Chances Are (Prayer Meeting Version)

I am learning to embrace all awkwardness.

Because chances are, if you are me in a distant land like India, one day you will be asked lead the songs prayer meeting.

Chances are it will be the exact day that you are experiencing a mild cold and your throat is dry and scratchy and not made for singing.

Chances are, even though you ask the speaker questions in order to be prepared, it will still look like you have no idea what you're doing when you go up front.

Chances are you will arrive super early to the meeting even though you thought you were late but realize no one else is there. You will start the songs with only a few people in a key a little lower than you would like because you don't want your voice to crack like a small prepubescent boy wearing clothes that are entirely too tight for him.

Chances are, you will want to sing at a normal pace that doesn't sound like everyone is barely holding onto life. When you start singing the first songs a little faster than normal for the congregation, no one will join you because either they know every other song in the adventist hymnal expect for the ones you picked, or they don't want to sing, or they hate me, or maybe the song is too long.

But chances are, the one person who makes your solo song leading into a duet song leading extravaganza will sing in a slow pitched opera like phantom of the opera on Broadway. It will make your faster paced song awkward as you sing above her to get her to sing at your pace.

Chances are, when you finally sing a song you think the congregation knows, they will sing the song awkwardly because their music book is words only and so they sing it how they were taught their whole lives instead of the way the music is written in my book. It will make you look awkward as they pause when there is no literal pause and when they hold out notes that aren't supposed to be held out.

Chances are you will get through it all.

But then chances are, the speaker will ask for the closing prayer and then she will ask you, via sign language, to do a closing song. So you pick one and we sing it slow like we're waiting on some woman to give birth. Then you think in your head, I should give another prayer and everyone will look at you in "agreeance". But instead you go against your gut feeling and just dismiss everyone. Yea it's over

Chances are, this is how is must happen because hey, I'm a missionary in a distant land and that's just how it goes.

glory.




Kameron Carter

Reckless

Someone was murdered yesterday. Not sure the entire details, but they were nearby. It makes a little sense cause today is a bond day in India. Bond days are those days in which rebels of the government declare that they have the power. They do so by killing random people who decide to come out on this day; so we are all staying inside today. There is no school, we aren't going to the Dolongre bazaar, and we aren't going to see patients today. Which is fine because I like life. I like life here too.

Last night, one of the female staff bought a chicken from the village. She wanted the chicken. Right then. At 6 pm when the sun was down. On bond day. And since she convinced me that we would be fine, I drove her out to the village on the waker. Plus, God always gives us safe travels. And so we drove out. Every pedestrian we passed by was a suspect. My situation is a little more reckless than others because here when two people of the opposite sex travel together, you had better be married, siblings, or parent and child. If not, some villagers can get upset and attack. This was the second lady I had driven on the waker (Ms. Leshimi and I normally go out). We were safe though. When we got to the lady's house, it was just Ambi, the older lady who is kind of like Ms. Leshimi's grandmother. She knows me well. We talked a little in Garo and got the chicken. The poor fellow didn't know he was going to his death as his legs were tied together and thrown in a bag. Tragic. The female staff member then threw the bag in her back pack and we went back.

I also came down with a little bit of cold recently. So I'm trying to rest up. When the nurses get sick, that is normally the time that everything falls apart. It happened last week when Ms. Leshimi fell ill and it's already happening now with me a little under the weather. Everyone wants to go to the hospital now, everyone needs a bandaid, everyone in campus is sick, and of course the midwife teacher is currently in town getting supplies which makes Ms. Leshimi the stand in teacher. It's a little crazy and reckless. But we'll get through it. I know. One tissue at a time. Day by day. It's going to be a fun week. And a little reckless.

Hobey Ho and here we go.

American Mistakes

 It is only normal to make foreigner mistakes in a foreign land. I’m sure mine have been noting but comical.

There was the time Ms. Leishimi and I went to visit a name named Ragan. In India, older people and authority are given terms of endearment along with their name, such as brother Silas or sister Ella. If you are Garo, you are baboo, nono, achu, ambi, dada (small boy, small girl, older man, older woman, brother respectively) and so on. We came near to Ragan’s house and were unsure if he was home. And so I checked. I yelled “RAGAN!!!” Just like an American, just like in Westside where the residents yell “WHO IS IT!?” from the top of the steps. I should have said Achu Ragan or achu or just not yelled. That would have worked too.

