Where do I begin...🤔
Interesting...this is how I started my last post announcing our upcoming trip to India,
now it's to tell you we're no longer going.
Yes, our 2025 trip to India...CANCELED. 😭
When you've invested as much time, energy, emotion, and money into something
as we have in preparation of this trip,
you know how it truly becomes a part of you...
You know how it is in your waking and sleeping...
You know how it consumes your thoughts and conversations...
You know how it can physically impact you...
And if you know all that,
then you understand the grief you experience when it doesn't happen.
This is where the 8 India Travelers are today,
we are not in a plane, or airport, or another county...
we are in mourning. 😞
It all started on Tuesday night.
We had all done our precheck-in, Boarding Passes were printed,
and we were all going to meet up at the park for an early birthday celebration for Jo.
Then the email came saying that our outbound flight from Chicago into Abu Dhabi
was delayed by 8 hours...obviously, this would hinder us from making all the following connections.
Well, after spending about 2 hours on the phone with a most delightful Etihad agent
we had new plans that would delay our trip by one day. Sure, it was disappointing, but it was actually going to give us a day to just breathe as these past few weeks had been a whirlwind of preparations.
This brings us to Wednesday. After a lowkey day, I headed to church to once again do the precheck-in and print out our new Boarding Passes and itinerary, then I was off to spend time with my grandson.
That's when the call came from Lora announcing the most recent email...
the new flight had been delayed again...by 19 hours.
As we all wondered "what's going on?!?!", more questions needed to be asked.
Was there something more to this than typical flight delays?
With all the changes, how much time would we actually have in India?
What if these delays happened on the way back?
As we all started searching for answers,
the pieces of this nightmare puzzle started to come together.
Abu Dhabi, where we'd fly into is just across the Persian Gulf from Iran.
With the looming threat of war, the air space in that region has been shut down.
Severe travel warnings have been issued for that area as well as heightened security levels for India.
Many flights were being disrupted and canceled because of this.
What if we get there and then can't get back as planned?
After prayerful consideration, heartfelt conversations, and input from loved ones,
it was decided the trip needed to be canceled.
So, here's what I'm wrestling with today, on top of my immense sadness...
I know this trip being canceled is a "first world problem"...
Sure, I'm heartbroken that we aren't going,
yet, I am safe in my home with no bombs dropping overhead.
We aren't canceling our trip because someone got sick, or a change of plans,
we are canceling because our world is a mess right now and
it would be dangerous for us to travel.
What's happening out there...how did things get so broken?!?!
God help us!!! 🙏
Now, although we aren't going to be there, the celebrations that were going to take place while visiting the village still need to happen, because it's bigger than the 8 of us travelers.
Joyful Journeys India Ministry is celebrating it's 20th Anniversary!
This is huge!!! Twenty years ago, this all started with a relationship; a relationship between two people who wanted to work together to bring good into this world. One person from Madhavapatnam and one person from West Bend...look how far we've come!!!
Look how many more of us have entered into this relationship!
This trip, like all the previous ones, was about building relationships,
because we all know, when we have healthy relationships, life is so much better!!
A celebration was planned to highlight those relationships and
the mountains this ministry has been able to move because of those relationships.
Relationships between graduated students and teachers.
Relationships between local officials and JJ leadership.
Relationships between casts and people of different religious traditions.
Relationships between Joyful Journeys and the community it serves.
And yes, relationships between us and them.
And although, the "us" won't be there, everyone else will be,
and that is the reason the celebration must go on!
The celebration also was to honor our beloved Big Bob
as we mourn his passing 3 years ago on June 25th.
This was going to be an opportunity for us to grieve with the people who had come to love him as he built beautiful relationships over the previous 5 trips over.
It was going to be a chance to recognize Bill and Terri Tybring, the first travelers to India,
who were very instrumental in the beginning stages of Joyful Journeys,
laying the foundation of international relationships for all future travelers.
And we can't forget Fred Seefeldt, Master Builder of Relationships.
Although he had never traveled to India, his unwavering support for the ministry
and his radical hospitality when our Indian family would visit was an unconditional gift.
And although, these faithful followers would not physically be there, they would be in spirit,
and that is the other reason the celebration must go on and will go on!
Now, here's the hard part...yes, the celebrations should and will go on,
but the new relationships that we were so looking to form will have to be put on hold.
Not being able to hug Karishma's daughter, my little namesake, Jennifer Noya,
after chatting with her over the past several months, makes me sad.
Not being able to meet Shekinah's new baby boy,
who surprised us with an early entrance into the world, makes me sad.
Not being able to meet the new spouses, who were recently married into the family,
makes me sad.
And, not having the opportunity to meet the new hostel children, makes me sad.
Then there's the established relationships that I longed to nurture.
Not being able to spend time with Novahu, Manjula, Karishma and Shekinah,
as well as their extended family, makes me sad.
Not being able to interact with the Marshall School students, makes me sad.
Not being able to catch up with some of the Marshall School graduates
to hear what they are doing with their lives, makes me sad.
Not being able to once again be submerged in the India culture, makes me sad.
Certainly, not being able to take in first hand the growth within Joyful Journeys Ministries,
makes me really sad.
Many tears were shed on both sides of the world when I called the Valluri's
to tell them we would not be coming as our relationship with them is like family.
But, like our loved ones here at home,
they agreed our safety and well-being is at the heart of this decision.
Grief wouldn't be so hard if there wasn't so much gratitude for what's been lost.
This trip may be over, before it even started,
but Joyful Journeys is moving forward and going strong!
Why, because the relationships that hold it together are solid and grounded
in the belief that together we can be the change we wish to see in the world!
Please keep all the travelers in your thoughts as they process this major let down,
as well as those who worked so hard in preparing for our visit. 😔
And...maybe even prayerfully consider how you might join us in this
Joyful Journeys relationship that is empowering people for good,
you might find it to be one of the most impactful relationships you've been in! 💗
Check out our web-site to the right for more info.
Well, until the next time, whenever that may be...
Namaste'
"the light in me, bows to the light in you"
such a beautiful word to acknowledge being in relationship with one another.
~Jenny💖
