All The Little Details

New Blog

2011-04-14T20:31:00.003+05:30

I've been debating how to blog yet still be private without requiring people to "apply" to view my blog. I want to be open, yet, still somewhat in control of who reads the content of my blog. I've come to the conclusion that I must (at least at this time) discontinue writing this blog and start a new one. If you know me, you can contact me and ask about it and I will direct you. In any case I will be letting most of you know about it soon anyway. rebecca

Back In NJ

2011-03-12T01:39:00.003+05:30

My daughters and I arrived in New Jersey early on Thursday morning after a 17 hours flight from Bombay to Newark. The girls were superb. I can only claim prayer, they're not generally that good. :)

A question I get a lot: How long are you in the USA? Answer: No idea. Really. Probably a while. At present - no plans to go back to India unless something drastic and miraculous happens.

Another common question: What's going on? Answer: Message or email me. I'll give you the lowdown.

These have been really hard months and I've learned to just cling to Jesus and I've really learned what it means to fix my eyes on Jesus. He hasn't let me down yet and I don't believe it's ever going to happen.

Worship Breaks Down The Walls Of Hostility

2011-02-06T12:49:00.003+05:30

I was eating breakfast with my 2 & 4 year old this morning and as I flipped through the English channels I came upon "hillsongtv" and a pastor was giving a message that caught my attention. A few minutes later the worship team started some slow worship songs.

I noticed my girls weren't making any of their usual noise, i.e. stop touching my poha, she's drinking my chai, ayiiiiiii, Mummeeeeeeeee!

So I glanced over and there were both girls, eyes glued to the TV, hands raised in the air and gently swaying to the music.

Well, I burst right in to tears.

How P. Puts Herself To Sleep

2011-02-02T07:03:00.002+05:30

These are heavy days I am living in so it's always nice to have a little levity.

P. puts herself to sleep like this every time. She just picks her nose til she conks out. I am not kidding.

C.'s Republic Day Dance

2011-02-01T20:04:00.002+05:30

Hiatus

2011-01-18T19:21:00.001+05:30

Hiatus

I know haven't been around for a while. I may not be. Just letting you know. I'll be back when I can. Miss you too.

Fasting For My Girls

2011-01-07T20:41:00.003+05:30

I'm not really sure how to start this testimony of God's goodness to me. I've typed a beginning twice and deleted it twice.

For the last two days my four daughters were on my heart especially regarding their spiritual and mental health. I had been laying my prayers before the Lord and I am here to testify He heard them!

At the start of this 2011 several of us are fasting and praying - individually - but with one spirit. It was not planned but one by one God has been bringing us together to fast and pray before him. We're not public about it, yet, somehow people come to know and almost daily people are added to our numbers.

This evening I was walking through our school and a C.'s class teacher, who is a Christian, stopped me and we talked for a few minutes and she asked how I was. I started to walk away and she called me back.

She said, "I'm fasting too. I started three days ago. I am fasting and praying only for your four daughters." She then asked me not to tell anyone, altho I don't think you count. :)

I have not ceased to be amazed at my God who would love me so much that he heard my concern for my daughters and a day before I even started to pray about it he chose his servant to start fasting and praying specifically and only for them.

Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!

Ignore The Adults

2011-01-07T20:21:00.003+05:30

My beloved son in the faith, Joshi, is leaving our ministry and going to a new life ministering among orphans and lepers in Delhi. I was putting together some pictures for him today and came across these two from last month. I had forgotten how we laughed when they were taken. Ignore the three adults in the picture and focus on E. and P.

In the first picture P. just jumped in at the last second. What a ham! I guess she learned it from older sis E.

Nothing Is Sacred

2011-01-05T07:43:00.002+05:30

Hmmm. Favorite pastime: Taking the books out of mommy's bookshelves and making roads.

Obviously, these children should be taking a bath...

A Little Love - Without Crying

2011-01-04T15:48:00.003+05:30

I am always amazed at the ways God answers our small prayers, even the ones we forget praying.

While I was away last week I was feeling low and I prayed, "Lord, please just send some people to show me your love, but I don't want to cry." (I'm one of those weird people who cries when people are nice to them...)

I went about my day, checking on breakfast being made and was happy when someone brought out wheat chapatis to eat (as opposed to the corn chapatis and rice which we had been eating for 3 days.) I grabbed a chapati and sat outside before getting in line (we were a team over 30) to get some breakfast. The sister-in-law of the man at whose house we were staying came up behind me and gestured, come here. She said: In a little while come over to my house and I'll feed you some desi* eggs. Oh, just come over now.

So, I and my chapati went over to her kitchen and sat down while she made eggs for me. Her husband's cousin came in, who is a nurse and she made special eggs for me since I was sick with a cough (desi medicine). As the cousin cooked she shared that she was struggling with marriage problems - an arranged marriage where the husband was still in a relationship with his girlfriend from before marriage. The girl's face who made the egg was swollen and the blood vessels in her eye were burst from where her husband beat her. They'd only been married a year.

I listened to her story and ate food from her hand and realized later that God had answered my request for someone to show me his love - without making me cry. I think I am most comfortable in a kitchen and it was nice to just sit and cut the vegetables and watch the eggs fry, listen to women-talk and feel compassion for someone else.

Desi Chickens in a tree.

*desi - anything truly Indian. In this case - village chickens give village eggs (more expensive and, apparently, more healthful than city chickens. Nah, just kidding, not city chickens - chicken farm grown chickens.)

Christmas Night Pictures

2011-01-03T21:37:00.002+05:30

And yet there was another program on Christmas night...
E. & C.'s dance (again)

Ladies garba - again... Me in a different outfit - not so mango-ish this time.

All in all, one of the best Christmas days I have had in a long time. Even though 2010 was difficult for me in many ways, it did have its highlights: i.e. my Birthday and Christmas Day.

Random Shots Of Christmas 2010 (I)

2011-01-03T18:29:00.004+05:30

C. in her gorgeous Christmas dress from Grammy and Grandpop. Superstar! E.

C. & E. in their group dance on Christmas day.

Ladies Nativity Skit (I was the Holy Spirit)

Carol Singing group

Holy Spirit and Mary

Ladies Gujarati Garba Dance. You can't see me here, but I look like a ripe Mango.

Dance Troop

Christmas Stockings for the 1st Time ever! And they are stuffed! (Thanks Aunt Jenny & Uncle Jim)

G. opening her Christmas gift on Christmas Eve.

More pictures to come, but I have lost loading capabilities. Ahhh, India. More comprehensive photos on Facebook.

Karuna Kid Khristmas

2011-01-03T18:12:00.003+05:30

For those of you who didn't catch this on Facebook, here are some pictures from the Karuna kids getting their Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve.
Ohhh, what did you get?

