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shedoggy
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Name: Sheila
Gender: Female
Interests: Jesus, missions, Beulah Beach, reading, hiking/backpacking, biking, coffee, world traveling, ice cream
Expertise: fishing with a homemade pole that must be manned by two people, getting wax out of carpet, throwing people off jet skis
Occupation: Nurse
Message: message me
AIM:  MyLittleAmish
Member Since:
3/19/2005
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| Did you ever notice that on really cold days, everything on the outside world seems to be more defined and clear. The colors seem darker and brighter at the same time. The world looks clean. I guess that's why these such days are called crisp days. I like these days. When I got in my car to go buy bread, I noticed the brilliance of the day and decided that I had to take a walk. Ever the naysayers, my mother and brother warned me it was cold outside. In my car I had seen that the thermometer read 24, but I was quickly reminded that with the wind it's going to be so much colder. Yes, but the day beckons. I swear I heard my name being called down the quiet, seemingly deserted streets across from my house. The trees were even waving at me. I figured this was my time to be alone, to hash out some questions I had with God, to enjoy beauty and clean air. So I bundled up all the while a little birdie (aka my brother) was yelling in my ear that it was too cold. I stepped outside ready to conquer the world. I walked 20 steps down the sidewalk and realized I didn't want to be alone. I could've sworn I wanted to be alone, and I still think I heard my name being called, but I couldn't continue. What to do? Sheldon was a no go, obviously; the little bird was afraid of freezing. My only option was my dog, but the problem with him is that he poops and then I have to pick it up and carry it. Why do dogs have to always poop? My solution was a collar that fits like a muzzle, but Chubbs can still bark if he wants to--it just prevents him from running too far ahead. If he tries to run and there's no slack, his head gets yanked to the side. I must admit, he was a nice walking companion, quite docile. And he didn't poop. But I wish I would have followed the wind today. I was longing for bit of adventure. Still, after so many days like this, I think I am so independent when I find over and over again that what I really want is a friend to walk beside me. I can do things alone. I'm not too afraid, but it's more fun to share life. To have a smile greet you when you turn your head. Chubbs just whines. He has no smile for me. | | |
| We sat on her mat beside the busy road. It was dirty. She was dirty. But she was beautiful. It was time to say goodbye to Imagination. I think I might have rather not had to say goodbye for goodbyes are so hard. But I love her and wanted her to know that. Lara, Hannah, and I talked with her while Beth went to get cha for her because it was 10 in the morning, time for tea, as every good Indian knows. She kept asking, "Kobe ashbe?" When will you come back? "Jani na." I don't know, but soon, I hope. With us was another girl, M, who also works the line where Imagination lives. She has to be young, but she is in shreds from the trade. She has cuts on her arms, and this day she had a big cut on her right hand extending from her middle finger to her palm. I pointed at it and asked what happened. She said something I didn't understand. I just touched her arm. And then she put her arms around me--me sitting between her legs, arms around me, heads touching. Oh, beautiful girl. We walked away that day better for having known them. But I hated that they cannot just walk away with us, that they have no place to return to that they can call better, and that their futures are uncertain at best. Oh, beautiful women, created in the image of God. I am more broken than I was before, but in the Kingdom, broken is good. Broken means strength beyond myself will come. Broken means my ugliness is coming to the surface in order to be ripped away. I am coming to appreciate brokenness. I am home now. All my long flights are over, all my goodbyes said. I like to think that no goodbye is final. You never know where we may meet up again. Now I am looking forward to many hello's, many hugs, and many long catch-up conversations. Blessings to all! | | |
| So much seems to be happening in my life. It feels like time is spinning out of control . . . somedays it feels like home is a long way away, but nights like last night make me realize I am in a time-crunch. There are things I have wanted to do, but it seemed like I had an endless supply of time. It's running out on me. Turkey Day in Kolkata was a wonderful day (minus the turkey). When Lara and I woke up on Thursday, we greeted each other with hearty, "Happy Thankgiving!"'s. The night before held quite the scare for Lara and I as there had been riots and demonstrations all throughout Wednesday. So when we woke up refreshed on Thursday, it felt like all should be right in the world--it was a holiday, by golly! I proceeded throughout the morning to work up excitement in my Bengali family by continually saying "Happy Thanksgiving!" I am not sure they knew what to do with me, but they got the idea we were excited (I even wished Mashey, the lady who cleans our house, a "happy Thanksgiving!" through the window; I don't think she got it, though--language barrier and all). The morning of Turkey Day was spent getting supplies for the feast to be created in the evening. When we got to Beth's house, we proceeded to peel potatoes and apples. We watched Elf and White Christmas. In the evening, we had a feast of chicken, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravey, green beans, corn, rolls, and many desserts. The best part: we shared it with British, Kiwi, and Dutch friends. It was beautiful. After our meal, we went around said what we were thankful for, we prayed, and then we sang. This Thanksgiving climbed the charts as far as great Thanksgivings go. However, I looked at pictures today from my cousin's site, and I realized how much I miss my family. I love the holidays and I love my family. I know I am biased, but I think I have the best family in the world! I can stand to be away for the holidays, but it's not easy. I think God nudged me this Thanksgiving and said, "Sheila, this may be the first of many." But when I sat at our table made of mats on the floor, I saw the truth that Beth, my teamleader, is always saying: "God sets the lonely in families." It's a little bittersweet. In other news, yesterday, when the rest of Kolkata was probably bundled up in long sleeves and hats, my teammates and I were enjoying the sun by the side of a pool. It was in the eighties yesterday, but to Indians, that constitutes cold weather. No joke. If you go to my roommate's site (www.laracasey.blogspot.com), you will find a picture of our Bengali "Uncle" and what he thinks of the weather. Seriously, this weather is like early summer weather at home . . . perfect weather. Also, please keep the three WMF staff girls in your prayers (Beth, Sarah and Kristin). They all caught some nasty bug and are feeling very under the weather! Pray also that the team will stay healthy. Until next time . . . | | |
| As I listened to each of my teammates give an update of their highs and lows of the week, I realized that almost all of our highs had somehow involved Imagination, the woman we are visiting in the hospital. She is changing each of us in ways we did not expect, and we are all coming to care for her deeply. Our visits are not a chore. They are truly a privilege.
