I feel so disconnected from this place. Although I've lived here my whole life, it's like a totally new experience to me. People have changed, situations have changed and I have changed. That pretty much sums up how different everything is. It's hard because I'm leaving in eleven days on another journey when I still feel like I haven't recuperated from my last journey. God's going to give me the strength, but after this trip I think I'm going to have to take a break so that I don't get burned out. I'm planning to spend the summer in Florida with my family down there. We will see how that pans out. I'm praying that the Lord leads me. I really want to be guided as to where I should be. My heart is all over the place. I want to be stable here, but I also love being a missionary. Please help me pray and ask God to show me where He needs me to be.
My parents went down to North Carolina to retrieve my brother. They went spontaneously because he wasn't doing so well. I'm at peace with it because I know that God is in control. Worrying isn't going to do anything but make my blood pressure rise.
I've got all the things I need for Thailand except I still need a little more support to reach my goal. I'm not worried about the support because I worship the King who owns all of the money in the world. Plus it's such a small detail in the scheme of things. I honestly believe that God will provide. The enemy tries to put our minds on support so that we don't get packing and start doubting whether or not we are really called to go on the field. My bags are getting packed whether I have all the money in my account or not. My plane ticket to Gainesville is already bought and Lord willing I will be on a plane May 13th to Georgia. That said, if you feel touched to give please do. If you don't, the least you can do is pray for a sister; that'll take like five minutes of your time.
Speaking of support, I got an anonymous donation to my account. I just want to take the time out to say thank you to whoever that was. I usually send out pictures and thank you cards to my supporters, but since I do not have that information, I wanted to publicly recognize that I appreciate your contribution and will be praying for you. God knows and that's all that matters.
I'm reading the book Lies that women believe: and the truth that sets them free by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. It's such a great book. It's so deep because it talks about how Satan strategically went to Eve first and fed her deception; never did he speak to Adam. She talks about how all bondage and strongholds can be traced back to lies that we have been fed and eventually believe and act on. God is really using this book to speak to me.
I'm really trying to push India, December 2008 in my youth group. I've got a few people interested, but I think I'm going to start sending out e-mails those that are interested in going and coach them on what to do to get there such as the passport application process and strategies on support fund raising. I think this is really important to start now since I will be away for most of the year. I don't know where God will be taking me next after my summer in Florida, but I'm really going to use my summer to relax and focus on family and support fund raising for the rest of the year.
What can I say? God has been good and faithful to me. The least I can do is His will.
The presentations went well on Friday
and Sunday. I still have to bring it to a few other places, but the
stress that I was feeling so heavily last week has been lifted. Thank
you all for your prayers and support. They were most definitely needed.
I am getting ready for Thailand
in all ways. I thank God for giving me this opportunity and giving me
the support that I need to go. I cannot tell you how overwhelmed I feel
by the tremendous feedback I am getting from all of my friends and
family. I think God has used me to stir a movement in the youth in my
church and the youth in my city. I just can't stop talking about India and the awesome things God was doing there. I have also been telling people about the trip to India
in December. Before I left, a lot of people were skeptical about what I
was doing and had a lot of negative things to say, but now that I've
come back with stories and pictures, everyone is curious. I like that.
I see how God is using me to touch those around me. It's great and I
hope it doesn't stop.
On Saturday night, though, I was up all night with my mother. My oldest brother lives in North Carolina
and he is bi-polar from many years of drug abuse. My brother fell into
drug addiction at the age of about 15 and slowly progressed from
marijuana to hallucinogens like angel dust. A while back he went cold
turkey and didn't tell anyone, which started a whole new set of
problems. All in all, we have been struggling for years with trips in
and out of the mental health unit. He does fine when he stays on his
medicine, but anyone who knows the nature of the disease knows that
this is the biggest battle, especially when they think they do not need
to be on medicine. It makes them feel like they are crazy. I constantly
pray that the Lord will heal my brother and save him. We are very
close, but this weekend we realized that he had been off of his
medicine for a while and was calling us talking craziness. I stayed up
all night with my mom. Thankfully our pastor's son is a cop down in NC
and I called him at 3 a.m. and asked him if he could go get my brother
and take him to the hospital. I felt very at peace with this situation.
India
definitely prepared me for craziness and the unexpected. I had to pray
more for my mom than anything. She gets so nervous. We are still
dealing with this situation and we may have to bring my brother to CT
again. He was doing so well in NC. He has a job and an apartment and
was just getting on his feet. Please help us pray for him.
