June 19th

I really enjoyed writing last night's blog post in list/bullet point mode...there are too many things to write about, list form is perfect. I think I will keep that up for a while. Ok, today, June 19th!

-woke up at 5am. The students always have a student-led worship time at 5am every morning and their voices are all so beautiful. There are so many talented singers, dancers and musicians at the school, I don't think they realize how beautiful they really are. Not only are they musically amazing, but their joy and worship...at 5am...is really something to be admired. So beautiful. So much discipline, determination and initiative. I may be teaching this summer, but they are teaching me.

-I lost my Indian cell phone. It is somewhere in the house....but I am not sure where, and I cannot remember my Indian cell phone number to call it... It's just like home, guys.

- there are lizards EVERYWHERE. Lizards on my bed, lizards on the walls, lizards by the lights in search for moths to munch on, lizards on the windows, lizards in the bathroom, lizards on yourself.... But here is the thing, guys. Lizards are my second favorite animal, first is frogs/toads. I have always loved amphibians and reptiles, found them, took pictures of them, enjoyed them, read books on them...so the reality that lizards are everywhere is like heaven to me, guys. Like...imagine a little girl in a room full of puppies. That's my reaction to frogs, lizards and toads. This is the best. The beeeest.

-WE HAD GULAB JAMUN TODAY. If you know me well, you know that the gulab jamun is one of my favorite Indian sweets. Yesssss. Oh my goodness, the fact that there are leftovers just makes me so happy. Indian food is 1000000x better than American food.

- spicy food is the best food. Food without spices is so boring. I love spicy food! 

-it was a lot cooler today, 84F. It felt so good. I enjoyed the weather today. We were all hoping for rain, but it only sprinkled...but it felt very nice.

-everyone went jogging this morning, except for me. I decided to stay behind because my back hurts from the beds and I need all the energy I can get for some serious games of tag. I take tag very, very seriously.

-speaking of tag, the kids and I played tag, piggyback rides and general roughhouseing and goofing off...and I am coated--absolutely coated--in bruises. Like I said. I take tag very, very seriously.

-we recorded a video of all four of us for the website, I will let you all know when Revo, the awesome video/media guy, finishes the video.

-ah, yes, after the worship at 5 everyone jogged except me, and it was 5:45ish am. Instead of jogging, I sat on the 'bed' (literally a bed frame with a sheet of wood nailed to it for sitting on, Indian-style, in the front courtyard), looked at the mountain, looked at the palm trees and smelled the sweet air, read my bible, had the best chai in the world and prayed. God is so good.
  After a while, my host parents, Siani and Suphala woke up and joined me in the courtyard, sitting Indian style, drinking chai and we talked about how good God is, discussed things and laughed. Siani is a very, very smart man with many degrees and an amazing theological mind, but more than the degrees and theological knowledge, he is absolutely, truly, madly, deeply in love with Christ Jesus our Lord. He and his wife, Suphala, have an amazing testimony and an amazing story of how they grew up in India. They are reliant on the Father and constantly in prayer and joy in The Lord. Often, Siani will simply break out into song, singing to God and laughing. Two words that could describe them are "trust and obey". You may have heard the old children's church song:
pJesus
    But to trust and obey"

A children's song, yes, but very true. And I think of that when I think of them. What beautiful, beautiful people.

-The little pgirls found out that I know some songs in Hindi (I only know Hindi a little bit, not even enough to have a conversation, but I know some songs), and even though the state language of Orissa is Oriya, some of the children speak Hindi as well. They have been begging me to sing for them and play guitar for them, but then they found that I know Hindi songs and I was singing Bollywood songs almost all day today for them. Hahahahahahaha :-)

-some of the littlest girls were trying to teach me Oriya today and I know how to name the parts of a face but still cannot count in Oriya! They laugh every time I try. I mess up every time.

-it amazes me that the children often speak not only Oriya, but English and Hindi as well, and sometimes even Telugu or Tamil! Likewise, many Indians speak not only their state's language, but Hindi and English, too. It makes me feel so incredibly lazy in comparison!!

- I got the books for teaching when school starts again on the 23rd. I will be teaching computer!! We brought over laptops for the school and I am very excited to teach!!

