Serving with Stained Hands...

It's so crazy to think that you can get so close to someone in just a short period of time! This has happened more than once in my life, but I am specifically talking about my trio to Kolkata right now. I was unsure how spending my birthday halfway across the world from home with people I had known for less than a week would pan out. Well, I was greeted in the morning on the way to breakfast with a Happy Birthday banner from one of my Mexican friends, and then one of my Japanese friends bought me a present (a bird whistle), then my roommate Marjorie and friend, Ciara bought me a ring of beautiful flowers that apparently people use to place on statues of gods, so I wasn't supposed to wear them! Haha! Then, we spent the whole afternoon together, eating dinner at our favorite place, going to the coffee shop, then getting henna!! It looks really legit!! :)

That morning I traveled to Kalighat on the bus all alone, because I needed to get there earlier than normal to help with wound care! I had some man lead me there after I got off the bus, though, because I was a little lost, but I made it there safely and on time! No worries! Wound care was so great that morning! I mean, they were some of the worst wounds I have seen yet, and the worst part about them was the smell, but it was still a great learning experience for me! I also got to talk to the sister who was the head nurse there, and she was telling me all about the history of Kalighat! I asked her how the patients actually end up at Kalighat. She told me that people from the streets just bring them in when they know they are bad enough to need it, and also government officials will do the same. The whole city just knows the good that this place provides for people. She commented as well on how people who had stayed there and gotten well enough to go back to the streets will now come back every once in a while for a cold or jus to shower, but the sisters are MORE than happy to serve them and have them come in for whatever! I loved hearing that!! This place is like the hospital they WANT to go to, because the other public hospitals are so corrupt! The craziest part about Kalighat is that it is PART OF THE HINDU TEMPLE, but now they are letting Christians serve the poor through it! How great is that?!?!...Right in the middle of Hindu country, God's hand is obviously at work! After wound care, I helped by massaging, brusing teeth, exercise, and washing dishes. Then, I went and had birthday celebration, like I mentioned earlier!!

My last day of Kalighat was bittersweet! I was sad to say goodbye to everyone, but I still had one whole day with them. So, I tried to do as much as I could, but I could tell that I was getting worn out, and would definitely need a break when I got to phnom Penh. So, I said my goodbyes after the normal routine...Oh, and with wound care tat morning, the sister let me do more of the cleaning by myself, and that was gross, but great all at the same time!! That afternoon, I went with one of the Mexicans to the Dispensory. It is another one of the Missionaries of Charity places, where they do walk-in wound care. I was not able to stay very long, but I got to dress two more wounds, then left to go meet up with Marjorie! We went and had coffee with Ciara and Lorea. We talked all about our college systems and how that all works. Then, we just hung out the rest of the night! I packed up and just said my goodbyes to those I could!

god's grace and provision was very evident the morning I left for Phnom Penh! I got to the airport a little late, because my driver had no idea where it was. Then, he dropped me off at the Domestic one instead of the international one, so I had to run there. Once I got inside, it was a little confusing, but I finally made it to the check in counter. Well, my bags are a little too heavy, because I forgot to factor in that international weights are a lot lighter than domestic in America, but when they were too heavy from my flight from Bangalore to Kolkata, the price was only about $8, so I didn't really worry about paying that. However, this morning the price was $150, because it was a different airlines! I freaked out a little bit, and started to tear up, but I told the woman I needed to call my dad to see what I needed to do. The phone was not working though, so when she got back, I had just decided that I would pay it, and figure out what to do later, because I didn't have much time before my flight left. well, in the time that I was trying to call my dad, she had gone to talk to whom I am guessing is the manager. They came over and started to give me options, but none of them seemed to work out for me, because they all required more complications, and paying in cash, which I didn't have on me at the moment. I started crying, but I was trying to hide it, because I didn't want to make them feel bad that MY bags were overweight. after talking a while in their language, they told me that they were going to send my bags all the way through, and not charge me AT ALL!!! WHAT?!?!?!?!....I said thank you like a million times, and the manager just looked at me and said something like, "It's because we both serve the same God who created us, and it just makes me happy to be abel to make people smile." How great is that! Well, then I rushed through immigration and security, and then they escorted me to the bus that brought me to the plane, because I was running late!

The flight seemed so long, and I had the whole row to myself, so I slept for most of it! Bangkok airport was really big, but I found my way to the check-in, and then my gate, and I took another nap..I was apparently very tired. After my 3 hour layover, I boarded the plane, and in no time I was in Phnom Penh! I waited for Dani outside, and then I saw her running up to me, and I was SO ecstatic!! It was SO great to see a familiar face!!!!! Then, it was tradition to go get blizzards from the DQ in the airport, so we did, and the first thing that she wanted to talk about was Steven...so, we did all the way home! Then, we talked about my previous trips and just what the LORD has taught me, and it was so great!!!!!

I woke up the next morning quite discouraged! Skype hadn't worked the night before, and I was just missing people back home, so I decided that I REALLY needed to get into the Word. I started writing and reading, and it was just like refreshing waters washed over me! I was once again renewed with strength! I had been weary of my purpose here in Cambodia, not really sure why was here! I knew it was good to see Dani, but I knew there had to be something more as well! I was reminded of Is. 61:1-4, from Breaking Free that I had read over and over a long time ago! I read it, and God said to me, "That is your purpose"! So, this weekend, we are planning on taking tour de Phnom Penh, and then I get to go to my first class and meet the kids with Dani on Monday! I am QUITE excited!!!! :)

I cannot believe that I am on my last leg of the trip, but I am pumped to see what the LORD has in store on literally the other side of the world!! :)