I spent some time with my friend Christy yesterday afternoon. She told me in the morning that she wanted to talk to me.
She and her husband run our children’s home and are very dedicated to the work. However, several of the children in the home are her relatives. Her mother-in-law was here recently and criticized Christy and her husband up and down and to anyone who would listen and continues to do so. (I don’t see her taking care of any of her grandchildren…) And Christy’s crazy sister (I mean literally, certifiably crazy) showed up on Saturday and plans to stay the month. What a nightmare. Poor Christy, and it’s her birthday today. At least she got it off her chest and she felt better.
Her husband is a great guy, I love him dearly. If I’m Dorothy then he’s Scarecrow. But one of the things that makes him so likable is his easy-going, even tempered personality. It also makes him very non-confrontational. He’s not so good at dealing with this kind of stuff.
So, we prayed and I talked to O. about everything. He has his ways of dealing with these things. Unfortunately some of the Grandmother’s and Aunt’s bad habits have rubbed off on the older girls, so I told Christy I’d deal with that. I’d been meaning to talk to the girls about boys and changing bodies anyway, I’ll just add gossiping to that talk. Probably do it on Sunday…
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Pictures, At Last
Talk about random. There was a rhyme and reason to how these pictures were gonna go up but they got all jumbled when I uploaded them and so this is the way they're staying.
With explainations:
Here is the worship team from last weekend. The Amazon on the left is me (obviously not from the same tribe as Wonder Woman...)
Here are the musicians (it took me forever to come up with that word) for our team. Notice the "WEL COMES" in the background. When are these people ever going to learn to consult me first before printing anything in English!
These are the people at the conference. Check out the guy in the black shirt going the wrong direction.
E. & C. at E.'s school dance contest. Did I write about this? E. won.
Oh, look at that, here we are again singing last weekend. (We rarely do actions but the guy just happened to pull out the camera on this song.) Christy and Vinita are the ladies to my left.
Our Bible students. I promised this picture long ago. I did not take it, I would have never lined them up like this.
E. again.
Us (Phoebe, Sumitra & E.) the other week in O.'s village making breakfast. When the old guy on the left saw me pull out the camera he whipped a turban of towels off his head. Guess he wanted to look good.
With explainations:
Here is the worship team from last weekend. The Amazon on the left is me (obviously not from the same tribe as Wonder Woman...)
Here are the musicians (it took me forever to come up with that word) for our team. Notice the "WEL COMES" in the background. When are these people ever going to learn to consult me first before printing anything in English!
These are the people at the conference. Check out the guy in the black shirt going the wrong direction.
E. & C. at E.'s school dance contest. Did I write about this? E. won.
Oh, look at that, here we are again singing last weekend. (We rarely do actions but the guy just happened to pull out the camera on this song.) Christy and Vinita are the ladies to my left.
Our Bible students. I promised this picture long ago. I did not take it, I would have never lined them up like this.
E. again.
Us (Phoebe, Sumitra & E.) the other week in O.'s village making breakfast. When the old guy on the left saw me pull out the camera he whipped a turban of towels off his head. Guess he wanted to look good.
Thanks Giving
I know it's one word, but I'm talking about Thankfulness and Giving today so, yeah.
If you never read or have forgotten, please read "My Little Plug." I wrote it in September so you'll need to go to "September 2005" and scroll down to Sept. 6, 2005.
That's where I talked about inviting a lonely college student over for dinner. Thanksgiving is really a good time to do this.
Now would be the time to seek out those good food and good fellowship-starved people to invite over. Don't wait too long or it will be too late.
Ok, that's all. BUT if you do do this (even if it was your own idea from way before) please write a comment and let us know how it went!
* It does not necessarily need to be a college student.
If you never read or have forgotten, please read "My Little Plug." I wrote it in September so you'll need to go to "September 2005" and scroll down to Sept. 6, 2005.
That's where I talked about inviting a lonely college student over for dinner. Thanksgiving is really a good time to do this.
Now would be the time to seek out those good food and good fellowship-starved people to invite over. Don't wait too long or it will be too late.
Ok, that's all. BUT if you do do this (even if it was your own idea from way before) please write a comment and let us know how it went!
* It does not necessarily need to be a college student.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Singing
That's what I was doing and why I haven't been around. I did have a fantastic time tho.
