Living a Good Story

So why go back to India?

What's in it for you?

What good can actually be done over there?

These are some of the questions I've been asked or have asked myself while prepping for the mission this upcoming March. To be honest, I really did not give my decision all that much thought when approached with the notion of going back to India. It's been close to five years since I took my first BIG step into missions and ever since I have wanted to go again. Previous trips that headed to India had opportunity written all over them, but I never took the leap back into joining one of the teams.

A lot has changed since 2005. I'm a married man and a home owner. The driveway needs shoveled. My wife needs me for companionship and I need her love and friendship. I have two dogs to take care of, which includes me driving home (at lunch) from work everyday to let them out and play. I have a full time job with customers that need attended. I've become a soccer coach to my nephew. Life isn't boring ...

Well, Indiana in March IS actually pretty boring - so India will be an escape into adventure. I guess ADVENTURE is one reason I think this specific trip is the one I've decided to go on. This past fall I read Don Miller's new book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Days, which is about how Don changed his perspective on living out life like a great story. One that means something in the end. One that you'll look back on a say that you lived well and for a purpose.

I know that sounds kinda cheesy, but it makes sense. When we look back on our lives, do we really want our memories to be a bunch of cluttered after-thoughts or a story that excites us to tell someone, and then retell it with the same excitement that we had while living out that story? I've had a pretty good life so far, and I know there is more good stuff to come. India is going to be a part of my adventure story.

Not too many people can say that lived in tents, under the stars, thousands of miles away from home for a week. Not many people can say they helped build houses for people in dire need, or provide clean drinking water for those who have none. Not too many people can say they were the ones who helped reestablish a community with healthy sanitation and a place they could go for education and an over-all better existence. I'm going to be one of the few who can say I went to Kalavai and changed their world for the better.

It's an exciting idea for most who consider the opportunity to go out and change this world. For me, come March, this will once again be a reality. I will be living out the adventure with some great people and serving those who are looking for a better story to happen in their lives as well.

I thank God every day for the opportunity to be a part of His plan. I'm going back to India because He called me to. This trip has me written all over it. I gain nothing by going to India again, outside of seeing God's plan for His people becoming fulfilled. The result from this mission to Kalavai will be nothing short of a miracle of God. The Irula people will see this and discover they have a story worth living out as well.

This is all I could ask for when it comes to wanting to live a story worth telling.