Dear India,
You are too lovely to be seen. You hide behind dust and dirt. Your heart longs for truth, but is surrounded by lies. You are wealth and poverty, powerful and weak all at the same time. You are more than a jewel in the crown, you are the crown. You serve with humility and grace and expect others to do the same.
You are too lovely to be seen by the naked eye. You must be tasted, touched, and explored to be appreciated. India, you are beloved.
Yours Truly
India is a country of contrasts. I found India’s beauty by experiencing its people. The way we were served and loved was humbling and convicting for my western individualistic mindset. Going above and beyond for people is the norm in India and is expected. My favorite line from this month was when we would thank people for their service to us they responded with a “why?” They didn’t understand why we were so thankful because this level of service is part of their culture. I was continually challenged with my own selfish thoughts and tendencies as I found our contacts providing us with even more than we could ever imagine.
In February, my team and I were working in a coffee shop in a small backpacker’s town called Hampi. This area of southern India is known for its rock climbing and it draws some of the best climbers from all over the world. There is also a large contingent of Israeli tourists that come to visit Hampi every year and have made it what it is today. The dirt streets are lined with falafel stands and Shakshuka restaurants.
Our ministry this month was to run a local coffee shop that is owned by a pastor from a nearby city. His name is Christopher and his heart was the only thing bigger than his personality. He has an amazing vision for Israel and God’s people. After spending time in Jerusalem receiving his degree in theology and becoming an ordained minister he thought he would stay there and bring the good news of Jesus to God’s chosen people. Instead God brought him back to his home town and gave him an established church there. For years he had a desire to reach Israelis with the gospel and on one trip to Israel in 2009 he met a young couple named Meg and Hose from the US who wanted to open a coffee shop in India near his home town of Bellary. It was opened in Hampi in 2012 and has been a safe place for people from all over the world to come and laugh, love, and talk about who God is ever since.
This past month I was able to serve free coffee and chai to travelers, make friends, hear and share stories about the places we have been, learn about different countries, learn about different philosophies and ideas and most importantly share the hope we have in Christ! It was just about living life and loving people. The conversations that the Lord opened were deep, meaningful and the people I met were lively and beautiful, on their own search for meaning and purpose. We were able to meet in this small coffee shop and share more than just superficial conversations about our likes and interests, but things that excited us and drove us forward. Jesus name was proclaimed and the hope of his complete act of love for us on the cross was alive in that coffee shop.
