I’ve mentioned before going into India, was not something I was looking forward to. I put the thought in my mind that I was going to be miserable and hate every second. We spent our first couple of days at training and then headed straight to our ministry site in a remote village in the middle of nowhere. We were at an orphanage that never had a World Race team before so that was really cool! We hosted a VBS for the children and came up with games, songs, skits, and just spent time with them! It was fun but also exhausting. It was encouraging to be around people who were filled with SO MUCH JOY! The family welcomes us in like family. They cooked all of our meals for us and even went into town to custom fit a Sari for all 7 of us girls! It was truly hard to say goodbye. After the first week, we went to another remote village where we had a much slower week and a half. We did home visits throughout the town of 1,000 people and were able to develop relationships with members of the church. It was in this village I preached for the first time and on Palm Sunday, memories that I will cherish forever. Our hosts family was amazing, I personally felt like we were spoiled the entire time when it came to our meals. The level of hospitality I felt was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. We couldn’t even do our laundry without them taking over! The Lord redeemed all of India for me and it was beautiful to take each day as it came with him slowly changing my heart. It was hard, and some days were not so fun and made me want to give up and quit but I chose to press in and not let my negative way of thinking take away the experience the Lord has for me.
Here is what I learned about India.
I didn’t enjoy the smell or using the squatty potty, but you can bet that I learned how to aim into a hole.
I didn’t enjoy the heat and humidity, but I didn’t allow it to take away from being present in the moment.
I didn’t enjoy the lack of privacy, but I loved how much time they wanted to spend with us.
I didn’t enjoy the misunderstandings and mis communication that kept happening, but it taught me to be more patient and go with the flow.
I didn’t enjoy being called seester every five seconds, but you bet I soaked in every smile I could get.
I didn’t enjoy all the smells and waking up to poop burning bright and early, but there was so much beauty that made up for that.
You see, it’s all about perspective. There are many things I did not enjoy about India, but I can’t allow myself to always think negatively. There are going to be things in life that are simply out of our control, but our attitude and mindset are two things we have the ability to change.
Nepal was chaos for me in every single way imaginable.
Living with another team, ministry felt like it was all over the place. I felt like I was spiraling out of control in my thoughts and then that led to past sin coming into the midst. I couldn’t find rest, I was slowly starting to check out. I barley spent time with the Lord. I just wanted to be alone. We were in the city.. yet again and it was hard for me to find rest.
But we had an English church we went to. I got to worship in English for two services, I grew close to my community that I was around, we fought for each other, we loved each other. I knew that my time in Nepal was to grow me in community living. It wasn’t my favorite month but I would not have changed anything. It stretched me into having hard conversations with others and it was because of that, that grew me into the person I am now.
I pray that one day I can go back to Asia and experience all of the things with an open heart and mind.
