Chennai, India 2017 Pre-Trip Prep

My house? Dead quiet. Something that happens about once every...century. The dog? napping. Three kids? Napping. (Oldest home from school sick, naturally the day before I leave for a trip.) Hubs? Asleep from an overnight the night before. Me? All jacked up on a Starbucks Grande Iced Caramel Machiatto wearing my lucky elephant leggings and taking in every last minute at home until I return January 21.
Why? I'm about to head to a far, far, FAR away land that is nothing like Allen, Texas called Chennai, India. It looks something like this, according to the third image that pops up on Google images:

Culture shock, much?

It will take me two flights of 17 hours and 12 hours to get there. I leave at 4 pm tomorrow afternoon and land somewhere around 12 midnight their time Thursday night. That is a very, very long time to travel. Hubs keeps telling me I can do it. I know I can, because the last time I was on a plane for 13 hours, I was caring for 3 little humans and this time it's only me, but something gives me severe anxiety about being cooped up on a small metal thing in the sky with my legs cramped up for that freaking long.

So why am I going? What is this all about? Why would I leave my safe home and family behind?

Because one Sunday morning near the end of summer, I sat in my seat at church and God basically smacked me upside the back of my head and told me I was going to help children there I knew nothing about. I have heard these stories of God speaking to people, and have never really had that ah-ha moment until that morning. I remember I had lugged all three children to church on my own as hubs was working. It was a struggle, but know the importance of going. As they spoke of Zoe and our partnership, and the mission trip that would be taking place, I knew God was yelling in my ear and immediately after leaving the sanctuary, I ran back to our pastor (who happens to also be a friend thank goodness because otherwise he might think I was a crazy person - luckily he already knows this fact) and told him I WANT TO GO! and then proceeded to text the hubs: "sooooo, can I go to India?"

Our church partners with an awesome organization called Zoe Helps. They empower children to start their own businesses and get on their own feet providing for themselves so they can succeed and make a life for themselves by raising crops, animals and making textiles, etc.

Am I nervous? Yes. I have no idea what to expect or what I will see. Am I excited? So much yes. I already am in love with the people in my group. Am I scared to leave my family? Yes. But what an experience to share with my own children. So excited about that more than almost anything else.

I cannot wait to share more with you and my journey and plan on blogging as much as I can and sharing photos and experiences with you all. I hope to learn, be enlightened and see the grace and works of God and grow deep in my faith and share a little of that with you all.

There but for the grace of God, go I...

Leave a comment

x