The End of the Beginning

Friday, May 8, 2009 at 2:27pm

All of our business in India was complete. Siddhi was coming home, we were all still suffering under the influence of jet lag, and our taxi would be arriving in a few moments. The whirlwind was beginning to catch up with each of us. We all had our own ways of expressing the creeping feeling of exhaustion. My way is to be quick and curt and business-like. Let’s get the job done and then worry about our emotions.

Damon likes to crack jokes under pressure. He is trying to give me some of his food that he cannot pack. He hates wasting food. he has these little cups of packaged fruit that he wants to give away. There are no takers. Damon decides to pack them and eat them on the way and while we wait for 3 hours in the Delhi airport.

Our taxi showed up on time and we said our last goodbyes to Gloria and the men we had met at Bhavan Bible. We are sad to go but also very anxious to get home. We are all really missing our kids, Damon is missing his family and we have a big flight ahead of us. This is the last leg of the journey. Siddhi is especially alert and happy. She is comfortable only in Laura’s arms. She puts up a fight in my arms but I am eventually able to get her to calm down. We are pretty sure that the 15 hour flight will be rough for Laura and me and Siddhi.

Our taxis has to take a different route to the airport since many roads are closed due to the elections. We are able to see a part of Delhi that we had yet to see. We watch as a wedding ceremony is in progress. There are live elephants on the streets along with camels. They are dressed and an arms length away. On the other side of the street there are four little girls who are dressed in rags. Two girls are about 6 and 7 years old and they are holding their infant siblings. Their hair is knotted and they look like they have been playing in coal mines. As the first set of girls knocks on the door our car falls silent as the Americans beginning digging in their pockets and bags for money.

All of the sudden Damon’s collection of fruit cups become very important. I have a few hundred leftover rupees that I give to the girls. Damon is able to give them food. I am more happy about the food because the money will either go to someone who is exploiting these children or to their parents to be used on Lord knows what. I only see the first set of girls. I quickly give them the money and fruitcup. our light turns green just as the other two girls come running and pound on the window. Obviously, the first set of girls is not going to share with the second set. The car is very silent. Some are crying and some are grieved in silence. The weight of the moment is even greater as we listen to Siddhi feed from her bottle on her mother’s lap.

We reach our destination and we are hit with a madhouse. The smells are once again very thick in the air. It is hard to breath if you are not used to the different smells. There are so many people, police, and airport officials going about their business. We find a way in and enter with ease. We sign in for the flight and make it past immigration. Damon’s immgration officer tells Damon in broken English that he looks like Keanu Reeves from the Matrix. Damon is now Uncle Neo to Siddhi. Only Damon.

I am beginning to feel the sleeplessness. By flight time I would have been up without sleep for 21 hours. I do not want my wife to carry the load on her own so the pressure is on. Our gate 10 begins to fill up with many, many, many bodies. We are 3 of the 6 white people on board the flight. This probably wouldn’t matter so much if it weren’t for all of the stares. Only, the people aren’t staring at us as much as they are staring at Siddhi. She is tiny–even by Indian standards. She weighs in at 11 lbs and she is 19 months old. Some of the older Indian women seem to be upset with us. Now I wish we had kept Siddhi’s black dot on her head which is supposed to ward off the evil eye. I don’t think it would help with any superstitions but at least we wouldnt’ have to bear the long looks.

We have been waiting for 3 hours and now it is time to board. Every seat is booked. There is a guard with a machine gun checking tickets at the gate. Not a pistol, not a revolver–a machine gun. He is an army or police officer. Just as we are ready to get in line, a 20 something young man approaches me and asks if I am Daniel Betters. He wants to see our tickets. He says that Siddhi’s ticket is booked wrong and that he wants to fix it. he comes back and leaves with her passport and Visa. This is the very document we had been fighting to secure for months and months.

One by one each person is led through the gates. Time is ticking away and we are left standing with a squirmy Siddhi and patience running thin. Damon continues to crack a few jokes as steam begins to rise from my veins. The man took our passport through the gate with the guard with the machine gun. The last few people go through the gate. I hurridly approach the the gateman and tell him what is going on. The guy who took our passport seems to be playing a game. He wants to toy with me. He knows I am getting angry. Damon is no longer joking but encouraging me to stand strong and not let this guy get to me.

We were standing right at the boarding ramp at 1:20am in the morning while the staff is rushing to get everyone on board. Finally, the young man returns with my passport and new boarding passes. He was actually a help to us even though his timing was poor. He is able to secure three seats for Laura, myself and Siddhi rather than just two. Now we can spread out a bit on a crowded flight.

The flight is cramped even with the extra seat. Damon is sitting next to a man who smells of wine and digested Masala if you get my point. They are right in front of us. The flight is late in taking off. A woman sat down next to Laura and asked how old Siddhi is. When Laura tells this Hindu woman Siddhi’s age the woman begins to weep. She is sorry for the way Siddhi has been treated but happy for the way someone has taken her in. This is actually a blessing for us because we felt as if our help was not wanted by the evil eyes we received. She was not the last Hindu person to encourage us. We were able to share our story with a whole crowd of people when we landed. I have noticed how the people of India are not afraid to speak their mind to anyone and to inquire with questions on their mind. Because of their inquiry we were able to share our story with many of the passengers.

We finally get into the airport and pass right through customs. God bless America! We loved India and the people there but we love our home. What we see is how great we really do have it here. I pray that we will not squander what has been given to us through common grace.

We arrived home. Siddhi had a real tough time in the car seat. She is off her game and jet lagged. She thinks it is night but won’t go to sleep. Our family comes over for a quick visit. Siddhi has no idea what to think. I am overwhelmed with emotion for my children. They all look different. All of the sudden Siddhi seems very tiny. i didn’t realize how tiny she was until my 2 year old, Eva, came into the room. All I can do is hold back my tears. It is overwhelming to see the responsbility ahead of us.

We will not be able to “deorphanize” Siddhi in a few days. It will take years. It has been an incredible journey. This is only the beginning. This whirlwind is only the start for our family. What an opening chapter to what God has in store for us. For now, this is the end of the beginning.

Pastor Dan