Incredible India!
Wow, has been my number one adjective since I have been here.
I shared a plane ride with a very nice Indian man who lives in the mountains and taught me some Hindi. I was a little nervous about coming because of the horror stories people have told me about India, and everything. Usually when people asked where I was going, I would respond, "New Delhi," and their next question would be..."Alone?!" like are you crazy? People get murdered there and put in garbage cans. Even white male men get molested walking down the street. So I felt almost a little afraid of coming, which made me cautious of my surroundings.
But upon arriving in the airport, I have experienced just the opposite. I got off the plane and was in a really nice airport with carpet, and escalators. Outside the gate I was greeted by a Korean man called Mr. Shiek, and a girl who introduced herself as Mia. Mr. Shiek is the base leader at YWAM International and was there to pick me up. I immediately felt as peace after talking with them, and a deepness of love I can't describe when with other believers.
We drove almost an hour and half out of the airport to a city called Noida. (pronounce it like a Swedish person) Where we drove into this super nice high skyscraper apartment complex. There are gardens, tennis courts, a pool (which I'm going to visit in minutes) and a gym! It is patrolled by 20 officers, and surrounded in a barbed wire fence!
Mia and I got out of the car, and we walked up these stairs to this apartment room. Super clean, with wood floors, white walls, and a fresh kitchen super nice! I was so amazed! Mia is my roommate, as I have my own bed, desk and closet. I found out today there is a washing machine, and I washed my clothes for the first time in 3 months! It was so incredible. She is so sweet and such a dedicated follower of Christ. We knocked on this door, and a Indian girl called Adaline answered. She welcomed me, and said she was very excited to have some bonding times. I felt this love overflowing from everyone around me, and God saying- Jena, see what happens when you just trust me.
I showered and went to bed, waking up the next morning and meeting 5 Korean men, all of who are extremely buff, and nice looking. I'll be teaching them. :) Basically YWAM has opened up a ESL ministry in Noida, a city not far from Delhi. Noida is in the country side, and is like the richer side of town. I do not feel like I'm in the India I prepared my mind for. After meeting all of them, and eating Cornflakes for breakfast, I talked with everyone and met Adalade (sweetest girl ever!) and Rebeca, one of the teachers here and on staff with YWAM. Also met Muni who is the cook here full time, it's actually rude to wash your own plate.
Not long after was lunch time, which I had the most incredible indian food in my life! Tandori Chicken, with non, and this curry chicken dish, and rice. Ahhh! SO good!
I then went to sleep. And didn't wake up until today at 6am, to the misquitoes buzzing around me. I slept for over 17 hours. Exhausted, and drained of energy. It's like I really slept this time, because my body and soul felt at rest. I had egg and toast for breakfast with homemade yogurt that I drank out of a cup. I got up early, and had some good time reading my bible. We went to church today, located in the YMCA building about a 10 minute drive from the apartments called the Silver City.
Such an incredible feeling being in the family of believers. The message was about the difference between knowing and believing in God. Something I have been struggling with day to day. I was surrounded by this great power, and have made a decision to go for the things I thought were impossible. There were many Africans from Nigeria, and two Americans, I didn't get to meet. I did meet a lot of Indians though, who were about my age, and that was really cool. Everyone here has the most incredible eyes!
We went to this shop called Honey Money where the students bought some treats, and I went to the ATM and got Rupies (the currency), and an orange. I feel elated and so filled with Gods grace. We went back to the apartment and Muni had prepared Dall (a type of pulse) and we ate this with rice and Kimchi (korean fermented veggies) it is so delicious and taste spicy and wholesome and fresh at the same time.
Today I talked quite a bit with Adaline. She was born in India, and her parents are missionaries in the south of India. They have a school there for children who are on the street, or in abusive situations at home. She was telling me some of the stories about the teachers getting murdered for being Christians, and the children being sold for almost 20dollars because their parents dont want them. It was so interesting to hear about her life and how she served as a missionary when growing up. She is 22 so it's really easy to talk with her, and we also share many things in common. Our passion for doing new things, God, drama, bust she has an incredible voice an plays the guitar. She is studying every day for this test called ILETS or IETS or something, basically to test her proficiency in the English language. She wants to go to school in the UK and going into leading worship, or preforming arts, and study communication. I am so inspired by her kindness and genuine personality.
