Thursday, August 31, 2006
O & Me
I've wanted to put a new picture in my "About Me" section for a while. That's why it's been blank. Anyway, to get it there I have to download it here first.
Old Pictures
I have picture loading capability again. Yay Yay!
So, after a LONG time. Here are the pictures from E.'s fall a couple months ago. I think it's miraculous and the pictures are surely worth waiting for.
She fell at 11:00PM on a Sunday night and this was taken around 8:00AM the next morning.
This is what she fell on to.
So, after a LONG time. Here are the pictures from E.'s fall a couple months ago. I think it's miraculous and the pictures are surely worth waiting for.
She fell at 11:00PM on a Sunday night and this was taken around 8:00AM the next morning.
This is what she fell on to.
This is taken out the window where she fell. You can see the distance between the ledge she bounced off of and the wall. She fell inbetween that little space.
Here is E. pointing up to the window. You can't see the window where she fell from in this picture but the window at the top of the house is the same exact height as the one she fell from.
Front view.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Engagements Are A Big Deal
Engagements are a big, hairy, family deal in India.
Very formal, contracts signed and everything.
We were at one yesterday - all day. The program was in the evening and for some reason, we were in charge. It was all very nice. I got 2 lovely sarees out of the deal. One from the boy's and one from the girl's side.
The girl and the boy sit together in front of their families and whoever. During the service there are Bible messages, songs, vows, and then prayers and contracts signed by everyone and their uncle (literally).
After this comes the exchange of gifts (something for every family member on both sides). Then an exchange of rings - yeah for both the boy and the girl. They exchange during the wedding ceremony too.
It all goes on and on. Garlanding, feeding each other cake, photos... Then we all ate dinner and went home. Glad it's over, it was wicked humid yesterday.
Very formal, contracts signed and everything.
We were at one yesterday - all day. The program was in the evening and for some reason, we were in charge. It was all very nice. I got 2 lovely sarees out of the deal. One from the boy's and one from the girl's side.
The girl and the boy sit together in front of their families and whoever. During the service there are Bible messages, songs, vows, and then prayers and contracts signed by everyone and their uncle (literally).
After this comes the exchange of gifts (something for every family member on both sides). Then an exchange of rings - yeah for both the boy and the girl. They exchange during the wedding ceremony too.
It all goes on and on. Garlanding, feeding each other cake, photos... Then we all ate dinner and went home. Glad it's over, it was wicked humid yesterday.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
The Difference Between My Girls
My mom recently sent some photos of when our whole family (excluding us) got together at the shore over the summer. One picture was a cute one of a bunch of the cousins at the table eating dinner.
C. (my 3 1/2 year old) sat with me and asked me everyone's name a million times.
Who's this?
Caleb (pronounced by C. as "Cah-leb" - the Indian way)
Who's this?
Nomi
Who's th...
A little while later E. (my almost 6 yr old) comes over and to look at the picture for the first time.
Her eyes get real big and she points down at it and says:
"What Is This??!"
It was a plate of curly pasta with shrimp in a red sauce.
The cousins didn't hold a candle to the pasta.
* I'd scan the picture but my scanner driver disappeared so it's currently out of commission. I'll try to get it reinstalled on my new computer!
C. (my 3 1/2 year old) sat with me and asked me everyone's name a million times.
Who's this?
Caleb (pronounced by C. as "Cah-leb" - the Indian way)
Who's this?
Nomi
Who's th...
A little while later E. (my almost 6 yr old) comes over and to look at the picture for the first time.
Her eyes get real big and she points down at it and says:
"What Is This??!"
It was a plate of curly pasta with shrimp in a red sauce.
The cousins didn't hold a candle to the pasta.
* I'd scan the picture but my scanner driver disappeared so it's currently out of commission. I'll try to get it reinstalled on my new computer!
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Bible Quiz
Our latest project for the Ladies Ministry in our church is to conduct a Bible Quiz on October 2. The quiz will be taken only from the book of John and the women will have had 2 full months to prepare for it.
