India Journal Entry; Monday, 10/2

10::02 pm India
11:35 am Indiana

It's officially underway. We woke up at 6:45 am; ate breakfast at 7:45 am; then went back to our room and slept until 12:45 pm. We are jacked up on our sleep cycle, because this would've been like sleeping from 7-10 pm back home.
I woke up from that nap pretty freaked out, nervous that we weren't going to turn the corner on this jet lag. We had no energy; neither did Biz.
The youth arrived all throughout the afternoon and evening. There were over 300 there! And still another 80 to show possibly. BLOWN AWAY!
We started our session at 6:00 pm. Many were very tired. WE talked to one group from the Northeast who drove 30 hours on a bus... 50-60 on a bus (that sits 30); unable to sleep the entire time. They were exhausted. Why would someone do that?
When you are in a country that is 1.8% Christian, you will do anything for significant fellowship & discipleship.
Anyway, I did the second half of "Stepping In to God's Story" walking through the "bowtie" and using members of the audience to represent Adam and Eve, Abraham, Aaron and Sons, Jesus, Disciples. The thrust of the message is understanding God's unfolding story and the opportunity we have to be a part of it.
It goes from everybody in communion with God down to one, Jesus... but Jesus took 12, and from those 12 the Church formed. We are a part of this now.
When getting to this part, I asked everyone to stand to understand this is where we have entered the story. The goal is to see every knee bow and tongue confess.

As they stood, I had a "moment".

At the close, I invited those who would say "I'm willing" to step into the story and play a role, I knelt at the side of the stage. My moment was a "Who am I?" moment. Who am I to be here sharing with these youth. How did I get here?
I remember thinking, when I was kid, that being a Christian was boring, dull, and uninteresting. How many of my peers have had the opportunities I've had? What other life allows you the experiences I've had; witnessing the miraculous, traveling around the world and meeting some of the most fascinating people; being able to make worthwhile investments with great payback; being a part of something so much bigger than myself.
That is the second part of my "moment." Looking out at 300+ individual who live in a persecuted nation, halfway around the world. THE POTENTIAL!!

This is so much bigger than us. I'm so grateful to God for the opportunity.