You are invited to a Girl's Night Party!

The first month that I was here I prayed that God would set ministry before me. I had no idea that he was going to bring it to my door....literally. About two months ago 5 young girls between the ages of 7 and 11 appeared at my door step. They live in my apartment building and had seen me and my two roommates coming and going from our fourth floor apartment. I don’t know who dared who, but somehow this day,  they got up the courage to ring our doorbell. (Which by the way plays a variation of different diddles and then says ‘please open the door’). They didn’t really have a plan for much else, just curious I suppose. When I answered the door, they simply asked, ‘Can we come in.’ The logical response of course being, ‘Well, sure.’ We just stared at each other for awhile, and then my roommate, (quick on her feet) suggested that we play cards. 

The girls started coming over nightly, and ringing the doorbell several times a day asking if they could come in and play cards. Being told, ‘not right now’ or ‘not today,’ never discourages them from coming back an hour later with the same hopeful look on their faces. 

Contrary to the children I work with through ICM, these girls are materially well off, and socially of the highest caste level in India, Brahman. They are well educated and speak perfect English. They are also Hindu. I ask a lot of questions and have subsequently learned things like why Ganesh (a hindu god) is honored in this district, why some of them are not allowed to eat meat, and that if you sneeze before you walk into a door, you should wait 10 minutes and then put water on your forehead...or you will have bad luck all day. I also get a chance to ask some questions like ‘Why do you think you get good friday off from school?’ ‘Who do you think Jesus is?’ ‘Do you know what Christians believe about him?’ Its a fine line...but so far our exchanges have just been part of building a friendship. 

Last week, after the first few days of summer vacation began, and door bell ringage exponentially increased, I decided to throw a sleepover party. I mentioned the idea to the girls that I knew and although their mother’s weren’t keen on the idea of an overnight event, they were very excited about a ‘girl’s night party.’ We set the date and made invitations. They were pumped. Each day as I passed by in the hall I would get a new countdown.. ‘Three more days until our party!’, ‘Two more days until are party..’ Ecetera. 

Yesterday morning, the day had finally come. I set out early to clean, buy groceries and, make playlists and set up the room. There was a nail-painting/beauty salon station, a craft station, a games station, a table full of good unhealthy snacks,  and, most importantly, a dance floor. I got a recipe for ‘chapati’ (Indian tortillas) and spent most of the afternoon cooking and trying to remember old line dances from camp.

I opened the gate at 5:55 and the girls arrived at 6:01. They all had on their party clothes and flowers in their hair. ‘Oh you look so pretty’ ‘Nice hair’ ‘Ooh, I love that shirt.’ What girl doesn’t like an excuse to get dressed up!? (or in my case, at least shower...). After a few rounds of UNO, we moved on to the dances. The girls love the Macarena (the Macaroni, as they call it) and they caught on pretty quick to my rendition of ‘It’s raining men’ and ‘Build me up Buttercup.’ Gillian, one of my only American friends, set up our nail salon and the night continued with run-way walking, Nutella filled chapati’s, ring pop’s, art and lots of giggling. 

As they were packing up to leave, each girl hugged me and said, “Thank you so much for inviting us!” They were gone by 8:59 with colored tongues, painted nails, and serious sugar high’s. 

I love these girls. I have learned that while they don’t have very many physical needs like the the children in our development centers and orphanages, they are growing up in a world that teaches them to bow down to idols pray to gods that will never respond. They are not orphans, they are not living in poverty, but their need is one that is much deeper. Pray that seeds would be planted and that they would know that I love them only because their heavenly Father loved them first.