I am holding an India party at my house this Saturday so I can share my experiences with friends and family all at once. I ordered some Indian food, got
the Hindi music ready, movies and Henna. I can't wait! It's going to be a good time.
God
is so good and faithful. Even through the midst of the storm I feel his
presence so strong. He has given me the strength to keep all of the
goals I had wanted to reach during my short time at home. I'm glad I
got to debrief my three months and really think about what kind of
things I wanted to bring back home and use here to bless my friends and
family. I'm being way more intentional about relationships and I am
more on top of responsibilities. I'm glad he has made the way for me in
all of my goals. All the glory goes to him.
It's good to be home. I'm finally back from India and I have gone non-stop all week and I'm still on the go. Three weeks until training camp for Thailand, wooo hoo!
So
today was my first emotional break down since I've been home. It seems
like everyone is fighting for a moment with me and I don't feel like
there's enough time in a day to get it all done. I'm only here for a
short time and I'm trying to get an India
presentation done for Sunday. I've done pretty well with seeing as many
people as possible, but I heard one too many times this week that
people are upset with me because I haven't contacted them yet or I
didn't set a date with them. On top of that my presentation was giving
me trouble, so I just sat in front of my laptop and balled my eyes out.
Apart of me felt like I was crying for more than the latter. Perhaps it
was also for the kids at Emmanuel Orphanage who I really want to help
but I don't know how. Maybe it was because I left the gift Sunita gave
me at the leper colony by accident. It could be because I miss my team
already. Who knows? I just felt overwhelmed and so I cried, and you
know what? It felt good.
On
a better note, I got an accountability partner keeping me honest for my
daily quiet times. I got in such a routine, that I don't want to slack
off just because I'm home and the distractions are never ending. It's
been working!
Also, another goal to have intentional
relationships at home was met. I really want to get into a deeper
relationship with my brother. I just wish we were friends. It's not
like we are enemies, but it's more like we are acquaintances and I
would like to have a better friendship with him. Anyway, I got this
good idea (during ATL) of visiting him at his job. He is a doctor and
works the 3rd shift in the emergency room. I went and bought him some
sushi and brought it over to him at about midnight (Yesterday). He was
really surprised to see me (because I've been away for 3 months). It
was nice to bless him in that way and I could tell he appreciated it.
Please help me pray for my relationship with my brother, it's really
important to me. Other
than that, I've seen a lot of friends, fam and church fam these past
days. It's nice to be home and see that you were loved and missed. I'm
attributing people's frustrations toward me to the fact that they love
and miss me because otherwise I would have to punch somebody. Just
joking guys...hehe. Never punch. I learned that from Alli.
Well
it's good to hear from you all and I promise I will be as regular with
these e-mails as I can. It's so good to not have to write in code
anymore, but I'm so used to it I have to force myself from adding stars
and dashes in words like pray and God. It was so fun! Oh well...
Posted in Trip Update
by Victoria Rosa
on 4/13/2008
I will be home in eight days. I cannot believe that. I don't have time to write anything deep, but I will post some things when I get a chance.
Last week was our last week of ministry. We said our goodbyes and it was sad, many tears. I received so many cards from the children at the orphanage it was overwhelming. I also got a few bracelets that the girls made me. I'm not going to take them off for a long time. I cannot wait to show you guys when I go home.
I cut my toe because I fell up the stairs (lol) and it was bleeding like crazy. It made me miserable yesterday because we went to the market and I had to walk on it all day. I'm always falling and hurting myself. G help me.
I finished my shopping for family and friends. I'm going to see the Taj Mahal on Wednesday. The rest of the week is debrief. We are winding down and having goodbye parties with our neighbors and friends. It's really sad. I cannot believe that I've been here fore three months already. It hasn't hit me yet. Perhaps the 15 hour plane ride will make it clear to me...
I wish I could explain a lot of things that G is showing me, but it'll have to wait.
Besides my toe, I'm doing great; no more stomach aches or fever and from what I know, I still don't have lice. The team is doing well. We are all sad that we have to leave each other soon, but we realize that G put us together for this season in our lives for a purpose and we have all been able to help each other grow. I'm glad that G knows what he's doing and he does it well.
Thailand is coming soon. Please help me pr-y for that team that I will be leading and my fellow co-leader Teresa. Ask G to give me strength and good health.