There was the time I ate in the female staff’s house after being invited in repeatedly. Authority later told me, that that would not be tolerated.

Then there were the many times I exposed my money to passersby and thankfully didn’t get mugged.

There were the many times I told the kids I was “going to bazaar” instead of specifying which bazaar I was going to. They still ask me where I’m going on Monday’s and think it’s the funniest thing.

There was the time I talked way too fast to anyone and everyone even though I know the English of the people here isn’t the best and no one can understand me.

There was the time I went to the girl’s bathroom at the restaurant cause the sign wasn’t very clear.

And then there was the time I tried a king chili at lunch… the boys offered me a king chili (pepper) at lunch today. I like hot things and like to challenge my pallet (while on the side trying to prove that I’m not a punk and am willing to try pretty much anything). Well I tore the pepper up with my fingers because the guys told me it was really hot and that I shouldn’t eat it in one bite. Not a problem. They said just to wash my hands really well afterward. Noted. I finished the pepper and my meal; it was a nice one. Then we played UNO like we have recently been doing every lunch. Then my eye itched. And then I just slightly brushed my eye with my finger.

And then someone took a blow torch to my eye. American mistake. The worst mistake. Before Ice Princess (for John) :) Then my eye burned as I fled to my room three quarters blind because I wasn’t wearing my glasses and had an eye closed; having them open was worse. I ran into a clothesline because I couldn’t see and everything is too low for me because nothing is my size. Then I put saline solution in my eyes thinking that would help; it didn’t. So I ran to the spout and flushed my eyes for who knows how long. I got wet. Really wet. The pain at first wasn’t going anywhere and I just knew the dreaded poison was reaching every layer of my eye and I knew I would go blind and never see the face of my smiling wife ever. Too far? Ok too far. In the end, it all washed out with soap, and my sopping wet self went to scrub my hands, nails, bones… to get all the oils out. The guys were concerned which was nice and made me feel a little better that they had done the same before. Still a silly typical foreigner, and in my case, American mistake.

And yet, how many times does the Lord give us such wise council, fare warning, and sage advice concerning everything about our lives? And how many times do we not listen because we think, “ill do it later” or “He doesn’t know what He is talking about.” Unfortunately for us, we don’t always listen and get king chili oil in our eyes. Fortunately for us, His blood like flowing water from the biggest spout ever, covers us, washes our sin, our mistakes, and everything else that is not like Him. And then He makes beautiful things out of our mistakes. Our wrongs into rights, our dirt into flowers, our hate into love. And that’s all right if I do say so. It’s fantastic actually. It’s the beauty of serving the Being of all creation. The one who formed our galaxy and the Andromeda galaxy (look up that Hubble telescope picture if you haven’t seen it).

His Word points us back to Him, away from wrong, away from sin, and back to Him. Why don’t we read it and use it more often? I’m certainly guilty. All the time. And yet, He’s helping me get back to it. Back to the basics. Back to Him. Back to life. Hopefully He will for you too.

That’s what India has taught me today.  

Alabanza.

Sing a Song to the Lord

On Friday nights here at the compound, the guys sing hymns and old songs at the top of their lungs. Its quite fantastic. They don’t care who hears them. They sing anyway. In fact, they aren’t ashamed to do a lot of things. It’s one thing about the guys that makes them so awesome. Oh yea, I forgot to introduce them. There is Blessingson, Bamuram, Suban, Mitun, Muktu, Silas, Robert, Maneese, Timray, Cornel, Rueben, and I think that’s it. Pictures to come soon. All the guys have their own personalities. They are incredibly hilarious, some outgoing, some to themselves, some always smiling, others always displaying the criminal look. They have really grown on me in the 7 days that I have known them. I’m already excited to see how much more times we’ll have together.

Back to the singing. Why don’t we sing more often? Why don’t we care who hears? Why don’t we sing at the tops of our lungs until we’re thrown out into the streets? And even then, we should keep singing. This message we have for the world is so incredible! It must to be preached. And if we don’t tell them, then who will? So many are hurting and crying out for something more than what this world has to offer.

Today, we met a family that told us all about their financial problems, including being held at gunpoint by drug lords for not paying back some kind of debt. They have 10 kids. If any of them died, how would the family go on? We prayed for them. We prayed in faith that according to the Lord’s riches and glory, He would provide for this family.

