What happened is my perspective? Part 1..Exposure India

Just recently I went to India for an exposure trip with Yobel Market (www.yobelmarket.com) which is a non-profit organization in Colorado Springs, CO. I was exposed to many issues like the sex slave industry, extreme poverty, darkness of sin, the light of God shining through, Christians that love God and people, may other hard things to swallow and many encouraging things that are being done in the name of Jesus. I didn’t know what to expect when I got there so I went in with very limited expectations other than to see God work in the team and the people of India; and this is exactly what I saw and experienced.

I should say also that this was my first trip outside of the United States and a very challenging one at that. In the months previous to leaving for India I was trusting God to provide all my money so that I could go so for about 3 months I prayed and trusted God. For about 2 ½ months I only received half of what I needed but in the week previous to leaving God opened the door and brought the other half just 3 days before I was supposed to leave. I say this cause it is all part of God’s sovereign working in my life and the trip to India.

Since I’ve only been back for just over 48 hours my processing is in the very beginning stages but very necessary. I went in to this with the only expectations of God working in the team (collectively and individually) and in the people of India to which I will expound on in greater depth but for now I’m just starting out to get the bigger picture for me and you reading. This trip messed me up in a good way. While I was in Kolkata, India I saw many things that after thinking about the trip make me wonder about the poverty and darkness that is going on with pockets of God’s light shining through. And while in Darjeeling, India I saw a lot of the same darkness with more of God’s light shining through to the people of India.

I won’t touch on any specifics yet but some over view thoughts about the trip. While in Kolkata I saw young ladies stuck in the sex slavery industry that as we walked though the red light area gave me feeling like I never had but on the other side I saw a few non-profits working with ladies to help get them out of this industry though jobs and other means which was very necessary to round out the experience. While in Darjeeling I saw a community that seemed to be stuck in a routine that lead them to just get by (slavery of a different type) but then through the business training the team did I saw some people that wanted to change this very routine that was leading them in a circle of poverty.

Again this is short but just the start of the what I think will be a long process of God’s working in me, the team and the people of India over time. I am very hopeful for what is being done in India and am excited to be part of this in whatever way I am called to by my Lord Jesus. Blessing to you all as I am excited for you to journey with me in this process!