A new year

Praise point! I am feeling much better. I checked my cough syrup out on the Internet and discovered that the minor effects are fear, anxiety, worrying, hallucinations, and sleep deprivation. After that, I stopped taking it and slowly feel my body getting better. For now, honey, garlic, ginger and herbal tea. :)

Yesterday was the last day of classes. After lunch, Ajay, on of the teachers was so super nice and took me down to Big shop and asked me what I needed. He told me he wanted to bless me on my birthday. He made me pick out things I wanted, but all I really needed was a bar of soap. He responded with, "Jena that's pathetic, I'm not just going to get you a bar of soap for your birthday." So I ended up leaving the store with deodorant, a handful of goodies, and some cracked wheat. Oh my goodness, he was so nice to buy all those things for me!

 After class we all loaded up and drove to the YWAM base. It was cafe night, and a famous Hindi gospel singer came from Bangalore to give us a concert. During the introduction I had to excuse myself, and ended up spending 30minutes coughing yellow puke up outside on the muddy road with the village children running past me. I returned in the last 10minutes of closing the concert, eyes watery and brain exploding from the pressure of coughing.
I had so much to do last night. I had bought ingredients for banana bread to make for the students. One of my friends called asking to see me before I left for the mountains. I also had to show Ruth the finished website, clean my room, and pack.
After getting home I felt so stressed. I decided I couldn't do all of these things and still leave early this morning. I was exhausted, but wanted to do so many things before leaving. I decided to just chill and leave when my body feels better.
After dinner I made grandma's famous banana bread recipe and took it over to Ruth's house which she baked in her rice cooker! (cool!) She gave me some plum juice from my cough. A little after while waiting for the bread to bake, I went over to my friend's house Sushant. He called me earlier and said he had a surprise.
I walked in to his flat, and saw he had bought me a miniature cake with my name written on it in pink frosting, and two glasses of Coke on a table. He welcomed me in excited, put a candle in the cake, turned off the lights as I made a wish! He sang Happy Birthday in Hindi! I was so elated, he had gone through all this trouble to make me feel special on my birthday! We talked about India, music, and friends.

I cut the cake, and he fed it to me- that was fun. We then goofed off taking pictures jumping, and I fed him cake too. He is so sweet and nice. It's such a blessing to have a good friend. He went in the other room and got a present- I opened the bag and saw it was a really cute pink shirt! Wow I can't believe he went through all this trouble to bless me on my birthday! I left his house, picked up the beautiful banana cake from Ruth's (yes it was so beautiful!), and came back with a piece for my friend. He said it was really good! So I was glad. I was so tired it was like I was in a dream walking back to tower 11.

I recalled that this was my last night to be a teenager. Wow! I almost didn't want to go to sleep, but knew I needed to. I journaled reflecting on how much has changed, how much I have changed in just the past year. Going from mini skirt American college girl, to poor hippie traveling around the world (and loving it!).I have learned so much. Met so many people, and have had so many experiences I think it would take me days and days to talk about every little thing.

I'm leaving Greater Noida today at 3pm with Thomas and going to Delhi to spend the night and catch a bus tomorrow to Dharamasala! Excited for another adventure, and really looking forward to relaxing in the mountains. :)

I am so thankful for everyone who is in my life. For all the people who have make me feel special on my birthday. We had the banana birthday bread for breakfast today. I talked with Sam at breakfast time which was really cool. He told me about the male circumcision in Korea, how most men are circumcised on their 20th or 21st birthday. Ouch!

 Every birthday for the past 10 years has been in a different state, or cool location- try India! So many people wished me happy birthday last night and today, and yes I feel truly blessed. Yet nothing can replace the presence of my wonderful family. You all mean so much to me, and I know you truly love me. I think about you guys all the time, and am so blessed to have a family so genuine, honest, caring and cool as you guys!
Thank you mom and dad for everything, David for being such a great brother, and Ruthie you're the sweetest sister ever! You know I love you! I already miss Aunt Kathy's birthday spankings, and hearing Grandma and Grandpa's voice on the phone, and orange sherbet ice cream.
But I hope you all know you are always here in my heart. Not a day never passes when I don't say a prayer for each one of you. I love you guys so much!

I've gotten to a time in my life where no material possessions matter. What is life if our greatest possessions on earth are things that can be lost, stolen, ruined, or broken? The only thing in this life that has true value is those things unseen. My personal relationship with the living God, my family, and friends, love, and wisdom. These are the things I cherish the most. Especially special quotes, sayings, notes of wisdom, and love. I remember all the things I have learned from people along the way of my travels, their wisdom and care, their words of encouragement will be written on my heart forever. These memories are something no one can take from me.