Update #3 - Day 5 in India

It is our fifth night here in India and it has been amazing so far. From the moment we stepped off the plane, we were able to feel the thick, humid air here. After finally getting out of the airport, we met the leader of the organization whose work we've been checking out, his wife, and our guide during our time here. It's so busy here in Mumbai. There's an estimated 24 million people in this city alone. It's ridiculously crowded and the driving is pretty chaotic. They don't drive according to rules, but more of a flow, and they use their horns to communicate so there's hardly ever a moment where you don't hear one. Although it's definitely very different from what I'm used to, it's actually not that weird being here. The atmosphere and sights are similar to what I remember from when I went to Vietnam a few years back, which might be why. But it has still been eye opening. Going around, seeing the people here and what goes on, I have noticed a sense of darkness and hopelessness here.

Our first night here, we met with the leader of the organization at his house and the pastor of a local church. The organization does many projects, but all their work is done through local churches. These projects include education, orphanages, and rescue homes, which we have served in so far. This particular church is one which the organization has been working through and since 1980, the number of churches they have meeting has grown from 1 to about 550. They told us about the work God is doing here and it is amazing. On the other hand, hearing about the destruction here was heart-wrenching. But God has definitely blessed their ministry here and worked through them, and it was great to hear about it and how faithful God is.

The next day, I was excited to start serving. We first went to a home for children with AIDs. When we got there they were so happy to see us. They ran up to us and started grabbing us. There we got to do crafts with them, teach them a song, hang out with them, and just love on them. And they loved on us too. It was great. We also got our first taste of Indian food there, which was pretty good. After that we went to a rescue home for girls who have been rescued out of the red light district, as their mothers were involved in sex trafficking. We heard a little about what goes on in the red light district and it was tough to hear, and we didn't ever hear half of it. At this home, we made bracelets with the girls and hung out with them. It was funny because they thought I was from Nepal and by the end of it, the two names they remembered were mine and Jed's. After this they sang some songs for us and it was so powerful. They sang Chris Tomlin's "Our God," and this song already gets to me every time, "Speak to Me," and a song in Hindi, which we couldn't understand but we later came to know that it was about about how God is freedom. They sang with such passion and it hit my heart. They've all seen so much, things so horrible they won't talk about, yet God brought them out of that darkness into the light, poured out His love upon them, and they sang these songs of victory. I was moved by this and just that time with them was great, being able to love on these girls who probably haven't seen males treat women as anything other than sexual objects. 

On day three we went to three different schools, ran by New Life, in three different slums. We had a lot of fun teaching them colors using "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?," coloring with them, feeding them, teaching them a song, and teaching them the story of Noah's Ark by helping them put stickers into a booklet. Going through the slums was crazy. Rob and I got to go through part of Dharavi, which is one of the largest slums in the world. It was so dirty and crowded, not just with people but the living spaces were packed so tightly. The poverty and living conditions here in Mumbai are incredible. Just driving around we saw trash everywhere, run-down buildings, many slums, people on the streets, and so much more. But at the same time, as we've been driving around, we've also seen so much of God's creation, with mountains and green, and it is beautiful. The next day we helped out with another school in the morning, which was more fun. Then I went with Bob and Rob to check out a pastors meeting for a church and, once again, it was cool to hear of how God is working here.

Today we went to a center for abandoned and orphaned kids and teenagers, with no relatives in contact. We were told stories about some of them and they were crazy, and I'm sure they all have experienced so much. Right when we stepped out of the cars the kids were excited to see us, running up to us and introducing themselves. We played with them, did arts and crafts, ate with them, and hung out with them. It was cool and so much fun spending time and getting to know some of them. It was great seeing the power of God here, as these people have experienced His love, have been transformed by it, and displayed joy as a result. 

So far, this trip has opened my eyes and changed my perspective. God is so powerful and it's great to see how He's working here, and see His glory, through all the destruction. The work he has done in everyone we've encountered is incredible, from the children with AIDs, girls rescued out of the red light district, and the people in the center today. If I had not been told about what they've been through, I would have never known because they display such joy. I have been reminded so many times of how great God is and how blessed we are, but we do not acknowledge it. I am so grateful to be a part of this, and there's still much more to go. Unfortunately, part of our team has gotten sick. Please continue to pray for us as we continue to serve the Lord.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." - James 1:27