Loving India!

I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with Cademon's Call, but they have an excellent album entitled, Share the Well. The album is a compilation of songs inspired by their trips to India and South America. While I've always loved the CD, it is quickly acquiring a more significant place in my heart as the lyrics ring true to my experiences. In many ways, the lyrics are an outlet for my daily increasing love for this country; they not only describe the culture, but convey a serious desire to see God known and glorified by the Indian people -- from the little beggar girl to the wealthy business man, from the modern Hindu to the strict Buddhist.

One thing that is helping me increase my love for this culture is just being in it. Specifically, I got the chance to explore New Delhi on my own today and really relished the experience. I will admit that walking the streets alone was a bit of an... "adventure", but the people watching and cultural observation was worth it! I set off from the YWCA and walked past a monument that is on all the maps. To be honest, I don't quite understand what it is, but I was told it helped to tell time in ancient days. Again, I didn't quite get it, but was pleased that I'd found and checked off an historical, tourist landmark. I walked down a street (the wrong one, it turned out) that was full of people who are paid to protest various political bills. Between noon and 3 on various days they gather and demonstrate.After walking down this street twice (like I said, it was the wrong one), I finally made it to the Imperial Hotel, one of the oldest and most beautiful hotels in all of India (according to their brochure). I was asked for my autograph there (I don't know why; I guess we can chalk it up to a "Karisa Experience"); no, I didn't give it! I then went to the Januper Market area, a place with many outdoor shops and ended up at a McDonalds for my ice cream fudge Sunday fix. I completed my time with a walk in a "park", where I sat on a bench and observed people in the outdoor market, before hiring a rickshaw to take me home. During this ride I learned the valuable lesson that rickshaw drivers are paid commission to take you to shop locations, as my driver tried to take me to several before taking me home. I believe that in the future I should be firm about my destination before I hop in!

The Indian people, as a culture, are so friendly and helpful! I have been most impressed and encouraged by how readily they extend themselves into conversation with me. It has allowed me to ask lots of questions about individuals and about the culture. It has also allowed me to share easily about why I am here in India -- they are always amazed I am staying so long. I have been presented with numerous opportunities to share openly, albiet briefly at times, the gospel, and I am encouraged, challenged, and joyful for it! Please continue to pray for these opportunities -- that I would be obedient to willingly & readily share my faith.

On a more humorous note (and to return to Cademon's Call lyrics) I spent the day with a certain phrase of their song running through my head. It became an almost anthem, actually, as I "puttered" (that word has not nearly enough action packed into it to be an adequate adjective)around in my autorickshaw. Although I'm forgetting the first words, it goes something like this... "...rickshaws beg the question, 'Are all these red lights just suggestions?' Oh, it's gonna be OK, they know dead men can't pay..." That, my friends, is driving in India.