From A to M...

...because once you go halfway you start going back around.

Lucknow.

I wanted to write something wise or witty, but for now this update I wrote from the airport and this evening will have to do.  There will be plenty of stories to come.

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I’m currently writing from the Newark airport; I just arrived here and have just an hour wait until my 15 hour trip.  Since pulling out my laptop I’ve already made a little friend, maybe there will be more to come once we arrive in Lucknow for the week.

The last few days have been nothing short of a whirlwind of activity.  Last week was our final gallery presentation of our thesis work and, of course, it took longer and was more involved than initially anticipated.  Along with this was packing up my apartment as well as packing for my trip – I think the only shortcoming in my packing was ordering rupees.  It was a blessing to still have time in the evenings to spend with friends before my quick departure – I left Cincinnati yesterday (Saturday) following my graduation on Friday.

Our graduation ceremony was full of family and friends and meaningful because it was solely the Master of Architecture (and M.S. Arch) graduates.   Our school director, William, challenged us to not exactly follow our hearts, but rather to bring our hearts with us.  It’s fitting for our job market (unfortunately!), but important to remember to bring all we are, whether we are where we think we should be or want to be.  He pointed out that, since we have made it through such a challenging program, we are stronger for not accepting any level of failure along the way – too hard, too expensive, too much time or effort – we persisted. 

Thinking of bringing our hearts where we go while I am on my journey, I realize part of my heart is already where it needs to be – my prayers for the team I will be working with and theirs have brought us together for a larger purpose and larger power – that for which the Lord has prepared us.  I’ve realized a couple important things over the past few months; one of them is the importance of seeing other believers as members of my own family.  I will be with five of my brothers and sisters, yet we are working hard together to help even more members of our family – and our love spills out of the same source – Jesus.  And that is the second lesson I’ve been learning; it has always been easy for me to imagine God as a loving father who loves and protects me, as my earthly father and others have been good examples of this.  And yet, finding a need to know Jesus more deeply and intimately, he has met my prayer and revealed himself in a more personal way, where I realize I need to rely upon what only He can provide me, the daily sustenance to share his love and grace with others, and taking away my shortcomings in these areas.

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My teammate, Justin, and myself

Since the above, I have made it to New Delhi with Justin and Tony, two of my teammates, where we met up with the other three, Bryan, Jenna, and Huberth.  New Delhi was very warm even in the evening, and I was glad for our air conditioned room.  We stopped at a little cafe for a snack before bedtime and, accompanying the fresh, clean atmosphere was One Direction's "Beautiful" song - there's no escaping the Top 40!

We slept 12-5ish then woke up early for our six hour train ride to Lucknow.  They fed us wonderfully, on the train and on the plane as well, actually.  The rodes were still clear at 5:30am, but the train station was bustling with activity, reminding me of the need to be more aggressive in making it through the security line, for example.  We made it to the train and enjoyed the scenery passing by, as well as the cute Indian children passing the time one way or another on the ride, without portable DVDs or iPads.

Lucknow was almost as busy and bustling as Delhi, and thankfully between Huberth, our director from EMI, and the directors of TellAsia, we arrived at our hotel destination with ease.  I tend to not have a problem with jetlag, but a lack of sleep over the last few days/weeks combined with the heat exhausted me.

Speaking of which, time for bed, thank you for reading and I will write more soon.  Please keep me, my team of six, and our host organization in your prayers as we work together to help those in need for God's glory.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

- Galatians 6:10