Pushpa reading a letter from a friend in the US.

Kusha

Rahul

A Great Big THANK YOU from all of us!

Strange Ways Of Faith or Happy 2011

2011-01-03T13:35:00.003+05:30

I shared at our testimony time in church on New year's Eve that the thing I am most thankful for is that 2010 is OVER. It was a hard year for me. I have great hopes for 2011, however. One thing I can say for 2010 is that God taught me more in one year of my life than he had in all the previous years put together. Wow, that's a lot of teaching.

As in the strange ways of faith, He has brought me to a most childlike place. In my mind's eye I see myself, as a child, clinging on to Christ's hand and Him leading me somewhere. My eyes are squeezed shut, I don't know where I am going. When I open my eyes, where will I be?

But I trust Him, and believe it is going to be a place of joy.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T07:39:00.001+05:30

Merry Christmas!

I have not forgotten you.

Here is my to-do list for today, December 24th, Christmas Eve.

Get up at 5AM – pray
Make breakfast
Wash clothes (washing machine on the fritz – don’t ask)
Make lunch
10AM – have 30 children from our children’s home over to distribute their gifts.
Feed them snacks.
Staple some net onto a costume (faster than sewing)
Go to school for dance practice and skit practice
Come home, teach 3 friends how to make zucchini bread
(possibly get a pedicure???)
Pick up 2 dresses from tailor – wrap them
Get one last gift for a guest – wrap it (pos give this resp. to O.)
6PM be at church for gift exchange program – FUN.

Come home eat something (pos. make something to eat…)
Clean house for 9 guests arriving at the crack of dawn Christmas morning.

This is all I can remember – but my days generally look like this.

Throw in 4 small children and well… Talk to you in the new year…

Nat's Going Home

2010-12-09T14:11:00.002+05:30

My dear niece Natalie will be heading back to the US tomorrow night and we are down to our last day with her in our home.
It has been such a huge blessing to have her here and part of our (Indian) family for the last several months. It is going to be sad and strange around here without her.

I am thankful for the months God gave me with her and the connection she is for me to my Arizona family. I am privileged to see the beautiful work that God has been doing in her life over the last months. And I am excited to see what He is going to do in her future. It is going to be wonderful.

Goodbye sweet Nat, (Map Didi), we're going to miss you so much.

I am so proud of you.

Groundbreaking At The Karuna Children's Home Land

2010-12-07T14:25:00.003+05:30

(I am most definitely suited for indoors work...)

The cleared off section is the land that we officially purchased on Saturday Dec. 4th for the Karuna Children's Home project. We held church there on Sunday.

Nat's Birthday With Everyone

2010-12-07T14:14:00.003+05:30

At church on Sunday Natalie shared a small testimony and we had a cake for her.

Putting the cake together
Feeding the cake

Map Didi's Birthday (#1)

2010-12-07T13:35:00.005+05:30

My niece Natalie's first birthday celebration on Saturday. Hosted by her good friends. I didn't even bother decorating my house after this extravaganza...
B Happy

The cousins

Birthday Showers

HB Pictures from E.'s 10th (Late!)

2010-12-07T11:38:00.003+05:30

The Happy Birthday girl (November 18th) . Face Painting courtesy of Natalie...
Tiger.

C. with her best friend, Angel.

P.'s face was painted by her sister. Sitting on the flower pot eating candy.

We had a "Fair" -like theme. Lots of various games. Even the adults partook.

Tha Cat Is Back

2010-11-29T14:20:00.006+05:30

You may remember the cat who ate my lovebirds (snif). Apparently he is back. The following is a picture gallery of what I found in my guest bedroom this morning. I tried to upload a video but it wasn't working.

It will add to the ambiance if you mentally play the Psycho music in your head. Ehn Ehn Ehn Ehn

Poor Pigeon

I Wonder If God Ever Gets Tired Of Hearing My Name?

2010-11-21T17:11:00.003+05:30

I wonder if God ever gets tired of hearing my name?

If it were possible I think he'd be feeling it over this past week. It's been an amazing week where I feel like everyone's been ringing God's doorbell with requests for me.

I've wept. I've broken down in tears in front of my students. I have young and old, counseling me, comforting me and praying over me.

It's Thanksgiving Week and I am so THANKFUL for the prayers of beloved friends who have helped me to not just hang on this past week, but to press on.

Lord, I know you never get tired of hearing my name.
You love me.

Delhi

2010-11-21T17:08:00.002+05:30

I'll be in Delhi from Monday til Saturday taking classes for my MA correspondence course in "Christian Management" Yep, I'll be there alone (meaning without knowing anyone.) Yep, I'll be there over Thanksgiving. (Not a big deal, but since Natalie is here, I feel bad leaving her...)

Today will be the last gut spilling for a while I guess.

The Seed - 17 Years Later

2010-11-15T16:58:00.003+05:30

I have in my possession three journals that I wrote during 1993-94 while I was studying for 11 months in Israel. It was the most amazing time of my life and a year of growth for me in every way (except physical - I lost 40 lbs).

I recently gave these journals to my niece Natalie to read while she is staying with me.

Here's where it gets weird:

Last week when I was going through some really hard times I had one prayer in my heart. As I was forced to wait through a very stressful situation I prayed that God would make me like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as they were in the fiery furnace. It is all I prayed. It is all I could pray at that time.

A couple days ago Natalie came to me and said, I want to show you something you wrote in your journal, almost to this exact date, 17 years ago.

"November 15, 1993

How I've been feeling lately: God is working on me. He has given me a very strong desire to be righteous - holy, I want this more than anything.

He has also been teaching me about Faith. For some reason I really wanted to read Daniel. So I started this morning and am still reading. 2 passages have really stood out to me.

1) Hananiah, Azariah and Mishiel in the fiery furnace. Their faith in God astounds me! I mean the fact that they went to the furnace in the 1st place is amazing enough but it goes beyond that.

I can honestly say that I would die for the Lord if it came down to it. But, in my case, if I were on my way to the furnace, I would just be resigning myself to die. But for H, A, and M it was different, they had complete confidence that God would protect them. There was no doubt in their mind!...

If only I could have that kind of faith! To know God will succeed. If only I keep my eyes on Him and walk according to His will, I can accomplish everything!"

Well, my first thought when Natalie showed me this portion of my OWN 20 year old self's journal I was appalled that I appear to be in the same place I was in 17 years ago. But after a moment I realized it was not that at all.

It was the seed that God planted in 20year old Rebecca 17 years ago in 1993 that took bloom in my life on a heartbreaking night in November 2010.

*ps - my spelling has NOT improved in 17 years.

