"Why do you go to India?"

Thursday, December 14, 2006

8:13 PM Hyderabad Time--On Base

READING: Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance
by Barak Obama
iPod MUSIC: KBCO’s Studio C Vol. 16

“Why do you go to India?” I was asked that twice in the weeks preceding my departure. My first, off the cuff, easy answer was that I go to help Sebi (with video production) and the organization. To try to make a difference. To affect at least one person’s life (or at least his workload.)

I go on to say that go to India to try to find do something with meaning. To try to justify the other 10 months of my year making a good paycheck and bad TV.

I don’t know.

Why do I come to India? Do I come to be fulfilled or do I come to stay fulfilled. Does it make me feel good about myself? Is it a vacation? Is it cool? Is it to get away from all the distractions at home? Do I come just because I can?

We’ll I can eliminate some of the above possibilities … It’s not a vacation, but it is kind of cool. Sometimes it’s nice not to have a TV or radio or cell phone.

Ultimately, I don’t know why I come to India. It seemed like the right thing to do. It seems like the right thing to do. To hopefully use my talents and time for God’s glory. To again remind myself what most of the rest of the world is like.

The first time I came, after the tsunami, I felt called. I wanted to do something besides send a check. I had the time. I had the means. I came. It was life changing or at least a worldview shaping. During my first trip, I was so impressed with the organization and the tireless, selfless, joyful Indians. I had more time off at the end of that year. I had a mission-minded church a great group of friends and a supportive family. I had awesome roommates to take care of my place. So I came back. And then I came back again.

India is an exciting place to be. In 10 years India and China will be the new economic superpowers (if they aren’t already). Though the poverty is extreme. And there is a huge gap between rich and poor here—so much more then the western world. God, the poor here are so poor. But, but, God is working and the organization is working, building, running, sponsoring Christian-based, English-language education for thousands of children, who God-willing with a good education and the English language can maybe, just maybe, pull themselves out of their extreme poverty like millions of others in this county.

I come to India to try fill a hole in me, a longing, a desire to do something meaningful, something that matters, so I won’t feel my life has been wasted.

Whoa ... that turned out a little heavy.