The main lesson that I have learned in the past month is that of patience. If you ever come to India that is one of the basic qualities you will need if you are going to survive. The lesson of patience has been taught to me in many ways over the past month.

One of the lessons was with one of my projects here at HMI. The project deals with the computerization and networking of the institute and has been fraught with all sorts of problems, viruses etc. I was getting frustrated with the computer company people not showing up on the day they said they would. After pulling my hair out for a couple of days I realized that this is India and India’s culture and that I just better accept all the things that would be annoying habits in the west and become a patient person or I would not survive for the next year.

The other lesson I have learned here is how it feels to be labeled just because of your skin color. The incident that taught me this happened one Sunday when I was trying to get an Auto-Rickshaw to take me to church. Five out of the six drivers I asked wanted between 20-30 Rupees to take me to that part of town, a trip which normally costs 10 Rupees by the Auto Rickshaws meter. The five drivers who wanted the 30 Rupees were assuming that just because I am a white Anglo-Saxon Western Foreigner that I am very wealthy, which by their standards I am, and could be charged exorbitant prices. Having experienced discrimination through labeling I can now empathize with those groups in the U.S. and other parts of the world who have been discriminated against.

India is a very hospitable country but beneath the surface there is still deep seeded prejudice from the supposedly outlawed caste system and what is called religious communalism (violence between different faith communities). I believe that the lesson I learned about how it feels to be labeled because of my skin color will help me in my dealings with people of other faiths at the Henry Martyn Institute (HMI) and also help HMI in its ministry of reconciliation which is ministering to a neighbor of different   faith by being a friend and stopping the violence when it occurs. In other words following Jesus commandment "to love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34) and to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt 22:39).

In concluding this months article I would like to thank Bethel and all the people who have made generous prayer and financial support for my time overseas. I really do feel the presence of God working in my life as he uses me as his instrument to plant the seeds of faith that he will harvest in the future, through my actions as a Volunteer Missionary. Thank you again to the Bethel members for your wonderful support through prayer and finances.

In Christ’s Service

Rich Hahn