My Carrot Dream

2010-11-15T14:05:00.003+05:30

Two nights ago I had some dreams. The first one I can't really remember but it took place on a boat and it was all about betrayal.

After that dream I had another dream that is still vivid in my mind. For real (i.e. not in the dream) I have carrots growing in my garden. I'm not really sure when to pull them up, I'm such a black thumb... See picture below of real carrot garden.
In my dream I went to the carrots in the garden and I dug one up out of the dirt. I grabbed it by the green top and pulled out one carrot. Attached to the bottom of the one carrot were bunches of other carrots. They were deeper in the ground under the first, single carrot but I didn't have to dig to get them out. They were in an already dug out, perfectly round hole. I just lifted them out.

Totally unrelated to the above post:
Below is a picture of my Banana Tree. It's huge and covered in cement from the construction on the house next door. Still has not given me any fruit, BUT there are now four smaller banana trees growing up from the ground around it.

I Came To The End Of Myself

2010-11-11T14:56:00.002+05:30

There came a point on Tuesday when I reached the end of myself. Have you ever been there? That place where going forward is just not possible and the only direction you know where to go is Back.

You think about going Back. You comfort yourself with the idea of Back.

Then somewhere along the way some dear friend sends you an email and snuggled within it is this nugget:

So when we get to the end of ourselves, he will move.

So when we get to the end of ourselves, he will move.

So when we get to the end of ourselves, he will move.

So when we get to the end of ourselves, he will move.

Man, I held on to that promise on Tuesday. I thought of nothing else. I even stopped thinking about Back. I just told Him, "Here I am at the end. There is nowhere for me to go from here."

That's when he did a miracle. In front of my eyes a heart was changed, transformed. A set mind was turned. And I knew, I knew, there was a hand holding on to me and leading me forward.

He showed me, I didn't need to go Back, He was going to take me forward.

How Firm Is My Foundation?

2010-11-11T13:14:00.002+05:30

How Firm Is My Foundation?
I've had first hand knowledge of the firmness of my foundation this week. On Monday night I was shaken when in one blow I lost three things that I would consider vitally important to me and my journey on this earth.

No, I didn't lose the life of any loved ones but I lost three relationships in one fell blow. I was shaken.

I was shaken. Like a house shakes when the wind blows hard. But I didn't fall down. I confessed to one person that the fact that I walking, talking, living and breathing was all by God's grace. And prayer.

Not necessarily my own prayer, but the prayers of others who held up my "house," this earthy and spiritual vessel, while the winds blew.

The winds continue to blow, not as violently as they did that bad day or two but I'm still shaking.

Yet I am thankful for the winds, for when the winds blow, then we are held.

Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.

God gave me back two of the relationships that were momentarily lost.

Luke 9

2010-11-08T22:06:00.003+05:30

I feel like the last months have been times of me needing to make big decisions in my personal life. Keeping silent for times about things I'd rather shout about. Speaking the truth in really hard circumstances. I feel in need of massive amounts of wisdom and discernment that I do not yet have.

I admit I was kind of fed up with God this morning about once again being in this position and then this was my daily portion in the Word:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?"

Ha ha God, I still never think it's funny when you do that, but I do appreciate you speaking to me so clearly - Rebecca

Update On John And Jennifer

2010-11-08T21:55:00.003+05:30

O-Kay, not a great picture of John and Jennifer, but the best I could do on short notice.

Last Monday night we were at the Memorial Service for their daughter Sarah who died on October 30th. It's been about 10 days and they are doing well. I was most impressed by John's strength during this time and his faith.

He gave about a 20 minute testimony last week and shared that he thanked God for extending baby Sarah's life through the two hours that the doctor gave her to live til the next afternoon. He shared that he was so glad that everyone got to see her one last time before she went to be with the Lord.

I had never even considered that...

The Circus Is In Town

2010-11-08T21:49:00.002+05:30

We all went to the Indian Circus last night. I tell you, you get a good three hours of weirdness for your $2 bucks.

Positives:

Really flexible people, they do some incredible stuff
Climbing people: they climb Anything and swing by hands, feet and teeth. No safety ropes!

Negatives:

Regurgitating Man. Drinks massive amounts of water and regurgitates them. It's really nasty when he swallows fish and regurgitates them too. (At least 1 of the 4 came back up...) Yeah, I wanted to hurl.
Elephants. (He needed a pair of underpants or a wife or something...)

G.'s Prayer

2010-11-02T22:50:00.005+05:30

Today my 3 1/2 year old, G. was with me in bed. She said, "Are you talking to Jesus?" I said "Yes." She said, "O-Kay." Then I said, "Do you want to talk to Jesus?" She said, "Yes."

I figured she needed some help so I started for her...

Me: Dear Jesus, Goodnight.

G: Dear Jesus, Goodnight.

Me: I love you.

G: I love you.

Me: (ready to close at this time with an "amen.")

G: (on her own) I am beautiful.

Me: Amen.

G: Amen.

I figure God already knows that since he made her that way, but I guess she wanted to remind him...

New Look

2010-11-02T15:23:00.002+05:30

I've changed my blog color. Can you believe it?!!! Still getting used to it. May change back. Feel free to comment.

Yes, I need to adjust the "About Me" section.

Fulfilling My Promise To Spill My Guts

2010-11-02T15:04:00.004+05:30

In this blog post I will share two pictures from the funeral on Saturday. Yes, in India it is common and almost required to take pictures of the deceased and the funeral. I despise this practice but here are my thoughts on it as written in a previous post on the subject : http://allthelittledetails.blogspot.com/2008/04/funeral-pictures-end.html

These are VERY sad pictures. If people in mourning at a grave site disturbs you - Do Not View the following pictures. You have been warned.

John (dad) at Sarah's grave.
Jennifer (mom) squatting by Sarah's grave.

Continuation...

2010-11-02T14:31:00.003+05:30

Yesterday I wanted to upload these pictures along with the previous post but my picture loading and spell check was not working for some reason...

What P. (the 19 month old) did while I was writing my post.
Baby Sarah when she was born - still don't know why it is crooked.

Not So Interested In Writing The Bad

2010-11-01T15:19:00.003+05:30

I don't know if I am not so interested in writing the bad because it is bad or because I have a 19 month old child smacking me on the leg with a toothbrush. I may just possibly be - distracted.

Yet, I am the thankful-ist monther in the world today to have a 19 month old to smack me, climb on me and distract me from my work.

On Friday night I prayed for the 6 week old baby girl of our staff members, John and Jennifer. Their daughter Sarah was in ICU and was given 2 hours to live. We prayed. Oh how we prayed and I told God "I DO NOT WANT TO GO TO A FUNERAL TOMORROW."

