I’ll See You Someday Once Again, And If Not We’ll Meet Up In Heaven

                “So this has really been a beautiful experience and what’s more beautiful is that we are still growing, not just as individuals, but as a group, a team, a family.”(“Singing In The Rainâ€� 9-5-11)

                The airplane took off high into the air. And it was cold outside. She sat there towards the back. Short brown hair, henna covering her hands and feet, she wore her salwar kameez. She closed her eyes. She saw them.

                “Oh India, you land of beauty, horrors, love, and hate. The air is so rich here, sometimes good and sometimes not. There’s so many colors, bright and vibrate colors! Yes, you are beautifulAnd also sad.”(“When it’s no longer about you” 9-11-11)

                She heard the shrill laughter of children. She heard woman speaking freely in a language not spoken here on this plane today. She smile. She cried. She wondered how they were doing. But when she opened her eyes she knew even still that they were firmly in the hands of God, and that’s more than she could ever offer.

                “The streets were crowded and dirty, but a green shirt was worn by the man that crossed the busy road, and it read, “Love Hate Love Hate Love Hate”, over and over. And nothing could be said more true about India. It really is a love hate. I love it…The people, the places, the insane bus rides…But I also hate it. Seeing how some of these people live, children playing barefoot in dirty slum water, children with infections, homeless men with no legs…People kneeling down and praying to an elephant god who neither speaks nor loves. But God does love. He loves them SO much.” (“I’m Convinced that when God answers His Children He uses the Head Bobble” 9-18-11)

                Prior to take off she read the letters her teammates all had graced her with. She cried then too. People must have thought her mad. But still, she smiled.

                “How beautiful. How beautiful are the people, the dirty streets, the children playing in the rain, the muddy feet. We are here to serve, to love, to get dirty. And to smile. God showed me really how beautiful it is to surrender yourself to Him, with open hands, opens hearts, and willing feet.” (“Waves of Mercy, Waves of Grace” 9-25-11)

                It had been strange being in a US airport, where everyone didn’t stare at you, where men helped you with your luggage, where people actually formed structured lines at security, and everyone looked so, different. I found that I was the one now the curious Indian starring at everyone, instead of the other way around. Also it had been strange telling my teammates goodbye. Here are these girls I’ve lived with non-stop for 3 ½ months and then just a goodbye at the airport. I felt like when I left I was just leaving like to go grab Starbucks or something, but then as it was as I sat in my terminal that I wouldn’t be seeing them again. Not any time soon anyways.

                “Also on house visits this week in one of the slums, there’s this cow that goes in and out of any house it wants because the people think it’s a god and they feed it, and count it a blessing if it poops in the house…It was really funny though we were just sitting in there and all of the sudden in pops this cow head with these big horns! We were all laughing, so random. They didn’t let it come in since we were there.” (“Chariots of Fireâ€� 10-1-11)

                Our lives are like season, a friend of mine once said, and how right she was. India was a season in my life. It was hard to say goodbye, but I was content. I was content with the time I had there, the time I had left, I was content with coming home, and I’m content with the fact of starting college in January. I am excited to see what God has next for my life Im content.

                “We checked the doors to leave the apartment (preschool) and it turns out that we got locked in!…So team leader Beks, climbs out the window, and jumps from the 2^nd floor…so she can come back up and let the rest of us out!…Taking the kids on a picnic to the beach was the most wonderful blessing. I can still see their excited faces, all 30 of them, and hear the worship songs they sang all the way to and from the beach on the bus…At first his little rail thin arms were holding tightly onto the seat in front of us, but then after a while he relaxed and just melted into me. So peaceful and precious. And that was just the beginning of the week.” (“Have Thine Own Way Lord” 10-8-11)

                “This week on one of our house visits in the slum, there was this young Muslim couple who had this little baby girl who was sick. They said she cries and cries every night and they cannot get any rest, so they took her to the doctor and they took her to their Muslim temple…That night, however, there was no change in this precious little one…So they let us pray for them…The next day as we passed through the slum I saw this lady with her child and asked how the baby slept and she motioned with her hands that she HAD slept good all through the night. That’s what our Jesus can do!” (“I Have Decided To Follow Jesus” 10-14-11)

                I think we were flying over Texas somewhere now. I had been reading the whole time, but I took a break to finish my journal. India took 2 journals, and it just SO happened that as I wrote the very last page of my trip, it was the very last page in the journal.