All day Friday and half of Saturday were spent at a mission compound in our city. The program was the 25th anniversary of something but the focus was worship and there were worship teams from all over the state. It was 2 1/2 days worth of worship.
I really love our choir team and what made it better was that my two bestest friends, Christy and Vinita are also on the team and were there. Two days with no kids, no cooking, no cleaning AND then spending that time with my friends (also without children.) No wonder I had such a great time.
It was also a wonderful time of worship. There were about 100+ people there and I loved looking out when it was our turn to sing and seeing God's people from all over our state worshipping Him together.
However, Satan was so not happy about all that praise going to the Father.
The Drama:
After our Saturday section was over the choir team went home while our leader and the instrumentalists stayed. All our instruments were there and all the sound equipment was ours. Sometime in the evening one one of the other singers from a large city in our state for some reason got up and just trashed our worship team* in front of everyone and then said something about O. who had spoken the previous morning.
Our worship leader at that point packed up all our stuff and took it outside to bring home. (It was supposed to stay til Sunday.) Everyone was upset. By God's grace O. arrived at just that time and had them put everything back. The man who spoke against us apologized twice and the people running the conference were actually weeping because they were so upset.
Well, it all got smoothed over but the instruments and sound equipment did eventually get brought home on Sat. night. At least we had them for church on Sunday.
*Our worship team is contempory, with drums, keyboard, electric guitar. The other teams were all traditional music with traditional instruments.
All day Friday and half of Saturday were spent at a mission compound in our city. The program was the 25th anniversary of something but the focus was worship and there were worship teams from all over the state. It was 2 1/2 days worth of worship.
I really love our choir team and what made it better was that my two bestest friends, Christy and Vinita are also on the team and were there. Two days with no kids, no cooking, no cleaning AND then spending that time with my friends (also without children.) No wonder I had such a great time.
It was also a wonderful time of worship. There were about 100+ people there and I loved looking out when it was our turn to sing and seeing God's people from all over our state worshipping Him together.
However, Satan was so not happy about all that praise going to the Father.
The Drama:
After our Saturday section was over the choir team went home while our leader and the instrumentalists stayed. All our instruments were there and all the sound equipment was ours. Sometime in the evening one one of the other singers from a large city in our state for some reason got up and just trashed our worship team* in front of everyone and then said something about O. who had spoken the previous morning.
Our worship leader at that point packed up all our stuff and took it outside to bring home. (It was supposed to stay til Sunday.) Everyone was upset. By God's grace O. arrived at just that time and had them put everything back. The man who spoke against us apologized twice and the people running the conference were actually weeping because they were so upset.
Well, it all got smoothed over but the instruments and sound equipment did eventually get brought home on Sat. night. At least we had them for church on Sunday.
*Our worship team is contempory, with drums, keyboard, electric guitar. The other teams were all traditional music with traditional instruments.
Friday, November 04, 2005
Last Night
I'm finally feeling recovered enough from yesterday to write an entry about our meeting.
First of all, I had a wonderful time. About 50 people were there and we all packed in my living room and sat on the floor with a few people on the steps going upstairs.
We sang for a while and then O. gave a testimony. He shared a lot of wonderful things that God has been doing lately in our lives. One of them being, saving him and Praveen from a terrible motorcycle accident last Saturday. Praveen walked away from it without a scratch and O. only had a bruised foot. (If you hear him tell the story he was sure he lost it in the accident - he's totally better now.)
Someone spoke from the Word and then food. The two things I was nervous about finishing (drinking water and the special roti) didn't. But the 2 curries and 1 dahl (lentils) did get completely eaten. Three of us who served took the last few roties and used them to scrape food off the sides of the pots. It was enough. I can never eat after (during, before) one of these functions when I'm hosting. (I get that from my mother.)
Fellowshipping and feeding my friends and loved ones and sending them off with smiling faces and full bellies is satisfying enough for me. - Man, I could put that on a greeting card.
First of all, I had a wonderful time. About 50 people were there and we all packed in my living room and sat on the floor with a few people on the steps going upstairs.
We sang for a while and then O. gave a testimony. He shared a lot of wonderful things that God has been doing lately in our lives. One of them being, saving him and Praveen from a terrible motorcycle accident last Saturday. Praveen walked away from it without a scratch and O. only had a bruised foot. (If you hear him tell the story he was sure he lost it in the accident - he's totally better now.)