I won't hold you in suspense. We buried sweet baby Sarah on Saturday afternoon. They wrapped her little body in white cloth and her mother and father looked at her for the last time as our pastor's wife held the baby in her arms. I took the corner of the cloth and covered Sarah's face and then they gently laid her in the grave. I was so upset, she didn't even have a coffin.

Sarah made it past those 2 hours she was given by the doctor. She rallied in the night and I received a call from her joyful father on Saturday morning that she was much better. She was taken for an EKG and it was discovered that there was a very small hole in her heart. She was brought back to the hospital and died soon afterwards.

We cleared out the hospital room - they rush you right out of there - and took the baby home to be washed and dressed. I, and some other ladies stayed with mom in the church.

At one point she cried out, "I just want to hold her!" And I thought, the last time she held her baby in her arms she had no idea it would be the last.

How precious is every moment that God give us with our loved ones...

For my niece, Natalie's perspective:

http://nataliegraceinindia.blogspot.com/2010/10/sarah.html

The Good Or The Bad...

2010-11-01T13:54:00.004+05:30

I'm sitting here contemplating where to begin. I've been blogging in my head lately, if you hadn't noticed. It isn't really all my head's fault - I was away for five days and when I was around my Internet was on the fritz.

But I am back! And more determined than ever to be a better communicator and to Spill My Guts.

Now the debate is whether to start with the good or the bad.

I like good news first, so here goes. Last week I spent a wonderful four days - without family* - in beautiful Goa. I was part of a women's retreat and what a retreat it was. The purpose of it was to just LOVE on us. Fifty women attended, twenty-five women flew over from the US to serve us and love on us.

I feel like my tank got filled up and not just a little bit. Our speaker was Sue Eenigenburg, the author of Screams in the Desert.I LOVE the name of this book. She was a fantastic speaker and so funny. Spoke right on our level. I think my favorite line of hers was... "One day due to power outages and lack of water, it took me ten hours to finish one load of wash. - I could have flown to Paris in nine." That still cracks me up.

I myself was blessed and blessed again and what a pleasure it was to see other women just transformed before my eyes. God moved mightily in our lives. Thank you to those who blessed me with this wonderful gift.

* Not even a single child screaming "Mommy" at me for Four Whole Days

Blame It On The Faulty Internet

2010-10-16T21:59:00.002+05:30

I was in the mood for some gut spilling a few days ago but my Internet was down. Sadly, I cannot even remember what I was going to write.

Do you see what I'm dealing with here? The kids (and life) just suck it all out of me...

Spilling Guts

2010-10-12T20:14:00.003+05:30

My dad was talking about his granddaughter, my niece, the other week and referred to her writings on her wonderful blog* as "spilling her guts."

He loved it and I love it too. It made me think that I haven't spilled my guts on here in a long long time. I think it's lack of time. Spilling ye old guts takes a tole, time-wise and emotionally. I have four daughters, I deal with emotion All Day Long.

I have, however, resolved to start spilling. I can do this. I will find the time. You, my faithful (8) readers, deserve some guts.

*http://nataliegraceinindia.blogspot.com/

A Moment Captured In My Brain. Forever.

2010-10-05T21:31:00.002+05:30

On Sunday I was singing on the worship team and I looked out at the congregation and there was my C. singing her heart out to the Lord, eyes closed, swaying slightly. The image was made all the more precious by a very prominent missing front tooth.
Never going to forget it.

Uniforms!

2010-10-05T20:31:00.001+05:30

The long promised picture of my students in their uniforms is here. These are the First Year (new) students. (My niece, Natalie, on the far right)

Blogging - Last On My List

2010-10-05T20:05:00.002+05:30

These days my list of things to do is REALLY long. Ssdly, blogging is near the end. Hence - til my life and load lightens up - I apologize for not being around.

Rebecca

A Story of My Own: "How do I surprise someone with pancakes who wakes...

2010-09-29T21:42:00.000+05:30

Here is a little more on my birthday from my niece Natalie's blog. She is an everyday gift to me. :)

A Story of My Own: "How do I surprise someone with pancakes who wakes...: "So today was probably my favorite day in India so far.:) I got to celebrate the life of my hero with what felt like the entire city of Bhar..."

September Is Almost OVER

2010-09-29T21:26:00.003+05:30

September is almost over and well, it's a busy month! BUT I did need to get back to how my birthday celebration went - since I promised.

I HAD THE BEST BIRTHDAY OF MY LIFE.

Really. Thank you Lord.
Very loud poppers at the cake cutting - notice G. and me covering our ears.
I was fed loads of cake - I think there were a total of FOUR cakes for me.

We had so much fun playing games all night. We just laughed and laughed. One friend told me she got her smile back that night. Another man said that after the party he sat outside his house for an hour and a half and just laughed.

So much FUN!

This is what happened to my girls when the party was over - I pretty much felt that way too, except I spent about an hour laying in bed laughing to myself about ridiculous happenings that night.

I loved all the phone calls and I especially loved visiting our Bible College and Karuna kids and having them extend their hand toward me and pray for me. I love those kids praying for me. I am blessed.

OK I Entered A Contest

2010-09-24T22:24:00.001+05:30

Next post is my entry. Don't be totally confused. I'll' let you know if I win.

The Burning Hearts Revolution: BOOKS I LOVE: Win a copy of The Princess Bride by ...

2010-09-24T22:19:00.000+05:30

The Burning Hearts Revolution: BOOKS I LOVE: Win a copy of The Princess Bride by ...: " 'Wait a minute... wait a minute... is this a kissing book?' I am going to give away a copy of The Princess Bride by William Goldman. I l..."

O-Kay, Matt - this gives me two!

Shhhh It's Coming Again Tomorrow

2010-09-22T22:44:00.002+05:30

It's that birthday time of the year around here once again. If you're a regular on atld you know it's my least fav. time of the year.

I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Map In India

2010-09-20T21:28:00.002+05:30

If you don't already know, my niece, Natalie (a.k.a. "Map") is staying with us for about 6 months. She's a great blogger - and much more profuse than her aunt these days!

www.nataliegraceinindia.blogspot.com

When They Knew How To Make Windows

2010-09-20T21:17:00.003+05:30

City Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan
Come on, I mean - Look at the view!

Land In Rajasthan

2010-09-20T21:08:00.002+05:30

The stepped land in these pictures was a rocky, hilly piece of worthless land that belonged to O.'s family. Over the last year we've been clearing it off, leveling it out and putting up a wall. All this in the hopes of one day starting a Hindi Bible College here and a medical clinic...

