We had finally made it to the dessert. The air was dusty, the heat was dry. It was the kind of heat that tugged at your skin, practically pulling the moisture out of your body, almost singeing the ends of your hair (slight exageration). We followed our location contact from the train to our rickshaws. We all piled in the tiny car-like vehicles, trying to get as comfortable as possible before we zoomed and zigzagged in and out of traffic. A short time later we arrived at our newest home. Upon arrival, each of us was assigned roommates and a room. I shared a room with two of my close friends Jessica S. and Megan. Most everyone took showers to wash the travel dust from our worn out bodies. After everyone was all washed up we ate some food, explored a little and as far as I can remember went to bed.
Our beds were thin, tiny mattresses on the floor filled with some kind of stuffing that had formed lumps over time. We closed and locked the door to our little room in a house across the street from the base. Our particular room did not yet have a fan so our first night was very hot. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead, it was the hottest night spent in India yet. I looked over at Megan and Jessica, they were holding as still as I was, trying to stay as cool as possible, as if moving would only make things worse. We laid awake most of the night, trying to sleep, but the heat and lack of airflow made that nearly impossible.
In the morning we each took another shower to cool ourselves off, got dressed, and went to breakfast. My body welcomed the fresh chai tea, fruit and eggs. I filled my water bottle to the brim, knowing that I had to stay hydrated and we started our daily prayer and worship. I honestly can't remember much from that first day, it was so long ago. I remember getting to call my parents, it was such a relieve to hear their voices. I broke down, crying when they answered. The past few days had been so hard on my soul. I was half way through the trip, it had been a month and a half since I arrived in India and finally I was starting to get homesick. My mom and dad cried with me as I told them about the recent events, but they also encouraged me to press in and press through… To embrace the struggle. After I spoke with them on the phone I went to a secluded place around the base and had a quiet time. I cried and cried. "Jesus, I am so tired and so scared and so worn out…. But God, YOU are WORTH it." I couldn't believe I was speaking those words and meaning them. "JESUS YOU ARE WORTH IT." I repeated to myself over and over until my heart and soul believed it. After quiet time I remember praying over the city on a mountain top overlooking the desert. I remember going shopping for an Indian wedding that night and buying a beautiful sari. I remember attending the wedding and eating so much food and admiring the bride's beautiful attire. I remember getting home late and I remember that I welcomed sleep, or a shallow version of sleep where I came in and out of waking and sleeping throughout the dark hours.
The next morning I woke up and I felt so weird. I could hardly get around. I was sweating my brains out. I had a temperature. "This can't be good." I thought. It was already so hot outside. I took a shower to try and cool off, then got dressed and went to breakfast. I tried to eat but couldn't hold any food in. I was allowed to stay back that day and the next and rest. Just so everyone knows, dehydration is the worst!
I finally felt good enough to go to an orphanage and play with the kids there. They were darling!! We told them Bible stories and played games with them. After a couple hours we left and went back again the next day. At our particular location we weren't allowed to street preach because it was too dangerous. So we spent a lot of time praying over the city, playing with the kids in the orphanage and ministering to the team at the base.
This location was by far the most difficult on my heart, my soul and my body but it was the place where I learned the most. It was the place where my love for the Lord grew deep and strong, though I was in the desert, I was drinking from the deepest of wells. I was growing strong in my faith, leaning on my beloved. I was falling in love, believing and knowing with all my heart and soul that it was all worth it. No matter how awful I felt, no matter how sick or tired I was, it was worth it.
Our beds were thin, tiny mattresses on the floor filled with some kind of stuffing that had formed lumps over time. We closed and locked the door to our little room in a house across the street from the base. Our particular room did not yet have a fan so our first night was very hot. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead, it was the hottest night spent in India yet. I looked over at Megan and Jessica, they were holding as still as I was, trying to stay as cool as possible, as if moving would only make things worse. We laid awake most of the night, trying to sleep, but the heat and lack of airflow made that nearly impossible.
In the morning we each took another shower to cool ourselves off, got dressed, and went to breakfast. My body welcomed the fresh chai tea, fruit and eggs. I filled my water bottle to the brim, knowing that I had to stay hydrated and we started our daily prayer and worship. I honestly can't remember much from that first day, it was so long ago. I remember getting to call my parents, it was such a relieve to hear their voices. I broke down, crying when they answered. The past few days had been so hard on my soul. I was half way through the trip, it had been a month and a half since I arrived in India and finally I was starting to get homesick. My mom and dad cried with me as I told them about the recent events, but they also encouraged me to press in and press through… To embrace the struggle. After I spoke with them on the phone I went to a secluded place around the base and had a quiet time. I cried and cried. "Jesus, I am so tired and so scared and so worn out…. But God, YOU are WORTH it." I couldn't believe I was speaking those words and meaning them. "JESUS YOU ARE WORTH IT." I repeated to myself over and over until my heart and soul believed it. After quiet time I remember praying over the city on a mountain top overlooking the desert. I remember going shopping for an Indian wedding that night and buying a beautiful sari. I remember attending the wedding and eating so much food and admiring the bride's beautiful attire. I remember getting home late and I remember that I welcomed sleep, or a shallow version of sleep where I came in and out of waking and sleeping throughout the dark hours.
The next morning I woke up and I felt so weird. I could hardly get around. I was sweating my brains out. I had a temperature. "This can't be good." I thought. It was already so hot outside. I took a shower to try and cool off, then got dressed and went to breakfast. I tried to eat but couldn't hold any food in. I was allowed to stay back that day and the next and rest. Just so everyone knows, dehydration is the worst!
I finally felt good enough to go to an orphanage and play with the kids there. They were darling!! We told them Bible stories and played games with them. After a couple hours we left and went back again the next day. At our particular location we weren't allowed to street preach because it was too dangerous. So we spent a lot of time praying over the city, playing with the kids in the orphanage and ministering to the team at the base.
This location was by far the most difficult on my heart, my soul and my body but it was the place where I learned the most. It was the place where my love for the Lord grew deep and strong, though I was in the desert, I was drinking from the deepest of wells. I was growing strong in my faith, leaning on my beloved. I was falling in love, believing and knowing with all my heart and soul that it was all worth it. No matter how awful I felt, no matter how sick or tired I was, it was worth it.
