Hope, Joy, Love

I have been here for 2 months! Wow time is seriously flying a little too fast for my liking:( there is still so much I have to do and all I can say is good thing God's timing is on my side. My only hope is that by the time I leave here the work The Lord wanted me to complete is done. I've had two dreams that I came back with no report other than, "It was a good trip." As of right now what that means is I am not present enough here. Physically, I am completely here, but the rest of me is invested back home. This is one of the dangers my professor warned me about and now I know what she meant. So my hope and prayer is that I would be fully invested in my time here. After all this is a once in a lifetime experience and it won't last forever!!

Last Tuesday was the last day of school and I was actually a little sad. I loved working with those kids and the teachers. It's always a good feeling to feel needed, accepted and liked. The teachers I was working with definitely displayed all three in their own special ways over the past month. Through feeding me mountains if rice everyday, teasing me when I tried to use malayalam, or the small conversations we had those four women have become friends I will miss when I have to go back home. Of course I'm going to miss those smiling faces greeting me every morning with hands folded saying, "Good morning Teacher!" In the last few weeks I was able to learn many of their names (trust me when you learn what face belongs to names like Amjith, Anushka, and Mizhi you get pretty excited!) and form some interesting relationships with the different classes. One moment I will never forget is meeting Mizhi's mom. She was so excited to introduce me to her mother. As we waited for her mom to finish talking with the teacher introduced myself "Hi I'm Alyssa..." "Yes! From California," she said interrupting my introduction, " Mizhi has told us so many good things about you!" Wow!!! Hearing those words brought joy my heart and made me understand even more why I'm here.

In other news I am finally starting to experience love in new ways. On more than one occasion in the past week I have felt big loved and accepted by my host family. My host mother, who has given me the name Elza (it's how my name sounds in her accent. I kind of like it) now introduces me to people as her youngest daughter!! Yeah I've been adopted!!! The feeling if being adopted into a family that barely understands me when I speak is a wonderful feeling. There is a new sense of comfort and peace now. Not only have I been adopted, I've also been asked by my host father if I wanted to live in India permanently. "Do you want to live in India permanently? You can find a husband, get married, and move in." Of course I gave him the good Christian response, "I don't know where them lord wants me. I'll have to pray about it." That answer is always safe. It's not a yes, no, or maybe. When said with the right intentions its simply saying "I will do whatever the Lord wants me to do and where he says go I'll go. Not my will but his be done!" Anyway him asking me that question assured me I'm not just some girl from the states doing conducting a project that's intruding on their everyday loves. No at all. Instead, I'm accepted, welcomed and loved.

I cannot thank you enoughnfor taking the time to read my blog. It truly means a lot to know I am supported and loved by so many people. I am truly humbled. As always please continue to keep me in your prayers!! I love you all!! Blessings.

Ps. Big thanks to this who have been supporting me financially!! We have passed the half way point to my $10,000 goal. Only $4000 to go!! If you want to partner with my in moving forward with my kingdom assignment email me at astrickling09@apu.edu or my mom at tonyabegonia@pacbell.net Thanks again!!!