India has been a blessing!

India was a beautiful platform to start off as our first country. We learned some valuable lessons and really experienced God’s favour and provision for the team. What was really interesting and heartbreaking about this nation was that most of the people are looking for something to worship, but are blinded to the one and only true God. It was a challenge to see the person as a person and not the idolatry. But fact is that they are God’s people and it’s His country and He loves them. We have been so privileged to be part of God’s story in India.

The ministry at the orphanage was a learning curve and a safe place to start off. We had a big diversity of ministry, the team had to do a lot of labour and it was very time consuming. One of our tasks was to prepare and paint a humongous church in 3 weeks; truth said we thought it was impossible to do but God made it possible for us. We had to trust God beyond our abilities and saw that we are capable of doing it. God provided incredibly in regards of the paint, at times we didn’t have the finances to buy more paint, but He provided spot on every time and we got the job well done. Each day after painting the church we had to prepare and present a two hour program for the children. It was beautiful how the picture came together every night. Everyone worked together and gave what they could give. We had confidence in our team members and carried each other. We learned as a team how God values unity and how powerful we are in unity.
Spending quality time with the children in the orphanage was an absolute blessing. We learned so much about God’s unconditional love. The kids just love you for who you are. They take you in, give and love you with all that they have. We saw how God worked in our lives through the children. Half of the time we didn’t understand the kids and they didn’t understand us but the power of love exceeds by far the language barriers. We care for and cherish these children so much and only experienced a glimpse of the fierce love that the Father has for them. It was life changing.

While the rest off the team was at their ministry point, three team members had to stay behind for a week to apply for visas. They experienced the Lord coming through in regards of the visas with helpful people, low prices and approval for their visas in a very short time. During this time they stayed at an orphanage in Dwarka where they literally saw a miracle per day. This orphanage has no funds or idea where their next meal will come from, but there was never a day they went without food. Those kids had a faith and an expectation that God will provide for them and He always does. And when there was no food they will fast and pray for the next meal.

The team encountered incredible people on this journey who had a great impact in our lives. We met a man who spoke about the gospel with such great Spiritual authority that we were stunned. We were asked the question: “Would you rather fail stepping out of the boat or want to fail sitting passively inside the boat.” And was left with these facts: “God doesn’t want your money, God wants your life.” And “Ministry is not an option, it’s the only option.” We also met a family at the orphanage that hardly had anything, but still invited the team over for a meal to bless us and cooked us the best meal they could make. The generosity of that family was so beautiful. That experience taught us a great lesson that we must give God our best no matter what our circumstances are and not our second best. And many more remarkable encounters with men who lay down their lives for Christ and serve Him whole heartedly.

On this journey each member in the northbound team was challenged in things they have never done before, we learned so much skills and discipline at this ministry point. We have been blessed abundantly with food, travel, protection, accommodation, fellowship, love and joy. We learned that God performs miracles in our lives when we are at our weakest and that God will come through if we put ourselves out there.

Finally, the answer to our question. YES! We would rather step out off the boat and be a failure than sit inside off the boat and be a failure.