Sunday, July 28, 2013

Wow!  What a wonderful end to the day!  Tonight, we went to Sanjay’s home for dinner.  I was able to ride a bicycle for a good portion of the time while others learned to drive his motorcycles and play soccer.  I rode on a motorcycle for the first time today!  I just loved being able to bike a little.  I’m really missing exercising.  The dinner was excellent!  The best meal I’ve had here and that’s saying a lot because everyone knows I’ve been eating really well!
 

Yesterday, we were able to hike a mountain!  I would say I’d rather do it by myself though.  The children had a blast, but it’s pretty scary walking up a hill with 80 kiddos in flip flops that are breaking.  I got to hang out with my buddy, Gloria, who also was wearing flip flops.  I was responsible for ten girls yesterday, just a bit overwhelming, but a great time nonetheless.  One guy called Gloria my daughter as a joke…

I really love it here.  I see God’s people.  I’m not homesick as much as I am missing silly things like a pedicure with my girlfriends or a phone call with my mom.  I’ve had hot showers though recently so I am grateful. 

Please keep praying for our team.  People are homesick and it is about time to go home.  I will try to blog a little more before we leave.

 

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Today may have been my favorite day so far.  I went to an Episcopal Church and it was so nice to sing gospel hymns and knowing Sierra Vista was doing the same thing this morning!  My heart is so joyful in knowing the comfort of home so far away.  I can’t say I’m quite homesick, but I could go for my favorite drink and donut from Starbucks.  And it wouldn’t hurt to share it with TyBaby.

What is different about Church is the influence that the culture has on a Christian Church.   Women would wear shawls and had marks on their foreheads for marriage.  Everyone took their shoes off for communion. 

Then, I went to Church at the Children’s home.  It was the craziest thing I ever saw to see these children praise the Lord.  It was beautiful!  One of my girls, Reena even sang a duet.  I’m very proud of all my girls. 

Yesterday, the girls started calling me Mom.  As if the marriage dream wasn’t enough to make me want to faint…  I love these girls.  I really would like to sponsor Monika, (who doesn’t have a sponsor) but I’m just not ready to see myself as a wife and mother yet.  One day, but that just isn’t the season God has me in.  When I graduate, we’ll see…

We celebrated Papa Dongerdive’s birthday at the children’s home.  It was so impressive to watch the children eat rice with their hands.  It was a little gross, but cool nonetheless.  I tried to pass off the rest of my chicken and salad to my neighbors and they didn’t want it.  The littlest girl at the home ate it for me, what a rock star!

I was hurt by the plate situation.  The children each have their own plate with their name on it, sounds like a good thing, right?!  Wrong.  They have their names on their plates so the cooks can’t steal food from the children.  The home has gone through four cooks in this last year for various reasons.  The new cook has a daughter in the home, so I think she will be more promising. 

I gave my girls Snickers today.  They all loved it.  We shared with the house mom and she didn’t even know if the candy was from India or America.  I’m shocked by how simple these people are.  I want to live a simple life.   

Ruth 1:16-17 Ruth said, "Don't force me to leave you; don't make me go home. Where you go, I go; and where you live, I'll live. Your people are my people, your God is my god; where you die, I'll die, and that's where I'll be buried, so help me God--not even death itself is going to come between us!"

I am praying that God make clear the plans he has for me.  His people are my people.  I see Jesus even in those who don’t proclaim Christ.  Welcome to Planet India!

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

I was so tired last night that I couldn’t blog which may have been a good thing because I have a lot to process.

I felt great all morning until after breakfast than I thought I was going to lose my toast.  The school was so nice at letting me sit down and gave me plenty of water.

I started co-teaching English with Dr. Buzan and Dakota.  I think we are off to a great start!  Today, we will discuss Little Red Riding Hood.

In the late morning, I was in a class with sixth graders from St. John’s English School.  We will learn about World Religions together.  It’s going to be a good time!  Snarkiness is universal, there is one chatty cathy in the group and the girls just kept looking at me and smiling. 

We came back to the hotel for lunch.  When lunch was almost finished I was asked to take my picture with one of the waiters.  I was very caught off guard by being singled out.  John warned us about not talking to strangers and saying where we stay.  Well, I bill my room every time I eat in the hotel… I’m sure he just wanted a picture with a pale girl.  He walked away and came back and asked for more pictures with my roommates and me, which made me feel a little better.  He only shook my hand good bye, which may be common, but men must extend a hand first.

Today, at the home my girls came back from school excited to see me, and I was excited to see them!  Komel is still not back.  The girls assure me that she will be back tomorrow.  My sweet Ranuka got hit with a cricket ball in the lower back.  I had my arm around her and I could feel that ball hit her body as she collapsed into me.  Everyone around us kept saying don’t cry.  My instinct is to naturally cuddle her.  I was just blown away with how many children were saying not to cry.  I would have been bawling for quite some time.  Ranuka tried to fight the tears, but that ball hurt.  We went inside and listen to Taylor Swift and look at pictures of TyBaby and friends.  The girls are trying to learn everyone’s names.  The girls noticed the battery was getting low and asked if I had my charger.  I said, not right now.  They became worked up and said, no more music.  I said its okay because I knew we only had a few minutes left.  They wouldn’t have it; they were so worried the phone would die.  We looked at pictures only. 

