India

India.

Have you ever been surprised by a place that you've visited or traveled to? Have you been surprised that your heart connected and you immediately felt at home--even though it was the farthest from "familiar" than you had ever experienced? This is what India did to me. It surprised me. Or I should say--God surprised me.

Eight years ago, I traveled to India for the first time. I must admit that I went out of shear obedience. I had never liked Indian food, the smells, or even the colors. I never had a burning desire to visit. The opposite was true. I desired to go anywhere other than there. But I love how Jesus has a beautiful sense of humor. Praise be to him that he called me to go to the hills of the Himalayan mountains and to work with the people of Darjeeling and its surrounding areas. Upon every turn, I found myself out of my comfort zone: the food, the lack of indoor plumbing, the smells, the heat and then the cold. The list goes on and on. But the beauty and the presence of the Lord was also more prevalent than I've ever witnessed. Maybe it's because of the millions of people there. But I believe that there is a hunger deeper than what is physical. There is a need--a desire for something greater. And the people were and are reaching. And I witnessed God respond to hunger with his rich presence. He is always present, but our hunger gravitates his heart. It is from our need that he pulls in closer.

A year later after my first 6 week "visit" to India, God called me back (kicking, screaming, and pouting). But I returned again. And this time--I was overwhelmed with a gentle and beautiful surprise: I fell in love with India. God gave me his heart for this nation. I wanted nothing more than to continue to partner with Jesus in this country. But this love came out of a very difficult and challenging trip. I took 7 individuals with me (many whom had never been out of the country before) and we encountered sickness, death, poverty, and injustice together. But we also brought with us the love and light of Jesus--pouring again and again and again--always asking Papa God for more of Himself!!! And boy--did he show up--touching people and doing what he does best--BE GOD!! I returned to Australia, my home at the time, forever changed--again! My heart longed to return right away.

But little did I know that it would be another 5 years before he would grant that desire. This past year, I returned to India--to a new part of the country--Vizag and Ongole in southern India. Once again, my heart came ALIVE. In the garbage dump, in the shacks/shantys, in the most difficult and challenging parts--my heart continued to overflow with JOY! I heard my Papa God say to me: I'm giving you my heart, beloved. This is just a small percentage of how I feel about my kids. 

I don't know when I'll return to India again, but I know that when the time comes, God is going to impart his continual goodness into the lives of others! I know that he'll keep healing. I know that he'll keep pouring out his love and doing above and beyond all we could think, ask, or imagine. The question is: Are you willing? Are you willing to take part (whatever way that looks like)? Are you willing to get uncomfortable and to love with all of who you are? Are you willing for God to do the impossible in and around and through you?

The choice is yours. But if God is calling you to India, I promise you that your life will never be the same.