so much to tell!

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Where to begin? It’s almost been two weeks and I could probably go on forever! I am overjoyed to be back in India ministering to God’s beloved children. I have so much to tell and wish each of you could experience what I’m experience..but you can’t. So I’ll do my best to tell you as much as I can, but I apologize if none of this makes sense.

After about 28 exhausting hours of travel, and no problems with my visa (PTL!), Lydia and Jill greeted us at the airport with hugs and big smiles, especially for 3:00 am. The first week here was rough. I didn’t sleep well, and my body just seemed to be confused and adjusting to all the changes. It definitely is true that India doesn’t taste, smell, look, sound, or feel like home. Some things that are different: I’m becoming more adventurous with Indian food, and am actually enjoying most of it! (Ry and Ash…you’d be proud) The streets are always busy and loud here, at every hour day or night. Seeing cows, dogs, goats, and chickens roaming the streets has become normal. Rickshaws are our most common form of transportation. I’m getting adjusted to power flickering on and off and understanding how “India time” works. I speak in short phrases often to communicate through the language barrier such as, "You eat?" "What your name?" "Very pretty." We’re also stared at like we’re unicorns around here, but we also get pretty excited when we see other white people so we understand!

Even in these first few weeks, days have not always been easy but the Lord has blessed me richly through those times. First, I absolutely love my team. Discipleship with them has been absolutely beautiful. Personally, God has been teaching me what it looks like to daily abide in Him and stand under His waterfall of grace. Since there is not a lot of communication, I’ve talked to God A LOT. He’s taught me so much in these two short weeks and has so much more in store for the next 5!

So…ministry. We don’t have a set schedule but our weeks often look similar. Mondays and Fridays are usually spent serving at the AIDS orphanage and hospital. We clean, do laundry, and talk with the patients or whatever else they need done! Although this is humbling work I find complete satisfaction and joy in it. I think it’s largely because I know the importance of a clean hospital (the nursing student in me really comes out here) and I love caring for the unlovable and letting them know they are loved by the creator of the universe! We try to find time to spend with the 18 orphans as well, but that’s been difficult scheduling wise. (We’re learning a lot about India time, flexibility, patience, and grace) All 18 orphans are HIV+ but you would never know by interacting with them. They are such a blessing to talk and giggle with and are overflowing with joy! The stigma of HIV/AIDS truly astounds me. Most of these people have not done anything “bad” to contract this disease, they’ve just been dealt some not so great circumstances and still need love, most importantly…the love of our Father!

Tuesday, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are spent at the stitching center in the slum. We do gospel stories through henna on Wednesdays and life-skills class on Thursdays. A lot of our time here is just spent talking with, learning from, and loving on the women. My favorite experience thus far has been with a little girl there whom I’ve grown quite fond of…we even have a super cool handshake! It went a little like this:

Girl: you doctor?

Me: no, studying to be nurse.

Girl: Nurse?! Come! (and takes me outside alone) Doctor listen to heart. Boom, boom and say is bad

…so I listened to her heart, took her pulse, and let her feel mine. I told her her heart was okay and the doctor wasn’t bad. Her face lit up so bright and it made me SO happy. Little moments like these often seem silly and unimportant, but these are the moments that bring such joy and peace.

Friday afternoon we went to the aftercare center. My heart physically hurt going there. About 30 women live there and they’ve all been trafficked. Seeing the smiles on their faces and hearing them giggle, I simply could not imagine what they’ve been through. The language barrier is difficult here, but the easiest way to communicate is to smile…a lot! Though it was hard to go and see the faces of the many statistics I’ve researched it was here that I also saw redemption. I saw hope and I saw joy. Through the short time I’ve spent there I can feel God at work. He does so much behind the scenes work here, even though it’s not always evident to us. I cannot wait to see more of His work, His healing, and His restoration in the next few weeks!

I could tell so much more, and a lot of this is probably word vomit but it’s so difficult to sum up my experience! Here are a few moments that have brought joy:

-       successfully packing six people into a rickshaw

-       neighbor kids with smiles as big as the moon asking for “chocolate” aka any form of candy

-       successfully getting home from the grocery store in an auto with Erin

-       trying a cucumber for the first time in India, even though we have them in our garden back home (by the way dad, I loved them…be ready to share)

-       finding oreos, peanut butter, and diet coke at the store...mmm!
-    running through the street during a downpour while all the natives laugh at us

-       Erin laughing hysterically at my face each time I get really excited

-       Chicken at a restaurant that reminded me of mama’s smothered chicken and plain spaghetti to remind me of dad!

-       ALL of the notes in my encouragement book. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I’ve read them all already and them bring so much encouragement each time I re-read them

I just want to let y’all know that I love you and am so thankful for each of you! I won’t get on too often, so only expect about 5 more posts (which are hopefully more organized) You all make my trip possible with prayer, so finally some prayer requests:

-       health and strength for the team, that we would rely fully on God for our strength and no one else

-       rest. For the first week, I didn’t sleep much which caused a great deal of anxiety. Anxiety has always been something I’ve struggled with, but I know that Christ alone can break those chains! BUT! God has already answered prayers and I’ve been sleeping much better so pray for continued rest and peace

-       hearts open to hearing the gospel at the centers

-       deepening relationships with the women and children at the center

Two verses that have spoken to me while here are Romans 8:15 and Jeremiah 17:5-8. These are among many that have strengthened me here, but I think they paint a beautiful picture of what it means to dwell with the Lord.