Today is Sunday again. I have so many things swirling around in my head. It is kind of like random fragments really. I have flashes of images and thing that happen in a day. All of them so precious to me, so important. I don't want to miss a thing.
Today was church. Yesterday we spent the day painting the inside of the church as we are now lovingly calling the "cathedral". It is small and the more crafty team members of our (actual carpenters) are putting on an extension. So we gave the Cathedral a new coat of paint. Some of the walls were falling in as we painted. We now know why they say most of this place is held together by paint. But it church is all shiny and new now.
-One of the images that I got last year and noticed it again this year is the image of a hand, holding and playing a guitar, worshiping with bandaids and duct tape holding their hand together. It is such a beautiful display of sacrifice. Such a great way to live, leaving is all on the line.
-When the kids sing, the instruments get left in the dust. Today Ravi was leading the singing and it did not matter that he was changing songs, the voices kept on singing. So amazing, so beautiful. I had the visual that that is what it must be like when the mountains cry out, and the rock sing. It got me thinking no wonder the plaster falls off the walls in the church. I love being here.
- We got to go to the river today. There was some talk about not going to the river, but James Uncle pleaded for us to be able to go. It is so amazing to watch the kids together playing. To be able to see them be Kids. We take that so for granted that kids can be kids. These kids have the gift of childhood. They can go to the river and someone brings them a change of clothes and a treat. They are not fending for themselves. We were commenting today how the Staff are actually like Parents. How they fill that role. They "work" 365 days a year and never get a break, like parents. They watch the kids backs, feed them, love them. They truly do get the gift of being a kid. And they all really love each other as well. The big boys will let the Small kids cuddle right up, and not push them away. It is as if they parent each other as well. There is so much respect between the kids and it is modeled from the staff. They are very blessed here.
- Today in church the question was asked " what does a good Father do?" and everyone called out " Love, protect, provide for" etc. and then Scott called out "Discipline" and Lane calls out "Hey!" in front of the whole service. So funny and so great that we are feeling so at home here.
- On the bus ride home from the river, we crammed into the bus the kids and us and off we went. The driver put on Punjabi music. And it was on, sweaty bus full of dancing boys. It was so fun to be part of it. There was so much Joy and excitement. Dance party on the bus. We were crazy, noisy and having the time of our lives. The bus driver was just looking in his rear view mirror and laugh at all us crazy Christians...
So many amazing things. I am feeling more and more broken every day. I feel heartbroken for this country and the bondage that they have as a legacy. I am feeling heartbroken to have to leave these beautiful kids, who welcome us so openly with love and acceptance. They cling to us and call us by name. They share parts of themselves so openly. Today, one girl shared that when she goes home to here family they get her mixed up with her sister because they do not even know who is who and yet they put pressure on her to be Doctor when she clearly does not have the makings of a doctor. Her eyes fill up with tears when I said " It is hard to be something you are not made to be" and yet here is a beautiful girl, made by God, perfect just the way she is. I find it hard to even put into words how it feels here. I find it hard to explain so it does not come across negative, but there is a very distinct way of life that is Indian. They have their own way of doing life and I would hate for there to be a judgement on them without first seeking their heart. I really do love these people in spite of the confliction and confusion that they create inside me. I really do find Peace that only God can bring and hope that he can use me in even a small way.
- Luke 14:34 Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness how can it be made salty again?
Today was church. Yesterday we spent the day painting the inside of the church as we are now lovingly calling the "cathedral". It is small and the more crafty team members of our (actual carpenters) are putting on an extension. So we gave the Cathedral a new coat of paint. Some of the walls were falling in as we painted. We now know why they say most of this place is held together by paint. But it church is all shiny and new now.
-One of the images that I got last year and noticed it again this year is the image of a hand, holding and playing a guitar, worshiping with bandaids and duct tape holding their hand together. It is such a beautiful display of sacrifice. Such a great way to live, leaving is all on the line.
-When the kids sing, the instruments get left in the dust. Today Ravi was leading the singing and it did not matter that he was changing songs, the voices kept on singing. So amazing, so beautiful. I had the visual that that is what it must be like when the mountains cry out, and the rock sing. It got me thinking no wonder the plaster falls off the walls in the church. I love being here.
- We got to go to the river today. There was some talk about not going to the river, but James Uncle pleaded for us to be able to go. It is so amazing to watch the kids together playing. To be able to see them be Kids. We take that so for granted that kids can be kids. These kids have the gift of childhood. They can go to the river and someone brings them a change of clothes and a treat. They are not fending for themselves. We were commenting today how the Staff are actually like Parents. How they fill that role. They "work" 365 days a year and never get a break, like parents. They watch the kids backs, feed them, love them. They truly do get the gift of being a kid. And they all really love each other as well. The big boys will let the Small kids cuddle right up, and not push them away. It is as if they parent each other as well. There is so much respect between the kids and it is modeled from the staff. They are very blessed here.
- Today in church the question was asked " what does a good Father do?" and everyone called out " Love, protect, provide for" etc. and then Scott called out "Discipline" and Lane calls out "Hey!" in front of the whole service. So funny and so great that we are feeling so at home here.
- On the bus ride home from the river, we crammed into the bus the kids and us and off we went. The driver put on Punjabi music. And it was on, sweaty bus full of dancing boys. It was so fun to be part of it. There was so much Joy and excitement. Dance party on the bus. We were crazy, noisy and having the time of our lives. The bus driver was just looking in his rear view mirror and laugh at all us crazy Christians...
So many amazing things. I am feeling more and more broken every day. I feel heartbroken for this country and the bondage that they have as a legacy. I am feeling heartbroken to have to leave these beautiful kids, who welcome us so openly with love and acceptance. They cling to us and call us by name. They share parts of themselves so openly. Today, one girl shared that when she goes home to here family they get her mixed up with her sister because they do not even know who is who and yet they put pressure on her to be Doctor when she clearly does not have the makings of a doctor. Her eyes fill up with tears when I said " It is hard to be something you are not made to be" and yet here is a beautiful girl, made by God, perfect just the way she is. I find it hard to even put into words how it feels here. I find it hard to explain so it does not come across negative, but there is a very distinct way of life that is Indian. They have their own way of doing life and I would hate for there to be a judgement on them without first seeking their heart. I really do love these people in spite of the confliction and confusion that they create inside me. I really do find Peace that only God can bring and hope that he can use me in even a small way.
- Luke 14:34 Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness how can it be made salty again?
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