Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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India – the sights, sounds, and smells (the latter seems to be the most memorable), are as indescribable as I imagined them to be.  Her landscapes are vast, her colors are extravagant, and her people are beautiful.   Welcome to my first destination on the World Race  – welcome to India!


My squad (known as  t-squad in World Race lingo) flew from New York City on January 1st, 2011 to the Country of Qatar and eventually Hyderabad, India.  This is the part where I tell you how grueling a 17 hour flight could be, but I actually enjoyed it!  Of course I had the flu upon leaving the states and thanks to my friends at Nyquil, I slept for the first 9 hours.  My awake time was spent watching movies and eating some food that I recognized while yet some remained unidentified.  I better get used to being comfortable not knowing what I’m eating ” after all, this is the World Race.  Although I must confess I don’t have the most adventurous taste in foods (coming from the guy who only likes to eat cheese on his pizza).  Luckily, my first meal in India was McDonald’s chicken mcnuggets” see, prayers are answered. J  Perhaps this will help sustain my temporary supply of gummy worms, salt and vinegar Pringles, and snicker’s bars.  I was able to find a KFC ” thank you Colonel Sanders!  Lord help me after that! 



 


Our first week in India was spent in a convent in the city enjoying fellowship, worship, and team leader training.  It was a great week as 43 of us from all around the States had the opportunity to bond before we dispersed to our various ministry areas.  It’s crazy how God can take 43 strangers and after a week of training camp in October and just a few short days in India, turn them into family.  We have a bond with one another that is indescribable.  We know and understand the joys and heartaches of what it’s like to be  a World Racer:  how hard it is to say goodbye to family and friends, step out in faith into the unknown,  live on beans and rice, use the restroom in the most interesting of places, and experience God’s people in such a raw and vulnerable way.  Not many people have this opportunity ” a chance to leave everything behind and wholeheartedly pursue after the one who pursues our own heart ” Jesus Christ. 

 

At the end of the week, my team and I, the Fugees (more to come on the name later) boarded a 7 hour overnight bus to the city of Vijaywada where we’ll be serving at Mercy and Grace Orphanage.  Wow, what a bus ride.  Words can’t even begin to describe the sheer chaos of an overnight Indian bus.  From the smell, to the random bus stops in the middle of nowhere ” we experienced it all.  At one bus stop, there were about 10 busses pulled over on the side of the dirt road so my teammate Lauren and I decided to use the restroom.  We got out at about 3am expecting ” well the worst ” and the worst was delivered.  Lauren’s first response was “I can’t go here, I can’t go here,â€�  where I, being the encouraging team leader that I am, forced her to use the all inclusive squatty potty in the middle of purgatory.  I figured she would thank me later…still waiting on later.  J




Our arrival at Mercy and Grace Orphanage was like nothing I’ve never experienced.  We rode in the back of a truck to our destination and upon pulling into the gates, we heard children singing a chorus of praises.  It was like I was on the red carpet at the Grammys.  We were being honored by the children and the family of Madhava, the gentleman who runs the orphanage.  The orphanage gates were decorated with streamers and the children held a sign that read “World Race Volunteers Welcomeâ€� It was truly a humbling experience to be given the best from those who didn’t have it to give.

 


 My team and I were then honored one by one in a welcome ceremony where we were given a garland of flowers around our neck.  The children performed traditional Indian welcome dances as we sat on the stage admiring what was being given to us. Although the food, garland, decorations, and signs were nice, we were being given much more than that.  They were offering us their heart.  


I don’t know exactly what I’ll be doing this month or what God has planned for me, but it’s evident…He is here, He is alive, and He is after me like He’s never been before.  I’m in love with a God that never stops, never gives up, always encourages me, and probably gets a good laugh at my stubbornness.  Yep, it’s true…I’m in love with a God who has fallen in love with me. J


Apologies for this massive blog, but my internet access is very limited here so I have to cram everything into one.  J  I’ll try to update everyone as much as possible!


Much love from India,


John