There is a vaild reason behind the madness of this idea. We want to encourage our women toward personal Bible Reading. Our hope, prayer, and encouragement is that the women will continue to read the Word of God daily, even after their study for the quiz is over.
So, that being that. Vinita and I divided John into chapters 1-11 (hers) and 12-21 (mine). Then we made 40+ multiple choice questions each from our chapters. We presented them today to the church committee leader who was to choose the final 50 from the best of the original 80+ questions.
I said to Anoop, the committee leader, aka - our pastor, aka - my very good friend; pick more questions from Vinita's list. I won't feel bad to have less of my questions chosen, (but she's a little sensitive that way.)
So, he goes through Vinita's question list first, checking off the ones that are "keepers" and comes out with exactly 25. I breathe a sigh of relief.
Then he does mine.
At the end, he had chosen a little more than 25 questions. Then he turns both papers over in front of him and says to Vinita, "We'll take 20 questions from your list and 30 questions from Rebecca's.)
I knew he was going to do that, it's why I told him NOT to in the first place.
After Vinita left I said to Anoop, "What were ya thinkin'?"
"I know, I forgot."
Men.
There is a vaild reason behind the madness of this idea. We want to encourage our women toward personal Bible Reading. Our hope, prayer, and encouragement is that the women will continue to read the Word of God daily, even after their study for the quiz is over.
So, that being that. Vinita and I divided John into chapters 1-11 (hers) and 12-21 (mine). Then we made 40+ multiple choice questions each from our chapters. We presented them today to the church committee leader who was to choose the final 50 from the best of the original 80+ questions.
I said to Anoop, the committee leader, aka - our pastor, aka - my very good friend; pick more questions from Vinita's list. I won't feel bad to have less of my questions chosen, (but she's a little sensitive that way.)
So, he goes through Vinita's question list first, checking off the ones that are "keepers" and comes out with exactly 25. I breathe a sigh of relief.
Then he does mine.
At the end, he had chosen a little more than 25 questions. Then he turns both papers over in front of him and says to Vinita, "We'll take 20 questions from your list and 30 questions from Rebecca's.)
I knew he was going to do that, it's why I told him NOT to in the first place.
After Vinita left I said to Anoop, "What were ya thinkin'?"
"I know, I forgot."
Men.
Depressing Lack Of Pictures
I just was reviewing some of my posts from the last month and I was distressed by the lack of pictures. I cannot tell you how often I think, Oh this would make a great picture for my blog... and that's it. It ends right there in my brain.
BUT, a wonderful thing has happened. God is giving me a new computer through a loving church in NJ. After all my recent computer problems they had it on their heart to do this for me.
I have a couple different places giving me quotations, so when I decide which one to accept, I'll be up and running - with picture adding capabilities. Yay! I'm hoping to have it all done by next week.
Thank you God. Thank you FAC!
BUT, a wonderful thing has happened. God is giving me a new computer through a loving church in NJ. After all my recent computer problems they had it on their heart to do this for me.
I have a couple different places giving me quotations, so when I decide which one to accept, I'll be up and running - with picture adding capabilities. Yay! I'm hoping to have it all done by next week.
Thank you God. Thank you FAC!
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Spies Are Back
The 9 guys got back at 6:30 tonight and they had debriefed on the way but they spent an hour with me going over what they had talked about today.
First of all, God clearly directed them where to go. They went to only one area, where they had never been, and God just showed O. where to go. They prayed there and inquired about different things, like schools and churches, house rent and land cost.
Afterwards they talked, sometimes argued; positive and negative points.
On the positive side, God is clearly revealing to everyone that He wants to start a great work in this city. If it's God's will, it's going to happen.
Some negative points were: There is still so much work in our current city with the development of the Bible college, School building, Children's Home, staff quarters, and so much more. Other points included: finances and support, among others.
