Page 11 - Contact Spring 2015

But what is it really like? I have been asked what I experienced when going to the unknown, with the You arrive tired but no longer alone. India Team. You creep into the bedroom at 6 in the morning and nothing stirs – or is that Hard question to answer! distant thunder? The sleeping sheet comes out of the bag and very soon the The 22 hours in the air and 9 hours on mattress on the foor, for the next 10 the road to get there and back. days, becomes the best thing you have ever slept on. Is it really 70 degrees? Listening to 53 children praising God A couple of hours later - with the cock at 5:30 in the morning and watching crowing and having had just suffcient the children going about their morn- sleep to avoid grumpiness – you are ing chores with minimal supervision, all ready to face the world. The same before 8:00 breakfast. planet that we, in Ballymena, share yet at the same time a world away! Visiting Sasalu village, to meet the persecuted Christians who had nothing, The worst bits? but still praised God. Dogs barking all night to frighten Blessing, the name of an old lady of 80, snakes away; who looked after the children and us, Slow motion shopping – there has to be and complained when we would not let something theological about there her do her job because we fussed over being no shops in heaven her. (I’m searching) – and I had only to go one day, some had to go three; Watching the joy in the faces of children Abject poverty and real persecution when getting new toys, blankets, shoes to deal with (but yet able to smile); and especially the joy and fun they had 6 blokes, 2 loo’s (one behind closed on their day out at Wonder Land. doors from 10.30 pm) in India – do not picture this! The power of prayer, which can be Coming away; instant or take years. The best bits? The ftting of a new boiler, water cooler, flter and generator. Getting to know more of God’s (our) family – kids and adults – we will spend Painting dorms and moving the fence eternity together after all; boundary. Storytelling is the same all over the world; The team taking 3 services over two We make a difference (hopefully); Sundays, putting all outside their com- Having it remarked on how much fort zone. the team appreciated & ‘loved’ each other – a refection on how High Kirk The answer would be all of the above does ‘church’; and more. It’s hard to put the experience Coming away – changed and more into words; you just have to experience appreciative of all I have from my the experience. heavenly Father; Andy Scott Gary McQuoid