Someone spoke from the Word and then food. The two things I was nervous about finishing (drinking water and the special roti) didn't. But the 2 curries and 1 dahl (lentils) did get completely eaten. Three of us who served took the last few roties and used them to scrape food off the sides of the pots. It was enough. I can never eat after (during, before) one of these functions when I'm hosting. (I get that from my mother.)
Fellowshipping and feeding my friends and loved ones and sending them off with smiling faces and full bellies is satisfying enough for me. - Man, I could put that on a greeting card.
Kind Of Funny
One of the things I do here is check accounts. So, I’ve been bugging for a few weeks to get some records of different areas of ministry for the last couple months. It’s been a harrowing process to say the least.
Today, a man who works for us, Praveen, finally got some to me. They were the accounts for when we had a team here in the beginning of October. So I’m looking through long lists of, you know, accounting things and I come to one that says:
“Airport latrine O. 5 rupees.”
Yes, that means that my husband, O., had to use the bathroom at the airport while picking up the team and he paid 5 rupees (10 cents) for it. And we actually have it recorded on official papers.
Today, a man who works for us, Praveen, finally got some to me. They were the accounts for when we had a team here in the beginning of October. So I’m looking through long lists of, you know, accounting things and I come to one that says:
“Airport latrine O. 5 rupees.”
Yes, that means that my husband, O., had to use the bathroom at the airport while picking up the team and he paid 5 rupees (10 cents) for it. And we actually have it recorded on official papers.
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Two Years
Maybe even longer. Anyway, we prayed for two years for God to send us a worship leader for our church. I can show you the prayer lists for confirmation.
Last spring He sent us someone and this summer someone else! Over the last few months the worship in music in our church has just taken off. Wow! I love to sing (not alone or in front of people, mind you but I love to sing.) So, this has been a great blessing to me.
I’ve slowly gotten involved in singing with the worship teams in our church. I was reluctant before because most of our songs are in Hindi and although I know many of them, there are still many more that I don’t know. I really don’t like standing in front of the mic and not sing for lack of knowing the words or because I can’t read Hindi fast enough to keep up with the music.
However, I started joining - slowing - singing only when the ladies ministry was doing a special song. Then joining in when they needed singers for a school program. Now, tomorrow there is a two day conference in our city with the theme of Music in Worship, hosted by… (I’m not really sure, O. knows). But O. and I are the special guests (Indian thing) and O. is speaking so I’d be there anyway. So today, I wrote down all the songs we’re singing from Hindi into the English Alphabet and I’m singing tomorrow.
This whole, longer than I thought it would be, story came to mind because we had practice from 10 – 1PM today and that’s why I was tired. Still am.
Last spring He sent us someone and this summer someone else! Over the last few months the worship in music in our church has just taken off. Wow! I love to sing (not alone or in front of people, mind you but I love to sing.) So, this has been a great blessing to me.
I’ve slowly gotten involved in singing with the worship teams in our church. I was reluctant before because most of our songs are in Hindi and although I know many of them, there are still many more that I don’t know. I really don’t like standing in front of the mic and not sing for lack of knowing the words or because I can’t read Hindi fast enough to keep up with the music.
However, I started joining - slowing - singing only when the ladies ministry was doing a special song. Then joining in when they needed singers for a school program. Now, tomorrow there is a two day conference in our city with the theme of Music in Worship, hosted by… (I’m not really sure, O. knows). But O. and I are the special guests (Indian thing) and O. is speaking so I’d be there anyway. So today, I wrote down all the songs we’re singing from Hindi into the English Alphabet and I’m singing tomorrow.
This whole, longer than I thought it would be, story came to mind because we had practice from 10 – 1PM today and that’s why I was tired. Still am.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Cottage Meetings
Every Wednesday night our church has a small Bible Study called a Cottage Meeting. It is held on a rotating basis in different people's homes each week. Generally it only ends up at your house once, maybe twice, a year. It is different from a cellgroup, care group, mini church, etc. in that the entire church is involved and everyone's name/home comes up at least once a year.
They're really fun times of fellowship and as you might have guessed, this week it's at our house. It's coming at a good time, since school is on a vacation and I'm actually free tomorow. (It is the Hindu New Year - Nov. 2nd - and we've been invited around, but you don't actually haaaave to go on the 2nd. Anytime this month is fine.)
