Count Your Blessings
The large van was packed with people-- not a seat was open. With no available air conditioning, we opened all the windows in hopes of catching a breeze during the drive. The hot, Indian sun beat down on us through the open windows. We drove on winding roads through villages-- sometimes paved, sometimes dirt. I watched the scenery pass by and imagined it was all part of a movie-- maybe the introduction of a movie during the credits... or maybe the climax of a plot when the main character is about to have a break through on a soul-searching journey! I saw many fields of dirt; small, handcrafted huts; cows--most of them starved; the beginnings of new crops; busy little shops; garbage (yes-- garbage); small families crammed on motorcycles; trees dressed in vibrant red flowers; and people-- lots of people.
I was traveling with students from Rising Star Outreach, as well as one of the teachers from the school. Her name is Kala, but the students call her Auntie. Sometimes the students call me Auntie too, and I like it. It seems to be an endearing title for those the students love and trust. I hope I really deserve that title! Partway through our journey, we picked up three other people-- Dr. Nancy and her husband Darrel, as well as a young man named Jared. (They are long-term volunteers for Rising Star Outreach.) Now every seat was crammed, without a doubt! Thank goodness we still had breathing room with the isle down the middle.
After a nearly 3-hour long journey, we arrived! Where did we arrive? At church! I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (and anyone who grew up in the Church is now singing that Primary song in their head, haha! You're welcome.) Everyone in the van with me (except the driver) was going to church as well! When I climbed into the van earlier, I was so pleased to see the young men dressed in their white shirts and ties as it reminded me of the priesthood. (Three of the six young men were recently baptized and are now serving under the Aaronic Priesthood. The other young men are considering baptism. None of the 10 young women with us have been baptized-- but they all enjoy going to church every week! Kala, however, has been a member for many years, and both of her sons served missions! They now live in the States.)
3 hours to church. 3 hours of church services. 1 hour to eat our packed lunches and rest for a moment. 3 hours back home. This is how we roll. Attending church here isn't a small portion of the day like it is back home for me. It is my day. As I've been making this adjustment to how I spend my Sabbath, I recognize the need to count my blessings-- to be grateful. Yes, the drive is long, and it's rather uncomfortable and ridiculously sweaty... yet the view is exciting and captivating to me. Yes, the van is packed... but it's packed with incredible souls that I love to be around. Yes, it makes my brain swim to hear so much Tamil spoken around me... but at least I've learned a few words and I find the language to be beautiful.
So the journey is long. But I'm grateful that I can make this commitment every week for my Savior. I'm grateful that there is an organized branch of the Church that we can travel to and from within a day. I'm grateful that I can be inspired by the youth from Rising Star Outreach who made this commitment long before I ever came along!
What are you grateful for today?
I was traveling with students from Rising Star Outreach, as well as one of the teachers from the school. Her name is Kala, but the students call her Auntie. Sometimes the students call me Auntie too, and I like it. It seems to be an endearing title for those the students love and trust. I hope I really deserve that title! Partway through our journey, we picked up three other people-- Dr. Nancy and her husband Darrel, as well as a young man named Jared. (They are long-term volunteers for Rising Star Outreach.) Now every seat was crammed, without a doubt! Thank goodness we still had breathing room with the isle down the middle.
After a nearly 3-hour long journey, we arrived! Where did we arrive? At church! I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (and anyone who grew up in the Church is now singing that Primary song in their head, haha! You're welcome.) Everyone in the van with me (except the driver) was going to church as well! When I climbed into the van earlier, I was so pleased to see the young men dressed in their white shirts and ties as it reminded me of the priesthood. (Three of the six young men were recently baptized and are now serving under the Aaronic Priesthood. The other young men are considering baptism. None of the 10 young women with us have been baptized-- but they all enjoy going to church every week! Kala, however, has been a member for many years, and both of her sons served missions! They now live in the States.)
3 hours to church. 3 hours of church services. 1 hour to eat our packed lunches and rest for a moment. 3 hours back home. This is how we roll. Attending church here isn't a small portion of the day like it is back home for me. It is my day. As I've been making this adjustment to how I spend my Sabbath, I recognize the need to count my blessings-- to be grateful. Yes, the drive is long, and it's rather uncomfortable and ridiculously sweaty... yet the view is exciting and captivating to me. Yes, the van is packed... but it's packed with incredible souls that I love to be around. Yes, it makes my brain swim to hear so much Tamil spoken around me... but at least I've learned a few words and I find the language to be beautiful.
So the journey is long. But I'm grateful that I can make this commitment every week for my Savior. I'm grateful that there is an organized branch of the Church that we can travel to and from within a day. I'm grateful that I can be inspired by the youth from Rising Star Outreach who made this commitment long before I ever came along!
What are you grateful for today?
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| The girls that befriended me in Relief Society today: Ashika, Vidhya Bharathi, Madhubala, and Nagalakshmi |
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