This is only one reason we should never stop singing. Because the world needs to hear the good news. Lift up your voices. It’s not a matter of whether or not you can sing or if you know the language or it not. It matters what message you are singing. What message are you singing? I ask myself what song I am singing. I hope and pray it’s a song of urgency to this world to prepare for the coming of the Lord, because according to the blessed voices of the Young Men of Springs of Love, soon and very soon, we are going to see the King.

And they all said, Alabanza.

What Its Like

In 10 minutes, im going to summarize my current life here in india. ignore all grammar, spelling and syntax.

So i live at springs of love, a compound and school here in meghalaya india. i teach math to 9th and 10th graders in the morning and visit patients in the morning and evening. I pass out meds, do a lot of assessments, and pretend like i speak the language as i drive around on a scootie that is way to big for me and ms. leishimi.

Everyday i eat rice and curry. every meal pretty much. its good, but i sprinkle some seasonings of cuba to make everything just right.

7 min.

I dont know the language yet, but am attempting to learn Garo and Hindi. prayers are appreciated cause learning at least Garo is very important.

the kids are awesome here. they dont just stare at me anymore. we actually laugh and have good times. the midwife students still stare at me however, and there is this one man who attempts to steal my soul every time he looks at me. idk whats up

im also the host of the new Saturday night live at the compound. the kids love that, especially since they dont get too much fun time in the week.

The chickens and roosters run the place and are the most obnoxious things in life, besides the cows that also walk the streets because they also dont care.


the Lord is forever good to me.

time is up. internet cafe bye!
 

Chances Are

If you decide to do missions:

Chances are you will ride to the airport with two of your closest friends and have a last min jam session.

Chances are your check in bag will be exactly 50 lbs. then you will do a dance and say "Alabanza!"

Chances are you will be surrounded by family and friends that you might as well consider family. They will take 1000 pictures of you and you will feel loved. You will have a group prayer and will feel the prayers of many being lifted to God and you'll know it's going  to be ok.  After saying quick goodbyes to all of them, you will embrace your mom. However, she won't do a quick good bye. She will hold you and cry and tell you how proud she is of you and that she commends you for following your heart. Then you will cry but it will be ok. 

Chances are you will go through security and they will discover you have scissors in your bag. They will take you aside and the lady will ask for your life story in which you will tell her you're a nurse who likes to be creative. She will the examine the scissors and let go. 

Chances are you will get on the plane and be that "one guy" whose carry on doesn't quite fit in the overhead compartment and you'll have to rearrange stuff awkwardly while everyone is trying to get by you. In the end you will take half the stuff out your bags and hide them beside your seat. 

Chances are you will all of a sudden come down with a sore throat and ear ache and be forced to drink copious amounts of water like a camel to try and flush your system. Then you'll be forced to use the restroom... A lot 

Chances are, when you get to your next stop, you will have 5 hours until the next plane in new jersey and will be able to enjoy your last meal in the states: Qdoba. You will also discover Jamba Juice, a place alluded by your Californian friends as the best ever. You will try it and it will be incredible. Next thing you know, "Jamba Juice is the new bae and bae is life" 

Chances are, you will talk to about 5 or more ppl before getting on the plane again. When you get on the plane you just might be delayed for another 3 hours because the airline is low on water and the hose that normally fills it is frozen, but not like the movie because there is no let it go. 

Chances are, you will have "that one toddler" who is very bad at flying and throws 3 temper tantrums before we even leave the gate and you realize, this is Goin to be a long 15 hours ride. (Throughout the flight the child will try everything from trying to climb over the seat to kicking the seat to screaming and crying because she can't move freely. She will also have "that one very obnoxious cry" that reminds you of that one real life doll who never stopped crying and made you want to send it back or kick it across the yard when no one was looking) However, there will be a space between you and the older gentleman in your row and you will have plenty of space for your legs. 

Chances are, once they fix the water problem, an announcement will be made that by law the crew currently on duty cannot work more than 17 hours straight and due to the delay and 15 hour flight, they will have to be switched in order to not break protocol. So they will call in another crew... From like Hawaii!!!! Which further delays the flight. Then you will leave. 

Chances are you will see such a wide selection of movies on your screen but only watch like two of them: Gravity, pretty much a movie where you spend the whole time thinking, "this mess was done all on green screen" And you get tired of seeing Sandra bullock almost die on many occasion and spin around in space. And The Hundred-Foot Journey, a movie that follows the lives of an Indian family that leaves there indian home and establishes a restaurant in France, right across the street from another high class restaurant. A MUST SEE. 

