Let me start by telling you that God has completely taken me out of my comfort zone on this trip. God definitely picked India… not me. I have a horrible time eating spicy food or drinking hot drinks… and I've never been away from my family and kids for this long- or at this great a distance. So on the first day when I was offered delicious, spicy food and steaming hot chai, I prayed for God to help me. Even when I went to bed, I was met by a scorpion at the food of my bed! I'm terrified of them! So all of this to say, my first day was completely out of my comfort zone and I was wondering how I'd make it through the rest of the trip. I slept somewhat that night, if you can call opening and closing your eyes every 20 minutes while feeling like you're melting into the bed, "sleeping". Ha!
The next day, I was very discouraged with how I was going to handle being in India eating spicy food and missing my family (especially my 2-year-old daughter). That day, God let me meet Ahksa, a 2-year-old little girl with a spunky personality…always moving around, climbing, and jumping off things. She even jumped off the second step without anyone prepared to catch her (or aware of what she was about to do), in a diving fashion. Thankfully, Connie was at the bottom of the steps and caught her just in time! As I sat on the floor with her, we began to play "patty-cake" (a favorite of my Emily). Then this happened:
Ahksa looked up with her beautiful brown eyes… she paused slightly, tilting her head. She immediately stopped playing and calmly got on her knees before me. As she was looking at me so intently, her tiny fingers found mine and she began to squeeze and hold my hands. It was then that she closed her eyes and boldy began to pray for me… a 2 year old, praying for ME!
In that moment, God brought me peace, comfort, joy, happiness, and strength through Ahksa. Thank goodness for her willingness to pray. The level of faith and spiritual awareness that these kids at the orphanage have is beyond words. Having this spunky, spiritual, 2-year-old pray for me will forever be carved into my heart.
*Photo by Connie Rock
