Bangalore, India
My experience in India has been so much different than what I had imagined. I remember six months ago when I was telling people that I was going on a mission trip around the world, everybody wanted to know if I was going to India. It’s like there is this invisible black cloud hovering over India and a world mission trip just wouldn’t be complete without a visit to India. Now, don’t get me wrong, cows still roam the streets and you can’t drink the water, but the spiritual atmosphere is one that seems to be on fire for Jesus!
Our team is stationed in Bangalore where we are teamed up with a children’s home called Jireh Children’s Home. Brother Morong and his wife, Sendme, opened up their home to kids without parents or whose parents and families are too poor to raise them on their own. The kids are provided with food and shelter and the most loving family who has taken them all in as if they were all their own. Sister Sendme is amazing. She is my age, and with two kids of her own she has so graciously taken 12 more under her wing and loves them all with such a huge heart.
Every day, we walk from our little flat (sounds glamorous, but think bucket showers and no AC — or furniture for that matter…it’s quite nice to have some space to spread out though…we welcome bucket showers when there are 4 bathrooms with western toilets to choose from!) to the children’s home for morning Bible study and breakfast. The community here is more visually contrasting than what I had imagined. On one side of the street (dirt road), you might see a 8×10 ft cinder block home with a tin roof being held on top with large rocks, or even a home made of sticks with tarps secured on top for a roof (closer to what I was expecting). Then across the street, you might see a contemporary home boasting with a beautiful yard and gated driveway. Again…not at all what I had imagined.
