A decade ago

It was dark.  And the road was dusty - mostly from sand and broken bits of glass, scattered randomly along the way.  I walked fast because I didn't trust the shadows or what lurked behind them.  But, I was a little excited.  Ice cream and TV!  Two American treats we hadn't seen in weeks.  These things were mostly for the haves... and we were staying with the have nots.  It was June of 2000, and we were in Madras, India.

I remember the oppressive heat.  Heat so intense that sweat poured out every part of my body immediately after our nightly bucket shower.  It was truly unbearable.  Temps registered upwards of 110 during the day, and hovered around 85-90 at night.  The ceiling fans did little to cool us down.  Charlie even got heat stroke.

We wore Saris - traditional Indian garments - when we went into town or to do ministry.  I wish now I still had them.  They were beautiful and all hand-sewn by woman in crowded, tiny shops that lined the streets.  We got to pick out fabric.  I don't remember exactly what mine looked like, but I remember the mixed emotions I had.  I loved my pattern in the store, but I didn't like it as a dress.  I still wore the 2 outfits anyways.

The food was delicious!  All kinds of rice dishes, flat breads, curry, and sauces... I enjoyed eating all of it, even as hard as it was to eat with your hands.  Locals made feasts out of 4 or 5 ingredients.  Maybe it was because we had so little there, but even a hard boiled egg was such a treat.  We never went hungry, amazingly enough.

I didn't like the cows, though.  Gaunt and covered with flies, they lounged around on the streets as cars roared by.  Cows are sacred in India so they are allowed to roam freely.  Laws protect them from any kind of harm or control.  They are revered.  So we ate chicken.  Did the chicken taste like American chicken?  Not really.  But I can't remember what kind of meat it resembled.

We sang.  We prayed.  We persevered.  We gave out medicine.  We played with the kids.  We felt so helpless at times, but we still hoped something greater would come from the little we did.  It was a trip to remember.
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So as I lay on my plush mattress with soft sheets tonight, a chubby face snuggled up on my arm, I remembered those weeks spent in Madras.  I would've never guessed back then, a decade later, I'd be a married mom with 2 kids living in a townhouse in Maryland - so far removed from third world existence.  I wonder now how they are doing... Ritchie, Cheryl, Tzudi.  Still alive and well, still keeping the faith?  I hope so.  I pray so.  Lord, let it be so.