Hi

Home! Oh the things we take for granted in this life. A shower, a pillow, our family and friends, shoes, dry air. The list goes on.

India was awesome! There aren't enough words to describe it. 60 million people live in Delhi alone! Needless to say, there were people everywhere.

God told Susie to do something, and she did it with no questions just like in the Bible. What an awesome responsibility for her, and what awesome reward to watch all that happened.

I will begin by writing some of the stuff from my journal:

July 15th, 2004 sitting in the airport, asking the girls questions:
1. What are you most excited about?
2. What are you most excited to see?
3. What are you scared of?
4. What do you think you will learn?


July 17, 2004
We have arrived! We are at the Y and I am sharing a room with Amanda. Our trip began with an hour plane ride from Vegas to L.A., then 16 1/2 hours from L.A. to Tai Pei. Then another 7 hours to Delhi.
Each stop was the same yet different. We got on the plane, and off. We went through x-rays, customs, questions, answers, filled out forms. When we got off the plane in Delhi, I was exhausted, but full of excitement.

The place seemed small, and there were tons of people just staring at us. It felt weird. We got our bags, and started towards the exit, only to be greeted by David which gave us relief I think. The trip from the building to the bus was scary. Tons of people, men trying to grab our luggage for us, and some people asking for money. We stayed in a very tight group and followed very close to David. He had people waiting to stack our luggage on top of the very mini mini van we were riding in, and before we knew it, we were off. I remember Shad saying to remember my direction, (south, north, east and west) and realizing that I had no clue what direction I had come from, let alone which way I was going.

After what seemed a very long drive, we made it to our destination. We saw many things on that first drive in Delhi. People on bikes, motorcycles, rickshaws, all cars were small,people sleeping right out in the middle of nowhere, animals roaming the streets. We heard horns honking the whole way. They honk for everything. To say "I'm turning," "I'm right beside you, or behind you, or coming around you" and it never ends. When we arrived, there were these giant black ants. Huge!

I could write pages on just our trip here, and can't imagine what we will get to experience in the next two weeks. I miss my girls.
I think my bed spread is made of silk!
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So that is the first couple of entries. I will write more tomorrow. I am very glad I went, and very glad to be home.

Okay, fine, I have to write. I am less than one day away from taking the longest trip I have ever taken in my life to a whole different country and I am so fricken excited that I can hardly stand it. I have to write!!!!!


So I can't sleep, can't think of anything else but India, and already have my stuff in the truck. How sad is that?! At certain moments, I can't even hardly believe it is really going to happen.

On the lowest setting on my camera I can take 999 pictures. You better believe I will take every single one of them. I already took a couple of pictures of my kids so that when I find that I'm missing them, I can just break out the camera and say hello.


We will be updating people on line, and I will be updating my blog when possible while in India. So, prayers and love to all of you and talk to you soon.

Once upon a time........

There was a young girl who loved to watch people and hear stories of their lives. They would show her pictures of the places they went to, and told the most wonderful stories about the events that happened to them there.

The young girl would dream about traveling to distant countries and of taking tons of pictures. Pictures that would remind her of every event of her trip, and would help her tell stories of her travels to her friends and their family, just as they did to her.

She dreamed of what the places would look like, smell like, taste like. But sadly, she felt she probably would never see her dreams come true.

She lived in a house with one parent and tons of family who were poor and always caught up in the drama of life. They constantly told her what a mess up she was, how she would never make anything of her life. So although she had the flame of hope in her heart, it was slowly being suffocated by the negative forces around her.

As she grew up, she began the slow decent into the abyss of selfishness. After years of abusing herself and others, she came to a point in time where she felt numb, and then finally, nothing at all.

She began taking long drives around the town, thinking of all the time she had wasted, and wondering what the purpose of her life really was. She felt alone and abandoned.

One night she found herself at a church building. Unsure of why, she later found herself inside sitting in a dark corner, listening to the stories and watching all of the people. These people had so many good and bad things to talk about, but the way they spoke of these things was different. Although they had difficult lives, they still had hope, something this girl had forgotten about a very long time ago.

Many years passed, and the girl continued to go to the church and listen to stories of Jesus.

One day, it all made sense. She realized she had never been alone during all of her dark days. Although her parents and family had abandoned her in many ways,God was right there by her side, or carrying her the whole time. She was baptized right then on the spot, in the backyard of her spiritual family's house in a horse trough.

After that night, her life changed forever. She found herself trying to be a better person, and began finding the flame of hope she had lost so long ago. She knew that one day she would find her life's purpose with God's help.

And so here I sit, ten days away from taking a trip to India to experience another culture, to hear stories of many people, and to make a record of them on film. Plus a chance to tell them my own story as well.

God is always in charge, and anything is possible with Him.

THE END
Well, not really. It's just the beginning. But you will have to wait until I get back from India to find out what happens next. And so will I. Till then..............

13 DAYS AND COUNTING!!!!!!

We leave in thirteen days, and I am very nervous about it all financially. Only for me I mean, we made our goal for the girls by the grace of God and I am so excited for them. Thanks to all who have helped out. You rock!!!

I am pissed off at a certain family member, but have been praying about it. I have to let it go because it is not in my hands. Not really. I think I need this time away to re-adjust my view on life and to learn what is most important. Not that I don't have a good idea already. But I am a work in progress like everyone else.

I spoke to my father yesterday and he sent a check, but wouldn't tell me how much it was. I hope it isn't a lot because I am sure he can't afford it. He is such a butt head some times.

I have a ton to do. Happy day.