I was telling her my desire to go to an International University over in India, and lean about Ayavetic medicine. She pulled out a bunch of herbs and shampoos made of herbs, and we talked of herbs for a long time. She was telling me all the different uses of these different herbs indegiouns to India, and how her father used them growing up. It was so cool!
It is so hot here, everyone, me included has no energy unless we rest. So I took a 2 hour nap today and woke up for dinner- Kimchi Chigre a soup made of spicy fermented veggies, and Muni's wife was cooking this stuffed Roti and offered me some! Never in my life have I tasted food more flavorful and delicious! It is so funny, because the Koreans think all Americans can cook banana bread- and they had this joke going around about marrying the American teacher coming. They were trying to decide what they would rather have for the rest of their life- kimchi, or banana bread. Haha. So I've decided that I shall make them Bannana bread- Lord help me.
I am so thankful for all the blessings God has given me, and surrounded me with such kind people! Tomorrow at 5:30am the Korean students, Adaline and I are all going to Agra to see the Taj Mahal! I can't believe it- it's like a dream come true or something. I am so blessed to be here! I'm also planning on going to Ladakh- a place filled with mountains for some trekking. Hopefully I can sleep out side and cook my food, we'll see how cold it is... :) I'll be in the Himalayas!
Going to go swimming, and use the gym downstairs. I will blog when I can, I'm using one of the girls computer. I've figured out with the new time change, Oklahoma is 13 1/2 hours ahead of this time. So it's currently 9pm here, and 10:30am back in Oklahoma. So if you want to Skype, let me know ahead of time!
I also have an address, but be careful- because thing get stolen on the way here. So if you send something besides a letter, people cut into the package to see what's inside. I've heard if you tape it really well, and cover the thing in a roll of tape it will be fine.
YWAM International-Jena Lacy
T-11 A2/516,
Silver City - II (roman numeral 2)
Sector- Pi II
Greater Noida, U.P., INDIA
Send me mail! I can send letters for really cheep over here, and will write soon!
Wow, has been my number one adjective since I have been here.
I shared a plane ride with a very nice Indian man who lives in the mountains and taught me some Hindi. I was a little nervous about coming because of the horror stories people have told me about India, and everything. Usually when people asked where I was going, I would respond, "New Delhi," and their next question would be..."Alone?!" like are you crazy? People get murdered there and put in garbage cans. Even white male men get molested walking down the street. So I felt almost a little afraid of coming, which made me cautious of my surroundings.
But upon arriving in the airport, I have experienced just the opposite. I got off the plane and was in a really nice airport with carpet, and escalators. Outside the gate I was greeted by a Korean man called Mr. Shiek, and a girl who introduced herself as Mia. Mr. Shiek is the base leader at YWAM International and was there to pick me up. I immediately felt as peace after talking with them, and a deepness of love I can't describe when with other believers.
We drove almost an hour and half out of the airport to a city called Noida. (pronounce it like a Swedish person) Where we drove into this super nice high skyscraper apartment complex. There are gardens, tennis courts, a pool (which I'm going to visit in minutes) and a gym! It is patrolled by 20 officers, and surrounded in a barbed wire fence!
Mia and I got out of the car, and we walked up these stairs to this apartment room. Super clean, with wood floors, white walls, and a fresh kitchen super nice! I was so amazed! Mia is my roommate, as I have my own bed, desk and closet. I found out today there is a washing machine, and I washed my clothes for the first time in 3 months! It was so incredible. She is so sweet and such a dedicated follower of Christ. We knocked on this door, and a Indian girl called Adaline answered. She welcomed me, and said she was very excited to have some bonding times. I felt this love overflowing from everyone around me, and God saying- Jena, see what happens when you just trust me.
I showered and went to bed, waking up the next morning and meeting 5 Korean men, all of who are extremely buff, and nice looking. I'll be teaching them. :) Basically YWAM has opened up a ESL ministry in Noida, a city not far from Delhi. Noida is in the country side, and is like the richer side of town. I do not feel like I'm in the India I prepared my mind for. After meeting all of them, and eating Cornflakes for breakfast, I talked with everyone and met Adalade (sweetest girl ever!) and Rebeca, one of the teachers here and on staff with YWAM. Also met Muni who is the cook here full time, it's actually rude to wash your own plate.
Not long after was lunch time, which I had the most incredible indian food in my life! Tandori Chicken, with non, and this curry chicken dish, and rice. Ahhh! SO good!
