So much to be proud of...

At 4:30am a taxi brought Jyothi and me to the Delhi domestic airport. I was so sleepy from packing until midnight the night before, that when our flight made one stop for which we did not have to change planes, I briefly saw the runway, and the next time I opened my eyes we were in the air again. I vaguely remember just a few waking moments from the flight where I found my mouth hanging wide open and an Indian lady two seats away smirking at me. Finally we landed in Nagpur, the dead center of India (and hottest), and reunited with Rebecca and Steph to run five intense days of Rescue Arts at the Home of Hope there.

Their properties house 90 kids from the red light area. Most of the younger kids live in the center just on its outskirts, where they are able to hold Sunday worship services for ladies from the district. On that Sunday, the four of us performed a song called "Conquering Lion." I loved the opportunity to play alongside Steph's violin! The song opens like this: "The Conquering Lion shall break every chain." With this hope in our hearts, we began our sessions.

For the camp, we worked with the older girls (ages 14-20) in a second home. Steph and Rebecca led song writing sessions where in groups the girls wrote original songs that incorporated scripture and the musical traditions of their own cultures. Jyothi and I taught a fun, upbeat dance to the Bollywood hit "Aal Iz Well" and also a dance drama in which they acted out many healing stories. Sessions would go for three hours at a time, and the ceiling fans could not stop the beads of sweat from pouring down. Sometimes the curry in the air would meander in from the kitchen and make our eyes water. After lunch each day, every staff and child would retire to their rooms for a nap; the four of us would strip down to shorts and a tank top and just lay motionless in our bunks. At night we'd debrief or hang out on the roof top, three stories up in the cooling air. After four days the group performed at the center; even with a few glitches and lapses in confidence, it was a wonderful night with much to take pride in, where sounds about the Father's love no doubt resonated in their hearts as well as out into the surrounding red light area.

Meanwhile, the Delhi girls had been left to work on the "assignment" Jyothi and I had given them-- to choreograph their own worship dance. Calling to check their progress, I was so touched to hear about how seriously they were taking this task. In fact, one night at dinner they were all discussing together which song to do. Once they agreed, they decided to come together in prayer to ask the Lord for dance moves, desiring that the dance would glorify Him and bless other people. Adono said that in this moment, something seemed to sweep through the room and suddenly the girls began to cry. (This is common when people are touched by the Spirit, whether they know it or not!) =)

So when we returned to Delhi, they gave us the most reverent, sincere, God-shaped performance I could have imagined. And Tina did her own solo dance to a second song, just because. Vinita choked up at how beautiful she looked. Just when you worry that some kids might be too young to "go deep" or do anything too complex, you are reminded that they are usually the ones with the pure, child-like faith which can perceive so much. I could not have been more proud, rewarded, or humbled.




The Conquering Lion
Shall break every chain
He will wipe every tear away
He will take all my hurt and pain

And He will lead me to springs of living water
He will lead me to springs of living water
He will lead me to springs of living water
He will shepherd me

And the Lord He will come to us
with a strong hand and mighty outstretched arm
And the Lord, He will shepherd us
And the Lord, He will lead us to
Fountains of living water
Fountains of living water
The Conquering Lion...