33 Days Until India!

The countdown to India is on: only 33 more days until I board the plane in Chicago for Chennai!

My personal fundraising for the trip is also going very well! So far I have raised $1,858 which means I only have $642 to go to reach my goal of $2,500! God has truly been faithful and gracious to me in this fundraising process and I trust His faithfulness will continue! Thank you to everyone who has supported me so far! There were a lot of days of mine that you brightened with your generous gifts!

Also, I have exciting news! I have been given the privilege of organizing our Vacation Bible School! I have enjoyed the planning process so far and cannot wait to hear what the rest of the team members come up with in regards to ideas on dramas, dance, crafts, and games! It is a wonderful blessing to work with a group of such gifted individuals who have a passion for the Lord.

Throughout the past few months, my team has been meeting about once a week to discuss a wide range of subjects regarding our trip to India. These topics have included general trip information, Hinduism and culture in India, more information on Home of Love, and idea forming for the Vacation Bible School.

Dr. Edwin Tait, a professor of Bible and Religion at Huntington University, spoke to us at one meeting about Hinduism and its saturation in the culture of India. A main idea of Hinduism is the idea of having “one” god. However, practicing believers worship the divine reality in different forms. Dr. Tait shared three historic stages of Hinduism, as well as four purposes of life within the Hindu religion. These purposes include: pleasure (Kama), wealth/status (Artha), virtue (Dharma), and liberation from cycle of rebirth (Moksha). Hinduism also contains four Varnas, traditionally known as castes.  The highest caste, Brahmins, are scholars. Next are warriors called Kshatrivas, Vaishyas, who are merchants and craftsman, and manual laborers called Shudras. Dahlis, or Untouchables, are below the caste system and are known in society to do the “dirty work.” Hinduism also includes concepts of Four Stages of Life, Karma, samsara, and Four Yogas.

All of these Hindu values and beliefs play into the everyday social life of people who live in India. Therefore, even though we are only visitors, it is important to understand the meaning behind their way of life so that we may better communicate to them in a way that makes sense to their culture.

Here are some Do’s and Don’t’s for Indian culture:

DO: Bargain when buying things, the “Figure 8 Head Shake,” use your right hand.

DON’T: Touch other people’s heads, show the dirty part of your feet, put books on the floor, display affection publicly, use your left hand.

For more information on Home of Love, visit this link: http://www.homeofloveindia.com/