That is all I can think of to write at the moment. Today was a great day! God is faithful and has provided me with more energy. Love you all!

So, I'm in Orissa right now.

I am exhausted from traveling for days, so I will write down some experiences/highlights in list format :)

•Left Raleigh on June 15th, landed in London June 16th. Had two panic attacks on the plane... I am horrified of airplanes. I did not get any sleep that night and ripped an airplane pillow in my panic attack (sorry, American Airlines :-/). I have special medication for planes... But they failed to function. When we landed in London, I was too exhausted to enjoy/experience anything and promptly fell asleep at a table. (Sorry, airport restaurant) 

•Left London on June 16th, landed in Chennai June 17th. I took an Ambien and slept almost the entire ride. It was great! I needed the rest.

•From Chennai we flew to Vizag. It was an hour and a half long, played on my game boy color for some sweet sweet nostalgia and was ok.

•We were greeted in Vizag by Gloria (one of the staff in Orissa--and a totally goofy, fun girl) and her dad and then took a bus to the beach in Vizag. I didn't enjoy the beach... I was reminded of NC's beaches and I immediately felt homesick and sad. A lot of missionaries have described a "honeymoon phase" in the beginning of their missions, but I have sadly not had that phase. I immediately missed my best friend, Rebekah, and my heart has been breaking in a million pieces in the thought if not being with her. I know that may sound dumb to you, but she is the David to my Jonathan. She is a "friend that sticks closer than a brother" and I miss her. A ton.

•Also, I rode a horse in Vizag. It was a touristy thing that lasted about 5 minutes, but it was good because I have a totally irrational fear of horses--you'd think living in upstate NY and my grandpa's farm would have lessened my fear of horses but...nope. Still terrified of horses.

•From Vizag we took a train to Orissa. Despite what you may have heard, I enjoyed the train ride. I love trains. T was a sleeper train, so my "seat", #24, was a 3x6 pad above another person. Very crowded, very tight, only a curtain seperating me from everyone else and the train vendors trying to sell sweets...but despite the slight smell and the crowded-ness, it it was the highlight of my day since it was the first time I was alone in days. I kind of sat (kind of, it's kinda...I dunno, coffin-sized in there, but with an ever-so convineint light bulb) and just talked to God. It was really great, and I slept some more.

•We arrived in Orissa to see the children all lined up, holding flowers for us. It melted my heart and I went up and talked to all of the little girls. It was beautiful. I ha ear of big Indian welcomes, but this was probably the best one to have ever existed.

•We had a big, amazing dinner with the family and then went to bed.

•In my bed last night, I could not shut off my mind. I was in fear, very worried and anxious. To be honest, I don't have any reason to be in India other than God making it a VERY obvious "Brooke! Go to India". My mind flooded with questions. Why am I here? What am I doing? What will I do tomorrow? Will I go back to my job in America? Will I stay here? Will I be called to stay here forever and never see the ones I love? Will I ever get married? Will I die alone?

It was stupid and foolish to say these things in my mind...so I talked to God, quietly, as to not disturb the other three lovely girls in my room. I turned on my iPod and immediately played "Crowns" by Phinehas... the truth literally being screamed in my ears, it drowned out the toxic thoughts with what is true and the reason I am here: the nations will hear a new song. I listened to it a couple of times and then fell asleep.

•Today...wow. Today. School has been canceled until next week due to the heat. I hear it got up to 117F this week! It is a very humid heat as well, not unlike the feeling of sitting in a hot car. 

 Since school was canceled, us four girls went to the school kids and helped them with their homework. I read their literature to them (Oscar Wilde, so that made bookworm me very happy) and then goofed off and played drums and guitar with the kids, laughed and played.

•Hollah Hollah, I took a showah. 

•I am so aware of my selfishness. My life is not about me, not about my happiness. I am not here to be a hero or to save the world but I am here to serve, not be served. I am not here to be spoiled. I did not come here expecting to be spoiled or to be some sort of hero, I am only stating the obvious...but when I gave my life to Christ, my life ceased to be my own. I need to remind myself of that.

That's about it for now. Love you guys.