It’s been a little over 2 months since we landed in India. One of the many things I’ve learned is this: Life in India can be hard and at times very gross, but it is also beautiful.

Here is one example of how it can be a “little” on the gross side:

Rats in India are downright smart and persistent! After they clawed and nibbled their way through layers and layers of sturdy duct tape, we finally just took the drain out and put a brick over the pipe that they can’t manage to destroy. It took almost two months for us to hire a plumber to come and install pipes that would keep the rats out. As I am writing this, we have been rat free for almost 4 days…and it feels great

And here are some examples of how it is unquestionably and gloriously beautiful:

Feba is VERY ticklish

Teaching the children, “This little light of mine”

Swinging with Vellai Roja (her name translated to English means, White Rose).

Santhi

One day, while I was waiting for some water to boil, I saw her poking her head around the corner. I took her hand and brought her into the kitchen. Instead of teaching her how to cook, I taught her how to swing dance, do a back bend, and how to have a wheel barrow race. Both of our stomachs ended up hurting because we laughed so hard!

The beauty of this place far outweighs the discomforts!

And when you hear some of the redemption happening in these girl’s lives, you can’t help but marvel at the beauty. Arpana’s story is just one example.

At the age of three, Arpana was brought to the Daya Vihar girl’s home. With burn marks covering her body, it was obvious she had been tortured. I’m not sure if her meek and quiet personality is the result of her trauma or if she is naturally like this, but of this I am positive: God is renewing her!

Arpana

As I watch her lift her hands when she sings, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow…” I am confident in God’s sovereignty. When her face radiates joy and she emanates a calmness I hope to someday exude, I can rest assured that God is working in her life. And when we make eye contact from across the room and she confidently walks over to silently stand by my side, I realize that Arpana may be beginning to understand that she has value. Immeasurable value!

You can’t even see the scars that once covered Arpana’s arms anymore. The Lord is healing her from the inside out.

He is giving her “a crown of beauty instead of ashes” (Isaiah 61:3)

Thank you for your prayers,

Megan