Greetings from INDIA!!
First, I’d like to apologize for taking so long to write this. It’s been hard trying to find some free moments and also the internet connection is not good at all.
(One of the beautiful sunrises I got to experience. That’s a college!)
Ahhh, I don’t even know where to begin! Within the first few days, I immediately fell head over hills in love with this country, which I’ll probably say for every other country I go to. India was the one place that I was very nervous about coming to but it’s probably going to end up being one of my absolute most favorite places being in. The people and culture here are astonishing!!!! The chai tea is heavenly, we get to wear some beautiful Indian outfits (which we had to get for the villages), the cows roam wherever they want to roam, even if it’s down the middle of a 4 lane road, you just honk until they move. The driving is nuts! They have lanes and lines on the road but it’s just a suggestion. (Let’s be real, I’d fit in perfectly) We’ve gotten to ride in tuk tuks being driven in the wrong direction and going head on into traffic, and you pack as many people in as you can (typically it’s like a 3 person seat) and you don’t wear seatbelts, you just hope for the best (don’t worry Mama). I’m doing fairly well remembering not to use my left hand (thankfully there’s another lefty on my team so we hold each other accountable). The food is AMAZING. Haven’t had anything that’s been too spicy to eat but I’m sure it’s coming. It’s such a busy lifestyle here but the people do it so well and make it look easy! It’s VERY different from what I’m used to but I’m really enjoying experiencing it all! I’m reminded of Brazil frequently because there are a lot of resemblances between the two, but also a lot of differences. Brazilians know no such thing as personal space, when they greet you they give you these great big hugs and kiss your cheeks and treat you like family. (Which is great!!) You’ll also find 78 stray dogs in a span of 5 ft here (the inner Leah always wants to pet every single one of them but that’s a big no here also). Indians, although still some of the nicest people I’ve ever met, in their culture, you don’t touch each other, especially of the opposite sex. They’re very curious people. They ask you personal questions that Americans just know better not to ask. Aside from the constant gawking at the white folk, all the picture taking (literally we got videotaped walking down the ramp at the airport the morning we got here) and getting asked why Americans have light hair, these people are so generous and giving. They treat us way better than we deserve and think we’re the richest people ever. It almost seems like they idolize white people. Like, we’re gods. They go by the caste system here so the lighter skin you are, the higher up in society you are and the darker you are, sadly, the poorer you are. Believe it or not, you can find bleaching lotion in the stores. This entire concept just tears me to pieces. I want to show them that we’re all the same. That we were ALL created in the image of our Father and that he loves us so unconditionally regardless of skin color!
My quiet times every morning consist of sitting on the roof of the church we’re staying at, admiring the breathtaking sunrises (what I’m doing currently), and just really spending time with my Father in prayer and scripture reading. I started asking God to break my heart for what breaks his and that’s exactly what he’s been doing. Did you know that India has one of the highest numbers of lost people in it? Me neither, until last week during our cultural training in Hyderabad. The consequence of choosing to be a Christ follower in India is not only punishable by the government, but it’s also very likely that the person will be cut off completely from their family for leaving their current religion (mostly Muslim and Hinduism here). Why is it that in America it’s fairly simple to choose being a christian and have access to it whenever we want with no consequence to it (losing family, persecution) and yet they just don’t want it.. but there are people, in not just India but any country that following Christ is illegal, risking their own life and family to accept that??? WAKE UP AMERICA, YOU’RE MISSING THE GREATEST MOST BEAUTIFUL GIFT OF YOUR LIFE WHICH AFFECTS YOUR ETERNAL LIFE!!!!
(Rico Suave Jr, well that’s what I call him, and I- one of the sweetest most gentleman like little boys I’ve ever met. The girl is the pastor’s daughter. This was from the 3rd village we were in)
Within our first few days of being in India, my team found out that our location changed to another city (instead of a 2 hr bus ride, it was 8 hrs! Within the first 30 min, 5 of the 7 of us were so carsick, popping dramamin and nausea meds.. it was a loooong trip needless to say) Our original city is extremely underground right now and not very safe for us to be in. 1 of the 3 teams did still go however. They aren’t allowed to leave their compound at all except going to their ministry site. Our actual ministry stayed the same though! We have 13 villages we’ll be visiting (1 each night) where we go in, walk door to door, lay hands on the people and pray healing and blessing over them. Then we go to the village church and worship and WE bring the message! We just got home from our 3rd village. The differences in all 3 that we’ve been to so far are so completely different. The first one we went to Wed night, you could immediately sense a dark, heavy presence walking in. We all felt it. We’re some of the first Americans that have been inside that village, which was super cool. Please be in prayer for all the people we’re coming in contact with and the villages we will be going in. Spiritual warfare is a real thing. People who have gone on Brazil and Navejo trips can tell you firsthand how there’s so much physical evil in some of these places. The enemy knows what we’re up to and will do anything he can to stop it. We are experiencing A LOT of it right now, in the villages, on the way to villages, even at our living quarters. It’s been very intense at times and is affecting us. It’s like there’s just a dark cloud sitting over those first 2. Majority of the people in the 3rd village were Christians and there was SO much joy flowing from these people!! Jesus knew we needed that and graciously allowed us to experience that after the first 2 nights. While talking with our translator the first night, she explained that these people will believe us because we’re Americans but they won’t believe in what we’re telling them about. I actually got very discouraged and felt somewhat hopeless after hearing that. Abba gently reminded me though that there’s not a single person on this planet that is too far out of His reach. He can save anybody with or without the help of us. Aside from the darkness we’ve experience in some of these places, Christ is so present right now in India. It’s been incredible seeing Him work! He’s showing me that I can find Him and his joy in even the small simple things. I’m thoroughly enjoying watching Him show me that daily!
Our wonderful translator and her husband. They’ve been married for 5 years. Please be praying for God to provide children for them! She wants 20 kids haha)
How can you be praying?
Again, for the people we are coming in contact with. That they see Christ through us and that their hearts will be open to receiving Him.
Health- several people on my squad have gotten really sick already since being in our cities (one girl had to be taken to the hospital for fluids from dehydration after being so sick) I’m still trying to recover from a really bad sinus infection also.
Protection- from physical things and spiritual things not of Christ. Like I said above, spiritual warfare is thriving right now.
Thank you all so much for the prayers. My team and I truly feel them all and they are coveted! Miss you all and can’t wait to see what all God is going to continue to do! We only have a little less than 2 weeks left in India (which I’m so sad about) before heading to Nepal!!
-Leah