The Newest Member

2010-09-18T19:20:00.004+05:30

Sadly I cannot get this picture to attach in the right direction, but if I could you would certainly see that this is possibly the most beautiful baby ever created and also the newest member of our FC (ministry) family.

Congratulations John and Jenny! Baby (not yet named) born on Sept. 15, 2010.

Bug In My Ear

2010-09-11T12:03:00.004+05:30

I laid down on my bed last night and heard this weird squeaking in my ear. At first I thought it was the pillow, but then I could feel something moving - inside my head.

It was weird, somewhat uncomfortable and just plain icky.

I finally put some cooking oil in my ear, let it soak in and then turned my ear outward toward a towel on a pillow and watched the end of Memoirs of a Geisha (hey not much on at 1:30AM - esp. when you only have about 10 English channels...)

The fluttering eventually stopped and I went to bed. I guess the bug may still be in there - as long as he's not moving, I'm happy.

Somewhat Unfair

2010-09-10T15:20:00.003+05:30

Here are two entry tickets from our visit to the Taj Mahal this week. The yellow one is mine and the orange one is Natalie's.

Hmmm, what is different?
Got it? Yep, the price of the tickets. The yellow one (mine) has the cost in the lower right hand corner - 20 rupees. Natalie's - 750 rupees.

I think the money I saved on my ticket by being a "Person of Indian Origin: (Married to an Indian citizen) was about the same as it cost me to become a PIO.

Village Meeting With Pastors

2010-09-10T15:09:00.003+05:30

Dad getting garlanded.
Ben teaching on worship. O. translating.

Lunch prep. Really.

Games - funny! They didn't really "get it" but they had a great time.

Relaxing - look at that GREEN!

Our Hotel In Udaipur

2010-09-10T14:07:00.004+05:30

(Coffee Shop)

G. - scared of dog. (not in picture)

G. - finally convinced dog is not coming.

Taj Mahal 2010

2010-09-10T13:46:00.004+05:30

Here we are on Monday at the Taj Mahal in Agra. I had been there once before we were married for a few brief minutes. It was fun (if a little hectic) to go back. Once in 10 yrs in certainly enough. The Taj is crooked!!! (Maybe I just scanned it that way...)

Natalie

Us. Set up in true Bollywood fashion.

These were our "professional shots."

The Trip So Far In Random Pictures

2010-08-31T22:04:00.006+05:30

The Karuna kids awaiting our entrance tonight.

Team Meeting with Dad and Ben on Monday. Worship & Hope.
Relaxing Time

Human Knot for the first time in India. I've never seen some of these people laugh so much - ever!

O-Kay. Sweet baby.

Visiting families. There was a serious amount of slurping going on. Check out the tootsie pops.

More visiting. That is a colorful photo.

Giving out some gifts from loving friends in the US.

New T-Shirts from Dad.

Ready. Set. OPEN your gifts!

Blues Brothers: Lukesh and Naresh.

Natalie being garlanded.

Playing the Jelly Belly Bean Boozled game. Poor Anil got a bad one.

Playing Bean Boozled with the youth.

Human knot with youth.

Welcome Dance in church on Sunday with E. & C.

Dad Coming

2010-08-20T21:53:00.002+05:30

My dad is coming next week - He'll be arriving in Bombay around this time next Friday!!!

My niece, Natalie (AKA "Map") is also coming to stay with me for 6 months.

And both of them will be joined by another man who will be here the 2 weeks with dad. Fun!

Uniforms

2010-08-20T21:47:00.002+05:30

All our Bible students were in uniform today for the first time... well, at least those who have their uniforms. Some haven't paid for them yet but will and then get them. Anyway, it was a small class today with only 5 students in my fist year Bible College class so I was just going to play hangman or something (with OT terms) but 3 of my 4 children are sick. So, I said, no OT class today, hangman or otherwise, I've got 3 sick kids and I want to go home.

One of the students stood up and said, "Ma'am, before you go, we want to pray for your girls."

:)

I love my students...

India's 64th Independence Day

2010-08-15T22:32:00.002+05:30

The 15th August (or India's Independence day happened to fall on a Sunday this year. So, after the school programs early in the morning - we all celebrated in church! Praise the Lord for FREEDOM!
E.
Choir in Indian flag colors.

Special song (also in flag colors) - you go girls!

Bible College boys performed a special dance/skit.

Kids watching from the sidelines since there was no room to sit.

Massive Beast

2010-08-10T20:42:00.002+05:30

I found this outside my house gate yesterday morning.
These water buffalo are HUGE! He left a huge gift for us as well. You should be thankful I didn't post a picture of that!

Facebook

2010-08-08T16:36:00.002+05:30

I admit that Facebook has put the hurt on my blogging to some degree, but I still like it.

Here are my thoughts on the types of people you find on Facebook: (in no particular order and I'm not judging, just observing):

1. Kids are Their World: These are the people who are obsessed with their kids, especially with their kid's illnesses and pretty much post that only.

2. Jesus Lovers*: Their posts generally contain something about Jesus loving them or them loving Jesus or a request for prayer.

3. In Love: These people are so in love with their spouse/significant other that I'm constantly in awe that so many people in the world actually found the perfect mate...

4. Networkers: These people are on Facebook for one reason and one reason only - to get business.

5. Facebook Gamers: Farmville, Vampyre somethin-anothers, etc... Facebook=funtime (I guess).

6. Sin Convictors: These people generally will post only verses or Biblically related quotes or personal thoughts that generally just leave me convicted (which I think was their point).

7. No Lifers: (owwww, now I'm getting mean...) Posts invariably relate to what these people ate, drank, where they're going or what they're watching on TV.

8. Over Posters: People who post so many times a day on Facebook that I have had to "hide" them so that I can actually read other people's posts too.

9. Well Rounded: Obviously well rounded would be that person who posts consistently (1-2 times a day - I personally consider more than that highly obsessive - see #8) on a variety of topics - above mentioned as well as others.

*I love Jesus too!

Imaginary Jesus

2010-07-27T13:20:00.004+05:30

Matt Mikalatos is the first person I've ever known* who wrote a novel and actually had it published. The first time I heard about Matt was through my brother, Dan, who while watching me desperately jump through hoops to get my own novel published stated, "Yeah, my friend Matt's been trying to get published too." Or something along those lines. It was a long enough time ago that I've forgotten.

So, I felt some kind of personal satisfaction when the news came through (from Matt's own blog: http://www.mikalatos.blogspot.com/) that his book, "Imaginary Jesus" was going to be published (for real).

"Imaginary Jesus" is not of a genre of books that I would normally (read: ever) read. But since I can satisfy my reading desire with the back of a shampoo bottle I knew it would be no sacrifice to jump out of my chosen genres for a few days and read the book I've been hearing about for the last so many months.