I cannot wait to see all of you back home. I am excited and sad; mixed emotions! My heart is on a roller coaster. I know that G knows everything and I know that He has everything under control. I will be getting home late Monday (April 21) night, my plane arrives in NY at about 10:30 p.m.
I think that's all for now. Catch you later! Fur mi lenge!
Posted in Trip Update
by Victoria Rosa
on 4/7/2008
I only have a little bit of time to write, so here it goes...
I've been sick ever since I wrote my last entry. I gave in and called my brother and my mom and with their encouragement (and Brian's instruction) I'm feeling much better today. All I've been eating is toast, but I'm feeling like I can actually live. Thanks to those of you who are pr-ying specifically for my health.
We are getting ready to leave India. This is our last week at our ministry sites. I'm really sad but I think after being sick, I'm starting to feel ready to head back home (although I'll only be there for 3 weeks). I'm excited to see my family and friends. I'm also excited to bring a presentation to my ch--ch family at home. From what it looks, I'm going to be presenting on the Sunday after I get back (really soon, but I only have 3 weeks to work with). Anyone interested in the presentation, let me know and I will bring it to your ch--ch.
I'm getting ready for Thailand. I have a lot of things on my list to get, but I know that I will be able to get everything that I need. I've been feeling drained, but after speaking to my family (including Lucas) on the phone, I felt a little revived. I'm so ready to eat beef, no one even uderstands. I'm bracing myself for the culture shock I'm going to get when I go back home. After being here for 3 months, I imagine everything back home is going to shock me---even the food! I've been on an all-carb diet here. I'm dying for meat, but I know I have to be careful about taking it all in when I go home.
Some things that I miss about home [that I took for granted] and I look forward to doing when I get back:
-driving my car -Eating Meat -Lettuce! -hot showers -my laptop -My BED -Electricity -Air conditioners -Washing Machines and Dryers -Eating Hamburgers -Famous Pizza -Mexican Food -Sushi -Privacy -Good Health -MOMMY! -Olive Garden -Salad -Chicken Tenders with Honey Mustard -Pork -My family -New England Clam Chowder -ALL Puerto Rican food (Meat and Cheese pastelillo, mofongo with shrimp and red sauce, pasteles, tostones, anything but RICE) -Dessert (Flan, Termasu, Apple pie a la mode, CHEESE CAKE) -Buffalo wings!! -Steak
I could go on and on with the food! (Mom this is a big hint that I would like some of these things when I go home.. o yeah and guava paste with queso tropical) I just totally ignored the idea of gradually bringing foods into my diet again, but seriously, I only have 3 weeks! :::sigh:::
I'm actually excited about going home. These 3 months went by so fast I cannot even begin to explain. I truly see how blessed I am at home and how G has given me so much to give to others. He gives us and provides for us and wants us to give what we have and bl-ss others. Living in a community with these girls for 3 months has shown me a glimpse of what the first ch--ch in Acts looked like, everyone sharing with everyone. It has given me a different perspective on how our weaknesses are made up by someone else's strengths and how our strengths cover up others' weaknesses. It's beautiful to see how G makes us all weak in some area to force us to work as a body. I love it! I have been able to feel stronger in my weaknesses because I have 12 other amazing sisters who make up where I lack in some way. I'm really grateful for that.
So basically I only have 20 more days for my journey. It's still a pretty good amount of time to make a difference though!
Good news is that my letters and pictures reached America! Yay! It only took 2 weeks to get from India to all of you back home! How exciting.
My support raising for Thailand is looking good. I will be leaving home on May 13th back to the field, so that means I'll only be in Bridgeport for 3 weeks once I get home from India. It seems like a little bit of time, but I think it'll be good. I will be putting together a presentation to show at ch—ch when I go home. I will post that date so everyone will be aware of when I will be giving the presentation and can join us at Good Shepherd to celebrate the wonderful things our father is doing in India together. If anyone is interested in having me bring the presentation to your house of praise, or ch—ch, just let me know in advanced so I can put you down. I don't want to forget about anyone who is interested.
I'm excited about the Thailand trip. I've been speaking to my co-leader and she seems really nice. She is from Philly. That makes three people I know in Philly already. I guess I'm going to have to make an appearance in that city one of these days. Her name is Teresa, so remember to lift her up to our father when you get the chance. We are going to be leading the team together and we really need all of your pr-yers.
