<p>I’m writing this from an overnight train from Dehli to Agra. It’s about 11 p.m. Monday night and 1:30 p.m. in Johnson County.</p>
<p>It was a rather long day having risen at 3 a.m. to head to Tiger Hill in Darjeeling, India. Tiger Hill, in the Indian state of West Bengal, is the summit of Ghoom, which has a panoramic view of Mount Everest and Mount Kangchenjunga together. The hairpin turns winding to the top was a race with thousands of others to view the sunrise which illuminate the peaks of Kangchenjunga before the sun is seen at lower elevations.</p>
<p>The race to the top is similar to getting 300,000 race fans into to the Indy 500 for the start of the race every year, except for three things: 1) to get to Tiger Hill you must have a Jeep, 2) there is only one narrow winding road to get there, unless you start in Chowrasta by foot and climb to the incline to the summit, and 3) if you’re running late, it’s easier to run the flats to get to the Indy track, than up a hill at an altitude of 8,482 feet.</p>
<p>Here’s a few things I learned:</p>
<p>It’s no problem keeping up with seven young-adults (17-27) until they’re actually running up Tiger Hill, which by the way, I do not technically consider a “hill.” And I, apparently, no longer run up mountains — my hurry may have looked more like a full-on panting saunter, but the view remained fantastically the same.</p>
<p>The Kangchenjunga Himal, which is the third largest mountain in the world and the largest in India, lies partly in Nepal and partly in Sikkim, India and are the peaks the illuminate from the sunrise.</p>
<p>The distance in a straight line from Tiger Hill to Everest is 107 miles.</p>
<p>I also discovered that women picking leaves in the tea gardens wear “ghum boots,” which are cheap rubber boots that protect them from snake bites and leaches and that 108 degrees does feel exactly like 108 degrees.</p>
<p>But even more majestic than the tallest mountain in the world are the strength, love and encouragement of our new friends who are working with Vikas Mission and Central India Christian Mission. We met and were encouraged by women in the West Bengal State that had finally left brothels because they were offered employment with a livable wage. Vikas Mission is devoted to providing pathways to the marginalized and church planters that allows access to empowerment, meaningful employment and restored dignity.</p>
<p>Birthed from Central India Christian Mission, Vikas Mission is an integral partner with CICM church planters, children’s homes and Bible Academies. And Vikas Mission has a Johnson County connection — 2002 Center Grove graduate Greg Matney and his wife Abhineeta are the founding directors.</p>
<p>“It’s been such an encouragement to have the team of students and leaders from The Creek visit our work with Vikas Mission in India! Vikas means ‘growth’ or ‘progress,’ which is what we are devoted to, making pathways through economic empowerment, meaningful employment and restored dignity,” Matney said.</p>
<p>Some of my fellow team members from The Creek Christian Church experienced a plethora of observations.</p>
<p>“There are several moments in my life that I have prayed will never leave me. Several of them were on this trip. To see God work in the business of the city, to hear how he has transformed the lives of those who now labor for Him, to be blessed by worship and celebration that was seldom understandable (expessed in Hindi and Nepali) — these are the things I pray I won’t soon forget.”— Josh Weece, 22, who graduated in December and is currently interning at The Creek.</p>
<p>Will Hopson, 23, a 2017 Ozark Christian College and 2013 Center Grove High School graduate, who serves as the young adult pastor at The Creek added: “I have loved my time here in India! I was deeply impacted by the faith of the people who we had the opportunity to meet and worship alongside. It was powerful to hear story after story of their journey to faith and the cost of that decision. We saw the beauty of India over the last week not only the historic landmarks and scenery, but more importantly, the hearts of the people who live there.”</p>
<p>If you’re interested in Vikas Mission or want to purchase gifts, go to <a href="http://www.avikas.org">www.avikas.org</a>, <a href="http://www.theskippingstone.com">www.theskippingstone.com</a> or find it on Facebook.</p>
Home Local Opinion Columns What’s more majestic than tallest mountain in the world? Seeing God’s work...
