Resurfacing….!

It is nice to resurface after almost one and a half months! I have missed writing my blogs and most of all I have missed my readers! Here comes the explanation for me going underground!

In July I received invitation to teach at Haggai, Maui. How could I refuse such an invitation! Maui is one of the eight islands that constitute Hawaii, USA. I had already started in July the work of completing my assignments for the counselling course from Dr. Samson Gandhi’s “Person to Person,” Hyderabad. So I sat and finished these assignments during the whole of July, 2016.

I had to keep aside the whole of August for preparations for the classes at Haggai and no way could I have spent hours thinking about and writing the blogs. So I went underground with the promise that I will resurface soon. And here am I!

To describe my sojourn to Maui, I left Bangalore on 5^th September 2.25 AM and changed flight at Paris and then again at Los Angeles, USA to proceed to Maui. But what do you think? I arrived at Maui on the same day, the 5^th of September, at 8.15 PM.

Beach seen from my room at Haggai

On the same day I have arrived at Maui, that too after travelling around the globe, for 26 hours in the flight and traversing some 20,686 kilometers! Amazing to say the least! Though this is the 7^th or 8^th time I am making this trip, but it never fails to amaze me.

I had a glorious time at Haggai, spending so much of time praying, worshiping, and teaching, and fellow-shipping with the co-facilitators and the participants. There were 58 participants from 25 developing countries, including India. The girls or should I say ladies, were all so very keen to learn and appreciative, excepting of course one or two.

                                  Beach near Haggai, Maui

One Sunday in between some of us went to the Mount Haleakala, and then to the local church. Though we were on the top of the volcanic mountain by 8 AM, thick clouds enveloped the mountain top and we could hardly see anything. But we did enjoy ourselves with giggling and laughing as if we were all young girls and drove down enjoying the delightful scenery all around. 

                                      Near Mount Haleakala, Maui

On 15^th September I set sails for Michigan where my son lives and reached his shores on 16^th. The boy was there to pick me up and drive me home to Plymouth, Michigan and that is from where I am writing this.

Grapes from my son's small garden!

On last Sunday my son took me to visit Renaissance festival of Michigan, where a lot of soft fur and feathers were on sale by the native Americans. Plenty of games were there and food to go with, and many performances including fire eating and knife throwing. Jostling and all the coarse shouting accompanying it were all there.

Renaissance Festival, Michigan

Costumes and local festoons galore. It was fun to see the children and adults dressed in many costumes of Victorian era, as knights and princesses and some as one eyed pirate! We enjoyed every bit if it and returned home pleasantly tired.

Less than a week for me to return to Bangalore; I am leaving Plymouth, Michigan on 26^th September and will be back home by God’s grace early morning on 28^th. It was a fabulous trip and I thank my God and Savior Jesus Christ for all the opportunities, protection and His ever abiding presence throughout the trip.

The promise of the Lord keeps coming back to me every day as I remember His tender mercies, that

                                      “For your Creator is your Husband

                                        The Lord Almighty is His name.”                 (Isaiah 54:5)

And I recall the way He had lovingly called me,

                                         “My love, my dove.”                      (Song of Solomon 5:2)

How can I express my heartfelt thanks to my Lord, my God, my Savior, my Rock, my Refuge, my Husband, my Love, my Life?

For He is the one who grants me the peace that passes understanding and the joy that no one can ever take away from. Glory and honor and thanksgiving and praise be to Him alone for ever and ever.  Amen.