So while the rest of my team is slowing getting lice, I still have been lice-free! Can you believe that?! I definitely can because I know Mama Emma is pr-ying for my hair. Our father gave her a vision of my hair and she started lifting it up to him and let me tell you something, it's working! Just the other day, while doing our routine lice checks, Cassie said, "It's a miracle you do not have lice in this hair." All of the kids we work with have it. They have used their combs in my hair. They have played with it and have put their heads against mine. It really IS a miracle. I've also raised a theory that maybe they don't like my gel. Whatever it is, I'm grateful.
The bugs have died down though. I had about 35 bites on my one leg alone, but after fumigating and washing my sheets, I haven't gotten bitten. I've been killing mosquitos like crazy too.
It's getting HOTT here. Ugh. It feels like a hundred degrees right now and all I do is sweat. It's so hot some nights I can't sleep. I guess it sort of feels like Puerto Rico because of the humidity. There was a sand storm the other day. The sand filled the sky and you couldn't see anything. At first when I looked into the distance I thought it could have been a tsunami because it felt kind of misty. Imagine that? My extremist mind cracks me up, but tsunamis happen in Asia guys so stop looking at me like I'm crazy. Then one night there was a thunderstorm and it woke all of us up. It sounded like it was right in our house. That's all the exciting news I have about the weather though. It's only rained about 3 times since we've been here. I'm glad we didn't come in the rainy monsoon season. I hate rain, unless I'm sleeping.
I keep bringing this up, but we want to come back to India in December. Those of you who are interested, please let me know. I can help you with support fund raising. We will be coming the first two weeks in December. If you are interested, e-mail me. My plan is to bring as many people back with me as I can.
Our water came back on a while ago, sorry for not updating you with that. Thank you for your prayers with that. Anna's dad is doing well. She has been able to speak to him and his heart surgery went well. Cassie is feeling better and her eyes aren't yellow anymore. Some girls were feeling a little sick this morning, but because we only have a few more times to see those at our sites, no one stayed home today. We want to spend as much time with the people as possible. Unfortunately, I just think that each week someone is going to get sick until we get back home. Our bodies are still adjusting.
Great news! Medicine in India is cheap. I was wondering how I was going to get medicine for the Thailand trip when I don't have insurance at home anymore. Well as we were talking about this, we realized that medicine here is cheap and you don't need prescription, all you do is tell them what you need at the pharmacy and they give it to you (that's just India). I was able to buy Cipro. Also, I think I need to get a yellow fever shot for Thailand and I just went to the Pharmacy and they sell it, so I'm going to buy it and have the hospital give it to me J and it's only going to cost me 30 American dollars. And I'm only going to be paying about 20 American dollars for malaria medicine here as opposed to the 200 I spent for malaria pills back in the States for this trip. You do the math. But wait, there's more. I'm going to go to the dentist too because it's really cheap and I don't have insurance for that either. Now if I were in some other country, I would never do this. However, having gone to my brother's Medical School graduation, I know from common knowledge that there are more doctors with the last name Patel than there are Puerto Ricans named Jesus. Indians are smart and they are good doctors, so don't worry, I'll be fine. Ha!
We went on a tour of Delhi last weekend. Some things that we saw: India Gate, The place Gandhi was cremated, Lotus Temple, Red Fort- which was built by Shah Jahan- the same guy who built the Taj Mahal and he also build the Jama Masjid, which is a mosque that we also were able to see on our tour. We saw some other stuff too, but those were the key places we went. It was nice to finally get a little break and see some of the Indian history. We will be going to see the Taj Mahal the last week we are here (the week of April 17th). It's really exciting. The only other exciting thing that happened that I can think of is that I was able to try on a Sari (an Indian dress) at a little shop that we went to in front of the team and some girls were able to get it on tape. It was black, chiffon and sequenced. Very nice if I do say so myself, and I was able to try on all of this expensive jewelry that was really cheap in comparison to what it WOULD be in the States. I was wearing Rubies, Emeralds and Turquoise. I figured that that was the closest I would get to owning anything as stunning as that, so I put it on and savored the moment. I figure I serve the master who owns all the money in the world. I'll get my crown one day, but it was a nice preview.
Our ministry sites are great. Our neighborhood loves us. Life is good.
"Sometimes we speak out to try and change the world, and other times we speak to try to keep the world from changing us." Elie Weisel
I got this quote from a book that I'm reading right now called, Irresistible Revolutionby Shane Claiborne. It really is challenging my school of thought on so many issues it's crazy, but I don't know exactly how I feel about it yet. I'm just putting it out there so maybe some of my friends at home will pick up and read this book so we can share our thoughts on it. I think it would be interesting to exchange thoughts.
