All For One and One For... We Left Them...

The train station was loud, the sun was hot and the ground shook as the giant train came to a halt in front of us. It was time to board. We were all spread out in different seats throughout the train cars, we used the buddy system to stay safe. It was an AC sleeper car, it had fold down beds and curtains for privacy. I was thankful for the cool air and for the beds. There wasn't really much we could do on the train, we were all tired so we mostly just sat around and read, listened to music or napped. Though the first train ride was twelve hours, it went by like it was only two or maybe five, either way, it went by quickly. We had a layover in Mumbai where we stayed the night in a sketchy youth hostel. I was too tired to care what it looked, smelled or what the beds felt like, I went right to sleep when we got there.
The next morning we went adventuring. Mumbai was so beautiful. Tall, old buildings lined each street, people were everywhere, but the best part was right across the street from where we stayed... Starbucks!! It was a treat I thought I'd never see in India, and the most beautiful Starbucks I've ever been to. There were lovely little couches everywhere, tables, window seats with plush pillows, giant henna designs on the walls, and a giant world map to top it all off!

I sat down at that chair right under the map and there I had the most wonderful quiet time while I sipped my wonderful cup of coffee, it was so delightful. Later that day we had an awesome team time of prayer, worship and fellowship then killed time walking around the city. When night came, it was time to pack our bags but before we left, we had a family dinner at a nice little restaurant nearby. The food was so delicious. Our tummies were full, our hearts were content and our bags were packed, we were ready to board the next train. 

The next train was no different from the last, we slept most of the way to the next stop, it was smooth sailing and there really isn't a lot to say about this particular train ride. I thought it was just too good to be true. The traveling was so perfect. 

Our last layover was seven hours long. We didn't mind it all that much, we sat in an "air conditioned" room and watched movies and fought mosquitoes while we waited for the last train to arrive. This next train was different. It was a non AC sleeper car. Now, the difference between a non AC and an AC sleeper car is very big. The first is for lower caste and the second is for the upper caste or anyone who can afford it. The AC sleeper cars were full on this particular train so we went ahead and chose to travel on the non AC car thinking it wouldn't be all that bad. 

It came time to board our train, but it was in the middle of the tracks so we climbed over and through the other train cars to get to ours and we all sat in our designated seats (we were all together on this train) and we waited for everyone else to get on. The train started moving and stopped at the loading dock where people were waiting to get on. "We climbed through all those cars for nothing... All well," I thought "At least we beat the crowd!" Suddenly people started pouring on the train. It was a free for all, people were fighting for their seats, people were trying to get our seats... Wait what? People were trying to get OUR seats! We started to reason with the family who was trying to take our seats from us, thinking they were trying to trick us, we did not move, until we found out that when our tickets had been confirmed, our seating was changed! "Oh this is not happening...." I thought, panicked. "Get off the train, look at the seating chart and get to your seats!" yelled one of our team leaders. We all started to head towards the door when the train started moving. "AHH! I yelled, what are we doing?!" I was freaking out, so confused.... Our team was there, standing in a line in the middle of the tiny isle trying to find our seats... I was at the back of the line so I suppose I was scared I'd get left on the train but it didn't matter now because it was moving. "Micah, turn around and lead everyone to the next car!" I heard a team leader say, so I obeyed. A girl from my team, named Jessica S. (we had three Jessicas on our team) was by my side so I felt a little better, but still uneasy. I turned and walked towards the opposite side of the car, trying not to step on the people that were crowding the seats and floors. When Jess and I got to the place where the trains connected, we stopped. There were men sitting all over the floor, blocking the passage way. There were no guys from our team at our end of the line and there was no way to get one in front of us to lead us through... 

"What do we do?" I asked Jessica. 

"I don't know.. but look at that guy." She replied, motioning towards the hallway we had to pass through.

The man she was speaking of was tall and skinny. His hair was crazy like it hadn't been brushed in a few days. His eyes were dark, or maybe a light blue color but they were fixed directly on us, as if we were pieces of meat. I've never had a man look at me that way before, but it was terrifying. Then, he started to walk towards us. We began to pray. "Jesus, please protect us!" I mumbled under my breath. Then, the unthinkable happened, he took a sharp turn, walked towards the open car door and fell out of the train! 

Jessica and I screamed and burst into tears, he was holding on by one finger. 

"Jesus! I cannot see a person die today! God, help him!"

As scared of this man as I was, I did not wish him any harm, only that he would leave us alone! 

"Jesus please!!" I screamed through tears that were flooding my face. I was so scared that he would fall to his death. People were rushing the door, trying to get the man back into the train car. They finally got him in and secure when he fell out again, this time, his feet were near the tracks. 

"God!! Oh Jesus, help!! I can't see this man die, I can't see this man die!!" I sobbed over and over, I gripped Jessica's arm tightly. We sobbed and sobbed, hoping that it would all come to an end soon like a bad dream. We could not back up, our team was pressing against us tying to get us to move forward, unaware of what was going on. I covered my eyes as they tried to pull him up. Suddenly, a hand grabbed my Kurti and yanked on it, trying to get my attention. I turned around and a little old Indian lady and her family motioned for me to sit by them. 

"It's okay! Don't cry!" Said the man sitting next to her. I was astounded that he spoke English because the whole time we were at the last stop we couldn't find anyone who could speak English (which was very rare). 

My sobs got slower until they eventually ceased. Then, out of no where, came another man who could speak perfect English. He told us he knew where our seats were and to follow him.... So we did. He brought each of our team members to our seats, scattered throughout the train cars. When we were all in our seats, a couple of our team leaders came to check on us. I was in shock. I didn't know what was going on. I just sat there and tried not to cry. I looked up at them when they asked how I was. 

