Dear Reader:

I have realized that with Matt’s story and Reverend Kenneth Brown’s story, as well as Ambika’s today, what connects all three is the amazing “anchor” of hope that manifest itself in a little chapel in the North Carolina mountains. Mind-blowing!

Ambika actually crept into my life and consciousness very quietly. Several years ago I got a comment one day about a blog post I wrote from someone named Ambika….her feelings and thoughts were quite deep and I began to look forward to her comments as they began to appear more regularly.

This went on for several months until I finally stopped and asked  about her name one day….it was so pretty but quite different. That is when Ambika shared her story and connection to the blog and indirectly to St. Jude’s Chapel of Hope.

According to Hindu origin…..the translation of the name Ambika means, “mother and compassionate.” The name also refers to  the “Moon goddess.” It was just about the time I planted my first moon garden in the backyard that we started corresponding and I remember thinking “Wow! Now I even know someone connected to the moon.”

Ambika told me she was originally from Bangalore, India but had moved to Dubai. I stopped reading for a moment to filter that information into my brain….excuse me…Dubai?

She was studying at Krishna Devaraya College of Dental Sciences and the exams and workload were very difficult. She was feeling down about herself and her future … so one day she started searching for “hope” on the internet and lo and behold….my little blog pops up. Chapel of Hope Stories.

Now really…what are the odds of this happening?

Tommy was studying for the BAR at this time so I could really empathize with her about a degree that boils down to one major exam…no matter the scholastic requirements accomplished up to that point. One test that either opens doors to a new future or quickly slams shut if unsuccessful….a tremendous amount of stress.

Ambika continued to follow the blog,  sharing her personal views and comments and then we finally “met” electronically. She shared her dreams of being successful in the dental field of study and future career, finding the right man, marrying, and having a family.

Guess what? Everything she hoped for….has come true.  A few weeks ago I mentioned something about Mollie and Walsh being tired because one or the other of their little boys kept getting up at night. Ambika responded quickly that she could relate completely.

She would love to be able to just rest and sleep for a long, uninterrupted period….she admitted that she didn’t have time to read the blog as much lately because Ajay wasn’t sleeping through the night either.

I emailed back and teasingly reminded her of her earlier dreams and hopes a few years back…and now they had all come true. Sleepless nights will pass and Ambika will look back and remember that bonding time as a very special time.

So until tomorrow….God works in mysterious ways when it comes to connecting us to the right source at the right time here on earth to help all of us through difficult times.

*I told Ambika that I hope to live to see the day when she and her family open the door to St. Jude’s Chapel of Hope and discover home is waiting.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh