//Our last week in Delhi was delightful. We spent our last Monday going around to all of our favorite markets and bartering for trinkets one last time. Wednesday night was our last Chat Over Coffee event (5-8pm)...Bethany and I spent nearly the entire time talking with our English student Poonam and our friend Kajul. We learned about the increasingly high suicide rate among 10th & 11th standard Indian students. The pressure to get good marks is so great at that age because it determines what university you can apply for. We also learned that instead of craving chocolates/desserts, Indian women crave spicy and bitter food. Especially pickled mango.
On Thursday morning, eight of us (girls) got henna on our hands and feet. Not only are the designs exquisite, it cost a total of $2 compared to $30-$100 in the States. English class was equally wonderful...I love the relationships with our students and how it has steadily grown. Vocab time is never boring with our beginners class. Quote of the week: "I like to eat toasters for breakfast" --16 yr old Shivdutt.
Our team had a debrief with Peter & Heather on Thursday night. I was so encouraged by their evaluation of us. Peter said that our English camp was the most well-attended they have ever had, and there has never been such consistency and involvement from the students. 80-90% of them stayed for the after-class events and some of them have even started volunteering with the organization [the ultimate goal]. Peter also said they have never had this many local women attend...now I see why the Lord blessed our team with 9 girls! He was thankful that our team was self-sufficient and didn't rely on him and Heather for meals or demand a certain agenda. I will write more about the debrief later, but Peter gave our team a 10/10 on our effectiveness for the goal of the Gospel and building contacts to the organization. I can honestly say I have no idea how twelve acquaintances came together without conflict for a month, having never taught English and experiencing culture shock every day. That's the beauty of the body of Christ.
It didn't hit me that I was leaving until we started packing Friday morning. The Lord was so gracious to keep all my thoughts, emotions, and dreams on my current task...that I hadn't thought about going back to life in the States. We spent this month loving people for the name and gospel of Jesus Christ. Yes, that was the reason we were here in Delhi, but it wasn't our main means of serving this ministry. We were about the business of building connecting relationships to the organization's staff, and if an open door for the Gospel opened along the way [as it often did] then we gladly shared! But we learned to be used by God as facilitators of future relationships [i.e. future opportunities] for the full Gospel to be shared. I remembered that as I said goodbye to my English students Friday afternoon. Many of our students brought us homemade food and gifts. I received an Eiffel tower picture frame [?], wooden pen, necklace, and ring from my students! But the best reward was hearing that most of our students are going to continue coming to the organization after we leave.
Our last meal in India was a feast! I'm genuinely sad to leave behind the curry, veg dishes, tandoori chicken, naan, and spices of India! I foresee some new experiments in my kitchen at home, watch out family! :]
