PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN of First Presbyterian Church Birmingham Michigan

What was I thinking? 

In the summer of 2010, the Moderator of our Presbytery's Presbyterian Women asked me to apply for the Global Exchange Mission Trip to India scheduled for the fall of 2011. I didn't have to think about it: India must be in my blood! My grandfather was born there, as was his mother, and his maternal grandparents. The carved elephants marching across a shelf in my house (4 of the original 7 that were in my grandparent's home), the picture of my grandfather as a boy sitting in front of some government building playing with pidgeons,  the set of bells hanging over my kitchen sink all speak to me of India. My great-grandparents served as Presbyterian Missionaries to India beginning in the 1880's. My great-grandfather died in Jalandhar, and my great-grandmother continued to return to India until she almost 70. I know her only through the pictures that she left, and the traces of her existance that I find in family papers and internet research.

So I applied. The acceptance came during the chaos of Thanksgiving dinner preparations and extended family visits. When I finally told my husband, his reaction was ... you want to do WHAT??

I want to be a part of this Mission because I feel so strongly that part of my Presbyterian heritage is rooted in India. Are there people there today who are Christian because of my great-grandparents? What do we have in common? I have a picture of Kellog Memorial Church in Mussourie where my great-grandparents served at one point - and I just recently discovered that it still stands and still houses a Christian church: link(facebook)!

Sometimes God gets me to do things that without His action, I would never do and I realize it only in looking back! I wonder where He is taking me now ....

More on the purposes of the Presbyterian Women Global Exchange to India in a later post.