doesn’t have to have fancy lights and sound systems. It doesn’t matter where it takes place, it only takes people who are hungry for an encounter with God.”
11/10 Encounter
“I joined in with the brother’s evening worship tonight. The Holy Spirit was so present. People were dancing, raising their hands, kneeling, and on their faces in total surrender before The Lord.
I began to weep. I couldnt control myself. As I bowed before the Lord, I shook with sobbing. All I could do was pray in tongues and repeat the beautiful name of Jesus. I have no idea what He did exactly, but He refreshed my tired spirit. I have a sense that He is empowering me for something…for what, thats yet to be seen.”
11/12 Monsoon
“I was feeling tired and homesick. I just wanted to go home, to see my friends and family again.
But just when I was feeling like giving up on the race, the rain came. And with it, it brought a deluge of possibilities. It opened my eyes to the beauty of small moments on the race. It produced interactions with people here that raised my spirits. As we jumped and shouted and danced with the brothers in the pouring rain, toting bucket after bucket of water from the flooded basement to the street…my heart felt full.
Perhaps, these are the moments that make the race worth while.”
11/15 Auto
“Today our auto was pulled over by the police…for what I’m still not entirely sure. Maybe it was because there were five white people piled in this 3-wheeled rickshaw, sitting on each other’s laps…maybe it was because there was a problem with the vehicle? (Kirsten had to keep her foot on the brake as our driver spoke to the policeman). Or it might have been our driver’s license…regardless, we had to pay for the ticket.”
11/16 Twelve Hour Worship
“Never has worship been so hot, smelly, or sweaty. The floors were slippery…and this time not from a monsoon. It was a total dance party at 9pm…11pm… 1 am…3am…7am… the pure joy and energy were contagious and The Lord smiled as His children worshiped him. I love how free the worship is here, where one moment you can be jumping and dancing and shouting and clapping, and the next moment bowed down in the presence of the Lord.” 
This is the race…there are fun moments and difficult moments, and everything in between. There are times when your scheduled is so packed full that you struggle even finding a moment of solitude to journal and there are moments when you have so much free time that you dont know what to do with yourself.
The world race is nothing that I expected–and I’m learning to be ok with that. I’m learning that all the blogs that I read before coming on the race which talked about adventure and trial, joy and homesickness, problems and unforgettable memories…they were right. My problems don’t automatically go away being on the race. I still have to work on them. I’m still learning and growing and being refined in many areas of my life. I thought that I wouldn’t really be homesick and that I would NEVER contemplate going home. But I have ALL the feelings. I’m still human. I’m not sure why I thought otherwise before the race! Regardless of what I feel in the moment, I know that The Lord has called me here and I am so blessed to be following His leading and seeing Him work.
So ya…for everyone back home, here was a genuine, raw look at my life on the world race.
