Don’t Get Lost in the Day-to-Day

 You have to sit back and soak it all in or else you forget the significance of where God has placed you; I can’t let the day-to-day normalcy swallow the enormity of this experience. Today I sat breathing, watching, smelling and trying to take it all in. I am in India. I am reclining on my balcony overlooking the city, wearing my new Punjabi suit and sipping chai. My fingernails are the bright (bright!) pink that the beautiful woman painted them earlier today during my visit to the Leper Colony. We spent the afternoon relaxing on her bed fumbling through happy conversation, both a bit lost in each other’s language but enjoying the act of sharing.  As more and more of us squeezed into her little 12×12 home during the afternoon rain, she and I moved to sit on the floor as I was taught to make a “proper and delicious” chai. It is humbling to discuss religion, politics, international affairs and the secret ingredient to the best cup of chai with a woman whose name means “good politics”. It has been a struggle at times to not speak or be able to communicate Christ as well as I would like. It has been put on my heart, however, that God is fully aware of our restrictions and works through them.

“Where did you learn to speak English so well?” I asked as we sat cross-legged on her bed.

“It is compulsory in the good schools after grade six. Is it not compulsory in America to learn another language?”

“No, not really.”

“Well, it is silly to only learn to dance to one song.” [I must agree].

Allie and I both received new names that were easier for her to remember. (I had been working under the misconception that my name was rather easy for people to remember, until I discovered I was being called “Henna”, or the Hindi word for “dye”—pretty close to perfect I suppose…otherwise, all of the orphans call me “Didi”—the Hindi word for “sister”). Allie is now “Pooja”, or the Hindi word for “worship”; I am now “Arti”, or the Hindi word for “offering”.

The children of the orphanage are becoming more trusting of us, and it is encouraging to see them pile out of the door excitedly when we arrive. I love getting to understand more of the children’s personalities—and not just their names. (This one will need encouraging during tutoring hour, this child will lead prayer time well and this girl likes to sneak out when I close my eyes to pray). The pastor and wife that run the orphanage are also inspiring—their true passion and love for their children is unmistakable. It’s amazing but true—children, no matter where in the world you are, love much the same things. Personal attention, kicking a ball, coloring a piece of construction paper, stickers, and genuine affection…

We say “T.I.D.I.” (“this is definitely India”) when things happen that could only happen in India. It is quite normal to pass cows strolling through maddening and dangerous traffic or reclining on the median; swerving to let a whole family of 5 plus luggage and chicken zipping by on their motorcycle pass; watching the rain as a woman in a leper colony kneels to paint my toenails bright (bright!) pink.
 

“The place where God calls you is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”- Frederick Buechner-