Better Late Than Never

I finally got the pictures of the House Opening up. It was a major chore just getting these here, so that's why there are only two.

The House - All Lit Up!

Ribbon Cutting.

A Long Post About December 3rd

What happened at the The Grand House Opening.

Well, while I was cleaning bathrooms at the house on Wednesday morning I got the news that my sister-in-law, Martha, had started with some labor pains. She was well due to deliver her first child and we had all been waiting with baited breath.

I left my cleaning rag at the new house and walked over to Martha’s house. Yes, she had some pain in the morning but it stopped. Her older sister was with her so I left Martha in her care and said call me when she’s really in labor and went back to the house.

Soon after returning to the new house to clean some more bathrooms before the big walk-thru in the night, I got another call. This time it was from the local government hospital. My niece (O.’s sister’s daughter) had been sick for some time so since Tuesday I had her go for chest X rays etc. She was now in the government hospital getting her first morning spit tested. And yes, she has tuberculosis. Now the hospital person is calling me for all her house information because they have to come and see where she lives and then give her the 6 month course of medication.

This is all before the House Opening even began.

That evening when I was getting ready for the event, I started to feel sick. I drank some chai at someone’s house around 3:30PM and it didn’t settle right. I thought I would throw up. I needed to vomit, but I held it back. The last time I vomited a couple weeks ago, it was so strong I burst blood vessels in my face.

Well, you know how it is when you need to clear something out of your system and you don’t. I was breaking out in sweat, I felt feverish – on top of feeling lousy. I arrived at the new house by 6PM and thought, I can’t stay. I’ll stay for the ribbon cutting and go home, let O. do the testimony.

By this time the stomach problems had moved down into my bowels and I decided to use the bathrooms in the new house. I went into a bathroom for about twenty minutes. Prayed and prayed and got a little relief. I thought I might go down hill again after 10 minutes or so, but I didn’t. Praise the Lord. I just felt better and better and by 7PM I was totally fine and feeling great and gave the testimony I wanted to give. Another Praise the Lord.

Micah 7:8a “Do not gloat over me , my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise.”

Over all about 800 people came through the house and were fed. We never did get to show the movie, there was a sound problem, but the team we had come and sing was great and a big hit.

Praise God for a wonderful night and thanks for the prayers.

The House Is Open - Tomorrow

December 3rd is the BIG day for our House Opening. We'll have a small program with a few worship songs, a testimony of God's goodness (by me) and maybe a few words from O. Then a prayer.

After that everyone is free to wander through the house (it's empty - we won't officially move for another week or so) and then EAT.

We'll also have a team singing Christian songs in traditional Indian music and we'll show a Christian film.

Please keep the event in prayer. We expect somewhere over 500 people.

Help From Some Friends

Tonight we asked any of our church believers who wanted to come and help us get our house ready for Wednesday to come at 5PM. Loads of people showed up, almost everybody!

I was just so thankful, most of the plaster got cleaned off my marble. Who would do that? At the end when we prayed and I said thank you to everyone I mentioned that service specifically and what a great testimony it was to all our new neighbors to see this hoard of people - coming with small children in tow- working like servants to clean our house. I'm just thankful for the family of God.

C. Works...When She Wants To

Since the House Opening is on Wednesday, we're all working. Even C. pitched in to help.

Tired And Somewhat Stressed

I really think the Lord wanted me to rest last week. I did rest, more than I usually do. But I was just soooo tired. I still am. It doesn't matter how much I sleep, I'm tired. I think it might be the medication, the one for the contractions and then 3 after the abscess operation. They all end tonight, thank goodness. Hopefully, I'll feel more energetic tomorrow.

The Grand House opening is in less than 10 days. The house is almost ready. Once we get some of those main doors on there we can move in. Of course, everyone is coming to be paid nowadays, which is starting to really stress me out. Well, mostly I let O. handle that, but it trickles over to me, too.

Something else that is really stressing me out is my broken washing machine and the repairman who tells me he is on his way, every time I call him. I wish he would just declare the machine officially dead so I can focus on attempting to get a new one and move on with my life.

It's 6:35 PM , I'm gonna call him again now (he's stopped answering my calls around 4:00...)

The Grand House Warming

December 3rd is the Big Day for our House Warming. They do things a little different here in India. We'll actually have a small program and set up some seating and provide food. We're inviting loads of people and all the neighbors in the neighborhoods on all sides. I am guessing about 800 people will come.

We won't be moved in at all at this time, the house will be empty but livable.

The program will go like this: We'll sing a little, have a short message giving Glory to God and then a small testimony (probably me). After that people will walk through the house and eat.

Please keep this date and program in prayer. It is a great time to give praise to Jesus Christ in the midst of those living in darkness and also show His love to our new (and old) neighbors.

We plan to move in right after the 3rd. Praise the Lord.