Today, I want to give you a taste of the history that is found in a country as ancient as India. What becomes extremely clear when an American like me travels to most any other country, it is rich. Rich like a fresh slice of 82% Belgium chocolate cake kinda rich. This particular cathederal is the Saint Paul Catherderal. The archieture alone paints an ancient, honored, and sacred picture. This richness is exactly what gives India the unique blend of cultures and time to produce a beautiful country.

In my 7 weeks in India I attended a very large church, the largest I have ever seen. In any given weekend they would hold 15 DIFFERENT church serves for 8 different languages represented in their congregation. My mind was blown when I learned this. This is a church that perfectly reflects the diversity and richness of the city it lives in.

​My first experience was the was the second day after I had flown into India. Walking through the packed hallways, I felt like a salmon in migration season trying to make it to the main auditorum. As I finally found the doors, worship had already started yet people were chatting and moving in and out like dear friends home rather a church service. The introvert in me told me to find a corner in order regroup. I stood there waiting for my leader who kept getting stopped by embraces and warm greetings. In this whirling she would turn to me and introduce each friend. I shamefully would struggle to repeat their name and forget it as soon as the name left my lips. I hate this about myself but I just can't retain name unless I give it all my attention. Believe me in this room of a few hundred people moving about in organized chaos, loud worship music playing AND people are expecting me to remember 10 different Bengali names, I don't think so.

What really caught me in this moment was the atmosphere in that church  it was holy. It felt like a gear shift in my spirit when I walked into the room. Without anyone knowing tears quietly came to my eyes because I recognized what happened. I just entered my Gods presence and I am literally half way across the globe. In that moment I experienced Gods Holy Presence because, you see God is not American He is for all people everywhere.

We took our seats as the band continued to sing. They transitioned to the next song, "What a Beautiful Name" half in English and half in Bengali.  Friends let me tell you, I was a mess in a holy way during this song. 

Death could not hold You, the veil tore before You
You silenced the boast, of sin and grave
The heavens are roaring, the praise of Your glory
For You are raised to life again
You have no rival, You have no equal
Now and forever, Our God reigns
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name, above all names

These words moved me the very first time I heard them in my car, but here in India they took on a deeper meaning. Singing "You have no rival, You have no equal...Yours is the Name, above all names", in a culture with many gods and idols as a staple in every store, restaurant, and homes. It not just a lyric but a bold declaration of faith and devotion to the one true God.

Yes, India is a rich culture with AMAZING food, creativity, people, and history but there was a Kingdom before it, even more rich. I had my eyes opened anew to how "Now and forever, Our God reigns".

Get a load of this sunset skyline view. I was standing on the rooftop of the girls home, memorized but this view. I think it took me almost half of the internship to discover that there was rooftop access to the gorgeous jungle. Needless to say I stole away up here as much as I could, to pray, to reflect, and to hide sometimes (lets be real).

Here I want to share the more sacred lessons I took away from my time in India. My time with the girls was so special and so very ordinary at the same time. What I mean by this is daily life in the home was more or less what I was doing in the States. 

7 am wake up
8 am morning devotions
8:30 Breakfast
9:30 School
9:30-12 was English with Teacher Marissa who made EVERYTHING up on the spot, you are welcome.
1-3 Rest (Everyone took a mandatory nap for 2 hours each day. You guys this was the BEST!)
3-7 Teaching classes and helping with English homework
7-7:30 Evening devotion
8 Dinner
9 More studying (yeah I know, this is where Marissa was ready for bed and looked at the clock every 30 mins until it was 10:30 and acceptable to leave)
11 Bed

Okay, well aside from the late nights it was the same. However, the everyday moments was where the special was woven in.

It will be helpful to understand that I was very understandably asked not to take pictures. In order to respect and protect the women and children of the home, I was happy to comply. This is why I don't have many pictures, but I do have many memories.

Back to the rooftop. It was a rainy day at the home. I was with a few of the older gals who were on break from exam studying. They urged me to join them on the roof and since I was in between classes I said yes.

Not minutes later, it began to rain and then it began to really rain.  In India where the climate is hot or hotter all the time the rain became a warm water play ground for us. The girls began dancing and splashing around and I followed in suit. It was soooooo much fun! We laughed and danced and hollered. I felt free. I was so moved at the joy that they expressed that day. I remember thinking, "I want that kind of joy". 

All too soon the fun was over when we heard the bell ring for study time to commence. Reluctantly we started leave. That is when I noticed the girls get giggly and dramatically act afraid. I finally asked "are we allowed to be out here? Are we in trouble now?" Their giggles told me everything. We all descended the stairs to our rooms to change quickly. My room was conveniently located on the first floor. I had to stealthy make it down four flights of stairs without drawing attention to my dripping self. 

About half way down one of house moms saw me. Without thinking I blurted out that I was getting my closes on the rooftop clothesline and I got caught in the rain. I don't think she bought it in the least. She just gave me a half smile that seemed to say "uh huh, sure". I laughed internally at myself and hurried to keep from make a puddle.

This memory makes me smile for more reasons than one. Yes the silliness of my sheepish lie makes me smile, but mostly the look of the girls faces as they danced in the rain. It was a moment I could tell would stay with me for my lifetime.