First Impressions Aren't Everything

They say that first impressions are everything. After living in India, I’m not so sure that’s the case. My first impression was that it was dirty, had an odor more potent than tear gas, and that all the citizens were ruthless, dehumanizing people. All I ever heard about India in the states was about their lack of compassion towards their own people, and of course, about their notorious human trafficking trade. It didn’t take me long to realize that the media was missing out on one big thing: their love. Pure love. 

In the months I've lived here during the summer, and this quick week of return, my heart has been overwhelmed by all the love I’ve received. These people aren’t ruthless at all. They have shown me what it means to love unconditionally. They took me as I was, and loved me for all that I was. They taught me the meaning of ‘love your neighbor as yourself." And even in the midst of their pain, they somehow still found a way to show me the meaning of joy. 

I often wondered why they treated me the way they did. The poorest of poors would still serve me a three course meal, knowing that their own family would probably not eat tonight. They demonstrate the sacrificial giving that we see in the gospels of the widow who gave her last two coins. But why? I’d like to believe it was because of me but to be quite honest, I know it wasn’t. There is nothing fantastic about my nature and to say that would be quite narcissistic. One day as I sat in front of the women for life skills I had asked them why they like us here. Her simple response gave me the answer I’ve been searching for. She told me “we like to hear your stories about your faith. We like your God.” They love us because He lives in us. It wasn’t about me or any individual person that came through the slums of India, but about the way Christ shined in that person. Day in and day out, believers are walking into the slums not because they think they can change anything, but because we know Christ can. These beautiful people showed me that India is worth far more than I could ever imagine.

Blessings, 
J- Goa Christmas Team