Mission Accompished

So if I don't write this now, I'll never get it out. You know when you have so much to say but nothing comes out – that’s how I’ve been since I got home about 5 days ago. Not to mention the fact that jet lag over took my life in ways I could have never imagined. So here goes…

I am just beginning to “re-understand” life in America - Even though I’m fighting it so badly in so many ways. I could have never imagined how much I hate getting dressed in the morning knowing that what people see me they’re actually going to care about what I look like. Who would have ever thought that would be a foreign concept. Anyway, I thought I would be able to tell people how this trip was but when I got home and was overwhelmed with the reality of it all, I realized that it was absolutely impossible to fully explain the impact that this time had on my life and how many things my eyes got to see.
I got back to LA. late Monday the 14th of March. Funny story – but by funny I mean not so funny. I got on my flight from Colombo at 4:30am (Monday) after waiting at the airport for 4 freaking hours. I didn't sleep at all got on my flight at 4:30 and had a whole 2 seats to myself. You’d think that would be good enough but get this - NO EXAGGERATION!
1. The guy's seat in front of me was broken so it wouldn't go up - it was always in the reclined position. 2. My window seat was broken so if I wanted to sit I had to sit in the isle seat. 3. There was a kid from HELL, literally Hell and he cried the ENTIRE trip, minus about 20 minutes. I am not kidding! The mom didn't care and he would even throw his little stuffed animals on me sometimes, but that was only when he wasn't kicking or pulling on my seat. I am not kidding in the slightest. So yeah, I actually slept because I could lay down a bit but if that crazy kid wasn't there I could have slept the entire time. But I guess I have to choose my battles. I got to London at 11:00 am and my flight was at 12 so when I got off the plane the woman from Sri Lankan Air told me I was going to miss my flight so they put me on another one at 3 instead. I got into LAX at 7 instead of 3 and because I had to switch airlines from Virgin to British Air they left my luggage in London. So yes, I got into LA 3 hours later than I thought, and by the time I got out of the 10 lines I had to wait in so I can get my luggage sometime this week it was SO freaking late. After finding my family, which I thought had left for sure, we went out for Mexican food. Freaking Mexican food in LA, how long have I been talking about joy like that? Yummy chicken burrito. Sorry everyone still in Sri Lanka, I know that's not nice to hear, but it's reality for me. I'm dealing.
I surprised the entire 400 and something Bayside senior high in Irvine on that Saturday morning and let me tell you, I have never felt so LOVED in my entire life. I had no idea that people really cared that much about me. For that I am forever in awe. We spent the week in a little village in Mexico loving on little kids and building houses for families that had none. I thought since I had been there before it would be such a great transition week back to the “real world”. Here’s the thing:
1. Jet lag kicked my butt so hard I could barely function some of the days and 2. Mexicali looks like a clean room at The Ritz compared to Kallar, Sri Lanka. I was once again reminded of the reality of what I just lived. It still takes my breath away thinking about it.

As we got back to Sac town in time for Easter I took some time to absorb, or try to at least, the LOVE I had been given and the words I had received from friends. I had no idea what was going on back here while I was gone. Who am I that people cared so much about me?

* My friend’s mom has passed this site on to her friend who has in turn, passed it onto her daughter in Texas who reads it with her friends. Come on, Texas.

* I met someone on the way to Mexico, that I spent a lot of the week with, who when I met her said, “Nice to meet you. I’ve been praying for you since you left and actually my entire church has too. Sometimes when we have nothing to do at church we’ll go onto the computer and read your blogs.” WHAT?!? Who am I? Seriously!

* I talked to my friend’s mom when I got home that night and she said that their entire church has been praying for me and that SHE was actually thankful to ME because through my faith and my willingness to go somewhere that I know no one and know nothing I’ve taught her mom, and that her life has been impacted because of me. WHAT? Are you for real? Do you know that I’m just me? Does anyone REALLY know that?

This has been one of my biggest lessons and by far my biggest gratitude. I am overwhelmed by all of you that have read my mediocre words and sent beautiful ones in return. I’m so grateful for the people that have shared their support for me – you have NO idea the impact you have had on my life! Yes, my life. I don’t know if you understand what that really means. If I could, I would tell each one of you individually how you single-handedly impacted my life but because I can’t do that I’m settling for this. I know it’s just a drop in the bucket of what it means to me, but I hope you at least get a hint of the power behind your LOVE, encouragement and cheer leading that has forever changed the way I look at living life for other people instead of myself. I never realized how many people would get behind me.

Thank you. Thank you one thousand times. You have become a part of my dream and even though Sri Lanka is now just a stamp in my passport, there are still a couple of pages that are too empty for me.

Don’t think this will be the last you hear from me. I’m just resting up until the next mission!

Love, Jasmine

Thank you Mom and Dad - your support is always louder than most!
Thank you Christine. You know there are too many words to express my LOVE for you and your passion for life. I'm blessed to have shared life with you and see you ALIVE with possibilities. I still can't believe you're in Africa. You are my super hero and I can't believe I actually get to know your secret identity!
Thank you Heather. Thank you for showing me what innocence is again and for living it without a second thought. Your friendship means entirely new things to me now and even though you slept through half our time there, I loved being awake with you.
Thank you my LOVES, my girls and my memories of Sri Lanka. You know how much this time meant because of you...probably the best everything in the world!
Thank you to Amal, Amita and Amritha for opening your house to 3 strange American girls and loving us like we were your own. Your love and protection were priceless and we couldn't have been there without you! You are our Sri Lankan family forever!
Thank you everyone I met from all over the world in Sri Lanka. Gosh, yes Dan, I said gosh, this would have been so much less enlightening without you. I would have NEVER watched Kill Bill; been scared of Tiger Sharks or showers; had funny test tubes down my pants while Katie laughed her face off; known that people have pet pigs named Uncle Jacob; shared a Valentines date with 2 other girls; discovered the disgustingness of Vegemite or Marmite; enjoyed banana pancakes for dessert and appreciated flushing toilets, hot water, endless buffets, salads or sleeping without mosquito nets so much.
Thank you to all my friends back home (coast to coast) who supported me financially, emotionally and spiritually with words heard and unheard. They were definitely all heard even if not by me.
Thank you to everyone at Bayside who cared enough to let me know. Especially the people I didn't even know. You are the people who deserve the treatment I got.
Thank you to the Smith's church in Jackson, CA
Thank you WACC
Thank you to everyone I've never met, never talked to or never knew was praying for me. You deserve more than I can ever give you.
Thank you.
I can't wait to see where the wind blows me next!