This past weekend was Holi here in India. It is a holiday in the Hindu religion that celebrates the coming of Spring: Holi, Needless to say, our host told us that it would not be wise to go out at all during this celebration, so we were locked in the house from Friday to Sunday. We were, however, able to escape two times to visit one of the orphanage sites and take part with the kids in a talent show and on Easter morning. Other than that, we had stocked up on junk food, water and television! Yes, television. One of the American girls that works at the orphanage lent us the Fifth season of the Cosby Show and all the seasons of The Office (I heart Jim) on DVD. It was refreshing to feel like we were watching Television again. One of the girls brought her laptop so we were able to watch it on the 13 inch screen. Imagine that. Fourteen girls plus one room minus couches and a 13 inch screen equals lots of laughs. Although we went through our water supply toward the end, we survived and were let out yesterday for shopping at one of the markets. Good times.
We also borrowed a movie from her called Water. It's a Hindi film about a little girl whose husband dies (yes, I said husband) and she is sent to a house for widows. The movie is really good and I'm thinking of buying it when I get home. I also suggest that you watch it.
Speaking of water, we have not had water since Sunday night. Something to do with a pipe that burst (not in our house but somewhere in Delhi), I don't know. All I know is that things have started to look like primitive culture in our house. You never realize how much you use water until it's gone: dishes, toilets, baths, etc. It's crazy I tell you, but things could be worse. We were told that we should be getting our water back soon, but who knows. We might just be waterless for the remainder of the trip. Thank G I brought baby wipes.
I have a million bites on my legs. I'm not sure where they are from, some seem like mosquito bites and others seem like bed bugs. Whatever it is, they TORE me up. I have my mosquito net up and tucked in nicely, so I'm thinking it must be bed bugs. Ha! I'll take them over lice any day though. I still count that as a blessing.
All else is well here guys. One of the girls on the team who had the amoeba took her meds and is feeling much better now. The other girl who had abdominal pain is doing better also and I probably just had a bad coconut after all. I'm sorry, but the Puerto Rican in me cannot resist eating coconut! I love it!
Let me know what's going on at home. I know you guys are in your own world and life goes on without me there (although it's difficult to accept…lol), but remember that I love to hear from you guys, even if it's just a little sentence or two. What's going on with the presidential campaign? Who is in the lead? Does the war on Terror look like it's ending soon? Who won Project Runway? Are the American Idol contestants good, bad or mediocre? What new movies are coming out and who is in them? Is Brittany Spears still in court? Is Rent really going off-Broadway? What new Broadway shows are out? Any new interesting T.V. shows come out? New actresses or musical artists? How does the Yankee line up look this year? How is ch—ch? Any new members? I don't know, those are a few questions you can fill me in on because maybe that will spark some conversational e-mails worth writing (and reading).
Posted in Inspiration
by Victoria Rosa
on 3/25/2008
We do not come in and try to save everybody, we can't. No everybody wants to be saved. We don't come in with cr*sses and big B*bles. We don't set up and pr—ch on the side of the road. We don't pass out tracks; no. We use a different strategy. Not one that condemns or passes judgment. It is a strategy that works on any person—no matter what religion, race, age or sex. It reaches the person's heart and that strategy is love.
Sunita is a lady I have become very good friends with at my leper colony. Her father-in law is Satapa, a leper in our colony who lives in a box right outside of his home because he is too heavy for his wife to keep carrying him in and out. Sunita lives with her in-laws and stays at the colony as a housewife while her husband works daily. She is about 25 years old and she has a son.
Past teams have built a relationship with Satapa, so in our return, we have followed-up with their ministry and have extended it to his family. Sunita knows English, which makes it easier for us to communicate. I have been bringing her my Hindi book to learn more English from, too. In return, she cooks for me and teaches me how to make Indian dishes.
One day while I was watching a Hindi movie with her, she turned to me and said, "I always thought Americans were very proud and stuck up—only caring about their make-up and hair, but you have changed my mind. Because of you, I don't think that anymore."
This comment caught me by surprise. "Not all Americans are like that Sunita. Some are, but not all," I said.
It was a compliment, but little did she know the love she sees in us is not one that comes from our own doing. It is the love of G in us that she sees. It makes us so different from the Americans who come into the leper colonies to take pictures and exploit these people back in the states—on the covers of books and pamphlets.