O. responded to each question and point and it gave him a lot to think about. It was good to have his leadership team with him on this very first survey tour. I'm glad they were honest enough to share what they truly thought.
It also seems now that the head office would not move to the other city, but remain here where we are now and we'd open a branch there. That's new to me today. There is still so much to pray about and seek God.
When it was my turn to talk I shared that I do believe God is leading us in this direction, but the matter of timing is in His hands. 1 year, 5 years, 20 years. We'll wait on him and keep praying.
First of all, God clearly directed them where to go. They went to only one area, where they had never been, and God just showed O. where to go. They prayed there and inquired about different things, like schools and churches, house rent and land cost.
Afterwards they talked, sometimes argued; positive and negative points.
On the positive side, God is clearly revealing to everyone that He wants to start a great work in this city. If it's God's will, it's going to happen.
Some negative points were: There is still so much work in our current city with the development of the Bible college, School building, Children's Home, staff quarters, and so much more. Other points included: finances and support, among others.
O. responded to each question and point and it gave him a lot to think about. It was good to have his leadership team with him on this very first survey tour. I'm glad they were honest enough to share what they truly thought.
It also seems now that the head office would not move to the other city, but remain here where we are now and we'd open a branch there. That's new to me today. There is still so much to pray about and seek God.
When it was my turn to talk I shared that I do believe God is leading us in this direction, but the matter of timing is in His hands. 1 year, 5 years, 20 years. We'll wait on him and keep praying.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Stars In His Eyes
Today is the beginning - of something.
I wrote several weeks ago that O. has a vision to eventually move our head office to another city an hour and half away. It's much bigger than where we are presently located and the facilities provided there would greatly benefit the ministry in so many ways.
Since last week, O. has been talking and planning and praying about going today for the first prayer survey of the city. We've been to this city plenty of times before, but as O. said, today is really the first time.
He made and printed copies of his "action plan" for surveying the city and handed them out to everyone. We talked over it, we prayed for a long time, and then O. took off with 8 other guys for their "12 spies" like survey of - well, maybe not the promised land, but where God is leading us at any rate.
As he talked about today's survey, I think he was glowing. This is so right up his alley.
Pray for us. This will be a long process of prayer and surveying the different areas of this LARGE city, seeing where God is guiding us.
Nothing drastic is happening and probably won't happen for more than a year at least. But we're being obedient and following God's lead.
Once the guys get back, I'll update with their thoughts and positive and negative points.
I wrote several weeks ago that O. has a vision to eventually move our head office to another city an hour and half away. It's much bigger than where we are presently located and the facilities provided there would greatly benefit the ministry in so many ways.
Since last week, O. has been talking and planning and praying about going today for the first prayer survey of the city. We've been to this city plenty of times before, but as O. said, today is really the first time.
He made and printed copies of his "action plan" for surveying the city and handed them out to everyone. We talked over it, we prayed for a long time, and then O. took off with 8 other guys for their "12 spies" like survey of - well, maybe not the promised land, but where God is leading us at any rate.
As he talked about today's survey, I think he was glowing. This is so right up his alley.
Pray for us. This will be a long process of prayer and surveying the different areas of this LARGE city, seeing where God is guiding us.
Nothing drastic is happening and probably won't happen for more than a year at least. But we're being obedient and following God's lead.
Once the guys get back, I'll update with their thoughts and positive and negative points.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
My Husband's Back
Yesterday O. was looking in the mirror at his moustache and said, "It's not looking good is it?"
Me: Shawanana wana mummble mummble shwoo shwoo shwoo
O.: Should I remove it?
Me: Honey, whatever YOU want to do, you do.
O.: No really, you tell me what to do, should I remove it?
Me: Yes! Yes, remove it.
As of last night it's gone. Whew.
Me: Shawanana wana mummble mummble shwoo shwoo shwoo
O.: Should I remove it?
Me: Honey, whatever YOU want to do, you do.
O.: No really, you tell me what to do, should I remove it?
