Two and a half years. Two and a half years in India. Two and a half years in India because we feel like God wants us there. We're doing a lot of visiting lately and that leads to lots of conversations about what we've been up to in India, how it's going, etc. The most dreaded question, "Don't you just love it?" comes up more than I'd like. Well, people, the answer is: no. I don't love it. I don't love being away from my family and friends in the U.S. I don't love being without power when our house is very hot or very cold. I don't love being in the middle of conversations where I have no idea what people are talking about. I don't love trying to figure out how to feed my family from scratch every day. I don't love being misunderstood or suspicious simply because I'm not from there. I don't love walking my children through being Third Culture Kids.
So, what's up? Why stay? As we chat with people, things come up about what we've been doing while there. The business Chris is in and how it's helping give skills to local workers and how they've had some projects that have benefited the community. My relationships with some local women and how we now have close friends on the other side of the globe, too. Being there for the flood and finding ways to help preserve life. Learning language and understanding a culture that is vastly different from our own. Are these things reason enough to get back on the plane? Well, people, the answer is: no.
It doesn't make sense. Even our Indian friends will bring it up. "Why on earth do you live in India when you're American? Everyone here wants to move there. This place is hard! You don't have to be here. Have a vacation, see the sites, and go back to where it's comfortable." You're right, my friend, maybe that's just what I should do!
When it comes down to it, the only reason we're a part of this business in India is because we feel strongly that God wants us there. We're not even sure why. It's not like he told us exactly what he wants us to do or how he wants us to do it, just that we were supposed to go. Now that we're back for a few months, I feel a pressure to have something to show for it . . . some proof that we're doing all this for a good reason . . . some proof that this time has made a difference for us or for someone in India. Maybe just to prove to myself or my family who are sacrificing that it matters that we're there.
We were chatting with a wise friend yesterday and he told us that he could see evidence of God's grace in our lives. We have been through so much transition and loss and struggle in these past years, but we are willing to go back because we still feel like God wants us there. We don't have any way to prove that to anyone. We don't have any guarantee that we have made or will make a difference during our time there. But, we'll go back because God loves us and told us to. It's not because we're somehow stronger or more obedient or resilient than anyone else on this planet. It's only God's grace that reminds us to keep at it. It's only God's grace that welcomes us into the thick of it again. It's only God's grace that works in each of our lives where we are.
That's enough proof for me. If I am evidence of God's grace in the world, if it shows that God is bigger than me and that my little, incapable self is held by His mighty hand, if someone might see that and realize His grace more deeply, that's enough for me.
So, get ready, India, our crazy crew is coming back before you know it. With no answers and a Big God!
Catching some rest during the last few months before we're back at it.
So, what's up? Why stay? As we chat with people, things come up about what we've been doing while there. The business Chris is in and how it's helping give skills to local workers and how they've had some projects that have benefited the community. My relationships with some local women and how we now have close friends on the other side of the globe, too. Being there for the flood and finding ways to help preserve life. Learning language and understanding a culture that is vastly different from our own. Are these things reason enough to get back on the plane? Well, people, the answer is: no.
It doesn't make sense. Even our Indian friends will bring it up. "Why on earth do you live in India when you're American? Everyone here wants to move there. This place is hard! You don't have to be here. Have a vacation, see the sites, and go back to where it's comfortable." You're right, my friend, maybe that's just what I should do!
When it comes down to it, the only reason we're a part of this business in India is because we feel strongly that God wants us there. We're not even sure why. It's not like he told us exactly what he wants us to do or how he wants us to do it, just that we were supposed to go. Now that we're back for a few months, I feel a pressure to have something to show for it . . . some proof that we're doing all this for a good reason . . . some proof that this time has made a difference for us or for someone in India. Maybe just to prove to myself or my family who are sacrificing that it matters that we're there.
We were chatting with a wise friend yesterday and he told us that he could see evidence of God's grace in our lives. We have been through so much transition and loss and struggle in these past years, but we are willing to go back because we still feel like God wants us there. We don't have any way to prove that to anyone. We don't have any guarantee that we have made or will make a difference during our time there. But, we'll go back because God loves us and told us to. It's not because we're somehow stronger or more obedient or resilient than anyone else on this planet. It's only God's grace that reminds us to keep at it. It's only God's grace that welcomes us into the thick of it again. It's only God's grace that works in each of our lives where we are.
That's enough proof for me. If I am evidence of God's grace in the world, if it shows that God is bigger than me and that my little, incapable self is held by His mighty hand, if someone might see that and realize His grace more deeply, that's enough for me.
So, get ready, India, our crazy crew is coming back before you know it. With no answers and a Big God!
Catching some rest during the last few months before we're back at it.
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