Wow! I really can't believe I've been here a little over a week now. Part of me feels like I just got here, and the other part of me really feels like I've been here forever - so it's a strange mix.
I want to start off by straightening some things out from my last blog, about Kumar and the home with the kids who are challenged. After speaking with our leader, Pastor Daniel, we got the actual information on what's up with the place. Kumar is actually not the leader of it, he only helps out. It is an organization that is helped out by the government, so every meal time and supply is provided by the government. So, we were very much lied to by this man. He had told us that he had no supporters and that he needed help because the government wouldn't help him and that he was the only one working at this place and so on. When I heard this news, my heart broke. I believe there is more than what I can see in this situation - just like the Lord has been teaching "walk by faith". I am hurt that we were taken advantage of, just because we are Americans... but I realize that we are working in the real world here and that this is every day life for some of these people, and it challenged me to walk in the opposite spirit. I love those kids too much to just stop going so Lindsay, Nate and I are going to continue investing in these wonderful children and pray that we will make a difference in their lives, and in Kumars life, just by showing the Grace of Jesus and Love as well. So now that we have that straightened out :)
This week was very packed with things. We went and spent some time at a Orphanage, which is actually right above the church we are going to that Pastor Daniel pastors. That was so much fun! We played red light, green light with the kids and Simon Says... and then we spoke to them about Jesus and prayed over them. At the end we all stood in a circle and held hands and prayed. This was such an impacting moment for me. We were standing there, as one body under Jesus, praying to the same God... and even though I could not understand the prayers in Tamil, I was moved so much. This little girl started to pray, the tiniest little girl ever, and she prayed and prayed and prayed... with her eyes shut and such determination on her face... She was a prayer warrior. We later found out that her parents were planning to kill her, many many times, but the church convinced them to give her up to the orphanage, and so her life was spared. This girl was stunning, so beautiful and pure... I couldn't keep my eyes off of her the whole time - I'll make sure to post a picture of her.
We also visited the boarding school where Pastor Daniel and his wife, Joyce send their 2 kids. One is in 9th grade and the other is in 12th, about to graduate to go to school to be a doctor. The place was 2 hours away in the mountains, and it was amazing... We finally breathed in fresh air, and the temperature was a lot lower... and for the first time since in India - I didn't sweat, hahaha. So that was very refreshing. After we went there we ate in a park and went on a boat ride, so much fun. Later that night we traveled to a village where we did an open air... We sang a song, Erika preached a little bit, and Pastor Daniel ending with asking who wanted to accept Jesus - and many did. Then we ended with prayer for whoever wanted it, and of course taking pictures :)
So then today we had church in the morning, which I stayed back from because i wasn't feeling too great. But then later we headed to the Leprosy Colony (a different one than last time I posted). Something incredible happened here. When I was spending time with the Lord this morning, I really became frustrated with the language barrier. I just wanted to tell these men and women what treasures they are, that they are sons and daughters of the King, that He longs for Intimacy with them... That they are beautiful and treasures to Him! But I can't do that without a translator... and that becomes such a hassle with each one. So as I was praying, I really asked Abba that He would move through each word I say as I pray for these people. That they would feel the intensity of His heart for them through my words, that the Holy Spirit would take over and move inside of their hearts. So I prayed for 2 women tonight that had Leprosy, One hip and leg was messed up and she had no fingers... and the other seemed she was going blind and had a fever and she had a fake leg and foot. As I am praying for them I feel the Holy Spirit so strongly and really am holding back tears. So as I say amen, I look into their eyes and both women start crying at this point... I was so moved!! Possibly just as much as they were. I couldn't believe how fast God answered my prayer. I just prayed it in faith earlier, that it would happen later - and God showed up. It was such a beautiful thing. I serve the exact same God that these two women served, so there is no doubt in my mind that the Lord was stirring inside of their hearts what He was speaking through me - Such a cool thing!!
So we leave there and just like we did last week, we went to the Beggars Church - prayed over everybody individually and gave them food and drink.... Every time I think of serving them food, the Lord brings to my mind the verse in Matthew 25:40 that says, "Assuredly, I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My Brethren, you did it to Me." And then not only am I challenged to that to the best of my ability, but I am challenged to do everything as if unto Jesus - and that's a freakin' hard road to journey down, haha.
So here I am, end of week 1 - beginning of week 2. We are about to head up on the top of our roof to have a party, which I am super stoked about. Lays Chips & Coke - oh the cravings of home already, haha.
I am praying for all of you back home. Thank you for the prayers for our team. Everybody is fine now, except for Tiffany who is almost better. We are praying that this is the only time people get sick, so we are done with that and onto bigger and better things!! I am praying that our team would continue to walk in unity, that we would still carry the zeal of the Lord for this land and that we would hide ourselves in the secret place with the Lord, for out of that place comes every good thing. I am also praying that every person on the team would rise up and we would go head first into what the Lord has for us as individuals and as a body. yeah :)
Please feel free to update me on what's going on back home!! I love to hear about it. And if you have any encouraging words or prayers that you want to send our way, please feel free to do that as well.
Naan Anbu Unnai :)
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