Tuesday, October 9

The commonplace.

Yesterday was such a beautiful day.
As many of you know, Monday is our day off with PMI, so I took the initiative to sleep in :)
I got up late and soon decided with Praise to spend the day shopping. We waited for Praise's cousin Campy to get off her half day of work, and the three of us whisked away on the metro 8 stations down and from there took a short auto-rickshaw trip to what is now my favorite market in Delhi! I brought the bare minimum as far as wardrobe goes when I flew in here, so I haven't felt bad bolstering my wardrobe a bit, but after yesterday I don't think I have an excuse anymore. I got scarves for dupata, stretchy comfortable tasseled pants, 5 different shirts for 60c each, a beaded dress for a dollar, and a flowered chambray shirt for three dollars. I was standing in a tapestry booth while Campy was getting curtains for her new apartment, and suddenly it just dawned on me that I was here surrounded by tassels and flowing fabrics and locals in this richly colored, culture filled, thoroughly Indian setting - I could have dreamed it up and it wouldn't have looked more perfect. I thought, this is something to mention "in passing" at home when you want people to be impressed with your worldly travels. It's something to brag about, such an ethnic immersion... and yet, before and after the passing thought, my day out with my two girlfriends felt to me completely commonplace. The fact that any traveler's adventures fill my days so fully as to make them familiar settings to me is a thrilling prospect.
We also decided to stop at a street vendor for some chole bhature, so i sent up a quick pleading prayer for my health and then FULLY enjoyed it. Someday you should get an 80 cent plate of steaming puffed bread, spices, and chickpeas you can plop down on the pavement and eat with your hands (well, i guess i mean hand... the left is reserved for plate holding and water pouring.) Oh, it's just the best.

Also noteworthy for yesterday: PMI staff member Anil and his wife Suman have just had their first baby, a girl! We got to go and see her yesterday -- she came in two weeks late at a whopping 4.5kg, yes, 9.9 pounds. I couldn't believe my eyes as i held this baby at two hours old, sprawled out at the size of a one-month-old with more hair than me. She's a precious gift from the Father. I can't wait to see her and her family grow.

As my love of India has made it ordinary to me, i pray that i would have just such a pedestrian familiarity with the story and Truth of the Good News. I long for the Father to ignite my heart to share, that I would not be able to hold back hope from the friends i have grown to love. I have had many occasions thus far to live a life that demonstrates incarnational Love and a devotion to Truth, and one amazing opportunity to share my testimony and the way to Hope and Truth directly. I hope for many more such opportunities, and for measures upon measures of boldness to take advantage of them. My heart is ready for it, and my purpose demands it.

Staying, Learning, Thriving,
Julie the commonplace.

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