It all started with these words “Those are so pretty!” Saturday, the 25th, I woke up with a poor attitude and I let it affect me all day. I just wanted to go home really bad, I looked up plane tickets and stayed in my tent watching Gilmore Girls because that is what my grandma and I would do all the time. My team asked me to play MonopolyDeal and I turned it down until Sam came into the room telling me to get out of there and play. So I got up and I played with a sucky attitude. I was pissed off playing the whole time and I even took it out on Katherine. When she acknowledged me for it, I got even more pissed about it. I went back to my tent and watched more Gilmore Girls until minitrsy. When ministry came around I got in the car and didn’t say a word. I was still mad and wanted to go home. When we got to our site we went inside. My teammates could tell that I wasn’t doing well but I said I just wasn’t felling good and then I walked outside and sat down next to some local girls. I had noted her bangels and I said “those are so pretty” her mom had heard me and told the girl to go get some for me. The language barrier was hard put I could put two and two together in this moment. As the daughter was getting the bangels I pointed to the grandmas hair because it was braded and they took my hair and started to braid it. They attached some flowers to make it pretty. When the daughter came back with the bangels she started to put them on my wrist. They were so small I couldn’t understand how she got them to fit around my wrist. The mother then called me inside to put on a saree and at this time I new they were having the time of there life dressing up an American. We had our laughs and giggles putting the saree on. Their daughter brought their photo album out to show me some pictures of them at a church function. As I was looking at the photos I stared relizing that the mother was giving me a gift and this wasn’t a dress up party. My heart was so full I couldn’t comprehend what was going on when it was going on. I walked out of the room and my whole team was impressed by the India attire I was wearing. As I went to go set back down, the daughter brought hennona ink to draw on my hand. I was so amazed by their love for me as a stranger and for caring so much about me. They had no clue how I was felling today at all and they chose to love me with all of what they had. At the end of service, after many photos and delicious food, the mother had ask me to come inside the house and take the saree off. She was telling me to keep it. To hide it in my back pack and to keep it. In the India calture this has to mean a lot. Because 98% of people live under the poverty line, and you could tell this family didn’t have much. But she gave me a beautiful saree. My heart was so full I didn’t know what to say, I was crying and kept asking “are you sure? Are you sure? You should keep it.” And she bobbled her head yes “I’m sure you keep it.” I wish I had money on me to pay her back or to give her something. I can’t express how I was feeling. So I then went outside and asked to taken a photo of her with my polaroid as a thank you. I know this meant so much to her as they don’t get photos a lot. As I left the ministry site knowing I wouldn’t see this family ever again until we meet in heaven, I knew that their hearts are so filled with love and to give it to everyone they come in contact with. They truly are an inspiration to me. They well forever mean so much to me. And as I’m walking to the car the mother says “I will forever remember this photo.” I gave her a hug and say goodbye.
