Hyderabad, home to the world's largest film studio and the thriving Tollywood industry; a major IT hub and the "city of Pearls." This destination with its curious blend of traditionality with modernity was where I spent the last week on a mission trip with 15 RiverLifers. India is not for the faint-hearted. Most of us who are accustomed to our little kingdoms of comfort will certainly find it a shock to the system.
Once we landed at the new Rajiv Gandhi International airport in Hyderabad, we were impressed at how clean and modern it was. But as one experienced team member warned us, "this is not reality, once you step out of the airport, that's reality!" Sure enough, as soon as we drove out....we were awakened to the harsh reality that the Indians call life.
First of all, you're hit by the pollution and the dust that is everywhere, dust that we would become well acquainted with over the next few days. Next is the insane, stressful traffic conditions- the drivers honk constantly 24/7 and weave in and out of traffic with a devil-may-care attitude. This is a city that does not slow down for anyone. And as you look around, you find opulent gold mansions in the same neighbourhood as slums that are filled with miserable, make-shift tents for shelter. In the schools, you find kids with empty lunch boxes, pretending to eat in a corner, just because their friends have packed lunch boxes. Your heart cringes and tells you that something is just not right in this scene.
Despite its claims to modernity, India is still very much entrenched in the cruel traditional caste system. The Dalits, or the Untouchables, are considered the lowest in the caste system and are pretty much the rejects in Indian society. This was the same people group that our mission team ministered to during our trip. Over the week, we visited some slums and a few Dalit Education Centers to distribute school bags, biscuits & sweets to the poor kids; we staged a Christmas drama for them; sang songs and played games with them. We smiled at them, laughed with them, shook their hands, touched them, heard their life stories, prayed over them and told them how God loves them- through our words, and our presence.
Christmas drama
Our whole team was touched by the pureness and simplicity of their hearts, and put to shame by their ability to be content with the little that life has blessed them with. One sweet Dalit boy accepted the school bag we gave him, immediately sat down, closed his eyes to pray and give thanks. But really...the Dalits were grateful not just because we handed them a biscuit, but simply because we chose to be there with them. Our simple presence affirmed to them that they were loved and they mattered to someone.
Zoe, Ps Joe's youngest daughter, helping to distribute gifts to the Dalit students. The kids in our missions team were great on this trip.
Dalit boy receiving his new pencil case
We didn't get to change the world with one mission trip....but we planted seeds in the hearts of this community. Seeds that would make a spiritual difference. We know this because spiritual warfare never felt more real--I got hit by the worst case of sinus ever; Randolf pulled a muscle on the first day which caused him a lot of pain over the week; Koon Eng fell down out of the blue on a pavement; a few other members had spiritual attacks. And around the 3rd day of our trip, a tense political situation erupted into a full-blown strike/riot in the city, the worst the city had seen in many years.
Buses were burnt; roads were blocked by angry protestors; the police enforced curfews which meant no one coud leave their homes. We couldn't leave our dormitories to visit the schools/slums or even stand next to the main road as a group without the fear of getting stoned. In fact, we didn't even know if we could fly home or if the airport would be open. But in the end, God paved the way for us. We were blessed with pockets of time during which the situation calmed down, and we could go out to do our work as planned. And on the very last day of our trip, the strike came to a halt as the political parties reached a resolution.
Exciting or nervewrecking you say? Well....this was by no means an easy trip for me personally, given the harsh physical, social and spiritual conditions of the land, but it was most definitely a valuable experience for me...one that tested my faith in God, and revealed to me God's heart for the poor and the oppressed.
Now that I'm back....it's rather curious how I feel. Part of me feels relieved to be back home....where I don't have to live with dirt, dust, RATS (!!!), problems with basic amenities like water and electricity (altho' it was very funny when Randolf knocked on our door to borrow our toilet light bulb, because his just blew). And yes, I don't miss the curry as good as the infamous Hyderbadi bryani is. (curry 3x a day is NOT funny). But part of me misses the madness and joys of communal dormitory living. God blessed us with some surprising friendships on this trip. :) It seemed like by the end of the trip, we were pretty much family. Yeah...I'll definitely miss hearing each other's random jokes through the thin walls, the constant opening of doors, shout-outs and shared laughter.
Slum school
Most of all....I think its seeing the fullness and reality of God's work among the downtrodden. There is so much more we can do. But I think I've learnt that for us to rise up as a Justice Generation, we have to count the cost. Love comes with a sacrifice....and I've been so privileged to talk to missionaries in India who have selflessly laid down their lives to do God's work. I guess I'm just taking baby steps in this area...and I'm learning to step out of my kingdom of comfort. I'm praying that this trip will effect a permanent change in my soul and life mission.
