DIVINE APPOINTMENT

India is so polluted that it turns your boogers black. Did you also know that when you say "chai tea" that you are saying "tea tea" because chai means tea?  That KFC in India serves their chicken with salsa?  When they say that they have a "Western potty" that means that it flushes? You still have to bring water up from the river to flush it, but at least it flushes. NYC may call itself "the city that never sleeps" but they ain't got nothing on Kolkata. In a city of 16 MILLION people it seems that there are always people doing something. Last night around 9 pm there was a very loud and very long parade. We never did figure out what it was but it certainly did freak us out a bit. The 5X/day call to prayer is weird to hear, too.

But boogers aside, India is truly an amazing place.  This definitely will not be my last trip here.  I have so much respect for the missionaries and safe house volunteers that are trying to create a new life for victims of sex trafficking. It's so hard to put what I've seen into words. I just can't do it justice.

In the last few days we have visited numerous safe houses in and around Kolkata.  The darkness and heaviness on the streets are palpable but the attitudes inside the houses are like a breath of fresh air.  These girls are so thrilled to see us!  I love hearing "Good morning, Auntie!" It's so humbling. We gave the girls manicures and pedicures and really got to love on them one-on-one.  Touching someone else's feet in India is the ultimate show of respect. The girls would sometimes quickly pull their feet away and we had to remind them (through our expression or with the help of a translator) that we are here to serve them. The concept is completely foreign to them.  Many of them have never been shown love or affection.

On the 1st day we forgot our paper towels for the pedicures so we all ended up using the edges of our shirts to dry their feet. That act was almost more than they could stand. They would say "No! No!" but we would insist and soon they would relax. It was very humbling for me when I realized that they were having a hard time accepting love and affection. It made me sad that they don't know HOW to accept it. 

India has taught me so much. There's no way I could blog and explain it to you. I'm not even sure I could understand it myself. 

Here's just an example of an experience:
Today we met with a group of rescued girls that are being taught sewing skills as a way to earn an income. Many of them are Christ followers and it was so nice to be able to encourage them in their faith. But it turns out that this "divine appointment" was just as much for us as it was for them.  At the end of our time together the translator said, "the ladies would like to pray for you". They insisted even though it was us that was supposed to pray for them. The 12 KBC ladies sat inside a large circle of tiny little Indian women, all whom have walked through unthinkable tragedies. The main girl (I'll call her "Barnabas") began to pray in their native tongue (Bengali) and they all began murmuring prayers along with her.  Their prayers are bold, and loud, and heartfelt.  Honestly it puts our shallow, quiet prayers to shame.  I don't know what to say or what to call it but I'll just say that we had CHURCH up in there!  The Holy Spirit blew through that tiny little room and His name was praised in multiple languages. It was one of the holiest moments I have ever had.