Me: Yes! Yes, remove it.
As of last night it's gone. Whew.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Continuation Of July 12th
Here is an attempt to continue a post I wrote on July 12th.
It got cut off near the end where I wrote that O. was blown away by something while visiting one of our pastors in Andra Pradesh.
I have no idea what I was going to write but I know that O. was blown away by the people to whom this particular pastor ministered.
They are a tribal people. Unclothed, totally illiterate. It's a dangerous area but the pastor is committed to reaching these people for Christ. He boldly preaches in the center of the cities and villages.
It was a privilege for O. to meet this pastor in person for the first time and see first hand where and how he is working.
So, I'm not sure what exactly I wrote on July 12th, but I'm guessing it was along these lines.
It got cut off near the end where I wrote that O. was blown away by something while visiting one of our pastors in Andra Pradesh.
I have no idea what I was going to write but I know that O. was blown away by the people to whom this particular pastor ministered.
They are a tribal people. Unclothed, totally illiterate. It's a dangerous area but the pastor is committed to reaching these people for Christ. He boldly preaches in the center of the cities and villages.
It was a privilege for O. to meet this pastor in person for the first time and see first hand where and how he is working.
So, I'm not sure what exactly I wrote on July 12th, but I'm guessing it was along these lines.
O.'s New Face
O. went for a shave and a hair cut last night and came back with only a moustache and no other facial hair.
He had this cut when we were married and I quickly had him grow some more hair. He's a handsome man but, with his face, he needs to go for all or nothing.
Lip AND chin hair or nothing at all.
As it is now, he looks like he should be stalking unsuspecting buyers on a used car lot.
Well, his facial hair changes about once a week, hopefully...
He had this cut when we were married and I quickly had him grow some more hair. He's a handsome man but, with his face, he needs to go for all or nothing.
Lip AND chin hair or nothing at all.
As it is now, he looks like he should be stalking unsuspecting buyers on a used car lot.
Well, his facial hair changes about once a week, hopefully...
Flood News
I talked to a girl on Saturday who is from the city that has suffered the worst from the recent flooding.
She said the smell is horrendous and that there are dead bodies just floating in the water. You can see the tops of their heads and their bodies are so swelled that their clothes have torn off. It's awful.
There's no electricity, no drinking water, nothing.
Trucks of packaged food and water go out from our city every day. The water has mostly receeded now, but I heard yesterday that there is about 4 feet of mud over everything that was under water.
I cannot imagine. Oh, and this is a large and weathly city, known for it's textile and diamond industries. It can happen anywhere.
She said the smell is horrendous and that there are dead bodies just floating in the water. You can see the tops of their heads and their bodies are so swelled that their clothes have torn off. It's awful.
There's no electricity, no drinking water, nothing.
Trucks of packaged food and water go out from our city every day. The water has mostly receeded now, but I heard yesterday that there is about 4 feet of mud over everything that was under water.
I cannot imagine. Oh, and this is a large and weathly city, known for it's textile and diamond industries. It can happen anywhere.
10 Days Ago
10 days ago + 1 year - I started this blog.
It just occured to me today that it's August and my first anniversary has probably already passed. It did. Oh well.
It's Indian Independance Day today and we're all at home. I have no idea what we're going to do.
It just occured to me today that it's August and my first anniversary has probably already passed. It did. Oh well.
It's Indian Independance Day today and we're all at home. I have no idea what we're going to do.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Back In Business
I waited all day for the computer guy to come and he didn't. Then I called the youth pastor from our church and asked him to call one of the guys in the youth ministry who does computer work.
The kid came in about 30 minutes (while on duty for work), fixed my computer and promised to come back to do some updates and other things - for free! God bless his little heart.
He also brightened up considerably when my 22 year old sister-in-law, Martha, walked in the door.
I guess it wasn't such a hardship for him after all.
The kid came in about 30 minutes (while on duty for work), fixed my computer and promised to come back to do some updates and other things - for free! God bless his little heart.
