India Post #3

Hey, fellow blog readers, sorry for the delay on the 3^rd and last India post. I have just been so busy! This summer has been full with volunteering at FBC Tulsa’s Caring Center everyday (there will be a blog post about that next month!), being a sponsor at Falls Creek, going to an insane amount of wedding events, and so much more! But in the midst of this craziness, I have not forgotten to write this last post so I can conclude and summarize my thoughts about my adventure in India.

This story describes two 14 year-old girls at a particular village that I met. Their names were Gomitee and Comez and their stories will stay with me forever.

This was a day in the villages, and after my group and I performed our skit we spoke to the crowd. Fortunately, Gomitee and Comez knew a little English so I was able to talk with them and ask simple questions when they eagerly approached me. They began to teach me words in their language, which then caused a lot of giggles due to my terrible accent.  It was obvious that both were just regular teenage girls that loved to be silly. Once the conversation progressed I started to ask more questions, one being “How many family members do you have?” One answered with none and the other answered with one sister, but neither mentioned any parents. Wondering, I said, “Mother? Father?”

Both answered with a simple, “No. Both are gone.”

I already knew this was a not-so-fortunate village, but I didn’t expect two young girls with no parents at all. I then explained to them in easy English that I too had lost my father at a young age. I described how the man we spoke about in skit, Jesus, helped me through it. I told them how Jesus did even more by taking away the shame of my own mistakes. They seemed very interested so we carried the conversation about Christ as long as we could until other things distracted us. Knowing that I all I can do is plant seeds, I understood the next part was just to pray for them even after leaving India.

The craziest part is that later I was introduced to the sister of one of the girls, and it turns out that she has a mental disability. In spite of this, at 18 years of age the sister cooks, cleans, and makes enough money to put both of the 14 year-old girls in school. Incredible! What an example of selfless love! One of the girls is not even her own blood sister! I wish my heart was at a point to give of myself like that. At such a young age this sister understands Christ like humility more than most people do, myself included.

So what does this bring me to when concluding my India blogs? Only one word rings in my head, Freedom:

·      Freedom from AIDS

·      Freedom from corrupt government

·      Freedom from poverty

·      Freedom from devastation

·      Freedom from fear

·      Freedom from chains

·      Freedom from our own destructive selves

Going to India put in perspective deep oppression, but even more it brought to my attention the oppression I was blind to right in my own home country.

It is easy to say that India is a country yearning for freedom, but can’t we just as easily say that America is too? Think about the Aurora, Colorado shooting last week. Everyone needs freedom from something that holds us down in this world. It is discouraging to see the hurt around us and just wonder why it all happens.

I too, like everyone else, am yearning for freedom--freedom from insecurity, worry, hate and so much more. Ultimately, I want freedom from my own sin. 

But there is an answer and it is Jesus. Cliché I know, but that is the truth. Let’s just thank God it is as simple as calling on his name and asking for forgiveness. 

This life is short and may include some thick and heavy chains but there will be a day in heaven when we see Jesus face to face and he will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” And we all can sing in unison “Free at last, free at last.”

Thanks for reading!

Karlie