I've described meetings like this in another post so I will only write it briefly here.
Format:
Prayer
3 Songs
Testimony by house owner
Short message
Prayer
Snack-food
So these were the questions on my mind since our family's turn was announced on Sunday. What will I serve? It can be anything from chips and chai to a whole meal. What hasn't been given lately? What is relatively simple? What does everyone like? How many people will come?
I've decided on Meat Curry and Kerala Roti (really good flat bread - I've ordered 150 of them) also Baby Eggplant/Potato Curry for any vegetarians. Pepsi.
I'll make the curries tomorrow afternoon, Phoebe will help me chop the veggies. I did all the shopping today, thank goodness, since my driver is off tomorrow* I'm sure I'll have friends over to help in the afternoon or at least help serve in the evening.
I love entertaining ( I get it from my dad) and after my birthday fiasco - not going there - I decided I'm going give everyone real food. (Hence the above menu) I'm expecting 50-60 people.
You're more than welcome to come.
* Nitin says to me today. "Madam, we should get the meat today because tomorrow is a festival." I said, "Tomorrow is a Hindu festival, but we get our meat from Muslims, their festival doesn't start for a few more days." I did, however, agree to send him to the slauterhouse (that's why I don't go myself) and get the meat today. Later Nitin says, "Uh, Madam I can't come to work tomorrow because of Diwali." So I said, "That's why you wanted to get the meat today." He snickered in response.
They're really fun times of fellowship and as you might have guessed, this week it's at our house. It's coming at a good time, since school is on a vacation and I'm actually free tomorow. (It is the Hindu New Year - Nov. 2nd - and we've been invited around, but you don't actually haaaave to go on the 2nd. Anytime this month is fine.)
I've described meetings like this in another post so I will only write it briefly here.
Format:
Prayer
3 Songs
Testimony by house owner
Short message
Prayer
Snack-food
So these were the questions on my mind since our family's turn was announced on Sunday. What will I serve? It can be anything from chips and chai to a whole meal. What hasn't been given lately? What is relatively simple? What does everyone like? How many people will come?
I've decided on Meat Curry and Kerala Roti (really good flat bread - I've ordered 150 of them) also Baby Eggplant/Potato Curry for any vegetarians. Pepsi.
I'll make the curries tomorrow afternoon, Phoebe will help me chop the veggies. I did all the shopping today, thank goodness, since my driver is off tomorrow* I'm sure I'll have friends over to help in the afternoon or at least help serve in the evening.
I love entertaining ( I get it from my dad) and after my birthday fiasco - not going there - I decided I'm going give everyone real food. (Hence the above menu) I'm expecting 50-60 people.
You're more than welcome to come.
* Nitin says to me today. "Madam, we should get the meat today because tomorrow is a festival." I said, "Tomorrow is a Hindu festival, but we get our meat from Muslims, their festival doesn't start for a few more days." I did, however, agree to send him to the slauterhouse (that's why I don't go myself) and get the meat today. Later Nitin says, "Uh, Madam I can't come to work tomorrow because of Diwali." So I said, "That's why you wanted to get the meat today." He snickered in response.
The House At The End Of The World
O. has 2 older sisters, 1 younger brother and 1 younger sister. While O. was away but I was still in his village with the girls, we all decided to go to O.'s 2nd sister's house.
If you are ever in India and feel like visiting her here are the directions:
Go to the last mountain at the end of the world.
Drive up to it until you hit the last little town at the end of the world
Go thru there and keep driving until you pass the last bus stand at the end of the world
Make a left and go up the last hill on the last mountain at the end of the world
When you reach the very last rock at the end of the world, look for a house
Ah, you're there.
If you are ever in India and feel like visiting her here are the directions:
Go to the last mountain at the end of the world.
Drive up to it until you hit the last little town at the end of the world
Go thru there and keep driving until you pass the last bus stand at the end of the world
Make a left and go up the last hill on the last mountain at the end of the world
When you reach the very last rock at the end of the world, look for a house
Ah, you're there.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Hallo-who?
Yeah, no Halloween over here. Strangely tho, (why do I find these things weird anymore?) the English stations have advertized some Halloween specials (like Simpsons.)
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