He also brightened up considerably when my 22 year old sister-in-law, Martha, walked in the door.
I guess it wasn't such a hardship for him after all.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
K & R
Yeah, we're hot, we're sweaty. It's India!
This is probably the last Kat picture. I need to move on.
Floods
God has been good to us this year. The city political people decided to dig a bunch of drainage trenches for the rain to flow out of the city. Because of them, we have not been badly affected by floods due to monsoons - but it seems like everywhere else around us has.
We have guests staying with us and we tried to send one on his way last night and another on her way (in the opposite direction) this morning; both got turned back due to floods and buses and trains being canceled, held up, etc.
Some cities nearby are literally under water.
I asked my mom last night if the flooding had been in the paper over there in the US and she hadn't seen anything. It often will be. Peoples' homes are filled with water and dams are still bursting or over flowing. There doesn't seem to be much to do but wait it out.
I wonder about our pastors in the villages. We had a team going to one city tonight to visit the pastors working in the villages around there but it got canceled due to someone dying (not one of our people).
O. heard on the weather that more rains are on the way.
We have guests staying with us and we tried to send one on his way last night and another on her way (in the opposite direction) this morning; both got turned back due to floods and buses and trains being canceled, held up, etc.
Some cities nearby are literally under water.
I asked my mom last night if the flooding had been in the paper over there in the US and she hadn't seen anything. It often will be. Peoples' homes are filled with water and dams are still bursting or over flowing. There doesn't seem to be much to do but wait it out.
I wonder about our pastors in the villages. We had a team going to one city tonight to visit the pastors working in the villages around there but it got canceled due to someone dying (not one of our people).
O. heard on the weather that more rains are on the way.
Good Girls
Another C. story.
Last night we were praying before sleeping and C. repeats her prayers after me. We always pray the same ones.
We got to the part where I say, " And help me to be a good girl."
C. says, "And help me to be... May good girl hoo!(I AM a good girl.)"
I guess she figured she didn't need to pray for that one. (she does.)
Last night we were praying before sleeping and C. repeats her prayers after me. We always pray the same ones.
We got to the part where I say, " And help me to be a good girl."
C. says, "And help me to be... May good girl hoo!(I AM a good girl.)"
I guess she figured she didn't need to pray for that one. (she does.)
Ye Olde Computer Problems - Again
Sorry I haven't been around. My monitor (at least I think that's what it is) is on the fritz. I hope to get it fixed asap. I'm on O.'s office computer now, which I do not like, but beggers can't be choosers.
Weird
I guess I should have checked before posting that last post- I CAN check blogger again. so- Yay!
Blogger Banned
I think I found out why I cannot check any blogs on Blogger (mine or anyone elses’). I read in the newspaper on Sunday that after the 7/11 terrorist attacks in Bombay there was a ban on 4 blogs. The ISPs then, blocked ALL blogs or something like that. (I feel like I’m writing in a foreign language.) Some have been reopened some have not. I’m not sure what to do. Obviously, Blogger got blocked.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Wet And Sick
Everything is wet over here. You lay down on your sheets at night and they're damp. It's yucky, it's stinky, it's muddy. It's the rainy season.
I don't mind it too much, but mainly just this aspect - Nothing is ever dry!
Another problem of the rainy season is the sickness. By God's grace everyone in my family is fine. I think it's because LOTS of people pray for us all the time.
But in just about every other family I know, somebody is sick.
One of our co-worker's wives is in the hospital with Typhoid, 2 Bible students are very sick. One is vomiting blood, the other has had to have IV bottles of glucose or something dripped into him yesterday and today. Loads of people have coughs and colds and fevers. More than I can count.
The newspapers are full of all kinds of nasty diseases that X # of people are diagnosed with or dying from.
It's just all around unpleasant.
Lately our ladies visiting consists of praying for the sick, praying for the sick and praying for the sick.
