Number 99:  March 29, 2007

The overlying point that was manifested almost daily to me in India was to trust God. Being in an unfamiliar country with limited resources meant that you were not in control, but rather you had to trust that God would supply what was needed when it was needed. 

He would help by directing my steps to be where I needed to be to receive what was needed, whether it was hot Chai tea, American coffee, mats to cover the hard ground, an Indian interpreter, a trip to the market, American toilets, toilet paper, cell phone minutes.

Proverbs 3:5 and 6:

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

It took about 45 minutes to get to Sangat’s residence from the airport. We were told that was because traffic was still light. We would understand “traffic” much better later. Since India had been a British colony they drive on the left side of the road. On that road, they “drive” whatever they have whether it is horse, ox, or camel carts, bicycles, motorcycles, rickshaws, three wheeled taxis, farm tractors, cars, buses, trucks, but no elephants. You find all of these on one or three lanes of road. The word “lane” is a misnomer. If there is room, you cram whatever you are “driving” into it. It takes a while to travel anywhere.

Beatrice, Sangat’s Indian wife, cheerfully greeted us with a big smile and by tossing rose petals into the air. She was happy to be hosting another group of God’s people. She was arrayed in typical Indian clothing. She is comfortable in her native dress unlike her Westernized daughters who enjoy the dress and culture of the West. Preet, age 20, Priya, age 16, and Nozomi, age 11, gave up their rooms so we could be comfortable. The younger adults stayed together on the second floor, while the older adults quartered on the third floor. Their roof top was amazingly quiet for contemplation and journal writing.  Sangat’s son Sambi, age 6, greeted all, since, in his mind, we had all come to visit him.     

Hebrew 13:1 and 2:

Let brotherly love continue.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

A day of rest was in order to try to equalize our body clocks and to familiarize ourselves with Indian ways.  Most of the toilets at Sangat’s are Western style but there is an Eastern one which is a rectangular piece of porcelain with a hole placed into it that fits flush with the ground with foot grips on either side. Water was attached to flush the system. All of the mountain fellowships we attended had already added an American toilet. Thank God!

We went for a small walk to entertain the sights and sounds of the neighborhood and found it a “tad” different than the hoods of the USA. There were many cows and dogs wandering freely. There were pigs eating garbage from what was a stream bed.