From the moment we stepped off the plane in Chennai, India, Ashley knew we would not be there all month. We had no idea she felt this way at the time, but in a couple of days, it was clear that her intuition was correct.
Our first week in India was rough for our team. Between Kelly going home and not knowing if we should stay or leave, there was a lot of tension. At first, when the talk of leaving began, I was TOTALLY opposed. I felt like leaving would be like quitting, and if there is one thing I cannot stand, it is having to quit something. I also love preaching, which is what we were supposed to do all month. Not only that, but I LOVED the kids at the church, and I felt like leaving would hurt them and ruin any further chances of showing love to them.
However, I too would soon agree that we needed to leave. I actually had a dream that confirmed our need to go and to go SOON. I prayed that God would show me what to do before I took a quick post-run nap one day, and within just a few minutes of napping, God had given me a dream. Unbeknownst to me, Ashley had actually prayed that one of us would have a dream and Amy had prayed that I, Jenny, would hear from the Lord over what to do next.
So, now that the team was in agreement on our need to leave, we decided to pray over where we should go. (And obviously, all through this we were waiting on our squad leaders and AIM staff to approve of our decision. :))
During the first time we prayed, I kept sensing we needed to group up and join another team. The words “two is better than one” were also in my head. I was hoping our team could just ATL the month by ourselves, so grouping up was not what I was hoping for. But, we were asking God what we needed to do, so we had to listen to His voice, not our own.
During the second time we prayed, I saw a picture of big, green, juicy grapes in my mind. I had no idea what that was about. I also heard “two is better than one” repeating in my mind. After we prayed, I once again shared how I thought we needed to join another team and then added in, “Oh, and for some reason I saw grapes.” Well, at that, Michelle piped up and said that she had prayed that if we were to join Laura’s team at YWAM that one of us would see or hear something involving fruit. If we were supposed to go somewhere else, she prayed that one of us would see or hear something about vegetables. It was a funny prayer, but it was answered!
After deciding we needed to leave and join Laura’s team if at all possible, we prayed about WHEN we should leave. Many of us felt that the need to leave was URGENT. Amy also soon had a dream confirming that we needed to GET OUT of there.
So, on the Sunday of our first week in Chennai, we packed up our bags into two auto rickshaws and headed out. We stayed at a hostile in the city until we were told we could join Laura’s team in Bangalore. Those two days were crazy, yet memorable (I can tell you more later), and when we could finally leave, we were STOKED.
At first, when we arrived in Bangalore, I was not sure if we made the right decision. I was feeling guilty in a way for leaving our contacts. And, even though I LOVED Laura’s hilarious and fun bunch of people, I also missed being with just my team.
But, very soon, it was clear that this was where we belonged.
Bangalore was a SUPER (the Indians would say SUPA) cool place!
During one of the first days there, we went to a mall with the other team. At first, I was bummed because it you know me, you know I HATE shopping with a passion. But, soon the day would head in a much better direction!! While many of my teammates were bowling or shopping or doing who knows what, I joined JD, Jared, and Andrew to do some ministry. We had the chance to preach to and pray over a group of Indian boys and men hanging around the outside of the mall. At first, there were only a few, but soon, the group grew to quite a few people. Most of the men could not speak English, but the boys helped translate for us. The boys themselves did not know Jesus, but they acted as a vessel to preach His word to others. It was clear the cops wanted us to leave because they kept moving us further and further away from the mall, but that didn’t stop us. Throughout our time, we saw several men healed of back pain and had the chance to bring the message of Jesus in a place it isn’t readily heard or accepted.
Not only was Bangalore SUPER cool for the fact I had the chance to evangelize with the guys that one day at the mall, but it also rocked in that we had many opportunities to love on the children of India. I was tired most of the time we were in Bangalore, but as soon as I was around those children, my energy would return in a crazy way.
We worked with a group of younger, handicapped children one day at a park, under a pavilion. They were predominantly either of the Hindu or Muslim belief, but we had the chance to bring Jesus to them and their mothers. We loved on them, sang songs with them, performed a skit for them about David and Goliath, did a craft with them, and prayed over their ailments. Praying over them was probably my favorite part of the day!
We also had the chance to visit an Indian school and do a day of VBS for the 100 children there. We sang with them, did a skit on the story of Daniel and the lion’s den, ate snacks, taught them about the importance of trusting in the one, true God, and played a game I LOVE to play back at home with the youth group- Chicken, Cowboy, Conqueror!
