Zac's India Mission

This week was my third week in India. Thursday marked exactly three weeks in India and two weeks in Damoh. After returning to Damoh from Bhopal last weekend I didn't feel very well starting Monday afternoon through Wednesday. My stomach was bothering me and took Tuesday off to just relax and rest so that I would get better sooner. Wednesday and Thursday were normal days working at the studio. I thought that I probably should get some good work in at the studio since I am not sure what will happen the next several weeks, if I will be traveling or be in Damoh for a while. 

Friday morning I left early to go and visit a good friend of mine from college, Katie Guthrie, who has been in Kulpahar since last June. It was about a 5 hour drive which seemed like forever because my driver didn't speak English and I don't know any Hindi to talk to him. So most of the trip there I was able to listen to my ipod. I arrived at Kulpahar around 1pm which was right in time for lunch. It was really great to see Katie. She gave me a tour of the place after I ate and was able to me some of the girls that live at the children's home. Before evening Katie and the older girls taught me how to play a game called “depot” (I think that's the name). It was a fun game to play and something to do to meet some of the girls that Katie has been living with for the last 8 months. 

Saturday I was able to share with Katie the entire crazy story of my engagement to Mercedes. She was excited to hear the story since she had heard from other people about it. After lunch the boys organized a game of cricket for after school. I went and learned how to play and had a lot of fun playing. My team lost but I didn't play to bad for the first time ever playing. It was similar to playing baseball in some aspects so it was easy to get  use to it. Saturday night I was able to meet some of the younger girls at a prayer time. And then this morning we went to church and I helped Katie transfer some pictures from one computer to another because I had a fashdrive that could do it quickly. And then I made the 5 hour journey back to Damoh and arrived back at around 6:00pm. 

Anyways it was very special to see Katie, especially for her to see me, because she hadn't had anyone her age that she could have a relationship with to talk to. So we were able to talk about a lot of things that she was experiencing and listen to some of her stories. I was able to tell her some of my crazy stories and share what I have been learning. I think this visit was very timely for her because I think she was beginning to wear down and so I was able to encourage her in some form. I have so much respect for Katie because it must be so hard to have been gone from family and friends for nearly a year while being pretty much alone in terms of relationships. 

The trip was good for me too because I was able to get her thoughts on some cultural issues which are hard to talk with people who have been here for a long time or with others who are not here. We both agreed that it is probably is more difficult to go on a mission trip alone because you have no one you can share the trip with. With a team you have the other people that you can talk with not only on the trip but also after the trip and there will always be that bond or connection with those people. Anyways it was definitely a very good trip. 

Please pray that I will continue to be healthy for the rest of the trip. Traveling seems to be very brutal on the body, especially driving on Indian roads. Pray also that I would be wise with my time remaining in India. The weeks are flying by and I don't want to miss out on an opportunity that God has placed before me. Thanks and hope you all have a wonderful week.