"Imaginary Jesus" is wacky and off the wall and fast moving and vastly more entertaining than the back of a shampoo bottle. Even the "Thanks page" and the random quotes from famous and non-famous people pages amused me. It's about Matt's own journey (fictionalized) to discover the real Jesus among the many "imaginary" Jesus' that we have created to suit our own purposes.

I think that thing that really caught me about the book was the idea of imaginary Jesuses**; those Jesuses that we have created in our mind to suit our lifestyles. Matt introduces us to dozens of imaginary Jesuses in his book and but I didn't recognize my own imaginary Jesus there.

As I read the book it was amazing how fast the concept of imaginary Jesuses made complete sense to me and how quickly I identified my own fake Jesus.

He's the "It's OK to sin if you have a good enough excuse Jesus."

OK, my names are not as catchy as Matt's "Magic 8-Ball Jesus" and "Testosterone Jesus," but he's real enough to me. I appreciate a book that makes me think and opens my eyes to something I've never seen before.

Great job Matt. Thanks for giving hope to the rest of us and thanks for opening my eyes to something I'd never considered before.

*As well as you know someone over the Internet.
** I have no idea if this is how you pluralize Jesus or not...

Garden: July 27

2010-07-27T13:03:00.002+05:30

This is a picture from the front of my garden looking back. The bench was actually a swing that is now going to be made into a bench (will not remain there on the grass).
Banana tree, growing like a weed. When are you going to give me some fruit???

However, right next door my beans are coming in like crazy! My firstfruits!

Psalms

2010-07-27T12:51:00.002+05:30

I have a confession to make.

I've never really liked reading the Psalms. I know. Shhhhhhh.

But it's the truth. I think somewhere in the pride of my heart I figured reading the Psalms were for people who couldn't handle the rest of the Bible.

I'm admitting to this really shameful personality trait because I've recently had a change of heart.

This is the first year we are teaching the subject: "Psalms" in our Bible College. It's in the 2nd year curriculum. Guess who is teaching it. Yeah, moi.

I get chills almost everyday in class as I teach from the Psalms and we discuss the Word of God. I have heard the voice of God speaking to me more in the past week or two than I have in a long time. I've stepped out on faith and clung to the words of wisdom I've recent discovered in the Psalms and have sat back quietly and allowed the Lord to be the great eternal judge that He is. I've received supernatural peace in my inner being, as well as, seen transformations in the lives of other people. And I had nothing to do with it, I just reaped the benefit.

Man, I wasted a good 20 years of my life avoiding the Psalms.

Leviticus

2010-07-27T12:42:00.002+05:30

I've been teaching through Leviticus in my Old Testament class the past couple days. It's one of my favorite books in the Bible, especially when teaching. I think it's because it's just such a surprise, yet so critical to the whole theme of the Bible.

My first year Bible students are doing well. Their English is weak, but their enthusiasm for the Word of God is great.

Four were sick today so we just had discussion in class instead of teaching (wouldn't want them to miss any critical teaching from Leviticus.) The students were full of questions, which believe me, is something I have not experienced in other years of teaching. Very exciting.

Karuna Land

2010-07-16T15:25:00.001+05:30

I finally got out there to take a picture of the land we are in the process of buying for our new Karuna Children's Home.

Cows are extra.

Bought Land For Karuna Kids

2010-07-10T21:06:00.002+05:30

Yippee!

After much prayer we purchased a piece of land today on which we will build a home for our Karuna Kids as well as a church and who knows what else (well, the Lord knows...)

We sold our old Karuna Home building and with that money and some money from our school we bought 10222 sq feet of land located less than 2 miles from our house. It feels good. Actually, it feels great.

Keep praying that all will progress smoothly from here on out and that we'll raise the money to build the Karuna Housing Project within this next year.

(land pictures to come...)

Three Days In

2010-07-09T07:42:00.002+05:30

I've been teaching for the last three days in Bible College and have had a blast, although my legs hurt from standing so much. Out of the habit I guess.

I'm teaching Old Testament to the 1st Year Students. This is the third time around for me. And the Book of Psalms for the 2nd Year students - 1st time.

We're still waiting around for the new students to come. All the month of may we were unsure of whether we could take new students or not and that uncertainty lost us some time in recruiting, but they're coming in slowly but surely. Hopefully, by this Monday most of the students will have arrived.

There's no class today because our boys have to move into a different building and the the girls have to move into the building the boys are vacating. Works out well, I can catch up on some studying.

Madam Madam

2010-07-09T07:30:00.002+05:30

In India the teachers are called "madam" by the students. Today I asked G. what her Madam's name was and she said, "Madam Madam." Makes sense - to a 3 yr old.

This reminds me a serious pet peeve, and I'm not afraid to share it.

People who have the same first name as last name.

Michael Michaels, Richard Richards, William Carlos Williams - had to look at that one on the bulletin board all 10th grade.

Have you absolutely no imagination??!! This seriously bothers me. Seriously.

What?

2010-07-05T06:56:00.002+05:30

I took an unplanned hiatus from blogging. Just because I didn't feel like it.

Stuff's been going on but - well, the truth is, Facebook has somewhat ruined me for blogging.

But I'm still committed. That's why I'm here. Today.

Here's some stuff that's been going on - in random order:
1. Our Bible College reopens for the new year today. This is the first year we have 1st Year and 2nd year students. Very exciting, going to make me very busy - teaching two classes a day, but it's worth it.

2. I've lost 3 birds over the last week, just keeled over dead. Searching for a veterinarian in our city. Very sad.

3. I've realized that my tomato plants are actually baby eggplant plants. Shoot.

4. Today India is "closed." I guess that means they are on strike - the whole country. O. says it's because of the outrageous inflation over here. Hence, not sure if #1 will happen today or not.

2010-06-23T18:04:00.001+05:30

This is a clip from our Church's Worship Team's first CD. This song makes me feel like getting up and dancing and I love the Indian feel to it. Ahhh, Ahh, ahh, Ahh, Ahh, Ahh, Ahh, Ahhh...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hX7BDabNG0

Pehla Kadam

2010-06-22T16:03:00.005+05:30

It was a very exciting Sunday. Our church's worship team finally released their long awaited first Hindi music CD. "The First Step," "Pehla Kadam."

All songs are original* and written and sung by our own team of guys -John, Jangpu, Shailesh and Dilip. We're so proud of them and the CD is truly: really good!
John, Shailesh and Dilip

O. with the team

Ladies selling the CDs, my hair is not dealing well with the humidity...

100/- ($2) per CD. Want one? Let me know!

* One song is anonymous...

My Garden June 22nd

2010-06-22T15:56:00.001+05:30

Beans, Tomatoes and Banana

G.'s First Day Of School Ever - Finally!

