Darjeeling, India.

Our first impression of India was a total contrast to our last impression of Bangladesh. Smooth roads... smooth sailing. We get to Siliguri, find a decent hotel with comfy beds, and eat pizza! This was the beginning of a beautiful journey. The next day we started our assent up the beautiful mountain to Darjeeling. The climate change was welcomed and the cool crisp air seemed to lift our spirits a bit. I never could have imagined this place could be so beautiful! The mountains towered over us, the waterfalls peacefully fell from the boulders petruding from the mountains... and the clouds delicately floated below us as if having nothing else on their agenda. I fell in love! Automatically. Perhaps i could attribute that love to the simple fact this place was such a contrast to the rest of the countries... but something about it was magical. Our first view of the city was from our balcony at sunset, this might have been one of the most spectacular things i could have imagined. This ministry time in Darj was right up my alley, not to mention that it was a perfect transitioning time for after travel. Allow me to explain.. the staff that is there is very small and has only been there about 6 months. This team is the first to be here and take on this type of ministry... we call them pioneers. I love it! A lot of what we were doing was pioneering as well and helped them gauge what needed to be done and where. We took part in spiritual mapping and spiritual evaluations... we learned to bring up questions in normal everyday conversation that could help our staff know the cities spiritual condition. Our stories of the getting to know the locals would blow your mind! Remind me to tell you of crazy uncle Tony and his english school at a very sketchy house! Ha, He's a trip for sure! Then, there was the backpacking ministry. I loved every bit of this. It was so cool to start up conversation, get to know someone... make relationships around town... and tell them about the one that makes my heart beat! It was so amazing, and we actually saw some come to know him and many who are now thinking about him more! One of the weekends we got to go to a tea village, minister to masses of people and elementary schools... and visit the largest tea distributer in the world (incl. to tazo tea- starbucks!) and the most beautiful river i've ever seen! Hard to leave this place, but i definantly have every intention of going back one day.