Since I joined Air India, it was my deep desire to visit Jerusalem and Bethlehem and Rome..But I resigned that job and returned back and got an appointment as Lecturer in an esteemed College for women. Never I regret for I quit my job in the International Airlines. Never , Never I thought of those days past in Air India. But along with my children I too applied for Pass port, just to have it, without giving any second thought. When my daughter got married, I had least idea of going to USA, until she asked me to apply for visa to visit her.
I was in the shadow of the death, and in the shock of the death of my husband, for many years. And even when I joined my daughter in IOWA I had least idea of what the life abroad would be. All that I know was taking Life as it comes. Little hopes of joy were pestering me after a long period of depression occurred in my life due to the loss of my beloved husband. How I went to stay with her, how I came back home was a dream. and a life of confusion. Dark curtains of sorrow and depression were engulfing me those days, and I was not ready to welcome any hope in life.
After that visit in 2006 I visited her many times for a period of 3 months, but never it occurred to me to go to Jerusalem just because I dared not to make a touring trip with a group of strangers. I was hoping for on acquaintance to go with , if not a friend .
in 2009 I thought of going along with my principal, but it was not possible some how. Since then I was thinking of going on a trip, but dare not go alone with any strange group for fear of my feeble knees, and weak feet aftermath of chikengunie
I asked many friends who are a little bit rich to meet the expenses and who has passport, but none of them were ready to make a trip due to various reasons. I was fully at the bay's end, not knowing what to do, but enquiring every one about the trip.My son abruptly told me that he would come along with me. but keeping on post poning the trip due to leave problems.
I tried every way possible, but in vain.
That night I got a dream. I heard " Jacob, Jacob , Jacob thrice in my dream. then somebody was unfolding the story of Jacob's dream of the ladder in the wilderness, and was telling me about his promise of one tenth of his earnings to God and about the Rock where he had his House of Prayer. Then suddenly I heard a voice in my dream which was insisting me to look at the 15th verse.The a next morning the first thing what I did was, searched for the story of Jacob and his dream, I immediately found the story in Genesis 28th chapter, and my eyes gripped the sentence 15th... it goes like this " And, Behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all Places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have doe that which I have spoken to thee of." Can any body imagine my shock and my joy mixed feelings and emotions.? Any one can imagine how light was my body and how I was walking in the clouds. All fear and doubts about my inability to travel with strange group on a tour was vanished. I called the TV channel which was arranging the trips like this. The person who was in charge informed me the next trip would be in the next fortnight, and the date I called 28th June was the last take to apply for Visa to Israel. And he enquired me whether I could make it within such short period of time. I said, " Praise God, sir, as early as possible, it would be far better for me." he was Happy with my answer and instructed me to send passport details by email and deposit 10000 in his account. John, my son usually calls me at the week ends, but that day on Thursday he called me to enquire of my welfare, which was very unlike of him. I told him" John I am going to Jerusalem trip, just now I talked to the organisers, and tomorrow and I am going to deposit the amount they asked me to." I told him about the last date of opting for the trip, and the dates of trip.. He was shocked and asked me why I am in so hurry, I told him about the promise God has given me in my dream. He rejoiced along with me at once. and shouted, " oh mom,.. that is fantastic, wonderful, what else you need mom, nothing else..." he was giggling along with me, while saying so. Then he expressed his inability to come along with me.. When I asked about his job, and the leave he answered me leave he can get even on loss of pay but financially he need some more time to make this trip. I said " if that is the only reason , do not worry, by God's grace I can meet your expenses, even Annie's if you both could make this trip. He was surprised for a minute and enquired Annie whether she could make this trip , she answered that she could not as she had urgently submit some project. John asked his manager for leave and he got the permission but on loss of pay. I said, " does not matter, we will make this trip."
I traveled to Hyd and reached on 13th morning and that night john reached Hyd on 14th night we were in Shamashabad Air port to board the plane for Israel country. But the man who promised me to take us safely was not available at the airport. and the visa particulars of mine and john were posted wrongly and we were objected to board the flight as we were not eligible. The promise God has given me was echoing in my ears. and i hold my thumping heart, to keep my faith. But when I saw the callousness of the sister of the in charge person I told them that " this is a blunder, you have committed to us, and you just cannot throw your responsibility on God saying ' God will take care of you"" --- At last the airport official agreed to give us boarding the flight but warned us that we can travel only up to Amman , and later if Israel Govt would not give permission for us to enter into it , its not their responsibility at all. My old mantra.. God has been faithful so far, and He will hitherto.. and further" This mantra is my breath in many a occasions all through my life. and so it was even then. The in charge person was no where, to be seen, later we found out that that person left for Jerusalem the previous day along with another group, and he left out group with his brother in law... who was very much afraid for things turned up in this way. When we were about to enter into Israel country, we both were stopped by the air port officials for more than two hours, and we were keeping on praying for the best, and ultimately were given permission to enter into the Promised land only by faith and by the Promise Gen 28:15.