In addition to that, we had a day to love on a group of HIV infected and affected kids with World Vision. I was really excited because I support two kids at home through World Vision and have run two marathons for their organization. Not only that, but to love on the kids who are often rejected by society is what I had been looking forward to for some time. We sang a bunch of fun songs, performed our two skits on David and Daniel, ate some delicious Indian food, played games, prayed with them, and DANCED! The dancing part was the best part of the whole day!!! The kids looked so joyful, and it was the perfect way for them to let loose. Oh, and Jared was cracking EVERYONE up with his hilarious dance moves!! I had a blast conversing with a bunch of the 10-14 year old girls throughout my time with them as well. Because the kids were so vibrant and had so much energy, it was hard to remember that they may not live to see adulthood, but that is the truth of the matter. But, for as long as they are alive, they need to be shown as much love as possible. Their lives may be cut short, but if they love Jesus, there WILL come a day when all that pain will be washed away.
During our time in Bangalore, we also had the chance to do a three day VBS with another group of children, many of which were orphans. We chose to center the VBS around the theme THE ARMOR OF GOD. We sang songs, played wild games (I wiped out once with one of the girls on my back in Chicken, Cowboy, Conqueror!), memorized verses, acted out three different skits (threw in a new one about Gideon), had discussions with them about the stories, showed them a way to remember each part of the armor, and had the chance to share the gospel message with them twice. On the first day, one boy, age 14, decided to give His life to Christ. No one else stood up, but he took a stand and prayed to receive Jesus. On the last day, a group of younger boys accepted Christ as well. I am not sure if all of them were genuine, but there were a couple that definitely meant it, and for that, I was very excited!!! Oh, we also had the chance to hold adorable 16 day old puppies right by the church! Awwww!!!
Not only did I love the day of evangelism and working with children, but I loved the DANCING! Just like in Rwanda and Uganda, dancing brought moments of needed joy. Whether practicing our dance with Laura’s team, dancing to the “Sheila” song with the HIV kids, dancing to “Undignified” at the VBS (some of the little kids were like seriously break dancing), or learning belly dancing (yes, belly dancing) at the women’s get together, it was all so much fun!! Back in high school, I would have hated all of that, but now I love it! It is so freeing!
As I write this, many things are coming and have come to a close. Not only is this blog ending, but my time in India and time with my team has also come to an end. We only have three more months left in this race, but with changes will come many more challenges that will make it seem like we have only begun.
So, since my time with my old team has come to an end, here is a shout out to my girls, to my girls on team Eleutheroo!
Carmen, thank you for always listening to me, loving me, and letting me sit on your lap during auto rides. You will always be a part of my freedom story. I am STOKED we will still be on the same team!!
Amy, thanks for challenging me to grow and helping me to do just that. Oh, and thanks for being a part of the one-eyed gang with me. Haha.
Michelle, thanks for your wisdom and your wit. I love how you can now crack my kind of jokes. Oh, and your funny facial expressions will always remind me of my sister, Katie!
Ashley, thanks for always laughing, sometimes at me but mostly with me! 🙂 You are a JOY bringer! I will always remember Uganda.
Oh, and Kelly, even if you aren’t on our team anymore, thanks for always being so sweet. I miss your amazing laugh and “Ricky shake.” I hope I can come to your wedding!
Our team name meant freedom, and SO MUCH freedom came during our time together! We were freed from fears and insecurities and things of the past. Even in this last month, I was freed of something I never thought I was still bound by! And it is all because of you lovely ladies! Don’t ever forget our time together! It was frustrating and hard at times, but it was also stupendously fun and exciting too! I will never forget the mix up of hot chocolate and hot dogs, the packed bus ride to Nyagatare, hiding in a hotel room, freak outs from moving doorknobs and broken guitar strings and doors that wouldn’t open in the morning, riding with four people crammed together on a motorbike in the dark , knocking over a guitar in the “Everything” skit on the same stage Obama once spoke on, witnessing our Pastor Joseph’s life being saved, sewing together stocking made out of “Same Same” shirts, breaking our three day fast with a pizza feast, watching Pastor Caleb protect us from the drunk man, Nerts madness on the roof with Laura’s team, parading around in sarees and umbrellas in the hot sun, watching the stars twinkle in Garissa, hilarious games of truth or dare, moments of sleepwalking anger (Oh, Ashley!), doing donuts in the tuk tuk, crowd surfing from the bunk beds, and so much more! You girls rock my socks off!!
For the rest of you readers, keep shining for Jesus!! Keep listening to His voice. If He tells you to go somewhere or do something, DO IT!! He is always speaking, you just have to listen. What He tells you to do might not make sense at first, but in the long run, it will all be for the best!
