Today was a day off. Not a whole lot to report, but was a great day! We went to the beach where Annie surfed. I wasn't amongst the surfers, so I didn't actually witness it, but there are those who were and said it was spectacular! I hope someone took pictures. We are all talking about pooling our pictures together. That way, we will have several different perspectives on this journey.
We wandered around shops and were constantly followed and asked to buy things. We ate lunch at a restaurant where Annie bit into some sort of spicy magic. Now, she is right at home with spicy food, but tears streamed down her face, she broke into a sweat and everyone rushed to give her some relief. She is recovering nicely, but will probably not be so cavalier about popping things in her mouth anymore! It was really fun walking and talking with each other. Annie and I spent a lot of time with Kim from New Jersey. Such a ball of joy and love. You would be hard pressed to find a more kind person on the planet. So aware of others. Genuinely concerned and interested in those around her. She's someone who lives her life outwardly. I am so grateful for the opportunity we have to serve with such wonderful people.
We walked to the Butterball temple. It was impressive. There's this huge round rock in the shape of a ball, and no matter what anyone has tried, it will not budge. Right beside it is a place worn into the rock where people have slid down so much that is it a smooth slippery slide. We went down quite a few times. Felt like a little kid! Loved it!
On our way home, I had the opportunity to talk with Jennie. This is her fourth trip here to India. She's like the mom to all of us here. She just makes me feel safer somehow. She explains things so simply and well. From the use of the toilets to how to get to the temples without using a rickshaw, to checking for head lice. She's just a calming presence. We talked about how each volunteer brings something so special and unique to this experience. We talked about faith. She shared with me some things in her life. she is a remarkably strong person. I really admire her tenacity. I shared with her a little bit about our journey through Annie's cancer and what it taught me about faith. Faith is not about power and control, but relinquishing power and control. It's about trusting God. That trust is where that leap of faith comes in -- leaping into the unknown. Sometimes the only way to move a mountain is to climb it, get to the other side, and behind you. Then the challenge is to take the lessons learned there with you on your next climb. I had to turn the process over to God and start the climb. I hoped it would turn out the way it did, and I'm grateful every day that it did. But no matter the outcome, it was about the climb. We all have our own personal mountain ranges. God will provide the tools, but we need to pick them up and begin. It's easy to be angry when things don't go our way. Angry with someone else, with the world, with ourselves, and even with God. Faith is hard. But it is oh so powerful.
After waiting for a few people to make last minute purchases, and waiting for a train to pass, we made it home around 7 and went to movie night. Annie and I went with the older kids who were watching "The Quest" in a room at the school. The little ones were watching "Tom and Jerry" in the dining hall. It was fun to just be in the same space with them and relax. Last night was Tamil movie night. Tonight was English movie night. Good stuff.
Well, we will be leaving at 9 for church in the morning, and will be going to Chennai. We will be getting up bright and early to get dressed up in our saris again! Gonna hit the sack...
We wandered around shops and were constantly followed and asked to buy things. We ate lunch at a restaurant where Annie bit into some sort of spicy magic. Now, she is right at home with spicy food, but tears streamed down her face, she broke into a sweat and everyone rushed to give her some relief. She is recovering nicely, but will probably not be so cavalier about popping things in her mouth anymore! It was really fun walking and talking with each other. Annie and I spent a lot of time with Kim from New Jersey. Such a ball of joy and love. You would be hard pressed to find a more kind person on the planet. So aware of others. Genuinely concerned and interested in those around her. She's someone who lives her life outwardly. I am so grateful for the opportunity we have to serve with such wonderful people.
We walked to the Butterball temple. It was impressive. There's this huge round rock in the shape of a ball, and no matter what anyone has tried, it will not budge. Right beside it is a place worn into the rock where people have slid down so much that is it a smooth slippery slide. We went down quite a few times. Felt like a little kid! Loved it!
On our way home, I had the opportunity to talk with Jennie. This is her fourth trip here to India. She's like the mom to all of us here. She just makes me feel safer somehow. She explains things so simply and well. From the use of the toilets to how to get to the temples without using a rickshaw, to checking for head lice. She's just a calming presence. We talked about how each volunteer brings something so special and unique to this experience. We talked about faith. She shared with me some things in her life. she is a remarkably strong person. I really admire her tenacity. I shared with her a little bit about our journey through Annie's cancer and what it taught me about faith. Faith is not about power and control, but relinquishing power and control. It's about trusting God. That trust is where that leap of faith comes in -- leaping into the unknown. Sometimes the only way to move a mountain is to climb it, get to the other side, and behind you. Then the challenge is to take the lessons learned there with you on your next climb. I had to turn the process over to God and start the climb. I hoped it would turn out the way it did, and I'm grateful every day that it did. But no matter the outcome, it was about the climb. We all have our own personal mountain ranges. God will provide the tools, but we need to pick them up and begin. It's easy to be angry when things don't go our way. Angry with someone else, with the world, with ourselves, and even with God. Faith is hard. But it is oh so powerful.
After waiting for a few people to make last minute purchases, and waiting for a train to pass, we made it home around 7 and went to movie night. Annie and I went with the older kids who were watching "The Quest" in a room at the school. The little ones were watching "Tom and Jerry" in the dining hall. It was fun to just be in the same space with them and relax. Last night was Tamil movie night. Tonight was English movie night. Good stuff.
Well, we will be leaving at 9 for church in the morning, and will be going to Chennai. We will be getting up bright and early to get dressed up in our saris again! Gonna hit the sack...
I love reading your posts! I love the way you put words to what you see and then so eloquently explain your feelings. The way you explained faith sums up exactly how I feel and what I have come to know throughout the trials I have experienced in my life. Thanks so much for taking the time to write on this blog! It is inspiring and makes me want to be a better person! Give each other a great big hug from me!
ReplyDeleteLove you both!
Angie