"The transformation of the mind produces a transformed vision of reality. What the world calls ‘real' will lose its clarity. What it calls ‘unreal will gain clarity and power." Elisabeth Elliot

            I am finding that my vision of reality is being transformed daily as I continue life here in India. Looking into the eyes of broken people and people so in need of Jesus generates such a brokenness in my own heart. I have asked God to continue to break me for these people, and to continue to grant me His joy and His love for these people, and He has been so faithful in that.

            I have experienced many frustrations here. Sickness, bug bites, the language barrier, exhaustion...the list could go on and on, but God has enabled me to look past the frustrations and soak up every second I have here. The other night while I was lying in my bed pondering my life here in India and just the frustrations I have been experiencing, God gave me a little insight into His thoughts concerning the matter. This is kind of what He told me.

            "I love you like crazy. You are my daughter. I planted this dream...this vision...India...in your heart a long time ago, and now it is coming to pass. You need to soak it all up. I want you to take hold of every second you have here. You may or may not be coming back here, and if you do...you don't know when. I know, but you don't...so embrace EVERY second of it. Take it all in. Make the most of each day here because if you don't, you will regret it. I can tell you that for sure. I have offered you my joy and my love for this place and these people. Grab hold of that and live each day for me. Take every opportunity captive and use it to glorify me. Find ways to encourage, to love, to bring joy. I love you so much, and I want this opportunity for you even more than you want it for yourself. This opportunity is a gift. You have no reason to be discouraged or bummed out or disconnected. I am walking the streets here. I am with you always. Act like you know this truth. You are my daughter. Do you not realize what that means? You are the daughter of a King, theKing. Live each moment for my glory. Take it all in."

            God is good, eh? He has used so many different means to bring so much truth into my life over these past weeks. My perspective of life, of the kingdom of the world, and of the kingdom of God has shifted. One thing I have noticed is that the more truth and life spoken to me, the more hungry I am for more of it. I love that. I love this hunger for truth, this hunger to know God more. I also desire more than ever to be Jesus to this fallen and broken world, and I love that.

            Lately I have been pondering what it will be like to return to the States. I know that many emotions will be involved. I

was imagining myself on my plane ride home from Atlanta to Indy, and what a weird time that will be. We had to say goodbye to a woman, Anita that the Asha Mission team has grown close with over the past month. She was only here for a month, and is returning to the States. I had to fight off tears as we walked down the street away from the orphanage to our vehicle. It was not easy to leave her, and that made me ponder how truly difficult it will be to leave everyone at the end of this journey. On that plane ride from Atlanta to Indy I will be filled with so many different emotions: excitement, anxiety, sadness, and so on. Adjusting to life back in the States will not be easy. I know that for sure. I desire to see family and friends, but leaving the place I am learning to call home and the Indian people that I truly love so much will be a very painful thing to do. God has given me so much joy. Truly. I am experiencing a joy that is so pure, so real, that it can only come from God. It is unlike any joy that I have ever experienced, and I am praising God for granting it to me.

            I really do consider this place home. I have noticed that I tend to refer to "home" as simply "the States" now. This place has become my home. My teammates, the orphans, the staff...they have become my family. The thought of having to leave the people who have truly become like family to me scares me...honestly. It would be one thing if I knew I would see them again, if I knew I would return to India, but only God knows those things. I am incapable of possessing such knowledge, and that truly scares me...because I love these people. But that just places even more of a desire in me to love these people with everything in me and to embrace every single moment I have with them.

            One thing I am for sure excited about is taking what I have learned from this experience and applying it back home. God has really been placing on my heart the need to live out the love of Jesus back home in my everyday life. He has been so faithful in just showing me practical ways to be Jesus to the people I encounter as I go about my day. I am pumped. I am so pumped to be Jesus to the world.

            God is so good. For realio. He is faithful here in India, and He is faithful back in Indiana...because the same God is walking the streets here that is walking the streets where you all are.

            Continue to pray for my team and I as we strive to be Jesus to the people of India, and as we strive to know and love Jesus more.

            I miss all of you so much, but India is home right now. Praise God for the joy and peace He has given me about being here.

"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!" Psalm 96:3

            I love you all. Truly.

--Megan