This morning I found out that two of the girls’ mother is in the hospital because the father lit her on fire.  This is not an uncommon story.  Now, we know these girls!  I can’t even imagine what today will feel like as we go to gather and play.  The girls are taught to cry.  Prayers for John as he talks with the girls today.

I’m also praying for the work that God is doing at home.  I’m so grateful for my time here, but God is revealing some of the work He is doing back home and I’m so excited to see people’s hearts grow in the Kingdom. 

Monday, July 15, 2013

Wow!  What a day!  First, we went to St. John’s English School and had a grand orientation.  The students danced for us and welcomed us with many flowers.  There was a power surge which was a little shocking (as I’m proof-reading, no pun intended).  We waved to all the little ones and it was very sweet.  I got to explain Thanksgiving.  A student wanted to know what that Thanksgiving is.

We came back to our hotel for lunch and to rest before going to New Beginnings Children Home.  At NBCH, I got to meet four out of five of my girls.  Komel went home to visit.  The girls welcomed me and the first thing they asked about was TyBaby!  I didn’t realize I talked about her so much in my bio that I sent them earlier this year.  I was given cards, two sets of earrings and a nose stud.  I may need to get my nose pierced in India.  My girls are ages ten through twelve.  They are so beautiful and at least two of the girls have siblings at the home.

 

I’m struggling with how I feel about Komel going home to visit her family.  I think that would be such a tease.  Maybe it’s a good thing.  I guess I’ll find out when I meet her, hopefully tomorrow. 

One of my girls, Monika doesn’t have a sponsor.  I’m not sure if she will keep being able to go to school or live at the home.  I don’t think they will kick her out of NBCH.  All the girls tell me about their sponsors and are proud of them.  I hope Monika will get a sponsor soon. 

I’m requesting lots of prayers for growth of our team.  I also ask for prayers of discernment.  I’m really challenged as to how to process what I’m learning.  I’m grateful that McMurry University has plans to have a long lasting relationship with Life Light Ministries, but will I?

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Today was a touristy day of Mumbai!  We started the day with a late breakfast, though many of us were not able to sleep in this morning.  For breakfast, I had an Indian pancake which came with a spicy coconut sauce and a curry sauce.  It was thin like a tortilla, but more airy. 

Our first activity was to ride a train, “the heart of Mumbai.”  The train is open so many people will ride hanging off the train since trains are often overcrowded.  I was not as brave, but I did ride with my head out of the doorway.  We only rode the train for two stops.  Trains are Mumbai’s largest mode of transportation.

We went to the Prince of Wales Museum where many of us could have spent days looking at everything.  Amid was helpful in explaining some paintings and games.  I found my sweet TyBaby a book about Mumbai in the gift shop and can’t wait to read it to her soon!

Next, we saw the Indian Naval Academy.  I was pretty excited by this and am missing my dad.  We were on our way to the Indian Gate, which was a crazy experience.  Here we were bombarded with beggars and salesmen.  People were staring at us.  It was a very overwhelming experience and if it hadn’t been for Amid, I’m not sure I would feel as safe as I did.  This is about the only super touristy place in Mumbai.  It was sad to see a cycle of poverty.

We went to McDonalds!  I had half of a Big Mac which was actually made of chicken.  It was pretty good.  The McDonalds in India delivers.  I hope America never gets a delivery system for McDonalds.  I asked Amid if he takes his children to McDonalds often and he said, “Never.  It is too expensive.”  My meal was like $4.  It was just shocking since we view McDonalds as such a cheap meal.  Amid has a wife and two boys.  I imagine many people do not go out to eat on the scale that many Americans do.  By the way, I feel just as awful after eating Indian McDonalds as I do when I eat American McDonalds.

We then got to see Queen Victoria’s Palace which is being turned into a train station. 

Our last stop was one of Mumbai’s beaches.  We received a lot of stares here as well, but no one bothered us like they did at the Indian Wall. 

I probably will not blog tomorrow because we are leaving for our final destination in India!  Monday I will meet my girls, Komal, Monika, Ranuka, Reena and Shiwani.  Please be praying! 

Yesterday, we went to a Buddhist Pagoda where we meditated.  Meditating was very neat and relaxing.  The Buddhist Pagoda that we visited had the largest free standing globe architecture in the world.  My Chacos are holding up great since we often have to take off our shoes and walk in mud, but many of the floors are made of marble and with all the rain, I’m surprised I haven’t slipped yet.  India is very wet.  I wasn’t prepared for all the rain.  I brought an umbrella by chance more than anything. 

I’m eating very well.  We ate all three meals yesterday, which may have been too much.  The hotel is very hospitable.  Amid gave us Christmas cakes.  I liked the one that reminded me of fruit cake.  Most the group liked the one similar to pound cake.  We ate lunch the resort that belongs to a friend of Dr. Waters.  Koran was very nice in sharing his time with us.  The meal was vegetarian and it was delicious. 