2010-06-17T08:25:00.000+05:30

G.'s Nasty Scar

2010-06-16T09:33:00.002+05:30

I can't really get close up shots with O.'s camera but these are the best there are.

G.'s foot is nasty looking - I'm not real happy with the treatment she received, but since I wasn't there, I can't really complain - too much.

She'll go to her first day of school tomorrow.

First Day In Uniform Shots

2010-06-15T13:37:00.003+05:30

C. - so not interested in having her picture taken.
Progressing...

An O-Kay shot.

This is me not knowing the camera was set to video - funny.

Samaritan Purse

2010-06-14T08:18:00.005+05:30

Samaritan Purse is a Christian organization that works all over the world. One of the things they do is collect shoe boxes of Christmas gifts for distribution to poor children as a way of showing Christ's love to them. We ordered 150 boxes from the organization to distribute and gave them out to 150 very happy children on Sunday after church.

It's not Christmas time but it's the beginning of school and the pencils and erasers and other school supplies that the children received in their boxes were timely and helpful.

Thanks to anyone and everyone who contributed to the Samaritan Purse Christmas project!

Once Again, The Happiest Day Of The Year

2010-06-14T07:35:00.003+05:30

It's the first day of school here in India and I'm one happy mom! I have no pictures of first day girls to post since O. said to send them in regular clothes instead of their uniforms because it is just TOO HOT.

We are waiting on the rain and it is just not coming but it unkindly sent in the humidity instead.

G. didn't make it to her first day of school ever because she has to go to the doctor today to get out her stitches (hopefully.) I'll send her tomorrow if all goes well. The kids all just cry the first two weeks anyway...

The (Love)Birds

2010-06-10T12:08:00.002+05:30

Here are our birds in their cage.
Five of the six - We didn't really have a choice of colors - but they're still pretty. I'm still hoping for babies... (Whenever I say that someone always replies, "Eggs.")

June 10th Garden Photos

2010-06-10T11:57:00.002+05:30

I'm very excited about my garden. In this photo you can see my banana tree in the left corner. In the center are beans (Then need something to climb - hopefully can take care of that today. Then between the two are cashew plants! (lighter green than the beans)
Bananas! On my property! (I'm from New Jersey) This grows about a foot a day (well, the leaves pop out)

My tomato plants that I separated and transferred to distant locations last night - they seem to be adjusting well so far.

I've been trying to get to the nursery to buy some flowering plants for my garden but it's, well, it's not happening for various reasons. Maybe tomorrow...

The G. Saga Continues

2010-06-10T11:49:00.002+05:30

Here is G. this morning, three full days after the "accident." Still hangs out in the family room watching TV.
Yesterday the doctor opened the bandage and checked the wound. A little drop of pus popped out. It's infected because of the haldi (turmeric powder) that someone put in the wound before G.got shown to the doctor that day. Another visit to the doctor tomorrow... More screaming to look forward to...

*Indians put turmeric on all wounds - it's supposed to have antiseptic properties... One Indian thing that really does work - put Colgate toothpaste on burns!

And When G. Got Stitches In Her Foot

2010-06-07T21:32:00.002+05:30

O. and I conducted a leadership training seminar this morning for our staff. We also got our first big rain of the monsoon season. During the 2nd break O. said, "Asha (the babysitter) just called, G. got hurt."

Well, I rushed home and found out G. had hurt her foot while playing in the rain and slipped and cut the top of her foot on some tiles. One of our staff members had come to the house at the same time for some other work and rushed her right to the hospital.

I had no idea where they went and I had left my cellphone purse, etc. at the mtg. At last we found them after rushing all over the city in the mud on a motorcycle. G. was already bandaged up and getting her medicine from the shop by the time we got there. She got a little weepy when she saw me but not much. Then she said, "You weren't here." :(

She's been a trooper, hasn't complained, just sits like a little angel with her ankles crossed and watches TV.

God was good to me, he knows I cannot handle the sight of my children's blood, it makes me go a little insane. I haven't even seen the injury - It's all bandaged up til we go back to the Doctor on Wednesday.

Back On

2010-06-06T17:08:00.000+05:30

Internet was down for a few days, but it's working now.

Shoulda Known Better

2010-05-29T21:21:00.002+05:30

Dark brown hair - premature gray, color often?

I get bad white roots within like - one week after coloring these days. What to do? I decided to try to put henna on my hair in the in-between times.

I went for brown, confirmed that it would not turn my hair orange, then put it on tonight.

Long story short, I had to have O. do an emergency run with me to the store at 8:45 tonight to get hair dye because there is no way I'm going to church tomorrow with this orange head.

Shoulda known better...

I don't know what to do about the roots, probably need to go blond.

Sum It Up

2010-05-25T21:27:00.004+05:30

Group photo from the youth camp.
Members of our wonderful team...
Everybody did their part. Sing, dance, teach, lead, lead games, whatever...

Boys!

Girls!

It has taken me two days to download the pictures and get them uploaded here and there but I'm almost finished, which is a good thing since we leave tomorrow morning at 6AM for 3 days in Bombay. The traveling just never never ends.

The following posts are just a little picture of our summer "gospel tour" (more pix on my facebook page). We did end up cutting the tour short due to the intense heat as well as some other local issues, but it's all ok since we're leaving again - tomorrow.

The first set of meetings were in more of a village setting, with larger meetings in the evening and women's meetings in the morning. We enjoyed worshipping God together and learning new songs and worship styles.

The second set of meetings were a three day youth camp. We were in charge of just about everything but the food - which was delicious by the way. There was a beautiful garden and sweet kids, lot's of dancing - my legs still hurt. And most of all it was a great time worshipping and glorifying the Lord.

At both locations O. and I were speakers and even though speaking isn't really my thing, there were definitely some things on my heart to share. I did struggle at the first set of meetings because my translator had never done it before. She was struggling so much I just wrapped up my message and sat down. The second day she was much better!

My favorite part of the gospel tours is the fellowship and time together with God's people. Just like anything of this sort, there is always a little let down when it is over, but it has been nice to just stay home and veg out (read: wash clothes).

Thanks to all who prayed!

Worship During The Meetings

2010-05-25T21:07:00.004+05:30

Meeting 1:
Evening Session Morning Session

Lot o' dancing.

Great Smiles and we learned fun new songs too!

Meeting 2:

The boys were, what can I say, well they could DANCE.

Pictures Of The Gatherings

2010-05-25T09:20:00.003+05:30

Meeting 1

Meeting 2

What O. Does Best And I Just Do

2010-05-24T18:40:00.002+05:30

O. and I were called as the speakers at two separate conferences over the last week. Delivering messages is my man's thing - not really mine. If I do I do, if I don't I don't. I don't sweat it. Generally, when called on to speak, I just talk about what God's been speaking to me about.
Ladies meeting in the mornings.

