Today I took the day off to go to Houston in order to get an Indian Visa place in my passport! My dad and I drove to Kingwood (a town near Houston) Sunday night and stayed the night with my Aunt Debbie and Uncle Mike to be closer to make it in plenty of time to the Indian Consulate visa office. Sunday evening my family and I were discussing what time I was planning on leaving and what the plan of the day was going to be like. I said I was going to wake up at 645 and leave by 7 ish because Houston is known for terrible traffic and I didn’t want to be late! I had my alarm set, I went to bed at 9 and was ready for this to happen! Well morning came I looked at my phone, my alarm clock was going off silently and it was 7:45 am!!! I jumped out of bed, got dressed, ran down stairs to my car to then remember all of my visa info and passport were still upstairs! Ran back upstairs and then back downstairs with all info in hand made it to the car and stopped to pray!
Lord, thank you for the extra sleep you know I needed that! Lord, I trust that you have this day in your hands and I pray that you would take my worries away and that this visa would go smoothly! Amen!
So, I start driving and make it all the way to downtown Houston without traffic hindering my way!! I park, and start on my walk to the visa building and It was only 8:30 am! God is good!! I had 30 minutes to get to the visa office before the door opened! So I stopped at a cute coffee place and had a delightful time getting a cup of chai (not intentional – indian drink / indian visa)!
I make it to the line, and there was a woman who made it right after me that we will call S because I literally have no was of knowing how to pronounce her name! She and I were chatting in line and continued through our wait following seating with each out. During our conversation, I learned she is a Christian, growing up in a Christian family! Her brother that still lives in India is a methodist preacher! She introduced me to her brother who lives in America, they both said they are going to keep up with my blog and pray for my squad and I over this next year! S it was such a joy meeting you and I was blessed with our hour and half at the visa office! I pray you make to India safe!
The best story came after I left the Visa building!! There was a woman in a wheelchair with a floppy hat, two scarfs on, a warm coat, a shirt with scripture and multiple necklaces of beads and crosses. She was begging for money, I stopped telling her I had a few dollars, she thanked me and said ” oh wonderful, I can get cigarettes” I immediately chuckled! Its not often when people are so honest with their intentions and I loved it! I asked to pray with her, she said yes! She handed me her hand and I grabbed it and held tight! She told me her name is Jewel! I got through a few words of prayer when Jewel told me she was Schizophrenic Bipolar and had been homeless for 26 years! I told her I worked at a treatment center and looked straight into her hazel eyes, grabbed her hand tighter and said I am so sorry am around people that have similar struggles when I am at work! She told me she refuses her meds and her family can’t take care of her! She told me she had two daughters named alice… in wonderland, and cinderella I smiled knowing this conversation had ended because her psychosis took over, but she told me cinderella was searching for alice because she had been lost for awhile! I feel there is probably some truth in that comment! I comforted her and told her she is loved and special! I told her to find a safe place for the holiday!
I walked away barely able not to jump and talk to everyone around me! It was such a neat day and God placed the coolest situations before me!! I will never forget S and Jewel! I look forward to praising our King Jesus in heaven one day!!
I pray your Thanksgiving is full of love and thankfulness! I pray you are warm and safe! Thank you for reading my blog! I am 6 weeks away from leaving! Keep praying for me and my squad as we prepare!
Love y’all! Christina
