This trip had been in the makings for about two years. Debi, East Cooper Baptist Church's women's minister, had been wanting to take a group of women to India and she finally got it all together. I had heard about the trip many times and hadn't thought twice about going. I was going to NYC with a group of friends and was super excited to see New York at Christmas. Needless to say this was no New York vacation!
When December 1st hit and I hadn't even started packing I think it hit me...I'm going to India tomorrow! But there wasn't anytime to much think about it. I had too much stuff going on with my ministry at CSU. So that evening and the next day I through some stuff in a suitcase ran some last minute errands and hoped for the best. I knew the Lord was going to show me big things, teach me in new ways, and grow me to a greater faith...it was just getting there. December 2 at 7:10 we loaded the plane and headed north! In the air, on several different planes, and through a time zone or two we landed in Kolkata, India.
We arrived at 4 am on Sunday December 4th. This began a week of serving the people of this city. But to me this week was more encouraging to me than I was to anyone. The people of this place where we call impoverished had more joy than I have seen a long while. The children we meet had the biggest brown eyes with the sweetest smiles. They touched each American heart and were clueless they had given us anything. The week went on and we were in constant motion. Visited a mobile school, a slum school, had a women's fellowship in the slum, spent the day with 9 boys who were all rescued from a train station, gave pedicures to 24 women in a slum inside the city, visited a company giving women in the red light district a second chance, visited a Hindu temple, drove 2.5 hours to minister to people in a village outside of Bangladesh, and gathered with women who have given their life to minister to people in India. Our schedule was full and we did little compared to what the men and women are doing every day for the glory of God.
Everyday in India I was reminded of Matthew 5:14-16. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." The people we came in contact with had a light that shone brighter than any light I had ever seen. Amongst the darkness they were able to shine. They served our Savior Jesus as Lord and the one true God above any other idol that their friends and family gripped to so tightly. Even though these people would be ridiculed, rejected, or tormented these people chose Jesus!
As this week continues and Christmas is approaching these people gave me the best Christmas present ever. I pray that everyday I am reminded of these people and the light that they have, the light of Jesus. The light of Christ. The spirit of Christmas all year long!
We arrived at 4 am on Sunday December 4th. This began a week of serving the people of this city. But to me this week was more encouraging to me than I was to anyone. The people of this place where we call impoverished had more joy than I have seen a long while. The children we meet had the biggest brown eyes with the sweetest smiles. They touched each American heart and were clueless they had given us anything. The week went on and we were in constant motion. Visited a mobile school, a slum school, had a women's fellowship in the slum, spent the day with 9 boys who were all rescued from a train station, gave pedicures to 24 women in a slum inside the city, visited a company giving women in the red light district a second chance, visited a Hindu temple, drove 2.5 hours to minister to people in a village outside of Bangladesh, and gathered with women who have given their life to minister to people in India. Our schedule was full and we did little compared to what the men and women are doing every day for the glory of God.
Everyday in India I was reminded of Matthew 5:14-16. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." The people we came in contact with had a light that shone brighter than any light I had ever seen. Amongst the darkness they were able to shine. They served our Savior Jesus as Lord and the one true God above any other idol that their friends and family gripped to so tightly. Even though these people would be ridiculed, rejected, or tormented these people chose Jesus!
As this week continues and Christmas is approaching these people gave me the best Christmas present ever. I pray that everyday I am reminded of these people and the light that they have, the light of Jesus. The light of Christ. The spirit of Christmas all year long!
