Snapshots in the Journey

A little later but better than never. I think with this post I may be back on schedule with my blogging.
There are so many experiences, thoughts, feelings, impressions, meditations and experiences in the process of one week it is always a challenge to choose which ones best represent my experiences here.

Snapshot One:
Is me standing on the steps of the Hindu temple looking at the white building and manicured grounds with mixed feelings of interest, expectancy and dread. Last week I learned that I was above all a kinesthetic learner. This explains why I felt a sense of expectancy because I value greatly the opportunity to see the temple and dialogue face to face with Hindu believers. To me it is a one in a life time experience to climb the steps of a Hindu temple with a Hindu believer and take time to hear their opinions and understand their journey. On the other hand I am so often troubled and grieved by witnessing deeply sincere and religious people chase after a state being that will not materialize as advertised. We walked into the Hindu sanctuary and I was very interested to see how it was laid out but my interest turned to alarm. When I stepped into the room I smelled the incense and turned to take a seat in one of the chairs and I suddenly felt as though something was sitting on me and could not draw a deep breath. I tried to tell myself that it was in my head but as I continued to try and draw oxygen I had to breath in quick shallow breaths as the weight would not lift. Looking around no one else seemed bothered but I had a difficult time concentrating on the presentation.

Snapshot Two:
J. Is sitting across from me with a colorful mixture of white and red on the corner of his mouth from the sloppy hamburger he is eating. I took my friend J. To the library on Tuesday and as a reward I took him out for a burger. Inadvertently, I have my friend trained, he has come to understand that I carry my debit card and rarely cash. If we need to buy something like a burger, bus pass, or umbrella he will shoot into the store ahead of me and ask if they take VISA. I enjoy the perplexed look on the clerks faces as they take look down at the little kid. A funny and fun friendship is forming and I think he is starting to believe that I am here to support and encourage him. In homework, typing and computer work he still has trouble staying on task for more than two minutes but now will submit to my encouragement to refocus. I hope he will stick the typing program out because it has lost some of its glamour and he sees how much work it will take. One of J's biggest issues is his lack of patience. I know that is typical for kids his age but I feel it perhaps is the most important far reaching issues I can work with him on (wash-on, wash-off Danielson). He has to learn to be patient with himself.

Snapshot Three:
I am clutching my extra tall cup of coffee with at least a quarter cup of low carb flavored creamer (yeah babe!) while sitting on the floor with my friend Jis. We finally started our official Bible study of sorts and it went absolutely splendid. I felt disorganized, flustered, unprepared, and irritated with life in general but once I got there it seemed to click that this was part of Jesus sovereign plan and the peace of the Lord settled. The meeting was only supposed to last strictly 1 hour because of homework and other things but we ended up talking for 2 and a half hours. We just read out of Beth Moore's book Breaking Free From Spiritual Strongholds and talked about what we thought and were convicted by. It was such a normal and easy going time. I already am mourning the fact that our time is short. Arrgg. My prayer is that the time will be stuffed full of God and his purposes for us and the time will seem to stretch out.

My final thought is lingering from a wonderful speaker that came to class Friday. He brought a timely word, but left us with one thought. "God is speaking...what is he saying?"