Hey, Everyone!
Writing this somewhere at 30,000 feet, headed southwest from Kathmandu to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. We took off as the sun set; it’s still fading to the west. These past 3 days in Nepal were amazing. I can’t wait to share all that God did there!
But first, what He did in India!
It’s hard to describe what it was like being back in India, but in a different city, serving with a different ministry. It felt alike and foreign at the same time. It was neat to see how India differed within itself; the culture of Southern India was a bit less aggressive than Delhi. There was more nature (trees!), and the traffic wasn’t as crazy. There were times I stopped with my jaw open, wondering where India went.
Yet so much was the same – the beauty, the color, the spice, chai, the absurd juxtaposed with the logical, and of course, the head bobbling. I can’t explain why I love this country so much, but I do. It’s a walking adventure. And nothing makes me happier than #allthecolors being everywhere!
*Photo by Jennifer Lucy Tyler
Our the first few days, it was so fun meeting our host and getting to know our host ministry, Sarah’s Covenant Homes, an organization working with over 160 special needs kids in Southern India. But a part of me felt a little homesick for the India I’ve come to love for the past 9 years.
That ended on Wednesday morning, however. Because when Asha House heard we couldn’t come to them – they came to us! My friends, Tom and Sandy*, and 7 children drove through the night to spend 24 hours with us. I remember Connie waking me at 5:30am, telling me they were close and we were to go down to the street to meet them. I followed her down while she sent directions (they were lost): “Go back to the main road, then turn left, then look for 2 white women standing in the road”. Around the time they saw us and pretended to hit us, I looked down and realized my clothes were inside out.
Doors opened and children jumped out, surrounding us and calling, “Auntie! Auntie!”
Suddenly, I was home.
I love, love, love Asha House. It’s a relationship that spans miles, years, culture – everything… but not faith. We worship the same Lord and being with them is like breathing fresh air. True story – years ago, Connie bought the rug they used during prayer times at the old Asha House. She keeps it in a tote in her garage, and every once in a while I go in there, stick my head in, and take a deep breath. Just that takes me back.
We all went inside, got them settled into their rooms, then went back to sleep. Connie woke me a few hours later telling me it was Christmas, to which I started mumbling about cinnamon rolls (my family always has them on Christmas morning), until I remembered the comment I’d made to her before falling asleep earlier – “It felt like Christmas morning.”
While the rest of the team went to ministry, we stayed back and caught up. The children who came were so big! There were 5 others remaining at their home, but even seeing these 7 was incredible. The next few hours were full of laughter, memories, and dreams of the future. Ahksa somehow managed to rearrange all the apps on my phone before it locked us out for a full minute (her accidental selfie below on the top right). Naps were had by all, and Jyothi braided my hair into something that would make Elsa jealous.
*Photos with me by Connie Rock
It was a great day. Eventually the team came back and got to meet them, then we all spent time together. Connie, Jennifer, and I took Sandy* to her first Starbucks, then we all went to dinner at a local restaurant.
The next morning came all too soon. We got up early to see them off, then walked sadly back to our rooms. It was hard to see them go, but the fact that we got to see them was such a gift. I’ll never forget that day.
When you have 24 hours to catch up on the past year and dream about the one to come, it’s that much sweeter.
For me, the best moment came after lunch, when the team gathered to meet Tom and Sandy. They started to share their stories. Sandy’s includes infertility, where she and Tom prayed for 8 years for her to conceive. The children prayed for her every night to have a baby. Then, when she got pregnant, they prayed for her and the child every night. And again, after baby Stuthy’s birth (which we were there for 2 years ago – the miracle girl, baby Praise), they gathered around her and gave thanks to God.
It was one of the most powerful moments I’ve ever seen.
When they told this story, I started thinking of my friend and teammate, Jennifer. She wants to have a baby as well. I thought, “The next time I can talk with her alone, I’m going to suggest she have the children pray for her.” I knew it would encourage her.
Then I was called away to go over a bill with the hotel manager. When I went back into the room to get something, Connie told me we were about to pray. “Okay, cool.” I grabbed my scarf, not needing to know why.
Then Jen sat down and the children gathered around her… and I knew.
Seconds later, the room filled with prayers spoken in Hindi, Telegru, English, and Afrikaans. It was holy ground, so much like the thanksgiving prayer I witnessed 2 years ago.
*Photo by Connie Rock
Except this one was a pre-thanksgiving, faith-filled prayer.
And I can’t wait to write on here the great news when this prayer is answered!
Jen wrote about what she experienced here, how hearing the children of Asha pray for her moved her. For me, that moment was a “homecoming”. Because my favorite thing to do at Asha is pray/praise with the children, to hear their faith and joy. So to find myself in that moment once again was incredible.
India is 2.3% Christian. Like I wrote about last week, it’s so hard to be out in the city, see crowds of people, and know the majority of them have never heard of Christ. But these children, and the children of SCH (which I’ll write about in another post), are the hope of India. The light of Christ in both of these ministries shines SO clear. So as hard as it was at the mosque that one evening, I know there is hope for India.
Because the light and love of Christ is so clear in his children.
Before I tell more stories, I want to stop and say thank you once again. Thank you for your support! Thank you for praying; thank you for giving towards this trip! It was incredible and I am so thankful I was able to go! What an incredible blessing!
*Names changed for protection
