Recently O. has really been into brokenness. Brokenness not just for himself but for everyone who works with us on our team, from the biggest to the smallest. Sometimes I wonder if he thinks that brokenness is something that we can make happen in other people, like, if we give them the right circumstances they will breakdown and everything that needs healing will be healed.
Along the lines of the "Brokenness Issue" O. planned a "Family Meeting" for all our Co-workers for Sunday night. After scheduling the meeting we got a call from good (older, godly) friends of ours who live 3 hours away saying that they were free this weekend and wanted to visit. Two totally unrelated incidents that God brought to be. The couple who wanted to come are counselors and seminar speakers, they focus mainly on families.
Well, upon hearing they were coming O. gave the "Family Meeting" into their hands and it turned out to be a wonderful thing. Johnny (that's the man's name) taught on Barnabas and then afterwards asked us to individually go to each person and encourage them and tell them what we appreciate about them.
I was pretty nervous at this point. Not about the encouraging, but about the being encouraged. I can give it, but it's harder for me to take it. I didn't get to talk to everyone but I talked to at least half, and everyone I really wanted to talk to. It was a wonderful thing for most of us. I loved having that opportunity to share how much and why I love. I was blessed, too, by their love expressed to me.*
It was a beautiful night. And now it's captured forever on my blog.
* One person actually said to me, "Madam, Ap keliyay marni keliyay tyar hoo."
Translation: "Madam, I'm ready to die for you."
Monday, March 31, 2008
Any Suggestions?
I wrote to some friends of mine asking for suggestions of good Christian reading material or devotional books that have blessed them because I'm really desiring something along those lines and I currently have nothing. I'm putting it up here too, comment or email me with anything you want to suggest.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
2nd Easter
I almost wrote that this was the 1st Easter for G. - but it's her 2nd!
She looks as confused as I am.
She looks as confused as I am.Friday, March 21, 2008
The Last Supper
It's Good Friday.
I threw myself into preparing 2 skits with my Bible Students this week. I have loads of IDEAS but I fall short on the Hindi. But God gave me someone skilled to work with me and together we prepared 2 skits for my Bible Students to perform during our Good Friday Service. I had 7 short skits in mind, but we only had time for two.
Since we have 13 Bible Students, the Last Supper seemed like a given. The lady who helped me had already prepared a skit for Peter's denial so we did that one too.
Here is Shambhu, he's who I chose to portray Jesus. I chose him because he is gentle spirited and not outstanding in any way. I stuck by my casting choice even when over the last 3 days of practice he said all his lines (most lines were his) in a monotone. However, during the actual performance today - he did great. But the real vindication came when O. said after the service today (unprompted) "That boy playing Jesus was good." Whew.
Preparing - notice they are using the back of a steel plate as a mirror.
All 13 Bible Students in costume.
I do love my students dearly. Last week when I was sick, they prayed for me for an hour every night and every morning.
I threw myself into preparing 2 skits with my Bible Students this week. I have loads of IDEAS but I fall short on the Hindi. But God gave me someone skilled to work with me and together we prepared 2 skits for my Bible Students to perform during our Good Friday Service. I had 7 short skits in mind, but we only had time for two.
Since we have 13 Bible Students, the Last Supper seemed like a given. The lady who helped me had already prepared a skit for Peter's denial so we did that one too.
Here is Shambhu, he's who I chose to portray Jesus. I chose him because he is gentle spirited and not outstanding in any way. I stuck by my casting choice even when over the last 3 days of practice he said all his lines (most lines were his) in a monotone. However, during the actual performance today - he did great. But the real vindication came when O. said after the service today (unprompted) "That boy playing Jesus was good." Whew.
Preparing - notice they are using the back of a steel plate as a mirror.
All 13 Bible Students in costume.
I do love my students dearly. Last week when I was sick, they prayed for me for an hour every night and every morning.House Pictures: The Roof Is on
We had the roof poured on last week and here are the pictures of the structurally complete house!
House from side view:
Looking from outside the front window into the Living Room and then O.'s Office and then the stairwell to the 2nd floor.
How the ceiling gets held up until the cement dries.
Now just the electrical work, inside/outside plastering, flooring, kitchen, bathrooms, umm - painting... remain. sigh.
House from side view:
Looking from outside the front window into the Living Room and then O.'s Office and then the stairwell to the 2nd floor.
How the ceiling gets held up until the cement dries.
