7th
India - Linda (7/6/10)
Hi everyone!! Greeting from Kolkata!!
I hope you are all doing well, I miss you all very much! Thank you so much for all your encouragement and prayers <3, I wouldn’t be here today without you all!
ah, I have limited internet access but I definitely wanted to give you guys an update!
I have been in Kolkata, India for about 2 weeks now, after a wonderful week of orientation in Bangkok! I got to meet my new team there =) and as staff i got to help out with some of the training then and served on worship, singing and keyboarding, to prepare our hearts to be centered on Christ throughout our trips. We also went on a prayer walk around the Red Light District at Nana plaza in Bangkok.. it was very difficult to see for many of us but we are continuing to ask God to teach us how to pray for the brokenness there. During that time when I was confused on how to pray, I was encouraged when i felt God showing me His presence there in Nana plaza.. an angel residing over the area. its under the shadow of His wings. please continue joining me in prayer that the red light areas n Thailand would be filled with God’s angels and the idols would be destroyed there.
and.. then my 2 weeks in Kolkata!
Having this opportunity to come back for a second time to this City has been such an incredible blessing to me. Last year my prayer theme was for God to open my eyes to the brokenness and suffering in the world.. the intense reality of Darkness. but then I was left not exactly sure where to go from there and often struggled with seeing hope. However, this year my prayers have been centered on asking God to show me more of Him at work in this city. To see Him shining in this darkness, amidst all the suffering and oppression of these people, while seeking my role in bringing the love and light of Jesus as well <3 and He has been answering faithfully! <3<3
While a lot my teammates were going through culture shock and adjusting to all the overwhelming differences of the city life here, I was surprised to feel so much at home, so much joy and peace that this is where I’m meant to be right now. As staff I’ve enjoyed leading the new students around and caring for them as they have been processing all their experiences-I am so thankful that this is my second time here, ive been able to have more energy to care for my teammates =)
God has been so gracious in giving me lots of freedom in what I’m doing here in Kolkata! =)
My primary placement this year is working at Freeset, http://freesetglobal.com/tees/connect.html a t-shirt/bag factory in the famous Sonagachi Red Light district that works to employ former sex workers and at-risk girls so that they are set free from prostitution. In the mornings I work in the T-shirt factory area with about 20 women, building relationships with them as I work alongside them and learn how to pray for them. In the afternoon I have much freedom, asking God to lead me to explore various parts of the city to gain more understanding about being in Kolkata- often visiting the girls I dearlyyyyy love at Love Calcutta Arts where I spent all of last summerrr =) such heart melting joy to reunite with them!, or going on intercession prayer walks around the Khali Temple- a pretty intense, heavy place where sacrifices are offered to Khali and other idols.
As I’ve been walking this City, though God is filling me with hope that He is renewing life and at work here, there is still so much suffering all around.. people in poverty, a spirit of desperation and hopelessness, and Death that continues to grip at my heart. God has been teaching me and reminding me not to forget the poor.. Caring and taking action to help the poor and needy is such an integral part of God’s kingdom.. such an integral part of the Church’s role. Passages such as Matthew 25, and the Parable of the Great Samaritan have been especially convicting for me. My team is still struggling on how to really care and love the poor.. especially when we encounter beggars its hard to know what best to do. Too often we still find ourselves walking past ppl in need like the priest and levite, instead of stopping to help and care like the Samaritan. and back in the US its too easy to not even see.
I am praying and asking God to show me how to live this out now.. and in the future. Loving and not forgetting the poor and others in need. Each life so precious. each person Christ loves so much. <3
please continue to pray for me and my team, as well as joining me in prayer for Kolkata and the poor. specifically:
1) Kingdom eyes- for us to keep being open and sensitive to see people and situations the way God does. His eyes. His heart. His perspective.
2) Discernment- God to show me how to deeply engage and make the most out of the rest of my time here. to the fullest. and discernment about where God is leading me in the future regarding the poor.
3) My relationships- language barrier still difficult with the women i work with. how to really love them and show the Christ. for the Spirit to be moving in their heart to be able to see Jesus for who He really is. relationships with team- continuing to get to know and shepherd teammates faithfully.
4) Spiritual Warfare- God to teach me how to pray effectively to claim victory through prayer. against the dark forces and idols here. protection from the enemy’s attacks on me and my team.
5) Sharing- to process well and learn how to share what I’ve learned about God’s heart to all of you when I’m back =)
praise God for all He has been doing here!! I love you allll, I wish I could write more, but I will the next chance i get. Thankyou for praying and supporting me!!
i miss you all love you all so much!!!
God is faithful,
Linda
