A Day Worth Documenting

Twas indeed.  A little over a week ago I just had the bomb day.

It was my off day (starting off great already) and I had an unexpected skype convo. with my dear friend, Katie.

During that skype call, Martin (a man who works here at the guest house) came inside with a nice big package with my name on it...literally. =)  It was from my Momma and it only took one short week to arrive.  Wow, two thumbs way up for India's air mail (this time at least)!  Inside was complete with many goodies, including, but not limited to...skittles, a note from my sissy, a picture of a childhood friend, a stubby bottle of Sprite (America has stubby bottles, did you know?), and Cheetos.  Dang girl!

 

Later in the day I made a nice little trip to the market to pick up some veggies and let me tell you...the market's a steal!  I bought 8 bananas, 3 green peppers, 4 cucumbers, and 2 pineapples for a grand total of around $2.40.  I likey.  I also am going to feel totally ripped off when I go back to the states and buy one pineapple for $2.40!  Sheesh!  If only I could pack the market in my suitcase...

I probably am also going to feel so unimportant when I come back as well.  When walking through the market I constantly hear, "Yes Madam?" "Yes Madam?" "Yes Madam?"  And reply with, "Hi Sir."  "No thank you, Sir."  "So nice, Sir."  It's great.


Last but not least, let me introduce to you my sweet dinosaur that travels the world with me like a faithful dinosaur does.  It represents my friend, Katie (same friend I skyped with on this particular day).  I bought two dinosaur key chains before I left for Kenya last year...one representing Katie (the one on my backpack), and the other representing me (that one is on her backpack!).  When wearing my backpack and finding myself in a troublesome situation I like to remind myself, "Katie's got my back!" =)  Anyways, Jurassic Park must be a popular film here in India because everywhere I go I hear, "Jurassic Park."  At first I was unsure what people were talking about but it wasn't long until I caught on.  The kind man selling me pineapple made that comment when I was at the market last.  In fact, I have bought pineapple from him twice now and I do believe he said it both times.  Maybe I'll go back to him soon and flash my dazzling dinosaur, seeing if he says it again.  A little experiment.

What a packed day with so much fun stuff.  I wouldn't mind another "day worth documenting" sometime soon (did ya hear that God?=)

Hakuna Matata

p.s. I also made banana bread this day!

Write On

Thursday morning was a sad one.  That was the morning Christianna left.  As we were standing outside at 6 am saying our goodbyes, I was handed an envelope.  After Christianna left and we all went inside I looked at the envelope to find that my dear friend, Kristen had sent me a letter!  This is the first letter I have received since being here.  How perfectly does God work?  I was super down because one friend had just left, and then my spirits were lifted because a friend a half a world away sent me a letter ten days before.  It was great to hear from her.  It reminds me how much God has blessed me and continues to bless me.  In the letter she also put a picture of us from a mission trip to Mexico in 2008.

 Below the picture you can see a dried flower.  She also put that in there because I had mentioned before how I will miss the colors changing.  With that she reminded me that, "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8

 

She also brought up 2 Timothy 1:3-7.  Dang girl, God is using you to impact my life big...even through a letter.  2 Timothy 1:7 was sort of a theme verse before I left and so many people shared it with me before I left.  I had forgotten about the "spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline" God has given me and I thank Him for using Kristen to remind me.

This was two nights before I left at my going away bon-fire. =)

I love you so much Kristen!  Thank you for your encouragement and your beautiful friendship.  You delight my life and I thank Jesus for blessing me with you.

Love, Sarah

"I Speak Two Languages - American & English"

I have been feeling sick lately.  Not because of the water, or the food I am not use to.  Not because of the different climate or anything else that is typical.  I feel this way because Christianna left for America today.

Christianna was one of the other volunteers with Freedom Firm.  She was here since May and I praise God that I got to spend (exactly) one month with her!  She had planned on leaving before I arrived in India but God had other plans and I am so glad He did.

Before I came to India I had heard a lot of great things about this girl.  In my mind I was sort of like, "Sheesh what's so wonderful about her that everybody I talk to with Freedom Firm raves about her?"  After the first time we met I figured it out.  She is AMAZING.  She is the kindest person ever, so personable and willing to do anything to help out.  She isn't shy which equals a great, "Welcome to India" person.  But more than that she become one of my best friends.  I love how friendship seems to come so much more easily when God is the base.  I learned a lot from her and ask God to be more like her.

I love you Christianna and I am praying for you right now as you are traveling home.  Can't wait to see you in Chicago!

Hakuna Matata