                “India. You’re such a hard place. Your caste systems, your poverty. It breaks my heart knowing that there is SO many children like him, with such great potential, who may never know there’s more out there than their slums. And the incredibly hard work it takes to work your way up and out of the cast system. But I WANT that for them, I want that for George. And I believe in him with all my heart and you really have to pray. Please pray everyone.” (“Here I Come Falling” 10-21-11)

                She closed her eyes. A new image now. She saw herself coming down the escalator, and her loved ones waiting at the bottom. She saw herself hugging them, probably crying. Her eyes now watered. And again, she smiled.

                “WHERE IS YOUR GOD NOW? Her husband would yell in his drunken fits, as his fists hammered a beating on her petite framed body. WHERE IS YOUR JESUS?” (“Strength” 10-30-11)

                Somewhere over the intercom someone was saying we would be landing soon. She put her book up. People were staring at her strange clothes and hennaed arms.

                “The child jumped and hit his metal pan against my window on the bus.*Clink.* And I was out of candy. They *tap* your arm. They hit the window. His metal pan came back up to smack the window again but made it in between the bars and hit my ribcage.*Thump.* A nearby bus conductor chased him off. And off he went.” (“*Clink.Tap.Clink…Thump*” 11-5-1)

                The stewardess came by with a trash bag, and I gave her my empty water bottle. We smiled at each other and I thanked her.

                “I can still see him. His face. There was such anguish in those eyes. He was a man in the slum who couldn’t walk. He was just like crawling on his back, and it was SO hot. He looked so thirsty. I knew Jesus could have healed him. I knew at least He would have given him water. I knew God could have used me. But I walked by, got on the bus.and left.” (“It’s Always Either A Wedding Or A Funeral” 11-13-11)

                Life is beautiful. We do not know what comes next, but we trust God. And I think that’s exciting.

                “The beach was open, wide, and beautiful. The raging red sun fell beyond the sea, and the stars came out to watch us. The waves rolled and came crashing in. I sat and admired this from the shore while wearing my new sari. India. Then breaking the peaceful ocean’s voice came the now so familiar sound of a nearby airplane taking off, and we watched as it soared over the sea and into the twilight sky. And as if in one mind we all knew, that would be us in 3 weeks.” (“Dreams On Fire” 11-19-11)

               The plane finally landed. It was cloudy out the window and looked like it had been raining. People took their time getting their bags and walking down the walkway. Soon though, I was exiting the airplane and headed for the baggage and pickup area.

                “Watching from above people moving in the quiet paths of the evening, coming in and out of their houses, children running in play, people walking on the path below my balcony and never looking up to see the strange American girl watching them.” (“I Really Love People Watching From My Balcony In India” 11-26-11)

                She stopped in the bathroom to check the mirror. Then she was heading out.

                “So travels went good, it was great to be able to see more parts of India AND the Rahab’s Rope house in Bangalore AND of course the TAJ MAHAL!! We also got to tour the Mysore palace and that was so much fun; we started a dance party, chased down elephants, rode the elephants, took tons of photos…” (“Coffee And Pizza Make A Great Breakfast” 12-6-11)

                A smile was already on her face. And then she reached the escalator

She saw them. Together they all smiled, hugged, cried, and for the first time…They got to see her newly pierced nose ring.(hehe)

                This is not the end, rather another beginning. And I know with all my heart that I’ll see Strength and George and EVERYONE again someday, and if not here on earth, then a huge dance party in Heaven.

                Sorry this was so long. But you all should have known by now that my last blog would be like a book :P. I love you all and thanks for supporting me all these months and reading my blogs. God bless you in your life, and…Peace. Love, Meghan 🙂