(Title is to the tune of “Glory, Glory, hallelujah”)
From the moment we stepped foot in Chennai, India (I mean the moment we stepped off the train), we’ve been served. We were greeted by Pastor and his family. Imagine these people practically fighting to carry our 50 pound packs, daypacks and anything else. Our team currently lives with our contact-Pastor Devadhas, his two sons Lijo (27), Leo (22), and a young woman (21) who is a member of the church (which is in the same house-just a big room) named Glori. Glori (Manchu is her Indian name) was apparhently hired to cook for us and serve us the entire time, along with another woman named Lima who lives with her husband somewhere else. I have never met anyone like Glori, her servant’s heart goes far beond what she was “asked” to do for us. I wish I had a video to show you what I mean, before a thought crosses our minds of something we may want, she is already bringing it to us. She cooks pretty much all the time-in the 100+degree heat for us, our meals aren’t basic, we’ve probably had every type of bread India has to offer and the sauces and fruit are delicious too. She brings us water, coffee, carries our bags (and she’s TINY!), and all this without a word of complaint. Glori is also a person that you can’t argue with, she comes and asks you if you want more and before you can say no, it’s aleady on your plate. We have offered to help and this is absolutely refused. We have finally learned to say no to the extra food because most of what we eat is starch or carb and very filling. She barely speaks English, but the joy in her heart from serving is evident and contagious. She loves Jesus with everything inside her and it has been an absolute honor to get to know her. We also have to wear Saris to evening ministry and she dresses us Tuesday through Saturday in these and it’s not an easy procedure-Indians are immaculate folders! I have found that wearing a Sari here is like wearing a prom dress on a hike in the desert! I hope to become like her one day-serving everyone around me almost subconsciously and with complete joy. We barely do anything for ourselves! As you can even see in the picture below of her pouring water into my mouth…haha, I love you Glori!) Ah-in-bin (I love you in Tamil)-not spelled correctly :o) Thank You Jesus for Your precious servant! We will never forget her!
From the moment we stepped foot in Chennai, India (I mean the moment we stepped off the train), we’ve been served. We were greeted by Pastor and his family. Imagine these people practically fighting to carry our 50 pound packs, daypacks and anything else. Our team currently lives with our contact-Pastor Devadhas, his two sons Lijo (27), Leo (22), and a young woman (21) who is a member of the church (which is in the same house-just a big room) named Glori. Glori (Manchu is her Indian name) was apparhently hired to cook for us and serve us the entire time, along with another woman named Lima who lives with her husband somewhere else. I have never met anyone like Glori, her servant’s heart goes far beond what she was “asked” to do for us. I wish I had a video to show you what I mean, before a thought crosses our minds of something we may want, she is already bringing it to us. She cooks pretty much all the time-in the 100+degree heat for us, our meals aren’t basic, we’ve probably had every type of bread India has to offer and the sauces and fruit are delicious too. She brings us water, coffee, carries our bags (and she’s TINY!), and all this without a word of complaint. Glori is also a person that you can’t argue with, she comes and asks you if you want more and before you can say no, it’s aleady on your plate. We have offered to help and this is absolutely refused. We have finally learned to say no to the extra food because most of what we eat is starch or carb and very filling. She barely speaks English, but the joy in her heart from serving is evident and contagious. She loves Jesus with everything inside her and it has been an absolute honor to get to know her. We also have to wear Saris to evening ministry and she dresses us Tuesday through Saturday in these and it’s not an easy procedure-Indians are immaculate folders! I have found that wearing a Sari here is like wearing a prom dress on a hike in the desert! I hope to become like her one day-serving everyone around me almost subconsciously and with complete joy. We barely do anything for ourselves! As you can even see in the picture below of her pouring water into my mouth…haha, I love you Glori!) Ah-in-bin (I love you in Tamil)-not spelled correctly :o) Thank You Jesus for Your precious servant! We will never forget her!
Jesus came to the earth not to be served, but to be a servant (Acts 3:13, 26 and 4:27, 30 and Romans 15:8) In Mark 10:43-45 it reads: “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” If you want to find your life, you must first lose it! (Matthew 16:24-28) This is the sum of Glori’s heart toward us. Her mind is not on herself, it’s on everyone else around her, Lord help me to become like this!
Our first Sunday here, we were “honored” in church and they gave us these shawls, Glori put mine on :o)
Pic of us in our first Saris, they are a process to put on, but very pretty. Glori was thrilled to find that I had picked the same one as her and she was excited to wear it on the same day :o) PS: Indians don’t smile much in pictures, we are working on this!
Glori and I (and Katy photo bombing!) at her parents 25th wedding anniversary!
Walking to a ministry site :o)
Glori singing praise songs on the streets of her village :o)
Indian seashore…you should have seen how scared she was of the waves…so cute! This was the day 2 of us almost had sunstroke!
Like I said, they don’t smile :o) This is my favorite Sari-pure silk and only $10 USD total!
Glori and Lima eating lunch they prepared earlier for us, there are goats everywhere here!
Not unusual for Glori…we can’t even drink for ourselves…haha, JK!
This is Glori’s SWEET mother…I actually got her to smile :o)
My favorite pic of Glori, who thought it was so funny to sit in this little temple cubby :o)