Now just the electrical work, inside/outside plastering, flooring, kitchen, bathrooms, umm - painting... remain. sigh.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
G. Week Continues
G. with her Uncle Amar ("Foowah" as we call him over here.) I don't know why she is naked. I hope she didn't pee on him, but she's good that way.
O.'s Birthday - Last Week
Poor jetlagged O. got woken up at midnight on his birthday. (March 8th)
He was a good sport.
He was a good sport.Wednesday, March 12, 2008
What Happened to "G. Week?"
Ok, I was really sick yesterday, sicker than I've ever been. On the bed, couldn't get off it. Could not walk, could not sit. Bad backache - Internal infection of the gynecological sort. Unpleasant.
I am on 5 days bedrest. Shhh, should not be on computer.
I am on 5 days bedrest. Shhh, should not be on computer.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Just Like Mommy
If photos of bras offend you, close your eyes now and scroll down. Good.
Here is sweet G. on the day her Papa returned from the USA bearing many gifts for all. I requested, and got, underwear. Of all the things G. could have chosen to play with, she picked out my bra and even put it on herself. Really. I turned around and there she was wearing the bra like an Old Pro. Maybe a senile old Pro, but a Pro nonetheless.
Here is sweet G. on the day her Papa returned from the USA bearing many gifts for all. I requested, and got, underwear. Of all the things G. could have chosen to play with, she picked out my bra and even put it on herself. Really. I turned around and there she was wearing the bra like an Old Pro. Maybe a senile old Pro, but a Pro nonetheless.
G. Week
We are quickly approaching G.'s 1st birthday. (Saturday, March 15th)
In Honor of the occasion I am attempting to post G. pictures all week. I write "attempting" because I have attempted to load pictures 3 times already today and it's not happening for some reason.
Try try again.
In Honor of the occasion I am attempting to post G. pictures all week. I write "attempting" because I have attempted to load pictures 3 times already today and it's not happening for some reason.
Try try again.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Bulking Up
I am sitting here popping (I accidentally wrote "pooping") Wilbur Buds* and I am totally guilt free since O. returned from the USA and proclaimed that I now need to gain weight. The man is never satisfied.
Praveen told me today it looks like I lost 12 lbs while they were in the USA. I don't know b/c I don't have a scale but I did have to take all my saree blouses to the Tailor to have them tightened (they're form fitting). The tailor took my measurements and proclaimed I had lost an inch on my arms and 2" across the chest, since like - November/December?
I don't really know why I'm losing so much weight all of the sudden but it's pretty much the topic of conversation wherever I go. I am considering telling people I am on weight loss medication and then sell them something...
The fact is, I eat whatever I want, but I think I was just too busy to eat while the guys were gone.
*This is even funnier when you know what Wilbur Buds are.
Praveen told me today it looks like I lost 12 lbs while they were in the USA. I don't know b/c I don't have a scale but I did have to take all my saree blouses to the Tailor to have them tightened (they're form fitting). The tailor took my measurements and proclaimed I had lost an inch on my arms and 2" across the chest, since like - November/December?
I don't really know why I'm losing so much weight all of the sudden but it's pretty much the topic of conversation wherever I go. I am considering telling people I am on weight loss medication and then sell them something...
The fact is, I eat whatever I want, but I think I was just too busy to eat while the guys were gone.
*This is even funnier when you know what Wilbur Buds are.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Boys Are Back
O. and Praveen got in yesterday morning, for anyone who is wondering. They had an uneventful trip (other than some vomiting episodes due to turbulence), but the luggage and most of them, got here in one piece by God's grace.
Thanks for prayers.
Thanks for prayers.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
O. & P. In The Air
My husband O. is right at this very minute flying to India. He'll arrive in the middle of the night our time and make it to my house around lunch tomorrow.
Please pray for his and Praveen's quick and smooth adjustment back to India and life in general over here.
Please pray for his and Praveen's quick and smooth adjustment back to India and life in general over here.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Boring Sunday
I even watched Cricket* (the sport not the insect) today it was so boring around here.
By 5:30 I starting making dinner just for something to do. My brother-in-law (we call him "Gijaji") walked into the kitchen and got a drink of water. After getting his drink he proceeded to tell me in mixed Hindi and Rajasthani** that the daughter of one of our believers was in a bad accident near our house and was taken to the hospital. The neighbors who came and told him about the accident were still looking for her parents and hadn't yet found them. (It took me about 5 minutes to get this much information.) After getting a grasp of the situation I called our pastor, wondering if he already knew; I told as much as I knew (which wasn't much at the time) and handed the phone over to Gijaji to fill him in.
