I left home four weeks ago.
I arrived in India three weeks ago.
I feel like it has been ages since I have left my house. The last night I slept in my bed feels like so long ago. Saying goodbye to my best friend, siblings, parents, and dogs seems like a distant memory.
I feel like I just arrived in India a few days ago. I’m still feeling out the town and the pace of life here. I am finally adjusting to the heat and no longer sweating constantly. I’m learning some of the language and can loosely communicate with some of the girls at my ministry. I’m just learning how to correctly pronounce the girl’s names that we are working with. I’m adjusting to the curry and spiciness of everything we eat. I’m adjusting to the culture as a whole and head bobbling without even thinking about it.
But we leave in three days.
Today was our last day of ministry, and it was hard. It was hard to say goodbye to the girls we have all grown to love deeply. It is hard to leave a place we have come to know as safe and know that we will probably never come back. It’s hard to know there is nothing else I can teach them. I can’t show them any more of the Lord’s love and truth. I can’t hug them again. I can’t tell them they are beautiful.
I can’t make them feel special and important anymore.
(We made house visits, this is Bhargavi, Comadi, and their parents)
Although my time with them is done, the Lord’s work in their lives is far from over. We hugged each of the girls as they left, and I said a quick prayer for each of them that they would continue to choose life in the Lord and not be swayed by the other religions that their culture relies so heavy upon. I prayed that the Lord would show them that He loves them and will never leave them, even though we were.
(Dovini, her mother, and older brother)
I will continue to pray for these girls, and all the other girls that come through this wonderful place. I am so thankful for all that we have learned from our ministry hosts, and all that we have been able to teach them. I am thankful for every moment here, no matter how uncomfortable it was in the moment.
My team spent the evening in prayer over our ministry and the girls we worked with. We prayed that they would continue to show these girls love and give them the safe place they need to thrive. We prayed for the next team that gets to come love them, and that they will continue the work that we were blessed to be a part of. These girls will continue to be loved. No matter how they look physically or what they can do or accomplish in life, the Lord will always love them.
The love of God is the most important and special gift these girls could ever receive, and I am so blessed that I am able to be a part of that. Although it was hard to say goodbye, I know that this was only the start of what the Lord is doing in my life, and I am so blessed to have spent so much time with these special little girls.
(Sisters Bhargavi and Comadi and best friend Dovini.)
Please continue to pray for my team and squad as we transition to our next ministry, and the several days of travel we will have ahead of us. I am still in need of funding, so please consider donating so I can continue to minister to girls like these! I’d love to answer any questions you may have, so please email me at [email protected]. I’d love to share some more fun stories and adventures with you! Thank you for all of your prayers and support.
From India with Love,
Tara