"We heard what happened, are you okay?" I slowly nodded... unsure of how I felt. I pushed my emotions deep down into my heart, trying not to feel them for the time being.

"Johnny, Jessica F. and Keltie were left at the train station. A couple of us are going back to get them at the next stop, just be praying that we can find them and that they're okay."

"Oh my gosh. Okay!" I said, worried about them, yet I had peace in my heart that they'd be okay. If anyone had to get left behind, they'd be the best people.

I prayed a simple prayer for them and I waited for the next stop. 

Eventually we arrived at the next train station. I looked out the window, searching the surroundings for something interesting to distract me from my thoughts. Suddenly, I saw somethings lime green dash by the window.. it was Johnny! 

"Johnny!!!!" Someone yelled!

Our whole team rushed to the other side of the train and yelled out for him to hear us. 

"Let me get the girls!" He yelled back.

How was he here?! What just happened?! 

"Ahh, thank you Jesus!!" I thought. It was truly a miracle. 

When they all got safely on the train we asked how they found us. 

"Some guy came up to us and put us in a taxi and told the driver where to go and now we're here!!" They said.

We couldn't believe it.

Sleep was finally hitting my eyes, everyone was there, everyone was safe. I moved to a bed near mamma and papa O, the married couple on our team, where I felt safe. There, I closed my eyes and didn't open them until the next morning as we arrived at our destination and it was time to get out of the train, at last. 

By the Ocean Blue

The next place we lived was a youth hostel about an hour away from our first location. It was in a bigger town, and closer to the ocean. I loved it there. It was amazing. At this particular location we did a lot of church and youth ministry!
One sunday we went to a church and we taught on being free from fear and passivity. It was so incredible to see the transformation that took place in the hearts of the people, they were discovering who they were as children of God! Each member of our team got to speak on something or lead a small group, so that was really amazing.
The conference at the church was so successful, we decided to do the same thing at the youth conference a few days later. God was showing up. We even performed the lifehouse Everything skit and it was so powerful, the youth loved it and were really able to relate to it. Jesus SO loves people. He loves them and that's it. It's who He is, it's what He does and nothing could ever change that. It was so amazing to be able to watch Him gently touch the hearts of youth right before my eyes and to see them transformed. He is good.
Now, India wasn't all ministry all the time, we did other things too. We loved to try and scare each other, we loved going out to eat at different places (I mostly ate fried rice everywhere we went, always a safe bet, so if you ever need to know which place has the best fried rice, I'm your girl!), we loved watching movies, and playing games. We just had fun at whatever we did. Well.. mostly.... Up until this point I hadn't gotten sick at all which was a major blessing, but one night... Oh one night I got really sick. I woke up in the middle of the night and was sick to my stomach. Now, I wasn't sure what was going on but all I knew was I needed a bathroom. I rant to the bathroom and right when I got there I threw up. Ugh I'm sorry if that's too much information, but it happened. It was so gross (just like any time anyone pukes)... and it went on all night and all the next day. All the girls on the team had made a pact that whenever someone was sick, we'd all help each other out. Well, my poor roommates stuck with me and held my hair back and rubbed my back and gave me wet wash cloths to put on my face. They were so sweet and amazing and loyal and they nursed me back to health.
After I was all better I went out on an adventure one day with another girl from my team and decided to cut my hair off. Now, I LOVED my hair. I had been growing it out for three and a half years and it was so long and so beautiful, but I wanted a haircut so I got one. I loved it (but regret it now). Just for the record, it was so much easier to take care of in India than long hair. It wasn't as heavy, it didn't make my neck hot, and it was so convenient not to have to brush the tangles out of it.

Finally, it was time to pack up and move again, this time, we were taking a three day train ride... Little did we know, chaos was about to strike.

India

We traveled a lot in India, all along the West coast (or West side.. ish). I couldn't believe how different everything was from America. EVERYTHING. Vehicles were all over the road, people where everywhere, there were little markets set up along the dirty, beaten paths and roads scattered around, the shops where jam packed, full of goods. I was in love.
We stayed at our first location a couple weeks. While we were there we did a lot of street ministry. Preaching, telling stories from the Bible, playing with children from the slums. We went into homes a few times a week and prayed with the residents. We prayed for healing. We prayed for strength. We prayed for God to show up, and He did. I can't quite explain all that happened but people were healed, they were strengthened, faith was abundant and God's spirit was with us! It was incredible. I had never felt so full in my life.
One night we were praying as a team before we went and showed a Jesus video in the slums. As we were praying something came over me, something I had never felt so strong in my life. Fear. It was like it was choking me, crushing me. I instantly began to sob, unsure of what was happening, scared... fearful. I crumbled to the floor terrified. My leaders brought me in to a nearby room and began to pray with me, instantly the fear left. I don't really know what happened or why but I do know that after that, I rebuked fear from keeping people from knowing Jesus and hearing the gospel that night and people were saved. A lot of people.
Now, if someone had told me that had happened to them before I went to YWAM, I wouldn't have believed them. But I promise you, it was one of the most real things I have ever felt. You see, many times, in other countries, spiritual warfare manifests in much more apparent and visible ways than it does in America. The gods they worship aren't the One True God but they are distractions set up to keep people from knowing Him and they are real. Real live spirits. Now, I'm not sure if I explained that in a way to help you understand or not, maybe I made it worse... Either way, I felt it and it was real.
Anyway, back to the story. So, Goa was hot and humid and it was so hard at times but "this is so worth it" I thought to myself. I was a little homesick that first week and a half but eventually I got used to it and started to embrace the culture. I loved washing my clothes by hand, I loved trying to like the food, I loved playing with the kids, I loved the freezing cold showers after a long hot day, I loved India! Life was good, but it came time for us to pack up and move on to the next location. So we did.