Chances are you will disturb the man on the aisle seat about 10 times to use the restroom and stretch your legs because you're pretty much a giant tree fighting off a very convenient sudden cold -___-

Chances are once you actually get to Mumbai india, you will walk down miles and miles of never ending terminal just to have your passport and ticket checked like 6 times. No joke. Then you will have to take a shuttle to the domestic airport and then have your ticket and passport checked another 3 times before entering the actual airport. Then you will be in the last security check point and realize you smell like a dead horse cause you've been sweating in this polar fleece jacket that is not appropriate when it's 80 degrees outside. You will go through security and be stopped for attempted murder, it seems, for having two pairs of scissors in the carry on. They will confiscate them and ask you questions. But you won't go to jail. Alabanza. Then you will awkwardly change into a different light weight jacket out in the open because you're scared to go to the bathroom. You somehow manage not to expose yourself to all the Indians staring at you cause they can tell you arent from these parts. Then you remember, you're black, 6 foot, and wearing white glasses.

Chances are you will get on a shuttle and go back to the big airport you just left in order to board your last plane to Kolkata, and will be confused cause you could have sworn you just left this place. Your ticket will be checked another 17 times... Then you will cry tears of joy when you get in your seat that you thought was an aisle seat but no one shows up in the others. These tears will then turn into tears of pain when a third shuttle of ppl show up and you are definitely not sitting by yourself which makes your victory seat picture you took 5 min ago, obsolete. Then obnoxious baby number 2 will reveal himself and you will experience real struggle once again. Then you will ride to Kolkata and wish your parents didn't make you tall.

Chances are you will be the awkward guy retrieving his luggage from baggage claim and id greeted by a white woman with fiery red hair (my director's daughter). She will then take you by taxi in which every second of your life seems in danger because you dont have a seatbelt, there is smog everywhere and driving in india is completely wild. you will pull into one of the most beautiful schools ever and feel the presence of God there. you will then shower out of a bucket which is incredibly refreshing and a blessing. and you will be officially in India. Almost at your new home. 

Chances are this wont be your experience. But its mine and I love it. :)

Hobey Ho and Here I Go India

P.S. chances are all the kids at the school will sing praises to Jesus in loud booming voices to start the day, which will make your heart happy :D

white girl pose with the besties

that fanny pack though

family makes it easier

Supplies

            I have begun to wonder if I am truly ready for India. I mean can you really actually be fully ready to serve the Lord? I got a windbreaker, a head lamp, and my medical book in the mail yesterday. The weekend prior to this one, I got some tools and clothes from my fantastic aunt. “Like this mess is real,” I thought. Felt pretty ready. But am I really? I tell myself that I am going to India to serve. Have I left myself to be served as well?

            Often times, as missionaries, we journey into the “darkness” of the world, or so we call it, in hopes that we will completely shake things up with our theology and way of life. In actuality, sometimes it is our hearts and out minds that are changed for the better. We think differently, we act differently, and we see life through a different kaleidoscope.

            On the subject of being ready with supplies, its incredible to me how we can be “ready” and still be in for a surprise. I discovered that when I sat for my NCLEX in a really sketch part of town. I went in ready: prepared to be there three hours max, answer 75 questions, the test shuts off, and then keep it moving. That’s not what happened. For those who know the mysteries that are Boards understand the struggle. I didn’t walk out confident. I didn’t walk out ready. I didn’t walk out complete. I walked out very incomplete and very broken. Very sick to my stomach and like a failure. Oh SNAP… what if I didn’t pass?!! To be here another month and a half?! I’s die! Dramatic I know.

            And yet, I was swarmed with so many overwhelming texts and calls of reassurance. The nice thing was that they weren’t all “Kameron, I’s sure you passed” but “God’s will be done” “Have faith in the Lord’s plans” and “keep your head up.” One of my friends, Jan, put faith in this scenario like this: “its easy to have faith when everything is certain! Buuuttt our faith is really tested in times like these. DON’T GET DISCOURAGED!! Claim God’s promises!! (enter “ok” sign).

            And so, I’m looking into repacking my suitcase. Instead of clothes, toiletries and shoes, I’m packing, faith, trust, and the promises of God. I think those will take me a little farther. A little deeper. A little closer to God. And in the end, that’s what we should want right? It’s true that you can never be ready. But with God, His plans, and His supplies, I’ll be ready when He receives us. Glory.

Ala.Ban.Za.