In so many words…
I want to start this off by saying that no matter what I write in this final entry (or have written in previous entries) will not in any way give you a full understanding of how this years’ trip to India has captured my heart. I won’t fully understand how my team members felt, either. I can state the obvious based on conversations, watching everyone interact with the children or fluctuation in emotional status, but it wouldn’t come close to what’s actually going on inside each one of us at this moment. I promise to do my best, however, in sharing my heart with yours.
The children of India will forever have a place in my heart. I went there to be there for them, but in so many words, they were there for me. You look at them and say they have nothing. I did, at first, but soon realized how wrong I was. They don’t have toys, at least not what we shower our children with. The most up to date wardrobes, the medicine to keep them well… I can go on & on about what they don’t have, but it’s what they do have that taught me a lot about myself, about life and so much more. It’s their faith in our Father, our Lord, The Provider.
In everything they do, they praise God. They thank Jesus for shedding His blood for us, for saving us from death & giving us the chance to spend eternity in His presence. They thank Him for their pastors who have heard the call from God to take care of them. Pastors with hearts of gold, whose sole concern is that of the children’s well being. They pray that He will provide. They are still in waiting for Him, understanding that it is all in Him time. This is when He calls us.
We are the answer to many of these prayers. God calls us to be there for these children & their pastors. You, me, your family, friends & even your co-workers can have this calling. I can only suggest that you talk with God & see what he puts on your heart to do. He may ask that you support one of these orphanages. He may call you to help support a friend who has heard His calling to be in India with these children. He may want you to go to India, step foot into their home, hold the children closely & show them your love & then turn around to their pastor & his wife & say “May God continue to bless you & keep you safe while you continue to do His work”. That last one was my calling & I would give anything to do it all over again. But I can also love them just as much from here until that time comes again, until then, I told Him I would not let it stop in India, that I would do what I can from here until it is time for me to be with them again.
Before I left for India, God told me that it was there that I would truly know Him. He wanted me to know His Son. I wasn’t sure how to take that. “Don’t I know you?” then I had questions like “What am I doing wrong”. I found out that it wasn’t anything like that, more like He felt I was ready for what’s next in my walk with Him. On our way out of of the city, He “kick started” something in me. At first, I wasn’t sure that I liked the idea. I was actually asking Him to reconsider something else. He said “No” & I’m glad He did. Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to truly know what was taking place there. People are asking me why Goa stands out more to me & it’s not cause it was my favorite place, although extremely beautiful, but it was the 1st time I was able to feel & see the strong presence of the Holy Spirit. Oh, how I wish I knew the words that could bring you with me to that very moment. It was supernatural, it was powerful, beautiful… No! None of those will do. What I can say is that He is working over there. I saw it, I felt it & I will never forget it. It didn’t stop in Goa, either. He was all over those children. Bathing in their love for Him.
Today, I got an email from one of the many life long friends we made over there. He expressed how thankful he was to God for us & that the children are still praying for us & that our time with the children is unforgettable. It funny, cause he took the words right out of my mouth.
I’ll wrap this up in saying that I’m not much of a writer. I had a very hard time with getting my thoughts straight in order to share with you the wonders of this trip and what it meant to me, to us & to the children. I finally just prayed that God would be my hands & and share with you what He thought best. Thank you so much for your prayers. We hope to see you the next time we go.
God Bless.
Tia