Initiation

It was Day 3. I was finally able to reach my mother for a grand total of 5 minutes before I was cut off. I quickly learned that was about as much as I could hope for. So far I had spent most of my time recovering from my journey and trying to acclimate to the new environment. I’m a fairly adaptable person… but this was a whole new ball game.

The compound was beautiful. White Frangipani trees were in bloom in the courtyard, wafting a heavenly fragrance into my room. I was trying to learn the names of the 53 women I would be living with. I am usually great at this game, however, I had never heard these names before and many of them terribly similar: Sunita, Sarita, Savita, Surekha, Rekha, Amreeta… I thought my head was going to explode! Much of the time I sat with the girls as they spoke Hindi to each other. I would occasionally interrupt with some sort of simple question in English as I desperately tried to make a connection. It seemed like they were sizing me up; trying to decide if they liked me, if they would trust me. Some were quick to trust. They brought me to their rooms and showed me all their belongings and photos. Others simply ignored my existence as if to let me know they didn’t need me. These were the girls I circled in my mind to win over before I was gone. It was a challenge I enjoyed. I was surprised how comfortable I was with never having a clue what was happening around me. A few took pity on me since I was alone and painstakingly tried to communicate. I discovered that most of them knew more English than they initially would let on. But I began to pray without ceasing that my friend Jessica would be granted her VISA and meet me in the jungle.

My room was great. It was perfectly clean, 6 beds to myself, a western toilet, a water heater for the shower and even a refrigerator! Many more amenities than I had expected. About day three, however, I discovered that I was not alone. I walked into the room only to find a pink little hairless creature with skin still covering it’s eyes, and twitching helplessly on the floor as ants were attacking it!

I quickly did what any adventuresome, missionary-type would do… I ran and got help!

My Indian Auntie informed me that this was a baby rat. Ew!

The next day… two of these baby rats being attacked by ants appeared on the floor in the same location! I ran to get more help. As we looked at them, another rat suddenly appeared, seeming to have fallen from the top of the closet! We discovered a rat’s nest up there, but apparently the army ants of India had declared war upon the nest first. These ants were pushing the rats from the top of the 8-foot tall closet in an attempt to carry them to their anthill to… eat? It was horrific. But I was thoroughly impressed with the ants. I continued to keep my eye on these tiny little black insects as they would daily carry dead insects 100 times their size to feed their tribe. Amazing. And disgusting.

Three days in and I already felt appropriately initiated into the Indian Jungle.