It’s been two weeks since I moved half way across the world and it still doesn’t feel real. If you were to tell me this time last year I’d be in India serving the Lord, I would’ve thought you were crazy. I’ll constantly catch myself thinking about everything that’s led up to this point and how God’s been working in my life. I’ve battled against the thought of if this was something that I wanted for myself versus if this was something that God wanted for me.
On my flight to Qatar all I could think about was “wow it’s actually happening” and “have I truly been called to do this?”. Doubt clouded my mind and comparison took control of my brain. Everyone on my squad seemed so confident in why they were here and I envied that certainty.
Thirteen hours later, we landed in Qatar and boarded another flight to India. The more I sat, the more anxiety began to fill my body. I was sitting next to an extremely peppy Indian woman who I could feel staring and smiling at me, but I chose to ignore her because I didn’t have the energy to talk to a stranger. Eventually she asked to take a picture with me and that sparked up a whole conversation. She started telling me about her life and what it’s like in India. Then she told me she was a Christian and I was shocked. What are the odds I’d be sitting next to a Christian when approximately only two percent of the population in India are Christians?
She went into detail about what life as a Christian was like here and the persecution they faced. Hindus try to cut Christianity off by killing pastors and it turns out that her pastor was recently murdered. As soon as she told me this I felt I should pray for her, but I rolled it off my shoulders because the idea of praying for a complete stranger was new and uncomfortable for me.
She continued talking to me and went more in depth about the hardships she endured. She asked if I’d keep her in my prayers and that’s when I knew that God was calling me out of my comfort zone to show her His love.
When we opened our eyes, I saw that hers were filled with tears. She took my hands and whispered, “I trust you so much”.
I told her that I’d keep praying for her and hugged her goodbye.
As I walked off the plane, I felt a huge amount of peace flow through my body. I knew sitting next to this woman was not a coincidence, but that God placed her there to give me a sign. Even if I still don’t know exactly why God has me here, I know that I’m supposed to be here.
That I have a purpose.
And that God will unravel that purpose over the next year.
