Great news friends.  Julia is going to be our guest blogger on Jonesbones5 for the next couple weeks.  I am a proud mama and I can’t wait to read along.  Of course I am absolutely having to let go and trust God with her heart and life, but thankful my husband will be with her.  Anyway, it’s a long time and coming, and in a few days she will head off for an adventure.  I hope you read along!  

INDIA, Six Days…by Julia

In six days I will be waking up at the crack of dawn, heading to the airport, and boarding my flight to India.

Eleven years ago, I was standing at a little Compassion booth that was set up in my church. My dad told me to pick a little girl that was born the same year I was. I found a packet with a beautiful girls picture adorning it.

Her name was Remya, she lived in India; I told my dad that I wanted to sponsor her. I wrote my first letter and sent it off. That day was the start of a beautiful friendship.

In 2009, my mom had the chance to go to India, and on that trip, my mom met Remya.

 On the day my mom met Remya, I received a phone call, my mom told me that Remya was right by her and wanted to say hello to me. She handed the phone to Remya. I could practically see the smile on Remya’s face the way she was giggling. I couldn’t help myself from crying. Tears poured down my face as she told me that she loved me. I told her I loved her too. I knew at that moment that I had to go to India to meet this giggling girl. I had to see her and hug her and tell her just how much I loved her in person. I had to tell her how beautiful she was and how much God loved her. When my mom came home from the trip she looked at me and said, “We have to find a way to get you to India, you will adore her.”

My dad planned the trip and here we are, heading to India in just six days. But now that the trip is almost here, I don’t know how to feel. Thoughts and feelings are racing through my head a mile a minute, trying to distract me from God. There is a spiritual battle going on in my heart. Worry and anxiety are in the place of peace, fear and premeditated failure in the place of excitement. I think over the smallest details, like, what if I can’t think of anything to say to Remya? I would laugh if someone else had expressed that anxiety to me, just out of the sheer stupidity. I would tell anyone else that they were worrying about something preposterous, that when the time comes, God will give them the words they need to say, I would tell them to have fun and let go of expectations. But I find myself worrying anyway. Don’t get me wrong here, I am extremely excited to go on this trip, I just have my moments of worrying.

Last Sunday, my pastor called my dad and me up to the stage, for the congregation to pray over us. I asked that they pray over our hearts, as India is a dark place and no doubt we will be vulnerable to the devils attack. Knowing that I have people who are praying over my dad and me, even before this trip, has helped put my mind at ease. It has helped me focus on preparing for the trip and setting my heart on the Lord.

Tonight I’m feeling excited, ready to go. I’m wishing that the trip would start tomorrow. I’m glad to have more time to prepare logistically and to prepare my heart. But I do feel a lot like a kid the week before Christmas. These are going to be a long six days waiting to go.  Waiting for this moment I have thought about for many years.  6 more days.