My time in India is already halfway over, which means we’re at the halfway point for the race!! It’s crazy because it feels like I only got to India last week. I’ve been here a month and a half, and time is going by tremendously quickly. Lots of amazing things have happened since being here, so let’s start from the beginning!
It took my squad over a week to make the journey from Ecuador to India, because apppaaaarently, it isn’t a very popular flight route?!?!? For those interested, this was our flight path: Quito to Ft. Lauderdale –> Ft. Lauderdale to Toronto –> Toronto to Amsterdam –> Amsterdam to New Delhi –> New Delhi to Kolkata –> Kolkata to Guwahati –> Guwahati to many different parts of this region.
Things you should know about North East India:
- There are absolutely no noise regulations (The village we stayed in our first month in India had a Hindu temple nearby, and people would sing and worship in a microphone that was connected to many speakers throughout the day and night.)
- Cows and goats roam free everywhere, and it’s very normal.
- The people in North East India look like they’re from neighboring countries such as China, Mongolia, Bhutan, etc., because that is where their ancestors are from!
- There are hundreds of languages all across India due to the tribes that make it up. It is very common for our ministry hosts to know 6-12 different languages.
- Rice is served at almost every meal.
- You can’t always trust what you think are potatoes. What you think is potato could very well be straight animal fat.
- Few Americans have been to the places we’ve been living/visiting, so people are constantly mesmerized and confused when they see us.
- Every time you go to church, you should have a “special number” prepared.
- ‘No thank you’ is not an option. It’s always yes. Always.
- The people here are so hospitable! They serve with so much joy and kindness.
Cows are goats parading down the street.
My first month in India was one of JOY! My team (The Frontline) lived and did ministry with another co-ed team named Collective Pursuit. We lived at a King of Kings school in Damcherra, India. The kids were on break when we arrived, so for the two weeks before school began, we did VBS for the local kids, and in a neighboring village. Getting the chance to do VBS in the neighboring village was awesome because a lot of the kids from that area were raised in Hindu and Muslim families. Getting to share and teach them about the love of Christ was amazing! After VBS, we’d go back to the school, where students would be at throughout the day even though school wasn’t in session. The school had a soccer field and volleyball court as pretty much the ‘front yard’, so we played a lot of sports with the kids and loved every second of it. When school did start, we had the cool opportunity to teach in some of the classes. Because some of us were placed in classes like Hindi, we used being able to teach as a way to share more about Christ, tell Bible stories, sing songs, and introduce the kids to the love of Jesus. Throughout the month, we also helped local communities begin the construction of building their churches. In one of those local churches is where I had the opportunity and privilege to preach for the first time!
One of the cuties that came to VBS 🙂
Preaching on how the people The Lord chooses often don’t feel qualified at first, yet how the Lord qualifies them!
This was our ‘front yard.’ Lots of India vs. USA games were played here!
A grade 4 class learning about families and all the different types there are.
Since being in India, I have learned a lot. One major thing I’ve seen and learned is how The Lord is working in the remote parts of India in POWERFUL ways. North East India is a part of the world I didn’t know even really existed before getting here. I’ve seen how The Lord has known and been with these people all along. Jesus’ name is being made known across this part of the world!
This past month, I was able to see the fruit of what fighting for people looks like. I got to see how being intentional with people and loving them in the ways they receive love produces genuine friendship. To put it plainly, my team at training camp/month 1 didn’t really like each other. We were all so different and couldn’t understand why we were all placed on the same team. Right now, four months later, I can honestly tell you that those same people are some of my absolute favorites. The Lord is faithful!! It was also amazing to see the growth and transformations in my teammates from the beginning of month one to the end of month four.
Being fed while washing hair. This is community.
I’ve learned a lot from The Frontline, but we have all begun new seasons! At the beginning of February, our squad (52 people) got team changes. I’m now on an all girls team in a different part of India. We named ourselves “Evergreen”, because evergreens are consistently green, even in the dry season. They are always growing, they are one of the most powerful trees, and they can live in any condition. Also, they’re stinkin beautiful, and we are His beautiful daughters!! We’re paired up with a co-ed team, and are now living and doing ministry in a village named Darchawi. Though I miss my old team, I’m so excited for this new season and the growth that will come from it. The Lord has already been working mightily through us! A blog to come soon on the things The Lord has been doing in my life 🙂
