(two)day(s) in the life

Today was my first full day in the city where I will be living for the next month. It was the city that I lived in last year! This place feels so much like home. After I flew in yesterday, we had a shuttle take us to an intersection that was very close to my old house, as well as the house I am staying at now. Immediately the memories started flowing, I knew exactly where I was…and oddly, it was if I was never actually gone. I love that my heart is so invested into this country. I love that God has given me a heart for these people. I love that Bangladesh feels like home to me.

After I flew in yesterday, I dropped off my luggage and went straight to Light of Hope to see all the girls and the staff, the girls had no idea I was coming! I walked into the school and one of the girls noticed me walk in and her jaw hit the floor, she was actually speechless. She then screamed as the other girls turned around to see me walk in. More screams, hugs, and lots of love were exchanged yesterday. It was a great day, and it felt so good to be back at the school with the girls who are so near and dear to my heart.

Today, I went to the school as well and taught a discipleship class over wisdom. We talked about what it means to be wise verses smart. We read through many proverbs and the book of James. After our class we ate lunch; boiled egg, potatoes, curry, and rice… one of my favorite meals! It was just as good as I had remembered! After school, I decided I wanted to walk home instead of taking a rickshaw. They all called me crazy for walking 50 minutes in the blazing heat, but I loved it. I love being able to see the city, the people, and so much more at a slower pace. You don’t miss anything when you walk; you get to see it all. I took my old shortcut back to the house. The streets are quieter, there’s not much traffic, nor are there people all around. It’s probably one of my favorite places to walk. Later today, I went to the store near the house to get a few things. This store ALWAYS has beggars nearby. Always. The children there will bombard you, asking for money, food, and anything else they can think of. Not wanting to be bombarded, I tried to take a different way out. Fail. They saw me anyways. About 7 of them came running up to me, and as they got closer they realized they knew me, and I knew them. “Friend, friend, friend”, they yelled as they gave me huge hugs, “it's been so long since we have seen you”. This absolutely melted my heart. They remembered me and knew who I was. I walked back to the house and they all yelled to me,  “you don’t live over here, you need to go this way to get back to your house”. They were directing me to the way I would take if I lived where I used to live. I sadly had to tell them I am not staying there (I loved our old house), and that I was staying with a friend. They then walked me half way home hand in hand.

These past two days have been such a blessing. When I first booked my ticket in February, I was anxious. Anxious that it wouldn’t be the same without my roommates here with me, or that I wouldn’t be staying in our apartment. I didn’t want to compare the two times, and it not meet my expectations. And yes it is different, but it’s good. God continues to show me his faithfulness, and I believe that he has increased in my heart a love for this place even more.