Changed Forever?
by Andrew Spangler *

Imagine stepping out of a Boeing 777-300 after 14-plus hours of flight into a hot, muggy, smoggy loading zone at Chatrapathi-Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, India. You anxiously scan the sea of dark-skinned faces, hoping for someone recognizable. Suddenly, you see a hand waving above a smiling face. Relief washes over you as you meet a new friend and brother in Jesus. You climb inside an auto-rickshaw and journey to the local church. The ride is reminiscent of a roller coaster. As you make your way through the myriad of people, some well dressed, some not dressed at all, you offer up a silent prayer: "Thank you, dear Father, for getting me here safely. Please continue to protect me." The rickshaw driver comes to a stop. You get out and pay him 40 rupees (about $1 U.S.), and enter the church. As you ascend a couple flights of stairs, you begin to hear jubilant clapping, Indian drums and voices singing, "Victory! Victory! Victory to Jesus!" You enter the sanctuary and are welcomed by smiling faces. "Praise the Lord!" they greet you. "Praise the Lord!" you reply, a grin slowly creeping across your face as the clapping becomes more and more infectious. You can't help join in the singing, "Jai Bolo! Jai Bolo! Yeshu Masihki Jai Bolo!"

That was just the beginning of the incredible experience 40 others and I were blessed with at the third Global Studies Intensive (GSI) in January. GSI is a two-week training course offered for people who are interested in learning more about God's heart for the nations. Participants gathered from five countries to receive teaching on topics like theology of missions, worldview and culture shock, missions in the local church and sharing your faith with people of other religions.

GSI participants initially assembled at a Catholic compound in Mumbai before making the eight hour trip to the Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission in Kedgoan. The next morning we ate a traditional Indian breakfast of hard-boiled eggs, rice, bread, butter and jam, and chai (Indian tea). After breakfast we started each day with a half-hour of worship and a devotional before the teaching began. It would be easy to say that the teaching sessions were the highlight of GSI because of their excellent content, but each part of GSI was memorable! We heard from several Indian pastors, as well as leaders from the U.S., Hong Kong and the Philippines.

One GSI highlight was seeing the different ministries of Mukti Mission. Over 500 women and girls live at Mukti Mission, which provides a home, school and vocational training for widows, outcasts, unwed mothers and special needs children. The residents are divided into family group homes where they eat, sleep and do their studies. One building is home to a group of blind women. On this particular day they were weaving baskets to sell to help support the Mission. I was able to talk to one of the older ladies through a friend who speaks Marathi. This sister encouraged me to continue serving the Lord with my life because He would reward me for giving my life to Him. "The harvest is plentiful. Go and work in the harvest field," she urged as she prayed for us before we left. I was amazed at her obvious joy and enthusiasm and visible love for the Lord despite her circumstances. If these women who have next to nothing — not even their sight — could be so joyful despite their circumstances, how much more should I — who, in comparison, has everything — be grateful for all I have?

After a week at Mukti Mission we returned by bus to the Catholic retreat center in Mumbai for the remainder of GSI. On our last Sunday evening there, we went with area pastors to the dedication ceremony of a new boys hostel, two hours north of Mumbai. We heard an excellent sermon on missions during the three-and-a-half hour inaugural service. We were blessed to spend time with the boys who come to this hostel out of the slums and ghettos of Mumbai and are given a home, education and teaching about Jesus. Most of the boys who live there become Christians. Many go on to full-time ministry. The original hostel needed to be relocated because the boys were being persecuted for their faith. Knowing that a new building costs a substantial amount, all the boys fasted and prayed for the Lord to raise funds to build a new hostel. Within a year the money had been raised.

I have learned that India is not a place to visit if you want to remain the same. This was my second trip to India, and both times the Lord has worked in my life. If you go you will be radically changed. Your spiritual life will be impacted in a huge way. When you see how the Indian believers live (many pastors make less than $100 U.S. a month), yet they have such a passion for the Lord, you cannot help but be changed. When you are in a worship service in a language you do not understand and you experience the presence of God in a very real way, you cannot help but be changed. India will change you; the challenge is to remain changed when you return to your home.

As you board the 777-300 for the first leg of your journey back home, you reflect on your experiences over the last two weeks. You already miss the people who had become like family in only a few short days, the putt-putt-putt of rickshaws on the streets of Mumbai, the murmur of people speaking Hindi and the contagious smiles of your friends. As you settle into your seat, you offer up a silent prayer: "Thank You, Father. Thank You."

* Editor's Note: Andrew Spangler, a home-schooled sophomore, has visited Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Philippines. He lives in Indianapolis, IN, and is the son of Eric and Virginia Spangler.