Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Transitions....

On Saturday, I will be heading north for the month. It will be great to be off the mountain, away from the rain, and just generally, with other people. I love it here and I love my friends, but mountain fever has set in and I really just want to get away for a bit. It will be great to see some friendly faces, some of whom I haven't seen in a LONG time... it will be nice to see them, and to meet new people who have a heart for India (after all, why would you give up your Christmas to come here if you didn't have at least a little place in your heart for these kids).

I can't wait to see what God is doing in their lives and what God will do while they're here.

When I return, life will be a little hectic for a while as, more than likely, I'll be moving into a different house. The story is a little complicated, so I won't bore you with it on here, but it hasn't been easy, and my roommate and I just feel that we'd both be better off in our own places.

If you could please pray for my family at home as they are going through things and my grandmother is ill, and just their health in general. Please also pray that if it's God's will for me to come home this summer that it works out. Everytime we get a little ahead, something comes up, so please just pray for that. I would love to be able to come home and watch my brother graduate, but I know that it may not be possible.

I keep waiting anxiously for a package that I know was sent 3 weeks ago. I would love to get a package, especially right before holidays, but we'll see how that works out.

If I don't get a chance to write in this again before Christmas, I hope you all have a very good holiday and remember the true reason for the season.

All my love,
Mel

Monday, November 17, 2008

Oceans....

Oceans in two senses: the ebbing and changing of life, and the literal ocean that separates me from home....

The first: ebbing and changing of life.... I've gotten back both my evaluations from Margaret and Pratap and I'm pleased with what they said. I know in one lesson they can't really see how my class operates, but I think they got the picture enough that they understood. The things they gave suggestions on are easy to improve. Pratap was very pleased with how the concerts went. He said he was apprehensive about how the concerts would go because there were so many new teachers, but he was very pleased. That's good to hear.

On Friday night we said goodbye to Cathy (one of the student teachers who was here). She left on Saturday to travel in India for a little while before going back to the states. Jenny leaves tomorrow. Margaret and Paul leave Wednesday. It's crazy. Two weeks from today I'll be up north for the break. It will be so good to get off the mountain.

::sigh::

The literal ocean: Friends are coupling, doing their senior recitals, getting married, having kids, getting jobs, buying houses, and I'm sitting here on top of a mountain. I love it here, but knowing I'm not settled is, well, unsettling. Wishing I could be home to see my family, to meet the new members that have come into the world, the one that will come in a few months. I would love to be able to be there. But then I have to remember: even if i was in the states right now, it would probably be June before I got to see her. Christmas I'd probably be able to see some people. But for the most part it would be June no matter where I lived.

I guess it doesn't help that I'm awful at updating. :-)

It's the last teaching week here at school, and I'm extremely excited. Concerts are over, my life is slowing down a little. I have a fridge and an oven at home on which to cook and store food. Life's moving up.

Have to go fix a xylophone, peace out!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Hi!

I will not be political. If you know me, you know where I stand, and that's all there is to it.

I will however say, that many actions of Americans have me saddened for our country. I have been bombarded with e-mail, comments, and just general webpages discussing the outcome of the election. hearing that people are scared to walk outside on their own college campus because of the result of the election is scary. Hearing someone say that if McCain had won, they were gonna smack a white person. It makes me sad to be American. The behavior from people on BOTH sides have me really glad I'm in India.

That is all I will say on this issue.

And that I'm praying for America. For its leaders. And its people.