Real stories from the frontlines of mission work.
Varanasi, India, is by far one of the wildest places we have ever visited. Varanasi is believed to be one of the holiest cities in Hinduism. The Ganges River runs right along the eastern side of the city and is believed by many Hindus to have the power to purify sins and aid the soul’s journey after death. Though it is quite expensive, people spend their whole lives setting money aside so they can have the privilege of dying in Varanasi, where their bodies are cremated on funeral pyres along the river and their ashes are then placed in the Ganges. It is believed that if your ashes are ceremonially placed in the river, your soul can escape the cycle of rebirth and attain Nirvana. With so much intense superstition and pagan ritual, it’s hard to imagine anybody finding true peace. It’s sad…