Day 27

We are up North, once again in Tamil country. This weekend has been absolutely exhausting! Actually, this whole week... I’m not sure I ever fully recovered from the trip to the East. As Uncle Joseph wisely said, “tiredness is temporary, but what we are learning is permanent”.

Later…

Wow, this has maybe been the best day so far, and it's only 2pm! The highlight was probably when I exchanged bracelets with the Lieutenant Colonel of the Sri Lankan Army. Let me explain. 

We left the hotel early this morning, stopping here and there for sight seeing purposes, and at military checkpoints where we had to show our passports. I also signed something that probably meant they could arrest us if they suspected anything fishy, which, I’m not going to lie, would be kind of exciting. 

To interrupt and give you a little bit of history… 3 years ago, Sri Lanka saw the end of a 30-year civil war between the Sinhalese and the Tamil people. This war took place mostly in the North (Tamil country, though suicide bombings took place all over the country), and because of this many Tamils migrated out of the country. What is left is a land that is dry, barren and war-torn. Only very slowly have the Tamil people begun to move back up North, re-building their homes and trying to create sustainable life once again. 3 years ago, it would be impossible to travel beyond the first military checkpoint, and even today it is difficult for natives to get through, let alone foreigners. However, our translators (Uncle Joseph and Auntie Josephine) have been building relationships with the people of the north, and were able to get special permission from the government to take us to this area of the country. Our purpose in going was to visit house churches, attend the larger service on Sunday, and experience a little bit of what life looks like in a post-war community in the meantime.

On our way to a house church, we went through the Army base. As we got off the bus, the Lieutenant Colonel greeted each of us and escorted us to his quarters. He talked with me as we walked, and I was surprised at how friendly and welcoming he was. At his home, we were each served a giant coconut to drink the milk out of! So cool. He told us about his work in the community, and it is evident that he leads by putting others first. I can only imagine the impact he could make if he knew Christ as His Lord and Savior. 

As we were thanking him and saying goodbye, he noticed my bracelet (from Thilini’s brother’s reconciliation movement in Sri Lanka), pointed to it, and asked if I wanted to exchange with his! So, I am now wearing his army green “Brave Hearts” bracelet, and he is wearing mine. No big deal.

We finally made it to the house church around 4, and spent time worshipping outside on woven mats, singing and listening to testimonies. By now, Jess and I know a couple of songs in Tamil, so we joined them in singing those, as well as a few in English. Between Thilini’s Sinhala, our English and everyone else’s Tamil, we were worshipping in 3 different languages! Glimpses of heaven, baby. Just sayin’.

House church in the North

Now we’re on our several-hour trek (and not the good kind with Vulcans and spaceships) back to the hotel. I definitely have a headache, this bus is cramped, and I have sand inside my jeans. Sand inside my jeans. Don’t ask me how that happened, I’ve been trying to figure it out for at least an hour. I want to do is sleep, but I’m pretty sure that’s not going to happen till we get back to the hotel.

Later…

So, maybe today was the best and the hardest day of the trip so far. That bus ride home was brutal on everyone after such a long day, and when we got back to town we stopped in at one of the pastors’ houses for dinner – nevermind that it was after 11pm. These Sri Lankans are funny about their meals sometimes. When we finally got back we had to have a team talk about attitudes and stuff like that... just an exhausting day all around. Church tomorrow at 7:45! Here we go!