Praise God. We are finally safely in Delhi. It is midnight here, but due to jet-lag I don’t feel very tired. The 13 hour flight was long, but I slept for about 5 hours of it and it didn’t seem as long or grueling as I had expected it to be. We landed at about 8:30 PM - the same time we left Newark on the 12th, so it feels as if 24 hours has gone by - and were greeted by some delightful old friends - Vijay and Divender. As we rode to COI’s headquarters, Vijay caught us up on all that is happening in Delhi, Utar Pradesh and Utarranchal. It is really amazing how God is working through this ministry. In Delhi and Uttar Pradesh alone, Ramesh excitedly tells us once we arrived, around 6,000 new Christians have been baptized since we were here two and a half years ago. (You can check out COI’s website at http://www.coindia.org/ .)
It is so thrilling to be in India again. The ride from the airport is just an ordinary drive in India, but Vijay can’t help but chuckle when he seems how amazed Marvin and Edwin seem at the crazy traffic. Horns constantly blaring, two or three auto - rickshaws or scooters in one lane, big Tata trucks pulling in front of you only inches away, all the while dodging dogs, cows and people crossing the streets.
It is also a delight to be around Indian people. Always so courteous, friendly and artistic. You see their love of art all around - from the colorfully painted trucks to the neatly arranged beads decorating a shop to the intricate paintings on a telephone booth. At the same time, though, you can see that they are desperately hungering for something. Their beautiful, intense eyes show an emptiness that they cannot seem to fulfill.
As I was flying over, I passed the time reading renowned Christian thinker Ravi Zaccharias’ autobiography. Born and raised in India, he provides some very interesting insights into Indian culture. One thing he mentions is that for the average Indian, your identity is very much tied up in your family and your religion. Many Indians do not know very much about Hinduism, but will always see themselves as Hindus. It is part of who they are. That is why, Zaccharias points out, it is such a major upheaval in family and social acceptance when an Indian converts to another religion.
He also states that for many people in India, your religion may or may not have any effect on your personal life. He recollects trying to sleep to the sound of his neighbor mercilessly beating his wife amidst desperate pleas from her to stop, and then awaking the next morning to the sound of the same couple singing praises to the Hindu deities.
That is what I think these people are looking for, whether they realize it or not. They are looking for more than an identity, but the power to have a new life. That is just what we are hoping to tell them of throughout the next two weeks.
I should try to sleep so my body will start getting used to the 12 hour time difference. Vijay has promised to take me to see COI’s work among the slum children here in Delhi tomorrow morning.
It is so thrilling to be in India again. The ride from the airport is just an ordinary drive in India, but Vijay can’t help but chuckle when he seems how amazed Marvin and Edwin seem at the crazy traffic. Horns constantly blaring, two or three auto - rickshaws or scooters in one lane, big Tata trucks pulling in front of you only inches away, all the while dodging dogs, cows and people crossing the streets.
It is also a delight to be around Indian people. Always so courteous, friendly and artistic. You see their love of art all around - from the colorfully painted trucks to the neatly arranged beads decorating a shop to the intricate paintings on a telephone booth. At the same time, though, you can see that they are desperately hungering for something. Their beautiful, intense eyes show an emptiness that they cannot seem to fulfill.
As I was flying over, I passed the time reading renowned Christian thinker Ravi Zaccharias’ autobiography. Born and raised in India, he provides some very interesting insights into Indian culture. One thing he mentions is that for the average Indian, your identity is very much tied up in your family and your religion. Many Indians do not know very much about Hinduism, but will always see themselves as Hindus. It is part of who they are. That is why, Zaccharias points out, it is such a major upheaval in family and social acceptance when an Indian converts to another religion.
He also states that for many people in India, your religion may or may not have any effect on your personal life. He recollects trying to sleep to the sound of his neighbor mercilessly beating his wife amidst desperate pleas from her to stop, and then awaking the next morning to the sound of the same couple singing praises to the Hindu deities.
That is what I think these people are looking for, whether they realize it or not. They are looking for more than an identity, but the power to have a new life. That is just what we are hoping to tell them of throughout the next two weeks.
I should try to sleep so my body will start getting used to the 12 hour time difference. Vijay has promised to take me to see COI’s work among the slum children here in Delhi tomorrow morning.
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