I slept really well for the first time.  I know the malaria meds are working because I had my nightmare.  I dreamed that I was getting married. 

At breakfast today, I began to feel nauseous and had to take Motrin.  Anyone who knows me well knows that it is unlikely that I will take any medicine.  After a while, I was fine. 

We were supposed to go to the Mosque, but it was too dangerous to walk to the Mosque.  I’m a little disappointed that we were unable to go because I would have gone even with the danger.  The walk was slippery that someone in our group fell.  Today is the start of Ramadan so I really was excited to see such an important religious ceremony that I know little about.  

We went to see Vishnu’s wife and were given a marking on our forehead for hope of finding a spouse. 

We went to the best maintained garden in Mumbai where we were rained out and had to call it a day.  There was an Indian family who took our groups picture and many of them wanted to be in the picture. 

I’m not afraid of trying new things or going adventuring which I’m surprised by.  I’m just willing to go and see.  I’m not sure I’ll ever return to India so I want to take advantage of everything I can.  I hope our team will warm up to trying more things.  My background with growing up in a military family is so beneficial on this trip.  I know what it’s like to be a minority.  I’ve tried everything served to me except for the buttermilk, which I didn’t drink so I wouldn’t get sick.  The server said it was good for digestion and I knew that meant it would go right through me.  Other than this morning, I haven’t been sick.  This is just an exciting time in my life to travel and I’m very grateful for the opportunity and support McMurry, my family and friends have provided.

My roommates are excellent and we are getting along really well.  We challenge each other with tough questions about what we are experiencing and I’m really appreciating that. 

I’m excited to see our team grow and be more giving to each other.  We are so blessed to learn about other religions during our time in Mumbai. I know it will only help me to understand my faith better.  Indian people are more focused on serving others to bring themselves happiness.  These people radiate joy.  It’s peaceful to be around the hotel staff or Amid.  I’m really enjoying my time in India thus far. 

We’re in India!  We arrived about 1a here.  Everyone has their luggage!  I was fine for the first plane ride from DFW to Frankfurt.  I enjoyed the food on the plane.  I was unable to sleep so I watched some movies and read.  We had a four hour layover in Frankfurt, where several of us stopped at McDonalds.  I had a cappuccino.  As soon as we boarded the plane for Mumbai, I fell asleep.  I became very nauseous and my head hurt.  I’m sure it was a combination of things.  I got up for the meals, but wasn’t able to finish them. 
We met our really awesome tour guide, Amid, (SP?) who will take care of us while in Mumbai.  We had to walk a distance from the airport to the bus.  We checked into our hotel, which is very comfortable and cozy.
My roommates, Ashleigh and Aleyne and I got up this morning and ate breakfast at the hotel.  I’m not sure what we ate, but it was all very good.  We tried lots of mystery sandwiches; my favorite was the yellow one.  I had watermelon juice which was a little different. 
Our hotel is near a busy street, or people just enjoy honking.  It rained today.  When looking out the window this morning, I saw a woman digging in the trash.  This is such a contrast from our hotel.  I imagine India is constantly poverty facing wealth. 
My roommates and I slept through lunch.
Today, we visited a temple and saw a beach.  The temple was very unique.  It was neat to see something different from my own Church.  Amid gave us Snickers after the temple.  Snickers are half the width of Snickers in the U.S.  I also had mango ice cream with almonds at the temple.  It was delicious!
Dinner was amazing.  I have no idea what was placed on my plate, but there wasn’t one thing I didn’t enjoy.  Needless to say, I’m eating well. 
Our team debriefed this evening after dinner and there was such an overwhelming feeling of peace as we prayed.  Our team is going to do cool things when we get to Aurangabad. 

What I Packed

I packed in a small suitcase, a back pack and a little purse!  I leave July 8 at 8a and I'll be back Aug. 2!  I'm pretty impressed by my packing.  I did some research from Pinterest that was very helpful!

 

Suitcase:

6 T-Shirts

1 Dress

2 Skirts

2 Capris

1 Pajama Set

1 Traditional Indian Outfit

28 panties

3 Bras

Shampoo

Body Wash

Face Wash

Hand Pump Soap

Shaving Gel

4 Disposable Razors

Contact Solution

3 Toothbrushes

Toothpaste

Sunscreen

Bug Spray

12 Tuna Packets w/ Mayo & Relish

12 Clif Bars

5 Puzzles for Girls at Orphanage

Lip Gloss for Girls at Orphanage

Nail Polish to paint Girl’s Nails at Orphanage

Nail Kit

 

Carry-On:

Deodorant

 

Tooth Brush

Toothpaste

Floss

Hand Sanitizer

Q-Tips

Tissues

Safety Pins

Glasses Case

Contact Case

Earphones

Extra Outfit

Toilet Paper

Extra Pair of Shoes

Pens/Pencils

Mints

Journal

Umbrella

Laptop and Charger

Trail Mix

Converter

Phone Charger

 

Personal Bag:

Wallet

iPhone

Bible

Pens

Tissues

Keys

Prayer Beads

Passport

Visa

 

Please keep praying for our team!  Love y'all!