Well, I finally made it to India! Long, long time getting here, but well beyond worth it. Only spent one night in Kolkata, but I feel like time is passing too quickly. Haha.
Just wanted to tell a couple things that made my heart so happy today...
Today we met several of the women that we will be working with - let me just say that I will not cease to be entertained when I'm around them. Don't know Bengali yet...and won't by the time I leave, but will definitely be able to speak and understand a few things while conversing with the women. Anyways, as soon as we walked into the area where the women sew, the jokes were flying. It was so stinking cool. These women were so full of life...so full of hope and it is incredible to witness. So once we sat down the women decided we each needed a Bengali name. I was graced with the name 'Pinky'...not sure exactly why they paired that to me, but I love it! Makes me feel at home and so welcomed into their lives. They even asked how long we were staying...after hearing it was four months their reply was "good, people come and go too often", so that shows these women have such a sweet desire for our presence.
Also, we were with the women when tea was served today. It was ginger tea and absolutely delicious, but being it is so hot outside and this cup of tea was steaming, I wasn't able to finsih it in the time we were there, so I handed the lady who made the tea, who was also washing the dishes, my half-full cup. She looked at me and help the cup back up and was basically like..."What?" Haha. I tried telling her that it was absolutely delicious but because I'm not feeling the best, it was hard to drink. This lady doesn't even understand English...I just smiled real big, gave her a thumbs up and rubbed my tummy. Ha. But I walked away feeling defeated and like I already messed up big time with one of these precious ladies. But right before we left, the lady walked right up to me, put her hand on my back and said "I love you" in Bengali. I smiled so big and did my best to say it back to her...have lots to learn, but oh goodness I'm so excited for the next four months.
Things you could be praying for...
Jet lag. Kolkata is 10.5 hours ahead, so you can imagine I'm exhausted...and slowly feel my health disappearing. Also, pray for our team and unity between us. And definitely the women - oh they are beautiful! Can't wait to spend so much time with them.
Love you all!
Tuesday, August 30
Thursday, August 18
10 days and counting...
Soooo this Kolkata business is happening in 10 days. I've been waiting months upon months for the day I would board that plane and now it's about 240 hours away! What the heck? This is crazy! Every night I lay in bed trying to make myself sleep and about 2 hours later it's a success; then the brain just starts ticking again around 5:45 a.m. and refuses to stop. Annoying, but it's pretty obvious that I'm beyond excited. At least I won't have to worry about trying to switch up my sleep cycles...I'm going to be so exhausted I'll have no issues!
Ok, here's the deal - if you know me, you know I'm not a fan or writing, journaling, or anything of the like - so, yes, this will be a blog that sounds like I'm talking directly to you - no pretty added. Thanks and Gig 'Em! Also, be forewarned that I don't understand grammar (I use way too many commas - please don't judge) and unless I have spell check, I misspell words (like I almost just did...grammer is incorrect...thank you little red squiggly line), but ever so often I will be posting little bits of my life in India via this sweet little site. Please visit...if you would like.
Soon I will be in Kolkata...working with a team of awesome people to build relationships with women walking out of the trade! God is pretty neat. That is a bit of an understatement, but let's get real - no matter what word I chose, I won't even get close to his level of awesomeness.
So here's what I've been thinking about lately as I prepare for my time in Kolkata...
I haven't even arrived in this place, but I already know that I'm not ready to leave it. I have never met any of the women that I'll be building relationships with, but I love them all. Explanation? If you strike a match in pure darkness it will outshine any match you strike in pure light. What do I mean? I mean that in 10 days I'm leaving America. I'm leaving home. I'm leaving comfort. I'm leaving a place that gives almost every person the ability to fill every void we have with whatever we choose, and rarely do we choose Jesus (I'm speaking very strongly about my own case). I'm leaving a place that has a clouded view of the kingdom of God. What I am walking into is a place that isn't home, doesn't have comforts, sees brokenness every minute of the day, and is overflowing with darkness. Jesus came for the empty, not the filled (Mark 2:17) and for me...the kingdom of God can be sighted so much easier in a place like Kolkata. This is a place that is the very heart of Christ's life on earth. Those who prostitute, those who beg, and those with leprosy...those were the ones Jesus cherished...the very ones that all others despised. I know that I won't want to leave Kolkata and that I love the women because Christ has a presence there. A presence that is not like one I've experienced and probably won't until I'm actually in his realm of eternity. Honestly.
Matthew 25:40
"And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'"
This is our Father's heartbeat - the least of these. And I cannot wait to serve them.
Please be praying for these next four months that I am in India. Pray for the women we will be working with...pray for their freedom and joy. Pray that many more will chose to walk away from the life that has so sadly chosen them. Pray for our Kolkata Servant Team - me, Erin, and Natalie. Three girls...thank Jesus for his hand in this! Pray for our work there - that it is His work and for His glory - pray for our transition to the new way of living - pray for our unity, our growth. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers.
Next post...I'll be halfway around the world! Yay! Catch you kids later.
Ok, here's the deal - if you know me, you know I'm not a fan or writing, journaling, or anything of the like - so, yes, this will be a blog that sounds like I'm talking directly to you - no pretty added. Thanks and Gig 'Em! Also, be forewarned that I don't understand grammar (I use way too many commas - please don't judge) and unless I have spell check, I misspell words (like I almost just did...grammer is incorrect...thank you little red squiggly line), but ever so often I will be posting little bits of my life in India via this sweet little site. Please visit...if you would like.
Soon I will be in Kolkata...working with a team of awesome people to build relationships with women walking out of the trade! God is pretty neat. That is a bit of an understatement, but let's get real - no matter what word I chose, I won't even get close to his level of awesomeness.
So here's what I've been thinking about lately as I prepare for my time in Kolkata...
I haven't even arrived in this place, but I already know that I'm not ready to leave it. I have never met any of the women that I'll be building relationships with, but I love them all. Explanation? If you strike a match in pure darkness it will outshine any match you strike in pure light. What do I mean? I mean that in 10 days I'm leaving America. I'm leaving home. I'm leaving comfort. I'm leaving a place that gives almost every person the ability to fill every void we have with whatever we choose, and rarely do we choose Jesus (I'm speaking very strongly about my own case). I'm leaving a place that has a clouded view of the kingdom of God. What I am walking into is a place that isn't home, doesn't have comforts, sees brokenness every minute of the day, and is overflowing with darkness. Jesus came for the empty, not the filled (Mark 2:17) and for me...the kingdom of God can be sighted so much easier in a place like Kolkata. This is a place that is the very heart of Christ's life on earth. Those who prostitute, those who beg, and those with leprosy...those were the ones Jesus cherished...the very ones that all others despised. I know that I won't want to leave Kolkata and that I love the women because Christ has a presence there. A presence that is not like one I've experienced and probably won't until I'm actually in his realm of eternity. Honestly.
Matthew 25:40
"And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'"
This is our Father's heartbeat - the least of these. And I cannot wait to serve them.
Please be praying for these next four months that I am in India. Pray for the women we will be working with...pray for their freedom and joy. Pray that many more will chose to walk away from the life that has so sadly chosen them. Pray for our Kolkata Servant Team - me, Erin, and Natalie. Three girls...thank Jesus for his hand in this! Pray for our work there - that it is His work and for His glory - pray for our transition to the new way of living - pray for our unity, our growth. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers.
Next post...I'll be halfway around the world! Yay! Catch you kids later.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)