Again, I had the priveledge of inviting my parents to spend a week with me and my squadmates and India. Here is what my dad has to say about his time experiencing the race…
“The reason I went to India was that a daughter’s value to her Father needed to be reinstated to the degree God has for his daughters.
I had lost Natalie’s trust many times over from my years of not knowing God. The last 9 or so years I have been intentional about rebuilding that trust with Natalie and placing proper values on things. While our relationship has not been perfect, it has grown considerably, but pains still existed.
I felt this was my time to choose my daughter over everything else going on in my life.
I needed my daughter to know at this moment, I chose to come to India to be with her and be a part of what is important to her. So many times before I had chose what was important to me, but this time I was simply choosing to be with HER. That may not be the answer anyone was looking for but that is mine and I am good with that.
I needed healing from the bad choices I had made.
I had gone on so many trips where I would have done anything to go and I did.
She and I needed this to bring healing to our relationship.
Healing came through actions and choices and conversations. There were a lot of Jesus moments in this trip.
When I go anywhere, I go to be a planter.
Plant good seeds wherever you go. Where I go is my mission field. Jesus does what He always does. He saved people. He healed a man blind in one eye, who can now see. He removed a cataract from a man that could not see. He now sees, but cannot read – but we prayed for that as well. These were moments that occurred but they occur everywhere Jesus goes. I expect them. I have something that was mentored to me, which we say, “Go until you hear a No.”
I went and God is always faithful where he sends you. I loved India. I loved how the people were so honorable. I loved how they were so open.
I love to minister to people because I love to be a part of what Jesus is doing.
He loves making things happen.
I loved watching my daughter as I observed what she is passionate about. I could see how she loved ministering to the children. She would get on their level and minister to them with a huge smile on her face.
I saw how Jake and Zach would bring great joy to the children through their fun songs and swinging them up and down and around. The kids faces lit up and they could not get enough.
The slums were the best part of the entire trip for me. The elders of the slum were so pleased and thankful that we had come to give them food as well as sit around and fellowship and pray with them. That was an awesome time.
I was humbled again as I could see Jesus everywhere, doing so many things through so many different people. I am honored to have been a part of this. Thanks so much for allowing Holly and I to come and see and witness and be a part.”
– Perry Hallford
