Moved The Office

We moved into a new office facility today. This one encompasses our offices, Bible College Principal and House Parent's homes, Bible students' dorms, guest housing and teaching areas for the Bible College. Basically, a bunch of places in one.

It was not nearly the nightmare I thought it would be.

Big News In India

Yet not anywhere else. It amazes me how terrorism in India doesn't make it to international news - like at all.

Since Friday there have been 2 major terrorist attacks in Bangalore and Ahmedabad. Over 25 bombs exploded in public places. More unexploded bombs are being discovered in major cities all over India. Seventeen unexploded bombs were found in a city 1 hour south of us and 17 bombs exploded in a city 3 hours North of us on Saturday night.

I think they caught somebody or someone snitched and that's why they're finding the unexploded bombs.

Oh, and India has no Federal Bureau of Investigation. They're thinking of creating one - I think that would be a wise idea. Apparently, it keeps getting put on the back burner because some states are against the interference - and I actually get that - I do read loads of detective type novels. The locals hate it when the feds step in. But all in all, I think they're necessary.

Anyway, we're fine, unharmed and unalarmed. But pray for the peace of India.

Tickets Are Booked

You may remember that I mentioned studying Hindi in September a few months back. Well, September is right around the corner and I've already booked my tickets. There is also a three day retreat for foreign women serving the Lord in India being held in Nagpur from Sept 10-12. I'll head there first and then head North for Hindi training.
If I were handy dandy I could figure out how to put "Indiana Jones" type red lines on this map pointing out where I'll be and where I'm going, but as I am neither handy dandy or Indy, I will just write it here.

Since I don't mention where we are on this blog, let's just say I'll start my journey at 3AM on Sept 9th and head West to Nagpur (center of India). The women's retreat is there. On the 13th I'll catch a flight from Nagpur to New Delhi (go straight North from Nagpur) from Delhi I'll catch a train to Dehra Dun (more North) and after arriving in Dehra Dun on Sept 14th, I'll catch a bus to Mussoorie - my final destination.

I'll stay there two weeks and then head in reverse to Delhi where I will ultimately catch a flight home - arriving on Sept 27th.

I'll be all alone. I'll also celebrate my birthday there - alone - happily - alone. (hate birthdays, never good, never. good.) The timing of this trip was carefully planned and thought out.

I'll be leaving my children for the longest time ever... almost three weeks. They'll survive without me.

New Shirt

Mostly I posted this picture for mom who sent this shirt to O. He looked so good in it the first day he put it on I took his picture. I just wish his hair would grow back...

Don't be too hard on him, I posed him.

E.'s Exams

E.'s exams started from this morning with Science. Oy.

Sufficient Grace

Yesterday morning during our office devotions time we looked at 2 Corinthians 12. After reading through it together our pastor asked us each to share a few thoughts on the passage.

Verse 9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" is a verse I think about often. During my "few thoughts" I admitted that there are times where I feel and I say to God, "Your grace isn't enough for me today."

But then I shared that after it all, God always brings me out on the other side, therefore proving that His grace was sufficient for me, even if I felt like it wasn't.

This is a lesson I'm learning, that God's grace being sufficient for me is not dependant on whether or not I feel like it is sufficient or not.

I guess I really could have learned all I needed to know about this from the "Footprints" poem.

The Fair

We went to a small fair in town last night. Once again risking my life and the lives of my children on 25 cent rides.

I went on one of those rocking boat rides. (what do you call them?)

While waiting in line I watched the guy pull a lever which caused a small tire to hit the bottom of the boat, effectively putting on the break. Apparently, that's how they made the boat rock too.

I enjoyed the ride but I did nearly lose my popcorn.

Creepy

The other day Eve came into my room and said.

"Mom, something just came out of my ear."

<dramatic pause>

"It was walking."

Snake Bite

One of the guys who works with us was bit by a snake last night. Weird. He's still in the hospital but he seems to be fine.

They took him to the Government hospital first last night and they administered the anti-venom but there was no doctor there to check him, so they admitted him in a private hospital later on.

Quiet Week

Ten of our co-workers have been away at a conference since Monday. They'll be back tonight but it's been a quiet week for sure. O. left last night for the conference mainly just to check out the Conference Center. We're holding a pastor's conference in the beginning of August for our pastors and still need to finalize a location. O. should take care of that today.

