Dear India,
My entire life I have always loved you. Why? I’m not totally sure, there was just something about you that drew me in. Your culture encompassed me, your people intrigued me. A land full of vibrant color, filled with busy streets and its captivating people. Unique, a place until last year I never thought I would reach. India for the longest time you were a dream that seemed just out of reach. Still, I am here all because of the Lords perfect planning.
Because of that, I am experiencing you for the first time in my life. The only thing is you are nothing that I ever expected. I had expectations, pretty high ones to be honest and when I stepped off the plane and looked around for the first time I was taken aback. But not in the way you would think. In fact, my expectations were blown away in the best possible way. You became something that I never expected.
When I first saw you I had to blink. Was this even real? Your beauty intrigued me. A place filled with rolling hills and mountains. Clusters of bamboo trees and bushes covered with purple flowers. Trees stretching above me filled with sweet and sour giant lemons. As far as I could see streets filled with tuktuks and people all going somewhere. Around every corner, tiny little shops peaked out of the buildings. Every kind of colorful packages filled with sweets and crisps hanging from the ceiling and doors. They seemed to be bursting at the seems with just about everything. Market places filled with little thrift shops and stands overrun with every spice and fruit as well as some pretty questionable meats. The best chai tea I’ve ever had with the cookies that make me happy happy. Bakeries filled with chocolate balls and tubs of cookies, giving me a sweet tooth I didn’t know I had.
But that isn’t even the best part. India your beauty wouldn’t be anything without the people. They each have such kind and caring souls. Willing to always help out a stranger. Always there with a smile on their faces and always offering a hot cup of chai tea and a conversation. The Lord brought me all the way here just to see this place, but also to fall in love with its people. I have built relationships with the sweetest souls and have fallen in love with all the laughs and smiles.
India you have done a lot to me over the past two months. The Lord has used this beautiful country to inspire me to renew the artist inside me and the childlike faith. I have not only learned to just love on the little children that Abba places in my path but in return, it has restored the child in me who never got the chance to run and dance carelessly and freely. India you have taught me so many things. You have shown me love and true kindness, you have rebirth me. As I prepare to leave I know the passion for this beautiful place will never fade. This isn’t the last time I will be here. I believe deep in my heart that God has called me to this place and I can’t wait to come back. Until next time, stay beautiful.
