What India Taught Me

Back in April, Matt and I traveled to India to visit our sweet friends Scott and Wendy who live and serve there. Since we got back, so many people of asked how the trip was, and to be honest, I've not found an adequate answer: "Good"? Yes it was a good experience but that doesn't quite capture it. "Eye opening"? Definitely, but more than my eyes were opened to the things I saw. "Challenging"? It was a daily challenge to even navigate our way from our flat to Scott and Wendy's in the rushed, crowded pace, through the hot and thick air of the city. I haven't yet devoted a blog to our trip, mostly because it has taken me all this time to truly begin processing all that I learned and experienced, but given that we're in a global missions series at church, I thought now would be an appropriate time to jot down a few lessons I learned in India.

1. Community is Key
During our time in India, we were fortunate enough to not only visit with and encourage our friends, but also to meet some others who they serve alongside. One Saturday I got the chance to have some one on one time with about ten ladies who are living and serving in India. The occasion was a housewarming party for one of the newest additions to the team who had arrived in the country only weeks earlier. As a gift, each guest brought a favorite recipe along with all the ingredients necessary to make the meal. They shared tips with the newcomers (and with me) and also shared current praises, struggles and prayer requests with each other.

It was a sweet time and I was grateful to be in the presence of so many selfless and loving ladies. I was struck by many things about these special women - their creativity with the recipes (finding American ingredients in India is no easy task), their love for those they serve, their joy in the "little things" (like playing Minute to Win It) - but mostly what I learned from them was just how important community is. These women live all over the city (and surrounding cities) and serve different segments of the population. They spend a large majority of their time serving individually or with their families, and it would be easy to shut off and potentially become isolated. But they take the time on a regular basis to stop their work and encourage each other. Also, never once did I sense any territoriality or jealousy for others' success even in the midst of personal struggle. No, the women truly seemed to rejoice with each other, because a victory or praiseworthy situation in the life of one of them was a win for the common goal they work towards. I was challenged as I thought of the way so many of their US counterparts (myself regrettably included at times) bicker and battle jealousy and pride, struggle to truly celebrate the victory of another ministry or church, becoming jealous at their own lack of "success". I am so glad to have been reminded that we do Kingdom work, for a Kingdom purpose and living in community (with the focus on unity) is the truest example we have of heaven on earth. I am praying now for those amazing ladies, for the ladies I serve with, and for those in my community of friends - not to us but to His name be the glory!


2. Work Hard, Rest Hard
In India, simple tasks such as taking transportation or going shopping or even crossing the street were draining and difficult tasks. Walking through the slums in the midday sun was physically draining and emotionally traumatic. Culture shock, which our friend Scott defined as something you see or hear or experience from another culture that you wish you could change. Based on that definition, we experienced culture shock for a large portion of every day. I thought it might go away, that I might get used to the noise, the smells, the people...but even after two weeks I didn't. What I learned from this experience was that each day, in the heat of the day, after lunch, it was very important for us to go inside somewhere to eat and to cool down, to rest and rejuvenate before the evening's activities which often stretched past my bedtime. Being completely out of my comfort zone forced me to recognize my physical, emotional and spiritual limits - and to stop and rest.

Since we got back from India (and sometime before that, taking my Busy Season into consideration), Matt and I have been running pretty much non-stop. Last week, both of us began feeling really aware of our own weakness and recognized the need to stop and rest in Him. I read this blog and Matt and I discussed and he suggested we take some time off. So, for several days this week, we are unplugging and recharging our batteries. I was getting to an unhealthy place, and I am so grateful for wisdom from bloggers, friends and my husband to see the truth and guide me to it. I'll try to post soon about the results of the Bricks' resting adventure.

3. The Joy of the Lord really is our Strength

One of the hardest things about India, at least in my experience, was seeing the sense of utter hopelessness on the faces of so many people we encountered. As I have mentioned, life in India is difficult. The population has far surpassed the infrastructure that has been built. There are far more people than there are jobs or even houses. It was not uncommon there to encounter people doing even the most menial tasks for a few rupees. In many elevators it was someone's job to press the button for you. Men stood guard in most malls to open the door or hold your other shopping bag as you entered each store. It is also typical there for even those in the middle class to have house helpers, or people who come and wash your dishes, sweep your floors, etc. These people work so hard for so little. And they are the "lucky ones" who can find jobs. There were also many beggars and others who had probably given up asking altogether.

So, clearly, there is not much to be happy about and so much to worry about. The odd thing, though, the beautiful thing, is that when we visited the people of the church, we could see and experience the joy that the Lord had put inside their heart. It wasn't a matter of them having a better or different situation - all of the house churches I visited were located in the slums as well, with many people sharing the amenities of a one room shack - it was in the middle of their circumstances that these believers could smile and sing songs of praise and clap and share the ways the Lord had again proven Himself faithful. I am so grateful to have met these believers, to have seen the impact that the hope of the Lord had in their life, even in the midst of dire circumstances. I pray that I could display that same joy no matter my circumstances!



To close, I'll just share a few pics to recap the trip.

Sharing a meal with new friends

Taking in our first cricket match. I'll be honest. I fell asleep.

At the wedding of one of Scott & Wendy's neighbors.Awesome opportunity to celebrate the beauty of another culture. 

At the downtown train station

Waiting on a ricksaw

Enjoying some street food. It was delish!

Enjoying the Taj Mahal. More beautiful in person than the picture can portray.

I am so thankful to have gotten to go to India, to see and experience and learn. To encourage and love Scott and Wendy, and to discover more about myself, ministry, and all the ways the Lord is growing me.