We hope you are all keeping warm as we try to cool down in the hot and humid New Delhi!

A little while ago we had a friend express to us her apprehension about visiting another country as a single young woman. We assured her that she would be alright anywhere in the world, as she had proved herself very adept at living, negotiating and surviving in New Delhi, a city with around 30 million people!

Being the capital of a nation with more than 1.4 billion people and a little under 2,000 distinct languages, New Delhi can feel foreign and familiar at the same time, especially for residents who have moved from another part of the country.

Living alongside citizens of this city, we often felt powerless and insignificant to make any impact in their lives. Most days it appears as though people are jostling and elbowing each other out of the way to get on with life in the city and survive.

We are reminded of GK Chesterton’s wry observation in 1910, “The Bible tells us to love our neighbours, and also to love our enemies, probably because generally they are the same people.”

We have been pushed, challenged and encouraged, exasperated and inspired – living in our adopted city for over the past three years. We are thankful for the many blessings it has provided us. Our present stay has been a real blessing as we access medical care.

God told the Jewish exiles through the prophet Jeremiah to “seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:7)

We have been praying for our neighbours, asking for the Kingdom of God to come into this city as it is in Heaven! Meaningful relationships take time to grow and deepen, seeds need to be planted, watered and attended to.

Impromptu soccer and cricket coaching for children in the park has allowed us to see doors open for relationship and as Caleb makes more friends, we get to meet and know more grandparents and parents in the neighbourhood. We have been invited to have conversations, listen to problems, share with people and pray for them.

We are so thankful and ready to “give an answer to everyone who asks to give the reason for the hope that we have” and we endeavour to do so “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). We give thanks for these opportunities to be a loving presence in people’s lives – usually one life, one day at a time!