Day Seven: America Akka

It was a relatively easy day. We had a simple craft for the kids to do, braiding friendship bracelets. The first two groups went by really quickly. During the second group I had one boy ask me to pray for him. As soon as I opened my eyes I was surrounded by little boys asking for prayer. Being able to bless them in this way was such a privilege.

We went to Swaroop (one of the Harvest India staff members) and his wife's home for lunch. They recently had moved to a home owned by a Hindu family. He told us to join with him in praying for their salvation. I am so amazed by the boldness that both Suresh, Swaroop, and their families have. They have seen and trust that God work in mightily ways. As a group we prayed over the family as well as for a lady who's cancer had returned for the second time.

We returned for the second half of the VBS, more crafting. I was super excited when the last group came in (the group my girls were in). Anita, Saree, and Naga came up and gave me a bunch of hugs. While we were doing the crafts I stayed by them to talk. They were asking me questions about home and families. They asked the names of all my family members as well as my friends. I asked if they wanted to see pictures, they did. I had printed out three pictures to bring with me, one of me with my mom, one with my brother, and one with my best friend. After showing them the pictures, they asked to keep them. They told me they wanted to pray for me every day.

I walked with them over to the afternoon worship, and sweet Naga held my hand the whole way. She kept saying something to me over and over, America Akka. It was in Telugu, so I had no idea what she was saying. Later I was talking with Chris and Amanda and they were telling me all the words in Telugu they had learned (those two have memories that amaze me). Amanda said the word for little sister and then said the word for big sister was akka. Naturally I start crying realizing the sweetness of the moment earlier with Naga. 

We went to the pastor's conference again that evening and walk into them already worshipping. All the women and men were in the front dancing. Amanda drags me out there to dance with them (I don't dance) and we danced for what felt like forever. Dancing has never been something I considered to be a way to worship God, probably because I am so uncomfortable with it and it is not something we often see here in America. But in India, it is such an obvious way to worship. They worship with their whole selves, all of their body, voices, hearts and minds.

Oh, also we rode rickshaws to VBS this morning. Bucket list item accomplished. Our rickshaw was also hit by a water buffalo. You read that right, the buffalo hit us, not the other way around.