We cruised out of Konduvaripalli with our “small bus�, which was really just a land
cruiser. We were squished from head to toe, which is the typical World Race
transportation style which we were used to. We drove 6 hours through the
morning and afternoon until we reached our next village, Gummalagunta (goo la ma goonta). This particular children’s home
was located immediately off the busy main highway and about 30KM away from a
larger city, Anthapuram.
The original plan was that we would stay in a
hotel in Anthapuram and have a day and a half break where we could rest as well
as get some internet time. However, to our dismay, there was not a single hotel
room open in the whole city as wedding season was in full swing and every room
was occupied. So instead, we went straight to orphanage number three. We still ended
up having a nice Valentine’s Day by going into Anthapuram and having a nice
meal at a hotel and then going to get internet for 3 hours.
After our rest days, we started to paint. The
exterior of the house had already been painted, so we only had to paint the
interior. The walls were slightly higher at this home so the painting still
took about two days including the scripture and decorations we drew on the
walls. Another beautiful masterpiece completed by team Thriven- we would give
Michelangelo a run for his money!
The biggest lesson I learned here in Gummalagunta
was patience and the importance of resting. I thought I was already a patient
person, which several people confirmed is true, but I learned patience on a
whole new level here. The ten boys at this orphanage weren’t a problem, but it
was the village children that wore me down every afternoon. They would want me
to do an activity with them and this would be the typical conversation:
“Jochem come!�
“Brother let’s go!�
“Brother Jochem!�
“Jochem Brother come!�
“Jochem Brother!�
“Jochem let’s go!�
“Play Manga with
me!�
“Let’s go to play cricket�
“Come to my house�
“Let’s visit my school!�
“Come to the mountain!�
“Jochem Brother.�
“Brother.�
“Brother!”
“Brother!�
Multiply this by about 400,000 and maybe you can
envision what the scene was like with 50 young boys and girls hanging on you,
pulling on you, and shouting at you in a language that you cannot understand a
word of. God definitely pushed and tested me of my patience here at this
village. Resting took on a whole new meaning as every evening I was dead tired
and wanted to pass out at like 9PM every night.
Isaiah
40:28-31:
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The
Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not
grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength
to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and
weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will
renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and
not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.�
I’m learning and deciphering more and more what these
verses are saying. More and more I’m realizing to run to God when I’m
physically tired, that God rejuvenates me and gives me energy, strength, and
wisdom to help make difficult decisions and to do the right thing despite my
weariness and weakness. Isn’t it awesome that we have a God that never grows
tired and fills us up when we are exhausted? I think so!
Three down, one to go. It has been a wild,
fast-paced month here in India and I love it!
