Some Thoughts About India

Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 11:02pm

I am just writing to share some thoughts about our trip to India on the eve of our departure. We are leaving this life and starting a life we can’t imagine and also can’t wait for. Our daughter is sleeping in India right now and has no idea what lies ahead of her. She doesn’t know that her last night as an orphan is upon her. We have no idea what is upon us. But the Lord continues to open the doors and so we walk.

I am not nervous. I don’t fear anything about this trip. The Lord has been in all the details. I am so happy that my wife is coming. We were so disappointed a month and a half ago when Siddhi’s homecoming was delayed. And now we see why. Laura wanted to be there so badly and the Lord knew the desires of her heart. She would not have been able to go if things had gone our way. The Lord knew his way. He appointed the end and means to the end. He delayed our trip. He picked out the day that we would finally hold this little girl in our arms.

Siddhi probably won’t react the way they would script a movie. She probably will wonder who these weird faces are. She will wonder why we are crying because she is supposed to be the one crying. She will probably not want to go with us. We are not saving her. We are loving her. That is all we can do. We can love her and tell her of her heavenly Father’s love for her. Hopefully she will not be able to comprehend how it is possible for her heavenly Father to love her more than we love her.

My friend Damon is coming with us to capture everything on film. He is like a brother to me. If it weren’t for blood he would be a brother in every sense of the word. He is standing in and capturing everything we want our family at home to see. He is a true friend–really–he is a brother. It is funny how God brings people into your life and helps to fill voids that He also created. I lost my brother years ago and my Lord has always filled that void. I have never stopped missing Mark but the Lord has given me friends–some, like Damon, who are lifelong–and others who are there for just a short amount of time. I am so glad Damon is coming with us–he will make sure you all get to see what we see.

It will be 15 hours there, 110 degrees on the ground, 2 hours to Pune, and then Monday will arrive. This is the day the Lord has made. This is the day that he has appointed. If you had told me a year and a week ago that I would be meeting my daughter in India I would have asked you why my wife would be giving birth in India. It is incredible how the Lord appoints the ends and the means to the end.

Of course this is only one end. This is just the beginning of a whole new life. A whole new life for Siddhi, for me, for my wife, for our children, for our family and for our close friends. We can’t wait for you to meet our daughter. Her name is Miriam Siddhi. Miriam means “I wished for a child”. Siddhi means “Freedom from hunger and thirst.” Siddhi will live in a land of plenty. She will probably never go hungry or thirsty. But we wish for more than physical needs. We desire that she would truly be free from hunger and thirst as she learns about the Bread of Life and the Water that quenches all thirst for eternity.

Well, here we come India. Ready or not!

We love you all. Thank you for praying, thanking you for giving, thank you for encouraging and thank you for loving us. See you soon.

Pastor Dan