Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile .
My time in India!
My time in India!
As you guys know, I had the distinct pleasure of spending 3 months in Southern India doing Gods work! I was there with a team of 6 people. We got to walk with pastors and take on unique ministry opportunities. While there we visited a few cities all over the state of Karnataka, we went to Bangalore, Chitradurga, Belgaum, and Hosept! Chitradurga is where we spent the majority of our time. Everywhere we went though, God moved!
I want to start by sharing a story that happened December 24th to our team. Our host informed us that we were to go caroling at one of the biggest malls in Bangalore. We were to be outside near the parking lot just singing carols while they had mainstream bands playing on center stage. So we jumped right into it. Next thing the manager of the mall comes up to us and says "You guys are drawing the crowds and we know you aren't professional but we are going to move you to the center stage to perform." We all looked at each other and started to become a little nervous. Caroling is 1 thing but to do it on display for all Bangalore to see is another thing entirely. I can't sing well, so I was very nervous indeed. So we got on the stage and started singing carols but 10 minutes in we ran out of songs to sing. And to make matters worse we had a very captive audience. We had to do something, so what do we do; we start praising Jesus. That's right, we started worshiping God and Jesus our Lord and Savior. We did it for over an hour. It was amazing, and that was only 4 days in to our trip. That experience set the tone for our outreach. Expect the unexpected!
So we moved to Chitradurga after the first week in India, it was to be our home base for the following month. While there we entered a few different ministry outlets. The first being village ministry. We traveled from village to village sharing the Gospel and praying for everyone we could. God was already on the move, the people were hungry for Christ. Many were saved, and some even received healing. That is who our God is, a lover, a healer, a friend! We also taught English. We got to work in a preschool as well as a college. Teaching English was the main goal and we shared Christ by just loving the students and teachers. We did have breakthrough. Students invited us to their homes. We got to refresh some Christians and bring God to those who didn't believe!
The next city we went to was Belgaum. We were only there for 4 days but it was jam packed with non-stop Jesus Culture. We got to assist in an annual conference held for Devadasis (temple prostitutes.) We had the unique opportunity to pour love into these women whom for their entire lives lived under the impression that the label they had was their only identity. We got to show them that they are valued. That they are loved. That God has plans for each of them. It was an amazing time where over 60 women and their children attended. Most of the women and their children dedicated their lives to Christ. On the last day of the conference, we got to bless them in a way that wrecked me from the inside out. We performed a foot washing ceremony. The ultimate sign of respect. Especially in India where showing someone the bottom of your feet is ultimate sign of disrespect. So the men were tasked with the actual washing of the feet. I did not think I was going to cry. I told myself I wouldn't cry. All the women were wailing filled with tears of joy as they finally understood our love for them. As I was washing the last women's feet in my row, I broke down. I didn't just cry, I wept. I was so moved and filled with compassion for I knew the pain of living as a label. I also saw freedom etched on every women's face. I never felt so humbled before.
We also went to the city Hospet. It was a big city and it too was filled with people in need of something more. So we did more village ministry as well as doing some work with orphanages. Just by showing up and playing with the children, we showed the love of God. Hospet was a wonderful city. I loved it very much.
Finally we ended our last couple weeks back in Bangalore. We worked in an elderly care facility as well as an AIDS orphanage/hospital. It was so much fun to be able to work hard physically knowing that you are sharing Christ in the same way as if you were ministering too people!
Every Sunday we preached at church. Since we had a small team our plan was for 2 people every week to share and we created a rotation. I have to say that speaking in churches all over India was one of my favorite ministry methods. I would prepare sermons and spend time sharing what God had put on my heart. I learned so much about the character of God while in India.
If I ever get the chance, I would jump on the opportunity to go back to India. I would find all the pastors I walked with for 3 months and spend time with them. I gained a heart for that nation while there. 3 months felt like a lifetime but once back it felt like it was all a dream. God is in love with that land and people. Some day I will return, for part of my heart will forever be there!
I want to start by sharing a story that happened December 24th to our team. Our host informed us that we were to go caroling at one of the biggest malls in Bangalore. We were to be outside near the parking lot just singing carols while they had mainstream bands playing on center stage. So we jumped right into it. Next thing the manager of the mall comes up to us and says "You guys are drawing the crowds and we know you aren't professional but we are going to move you to the center stage to perform." We all looked at each other and started to become a little nervous. Caroling is 1 thing but to do it on display for all Bangalore to see is another thing entirely. I can't sing well, so I was very nervous indeed. So we got on the stage and started singing carols but 10 minutes in we ran out of songs to sing. And to make matters worse we had a very captive audience. We had to do something, so what do we do; we start praising Jesus. That's right, we started worshiping God and Jesus our Lord and Savior. We did it for over an hour. It was amazing, and that was only 4 days in to our trip. That experience set the tone for our outreach. Expect the unexpected!
So we moved to Chitradurga after the first week in India, it was to be our home base for the following month. While there we entered a few different ministry outlets. The first being village ministry. We traveled from village to village sharing the Gospel and praying for everyone we could. God was already on the move, the people were hungry for Christ. Many were saved, and some even received healing. That is who our God is, a lover, a healer, a friend! We also taught English. We got to work in a preschool as well as a college. Teaching English was the main goal and we shared Christ by just loving the students and teachers. We did have breakthrough. Students invited us to their homes. We got to refresh some Christians and bring God to those who didn't believe!
The next city we went to was Belgaum. We were only there for 4 days but it was jam packed with non-stop Jesus Culture. We got to assist in an annual conference held for Devadasis (temple prostitutes.) We had the unique opportunity to pour love into these women whom for their entire lives lived under the impression that the label they had was their only identity. We got to show them that they are valued. That they are loved. That God has plans for each of them. It was an amazing time where over 60 women and their children attended. Most of the women and their children dedicated their lives to Christ. On the last day of the conference, we got to bless them in a way that wrecked me from the inside out. We performed a foot washing ceremony. The ultimate sign of respect. Especially in India where showing someone the bottom of your feet is ultimate sign of disrespect. So the men were tasked with the actual washing of the feet. I did not think I was going to cry. I told myself I wouldn't cry. All the women were wailing filled with tears of joy as they finally understood our love for them. As I was washing the last women's feet in my row, I broke down. I didn't just cry, I wept. I was so moved and filled with compassion for I knew the pain of living as a label. I also saw freedom etched on every women's face. I never felt so humbled before.
We also went to the city Hospet. It was a big city and it too was filled with people in need of something more. So we did more village ministry as well as doing some work with orphanages. Just by showing up and playing with the children, we showed the love of God. Hospet was a wonderful city. I loved it very much.
Finally we ended our last couple weeks back in Bangalore. We worked in an elderly care facility as well as an AIDS orphanage/hospital. It was so much fun to be able to work hard physically knowing that you are sharing Christ in the same way as if you were ministering too people!
Every Sunday we preached at church. Since we had a small team our plan was for 2 people every week to share and we created a rotation. I have to say that speaking in churches all over India was one of my favorite ministry methods. I would prepare sermons and spend time sharing what God had put on my heart. I learned so much about the character of God while in India.
If I ever get the chance, I would jump on the opportunity to go back to India. I would find all the pastors I walked with for 3 months and spend time with them. I gained a heart for that nation while there. 3 months felt like a lifetime but once back it felt like it was all a dream. God is in love with that land and people. Some day I will return, for part of my heart will forever be there!