The big wow!

I'm not ashamed to admit this culture is a hard and difficult adjustment. We have been in India for 3 weeks now and I'm just starting to feel able to lower my guard. This culture is a great way of testing some of my fears as a traveler. When we arrived in Mumbai it was an immediate overwhelming sensation of confusion because of the amount people, vehicles and pollution. Congestion! To say the least, is absolutely the best way to describe the popular cities in India. In fact I was told whenever Indians visit Minnesota the place they feel most at home is the fair. India is one giant Great Minnesota get together! However, I really love the experience and do not regret one bit of it so far.

After about 5 days of doing the tourist thing in Mumbai we set foot on our first Indian train toward the city of Hyderabad. The train was so much fun because you get to stay in this small but comfortable coach and if scheduled correctly you can simply sleep all night and wake up at your destination. It's much better than being stuck on a plane with no leg room.

The week in Hyderabad was perfect because we were able to join in ministry right away along side Oasis world ministries. We participated daily in a pastor/leaders seminar, village evangelism ministry and ended every night with a outdoor crusade where about 10,000 local villagers heard the gospel of Jesus Christ for the first time. By the close of our week in Hyderabad we were considerably tired but the joy of successful ministry was more than enough to keep us focused.

There are all ready so many stories about our experience and the people we have meet but it would take much time to share. We are currently getting rest and spending time gathering our thoughts in Goa. It's has been wonderful to see the beautiful landscape here and take a small break. We are looking forward to meeting up with our friends Bradley and Mathew in one week and are also looking forward to the opputunities that are ahead of us in the state of Kerrela.

butterflies?

I know I'm suppose to have experienced the "butterfly feelings" by now but I haven't. One would think going to India and parts of Asia for 4 plus months would do it. So I've been thinking about why this is the case for me and now I believe I have an answer. It's because I'm ready to leave! I have been for a while now. The truth is I have become tired of the system and mindsets that are all around me here. Don't get me wrong, I love the people, my friends and many of the convenient benefits of living here but together we all fall to the influence of our culture. I am ready for a shift, in the way I think, in the way I live.

Practically, my desire is to simply see life from the vantage of people in other cultures. How they interact with each other, how they study, even there work ethic, etc. I imagine everyday life activities are surprisingly different depending on where one is in the world. So I wonder what it will be like in India.

Spiritually, my desire is to be obedient to God and everything He requires of me. I know He has specifically called the four of us to journey throughout India and southeast Asia to advance His kingdom and learn how to live life the way He intends us to. For a long time I've wrestled with the conviction of how easy it is to gain so much knowledge about Gods kingdom and our part in it and yet fail to live accordingly. You see, knowledge by itself is useless and pointless unless joined with action. Application is what I've struggled to remember to do. As I have continued to grow in this area of my life I've become more and more hungry to obey even more which leads me this conclusion. I'm ready?

I am ready there is no question about that, however, I know the lessons are going to be even greater than I can anticipate. So let the testing of my faith begin! I can't wait and it's probably why I have no butterflies, because I'm ready.