Saturday, March 7, 2009

Namaste!

Namaste! Greetings to you! This is hopefully the first of many posts we will share together. I invite all of you to join me as we venture into India and beyond. There will be fun times, sad times, maybe some mad times; but it will all be God times.

We (Marshall and I) arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday and we definitely hit the ground running. The week has been full with getting to know everyone and hopefullly letting them get to know us. Our flat is pretty cool. It has 3 bedrooms with a total of 8 beds. We're only a quarter mile from the Good Samaritan School, where we'll be serving for the next few months as teachers and admin assistants.



We've already had the privelege of seeing where most of our children live, a relocation slum colony inside Delhi called Madanpur Khadar. When we arrived at MK we parked by a trash pile where two cows were chewing on some garbage. The flies were so thick they seemed to cast a shadow on the filth below. We stepped out of the car and were immediately greeted by a handful of the thousands of residents that make up the populus of the few acre tract of land. Some people wanted to touch us, others just wanted to stare. We smiled as best we could, and tried not to swat at the fly swarm around our heads.

We immediately went to a house of a GSS (Good Samaritan School) child and held a Bible Study on the roof with 20 or 30 other followers. After making a few other home visits, to stop and pray for ailing children, we concluded our first of many trips to MK.

The rest of the week was filled with planning our time for the next few months. Marshall and I will be teaching a variety of subjects: Accounting, Music, Economics, Geography, etc...

The only mishap of week 1 came when our other American comrade, Will, fell while we were touring the nearby ruins of an ancient fort. The fall, quite a few feet, broke both of Will's feet (left heel and right fibula above the ankle while also dislocating both ankles). We have stayed with him in the hospital and arranged for his speedy return to the States where surgery awaits. We absolutely hate to see him leave as we were just getting to know him better, but know he needs to get back so he can heal and return to Delhi soon. While here he was working on a community ownership program with the Dakshinpuri slum, so I know he'll want to get back to this worthy project as soon as possible.

I am comforted this morning as I read from Psalms 37. Vv 23 and 24 "The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand." I know I will stumble, but I know the One who will catch me. I do not know what tomorrow will bring but I know the One who will bring tomorrow.

Blessings,

Daniel

No comments:

Post a Comment