Visiting a Village

The days have run one into the other with quite a bit of travel and very little time to type.  But here I am and I want to catch up with a few of the significant events of the last few days.

We traveled north to Balesore and used a hotel there as our kick-off point to head further north into West Bengal.  On Sunday past we made a trip north and into a village where Christian brothers and sisters had gathered to meet us.  They were of several different people groups but several of the greeting practices were clearly Santali.

Before we arrived at the village we were met by a group of people.  They were there with drums and several other instruments.  They also had water and special leaves in lotas being carried by young women.  The group gathered around us and we walked into the village where the meeting was to take place.

Congested traffic had made us a bit late and so instead of having our feet washed as they would normally do we had our hands washed.  Garlands were placed around our necks and many kind words of greeting were given including a traditional “welcome” song.

We were there to join with them in a time of Bible Study.  Most of the participants in the up front activity had arrived with us.  Four speakers, a vocalist, an area supervisor, and the rest of our team were some of these people.  Following some time for singing our first person spoke, then music, then the second speaker, and music, and the third speaker and music, and finally the fourth speaker who closed out the close to three hour service.

People sat on mats on the ground for the most part.  The people were very attentive.  Without having arranged it this way each of the speakers spoke about faith in the Christian life – faith for salvation, faith for daily living that stretches us to action, and faith that is lived out exactly where we are in life as God takes us where we are and calls us to live by faith.  The final speaker aptly chose to take this theme and make a significant challenge to all in attendance about the application of these truths to their own lives.  People were touched.

Following the service we had a great meal prepared by the people there for all in attendance.  It was wonderfully prepared and served to us as people again demonstrated the richness of Indian hospitality.

Following the time for eating we then were introduced to one of the customs of this community of people as they entered into a dance.  The drummers were in the center and a group of three or four people would form a line holding hands.  A person or two started to sing and there was a rhythmic step forward and back to the beat of the drums.  Further people joined in groups of four or more and eventually there was a large group of people all involved with the dance.  It was a great experience and of course the guests were pulled into the line of those who were part of the dance.