A Foggy Day in Londontown...

So... this post is technically about India... But I did get to spend an afternoon in London due to a missed flight on our way to India(Daaaang it ;)) AND as we were landing in London on the way back, it was a foggy day and it made me reminisce about listening to this Michael Buble song with my roommates.

Anyways... :) this is one of a couple/ a few posts I will write to update you all on INDIYUH! This first post will be more fun, the next will be more logistical and detailed!!

While I was in India I kept a daily(ish) journal on what happened and wrote "a lesson a day" for the number of days I was in India. I also wrote a list of things I will miss most and things I wont miss so much about India. Hope it can give you an initial feel of how the trip went :D.

Lesson #1: Don't ever kill a bug and leave it, it will get devoured by a trail of some 10 million odd ants...

Lesson #2: Always carry a flashlight.

Lesson #3: Bobby pins and hair clips make fairly decent clothes pins ;).

Lesson #4: Always take a rain jacket and sweatshirt to India... believe it or not you actually CAN get very cold and very wet.

Lesson #5: No matter how sketch other people might think it is, always bring a sharpened pocket knife or folding blade :).

Lesson #6: Palmfrond brooms make superb bug killing devices :).

Lesson #7: Always carry extra water and be prepared to roll with anything.

Lesson #8: Always be prepared... to be completely unprepared ;), there's no telling what could happen.

Lesson #9: Triple check that you have multiple contacts when you have a large group travelling through a foreign country who can speak both your language and the native language.

Lesson #10: Countertop cleaner (aka. Mr. Muscle) is very effective against giant flying Indian cockroaches!

Lesson #11: Never go for a walk without your camera!!

Lesson #12: Rain is one of the sweetest blessings!

Lesson #13: Always utilize your rickshaw room! 15 people in one is good ;).

Lesson #14: God is bigger than anything and mighty to save!

Lesson #15: Always wear A LOT of bug spray in a jungle...

Lesson #16: Never. Ever. Ever.... EVER even think about trying to drive in India... It's way too complicated :).

Lesson #17: Indians take tea very seriously :).

Lesson #18: The Truth of God is more powerful than Satan.

Lesson #19: Never make overly emphatic remarks about things to your hosts... they take them seriously to the extreme ;).

Lesson #20: God's Word is full of life and we must be rooted in it daily. He must become greater, we must become less!

Lesson #21: Take time daily to stand back in awe of God.

Lesson #22: The influences of a roommate do stick with a person, no matter how far away they go.

Lesson #23: No kind of deformity or physical ailment of this world can and should be allowed to lessen our joy in God.

Lesson #24: It is an amazing blessing to feed a mouth that cannot feed itself and rejoice and laugh with those that society deems as "handicapped".

Lesson #25: We can do nothing worthwhile or good apart from Christ, therefore He must be in control, supreme, and our source of joy.

Lesson #26: There are so many simple things that we take for granted in the states, like: consistent power, smooth roads, cars with forward facing seats, clean smells, digestive health... and the list goes ever on and on...

Lesson #27: Always be sure to give Alex Goedhart a guitar and have her improv a song ;).

Lesson #28: Goodbyes are always hard :/...

Lesson #29: It's not possible to get tired of naan (delicious Indian bread).

Lesson #30: We serve a Living God who hears and answers prayers.

Lesson #31: Don't let cross-cultural frustrations get in the way of your view of a situation.

Lesson #32: AC sleeper trains are da-BOMB!

Lesson #33: Almost anything tastes good on top of roti (Indian tortilla-like things :))

Lesson #34: Be prepared to feel foreign to your body by the end of a long trip.

Lesson #35: Take the time to appreciate the artistry and talent of others.

Lesson #36: British Airways' abbreviation is B-A for good reason ;).

Lesson #37: You can't beat jet lag... no matter how hard you strive against it, it will overcome...

Lesson #38: I must go back to England someday :).

Lesson #39: Always remember to thank God for all the blessings and gifts He bestows :).

Those are just some of the lessons I learned while in India :). Aaaand, here are two lists:

Some of the Things I Will Miss Most:
-Rickshaw rides through the cities.
-The mercy home kids.
-The dance and music of India.
-The fresh fruit (mangoesssss!).
-Cassidy Hursey and Sam Thompson. (two great people I got to meet on this trip!)
-Having so much free time to reflect on the Word and spend time with God.
-The Taj Mahal :D
-Having tea time 3-4 times a day :).
-The people!!
-The simplicity of joy there.
-Getting to work in their library full of centuries of Christian knowledge.
-The beautiful wood and metal work, or, in short, the ancient Indian architecture styles :).
-Hearing people's amazing testimonies!!
-Amazing coffee.
-The vast array of sounds that come out of vehicles when someone honks the horn.
-The market places ^_^.
-The COLORS!
-The elephants :).
-The wide array of interesting transportation.
-The friendliness, hospitality and kindness of the Indian people!
-The henna :).
-Getting to see God work in such a different way in such a different place!! :)

Some Things I May Or May Not Miss Too Very Much ;):
-unreliable power (aka unreliable sanctuary from the heat)
-unreliable plumbing
-unreliable source and amount of toilet paper.
-dehydration, diziness and nausea.
-the heat and humidity.
-the frustration of a big language barrier.
-the crowdedness.
-being treated like a pop star (aka: being stared at and taken pictures of all the time)
-getting sick.
-the cries of children as their parents drop them off and leave them at the mercy homes :(.
-the amount of trash and varrying smells everywhere.