Over a year ago emersed in the World Race website, I applied for World Race: 2013 July Route 3. As I skimmed over the countries, there was really only one that I strongly didn’t want to step foot into. It was the country that is one of the hardest to get visas for, so my heart banked on the great chances of getting another country to create the perfect route.
This place was India.
Needless to say, as the news broke out through the squad that it was a miracle that we got visas into India, my heart questioned, “Miracle? Not so much.” I wasn’t very thrilled, yet I knew God is God wherever we go. He is good. Therefore, whatever happens – despite my initial opposition, I convinced myself that it will be good.
The time snuck up on me so fast – fast forward and we are in line at the Airport in Vietnam waiting one by one for the attendant to scan our boarding pass and proceed onto the plane. I didn’t know what to expect. At this point there was nothing I could do about the fact that my feet would have to walk off the plane and into a country that intimidated me with it’s diversity and uniqueness.
Going into this month, I knew I would be reconnected with Markelle, a former team mate of mine, who we raised up as a team leader the previous month. I was so excited about this and therefore hoped that this would carry me through this long and dreadful month, with the fact that we would be at a worship school doing many things such as slum ministry, worship, prayer, and house visits. So many things I love.
Obviously, I made it off the plane – and little to my surprise I was enamored by the few people that we did see around 2am passing the hallways of the airport. They were breath taking, beautiful people, filled with a richness I had never layed my eyes on before. The thing that originally turned my heart away from India, is the exact thing that drew me in.
This place was like no other place.
Most of the teams stayed together the first night to participate in orientation the next day with the main ministry contact, India Christian Ministries. As I was sitting in my chair and the words of Brother James fell onto my hears, a fire was ignited in my heart for the things the Lord is doing in India and the people that he was using. Countless head nods and amen’s came from my being and I was easily sucked into the vision and heart of this ministry.
It was time for all of the teams to say their monthly goodbyes and get nestled into the separate locations they had been ordained to partner with and serve at this month. As mentioned above, we were with the Covenant School of Worship, yet were staying at a different church plant location that had just started. Here we lived above five Indian “brothers,” who quickly became the very essence of a brother to us. In the mornings we were scheduled to do worship and prayer for a couple of hours. During the day time, have quiet time along with team time, and at night go out and do either house visits or slum ministry.
During orientation we were notified that Indians, in general are a people of great depth and are devout worshipers. Whether that’s worshipers of Jesus or the other many gods that are worshipped. When I hear the word “depth” or “deep,” I am one to typically listen more attentively and be drawn to it.
So the first night at our new ministry location, we are lead out by our brothers to go to our first night slum ministry. We walk up the stairs and find ourselves on top of this building in the middle of the slums. Bright lights set up in every corner, kids sitting on the ground, women with head coverings on their knees ready to receive, and on lookers standing on their balcony wondering what’s going on. We worship as one and end up sharing a word and a testimony.
I sat in my chair, broken in tears for these people, these kids, these women, and a little hesitant to admit, but the country and culture of India. I wasn’t supposed to like this place and here I am crying out in compassion and love for it. God’s up to something.
After the service is over, a guy comes up to some people on the team. He tells them that a year ago, someone spoke a curse over him and since then he has had trouble sleeping – every night at 3am there is something dark that is sitting on his chest, trying to murder him. It’s not only disturbing his sleeping patterns, but his eating patters. So we gather around this man and we begin to proclaim freedom over this man, declare victory that has been purchased for us, and to encourage him that “It is finished”. As we were all praying for several minutes my body – from head to toe – was covered in goosebumps and I tangibly felt the presence of God so thick.
Afterwards the man proceeds to tell us that he has spent thousands of dollars doing all these things recommended by doctors in order to help him obtain better sleep and eat enough to give his body strength. We assure Him that Jesus has paid for His freedom and that He has been given victory over darkness. He then gets on His knees, lifts His hand to God and starts crying out in praise and thanksgiving for the freedom that He has been granted through faith in Jesus Christ.
That night, some of the team felt lead to wake up at 3am and pray for the man. So they did and we all continued throughout the day to pray on his behalf.
The next day we turned one of the rooms of the house into a coffee shop to bring in people to love on and share the Gospel with. To our surprise and great joy, the guy walks up the concrete squares until he reaches the front door. His face is lit up, his countenance is different, and peace has made itself at home within his heart. We asked him how he slept and he begin to share with us that it was the FIRST NIGHT IN A YEAR that he has slept through the whole entire night and the first time in a year that he has had an appetite to eat and eat a substantial amount of food.
This didn’t surprise us because when our God speaks, things happen. We rejoiced in His freedom with Him and continued to love on Him.
At this point, I could’ve got on a plane and been completely in love with God in India, but God said, “This is only the beginning of a book full of stories that I have written for you and my people this month.”
(Stay tuned for some upcoming blogs recording some of the other memorable moments from India).
From this very moment, I fell in love with a place I thought I would find no connection with. The ONE place I didn’t want to go to became the only place I know I will someday return for some length of time.
God is so good. He is the same – yesterday, today, and forever.
His power is a work. His kingdom is at hand.
