pictures?

jazz leaning nonchalantly against a rock in kanyakumari
me grinning at you

grinning creepily at you

i was done taking pictures. jazz was not.

things I've learned so far-in a shiny new bulleted list, no less!

• Most drinks taste better cold.
• Burning leaves smell really good.
• Unwashed people do not.
• Lice a really not that big a deal.
• Drinking water is really important!
  
• Don't wear toe rings unless you're married.
• Chopping onions makes you cry.
• Dancing is fun!
• Preaching is much harder than it looks.
• Foreigners are forgiven stupidity with a grace that constantly astounds.
  
• Your immune system is stronger than you think.
• There's no place like home.
• Time moves at an exact rate of one day at a time. Whether it is fast or slow depends entirely on your perspective.
• Love conquers all.
  

one month

today marks about one month since i left home. I've gotten over the homesickness for the most part, though i still miss everyone terribly, and i'm starting to see the beauty of this place. i'm learning a lot every day, about india, about god and, most importantly, about myself. april will be the end of the lectre phase and moving to a new, bigger house so that we can accomodate all the students who will be arriving to stay for a couple weeks for their "summer for jesus". keep praying-I can use every bit of encouragement and wisdom i can get.

Landing

Well, I am finally in India. As I sit here in the Internet Cafe where we pay 10 rupees for every half hour and the little boys playing a computer game next to me chatter in Malayalam, I reflect on the last few days. The flight was hellish-28 hours' traveling all together. The loneliness was strong-for the first two days I had to excuse myself every once in a while to run to my room and sob my eyes out. But after some friendships were formed and some important conversations were had, I came to a few important conclusions and I am now very glad to be here. It is now my constant prayer that God will teach me to desire him above all else, even unto the loss of my life and those I love. I am learning constantly and I hope to return home a little more independent, a little wiser, and a lot stronger. Please continue to pray for me-I can always use it.

Liftoff

I just finished packing my bag, and now I am off to a last day of long goodbyes and last-minute advice. I pray that I have everything I need, for I'm curiously devoid of that "I'm forgetting something" feeling which I always have when packing for a trip.
There are still so many things I don't know, so many things that can't be quantified or prepared for. What gate do I need to be at? Where will I meet the person who's picking me up? Will I have enough time? How will I feel? I can feel myself starting to go crazy, attempting to prepare for every eventuality, and I have to remind myself that I am in God's hands. I have to trust that I will be given the tools to deal with whatever comes, and that God will take care of me.

Plane Ticket

Well, I've bought my plane ticket. $1,370 for a round-trip ticket to Cochin International Airport. I have made it over the last major hurdle and now I just have to figure out all the little things-i.e, communication(Skype or new phone?), money(traveler's checks?), and how I'm going to fit everything I need for five months in a different country in one carry-on bag. But the nice thing is, I don't have to worry at all. If God wants me to be in India, he'll get me there. It's all up to Him.