We're focusing on Discipleship for the three days our pastors will be with us. Please pray. The conference is August 3-5.

Dora

I was watching cartoons with C. this morning while she was waiting for school. Today it was Dora the Explorer - in Hindi You may wonder how this works.

I'm here to tell you. Where Dora would normally speak in English she talks in Hindi. When Dora would teach you Spanish - she now teaches you English. Plus, all the map locations are in English. "Lake, River, Biiiiiig MOUNTAIN!"

My sister-in-law said, "Kitna acha cartoon, English sikata hey!" - "What a great cartoon, it teaches you English!"

The Mice Are Dead

I've got a dead mouse somewhere in my pantry and one upstairs in the open space outside my bedroom, the room where this computer is as a matter of fact.

I don't know where the dead little suckers are, but THEY ARE STINKING UP MY HOUSE!

Tuckloo

That's what we call her, but you can call her "Baldy" or "Cue Ball" or whatever you like. It's our G.

O. has been threatening to shave her head and I've been holding him off but he took her and did it yesterday afternoon. She doesn't seem to mind.


Indians shave their children's baby hair so thicker nicer hair comes in.

Medicine Queen

I was back to the Dr. (a different one) again today. This time for an inner ear infection.

I could feel it coming on since last night and when G. shouted near my ear and it vibrated I knew it was time to get to the ear nose and throat guy. Better not to delay - tomorrow is Sunday.

Desi Chicken

Indians have this thing about "desi chicken" which is basically just the skinny chickens you find in villages. It's better for health or something.

On Monday we returned to Chicklee Village and then went 20 km further on Tuesday for a meeting at a church there. The meeting was great but it's the desi chicken that came afterwards that is blogworthy.

By the time lunch came around I was starving. They fed a whole bunch of us in the church. I was the first one to get my plate. On it were three (3) pieces of chicken skin and a knuckle. I also had a small portion of raw mango and onion salad. This was served with a side of chapati (The whole wheat flat bread.)

Well, I was starving so I sopped up the chicken juice and ate all the mango on my plate. Then I ate O.'s mango. Then I ate the onions (which I initially avoided to save myself stinky breath). It was a generally unsatisfactory meal and it inflamed my stomach so I hurt all afternoon.

Apparently fasting is the best thing for gastritis. I'll be starting on a fruit fast today.

Gastritis

That was the diagnosis on Monday. Gastritis.

Acc. to MayoClinic:
"Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of gastritis include:
A gnawing or burning ache or pain (indigestion) in your upper abdomen that may become either worse or better when you eat
Nausea
Vomiting
Loss of appetite
Belching or bloating
A feeling of fullness in your upper abdomen after eating
Weight loss
Acute gastritis occurs suddenly and is more likely to cause nausea and burning pain or discomfort in your upper abdomen. "

Yes, that is me.

The Dr. also informed me that this is due to the monsoon season, I'm having "hormonal fluctuations" and I am also, "genetically not suited to Indian food."

She gave me 10 pills and some vitamin juice.

I am feeling better since yesterday but once again had some bad stomach pain in the afternoon - possibly due to my lunch - read next post.

Stomach Thing

There have been a whole plethora of things I've wanted to blog about over the last several days but due to lack of time and illness I haven't had a chance. Sorry.

I've had a weird stomach thing for the last 9 days and I've felt pretty miserable for most of that time. I'm going to the Dr. in an hour. Enough is enough is enough for goodness sake. I hate feeling lousy.

Rainy Season - Just Like Last Year

This is what I saw from my roof yesterday morning when I woke up to get E. ready for school.

*Obviously, I was having camera disfunctions.

Making Change

I changed the password on my yahoo email account for the first time yesterday, after over 8 years. I know. Some of you are cringing.

I had just gotten used to it. But lately, the password was bothering me because it previously had significance but didn't any longer. I feel really good about the whole thing now.

Weird Waiting Mode

I'm waiting. The strange thing is, I'm not sure what I'm waiting for.

Waiting is unpleasant. The good thing is, generally, you know what you're waiting for. The "special someone", a job, a house, a vacation, admission, an adopted child...

I'm in waiting mode, and I have no idea what's coming. Not a great place to be, but it's way better than Hopeless.