So we arrive in our town in India at around 7 am after an 8 hour overnight bus ride and pile up all our packs, bags, and my guitar at the bus station. INDIA…..we were all freaking out inside…. I know we were. I was. I’ve been waiting for this experience for years, and I’m just trying not to get my hopes up about our time here, about our ministry, and about my experience in the culture. (Btw, that’s dumb….you should always get your hopes up when God is involved). We speak with a few tuktuk drivers (tuktuks are those tiny little open taxi thingamajiggers that feel like they’re going to tip over at any moment) and manage to pile our 7 huge packs, 7 backpacks, and 7 bodies into three tiny tuktuks.
The drivers really aren’t sure about the address we’ve given them, so they just take off and begin following each other. Zach, Angela and I are crammed in together with my guitar across our laps and Zach hanging out the side taking pictures, when our driver turns on what is quite possibly THE best Indian song I’ve ever heard (like…..baller music) and blasts it to the point that everyone in the streets turns around to watch the white people pass by. Our driver dances and laughs and we all dance and laughe too, and it’s just such a perfect and stereotypical picture to see him bobbling his head from side to side to the music that I can’t stop cracking up. He races his friends, they all dance to the music with us, and Eva and Zach pass his camera from our vehicle to theirs because we’re driving THAT closely to each other and seeing out lives flash before our eyes almost every second. At one point our driver exclaims something and slaps his forehead and we all looked to the left to see the other two groups driving parallel to us separated by a huge median – we have completely missed the exit, and they ‘re all pointing and laughing at us. I’m not sure why we haven’t learned to expect things like this, but it just makes the situation THAT much more perfect when he swings the tuktuk around in a u-turn and heads STRAIGHT into oncoming traffic to get back to the exit. We have to dodge a few cars, trucks, and tuktuks, but they don’t seem sufficiently perturbed to match the shock we feel and the tears that are threatening to stream from our faces from laughter.
Fast forward to later on in the day once we have settled into the house where we’re staying, and Albert, our host, has taken us upstairs to describe the ministry to us. I’ve been worried about our ministry. I’ve just heard so many stories about teams that end up with ungodly ministry hosts and ineffective ministries for one reason or another. Why I bother worrying, I don’t know. God has used this trip thus far even thought it hasn’t always been in ways I would have picked. But now, as we sip on the coke that we were just given, Albert begins telling us about the ministry, our part here, and his family, and I feel tears begin to well up from overwhelming joy. I have never felt so blessed in the Lord before this moment. It’s just SO tangible. His Spirit is all over this place in ways I’ve been craving.
We’re staying with Albert, his wife, and their two sons who are 10 and 6 in their home. Right up the outside staircase is the women’s section of their Rehab center which will remain nameless for security purposes. It’s a rehab program for those addicted to drugs, alcohol, and any other addiction that arises. Albert and Laly will not accept anyone to the program unless they admit themselves freely, and they never allow lack of money to be an object. If someone needs help and wants help, they are welcomed with open arms. Albert, having experienced the horrors of addiction and the peace and victory that Christ can bring, has a passion for leading others to victory in Christ. When we asked him what our goals in ministry are this week, he said we are just to build relationships with the people here, show Christ with our lives, and learn from our experiences. When we asked what our agenda would look like for the month, he answered that our main priority would to spend good quality time with the Lord, so that we can be fully prepared to pour out, and to listen to the Spirit. Each day our ministry is to allow the Spirit to lead us in any way He desires. HOW COOL IS THAT? Every victory in this Rehab center, whether it is a member (they make sure to consider everyone a family member and to always be intentional about using member’s names all the time) graduating from the program, or a member being set free from a spiritual struggle or lie, has Christ clearly written all over it. Everyone here is pointed to Him, and we have seen, even in just one day of ministry, that most members truly do look to Him for their strength, at least while in the program.
Later in the day all the guys from the program came over to the house for lunch (something that they do every Sunday…CHICKEN DINNER) and we sat in one huge circle in the living room and got to know one another. It’s such a family, and such an amazing atmosphere for anyone in recovery from addiction to experience. True, Christ-honoring family. Obedient children and loving parents. Family meals and joy and laughter. Here in India, “rehab centers” are literal prisons where addicts are tortured daily. Imagine the contrast, and the love of Christ that is being shown here. I can’t say that I’ve ever loved a ministry more after one day…EVER. I’m overwhelmed by God’s work here, and absolutely blown away by the love of Albert and Laly. I’m also so at home in this place, and feel like I’m already a part of their family. Isaac is been teaching me drums and Jonah has shown me his Old McDonald Had a Farm skills on the keyboard and discussed the deeply theological topic of favorite pixar films with me. I’m already asking these three weeks to slow down.
Thank you THANK you for your support to get me here. I can’t say how grateful I am. I wish I could get you ALL here with me so you could experience this amazing place.
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P.S. The program relies on the Lord each and every day to provide the funds to keep it running. Albert and his wife’s testimony is that not one day has passed where they haven’t had good food on the table. One time they had announced a fast because they didn’t have any food, but once all the guys had gathered around the table and prayed, a van pulled up to the gate looking for someone to offer their extra event food to. Now THAT’s awesome. I hope my team will be able to raise funds for them while we’re here, and I know God has a plan here and will not forget the beautiful work He’s set in motion.
In love,
Laura
