Monday, 6/16, 11am - London
Our team assembled at RDU Sunday afternoon at 4, and after a round of prayers said a tearful but joyful farewell. A couple crying babies, several hours, and thousands of miles later, we’ve landed in London. So far my culture shock has consisted of being called “madame”, and surprise after realizing that the cheap food prices weren’t so cheap after a conversion from pounds to dollars. This place is very familiar and I am comfortable here, but I am ready to move out of my comfort zone. An entirely new world is waiting for me on the other side of the globe, and I’m only one plane ride away.
Tuesday, 6/17, 3:30am - Chennai
An Indian breakfast from a chipper British flight attendant began my day today. I indulged in foreign spices while listening to announcements over the plane’s intercom in Hindi. Soon the plane came in for a landing. My first breath indicated that I was indeed in an entirely new world. What can I say, the Lord is faithful! The familiar smell of rich spices from my breakfast earlier resurfaced in the hot Indian air, in addition to some new aromas. It was the middle of the night, but after standing outside for just a short while I was sweating. Neither of those facts bothered me in the least. I reveled in the fact that I was somewhere so foreign, with customs (such as not using toilet paper) that I didn’t understand. Each breath and look I absorbed can be best characterized as a new adventure. A short (1.5hrs) in-country flight takes us from Chennai to Vizag, where we will take a 7.5 hours train ride to Kesinga to reach our beloved destination: New Life.
Tuesday, 6/17, 9:30am - Vizag
The best mangos of my existence were consumed at breakfast today. Holy moly. Praise the Lord for making something that delicious. Our train wasn’t until the afternoon, so after breakfast Kevin announced: “We’re going to the beach!”. For some reason it never occurred to me that India had beaches, but believe it or not they do! It also never crossed my mind that the gorgeous coast line of the Bay of Bengal was available to visit, but that is where I found myself this morning. The deep golden sand of the beach sinks easily between your toes as you walk, and the steep coastline makes for a particular oasis once you reach the water’s edge. In the distance we see a man with a horse walking down the beach. I was perfectly content frolicking in the waves, but as the horse approached, it was decided that we would ride. Trotting along the coast of the Bay of Begal on an elaborately adorned horse led by an Indian man was a surreal experience. After the beach Katie, Alexis, Brooke, Gloria and I went to buy traditional Indian clothing. I’m really loving spending time with the team...we’ve only spent the last couple days traveling together, but already Brooke’s hilarious commentary, Alexis‘ genuine heart and Katie’s sweet, quiet spirit make me feel like I’ve known them forever. I’m convinced the Lord has brought us together for a specific purpose, and I’m excited for it. Living with them for the next two months will be a joy.
Tuesday, 6/17, 3:30am - Chennai
An Indian breakfast from a chipper British flight attendant began my day today. I indulged in foreign spices while listening to announcements over the plane’s intercom in Hindi. Soon the plane came in for a landing. My first breath indicated that I was indeed in an entirely new world. What can I say, the Lord is faithful! The familiar smell of rich spices from my breakfast earlier resurfaced in the hot Indian air, in addition to some new aromas. It was the middle of the night, but after standing outside for just a short while I was sweating. Neither of those facts bothered me in the least. I reveled in the fact that I was somewhere so foreign, with customs (such as not using toilet paper) that I didn’t understand. Each breath and look I absorbed can be best characterized as a new adventure. A short (1.5hrs) in-country flight takes us from Chennai to Vizag, where we will take a 7.5 hours train ride to Kesinga to reach our beloved destination: New Life.
Tuesday, 6/17, 9:30am - Vizag
The best mangos of my existence were consumed at breakfast today. Holy moly. Praise the Lord for making something that delicious. Our train wasn’t until the afternoon, so after breakfast Kevin announced: “We’re going to the beach!”. For some reason it never occurred to me that India had beaches, but believe it or not they do! It also never crossed my mind that the gorgeous coast line of the Bay of Bengal was available to visit, but that is where I found myself this morning. The deep golden sand of the beach sinks easily between your toes as you walk, and the steep coastline makes for a particular oasis once you reach the water’s edge. In the distance we see a man with a horse walking down the beach. I was perfectly content frolicking in the waves, but as the horse approached, it was decided that we would ride. Trotting along the coast of the Bay of Begal on an elaborately adorned horse led by an Indian man was a surreal experience. After the beach Katie, Alexis, Brooke, Gloria and I went to buy traditional Indian clothing. I’m really loving spending time with the team...we’ve only spent the last couple days traveling together, but already Brooke’s hilarious commentary, Alexis‘ genuine heart and Katie’s sweet, quiet spirit make me feel like I’ve known them forever. I’m convinced the Lord has brought us together for a specific purpose, and I’m excited for it. Living with them for the next two months will be a joy.
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