Every day that we do ministry (about 5 days a week) we have a 45 minute to a 1 1/2 hour ride to our ministry location. We have two different cars to fit all 11 of us, plus translators when we need them. There are drivers for each of them, because driving in India really is a full time job. Their names are Yoghi and Sahb Singh. I can’t imagine having to driving here. It is not simply that no one pays much attention to the lines on the road (if there are any), that it is a strange thing to stop at a red light, and that it is a polite to use your horn (you use it if you want to pass someone, or if something is in your way, or just if it gives you a thrill), but also that there is so much traffic. In the capital of the second most populated country what can you expect.
As everything in India it is not your typical American sort of traffic. Traffic here includes water trucks and dump trucks that have been painted with peacocks, images of god and patterns in all sorts of beautiful colors. On the back they also paint the words “HORN PLEASE” “WAIT FOR SIDE” and “USE DIPPER AT NIGHT” (your dipper is your high beams). This all basically means don’t be stupid and let me know where you are on the road. There are also lots of school buses, city buses, motorcycles, bicycles, tons of rickshaws and auto-rickshaws, as well as the notorious cattle. These cattle do not just include your traditional picture book cows, but also bulls, water buffalo, and what are known as brahmin cows. Brahmin cows are a light beige color, they have a hump on their backs and have huge horns. On day driving to Asha House we met an enormous herd of these cows. I guess this is how your relocate your cattle herds in India. You just walk them through the street. No one will hit them because you would probably be sent off to prison and your karma would be screwed if you did. So this herd of cows went on as far as you could see and then we turned the corner and it kept going. It was quite a sight to see. At least they were on the right side of the road. 🙂
Driving through Delhi has been an awesome way to get to see the city. We have seen huge veg and fruit markets, rickshaws decked out with plastic flower garlands and blank CDs for decoration, motorcycles with 3, 4, and even 5 people, colorfully painted Hindi shrines, statues of gods crammed in the back of a truck, pigs playing in open sewage (no wonder no one wants to eat them), fields filled with cattle and others left fallow waiting to be sown, a bridge that is made for one lane of traffic but always seems to hold two lanes, kids “popping a squat” on the side of the road, women sweeping the street, a seemingly ironic sign that says “Green Delhi, Clean Delhi,” rickshaws and carts piled high with boxes of electronics, incense or hay, cow patties pressed into shape by hand and left to dry in tidy rows, women carrying huge bundles, shallow silver bowls, or clay pots on their heads, boys stripped down to their underwear jumping and splashing in a dirty creek trying to escape the heat, and men sitting in a circle playing cards or discussing politics and religion. This list could keep going almost forever. There is so much you can see from a car widow in India. I hope this gives you a picture of what life is like here and what sorts of things to pray about.
This is so exciting to read. We are praying for you! And of course we miss you lots.
I love you dear friend. I now have a pillow that makes me think of you and when I see it I am going to pray. I am so glad you are there and thriving but I can’t wait for you to come home. Keep going. and soaking. Lots of hugging
Lauren
I do not miss you at all. At no time during each week do I go to your facebook page to look through pictures of you and pretend that I get to give you a hug. Your writing above brings to life for us what you see – it’s awesome! I can’t wait to hear more about you getting to explore and live your dream. Love,
Michaela
Also, please come home. Sarah Gillette is insane.
SARAH!
Thanks so much for sharing you view of Dehli from a car window! Sounds crazy interesting! Also sounds the the team is exactly where they belong. Placed by OUR FATHER!
HE is awesome and so are you!
P.S. tell my Brit Hi from MOM<3
Tracy Fay….
Brit’s MOM
for MichaelXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXoooooooooooooo 🙂
GOD BLESS YOU ALL
My Dear Sarah,
I just got off of Skype with Sarah G, and now I get to hear from you too! What a glorious day full of precious gifts from God!
It is so exciting to read about everything you’ve been seeing and experiencing… By the way, I couldn’t help but think how looked “just right” at the Taj, in your gorgeous Punjabi, with the golden color and your scarf.
At first your descriptions bring to mind so many scenes from Bollywood films I’ve seen featuring the circus that the streets are, but I can’t even imagine how “cleaned up” those scenes must be for our sanitary, Western sensibilities. How crazy and amazing and beautiful it sounds! I can only imagine the noise and the smells and the colors. I can hear your awe and joy in meeting this culture you’ve so longed to collide with. Thank you for your words, and for the things your words have stirred up about the country and the people that are inexpressible.
With Love,
Lea
Hi Sarah, loved reading what you wrote. We are praying for each one of you. Blessings.
Sarah Cate!
This sounds amazing! I’m so glad that you are enjoying your time and that God is working through y’all. I’m definitely praying for y’all!
And I’m so glad that I got to talk to you for about 2 seconds on gchat a couple weeks ago. I love you!
Heidi
I am praying for you daily and am so blessed by reading your team’s blog. I pray for strength, wisdom, humbleness, open eyes and open hearts for all of you. Love you.
Kristin Pflughoeft
Sarah-Cate!!!
Your heart is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing a small piece of what you are seeing/experiencing. I can’t wait to hear more, and specifically how God is moving in your heart. His Spirit brings you and your team to my prayers often. I miss you my lovely, dear friend. I love you so much!