Protection comes in many forms. Sometimes it’s in the form of words [I will protect you], and sometimes in action [running, lifting, or a warm hug]. However protection can also come in unexpected forms. This month, we experienced protection in an unexpected way.
Our first day in Hampi concluded with my team sleeping in an inn next door to our coffee shop—the water still needed to be hooked up, and the electricity still needed some work. The next morning, Tera walked back to the shop to meet up with Ravi (our contact in Hampi), so that he could finish hooking up the water and working on the electricity. However, Ravi wasn’t there yet, but there was a stray dog instead. She ran away, and the dog ran after her. Frightened, she called Ravi and us over. By the time we all got there, the dog was gone, but that is not the end of that dog’s story.
That dog came back and hung around our coffee hut all day. Most of the dogs in India are strays and are typically infested with different diseases. This dog was no different.
A couple of the locals instructed us not to pet or touch him due to a flea infestation and some other issue, so when he came around, we would shut the door and stay inside. However, the next morning when we woke up, he was still outside. We went ahead and did our devotion, but even after we had finished, he was still there. So during quiet time with God, I prayed “God, is that white dog in the front yard from you? Please give me a sign.” Not a second later, he started barking, and my teammate, Steff said, “Look he’s protecting us!” There were strangers walking by and stray dogs wandering outside the gate, but when he barked, they went away. I thought, wow that was fast! Thank you, God for protecting us, but I still wasn’t sure how safe it really was to have him around.
Later on, we were cleaning the shop and preparing it for the week, and while I was sweeping outside the dog came over, pawed at, and played with my broom. It was so adorable. I couldn’t help, but think back to my prayer. Being 6 girls in an unfamiliar environment, stuck in a holey hut, God wanted to put us at ease while staying in the coffee shop, and that’s exactly what he did when he sent that dog to protect us. The dog stayed outside and protected our hut at night, he followed us around town and waited outside businesses until we left, and he protected us from strangers and other strays. Our team decided that he was safe, so we named him Ravi jr. (after our contact). Ravi jr. stayed with us for most of the month and protected us. It’s amazing that even when we feel uncomfortable and unsafe, God sends the unexpected, a dog to protect us in his place, and I am so glad he did! We couldn’t have made it in Hampi without the help of two Ravis who stayed by our side, and protected us, just because God knew we needed them.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
