MY JOURNEY TO INDIA PART III

Entrusting My Words to the Holy Spirit

Linda Mary Liotino

It is 75 more days until my departure date to India on September 6th.  I am way beyond excited and getting impatient with the seemingly at least to me of the crawling of the passing days.  Understanding at this time of my life I should relish the creeping days I do not.  My progress of getting things done is going well.

I remain faithful to my exercise regiment and my walking time has doubled.  I went from 10 minutes a day to now walking 20 minutes a day.  I still do some low impact exercises.  I have to really think about what I am doing for I have compensated for so long it is like reteaching the body and bringing it back to normality.  We have been having an abundance of rain playing havoc on the joints and on walking time.  I find two days of not walking is like beginning all over on the third day.   I am out walking at 6 a.m. and then I sit outside and pray my rosary after the walk.  I see a few ladies walking who are struggling because of weight and although they smile with a greeting I know the pain they must be experiencing.  After I greet them I cheer them on with a two thumbs up. 

I am allowed 150 lbs in my luggage and I am trying to pick that, which I want with me beyond clothing and shoes.  It is hard to take a lifetime of things and pick several must take with me.  I have this box by my desk which I put stuff in to pack outside of the clothing and just the other day I made the first cut.  I am sure before I finish packing there will undoubtedly be a final cut.  I had thought about shipping some things to India but the prices out of this girl’s ball park nick that idea therefore, I am in the process of giving the children their inheritance before I leave to go home to Papa God.  There will be no fighting or misunderstandings upon my departure from this earth [smile].

I am saying some goodbyes from now to out of state friends shoring up addresses and email addresses.  The family will gather at some point before I leave for one big goodbye ta do.  My son will host a barbecue for my friends to say good by.

I have secured most of my important legal documents save two.  I have in place all other legal documents that will be given to those they belong to.  My grandson’s adoption is in progress although it will not be finalized before I leave his father Kevin will have temporary custody until it is.  This should be completed by December.

Preparations are being made in India for me and I will write about them once they are in place.

I am very happy and in joy.  I cannot wait to start my journey in India with Franco and all we hope to do for the children.  I have allot to learn.  I am prepared/committed to embrace the Indian Culture.  I know God will give me the Graces needed to pick up the language quickly and all else I need to know and do.  I am told I will experience a cultural shock but between Franco and my Spiritual Director Father Boby who is from India I am fully aware of many things and this will keep I am sure the “SHOCK” down to a dull roar [smile].

Please keep Franco and I in your prayers as you are in our prayers.

May the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Bless You!

Copyright 2009 Linda Mary liotino

MY TRIP TO INDIA PART II

Entrusting my words to the Holy Spirit

Linda Mary Liotino

Well everyone it is 104 days before I depart for India.  I still have so much to get done but on the other hand I have made progress at chipping away at my list. 

First I want to update you on my ongoing miracle of health.  If you read my last Blog My Trip to India Part I you know God is granting me an ongoing miracle of my health.  I am coming along very nicely first I have taken off some weight.  I have gone down FOUR dress sizes and have found my lap…lol I have so much more energy. I have started to walk for the last three weeks or so. At first I was walking late afternoon with my friend Joan using the cane.  It was very difficult for the pain in my back would cause it to seize and my knees although they hurt the pain was bearable.  After a week my girlfriend stop walking so I walk by myself.  On May 18 I decided to start walking early in the morning after my grandson goes to school.  On the 23^rd I walk the circle in front of my apartment without the cane.  Ayezeyah walk with me with the dog and carried the cane just in case I got into trouble I did not.  I am walking on my own now.  I still need the cane when going up and down steps but like everything else I will conquer the steps independent of the cane. 

IT IS WELL TO NOTE HERE I DOWNLOADED IN MY PICTURES MY APARTMENT, THE CIRCLE, STEPS AND CANE…Go over and take a look for a better understanding.

The India Visa is approved and on its way to me it arrives on May 27^th.  It is a ten year Visa allowing me exit and reenter India every 6 months for ten years.  The procedure in my exiting India and reentering is a matter of a stamp on my passport to say I left it is done in one day.  I go to the border get the passport stamp and turn around and reenter India. 

I have bought some clothes I cannot remember when I updated my wardrobe last and I am in the process of picking the dress I will be wearing when I get to India.    I have to pick something that will not look like I was in it for the last 17 hours therefore; I am going with crinkly gauze. 

I have an ongoing list for packing and a plastic box under my desk that houses non clothing items I am taking with me.  All my legal documents are in place save two. I am taking very few books a couple of cherished light weight statues and some picture.  I am allowed 150 lbs all total in two suitcases and a carry on. 

