India how you surprised me.
You are not what I thought you would be.
You are more than I could ever imagine and have been a beautiful gift to me.
This month has felt surreal, almost as if I was totally removed from The World Race and its culture. Team time has been my reminder that I am still on the Race and that I will in fact leave at the end of the month.
My team has been staying at the YWAM base in Bangalore and each person gets to choose what ministry they want to work with. There’s a wide variety of ministries. Here’s the list: orphanage, rehab center, english as a second language class, preschool, programs at an elementary school, working with the DTS class, outreach to slums and Esther Project. I have done a few here and there but my heart has been fully taken by my Esther girls.
Three of my beautiful Esther Project girls! (Photos by Sarah Gustafson)
The Esther Project is an amazing program that is exclusive to YWAM Bangalore. They bring young woman from poverty or hard family situations to give them a chance to gain confidence and make a life for themselves and their families. It is in its second session and currently has 9 young women who came from all over India to learn tailoring, computer and english skills. At the same time they are being discipled by 5 amazing staff and guest speakers. The staff pour into them and share the love of Jesus with them through worship, bible studies and spiritual classes.
Rita working on her sewing! (photo by Sara Gustafson)
Snehil working real hard on her sweing! (photo by Sarah Gustafson)
The girls classroom, each of them have their own sewing machine. (photo by Sarah Gustafson)
I went to their building as much as possible, for prayer or bible study time in the morning, discipleship classes in the evening, tailoring time in the afternoon, and of course some action worship songs all the time.
After one week of dropping in on them as much as possible I was asked to lead a morning session, then a weekend class and eventually I just became a half staff member. I filled in when ever there was a meeting or another event happening that pulled the staff away. So I have had the great pleasure of watching my girls mature and open up with each other and with fellow YWAMers. It has been such a privilege to help them as they walk out their faith in deeper ways.
Vidya (photo by Sarah Gustafson)
Nesa (photo by Sarah Gustafson)
Geetha (photo by Sarah Gustafson)
Paddu (photo by Sarah Gustafson)
Rosy (photo by Sarah Gustafson)
Saying goodbye to my girls was so hard. They come from different states in India and speak about 3 different languages some not knowing each others’. So with broken English we said goodbye, often with just the simple phrase “thanks a lot” repeated over and over. Smiles, tears and hugs were our main way to communicate. I do not think my cheeks will recover from this last month.
Padma (photo by Sarah Gustafson)
Snehil (photo by Sarah Gustafson)
Rita (photo by Sarah Gustafson)
Ruby (photo by Sarah Gustafson)
I will always cherish their hugs, smiles, laughs and prayers. I will miss eating meals with them, going to their room at night for dance parties and having worship every time we meet in their classroom. Their hearts are eager for more of God and to share His love with others. Many of the girls (women really) have been anointed by God and will change the world. I am so proud of them and blessed to have been a part of their life if even for just a short amount of time.
Sarah and some of the ladies! (photo taken by me hehe edited by Sarah Gustafson)
All the girls and the staff! Such an amazing group of woman! (photo by Sarah Gustafson)
