Unexpected tears

Today we 

I'm pretty sure she fell in love with Taylor as a moment later she threw herself into his arms and gave him a giant hug.

These women were AMAZING. So much joy in the midst of pain and sorrow.

This is Taylor's new love. She is only 35 but living at the home for the elderly and neglected. She shared her story of how her father abandoned her family and her mother could not car for her and her siblings. She felt that life had no hope so she tried to commit suicide by pouring acid on herself. The scars are minimal and started midway down her neck. She declared that God saved her and brought her to Harvest India where she learned of his love and grace. Now she is happy to live out the remainder of her days praising Him and bringing glory to His name.

Today we went to one of the seven Harvest India homes for the elderly and neglected. It was a last minute decision to go as we joined John Brokenshire's parents in their plans for the day. I wasn't thinking too much about it as we jumped into the van. I've been to the elderly homes before and I knew what to expect. This time was different though...everything about this trip seems to be different. After touring the home we sat down on the front porch among about 15 women and 1 gentleman. They sang a song and began to share their stories with us. They shared coming out of lives of hopelessness, their families refusing to care for them as they can no longer earn their own income. I thought of my grandparents; my grandfather in an Alzheimer's facility, his children desperately trying to keep him cared for.


I listened to their stories and as I began to feel my emotions rise, and observed the tears of some of my teammates. I began to repeat internally, "The Joy of the Lord is my strength." It suddenly hit me that this was not only true for myself but for these people. Their stories were so full of Joy as they were fully aware that if they had never faced that hopelessness, they would never have learned of the Harvest India home. If they had never come to the home, they would not have learned of Jesus Christ; his Love, Grace, Provision, and the eternal Salvation he offers. The tears were unleashed as I sat before a woman, and looked into her eyes as she asked me to pray for her. She has such faith. She doesn't question God - she just trusts.


I know this post is already running long, but I have to share with you about Charlie Garu. Charlie grew up in a slum, uneducated, with not much hope for a future. I'm unclear of how he came to Harvest India but I think he ended up at the Bible College. Charlie started his own church about an hour or so outside of Tenali. More recently Suresh asked he and his family to be the care takers of the new Hope House, a hospice for AIDS patients. Since accepting the role, God has given Charlie "healing hands" :) Doctors are expensive in India and HI can only afford to have a dr. to be on site for an hour each day. Not long ago a patient got up in the night to use the restroom. On his way down the hall he collapsed. With a doctor not present, Charlie ran out, laid his hands on the man and prayed that God would heal him, that he would rise up and walk. Immediately the man stood up and walked. The patients now see that Charlie, with the Holy Spirit, is more powerful than the doctors. 


Since coming to work the hospital, God has blessed Charlie and his family with a home that they did not have to pay for, He is providing for all their needs on a daily basis. Charlie is a humble man, with a giant smile, quick to avert his eyes, cheeks quick to blush, always giving the credit to God. He is astonished that God chose him, a man with no education who grew up in the slums to now pastor a church and heal. 


Garu is a title. Like calling someone Sir, it is a term of respect. We learned the term at breakfast yesterday and after hearing Charlie's story we told him that we highly respect him, we called him Charlie Garu. Charlie's eyes filled with tears, his hands came together and he immediately praised God.