Next Week At This Time

You know, a week is not a very long period of time. Last week at this time I was dropping O. off at the train station of another city so he could go to Jaipur for teaching on leadership and unity. I saw Terminator Salvation while O. and the guys went to some Hindi comedy, which they ultimately didn't like. Should have come to Terminator with me, P. and I had a great time.

So, that feels like yesterday to me.

Then, I guess next Friday should just seem a day away. We're into the "lasts" right now.

The Last Friday.
The Last Ladies Weekly Prayer Meeting.

C. was very into asking me "How many Sundays til we go to America?"
Two.
Few hours later, same question.
Still two.
And so on...
Well,in two days it will be none.

I know people must be praying because I'm feeling utterly calm and I'm getting loads of work done in incredibly short periods of time. I'm not even reduced to blogging in my head!

The Healing Of My Back

The day after we went for P.'s US citizenship interview my lower back started to hurt. That was June 4th. By June 6th my back hurt so badly I could not even walk on my own and I went right to the doctor.

I suspected I might have some internal problems of a gynec nature and was right and my doctor put me on antibiotics and sent me home. I started to feel better. Then after three days I started to feel worse and on the 5th day I went back. Eventually, the doctor put me on 5 more days of antibiotics assuring me my back pain would stop and I'd be good as new.

I wasn't.

By day 10 I was back in the doctors office where I was told to get an ultrasound and X-ray. I bailed on the X-ray but did get the ultrasound done which came up normal. I didn't even go back to the doctor after that. I decided I was going to pray and let the Lord heal me. I'd had enough of doctor's offices.

So, I prayed and asked others to pray for me (putting up with a lot of: "You started working too hard too soon after giving birth.") Finally, at our pastors conference on June 24th one of our pastors, Madhu, came in from South India and he often calls me with prayer requests and I know him to b e a person of great faith. I had previously told him about my lower back and asked for prayer. When he came for the conference I asked him to pray then and there and he said, I'm always praying for it, but let's both fast and pray on Sunday.

To tell you the truth, Sunday couldn't get here fast enough. I was tired of being in severe pain every minute of every day. I was moving around only by the help of painkillers. Sunday we both fasted and I later heard from a man who lives with us, that Madhu prayed* long into the night only for me and the healing of my back. Three-four hours continuously, as well as fasting 24 hours.

Seeing Madhu's faith, my faith in God increased.

Monday morning, my back still hurt.

Yet, instead of my usual 2 painkillers, I only needed one. By afternoon my back was feeling better. By Monday evening it barely hurt at all.

In the end, I had a stiff (but not very painful back) for a few days after the fasting and prayer, but now, a week later, I'm fine and pain free. Praise the Lord.

* Indians often pray out loud, even when praying alone.

Renewing Your Mind

Just a single shot from our "Renewing Your Mind for Ministry" conference last month.

1st Day Of School 2009

Well, I'm way behind, I know. The first marking period exams are next week!. But here are my girls on their first day of school, June 8th.

The Fourth?

I had no recollection that today is the 4th of July til about 7:30 PM this evening. Weird.

I think this happens every year.

Searching For A Song

We are putting together a new DVD about our ministry in India and we're looking for a background song. I am about as out of it as you can be when it comes to the Christian music scene (in English).

Any suggestions for a song to be played in the background of our DVD would be greatly appreciated. Just comment or email. Thanks!

** Whoever suggests the song we use WILL be recognized here on allthelittledetails! I know! So, start searching!**

P. Dedicated To The Lord

Well, our children are always dedicated to the Lord from the start, but P. was officially dedicated in church yesterday in front of the congregation.

A Long Week

Last week was pretty intense but it was chock full of good stuff. From Saturday to Tuesday we had training for those of us who are teaching in our Bible College. It was done by people who work for the makers of our BTCP course material so it was right on and very helpful.

From Wednesday we had all our pastors in for four days of teaching and fellowship. Our theme was "Renewing Your Mind for Ministry." It was a really good week.

Our Bible College classes began from today and I start teaching from Wednesday. I'm going to try to cover as much of my Old Testament class as I can before we leave for our 2 months in the US on July 16.

So, all that to say, don't blame me for not being around last week!

June 16

A month from today we fly to the US. Weird.

Actual Ministry Related Stuff

It's June and here in India (at least where we are) that means everything is starting up again. School. Bible College.

Our new batch of Bible students are arriving day by day and actual classes start next week. I'll be teaching Old Testament again. I'm not sure what's going to happen since we're leaving for the US in a month. I'll start the course and then have to have someone cover for me for two months. Hummm.

We are getting students from all over India which was one of our prayers for this year. So far, from Manipur, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. More on the way.

We also have someone coming to spend three days teaching our Bible College teachers how to best teach our courses. That starts on Saturday, so I'm excited for that.

Then we are having our village pastors coming in next week for some time together with us and some training. O. and I wanted to spend some time with them before heading to the states. Busy busy.