As I post this we are in our midpoint debrief, meaning that our time here is about halfway done. CRAZY! Since that is the case, I thought I’d highlight some notable parts of the trip so far 🙂
– Relationships with the boys. Hearing their stories, comforting them when they miss their parents, don’t do well on a test, or are picked on.
– Seeing the Mother Teresa house. Reading about her life and loving everything she said. She is one of the coolest spiritual role models.
– Eating with our hands. It’s the norm here 🙂
– Being greeted every single morning and night on our way to and from our house by a little girl who is always happy to see us. She likes to shake our hands and greet each of us multiple times.
– Learning that there is freedom in surrender.
– Taking the boys to the zoo in downtown Kolkata. They all held our hands (which is saying a lot for some of the older and “tougher� boys) and made us feel like moms. This trip really confirmed that they desire our love for them as they don’t always show it.
– Dancing in the rain. Heck, in a monsoon at that!
– Singing along while Hannah M. played worship music in the office of an organization that rescues children who are trafficked. This is a highlight because the workers are not Christian. For them to let us worship in their building a different God than theirs is a BIG DEAL. And they loved it too, Praise the Lord!
– Rickshaw rides down the crazy streets!
– Seeing how God uses a 6 year old to pour His love into me just when I hit my weakest points throughout the day. He loves so fully and intensely (he will really attack you with tickles and energy!)
– Throw throw. One of the best games to play, especially with ridiculous boys.
– The environment we’ve created as a team is one of such love and fun. As we go deeper and get more and more vulnerable with each other it is just getting better.
– Tea and “digestive biscuits� without fail every afternoon 🙂
– Getting to know one little boy at the home who really struggles. He doesn’t feel accepted by the other boys (they pick on him frequently) and he speaks different languages than they do. Sometimes he is happy, but oftentimes he will shut down and become unresponsive. It has been really hard trying to reach and trying to protect him from all the hurt in his heart. But I am so glad to have had the opportunity to try and to keep trying.
– Last of all, to be in the sweetest time yet in my relationship with God. Through freedom and deepened communication, it has been such a sweet time here with the Lord. There truly is no better word to describe it than sweet.
That all said, our time here has been filled with many challenges and many things to be joyful. I am so excited for our next month here as I believe the Lord has much more in store for us (on both ends).
Taylor
