I can’t believe it’s already been 3 weeks since I boarded a plane on my way back to the U.S. from India. Wow! Part of me feels like I was just there yesterday and the other part feels like the trip is just some distant memory from years prior.
I apologize for not updating you while I was away. I had hopes of posting cool stories and giving you a daily recap but that was not feasible because for the majority of our time we didn’t have electricity- let alone internet. Now I have the task of blogging about the whole experience at once. I’m thinking it’ll be a 3 part series (at least)! So here it goes… 19 people, 2 weeks, 4 villages, 12 languages, 25000 natives, 4700 decisions, 1 God.
I have my “top three” highlights that I want to make sure I tell you about- but I’m sure you’ll get WAY more than that. P.S. Here is a map of India so you’ll know where I’m talking about when I refer to different cities. We flew into the capitol of India (New Delhi), then flew to Imphal (in the NE), and then drove 2 hours North to Senapati (not shown on the map).
This is highlight #2:
Tuesday, March 2nd was our third day of ministry. After a very successful first day at the village of Bena, the second day wasn’t as eventful. The outreach team spent their time going to several different Christian churches, orphanages, schools, and organizations shaking hands with their leaders. While I’m not dismissing the importance of fellowship and encouragement with/for other believers, that was not the purpose of the outreach team. Our mission was to serve the unserved and reach the unreached. With that day behind us, we were looking forward to the start of a new day and see what God had planned for us.
We got up early that morning and loaded all of our luggage into the caravan of cars because we were moving hotels. We had been staying in the capitol of Manipur (Imphal) but it was a 2 hour commute each way to Senapati where most of our ministry was based out of. Our plan for that day was to buy snacks and drinks and bring them to the workers of the rock crushing pits off the highway. While they got a break from work, we would do our drama and then present Christ. Here is Reid introducing our day:
However, we had a few difficulties executing that plan on Tuesday. The first one was that it was a national holiday celebrating the Hindu festival of colors called होली (Sanskrit or Holi) which can last up to 16 days.
Hindu Boy Celebrating होली
Because of the festival, all the shops were closed so we couldn’t buy the things we needed. Turns out it didn’t even matter because all of the gravel pits were closed too. We decided we would have our driver take us to Senapati where we’d meet up with the medical team and figure out a new plan. We began the 2 hour drive but every few miles we’d abruptly stop. On either side of the highway were youth standing with small buckets. Just before we’d pass them they’d walk out into the middle of the street or pull a rope so we’d slam on our breaks in order to not hit them. The youth were brightly dressed and smeared with different colored paint. They would ask us for money so they could have a party celebrating Holi. Our driver would tell them we were part of the medical team and then they’d usually let us pass without any defiance. One roadblock did throw stuff at our car as we were pulling away. We didn’t ask our guide what the clearish liquid now covering our bodies was. We thought it best not to know.
After several encounters I felt the Holy Spirit convicting me of all the opportunity to share Him we were missing out on. I asked my team what they thought about going back and sharing with the girls we had just passed. After some debate we told our translator, Thomas, and our driver, Rhaju, that we’d like to go back to the people we just passed. We did a u-turn on the highway and were back in eye-sight of the girls.
Performing “Creation”
We got out of the car and walked across the street near the market and began playing some music. Instantly we drew a crowd. The drama team performed creation and then Mike Scheel presented the Gospel. Deep down I knew that God was going to do in this place just as he had planned before I was even born. But I couldn’t help pray God please, PLEASE let at least one person come to know you so that my team doesn’t think I’m crazy. They’ll never listen to me again if no one raises their hand! Mike then gave an invitation to accept Christ. In a crowd of about 200, 152 came to Christ. Praise the Lord!
Mike Preaching the Word
The day had started out discouraging and ended as one of the highlights of the whole trip. I remembered that although I may not understand it most times, God had been in India well before me and laid the exact path that our team was supposed to walk.
The Road Less Traveled 