Where is time going? I feel like I live in a time vacuum...maybe I do. Time moving this quickly is stirring some weird emotions within me. I have 6 weeks left here in South Asia. I can't think about this too much or I will immediately start crying, yet I so look forward to the comforts of home and the love from my friends and family. I sure do miss those relationships, but have found some pretty precious friendships here. I'm in a weird place mentally.
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| How can you not be sad to leave a place where cows just roam where they like? |
A few weeks ago, some of my friends and I went to dinner with some believers that are doing some serious ministry here in South Asia. They are amazing prayer warriors for this broken country and are so motivated to make Jesus' name known here. I was so encouraged by their work and challenged by the love they have for their people here. They were praying over our group of friends before we had dinner and the man praying over us prayed that we would always have a "South Asian scar on our hearts. " I loved that. He prayed that this scar would never let us forget to intercede for this incredibly broken country that is in such desperate need of restoration. I pondered this phrase a lot... "a south asian scar on my heart." How could my heart not be scarred for life? I have seen too much brokenness, experienced too much darkness, and been loved by to many people to leave unaffected. The song Albertine, by Brooke Fraser has been playing over and over in my head as I think about going home.
Now that i have seen, I am responsible
Faith without deeds is dead
now that I have held you in my arms, I cannot let go
I am on a plane across a distant seas
But I carry you in me
and the dust on, the dust on, the dust on my feet
I will tell the world, I will tell them where I've been
I will keep my word
I will tell them Albertine (inserts many different client's names here)
Therefore, I think I will keep this scar around for the rest of my life.
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| Child beggars at the train station |
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| Some of our clients...I wish I could post their sweet faces...confidenitality :-) |
I was able to go on my first rescue operation last week. It was way more exciting then I was expecting, but also hurt my heart way more than expected. We were able to rescue over 30 people in two different operations...in one day. I was on the logistics team, so we were in charge of getting food for all the rescued once they exited the facilities. Unfortunately, my blonde hair was drawing too much attention in the village, so I had to lay in the back seat of the car for quite some time. I was amused/sweating profusely at this situation. Once we arrived at the government office, we had 30 newly rescued people sitting on the floor waiting for their first meal in freedom in over 5 years. I was shocked to see so many children and to hear the stories of them working in the rock quarry and rice mills when our team arrived to rescue them. Within a few hours they were all issued release certificates and 1000 rupees by a government official. This was such a beautiful moment and one I will never forget. There is nothing as beautiful as watching someone walk into freedom with the largest grin on their face...finally receiving money that they can spend on whatever they please. Their "debts" are wiped away...they are free. I wish I could play the image for you that plays in my head. It was wonderful. Unfortunately, the day took a very sad turn. The next step was dropping our new clients off in their home villages. My group returned our clients to two different villages. The first drop was easy and they were received warmly by their home village. The second victim drop did not go so well. Once we arrived at the village, we realized that these clients were clearly not welcome here. The village leader and the rice mill owner saw the rescue on the news and knew they would be returning to the village. Within 30 minutes of being in the village, a mob formed around our car, leaving us unable to leave. We were being yelled at to not let these clients stay in this village. They were no longer accepted there. Why? Because the rice mill owner has too much power over the leaders in this village. I was heart broken. Just hours after entering freedom, they were surrounded by 50 angry men telling them they are no longer welcome in their homes. Not everyone saw them as victims nor cared about them. After two hours of waiting and contacting government officials to send the police, the police FINALLY showed up. This was frustrating, because the police would not come with our phone calls...only if the government officials called. I felt so helpless...not so much for myself, but for our clients. God, without a doubt, protected us. The mob did not get violent for which I am thankful, but they did take away the little dignity that our clients had. I was angry...I think i still am. I have been so spoiled as an American. If I was ever in danger in the states I would call 911 and expect police to be there in 5 minutes. South Asia is a bit different. The police don't answer unless they want. So what if our car was surrounded by 50 angry men? So what if our clients were so scared that their former owner was there yelling at them? In South Asia, especially in the villages, you take of yourself. This was a very harsh reality for me. I hate that not everyone can feel protected. I hate that their day of freedom was tainted because of a power struggle...because they are in such a low caste.
This situation has laid heavy on my heart for over a week now. It's one of those situations that is so huge that it is hard for me to see hope in. I'm thankful to believe and know a God that can change all situations for his good. My God has the power to change the justice in South Asia as broken as it may be. Jesus will come back and all will be made whole. Praise God for that. May these scars always be on my heart.
As usual, I would like to end on a funny note. Last weekend, Margaret and I headed down to Auroville (hippy town) to meet some friends who are living in Bangalore. We decided it would be fun to take a cheap means of transportation....the government bus. It was quite a full bus...as you can see on the right. We were amused with ourselves for take a 4 hour, jam packed, non-a/c bus ride. I mean you have try it at least once, right? Well did eventually make it to Pondicherry/Auroville and we were in for a treat. Auroville is a town in which everyone has chosen to live in peace and as one nation. There are people from 40 (i think) different countries who have become one nation. It was wild. People are so nice, but it is definitely an interesting way to live. I just had to share this letter that I saw posted on a bulletin board in Auroville. It made me laugh so hard, because their lives are SO different from mine. This is not a letter I would've have written as a 8 year old.
Peace, light, love, and trees to all.