I made chai for Gijaji and then had him drive me over to the hospital. I walked up to the counter and said, "There was a little girl in an accident..." That's all it took and I was pointed to the room where she was being held. Her name is Esther and she is ten years old. Her parents are laborers who build houses. Other than some of our soon-to-be neighbors there was no one there with her.
Apparently she was hit by some vehicle, she doesn't know what happened and the the driver didn't stop. This all occurred on a busy road in the late afternoon but as far as we know there were no witnesses. Esther was knocked unconscious, she has an abrasion on her head, and a fracture in her left shoulder and some scratches, but this is the worst part (don't read on if you get queasy easily): Her little body got flung to the side of the road and as she lay there unconscious, a dog came and started to - eat her. I saw the arm with a large chunk of flesh bit out of it - the hole was the size of an egg.
Eventually it was a neighbor who noticed the dog dragging what he thought was a pile of clothing but turned out to be Esther.
He sent someone for her family but they had gone to the market. The neighbors then took her to the hospital and Gijaji came and told me and now the story has come full circle.
Isn't that horrifying! That something like this can happen in broad daylight on a road that I drive on about 8 times a day. Good for my neighbors for taking her to the hospital and staying with her. I knew that was a great place to build a house.
Esther's mom and dad did arrive about 10 minutes after me and soon after, our pastor. I stayed til about 8PM when I started getting phone calls from my own children to come home. By that time the doctor had finally come, stitched up the bite and gave her injections. She'll be admitted for 24 hours for observation.
These kinds of things always seem to happen on Sundays. It just brings to mind my own E.'s accident in 2006, on a Sunday, and her miraculously non-injured body. Esther should be up and running in 10 days or so and thank God for that. When I got word that she was injured it sounded bad. But when I got there she was awake and talking. Eventually, she cried because she was hungry, thirsty, and because she was devastated that her flip flops got lost in the accident. I knew then she was going to be fine.
* India did kick Australia's butt.
** I'm not so good at understanding Rajasthani.
By 5:30 I starting making dinner just for something to do. My brother-in-law (we call him "Gijaji") walked into the kitchen and got a drink of water. After getting his drink he proceeded to tell me in mixed Hindi and Rajasthani** that the daughter of one of our believers was in a bad accident near our house and was taken to the hospital. The neighbors who came and told him about the accident were still looking for her parents and hadn't yet found them. (It took me about 5 minutes to get this much information.) After getting a grasp of the situation I called our pastor, wondering if he already knew; I told as much as I knew (which wasn't much at the time) and handed the phone over to Gijaji to fill him in.
I made chai for Gijaji and then had him drive me over to the hospital. I walked up to the counter and said, "There was a little girl in an accident..." That's all it took and I was pointed to the room where she was being held. Her name is Esther and she is ten years old. Her parents are laborers who build houses. Other than some of our soon-to-be neighbors there was no one there with her.
Apparently she was hit by some vehicle, she doesn't know what happened and the the driver didn't stop. This all occurred on a busy road in the late afternoon but as far as we know there were no witnesses. Esther was knocked unconscious, she has an abrasion on her head, and a fracture in her left shoulder and some scratches, but this is the worst part (don't read on if you get queasy easily): Her little body got flung to the side of the road and as she lay there unconscious, a dog came and started to - eat her. I saw the arm with a large chunk of flesh bit out of it - the hole was the size of an egg.
Eventually it was a neighbor who noticed the dog dragging what he thought was a pile of clothing but turned out to be Esther.
He sent someone for her family but they had gone to the market. The neighbors then took her to the hospital and Gijaji came and told me and now the story has come full circle.
Isn't that horrifying! That something like this can happen in broad daylight on a road that I drive on about 8 times a day. Good for my neighbors for taking her to the hospital and staying with her. I knew that was a great place to build a house.
Esther's mom and dad did arrive about 10 minutes after me and soon after, our pastor. I stayed til about 8PM when I started getting phone calls from my own children to come home. By that time the doctor had finally come, stitched up the bite and gave her injections. She'll be admitted for 24 hours for observation.
These kinds of things always seem to happen on Sundays. It just brings to mind my own E.'s accident in 2006, on a Sunday, and her miraculously non-injured body. Esther should be up and running in 10 days or so and thank God for that. When I got word that she was injured it sounded bad. But when I got there she was awake and talking. Eventually, she cried because she was hungry, thirsty, and because she was devastated that her flip flops got lost in the accident. I knew then she was going to be fine.
* India did kick Australia's butt.
** I'm not so good at understanding Rajasthani.
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