My 'blog' from India. August 2013

Endless Days, Enduring Drive, Enamored Devotion

It's MY (Holly) turn to write!

Until now, I have been too captivated by my surroundings to focus on writing and sharing this adventure with you.  But after the endless day yesterday, I have to share.

Since landing in the country of India, the time diffference and lack of sleep have not been a concern for me.  I feel like I have stepped into a whole other realm.  So, let me try and explain.

Rough terrain, hours in a vehicle, and a couple of hours of sleep; to get in a plane for a couple of hours, drive what was supposed to be two hours, ended up to be in the midst of a riot, which delayed our destination and detoured our van down one road which caused us to back up in reverse nearly 6 blocks to get away from that area.  We turned down an alley thinking we could go forward to get out of the riot (fighting over the possible division of the state of Andrha Predesh) realizing the road didn't go through. We nearly hit a man on a scooter when we heard the thud of his hand hit the side of our van.  Our precious pastor, John, who was with us, in his Indian tongue said "so souddy, so souddy (sorry)".  We take another turn into yet another road block.  

At this point, we have been in the van for 4 1/2 hours and I have to pee SO bad that I nearly wet my pants! I even considered using a ziploc baggie as a toilet!  One of our detours ended up in an alley in front of what "HAPPENED" to be the home of recent converts to Christianity.  Pastor John hopped out of the van and went to ask if a couple of us could use their bathroom.  They graciously agreed and we ran to their home.  I took off my shoes at the front door and made my way to the squatty potty, hole in the floor.  On the way out they asked, "would you pree for us?" and pray I did.  

Before I go on, I first have to tell you all of the images that are in my mind as well as my camera, but I want to interpret what I saw from my heart.  It was the boy with the bat that caused my eyes to well with tears after seeing so much filth, dirt, trash, huts, and half-clothed people; rice fields with laborers working diligently for, who knows, wages or maybe a plate of food; and women in sarees walking, some barefoot, some with tattered flip-flops, some with vessels of water sitting desparately on their heads as they make their way to who knows where.  The images brought a flood gate of tears to my eyes in this six hour drive through these many villages and towns before we arrived at our final destination.  My eyes were fixed out my window taking in all that I feel like God wanted me to see.  But it was the boy with the bat...........

On what should have been a two hour drive, I feel that God delayed "the time" once again so that my eyes would open.  "What do you want me to see?", I asked God.  "Besides what is obvious?"  After wearing out a camera battery for the hundreds of pictures I took along the way, then stealing Candy's camera and adding another few hundred, I realized it wasn't about the pictures, it was what penetrated my heart.  These people do not know the difference of what I so commonly take for granted.  First, my love for God because I only have One and not a billion (we saw many temples along the road with creature-like gods).  And second, my simple, common wealth.  I have a washing machine and don't have to beat my clothes along the banks of the river; I buy groceries at a store with a concrete floor instead of a tin roof sitting on 4 sticks to cover the produce picked by the merchant.  I'm blessed.  We're blessed.  

So, about the boy with the bat.  It wasn't a bat at all, at least not like we know.  It was a really fat stick and he was in a muddy, patchy-grassed field with other boys laughing, hitting this ball, and jumping.  Then I realized his stick. He doesn't notice that it doesn't have "value" like those we buy in America, but it does have value to him and his friends as they enjoy their time together.  Even after we drove past, his image sticks in my head and it is still there. I don't know if he loves his life, but I love it that God has placed me here to see that He can bring hope to a nation, a place, to depravation.  Not because of me, not because of the team, but because of Him.  

What if surroundings never change?  But a heart can.  That changes everything.

I have to go get ready now...we begin the conference today.  I am the first to speak and as hundreds of pairs of eyes will stare back at me, I can only pray that God will use me, a willing vessel, to share His words and His love to change a heart.