I recently was on another adventure, I know not again...but my heart was aching for something exciting--familiarity. I ventured back to the "homeland," the place I left my heart. I was back in Calcutta, India. I have not felt that kind of peace since I got on that plane, two years ago. As many of you know, I spent two months traveling through India, back in 2010. I was the crazy kid who wanted to stay and ended back in the states with a heart on fire for travel. I have constantly been battling with these inner demons, where does God want me. I have always felt like something was missing, and have missed the people, the smells, the colors, the life that are, simply put--India. I got a second chance to fall in love. I don't think He gives us these all that often and I definitely took this opportunity to start where I ended--with the people.
This trip started with two of my friends, here in China asking if I would take them to India. How can anyone say no to that? exactly. So I went and I brought along two wonderful ladies, that I am blessed to call friends. They have made my China experience absolutely fantastic and I knew they would do the same with a trip to India. Needless to say it was a great experience, even though there were illnesses, exhaustion and lack of air conditioners, we survived. We survived enough that we have signed up for another trip together in February...yes the next adventure, but more on that later ;)
My first stop was to the local restaurant, Blue Sky Cafe, to see Sam and the other guys that work there. It was so good to be sitting at the same booth, ordering the same food and seeing people that I call friends. Everything was the same, the guys were just as funny and they took care of us while we were there.
I was also able to go back to Varanasi, the holy city to the Hindu's. I had been there before and dreamt of going back. Like before the smells, the people, the ceremonies, the every day life consumed me the minute we got off the train. Two years ago I had jumped into the Ganga, this time I decided upon a sit and watch tactic. We took the 5am boat ride and we took a night ride as well. I had an opportunity during the Puja's ceremony to journal and pray, something I really never thought I would do again.
I got to go back to the Wallaby School to see some wonderful friends! Oh how the kids had grown and were still as sweet as ever. I got to take my friends into homes, the homes of people I spent two wonderful weeks with. It was an experience of its own to sit there and see how they are and what they have been doing these past few years. Here are some pictures of the kiddos :)
India was an exciting reminder of what I feel called to do in life--serve. I was able to open my heart up to friends, I met two years ago, to my new friends I have made in China. It is refreshing to know that there are people all over the world that I have met. I guess the talkative gene my mom gave me, has come in handy ;)
It has been a month since I have returned from India and I am still humbled by that experience. What did I learn? I have a group here to serve, a group of fellow CUI grads and other recent college grads. A group that I love with all of my heart, they make the days not seem as long. They give me that laugh I need, the encouragement, the talking to when I need it. They bring me God, in so many ways. I am 100% Blessed. We are going to be taking a group photo in about a week, so don't worry you will get to see some faces soon!
Highs:
Travel plans.
Bex and Krae coming along on the Feb trip!
Fantastic friends here.
Lows:
Not knowing what I am doing.
Feeling called to other things.
Prayer Requests:
The strength to get through the rest of the semester
Constant encouragement to future changes.
Discerning God's plan for my life. Taking time to listen. To pray.
Being strong.
With love,
Ashley
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