I was in the shadow of the death, and in the shock of the death of my husband, for many years. And even when I joined my daughter in IOWA I had least idea of what the life abroad would be. All that I know was taking Life as it comes. Little hopes of joy were pestering me after a long period of depression occurred in my life due to the loss of my beloved husband. How I went to stay with her, how I came back home was a dream. and a life of confusion. Dark curtains of sorrow and depression were engulfing me those days, and I was not ready to welcome any hope in life.
After that visit in 2006 I visited her many times for a period of 3 months, but never it occurred to me to go to Jerusalem just because I dared not to make a touring trip with a group of strangers. I was hoping for on acquaintance to go with , if not a friend .
in 2009 I thought of going along with my principal, but it was not possible some how. Since then I was thinking of going on a trip, but dare not go alone with any strange group for fear of my feeble knees, and weak feet aftermath of chikengunie
I asked many friends who are a little bit rich to meet the expenses and who has passport, but none of them were ready to make a trip due to various reasons. I was fully at the bay's end, not knowing what to do, but enquiring every one about the trip.My son abruptly told me that he would come along with me. but keeping on post poning the trip due to leave problems.
I tried every way possible, but in vain.
That night I got a dream. I heard " Jacob, Jacob , Jacob thrice in my dream. then somebody was unfolding the story of Jacob's dream of the ladder in the wilderness, and was telling me about his promise of one tenth of his earnings to God and about the Rock where he had his House of Prayer. Then suddenly I heard a voice in my dream which was insisting me to look at the 15th verse.The a next morning the first thing what I did was, searched for the story of Jacob and his dream, I immediately found the story in Genesis 28th chapter, and my eyes gripped the sentence 15th... it goes like this " And, Behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all Places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have doe that which I have spoken to thee of." Can any body imagine my shock and my joy mixed feelings and emotions.? Any one can imagine how light was my body and how I was walking in the clouds. All fear and doubts about my inability to travel with strange group on a tour was vanished. I called the TV channel which was arranging the trips like this. The person who was in charge informed me the next trip would be in the next fortnight, and the date I called 28th June was the last take to apply for Visa to Israel. And he enquired me whether I could make it within such short period of time. I said, " Praise God, sir, as early as possible, it would be far better for me." he was Happy with my answer and instructed me to send passport details by email and deposit 10000 in his account. John, my son usually calls me at the week ends, but that day on Thursday he called me to enquire of my welfare, which was very unlike of him. I told him" John I am going to Jerusalem trip, just now I talked to the organisers, and tomorrow and I am going to deposit the amount they asked me to." I told him about the last date of opting for the trip, and the dates of trip.. He was shocked and asked me why I am in so hurry, I told him about the promise God has given me in my dream. He rejoiced along with me at once. and shouted, " oh mom,.. that is fantastic, wonderful, what else you need mom, nothing else..." he was giggling along with me, while saying so. Then he expressed his inability to come along with me.. When I asked about his job, and the leave he answered me leave he can get even on loss of pay but financially he need some more time to make this trip. I said " if that is the only reason , do not worry, by God's grace I can meet your expenses, even Annie's if you both could make this trip. He was surprised for a minute and enquired Annie whether she could make this trip , she answered that she could not as she had urgently submit some project. John asked his manager for leave and he got the permission but on loss of pay. I said, " does not matter, we will make this trip."
I traveled to Hyd and reached on 13th morning and that night john reached Hyd on 14th night we were in Shamashabad Air port to board the plane for Israel country. But the man who promised me to take us safely was not available at the airport. and the visa particulars of mine and john were posted wrongly and we were objected to board the flight as we were not eligible. The promise God has given me was echoing in my ears. and i hold my thumping heart, to keep my faith. But when I saw the callousness of the sister of the in charge person I told them that " this is a blunder, you have committed to us, and you just cannot throw your responsibility on God saying ' God will take care of you"" --- At last the airport official agreed to give us boarding the flight but warned us that we can travel only up to Amman , and later if Israel Govt would not give permission for us to enter into it , its not their responsibility at all. My old mantra.. God has been faithful so far, and He will hitherto.. and further" This mantra is my breath in many a occasions all through my life. and so it was even then. The in charge person was no where, to be seen, later we found out that that person left for Jerusalem the previous day along with another group, and he left out group with his brother in law... who was very much afraid for things turned up in this way. When we were about to enter into Israel country, we both were stopped by the air port officials for more than two hours, and we were keeping on praying for the best, and ultimately were given permission to enter into the Promised land only by faith and by the Promise Gen 28:15.
