Wrap up: You're a Good, Good Father.

 Overwhelming Goodness from an Amazingly Gracious Father.

India 2015

It’s really hard to put into words, especially a short letter, what God did on this trip.  The things that I learned about His character, myself and the world in general go far beyond what I can describe in this tiny blurb but hopefully I can give you a taste of the things God has opened my eyes and heart to on this 55 day adventure and a half.

June 17 I left with nerves, excitement and a clear vision from God about my purpose in going. Little did I know that what I was about to embark on was a journey that would bring me to tears and my knees almost every single day. It would challenge me in ways that I’d never imagined, I’d wrestle with God and in the end, to my surprise, I’d leave knowing God in a new way that once again, brings me tearfully to my knees not with frustration, but praise.

Changing Expectations.

When I arrived at the hospital it became clear to me very quickly that what I had come to do would not be what I’d actually be doing. There were 10 medical students when I arrived, the town was a tourist location with very wealthy Indian nationals and westerners vacationing, and the patient load was extremely small. The villagers who were impoverished and extremely underserviced came to hospital but interaction was minimal. I struggled with the language, to connect with the staff, and really to find any role to be useful in. Why had God sent me here?  I thought that I was supposed to be contributing to the medical team, to patients- right? Nope. God had other plans and my expectations of what the trip was going to be like were taken from me, and replaced with mystery.

Café of Solitude.

Not far from where I was staying stood a café. It was run by 4 local Indian Christian women who poured their heart into each menu item and to welcoming customers with open arms. After a day in the clinic, with an afternoon free I’d very often head down to the café, greet them and enjoy whatever it was that they’d recommend that day. One afternoon I was sitting in the café praying ‘why am I even in India? Please give me some guidance Lord.’ A moment later, I felt God saying so clearly: These women. You are here to encourage these women and to enjoy who I am. It was all I could do to stop from crying right there in my chair. It was so clear to me it was as if I  heard Gods’ Spirit whispering in my ear.

No longer did I see my free time as purposeless, but as a gift. I had a great opportunity to do some medicine plus spend lots of time with the Lord and encourage the local women who face hardship and trial on a more-than-daily basis.

Please use me.

The opportunities that God gave me to share his Gospel were among people I’d not really come to India for- Americans. In fact, all the non-Christian people I’d shared the Gospel with were from either Chicago or Los Angeles. WHAT. I had come all the way to India to meet people from my own continent? Lord, this is a crazy plan. But what an encouragement it was. Each time I got to have a conversation with them it was like God was giving me a small present and a glimpse of the wildly different trip He’d planned for me than I thought. Talking with Indian people was much more difficult. The language barrier was a huge issue and I often found myself silent in public places because of it. But God is bigger than language. An Indian woman and I got talking at a Bible study group one Saturday night. She had seen me at church the previous Sunday and youth that week and noted that I needed everything translated. Long story short, she told me how God used my lack of communication with others to speak to her and her commitment to Him and the church. As she was telling me, I was astonished. Wow, God can use you even if you can’t communicate. Wow.

The church is alive.

The church I attended challenged me so much. People attended a small, one room, often dark, hot service Sunday morning and sang with no inhibition and prayed with fervor and faith. They translated all the services into English for me. The youth attended 2 youth events a week without complaint. Kids, as young as 10, were passionately worshipping God and speaking in tongues. People were getting prayer for healing, and they were healed. There was no denying the Spirit was alive and active among believers. I learned so much but there are 2 things that struck me the most. First, their faith. They really truly believe every word of the Bible. They trust their very lives into the hands of the God the Bible reveals and the daily promises it gives. I often sat there asking myself if I could say the same thing about myself. Secondly, their love for God overflowed into their love for Christ’s body and unbelievers. It was amazing. I felt and saw their loving actions and words as soon as I stepped in the church. I was greeted with a smile, kind words, offers of prayer, hugs and was given prayer requests. What an honest, joyful group- they’d be the first to say, it’s the joy of the Lord. But their love didn’t stop Sunday morning after church; it extended to 7 days a week wherever they were. I remember praying with a 10 year old girl for her unsaved friends she was burdened for or talking with a lady who had been evicted 5 times because she was holding worship and prayer meetings in her home- what love, Christ’s love.

Bracelets and a necklace brought for me by the sweetest
lady at church!

Church selfies. OBV.

Inspiration station.

The dedication and passion that the group of physicians had at the hospital was so inspiring. They’re constantly reading, learning, practicing their skills, and becoming experts in many different fields. A general surgeon might also be required to do cesarean sections, hysterectomies and operate on the bladder- unlike here. They know that their skills not only impact the patients’ health but are a tool for sharing the love of Christ. The physicians want to be the best they can, in the name of Christ, to really serve and heal the community. Often people come to the mission hospital because they know that they can trust them. There are a lot of pseudo-physicians in India and even legitimate ones are prone to overcharging or making mistakes. There is something inherently different about the environment and staff at the mission hospital that interests patients and the community altogether.

Next steps.

At this point I have no idea what my future looks like. I plan to finish medical school but the specialty and location I’ll be afterwards remains completely fuzzy. I believe that God has shown me, based on the people I met, conversations I had and the gifts and passions He’s given me, that cross-cultural long term missions is not the direction He’s leading me in. Maybe that’ll change. Maybe short term only. Only He knows. I’m okay with that. He’s once again reminded me that His plans are so much sweeter than my own.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned this trip, it’s that God is a good, good Father who constantly showers us with good gifts, however challenging they may be.  He wipes our tears with encouragement- whether a word, person or song. He uses us even when we don’t know it and feel useless. Our God is mighty and truly none compares.

If you have any questions, want to know more about anything I mentioned, want to hear more stories, information about the organization I went with, please don’t hesitate to send me an email (hannahmje@gmail.com) or send me a text message!!

Wishing our supermarkets were like this- cheap, fresh and SO colourful!