I give examples...

Pretty Much The Same Everywhere

2010-05-24T17:26:00.002+05:30

Some of the young people from the youth meetings last week.

Talking on cellphone - what a surprise...
Very cute.

The girls had to eat these bananas (and open them) without using their hands. All four of the participants ran back to their seats without finishing - way too embarrassing!

Hard Working Young People

2010-05-24T17:09:00.004+05:30

Our youth leader and some of our Karuna Home kids came along for the 2 tours. Here are some of their dances and skits...

A Bible student and two Karuna kids.

Skit at youth conference

Markus (my nephew)

Anil, our youth leader - I don't get the significance of the white paint either - don't bother to ask.

No More Funky Water

2010-05-24T16:40:00.002+05:30

It's been hovering around 115 degrees here in Northern India lately. I cannot even begin to describe the heat of the last week, esp. during our 2nd tour.

I appear to be melting in this photo, it's about 11PM and we're eating dinner in the village church.
Our youth team didn't come with us to the youth meeting at the 2nd tour, but we called them at the last minute to come. They sat up all night on the roof of a bus just to get to us. Needless to say - very very tired kids.

At the location of the second tour we were houses in an old British era mission compound. Huge rooms with high ceilings but ancient fans. Ours never did get to work.

WATER! The hot wind blowing just dried us out. We couldn't drink enough and the water would turn hot almost immediately - hence, funky. The stone floors were so hot from heat that even inside the building our feet would burn when standing without shoes.

Feel the heat.

Girls On Tour

2010-05-24T16:33:00.003+05:30

We didn't take our three older girls with us for the first half of the Gospel Tour, but they were there for the second - in full force. They had a great time. Still has not grown into the ears...

E. & C. even performed two dances. Everybody works!

*More pictures of the gospel tours on my facebook page.

The Littlest Member Of The Team

2010-05-24T16:01:00.003+05:30

Little P. recovering from her recent illness ate her way through most of the first half of the "Gospel Tour." She did love banging on those drums tho.
She would wait til the drummer in the back would start playing and then she would play along.

This pose she must have learned from her father...

P. Plays The Congos

2010-05-24T14:14:00.003+05:30

E. Who Loves The Water

2010-05-15T13:55:00.004+05:30

I was looking over my Goa post and saw that E. was under represented. How could this be since she loves the water more than anyone else? (she gets it from her mother.) I needed to rectify it. (Plus, I like to have a picture on the top of my blog, esp. since I'll be away for a few days...)
Three of our four children LOVE the water and O. and I both do, but then there was G. who would get whiny and weepy just waking up to the beach - not even near the water. What is this? O. had serious doubts about G. being part of our family. What could this mean? OK, honestly, O. was totally disturbed by this.

While I went on a boat trip with everyone else, O. stayed back with G. on the beach and by the time we got back an hour later, he had her playing in the water! He took (read: forced) her down there to wash her feet or to wash her hands and after a few trips back and forth she was an old pro and all doubts about her being a member of our family or not, vanished. Whew!
(In the ocean)
(In the swimming pool)

To keep it real - this is what she looks like most of the time...

"Gospel Tour" 2010

2010-05-15T13:45:00.002+05:30

A Gospel Tour is what they call it here in India when a whole bunch of people take to the road and preach, sing, evangelize, whatever - usually takes place during vacation times.

Tomorrow we will pack up three vehicles after church and head 3 hours south of us for a 3 day conference where O. and I will be speaking and our team will be singing and dancing for the Lord. On May 19th we are home for a day (lots of washing) and then on the 20th we head to the state of Rajasthan to do the same thing but with a focus for youth and a wedding thrown in. We'll be back around May 26th I guess...

Please keep us in prayer. It's a great time to share the Gospel and encourage believers in their faith.

Onkar is suffering from the first really bad back pain of his life and could really use your prayers. He told me today that God was using it to slow him down so he could prepare more for these upcoming meetings. You go O!

Goa Vacation Album 2010

2010-05-15T13:09:00.006+05:30

Some random pictures from our Goa vacation last week:

O. with sick baby P. She was sick 6 out of the 7 days. O. also suffered from a bad backache the whole time.

G. who finally got over her fear of the water!

Beach Beauty C.

Mango Season!!

Watch out - it's a neked baby and she's Sandy!

Getting a pedicure - on the beach!

Fun in the sand.

Yes, we ate and ate.

Beach baby (before getting sick)

It was way WAY HOT!

Swimming - what more could we want. E. & C. had a great time in the ocean, pools, water park...

Check out the belly on the guy in the background - Yikes!

Even with a sick baby and an aching husband, we had a great time. It was a little hotter than we would have liked but we survived. I drove my scooter all over North Goa and only dropped G. out of it once when I turned too slowly. :) Baby P. is on the mend and sadly, O. is feeling worse... Pray.

What A Beauty

2010-05-15T13:01:00.001+05:30

G. in her gorgeous yellow dress from Goa.

Goa Vacation

2010-05-02T17:55:00.003+05:30

We leave tomorrow night to catch the train that will take us to Goa in South India for our vacation this year.
We love Goa for its beaches and pools and yummy food and kid-friendliness.

This year our whole family cannot fit on one motorcycle so I'll have to drive a scooter as well. Hence I was up at 6AM this morning practicing on the open ground on my brother-in-law's scooter. Not a fun notion but I guess I really need to get over my road fear sometime...

I'll probably be away from the computer for 10 days or so.

The Disputed Territory

2010-04-30T11:56:00.002+05:30

Since before Christmas we have been clearing a piece of O.'s father's land to make room for a Hindi Bible College and a village medical clinic in the future.

In the following picture you can see the land that is being cleared and there are 2 small houses.
Those houses were built by squatters who just planted themselves there many years ago. We have now been in the process of trying to remove them from there. It's been very difficult and we've done all we could to resettle them elsewhere, but, in typical village mentality, they want to fight.

O. and his team were there from Tuesday morning until last night, working out this problem and building a boundary wall. One family is resettled and happy, the other is fighting tooth and nail. O.'s sister stays there and has to deal with all the abuse from the unhappy villagers while O. is not around. O. left last night and a couple hours after he reached home the phone started ringing again. They were taking O.'s sister to the police station (I don't really know why.) The disgruntled party were, obviously, just waiting for O. to leave (it's 7 hours north of us).

Please pray for O. On top of all of this, he really is sick with a throat infection or something. He's lost his voice and feels terrible. He could really use your prayers. Thanks.