Wow it's only been a week!!

Wow. What an amazing first week I had in this beautiful country. Who would have thought I was going to learn and experience so much? The best part is........I still have 22 weeks here!!!

I couldn't have asked for a better host family. They have shown me so much love, patience and grace as I acclimate to life here in India.

P.C. Varghese, my host father and initial contact, is not, here much, but when he is home we have good conversation. He often asks me about my church, San Francisco Christian Center, where he s friends with my Bishop. I can tell by the looks on his face he enjoys seeing me enjoy his cultures media, cuisine, and everyday life.

My host mom, Remani, is a very sweet lady and an amazing cook! I already know if I don't work out I'm am going to gain some serious weight out here! When I don't go to the school I spend a good amount of time with her. She asks me questions about myself and teaches me what different food is and how to say and eat it correctly. She is also a woman of God which I consider a blessing straight from heaven.

Maria is my host sister who I spend a lot of time with when she isn't busy working. She has exposed me to public transportation and shopping and often shares stories about her life and has quickly and easily become my role model here. Just like at home, I am so grateful for the women God has put in my life to be the older sisters I never had.

Life here in general has been good. The driving here is like a hybrid between NASCAR racing and the game of chicken (the car version not the pool version.) The roads are narrow and windy, which is fine. The killer is the fast speeds they whip around the corners, while honking the horns to let people know they're coming, switching gears (they drive stick shift here), and swerving around the slower cars in front of them by moving into the lane of opposing traffic. I swear I'm going to have a heart attack in the car!!

A lot of people have been asking me if I have started to learn the language. The answer is a shameful "no." The language is called Malayalam. It is primarily spoken in Kerala, the state I am in. Let me say there is nothing worse than being in a country and not knowing the language. For my studies I am required to read a book called "Gracias!" The book is the published journal of Henri Nouwen, a priest who spent 6 months in Bolivia and Peru. So far his journal entires have articulated so well how I have been feeling for the past week and a half. Regarding not knowing the language he writes, "The in ability to express ourselves in words as well as the realization that everyone around us seems to understand life much better than we do, puts us in a situation quite similar to that of a child who has to struggle through a world of adults" (16). Well he's 100% correct. I feel like a child who has to be dependent on my hosts family for food, shelter, transportation, and translation. So far it's been my greatest struggle and blessing. On one hand, I never know what's going on! On the other hand I am learning to spend time with Abba because he's the only one who can really understand me and I him.

As of today I have set a new record for how long I have been in another country. The reality of how long 5.5 months is has set in and without a doubt I know I am ready for it!! Please continue to keep me in your prayers. I appreciate them more than you know!!

Love you all!!


PS. If you want to Skype me my Skype name is alyssakats.

I'm here!!!

well everyone...I'M HERE!!!! It only took 43 hours, but I'm here. That's right, it's not a typo, 43 LOOOOOONG HOURS of sitting on planes and waiting in airports. My flight left from San Francisco at 1:00 pm and headed for Seoul, Korea. It was an 11 hour flight, I slept for more than half of it of course!!  We were in the airport for about an hour before we hopped back on the plan bound for Singapore.

Now here's the killer.....ready for it?? My layover in Singapore was 19 HOURS!!!! Yea that's almost half of my travel time spent on the ground not going anywhere. Luckily there was a lot to do in the airport in Singapore. I was able to Skype with the fam, watch a movie at the theater, eat some good chicken bao, visit e butterfly garden and take a tour of the city! The tour was a great way to kill time. The tour bus left directly from the airport and took us downtown and Chinatown where they were decorating for Chinese New Year. Gong Hay Fat Choy!!!! After some good ole fashion waiting and exploring it was finally time to board the plane, by this time it was 8pm (4am back home.)

Finally I arrived in India! P.C. Varghese, my contact and host was at the airport waiting for me right on time. He brought me to his home where I met his daughter Maria and wife Remani. We stayed up and talked,they fed me cup of noodle and finally allowed me to go to sleep. I must say the long travel time was worth being in home with good people and a pillow to lay my head.

A letter from me to you...

Dear India,
     I cannot believe tomorrow is the day we finally begin the journey you and I will get to spend together. It has been a long road, but here we are. I cannot wait to meet you! I have butterflies I my stomach, much like the ones you get when your crush walks through the door and you make eye contact for the first time. Anyway, there are a lot of things I am looking forward to, and a lot of things I'm a tad bit nervous about. Like what do I do when I meet my host family. (Hand shake to hug?) will I ever earn truer native tongue? I'll try my best not to worry about those things. For now, I will focus on all of the life lessons you are going to teach me, challenges you will put me through, and memories we are going to make together. I can't wait!!
~Alyssa

Dear Family and Friends
     All I can say is THANK YOU!! Thank you for all of your support, prayers, and encouragement over the past few months. You have no idea how much my cup is over flowing with love to be shared with those I will come in contact with overthrow next 5.5 months. You all are my rock, and I could not do this with out you. Promise me when I get back you will love me the same as you did before I left. Promise me you'll be patient with me when I am going though the difficult process of re-entering America. Most of all, promise me you will continue to keep me in prayer while I am in India. There is a lot of work to be done. Without your prayers the task before me will be difficult. I love you all and will miss you with all my heart!
~Alyssa

Dear Pre-GLT Alyssa,
       This is good bye my friend. We have been though a lot in the past 20 years and everything you have done has lead you to this point. Know that once you board that plane you are leaving behind yourself as you have always known you to be. You are going to change for the better. Everything that will happen in India will be The Lord teaching, stretching, growing, testing, and blessing you for the call he has on your life. Don't worry, because there's nothing to be worried about. You have so much support and love from all of your family here at home. Don't fear because the is nothing to fear. Your hands have already been equipped with the tools to perform and complete the tasks The Lord has prepared for you. Most of all don't lose faith. Your Abba Father has brought you too far to leave you hanging. Just keep on trusting in him. You got this girl!!
~Alyssa