For myself, I smile at the thought of her and the remembrance of all our interactions. On Tuesday, Beth told Imagination she would bring her friends from the street in, but Imagination said, "No, they are not my friends, they are just people I talk to. You and your friends are my friends. I just want you to visit." I am still praying that she won't become dependent on us and that all our interactions would bring her closer to Christ.
I hope and pray I see her in heaven. And when we get to heaven, any barriers that keep us from giving and loving wholly will be gone. No one will be dependent on another's good will for survival--Imagination will not know us as rich Americans paid for her stay in the hospital. We will simply be friends, brothers and sisters, people created by God. Her past will be washed away and she will stand with the saints praising her Savior who bought her freedom.
Oh, Lord, let it be so.
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| I wrote about a woman on the street who we were tending her wounds. The last I left her at with you was that we talked to her about going to the hospital.
Well, now she is in the hospital. I went with Beth the day we took her there. At first, I had many worries. This was something Beth wanted to do, and our team supported her in it, but in my mind, I was coming up with worse-case scenarios about what could go wrong. However, the moment we got her to the hospital, I could see how much she really needed us, and how much what we were doing for her meant to her. At one point when she was thinking about money, she began crying, saying it was too much. Beth just looked at her and said, "Imagination, you are not alone. This is not for you to worry about." Yesterday she had surgery where the doctors set the bone, placed a pin, and did a skin graft over the site because too much flesh was gone (hmm. . . go figure). Beth reports that she is doing wonderfully.
There is a very special privilege that is the team's. We get to go and visit her. We take different days, go in, sit with her, talk with her, laugh with her, and it is wonderful.
The catch is, she speaks no English, and up to this point, I have not been able to hold a conversation beyond, hello, what is your name? my name is . . . how are you? I am fine. Pretty much that is it.
Maybe a little more.
Actually, I found out Sunday that I can do a lot more. Four of us from the team went in on Sunday. Imagination was sitting up looking beautiful. She lit up when she saw us. And we caused quite the stir in the ward because in walks four white people where there are no other white people. The wards in the hospital are big rooms with about ten beds close to each other. There are no curtains. There are no doors. There is no privacy. I think the general rule of the hospitals is that everyone gets to know everyone's business. Ah, this is India.
So as we sit down and try to converse with Imagination, she talks really slowly for us. And we understood. As we tried talking, if we said something entertaining, we heard our words repeated across the room. Everyone got a kick out of us! And since nothing is private and everyone has little to call their own, visitors are also shared. It was the most fun experience!
Tuesday I went back with Josh to visit her, and again we had an incredible time. My heart, both times, after visiting her was lightened. She is an amazing woman who the whole team is coming to love dearly. Please, when you read this, pray for her. Pray for her freedom, for she too has worked the line. Pray that she would meet Jesus, and that she would choose to follow him. Please, please, please, pray for Imagination!
In other news, Friday we were holed up in our house because of Diwali and Kali Puja. Monday we were holed up in our house because some of the political parties called a bandh (a strike on transportation) because of what is going on in Nandigram (look it up, if you would; it's sad, and it's another issue that needs much prayer). Today, when we got up, the air was cool. At first we just figured it is because winter is coming, but that is not the real underlying reason. A cyclone (the eastern hemisphere's hurricane) is happening. We are only on the edge of it, so it is not expected that Kolkata will be hit hard, but if you would, pray for that too.
Until next time, blessings in Christ!
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