We have started having our “lasts”. Today may well
have been our last service at Delhi 1st Branch. We have three more
Sundays (or so) in India, but the next two Sundays we will be in Goa for my
Ayurvedic treatment. We haven’t decided for sure, but the first Sunday in
September we have discussed going to Rishikesh. If everything after that goes
according to our tentative plan we will be in Tokyo the second Sunday in
September. Then we will be home. It somehow doesn’t all seem real.
Since this may be our last Sunday here, they asked us
to bear our testimonies. It was emotional to look out at the congregation. I
have come to love these people. I expect there will be times I miss this or
that about India; I am confident I will miss the people. Some in particular
have become true brothers and sisters. We talk about seeing each other again,
but realistically I am not sure that will happen in this world.
Quickly changing subject to keep from getting too
emotional…. Yesterday was India Independence Day. We spent most of the day
sorting our belongings into those we will take on the plane with us, those we
will air freight so they’ll get there soon after we arrive, and those we will
put on a slow boat from Chi… err, India. So our Independence Day activity was
limited to the student activity at the campus on Friday. The students planned
and conducted everything. I planned on only staying for 30 minutes or so but it
was so fun that I was there for the whole program. Students sang songs, did
dances, and made speeches about India and its Independence. What was most
impressive to me was the degree to which students from countries other than
India participated. We sometimes have trouble integrating all of our
nationalities but Friday it seemed to happen effortlessly.
Here are a few pictures:
Here’s Rae!
As mentioned above, today was a bit emotional. For almost 2½ years we’ve built friendships
and watched these people’s lives change and progress. When we first arrived at the branch there
were basically 2 small children, Rachel and Aalisha. They were both about 1-1½. They are now 3 and 4. There were quite a few young single adults
and it was baffling and frustrating to watch them, just sort of flounder, as
they faced so many prejudices and traditions that seemed to stand in their way
when it came to being able to get married and move their lives forward. I think we’ve talked previously about some of
those things. Families against love
marriages; one part of India not accepting another part; economic differences;
skin color differences; and of course the illegal caste system, just to mention
a few. Good thing the Lord is in charge
and not me because as you might see from my comments, I saw little hope.
Within this last year we have seen several things change
that make our hearts happy. There have
been several marriages, 6-8, and there have been several new babies born, with
a few more on the way. These are good
things and we are so happy to see these young people, who are the leadership of
the church now, taking these steps and seeming so happy in the process. There
are at least 6 new babies and at least a couple on the way. Yay! The branch is changing and progressing.
These babies are all so darling, and the grandmother in
me just wants to sit and hold each one of them.
It will be sad to not see them grow up and become “naughty” as they are
so often referred to by their parents, when they start developing their own
personalities and knowing their own minds.
“He/she is so naughty”, is the response I almost always get from parents
when I ask them how their babies are dong.
Cracks me up!
While we have had some great experiences, and some trials
and frustrations while we’ve been here, I can without a doubt say that the thing
that has touched my heart the most is the people, and I will miss them. If I could give them one bit of council, it
would be to not take offense so easily, and certainly don’t let an offense keep
you from your activity and growth in the church. There, I’ve said my piece.
Namaste
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