We began planning this trip in January and it’s finally here. Thankfully, my 4am wakings mulling over the thousands of little details and final arrangements only began last week. I’ll sleep on the plane, right?
Everyone says this will be a life-changing trip for Caden and me. I’m sure everyone is right. I wonder how, though. I know I want Caden’s world to break open. I want him to see diversity and beauty and poverty and God. He’s an amazing boy – kind, generous, intelligent, serious, loving. How will this experience affect him, change him? Will he become more aware of God in his life or struggle with homesickness? I have no idea. So, if you’re the praying kind, please pray for his faith, as well as his health and safety.
As for me, I’ll admit to having a pretty big blind spot about how this trip will affect me. I’m not sure what I’m hoping will happen, what my expectations are. Will this cross-cultural experience create in me a deep and lasting love for India? Will I come home with renewed purpose in life or exhausted from processing so many new sights, sounds, smells, and people? We can’t control the effects, the ending. We can only be present and be kind. This will be a practice in being flexible, patient, vulnerable, curious, open to new things and letting go of any discomfort we may encounter.
We have pictures and names of some of the people we will meet. As I have prayed for them these past few months, a deep desire to meet them and hear their voice tell their story and share their music has grown in me. My heart for the wives/moms has grown particularly. We may not know what will happen next, but I have already learned that praying regularly for people binds our hearts to one another. No wonder we say that prayer is a gift.
God bless you two as you touch lives through Christ. India was one of our favorite places in the world. Thepeople are wonderful and warm. Color abounds everywhere as people go about their lives. I pray especially for Caden that his eyes are opened to all the wonders of this land and that he will be an influence on all he meets.