A different divine India

 It has been a remarkable experience so far.

As soon as we got off the train in New Delhi, India hit me with revolting smells, a very dirty place, and people spitting everywhere and urinating on the streets. For me it was chaos, dodging “tuk tuk’s” and scooters with hooters going off around me constantly. My first thoughts were “God please increase my boldness.”  Culture shock and all we found a nice little hotel to stay in for 2 days and as soon as we were settled in, we went exploring. My view began to change as we walked through the market with all its multicolours and very friendly people.  I had quite an enjoyable time.

But still it was not a pretty picture to see how so many of these people spend their time and money worshipping demons through their Idols. It makes me furious and so sad to see.  I was faced with the challenge of loving the person while you hate the sin inside of them, this is not that easy.  But in the midst of all these little shops with all their idol posters and incense burnings to their gods was a shop with all these multicolour pants and skirts and as soon as I entered it I immediately noticed that there are no signs of any idols in the shop and the man had a tattoo of a cross on his arm, and as I was walking down the stairs I saw a poster of Jesus, I touched the poster and smiled and he saw me and said in such a proud manner “ that is my God”. And just there a fresh hope and joy flooded my heart for India.

 We also ended up in the famous colour festival which is a celebration of honouring their Hindu gods. Whenever we were walking down the street we were thrown with water balloons. We tried to avoid all the colours they throw on you because we really didn’t want anything to do with the festival but on our way to the train station there was no escape from it, I ended up with half a head of blue hair for a week, luckily it finally washed out. At least we got a good laugh out of it, and with the armour of God upon us all was well at the end.

The train ride was very interesting we had some good chats with a couple who was very interested in a book Robin was reading called: God’s smuggler; they had all kinds of questions and seemed eager to read the book. We had lots of laughs with silly acting and singing on the train which draw a lot of attention and soon there were a couple of people around us laughing and trying out some of the silly stuff that we were doing. It just reminded me of a moth drawn to a flame, that we are a light in this world and that the joy of the Lord which is inside of us is the light that draws people to Him.

Finally we arrived at our destination. We were all so extremely blessed when we arrived at the orphanage. God provided a heavenly cooked meal, tea and coffee, comfortable beds each with a towel and a present on.  We felt at home which was just what we needed. We are really experiencing God’s favour upon the northbound team. Fact is, God has and still is providing abundantly!

The children at the orphanage have inspired me tremendously. I am blown away by these kids. I came with the mind-set of loving these children with every part of my being, but instead these children have loved me with every part of their being, they just open their hearts and let you walk right in. Each team member has 2 girls’ rooms, I adore my rooms to bits, and the girls are so special. They showed me the meaning of loving unconditionally. They hardly have anything and still they give the little that they have away. I celebrated my birthday on the 17/03/2012 and by far it was the most precious birthday I have ever had.  The girls gave me the only nice things they had as presents for my birthday; they made me feel so special. These girls are beautiful with such loving hearts.  God is really taken me on a journey, it’s amazing when God takes you all the way to India to show and teach you more of Him. I came to teach and give these children but instead they have been giving me more. They have such a big hearts for Jesus and I see so much potential in them.

I am finding myself in a situation where you want to help the children with material stuff, new clothes etc. But I know that will just bring happiness for a while, earthly things come and pass, but the biggest gift of true value that we can give them through Jesus is inner peace and joy. Sometimes this is a battle because in the flesh you want to bless them, but the circumstances don’t really allow it. I can hardly think of leaving them, it breaks my heart.  There is no way you can leave the orphanage unchanged or untouched. We are very privileged to be able to serve at this orphanage.

We are also busy with a tremendous task of painting a very big church and having 2 hour programs every night. With these daily programs we are very dependent on electricity and every day during the program the electricity goes off, that brings us to our knees every afternoon and soon after praying the power comes back on. God is really showing us who are in control here, and that He is the only one we can be dependent on.

Further all of us have been challenged by India. I have my highs and lows but God is always there ready to catch me when I start to fall.

I know that God will carry me on this journey. God has been working in my life so much, I have so much to thank and praise Him for. India has been a very important walk with the Lord.

Just always remember that life is about a journey with God.