In God We Trust

Monday 8^th October, 8.55pm

In God We Trust

Namaste!

So here we are in India and it has been an “experience” already. We really haven’t been coping these past through days, I think we’ve both cried enough tears to fill the bucket we’re supposed to wash with… But we really felt your prayers from this afternoon onwards as something clicked in both of us and we began to see that India isn’t a complete dump, there is the beauty of God’s creation here too. We have felt a spark of hope for this trip rise up within us and I now feel more confident that I can last a few weeks rather than a few days. I just hope we don’t let God or any of you down if we hit rock bottom again and do come back as you’ve all been so generous with your support.

Life in India is rather less glamorous and colourful than a lot of films portray it as (Marigold Hotel, Slumdog Millionaire), Bangalore is much less Westernised then the internet told me and culture shock hit us a lot more than we stubbornly thought it would. There is rubbish everywhere lining the streets, the people drive like maniacs and there are not many footpaths (that aren’t crumbling away) so each walk is a near death experience. There are so many people lining the streets and they stare which we found so daunting and intimidating. There’s so many stray dogs that howl at night and sleep on the streets by day, we’re convinced each one has rabies so are avoiding them like the plague! We were told that we’d be able to get a dongle in India very easily but we can’t so I don’t like not having the safety blanket of instant internet to contact home. And having to use anti-bacterial hand wash and insect repellent constantly is starting to make us shed skin like snakes…

BUT, it gets better! We’ve got out of the “going home mindset” and are starting to see the positive. The food is fine, which is what I’m most worried about, I’ve eaten every meal so far and am quite enjoying it! There are cows everywhere and I love seeing the way that the traffic stops for them but any human in the road is just a walking target to an oncoming vehicle. Our host family (we’re calling them “aunty” and “uncle” as these are Indian terms of endearment) are absolutely lovely and have been so kind to us. We have electricity, a nice room, an en-suite bathroom, a working shower and a (pink) bucket to fill with water to wash with – I highly recommend you all go out and treat yourselves to a bucket, they’re actually amazing to use, I will be buying one in England!!! It is so cheap here, you can get an auto rickshaw (Google this) to somewhere half an hour away for about 85p. Plus it’s rather useful just carrying notes, whereas in England you always end up weighed down with change. So India isn’t all bad, and you get back what you give, if you’re friendly to them then they’re lovely back (a tip goes a long way!)

So yeah, the first few days have been tough but psalm 46:10 has really helped for it says “be still and know that I am God” and Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him”. These 3 days alone have humbled me so much, I was proud to come here and do charity work for God – and it isn’t right to be proud. Feeling severely depressed had stripped me completely of that pride, it is not me doing any of this, it’s all God .  The other thing I have realised is how lucky we have it in England. I’ve said this before, how easy we had it, but, my heart hasn’t seen it until now. I pray that I will never forget the blessings God has given me in England.

We start in the orphanage tomorrow so lets get this trip rolling! Thank you all so much for the prayers and support, it has really touched us, even from a gazillion miles away! We just have to remind ourselves when it is tough that “the same Lord is Lord of all” (Rom10:12) so God created India just as much as He did England. And as the American dollar on our wall says, “In God We Trust”.

Love,

Charlotte xxxx