I've just had 9 days in India. For someone for whom Switzerland is the far-East, it was a radical thing to do. Flying out 2 days after the Mumbai atrocities made it interesting too! The experience began at Mumbai Airport upon arrival: walking out into the heat and a sea of people, many of whom wanted to take me to wherever I wanted to go. You could smell the pollution in the air, and when I found my driver I was followed by a lady who was chanting something I knew was not good for me. I didn't allow THAT curse to alight. Then we wound our way through the streets. These guys are amazing drivers, and need to be because any gap is fair game, whichever side of the road or the vehicle in front it is on!
After a night in a hotel we went on to our destination, which involved another flight. I won't name places or people because there is persecution and I don't want to cause more. We were there to encourage leaders and see them receive the father's love. Many have been through so much, including vandalism of Church and property, smashing of equipment and, for a few, personal violence. Through the week we saw them begin to receive more and more. We saw many tears, and hugged leaders while they cried or just held us tight. We were loved by them and were able to receive as much as we gave.
I was blessed by the warmth and welcome, the honest questions and testimonies, the food ( Some deceived individual said I'd get thinner... ), the chipmunks in the garden, the purity of the people's hearts, and by the team I was with. And hundreds of other things. One morning we were all worshipping in the local language (well I was just listening!) and there was something so powerful in their unity that it seemed to wash all over me. I shared on the Father's Love that morning, and we introduced them to soaking which was received enthusiastically by many. We saw them really receive from God. Their weariness just washed away...
What I saw of India shows it to be a nation of extremes. But whereas in this country they are in different regions, in India all the extremes seem to co-exist in the same street. Little corrugated-Iron huts next to 4-star hotels, someone selling from a wheelbarrow next to an air-conditioned shop. Young professionals walking through town next to families for whom the street is home. A maze of streets full of Autorickshaws, bikes, scooters (with up to 4 people on them), taxis, cars, buses, cows, goats, sheep, and loads of stray dogs. In the midst of all of this, one of the local leaders took us out for dinner - to an American Steak house!
Over the weekend we went shopping for our morning off. Two girls from the Church came to help us as a lot of bartering takes place and there had been some challenges earlier in the week! I got some clothes for my family, though in the end we chose a mainstream shop. LOVELY clothes at a good price. Then in the afternoon we travelled out of town to a Children's home. This has been set up by the Churches, and is quite simply superb. We had a great time with the kids, and were incredibly impressed by them and by the whole place.
The flight home was uneventful, apart from all the security checks, and seeing them setting up a machine gun outside our Airport terminal. I'm not sure if that made me feel more secure or not!
So will I go back? I'm not sure. I love those lovely pure people. I love their honesty about themselves and their lack of pretence. I loved being loved by them too. But I'm also in love with this message of the Father's love. Seeing people enabled to function out of affirmation rather than for it. Seeing leaders delived from issues of self-worth and being measured by results. Seeing them hearing God's words of love and value to them. Maybe the message will take me somewhere else next time.
A small note about mosquitos. I held out till the last morning, when one finally got through my defences. But did I cry? No. Nothing is too difficult if you have Faith...
One other thought... Anyone could do this - I mean anyone could go. Go somewhere and make a difference, give the Father's Love away. I never really imagined I'd go to India and now I'm richer for it, and amazingly I've been able to make a difference. It's actually not that hard to do! You could start planning a trip now....
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