So foreign and so familiar #1
It is really quite bizarre. We land and everything smells like curry. I (Nancy) imagine the Pizza Hut we pass serves pizza that tastes NOTHING like the pizza at home. Even McDonalds serves veggie burgers (Hindus are vegetarians). All my senses are attacked at once, letting me know I am NOT home and yet everything looks familiar. I know exactly where Moses will stand to greet us as we exit customs. I know the drive from the airport passes the internationally famous FISH building. Very strange yet interesting in a quirky way. All the massive billboards advertise the same sale that was running 5 yrs ago when I first came. I am always entertained by the ads for schools- Brilliant Scholars Grammar School, Wise Child Preschool, First Class High School just to name a few. All the elementary school children wear uniforms similar our parochial schools, but they attend public school—ahh same but different. Cars and motorcycles are everywhere – literally, even on the “sidewalks”. Traffic moves in mostly in the correct direction but can and will change if there is a space to slide your vehicle into to move faster. NYC taxi drivers would be put to shame and considered amateurs behind the wheel on these roads.
All in all, I found myself smiling thankfully that we made it to this familiar but crazy place. I am praising God for people like YOU that prayed we would make it here safety. No small feat considering we rerouted AROUND our usual Iran & Iraq flight pattern over a “safer” Pakistan and Afghanistan. These days safety is relative. I requested people to pray we would be “invisible” to any authorities that would not appreciate us entering the country. We literally buzzed right through customs and border control …a quick look up from the officer followed by a firm stamp on my Visa and a head nod to move forward. I’ll take it!! Another checkpoint and onto baggage claim!. My suitcase was opened by security in the USA – TSA is kind enough to leave you a note in your luggage. Maybe they just could not believe I had 25 packs of tuna in there and wanted to see for themselves?
Your prayers have resulted in great peace, safety and strength for the moment. We would be in shambles without you interceding to the Father in our behalf. You are needed. You are loved. You are FABULOUS! (January 15, 2020 Hyderabad, India)
Philippians 1:3-8 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Who do YOU thank God for? Why not tell them today.
Love, Nancy and Jerry