His Bike Is His School

Andrew Bartlett made his second visit to India in 2008. Having been jarred by India’s extremes the first time he went, Andrew did not imagine India being a place that the Lord would call him to for life-long service. And yet, through a variety of experiences much like his encounter with the rickshaw-driving boy, Andrew felt increasing conviction to make himself available to the Lord for ministry in India. He has since returned to India around a dozen times in order to further the third-world development work of G.O.D. International, as well as serving as the Lead Manager for the India Regional Team for the last five years.

Allow me to rewind to 2008 and tell the story of my most impactful moment in India. As I was returning to our home one afternoon on my Immersion in Lucknow, a city in northern India, I was getting off of our last bus just like I had numerous times before. It was an ordinary moment. As is also ordinary, I noticed a group of rickshaw drivers gathering in the distance.

From among these rickshaw drivers, I met eyes with one driver seated on his bike. While rickshaw driving is a common profession in India, something was different about this individual. Gauging by his size, he appeared to be only six or seven years old. Later, I learned he was almost twelve. His clothes and shoeless feet hinted that this was probably not his first day on his bike. I felt the Lord making me sensitive to his situation.

I tried to start up a conversation using my broken Hindi. The boy indulged, mostly by laughing at my attempt at speaking my second-language. During the conversation, I asked him, “Where do you go to school?” He buried his head. By this time, a crowd was beginning to gather. I tried to ignore the group and continue conversing. I returned to the same question a couple of minutes later, having drawn some conclusions as to it not being where he goes to school, but why he wasn’t attending school in the first place.

Many of India's rickshaw drivers have homes, families, and farms in the villages, but because of their poverty, have to leave those things and relocate to the city in search of better job opportunities. Many end up pedaling for a lifetime, typically averaging only a couple dollars a day.

In the distance, an older man made his way to the front of the crowd. From his leathered skin, I could tell that he had spent many long years peddling a bike around. Positioning himself in front of the boy, the elder driver looked me in the eyes and interjected, “Unakee saikil hee unaka skool hai” or, “His bike is his school” in English.

Over the twelve years that have passed since this interaction, I’ve been involved in G.O.D.’s efforts to provide educational opportunities where they wouldn’t typically be available in India. We’ve offered biblical education, job training, teacher training and hours of in-class instruction, public health education, and education in the Arts. The times I’ve been involved in facilitating these opportunities, I often go back to that moment on the streets of Lucknow. That memory and that phrase, “Unakee saikil hee unaka skool hai” have filled my life with purpose like few other moments I’ve had. I’m privileged to help our organization move people from bike saddles to classrooms, and from classrooms to meaningful employment.

Teaching children is paramount to the health of any society. We’re inspired regularly by the teachers who give themselves on blankets, under trees, in train stations, all over India.

This year our organizational theme is Exodus, based on Exodus 3. One detail of the burning bush narrative that has always struck me is how unexpected it was for God to intervene. Moses is carrying on his daily routine tending sheep (Ex. 3:1). In a very ordinary moment, God shows up and changes the course of Moses’ life, all because he was sensitive enough to notice. I pray that you and I both grow in our sensitivity to notice God, in even ordinary moments, whether through bicycle, bush, or whatever version of that ordinary event is for you. God is active to transform ordinary moments into holy ones, where our sensitivity can align with his and change the trajectory of our lives. Keep your eyes open! He’s ready to speak.