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Today we partnered with an organization that educates and feeds children living in the slum areas of Goa, India. We started at a daycare center where children play games, sing songs, learn, and are fed nutritious meals. We then ventured out to two slum areas. We walked through tent villages, collected children, and waved to their parents. We gathered all the children on a mat and helped them write their ABC's and learn basic English greetings.

As we walked through the second slum, the teacher walking with us said: "These are the unseen parts of Goa". This phrase stuck with me. India is beautiful. It is rich in culture. Yet so many parts are unseen. The slums are full of abuse and neglect, yet equally as filled with hard work and people doing their best to survive in hard circumstances. So I want to invite you in to see the unseen. Pray for these communities in Goa. Pray for the children who are experiencing abuse and neglect. Pray for the mothers who are working hard to make rent and still have enough money to eat food. Pray for the men who are struggling with alcohol addiction. God sees these communities and is with each person living there.

India is a country I had no idea I would fall so deeply in love with. It has been my favorite country on the Race, and every day has held a joy to experience and a lesson to learn. Our month in India has been all Ask the Lord (ATL) and God has provided the most incredible experiences.

For the first four days, we explored New Delhi. New Delhi was the picture of what I had expected India to be like based on my American presumptions. It was chaotic, full of new smells, a cow on every street, and a lot of exposed poverty. We met so many people while on the streets, prayed and worshipped, and walked through a lot of squad and team changes.

We then traveled to Dehradun and served at a boys' home for children rescued from red light districts. It was a connection we had made while in Guatemala, and it was incredible to be there in person. The boys immediately became like family. We helped run a Christian summer camp for children in the state of India Dehradun is located in. We worshipped with the kids, ran games, and prepared crafts. The camp was incredible. There were over 230 children. The next generation of believers was being raised up in a highly persecuted area. I saw the spiritual realm unveiled before my eyes and grew deeply with the Lord in understanding how to love his children. I also met some of the most on fire young adults I have ever met. Passionate about sharing the good news of Jesus, leading Holy Spirit-filled worship, and praying against the demonic attacks that came. Many of them had begun their relationship with Jesus through a camp like this and were full of zeal for the children to encounter Jesus in the same way.

A week later, we bused to Agra to see the Taj Mahal and from there took an overnight bus and overnight train to get to Goa. In Goa, our squad has been seeking the face of Jesus every day through worship and prayer, along with partnering with children's homes and slum education. We have begun the process of debriefing our eleven months on the field and asking God to prepare our hearts to return to America. It has been a bittersweet time. Filled with excitement to see friends and family and return home, and sadness to leave these countries and memories. Officially returning to America in SEVEN DAYS! Pray with me for the transition and goodbyes coming soon!

With so much love,

Grace