Journal Entry for: Feb. 4th Bethel House

Wade & I are laying on our beds 1/2 awake 1/2 zombie sleep!
Outside the noise of Rickshaw beeping & motorcycle horns finally gave way to crickets chirping and inside our small room is an echo of the fan spinning and an occasional "SLAP" for mosquito's. Bethel House is a primary school for orphaned girls and the home of a very generous family who has allowed us to stay for 3 nights. Our room is on the rooftop over-looking the shabby neighborhood. It makes me think how Jesus and his disciples might have spent their nights, sleeping on the roof tops and spending nights in prayer.
"SLAP!" I got one! A mosquito that is, already I can count 7 bites on my arms and neck ... just seven reminders to take my Malaria pills.

It was around 8:00AM when we were finally picked up from the airport. We arrived at 1:40AM. Six hours of waiting, and wondering if we made a mistake coming to India with no contact info for those who were supposed to pick us up! After 2 hours of looking at a sea of strange yet beautiful black and brown faces, we pulled our resources and thoughts together to solve this problem of being lost in India. We had one mobile phone with only 3 pounds on it, no local number, no contact number, no hotel name. We were not even sure what Jeff looked like. We called 3 continents, use up the 3 pounds, found out how to use the local phone services, and finally got what we needed to wake up 3 people in the middle of the night over a span of 300 miles in India to find one person who could pick us up. I am doing a real injustice at retelling this story, but the end result was God showed up in BIG ways to save our dumb bums.

When we pulled up to the home where we were staying I was thinking to myself, "Finally, a place where we can lay down horizontal with out the fear of being robed, or bugs crewing all over us." We were greeted by our hosts, and those who were supposed to pick us up. I believe the words from their mouths were, "Un-Believe-Able!" Yeah, my thoughts exactly. We ate breakfast, got caught up on each other, and then started the day!

Wade and I have had a combined sleep of 6 hours in almost 3 days! We did not sleep at all this past night and we were going to get started on the day?!!!! Ok, lets go then.

The day was to be spent at an AIDS shelter for men who have AIDS and or use drugs. It is to help educate those who have it, and prevent those who don't from getting it. It is also a place where real hurting people can receive the real love of Jesus Christ. The SHELTER is an acronym for (Society for Health Education Leadership Training Environment research and Rehabilitation.) This was one of maybe 15 different acronyms I believe Solomon has. Kinda funny, and not sure if this is an Indian thing or just a Solomon thing. Here at the SHELTER, the men are given education, food, health care, friendship, awareness and most of all- the opportunity to commit the rest of their lives to Christ. For the 10 men we met today, that was not a lot of time. All of the men we met with were HIV+. They are all drug users, some hoping to clean up, but all of them are in desperate need of Jesus. With the strong stigma attached to AIDS in the Indian society, people here already declare them dead. Today we had the chance to share what a new life with Christ was, and all 10 men showed willingness to accept Christ, and the life He offers.
Our team was made up of 4 individuals and we all got to share. Some shared a testimony, others a story, and another a particular Bible verse. But all of us shared one thing in common- Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was told there was going to be a good chance that I would be asked to talk in front of a crowd, small group, church, or even large meeting of people. Unaware of what to say, or where to even begin, God assured me that at the time, He would provide me what to say. He proved Himself faithful and I got the chance to see all 10 men accept Christ.

Afterwards, we shook hands, exchanged hugs and laughs... and one man shared how happy he was that Americans would leave their families, come over here and share Jesus with a bunch of dying men. And if that were not enough, they would look us in the eye and even hug us! I was not sure what moved these men more, our message, or our love. But I do believe they are one in the same.

When the day came to an end, I got back in the jeep and we headed for home down a bumpy dirt road. I believe it was that moment, where for the first time in my life, I actually felt like a missionary.

Thank you God, for allowing me to be in a place to share the love You so graciously give to me.