Spring must be early this year

Saturday Kendra, Wendi, and I drove out to Indiana. We stayed in Leo that night and went to Bluffton in the morning.

Alyssa took us out to eat and then we pretty much went back to their house and crashed. At least I did. The other girls did a lot of laughing but I was having trouble understanding the jokes. I don't know if I can still blame it on jet lag but I was so tired.

On Sunday we were in Bluffton church for Vince and Breana's wedding reception. That place is huge. I hadn't seen her in so long. It was so nice to get to see her and finally meet her husband. The reception was lovely and she looked absolutely beautiful in her dress.  We got to talk to her and Brittney for a while in church too. I'm so glad I was able to be there.

We left the reception early and headed home.  After a minor detour ;) I arrived home safely and headed back to school.

So, another friend married and...

Saturday morning I got a phone call. Brooke is engaged! Yah, I know, I'm just in that stage of life.  It should be a lot of fun though. She is engaged to Cory Wagenbach from Oakville, so now I will have two married friends to visit when I go there. :)

I'm so excited for her. She is so sweet.

Here are a few pictures of us.

Florida! :)

Brooke not being so sweet ;)

Chicago

So, its only January and I already have two weddings to go to and there have been a whole bunch more engagements as well. I thought this didn't start until spring, when "a young mans fancy turns to love..." or something like that. These guys are jumping the gun and I'm not sure I like it. :)

In Christ

~Michelle

Random Things on a Rainy Day

Being back in school isn't very exciting.
I started classes last Wednesday and they seem to be more of the same old thing.

oh. I am in one really fun class. Figure skating... :) We've learned some really fun stuff like how to spiral and do lunges. I am so sore.

Jet lag hit me pretty hard. I think I'm finally getting over it. I didn't think it would last this long.

So, I've learned this week that I should have invested in more umbrellas before I came down to college. And, I am so glad I bought rain boots.
A yellow rain coat would be so cool.

My family is getting a puppy! :) yay.

Its January and there are bulbs coming up in the landscaping here. strange.

It's still raining.
In Christ
~Michelle

I'm Home!

After two 10-11 hour flights, a 5 hour layover in Frankfurt, and an unplanned layover in London I am finally home.

I was awake for over 48 hours. And 35 of those were the same day.

My internal clock is going crazy.

I'm skipping class today. Tomorrow I head back to school.

In Christ
~Michelle

Day 18- Last Day

This was my last day in India. In a few more hours I'll be heading off to the airport.

I finally rode in a rickshaw today. It was scary.

We spent the morning and some of the afternoon doing some last minute souvenir shopping.  I hope I have room in my suitcase.

~~~~~~~

So, I got some sad news this morning. (your Saturday evening) My great-aunt Frieda died. :(
I'll miss her sweet "Don't cha know" and Frieda buns.

Hopefully the next time you hear from me will be Monday evening from the comfort of my own home. 

In Christ
 ~Michelle

Day 17- We finally meet

I could scream. I had such an amazing time this morning.


I was picked up at 10:00 this morning (half an hour late but, what did I expect here?).  It was so surreal.  Two women and a young girl walked up to me in the lobby and asked "Michelle?"  So, I met her right then and there.


It's crazy. After the roller coaster ride that I went through to get here, I finally met Revathy.  There is no other way to say it. God's timing is absolutely perfect.


When we got in the car we exchanged gifts.  I gave her a journal, a picture frame, and a few other little things. She gave me a necklace she had made for me. (I don't wear necklaces but, in this case I did. I didn't want her to be hurt.)

We drove to her house first. Three weeks in India and yet I've never seen anything like it.  We parked on the street and walked. We walked down alleys turning here and there. Little kids half dressed ran all over. Women begged for food, for money. The alley was covered in litter and ran with dirty water. The men stared at me. Deep in this section of  Chennai is a tiny little 10 x 10 apartment where Revathy and her grandparents live.
Here we stopped for a while. It was a beautiful experience. Neighbors began asking questions and the women with me explained. They explained Compassion and I'm sure they mentioned Christ. I hope someday they remember and find themselves on their way to church.
I met her grandmother and grandfather and a few of her close friends. We sat on her bed and drank mango juice for a while.  And they all laughed at my poor attempts to speak Tamil.

Nandri- Thank you
Vaṇakkam- hello
Eppaṭi irukkīṅka? - how are you?

Here we are in her bedroom.

The coordinator then took me to her house where I met her mother-in-law, her sister-in-law, her husband,m his cousin, and his nephew. They were all very excited to see me.

Revathy had brought along her favorite saree and she made me put it on. You don't want to know how many pins I had stuck in me so that it would fit. I am slightly taller and wider than the typical Indian girls. they laughed at me when the shirt wouldn't button and told me I was getting over weight. :)

They also kept gasping at how pale I was. sigh. I really tried to get some sun this trip.



Anyway, here I am in Revathy's Saree. :)

 We went shopping together for a while and bought each other little gifts.
From there I went and visited the Compassion project school. I met some more of her friends and a bunch of really cute little school girls with their hair all done up in pigtail braids. I was honored with a Compassion India backpack given to me by the head mistress.
And then we ate lunch together. We had rice, spicy fried chicken, spicy cooked cauliflower, and an egg omelette. It was amazing as usual. 
   

Revathy outside of the school.

Then, I had to say goodbye. They dropped me off at the hotel. We hugged each other goodbye and then she was gone. I wonder if we will ever meet again.


This whole experience (sponsoring Revathy, coming to India, studying here, the ups and downs of trying to set a visit date, and finally getting to meet her) has been the most wonderful experience of my life. There are no words to describe how blessed I feel.
God's timing is perfect.

And, Please, if you have not yet, sponsor a child.

In Christ
~Michelle

Day 16- Heading back

Well, today we said goodbye to our friends at the Sunshine hotel and headed back to Chennai.

Before we left we took a few pictures with the hotel staff. They had put up with a lot the past few weeks and made us amazing food any time of the day.
 

Ok, I have to preface the next picture with an explanation. Before I left for India Jake texted me this: "Just don't come back from Mumbai with a singing dancing tech. support guy."

Anyway, It made me laugh. So, when the hotel staff were asking for pictures with us I couldn't resist.

This is for you Jake. :)




Hehe. :) I think his name is Abas or something....



 We left the hotel around 9:30 and made it to our hotel in Chennai by 6:30.

Today I had a few more setbacks with my sponsor child visit. But, Praise God, I have now talked to the coordinator on the phone and I will be picked up tomorrow morning at 9:30 to spend  the day with Revathy!

Thanks for your prayers. I truly appreciate them.

In Christ

~Michelle

I also added more pictures below.

Another set of pictures

They aren't the best at spelling



Kari and I



my class



me and my roommate



Indian toilet :)



Cute little boys :)

 

Me and a little girl who knew English well enough to translate for the boys



How they do this is beyond me.

Maybe this is why there is so much honking.

That's it for now!

In Christ

~Michelle