Last Thoughts

As I sit in the airport, waiting to depart on my flight home, I decided now would be good time to reflect on the incredible trip that I just experienced. Now, I realize that I did a terrible job of keeping this blog updated while I was in India so this is my attempt to recap everything that has happened since I made my last post way back.

Since my last post, quite a few crazy and amazing things happened. The first major event was Ayah appreciation day. This was a wonderful day to see the love of God do wonders for the people of India. The Ayahs were given footbaths as sign of love and respect for all the work that they have done at the home for all the children. As soon as they were done receiving footbaths, the Ayahs immediately began washing our feet. It was such a humbling experience! I have never seen something like that take place.

After we finished Ayah appreciation day, we gathered up the Ayahs who wished to be baptized and took two autos on a long journey out to a lake where we could perform the baptisms. It was a long ride hanging off the side of the auto before we made it to the lake. What took place at the lake is something that I hope that I do not soon forget. I helped these wonderful women fully dedicate their lives to Christ. It was crazy. I’ve never experienced something like that. It was an amazing example of things that God is doing in India!

preparing for baptisms

A couple days after Ayah appreciation day, we took a large group of girls to the beach. We managed to pack nineteen people in a nine-person van. Welcome to India. We drove to the Bay of Bengal for a wonderful day at the beach. The water was so refreshing! Getting to watch the kids play in the water was so entertaining. Most of them loved the water but a few were absolutely terrified of the water. It was one of my favorite days of the trip. On the way back everyone was asleep. The kids were so tired that they could sleep despite being packed like sardines in the car.

beach trip!

It was soon after this that the World Race team’s time with us was about to come to an end. To celebrate their time here, we returned to the beach a few days later to light off fireworks. The Fadely family, who is currently serving SCH here from the States for two years, bought fireworks for us to light off. It was a great night full of swimming, campfires, and huge fireworks. It was tough to see the World Race team leave for many reasons. One reason was that it meant that I would be living by myself for the rest of the trip. A bigger reason was that it meant that my trip was nearly over as well. It also meant that I might never see these amazing people ever again. I hope that God continues to bless them and those that they serve as they continue their journey.

Things really slowed down once the World Race team left. Natalie became ill and had to be admitted to the hospital. The hospitals here are not the same as the hospitals in America. Natalie had to have someone with her at all times to take care of her and to provide her with food while she got the medical attention that she needed. This meant that Grace had to go with her and stay with her. With both of them at the hospital, I was completely on my own. This was strange for me because it meant that I was going to Victory Home by myself. I had never gone there by myself. It was a different experience for me. It felt a lot quieter. I was actually feeling relaxed at the home. Throughout the majority of my trip, Victory Home had the potential to be an incredibly stressful environment. This day was much different. It was on this day that I realized that I truly loved these kids. I was no longer nervous about being around kids who couldn’t control their bodily functions or made uncomfortable about whatever smells were present. Nothing there made me afraid or nervous in anyway. I now could fully love the kids as Christ loved us. It was a wonderful day.

The Prayer hall only occupied by myself after the World Racers left

The wonderful day was followed by a bit of a setback; I got sick. I am pretty sure that I ate some food that did not agree with my stomach at all. I then had to take a few days off myself to get back to full health. I went and visited Natalie and Grace at the hospital. Natalie was feeling much better and was responding to the many drugs that the doctors and nurses had given her. She was then discharged a day later. Things were finally starting to get back to a somewhat normal place.

As everyone’s health was returning to normal, it was time for me to get ready to head home. I packed my bags and got ready for my last day and to say all of my goodbyes. It was difficult to see all of the kids at the home and to realize that I may never see them again. I do not know if God will bring me back to India or not. Even if I do not come back, I know that these kids will never leave my heart. I pray that SCH continues to flourish and is able to continue to do good in India and to make room for God to make himself know.

As I sit and reflect about my month long trip, many thought rush through my head. By making the choice to travel halfway around the world, I gave up the ability to work for a month. I gave up many luxuries to sit in a hot and humid room with a bunch of immobile kids, covered in sweat. This decision was one of the best decisions that I have made in my life. Through this trip, I truly learned what it is like to abandon all fear and to fully trust in God and his wisdom. I also got to meet some amazing men and women of God. I got to surround myself with the World Race team, a group of people that have given up a year to travel the world and serve God in many different ways in different countries. I also got to be introduced to the Fadely family. This family was given the desire to serve in India and followed God headfirst into India to serve for two years. This desire to serve wherever God calls is something that I hope that continues to grow in myself. I pray that God continues to use them in amazing ways.

I do not think that I will ever forget this trip. I hope that I do not. I feel so blessed to have been given this opportunity and I hope that my writings inspire others to follow God wherever they are lead.