Once Upon a Time

…in a far away land, there was a small group of girls living among a people that were very different from themselves. They loved learning about these people, and tried to understand their ways.

One day, these girls met a very kind friend, named Naga. Naga took the girls to her home, and fed them dinner with her family. Naga’s parents, brother, and new sister-in-law were all very kind and helpful to these girls. They fed them wonderful food, and taught them some of the culture. The girls and the family together had a very fun evening, and they all became good friends.

The girls got busy, and neglected to visit the family again for a long time. Finally, a few weeks later, one of the girls went back to the home. When she arrived, she met Naga’s brother and sister-in-law (who’s name was Vasanthi), but did not see Naga. When she asked where Naga was, the brother looked very sad, and said that Naga had gone away, to the city, and would not come home. Naga had fallen in love with a man, but her parents were unhappy. They did not approve of Naga falling in love. It was not the ways of the people. They did not accept Naga’s choice, and Naga had to leave forever.

The girl was very sad for the family, and very surprised! She never expected Naga to make this decision. But Naga was gone, and the girl tried very hard to comfort the family. The mother was most sad. She cried with the girl. But the family began to heal, and the girl became even better friends with them.

The girl came to love the family very much, and today, she visits them often. The family fed her good foods, and taught her many new things. She soon found out that Vasanthi did not have beliefs like her family, but that Vasanthi’s religion was similar to her own! The girl and Vasanthi sat, and talked about religion much. They became very close friends, and still talk much today. Although they are still sometimes very sad about Naga, the girl and the family have grown very close, and treasure the friendship that they have made.

(When I found out Vasanthi was Christian, not Hindu [and when she found out that I was Christian] the both of us were excited! She told me that she has a Bible that she loves to read. I told her about the Book of Mormon. She told me that if I had a book for her, she would read it, but that she did not read English well. I recently [as recently as Sunday] secured a Tamil copy of the Book of Mormon! I just recently gave it to Vasanthi. She seems very receptive.

I am so grateful to have this chance, to learn about these people, and to befriend them! I am really enjoying my experience here. I look forward to coming home, and do sometimes miss Western culture, but the thought of leaving these people and this culture always makes me sad. I have truly come to love these people.)