Hello readers. Whether you stumbled here because you received one of my letters, I told you about my blog or because you googled India, welcome! In case you didn't know, I am going to India! As weird as that sounds (or looks) I have been surprised to find that with each utterance of that sentence I get more excited, more restless and yet more at peace in my heart. I remember when my church first announced that we were partnering with DRM (Dominic Russo Ministries) for three mission trips. I thought, "wow, gosh I really want to go on one of those but I don't think I'll be able to." Yet each time they showed the promo video for the trips I was moved to tears as this want in me began to increase. I started praying about the trips and thought "okay, maybe I can go. But I bet it will be to one of the spanish speaking countries since I speak spanish...Jesus probably wants to use me there, not India." Somehow when the time came to choose and apply for a trip I still hadn't decided. So I sat down and prayed the most honest prayer I could with the most open heart. I read over each trip description and it just hit me, India. It's India. I haven't looked back since.
Three or so months later here I am blogging about this country that was never really on my radar outside of history class and my dear friend Chad Mukherjee (he's half Indian). Since then I have somehow managed to stumble upon all sorts of things concerning India-news articles, people, facts, anything and everything. I've been googling, reading and listening, trying to learn all that I can about this nation, this people. A lot of what I have learned has been beautiful and exciting-the culture, traditions, colors, land. Yet so much has been saddening and heart wrenching. In my letter I skimmed the surface of the basic facts about India however the more I read the more I discover the heartaches going on in this country. From sex trafficking to poverty, disease and crime, many times I find myself crying and praying with each article, news clip and story.
But then I remember- "ONLY ask and I will give you the nations as your inheritance.." Psalm 2:8- what a promise. I start this blog with a prayer for India, thanking God for this beautiful country and for this amazing opportunity to be a part of something so much greater than myself. A chance to learn, to experience something new, to see God's grace in a different light.
Thank you for choosing to be a part of my journey. My hope is that over the next few months as I prepare for this trip, this blog will somehow open you up to the things God wants to do in you, the things He has prepared for you to do in this great big world. I hope it stirs up in you an excitement for His Kingdom and the people in it. And I hope that you learn some new things, about India, about me and about Jesus.
[Countdown to India: 108 days]
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