I then went to sleep. And didn't wake up until today at 6am, to the misquitoes buzzing around me. I slept for over 17 hours. Exhausted, and drained of energy. It's like I really slept this time, because my body and soul felt at rest. I had egg and toast for breakfast with homemade yogurt that I drank out of a cup. I got up early, and had some good time reading my bible. We went to church today, located in the YMCA building about a 10 minute drive from the apartments called the Silver City.
Such an incredible feeling being in the family of believers. The message was about the difference between knowing and believing in God. Something I have been struggling with day to day. I was surrounded by this great power, and have made a decision to go for the things I thought were impossible. There were many Africans from Nigeria, and two Americans, I didn't get to meet. I did meet a lot of Indians though, who were about my age, and that was really cool. Everyone here has the most incredible eyes!
We went to this shop called Honey Money where the students bought some treats, and I went to the ATM and got Rupies (the currency), and an orange. I feel elated and so filled with Gods grace. We went back to the apartment and Muni had prepared Dall (a type of pulse) and we ate this with rice and Kimchi (korean fermented veggies) it is so delicious and taste spicy and wholesome and fresh at the same time.
Today I talked quite a bit with Adaline. She was born in India, and her parents are missionaries in the south of India. They have a school there for children who are on the street, or in abusive situations at home. She was telling me some of the stories about the teachers getting murdered for being Christians, and the children being sold for almost 20dollars because their parents dont want them. It was so interesting to hear about her life and how she served as a missionary when growing up. She is 22 so it's really easy to talk with her, and we also share many things in common. Our passion for doing new things, God, drama, bust she has an incredible voice an plays the guitar. She is studying every day for this test called ILETS or IETS or something, basically to test her proficiency in the English language. She wants to go to school in the UK and going into leading worship, or preforming arts, and study communication. I am so inspired by her kindness and genuine personality.
I was telling her my desire to go to an International University over in India, and lean about Ayavetic medicine. She pulled out a bunch of herbs and shampoos made of herbs, and we talked of herbs for a long time. She was telling me all the different uses of these different herbs indegiouns to India, and how her father used them growing up. It was so cool!
It is so hot here, everyone, me included has no energy unless we rest. So I took a 2 hour nap today and woke up for dinner- Kimchi Chigre a soup made of spicy fermented veggies, and Muni's wife was cooking this stuffed Roti and offered me some! Never in my life have I tasted food more flavorful and delicious! It is so funny, because the Koreans think all Americans can cook banana bread- and they had this joke going around about marrying the American teacher coming. They were trying to decide what they would rather have for the rest of their life- kimchi, or banana bread. Haha. So I've decided that I shall make them Bannana bread- Lord help me.
I am so thankful for all the blessings God has given me, and surrounded me with such kind people! Tomorrow at 5:30am the Korean students, Adaline and I are all going to Agra to see the Taj Mahal! I can't believe it- it's like a dream come true or something. I am so blessed to be here! I'm also planning on going to Ladakh- a place filled with mountains for some trekking. Hopefully I can sleep out side and cook my food, we'll see how cold it is... :) I'll be in the Himalayas!
Going to go swimming, and use the gym downstairs. I will blog when I can, I'm using one of the girls computer. I've figured out with the new time change, Oklahoma is 13 1/2 hours ahead of this time. So it's currently 9pm here, and 10:30am back in Oklahoma. So if you want to Skype, let me know ahead of time!
I also have an address, but be careful- because thing get stolen on the way here. So if you send something besides a letter, people cut into the package to see what's inside. I've heard if you tape it really well, and cover the thing in a roll of tape it will be fine.
YWAM International-Jena Lacy
T-11 A2/516,
Silver City - II (roman numeral 2)
Sector- Pi II
Greater Noida, U.P., INDIA
Send me mail! I can send letters for really cheep over here, and will write soon!
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| Lula and I after class too tired to do anything but goof off. :) |
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| Coming out of the mountians intouch with God and our bodies. |
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| Munie, Vietnam great Sandunes. Super tired this day. |
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| Incredible Nha Trang, ran all day, climbed a mt. and had pinnaple by the beach! |
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| Can I take a photo with you? |
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| If I were a duck... |
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| Sweetest girl with the most perplexed expression haha. |
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| Ginsing and Jackfruit shake! Yum! |
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| Relaxing by the beach, mom and son jumping the waves |
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| Some rappers, and a girl from Spain on an I Love Vietnam tour |
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| Halong bay, excited about sea kayaking |
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