Odisha (Part 2): Learning What It Means to Share in Christ’s Sufferings

After my three week stint in Hyderabad, I returned to Orissa, where I would spend the next five weeks teaching in the school and renewing friendships. It was wonderful to have more time to learn more about how God has been moving there during the past four years since I last visited. As I have mentioned in previous posts, it was in this place that I first fell in love with India and its people. After the past four years of ups and downs, and continual confusion as to where God may be calling me, it was fitting to end my second trip to India by spending time in the place where it all began, and doing many of the same things I did during my last time there. My whole experience over the past summer in India has taught me so much about myself and revealed many significant things to me about what God is calling me to do.

While in Orissa, I spent most of the daytime teaching English, as well as substitute teaching for other subjects whenever the need arose. I was delighted to interact with the students, most of whom were in Classes 6-10. Their questions about English pronunciation and vocabulary as well as their unending curiosity about the U.S. often led to some humorous days in the classroom. I mean, how else could it be when the teacher tries to explain through exaggerated actions what various words mean, or when the said teacher also utilizes her limited drawing skills in an attempt to illustrate what North American animals look like?

I also had the privilege of assisting in the evening music class, where I was able to share some of my knowledge of basic music theory. It brought back many memories of the piano lessons and worship band participation I have had over the years. I am excited to see what these young Indians will do with the knowledge they will gain during the course of their musical studies and how they will serve the Church as a result!

To my excitement, I discovered that I had chosen my trips dates in such a way that I would be able to celebrate India’s Independence Day with my dear friends in Orissa! The students worked hard to prepare for a variety of competitions, both academic and cultural. Together with a special friend of mine from Andhra Pradesh who had come to visit for a few days, I was able to watch the children’s musical competition as well as part of the area schools’ dance competition. It was so much fun to participate in this special time of celebrating India’s independence and see reflections of its culture presented in the events. What an exciting time for India, to be under its own power for over 70 years! As a U.S. citizen who has celebrated my country’s Independence Day over the years, I felt a kinship with the Indian people. It truly is a wonderful thing to celebrate the accomplishments of one’s own country.

But, at the same time, it was disconcerting to celebrate the independence of a nation which does not currently afford true freedom to all of its residents. The same can, to some extent, be said of the U.S., but that does not diminish the tragic reality that hundreds, if not thousands, of Christians and other religious minorities in India will die this year for their beliefs. I as a Christian residing in the U.S. am afforded many rights, the most significant of which is to follow my faith’s practices without threat of death. But, my friends in India do not have that privilege. However, they would be the first to say that their sufferings, and even the threat of death, do not compare to the riches of being in Christ.

Interspersed with the overall joy of being back in Orissa, surrounded by long-time friends and others, was the discouragement of battling sickness yet again. I suffered from two more bouts with stomach problems as well as some other energy draining illnesses. By far, my time in India over this past summer was the most difficult trip thus far, and I felt barraged by the onslaught of sickness. But, even in the midst of it all, I managed to press on. Nothing could really ever place much of a damper on my excitement and joy at being in the country that has taken over my heart and among the people whom I love so dearly.

The few days of sickness I faced were so small in comparison to the amazing opportunities I had during my stay to share the love of Jesus with others, which was (and is) my ultimate goal and desire. Though my sufferings were small in comparison with the struggles my Indian brothers and sisters in Christ face on a daily basis, I do think that those difficulties throughout my trip were meant to help me learn to identify with, in some tiny way, their attitude of joyfully following Christ no matter what circumstances may come.

And that brings to mind the words of the Apostle Paul to the Philippians, where he articulates the fact that for him, nothing is comparable to the “surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus.” That is the sort of attitude I wish to see in myself – a selflessness which sees Christ as of infinitely more worth than anything else, and an ability to see that my momentary sufferings in order to serve Him are a small picture of the magnitude of Christ’s sufferings on behalf of the world. Who am I to complain about a few days of sickness in light of the immense pain Jesus went through for me? How could I complain about the temporary sufferings I may endure throughout my lifetime if the result is to see even one more person come to know Jesus Christ?

I want to have this same attitude Paul had toward suffering:

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”

~ Philippians 3:8-11 (ESV)

India 2017 (Part 1)

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