words.

The last three weeks of my life have been nothing but a whirlwind of adventure. To see the way that the Lord has transformed my heart even over the last few weeks has been absolutely incredible. My words cannot even being to explain what I have experienced or what the Lord has been doing here in Calcutta, but here’s my best attempt at doing so:

Training camp was an awesome time to spend time with my team and to get to know them. I am so thankful for the way that AIM taught us about overseas missions and equipped us for what we were going to experience together. I cannot believe that it was less than two weeks ago that I met my team in Atlanta. Traveling to get here was a whirlwind. In what felt like a week but was actually three days, we made it from Atlanta to New Jersey to Belgium to Mumbai and finally to Calcutta. 

The last week has completely changed the way that I see this place and these people. On Friday, two of my teammates and I watched the sunset from the roof of our apartment building. Our landlord Ranjit, a wealthy Hindu man, and his family joined us. He pointed out and explained all the different parts of our neighborhood. He told us that on the other side of the wall that borders our house is a refugee camp of displaced people from Western Bengal and Bangladesh, calling them “the poorest of the poor.” Monday we had a chance to pray for people there. It felt like it was straight from the bible. August, our translator and friend, lead us through the streets while the 11 of us followed. Every time we stopped to pray, huge crowds gathered. At least 50 people trailed us at all times. It was crazy. 

The poverty and brokenness that is on the other side of the wall from our house is insane. Most of the children were naked and the people were all so dirty and starving. But greater than the poverty was the brokenness. As I walked past an open temple on the street, I immediately felt the weight of the darkness here. As the Lord’s heart grieves for lost people, so does my heart. I cannot explain the burden that I have for these people, but also the excitement that I have for having the opportunity to bring them the Gospel. What a privilege that is to be chosen to be here and to love them. 

What was probably the most terrifying experience of my life happened a few days ago. While we were stopped, a man handed me his baby – a naked baby, in my arms – and proceeded to run away. Literally running. Thankfully, someone came over and took the girl back but I was in shock. I have never seen such desperation as I have in this place. A man was willing to give away his child to me. My heart is heavy for the people of Calcutta. 

The time that we have been spending at the children’s home every day has been phenomenal. Usually we go over for breakfast in the morning and stay until after dinner. We spend time tutoring the kids every day and a lot of time playing with them. As I am coming to know their stories and to know the children better, I can understand why it is so awesome that we have a chance to be here and how valuable that time with them is. A lot of the kids here have never been in a place where they’ve seen real love until they got to Asha, some of whom arrived only a month ago. Again, the brokenness here is astounding. The pain that the kids I love so dearly have experienced is crazy. 

While here in Calcutta, I have been learning a lot about the Lord’s sovereignty. To know the depth of the pain here is more than I could ever explain with my words, but the hope that Jesus can bring these people is even greater. I cannot even fathom why the Lord has placed these people in such a state of desperation, but I have also started to understand that his plan is greater than anything I can understand. He knows more than I do. The fact that these people are suffering is not because He is a cruel God, but because in the end, it will bring Him the most glory. Also, I know that the weight of their salvation is not on me. While I have a burden for the people here, I cannot save their souls. Learning to follow the Spirit in that has been so awesome – to know that He is sovereign and He reigns over this place and over these people. 

I am so thankful to have the opportunity to be here and to serve alongside my team and the team at Asha. What a privilege it is to get to know Jesus even more with them walking through that with me.  As we fall into routine here and learn more about how ministry looks here, I can’t wait to see how the next three months play out. I will do my best to keep you all updated every step of the way. I am so thankful for the people at home praying for me while I am here and the lengths that you are taking to see Jesus move here. I appreciate you all so much. Please continue to pray that God will change lives here in Calcutta.