The Cost

Serving the poor comes at a cost.  I’m not just talking about the plane ticket.  I’ve been learning so much about suffering in the past year, and I knew God was preparing me for something. Well now I get the privilege of experiencing it! 

It’s hard to blog about some things when you know your mom is going to read it.  There are some things that mom’s just shouldn’t/don’t need to hear.  So I’ll take this time to remind her that worrying can do absolutely nothing (Matthew 6:25-34, as Jesus puts it, “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?”), and that I’m doing much better now.

I hit the ground running in New Delhi.  My partners on the project, Zach and Mark, had been here for about a month before me, and it was his last week here so I went with on all his adventures (and our project work).  It included touring biogas plants, meetings with experts and our Indian teammates (Nitya and Harmeet), shopping for suitcases, and custom tailored suits for about $200.  All of the running around (and probably some bad street food) lead to something fierce in my belly.

In short, puke, fever, and I went through all of the underwear I brought in one night.  It was pretty bad for about 5 days (the rest of my time in Delhi, before going to Bangalore).

I later came to find out I lost weight one morning when I buttoned my pants and synched up the belt past the worn, usual hole, to a new one.  I don’t think I’ve changed belt size in 5 years. 

God seriously just pulled me through, as I could hardly remember parts of this verse that were sustaining me.  I had no desire to try and find it in my bible when I was sick.  All I could remember of what it said was: for I do not count the sufferings of this present age… and then something about not even caring about it.  I was close: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”  Romans 8:18.  For whatever pain and discomfort I was in, it is just a piece of the puzzle to advancing the Gospel and helping the poor; a small cost considering those who have gone before me.

I was feeling much better when it was time for our train ride to Bangalore for the 2 week class we were taking on social business ventures (business ideas with the objective of helping people in need).  The 42 hour train ride was awesome:

Prayer requests:

- Thanks for getting better, and continued health and strength (the heat takes alot out of you!)
- The monsoon would come, and cool it down!
- A heart for the Indian people
- Our project and the meetings we will be having
- Continued safety