Well it has now been over a month now since I left RSO. I have gone back to work, started school, gone to Vegas and back, saw Justin Bieber in concert (he was AWESOME!), and done a variety of other things that one does during the lazy summer days. I was sick for a few weeks upon returning home from India but thankfully I got through it and am good as new! School will be starting in about a month and life is about to get back to it's crazy normal self. I have had requests from a few people to keep my blog going even though I'm home from India and I am going to try my best to do so. :) I had no idea people actually wanted to be kept updated on my life! Who knew!?
Since I have been back I have had time to reflect on my time in India and what a truly amazing experience it was. Besides coming home sick I also came home with an intense feeling of guilt. Coming home and seeing my excessive amount of clothes (I love clothes), shoes, books, etc. I felt ashamed to have surrounded myself with so many things that are not necessary. I couldn't even bring myself to go grocery shopping! (I hate grocery shopping anyways so this just added to my dislike of it). I kept thinking to myself that the children and people in India had so little and yet were able to still lead lives filled with happiness, love, laughter, and family. I kept thinking to myself, "If they can be happy with nothing why can't I?" These guilty feelings began to ebb by the end of my first week home but they have changed me for the better, though. As mentioned before I love clothes and I love to shop but since going to India the thrill has lessened. Don't get me wrong, I would still never turn down a girl's shopping day but I have found that having so much is not necessary and that my money could be much better spent elsewhere--like sponsoring a child from Rising Star. side note: EVERYONE SHOULD SPONSOR A CHILD FROM RISING STAR OUTREACH!! They are the most wonderful kids you will ever meet and they love their sponsors so much and appreciate all they do.
My trip to India this summer, overall, was a life changing experience. To know that every single thing you did during the day was in the service of someone else is a high like none other. I now understand when returned missionaries talk about the wonderful since of purpose they felt during their mission--knowing that everything they did was important. That is how I felt while working for Rising Star. I know everything I did there was important and appreciated and that the people are forever grateful to all the volunteers they come in contact with. I can hardly wait until I am able to go back next summer! I guess I should probably mention that I have taken a position with Rising Star after I graduate to be their sponsorship director in India! I haven't figured out the details yet but I know I will be going back to India after April graduation to see and work with all the wonderful people there. I am so excited to go back and continue working with Rising Star to help the leprosy-affected in India. It's an amazing work that I am proud to be apart of.
Vannacom!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
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