India so far...

Well, my intentions were to Blog every day I was here in India, but after a rough couple of days adjusting sleeping habits, time change, busy schedules & the wall mounted crooked toilet in my hotel room. Needless to say I was beat by evening time to even think straight let alone share my random thoughts.
But today has been a good day. After surviving our 20hr journey, its good to be back in the "motherland". This year is been a different experience so far, than the last 3 years of me coming back to India. As I stood on the terrace of one of the churches we ministered at, I couldn't help but think about God's favor on my life. As I looked out into what seemed like a sea of tin shacks & a maze of slum land, how my life would have been different if God had not placed value on my life. For those of u that have never heard my testimony, the cliff notes is this. I was born in a catholic orphanage in India, adopted by Indian parents, lived in the middle east for a while, parents split up, bounced between them, mother in India & father in Bahrain. Finally moved to Ohio in '97. Gave my heart to the lord, felt the call to full time ministry & the rest is history. So back to my moment on the roof of the church...
I wonder how my life would have been different if the above chain of events never happened. If I had never been given the opportunities that I did. Would I be Muslim or Hindu? Would I be a slum dweller or made my way up the social class. Maybe its because I'm with a team of 23 women that the estrogen levels are becoming toxic, but when I stood in a room full of Mission of Mercy sponsored children receiving their gifts from their sponsors, tears welled up in my eyes. Each of them are getting a break in life. A second chance if you will. Hope. Education. Food & medical care. All because someone cared.
I've never felt more small or insignificant than standing in a room full of these children who were excited about small things thy we in America take for granted. Shoes, coloring books, clothes. Its a privilege to serve the ones who God. cares so deeply for. Seeing the girl that Jennie & I sponsor for the second time since my last visit was great. She lit up when I have her the bag that we put together of things a little girl should have growing up. A couple of combs, stuffed animal, hair bands & ties, stickers, coloring pencils etc. All this made me feel small for having complained about my hotel room not being up to par.
So we're into day 2 here & I got sucked into playing Jesus in a human video. Thank God for my masters commission training on the art of the human video. I faked a pretty cheesy Jesus. Rockford would be ashamed! But the slum ladies loved it. I on the other hand was not so thrilled, but never the less compliant. I got sharpie nail scarred hands to prove it!
There has been plenty to laugh about & at. I love this country. One of my life mantras is never forget where u came from. This brings me full circle to give back a little to my nation. Making a difference in one child at. time. Who knows what plans God has for them. Well it's time for dinner & I am loving the food. More to come. I'm out.
~Robert