A week and
four days I've been here. Not long enough to be able to understand everything I
have seen. I cannot even describe all of this week! How do I describe it all to
you? It is like when the my fellow students ask me about America. How do I
describe my own country?
Do I begin
with how much richer the average citizen is than them? Do I tell them about the
disparity between the poor and the rich? Do I tell them that, though most claim
Christianity, many are not followers of Christ in America? Do I tell them about
our food? Do I mention the cultural diversity? Do I mention how much more I have to pay for college as compared to their
colleges? Do I present the American people as blessed or rich?
How would
you describe your way of life to a man your own age who grew up in a village
and would be without education if not for his foreign sponsor? Or to a man who
came from the slums? Or to a girl who came from a predominantly Muslim part of
India? Do you understand what they've been through? How they were raised? I
don't fully. So how can I compare my life to theirs?
This is a
problem I face in interacting with them and writing to you.
I cannot fully explain everything I have seen
and am about to experience to you. You'd have to see and experience it for
yourself. Nevertheless, I will try to give you a glimpse.
My favorite
part of being in India is where I am staying. Lakeview Bible College and
Seminary in Chennai, India is my home for four months. I will study the Bible
here with my brothers and sisters from all across India, Nepal, and even a few
who lived in Africa.
There is
great cultural diversity. Those from Southern India look, talk and act
differently than those from Northern India or Nepal. This is a large advantage
to me, since there is no cultural norm at the college that I can break, causing
offense. As my new Indian friend, Renjid, said, "Everyone leaves a lot of
cultural baggage at the gate when they come in."
Since there are
many different mother tongues represented at the college, the official language
here is English. Good for me. Not very good for those who don't speak it very
well.
Many of the
students have befriended me and I have already gotten the chance to speak one on one
with several of them.
My one on
one conversations with the students has been my favorite part of my experience
here so far. I have been encouraged by the deep desire many of them possess to
preach the word of God to the lost. India is mostly Hindu. It is largely
unreached with the gospel and many of these students are willing to risk their
lives to change that. Amazing.
Though we
are all different, our hearts all beat for the same God. We are God's children. Nevertheless, hundreds of millions of hearts are beating for lies in India, in America, and in nations throughout the world. I want to see that change. And the students here desire the same thing. Praise be to God!
There is so much more!!! But that's all I
have for now. Please be praying for this college. God is doing great things
here. The students who reside here could change the spiritual state of India
forever.
Pray for God
to bless them more and to strengthen them for great ministry throughout India.
Pray for unity and great peace about what God is going to call everyone to do.
Lastly, pray
for me. It is hard being away from all that I know and being in such a
different place. Pray that I am able to do God's will with great peace and joy!
If you could
pray for these things every day, that would be awesome. If not, please spend a
few minutes praying for the students and the teachers here. Prayer is powerful
and it would be amazing to see what God does through it.
Thanks from
India!
