There is something I really want to write about. It is something that a lot of people have told me and talked about around me especially after deciding to go to India for 3 months to serve as a missionary.
Some people have shown their excitement for the fact that I am going to India this year and have supported me financially, prayerfully and given me hugs and blessings.
However; Not everyone has shown support for my decision to go.
So, I have decided to write about this as God has put this post on my heart. I have prayerfully considered this post and hope that the words I have written are not rude in any way but words God would approve of.
I am going to write down what some people have said and will respond in a biblical, godly manner. Here goes.
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1.) "You might be raped/You might get assaulted/You might get kidnapped"
This is the one I hear the most. It is not a secret that rape, gang rape and sex trafficking has violently plagued India in the past few years. In fact, Germany, the UK and the USA have all issued warnings and safety concerns to the public(http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/government-issues-safety-warnings-for-women-tourists-in-india-after-sex-attacks-9069127.html).
This is the one I hear the most. It is not a secret that rape, gang rape and sex trafficking has violently plagued India in the past few years. In fact, Germany, the UK and the USA have all issued warnings and safety concerns to the public(http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/government-issues-safety-warnings-for-women-tourists-in-india-after-sex-attacks-9069127.html).
To reply to this, I will answer with a question: Why would that make me less likely to go? With a country that has the majority of the orphans in the world and children and women attacked sexually, who is going to help them? Who is standing up for these people? Who is feeding these children, hugging them and sharing Christ with them? If no one else, why not me?
James 1:27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.
Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.
Zechariah 7:9-10
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”
Jeremiah 22:3
Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.
Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.
Romans 12:15-18
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Proverbs 31:9
Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Proverbs 31:8-9
Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
2.) "You have OCD, you won't be able to take it/You will have a lot of panic attacks. Are you sure this is a good idea with your disorders?"
I will reply to this with scripture:
I will reply to this with scripture:
2 Corinthians 12:9
"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
3.) "How will you sleep at night?"
With my eyes closed.
With my eyes closed.
4.) "I can't believe you would go, it will be so hot."
I wish I had a more humble, gentle way to reply to this one, but I don't ever know what to say. It is quite literally one the dumbest excuses to not do the will of God. I don't know how else to put that. As my friend Jeff put it:
I wish I had a more humble, gentle way to reply to this one, but I don't ever know what to say. It is quite literally one the dumbest excuses to not do the will of God. I don't know how else to put that. As my friend Jeff put it:
"Jesus said to go into all the world, not just the countries with the most comfortable climates." If being comfortable is our number one priority, it is time to re-evaluate your relationship with Christ.
5.) "You just got back from Kenya are you sure you want to leave the country again?/Why don't you stay in your own country for a while?"
Mark 16:15
"And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."
Mark 16:15
"And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."
6.) "What if you get sick? What if you catch some disease?"
Then I get sick. I don't see why this is a problem.
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Then I get sick. I don't see why this is a problem.
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I hope these answer a lot of questions. I hope that I have replied in a Biblical manner and not that of rudeness or meanness in any way.
God bless.
God bless.