During my fast, I presented Sunita's salvation to G and that he would provide an opening for us to specifically tell her what this love is about. I didn't tell the rest of my ministry team about this. On one of my off-days, which happened to be a day our ministry team was at the leper colony, the girls on my team spoke to Sunita about J. They asked her about The J Movie and she seemed very open and willing to see it. The girls thought of asking our host if we could get the movie in Hindi for her to see. We would like to give her a Hindi B*ble, but since her husband and the rest of the family are Hindu, we could be putting her in a dangerous position.
Therefore, the same spirit works toward the same purpose: as I was pr-ying about Sunita's salvation, my team members were planting and cultivating the seed. How awesome is that? When G is in control, the body works together so perfectly.
So let me start off by saying HAPPY EASTER!! I'm not going to be able to tell you on that day, so better early than never??! Yeah.
So many exciting things to share! Let's see…let's see.
First I'll start off by sharing how I've found P-nt-costals in India! How exciting is that!!??? I'm so excited no one even understands. Well the parents of Baby Asha's orphanage are from a P-nt-costal background. I called it! That's all I've got to say is that I knew it the moment he was praising our father and just kept saying H-ll-l-j-h and Praise the L over and over again, I thought to myself, "Man, this brother could get down in my ch—ch." Then after service when I brought the message (which happened to be the same message that Michael spoke on that day) he tells me, "Victoria, the reason why you and Michael had the same message is because it is the same spirit working together." And in my mind I was like, "Man, that is something a P-nt-costal would say." I felt it so strongly, but I didn't dare to ask because most of the C's we work with here are Baptists and lower key and I didn't want to offend him; but I knew it!!
And as if that wasn't enough, the lady in our neighborhood who is a C is ALSO P-nt-costal. I was flipping out! She showed me and Mary pictures of her b-pti-m and it was really cool to see that. We asked her if we could go to ch—ch with her, not this Sunday because it is Easter, but the Sunday after and she said yes! I cannot wait! I have been yearning to go to a P-nt-costal service. As much as I don't want to make it seem like there is a division in the body, our services are a bit different. People are raising their hands and praising out loud much more and I miss that. Believe it or not, it was an answered pr-y-r. I was feeling kind of dry lately and I didn't understand why and it's because I need a spirit-filled service in my life. I don't want to get into that much, but those who understand it will get it and those who don't, won't.
I have sent out support letters and e-mails for Thailand. Please, if you are interested, send in the support because I will be leaving for Thailand May 15th and that is right around the corner. I need to raise $2,500 for this trip.
The neighbors have been teaching me Indian dance. They are like Shakira dances, so it's easy for me to pick it up. Lol. The style of dance they were teaching me is called Punjabi dance. I love it.
I also saw a Hindi movie called Om Shanti Om at the leper colony the other day. It was really interesting and it was about 3 hours long, which is the length of any Bollywood movie. There's music, singing and dancing—so you already know I'm all about Bollywood. Just up my alley.
Can I just say that Indian people absolutely love my hair. Especially since I cut it and it springs up like a poof even more; they can't get enough. Where ever I go I have people complimenting me on my hair. They also like that it is dark. Little do they know I'm actually a blond at heart, but we don't have to tell them that.
So let me tell you a little story. I gave away my favorite earrings to a girl in Ajmer, India. They weren't very fancy, but they were small, silver hoops that I always wear. Anyway, I felt moved to give them to her because she really liked them and it was the least I could do. Yesterday, while visiting one of my many Indian mothers with Mary, she comes into the room with a little box. She gives a pair of earrings to Mary and then a pair to me. I think they are really beautiful, just my style of earrings: flashy! I love them. I was suddenly reminded of the earrings I had given away. Because my mind runs in tangents, I was reminded of another story that P-st-r Higgins told when he came to our ch—ch not too long ago. He had said that he once gave his watch away (the same way I gave away my earrings). It was his favorite watch, but for reasons that I don't remember, he had given it away. The same way I received a pair of earrings back, he too received a watch from someone else. I just find this trend sort of funny, because our father is showing me what a heart of service looks like and the joys of giving. So many times we hold on to things; things of this earth that are temporary and will fade away. I never expected anything in return for the earrings I gave away, but because I gave, I also received. I'm wearing my new earrings right now. I love them even more than my silver ones. I love them because they fit me perfectly. I love them because they came to me out of love. The more love I give away, the more love I receive.
