not your mama's holy land - part I

in two weeks, i got less than 15 mosquito bites...a record low for me.

for 15 days i ate some of the spiciest dishes i've ever had. bionic woman had nothing on me and my incredible stomach...i didn't get sick a single time.

for these two, and so many more blessings, i know the Lord was definitely with me.

i feel like counting down the days until i return to india - my first holy land - but i have no date...sooo i guess i'd just be counting days.

why the connection? what accounts for my need to return? let me tell you a bit about my trip through south india.

we began in chennai (madras) and hit the ground running. our first day we went to visit a slum 15 mins away from our hostel. the greeting there of course was lavish and extremely unnecessary. i know what it means to be in a poor asian slum (barrio) and to have "important" people come and visit. you break out the soda bottles with different colored plastic straws. you bring out the garlands made of fragrant, vibrant flowers. you assemble plastic chairs for your guests to sit while the children present a song and dance. this is normal for me -- not ever necessary, but i'm accustomed to it. the difference in this place however was that there were flowers everywhere. in kids' hands, on us, drawn on the ground; everywhere. the drums that began our short processional were soooo loud, my ears lost their hearing for a moment. we were welcomed into folks' homes and asked them questions about their family life -- wide-eyed, when they mentioned who all lived in the 6 x 8 ft space; puzzled as we tried to decipher what a head bob meant (yes or no?).

while in chennai we visited different churches and para-church organizations. the most notable interactions were with bishop devasahayam (church of south india) and the three hindu priest brothers at a temple built in the 10th century. bishop devasahayam laid out very clearly the makings of what could be his next book. in a systematic but inspiring way, he presented his thoughts on a new consciousness for being church - the makeup of Christ's body and what responsibility we have to them; how the Holy Spirit has moved through history in south india; the evil of the caste system and it's basis on inequality, segregation, and the denial of human dignity; the impact of globalization on dalits; and implications of new ecclesial consciousness that recognizes dalit identity.

needless to say, i took notes like a madwoman. man i wish i had a digital recorder.

we also visited a general hospital, specifically their hiv/aids clinic and listened to patients share stories on how they contracted the virus. heartbreaking stories of a partner's infidelity; the social pressure on one young male and the curiosity that left him feeling used and cheated by a sex worker; and an unknowing woman who now has to deal with the stigma of being barren on top of her status as hiv infected.
then the Lord said, "i have observed the misery of my people...i have heard their cry...indeed i know their sufferings, and i have come down to deliver them.."(exodus 3:7-8)

we left the first phase of our trip very tired, but thankful for everything that we saw, ingested, felt, smelled, inhaled, and processed.