I lay here in the cool of night. The rain pours down, filling the night with a loud, soothing lullaby. Thunder gentle rolls in the distance. The lightening ignites the sky and defines the cross shaped iron window frame. And the cool breeze rushes in, filling the second story concrete village church with air so refreshing, I can’t describe how alive it makes me feel. I take a deep breath and notice once again the beautifully brown arm that is draped across my stomach. I look to the left and see the little hand that is clutching mine above the heads of our friends. I am so tired, yet sleeping seems unnecessary. I want to stay in this moment, to savor the time I have with my new Indian little sisters. I want to remember the way the lightning flashes warmth through the room. I even want to capture an image of the multicoloured disco-era light that revolves lights of blue, red, and yellow across the porch. I never want to forget being lulled to sleep by the sound of Indian rain. And most of all, I don’t want to forget the little piece of my heart that I will be leaving in India.
Today I told God, that if He wants me to, I would come back to India. In fact I told God that I want to come back and not just to get that piece of my heart back. There is something about the beauty of India that I have fallen in love with. It helps that I have fallen in love with so many beautiful girls through the ministry of Covenant Children’s Home. The 50 girls we have gotten to know and the 40 boys we have met are India to me. They represent hope for the future of India and the way God is moving. I see an India that has clean water, freedom from the caste system, accessible healthcare and most importantly – Christ.
Maybe God will call be back to India someday. Or maybe I will say this another 9 times before I arrive home next June, who can be sure! I am sure former World Racers have fallen in love with all 11 countries on their route and never returned to any of them. So with that in mind; I will treasure my time here, cherish my memories, keep telling God how much I love this place, continue to lift it up in prayer, and maybe even shed a few tears when I have to say goodbye.