I am giving away most of my things to family and friends.  I have never been a person who gets attach to things therefore; I can do this without any qualms.  I already have in place to get together with some cherished friends before I leave.  This is my journey to date. 

I messed up my Blog My Journey to India Part I so I have had to repost it if anyone wants to read it to be bought up to date thus far. 

I would like to note here many seem to be under the impression once I get to India that is the last I will be heard from but that is not true I will maintain my page on My Space.  If anyone wants to exchange private email address send me an email through My Space.  It may take a week or so before I am on My Space in a regular fashion once I get to India but I will pop in to let everyone know I am safe and sound in Chennai with Franco. 

 May the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Bless you!

 Copyright 2009 Linda Mary Liotino

MY JOURNEY TO INDIA

Part I

Entrusting My Words to the Holy Spirit

Linda Mary Liotino

In 2005 I made a decision I wanted to go to India and work with Mother Teresa but my life being what it was made this an impossible goal to attain.  I was in poor health, raising my young grandson Ayezeyah, and in an abusive marriage.   I finally came to a resolve that this a dream and like so many of my dreams I had learned to accept they were not going to pass and filed them away in my heart.  As my life moved forward so did many changes.  My husband and I separated, and a friend became a mentor to my grandson Ayezeyah, which grew into a father /son relationship.  However, my health remained the same and I accepted my fate to live a cloistered life until our Lord called me home.  In February of this year my husband died tragically in a fire and my friend ask to adopt Ayezeyah and plans are being made for Ayezeyah and his soon to be dad to find a home in Maine to live within the next year.  I remained in a state of accepting my cloistered life, made plans mentally to move closer to my son and live on my own but God had another plan. 

On December 30, 2008 I invited Franco Joseph to be my friend on MySpace and he accepted.  He sent beautiful meditations and prayers to my comments, which I found reassuring, which fed my heart and soul.  I would ask for him to pray for my intentions and with his prayers my prayers were being answered.  When my husband died although we had been separated for four years was very upsetting to me.  It was then I ask for Franco’s prayers and to assist me in a personal decision, which fostered a friendship.  It is in this friendship we learned allot about our hopes, dreams and desires for our lives.  We found that what we are called to do in this life from God are the same the injustices against children from the womb to their lives after birth.  We shared our advocacies in combating these injustices and found we were both on the same journey.  We exchanged many emails on this subject and about our spiritual life it is here we also had common ground.  The friendship continued to grow and blossom. 

It was in February of 2009 that I told Franco I could reverse my health status and his words to me, “Linda, please for your friend’s sake do it.  He would add, “How long will you continue to punish Linda for her past mistakes?”   It was upon hearing those words that I understood that was what I was doing imposing a sentence on my life, which was not God ordained.  The March 2009 Blog   GOD SMILES ON ME tells what happen.

Towards the end of March, Franco invited me to India and it was something I had been thinking about privately but kept it to myself.  I accepted the invitation because I began to have a heart for the children of India by what Franco told me and reading a diary of events he wrote about that happen in India, which he knew of first hand. It told of the horror against Christian families stemming from the actions of Extremists.  He told me of the young children all females in a convent he visits and helps whose families were killed by Hindu Extremists who raped and or tortured these young girls and my heart just could not but to go to them in love and sorrow.

Franco and I began discussing what we could do and I suggested opening a home and filling it with children left to themselves because their families were killed and giving them a better life.  I envision a home where the children could live a life as children should and be surrounded by love.  My vision was the same as Franco’s.  We realized between the two of us we had enough marketable talents to finance this project. 

The journey is now set and my ticket purchased and passport awaiting approval.  A Visa will be obtained in August and I am scheduled on the 29^th of this month at the Center of Disease Control to receive what is needed for the trip.   I will be leaving for India on September 6, 2009 @ 8 p.m. and will arrive in Bombay on the 7^th at 9 p.m. where I will be met by Franco.  We will then take a train trip from Bombay to our finale destination Chennai, which will take 24 hours.  I am told by Franco on this train trip I will get to know India. 

I end this segment of my journey to India leaving you with these thoughts I am a blessed woman in many areas of my life but mainly because God calls me to do His will.  He has a place for me to serve Him and to be His heart for the suffering child of India and a voice for the Unborn.  He has moved me from being a voice in America to a voice for the murdering of the Unborn throughout the world it is reflected in my comments/bulletins of late.  He has united two hearts and souls with the same heart for children a half a world apart together to achieve His plan.  The impossible is possible for Franco and I for we know who our power is Jesus Christ. 

Copyright 2009 Linda Mary Liotino