Well, it's what we're here for.
I don't mind it too much, but mainly just this aspect - Nothing is ever dry!
Another problem of the rainy season is the sickness. By God's grace everyone in my family is fine. I think it's because LOTS of people pray for us all the time.
But in just about every other family I know, somebody is sick.
One of our co-worker's wives is in the hospital with Typhoid, 2 Bible students are very sick. One is vomiting blood, the other has had to have IV bottles of glucose or something dripped into him yesterday and today. Loads of people have coughs and colds and fevers. More than I can count.
The newspapers are full of all kinds of nasty diseases that X # of people are diagnosed with or dying from.
It's just all around unpleasant.
Lately our ladies visiting consists of praying for the sick, praying for the sick and praying for the sick.
Well, it's what we're here for.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Whew
It was a long, hard task to get those few pictures up and now I'm running out of battery on this laptop, soI'm calling it a day and will come back later and try to get some more up.
Kat's Baptism
When my friend, Kat, was here last month she was baptized. I think, in this first one I'm saying something like, we're going straight down, not back, or something like that.
This was my very first time baptizing someone. Probably why I have the goofy look on my face, I can't speak for everyone else's goofy looks tho.
This was my very first time baptizing someone. Probably why I have the goofy look on my face, I can't speak for everyone else's goofy looks tho.
Pictures At Last
A new family photo. Not great but OK. As usual E. and her papa look great. C. and I got shorted on the photogenic gene.
I needed this one up here so I could put it in my picture slot.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Moving Probably
Just what every wife doesn't want to hear.
"Hey Honey, We're moving to (insert here city of your choice that is far from where you now live.)!" Said gleefully by your husband.
Why is it that husbands think that it's a happy thing for their wifes to pack up their whole lives, Leave their friends, re-adjust their children, learn the ins and outs of another place, leave their friends, (did I mention that already?)
The thing is. I really do believe this vision is from God. The Lord spoke to O. while he was in Delbi and the fact is: we live and minister in a small city. Everyone knows who we are and are pretty certain of what we're about.
A larger cosmopolitan city is much more the place for a Head Office of a growing Christian ministry - and that's what's going to be moving with us. Whatever ministry is going on in our present city currently will continue, but the head offices will be shifting to a larger city.
We've talked forever about the city we're moving to, we've planted a church there already, we're there all the time. I love the city. But it still doesn't help when I think - my friends?
The good thing is that O. will be going there over the next year to start the work on a visiting basis - it's an hour and half away. We're not moving immediately.
We'll also be in the US in winter 2007, the move won't be until we get back from that - so it should be a good time for a transition.
I'm not dreading this, I'm actually excited and know it's going to be a great thing for our ministry. I just get sniffily when I think about leaving my friends.
"Hey Honey, We're moving to (insert here city of your choice that is far from where you now live.)!" Said gleefully by your husband.
Why is it that husbands think that it's a happy thing for their wifes to pack up their whole lives, Leave their friends, re-adjust their children, learn the ins and outs of another place, leave their friends, (did I mention that already?)
The thing is. I really do believe this vision is from God. The Lord spoke to O. while he was in Delbi and the fact is: we live and minister in a small city. Everyone knows who we are and are pretty certain of what we're about.
A larger cosmopolitan city is much more the place for a Head Office of a growing Christian ministry - and that's what's going to be moving with us. Whatever ministry is going on in our present city currently will continue, but the head offices will be shifting to a larger city.
We've talked forever about the city we're moving to, we've planted a church there already, we're there all the time. I love the city. But it still doesn't help when I think - my friends?
The good thing is that O. will be going there over the next year to start the work on a visiting basis - it's an hour and half away. We're not moving immediately.
We'll also be in the US in winter 2007, the move won't be until we get back from that - so it should be a good time for a transition.
I'm not dreading this, I'm actually excited and know it's going to be a great thing for our ministry. I just get sniffily when I think about leaving my friends.
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