Tires screeching, the slight bump of impact as the wheels meet the ground. Walking through the gate into the terminal. Going through customs (made it through, although the customs official is a bit grouchy). Waiting outside the airport for our bus to come. Getting on a bus, which reminds us of a school bus from the 60’s and of where we are. The half hour bus ride through the heart of the city, the smells of the country wafting into the bus… some good, some bad. People, cars and motorcycles everywhere around us. As we walk into the orphanage we see little eyes peering over the edge of the opening in the roof. Our first taste of what’s to come in the morning. Monkey’s on the roof. In the morning, we constantly hear “Dede look at this!” “Dede watch this!” I am Dede Julie. Welcome to India.
We made it safely to New Delhi for our first leg of our fifth month of ministry in India. For the last few days we have been staying at an orphanage with 32 wonderful children, who we have grown to love already. The children have such a love for the Father and I am constantly reminded of His love for me through them. I see them welcome us so freely, love us so unconditionally, and I am learning more about the life of faith. Watching them sing songs, learn verses, and spreading this passion to others makes my heart full with unspeakable yet astounding joy.
These kids have nothing to indicate that they should have such joy. They live with 30+ others in an orphanage, and the world would tell me to feel sorry for them. But our Father not only says to love them, He also says to DEFEND them, to stand up for them, to build them up. They have the love of a Savior to encourage them, and through them this nation known as the devil’s playground, will be transformed. In this place I was challenged to be more like God and to persistently pursue the Father.
My friend Allison with one of the boys at the orphanage.
We woke up at 5:15am to these sweet angels singing “This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made” and I was filled with joy even at the early hour. Later on they led their own prayer and worship times. It is truly humbling to see 8 year olds leading their peers while in America we treat children as if they won’t understand. In America we give kids a mini-Holy Spirit, a “child’s” version of God, and teach them that way when in fact as my Teammate Crystal Adams reminded me “they are filled with the same Holy Spirit as we are.” I seek to be like them! To pursue God with everything I have and praise Him!
1 Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down upon you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.”
