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Yesterday morning we headed for church which started around 9:30, we’ve been so blessed to have such a great community of people there that are so accepting of us, inviting us to hang out and even play futbol, we’ll see if it ends up being more watching than playing for us, but we’ll see.  The services are longer than what we would usually call normal, but every second we soak in finding joy beyond what we deserve.  Electricity here randomly turns off and then randomly turns back on, ranging from a few seconds to 30 minutes or more, this happened during church yesterday, this was such a joy, getting to praise the same big G*d without our comforts, recognizing devotion rising within our uncomfortbility and our hearts leaning more in, such a blessing!

Through the first house we were located at we were able to build a friendship with the people that help take care of it and quickly found out that they were believers!  They acted as guardians for us, calling in to check up on us and making sure all was well, weeks after we weren’t even staying at the house anymore, they remembered that one of us was sick and called to make sure we were ok, overwhelming us with kindness that was obviously from the L*rd through them.  They told us that on sunday nights they have a pr*yer meeting from 4-6 and that they would love for us to join them, we finally had the chance yesterday.  Walking there we had no idea where it was located and searched but failed and finally called the man who has been calling and checking in on us, I told him where we were and he said to stay there and he would come get us, 2 minutes later he’s coming down the street on a motor scooter, he took us all back individually on the scooter to the house, so fun!  We walk into the house and there’s a circle of books on the floor, we have a seat and find out that the books were hindi new testaments and song books.  We soon found out that we were going to take part in a very traditional indian house church, starting in worship using a music box that looks similar to an accordian, the room was filled with voices that were singing straight to the L*rd, recognizing we didn’t know hindi they sang in english L*rd I Lift Your Name On High, we all wish we could have recorded some of the worship we were able to take part in.  Next, we went around the room and shared in what ways this past week G*d has been faithful and has worked, first in hindi and then translating into english for us, there were 13 of us in the room.  The stories these people shared from what the L*rd’s done made us realize that we were in a room of people who were devote and radical in their faith for the name of JC, stories of standing against the millions of gods worshipped here, standing up against the caste system, people having huge influence and using it to share the freedom found in JC.  After all of us sharing one of the men spoke somewhat of a sermon but was more interactive then most sermons, and then we took part in the L*rd’s supper.  Rather than bread and grape juice they broke a coconut representing JC death and His body being broken for us and then poured coconut milk in our hands to drink, such a cool experience!  We ended in worship again and then stayed around to talk for a little while, they asked if we would join them for dinner but we weren’t able to, but we had chai and talked for a while with them, hearing more about the m*nistry they had, these people are doing great things for the L*rd’s name!  They invited us back over for dinner, so later this week we’re going to go and eat with them, talking about what f*ith means here in India and what it mean in the US, we’re all excited to share and listen!! 

After the service, we met up with one of the girls we’ve gotten close to from church at one of the markets in Delhi, we walked around looking for random things.  The market was packed!  Squeezing through people to keep up with each other, these are some of the coolest times for us!  No one is out during the afternoons much because it is so hot, so they all go out at night when it’s cooler, so we get the chance to be immersed in people and see so many different things.  Being called into every shop we walk by and bargaining for deals, it’s been a fun experience!  G*d’s presented opportunities while being out in the markets in talking with sellers and leading conversations to the L*rd and what we’ve been doing here.  It’s very interesting to  see the kindness of people here, going out of their way for us (which has a lot to do with us being from America) but also for each other.  This has been something we’ve thought about a lot, being encouraged by their kindness, but also wondering if the motive behind it is dealing with their karma, which is what many of them believe, changing things up, this many times leaves us in a place of confusion and not knowing exactly how to receive this kindness.   

We’re really enjoying the kids camp and are very sad that it’s quickly coming to a close, tomorrow is our last day with them, so sad!!  We could really use your pr*yers for tomorrow, we’re presenting a lot of things to the kids and trusting the L*rd to make way for it.  Thank you for your pr*yers, the opposition is threatened and is throwing many things our way, so continue to pr*y!  Thanks for keeping up with us!!

Kaity

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