Security

Well, there is not much to say about our journey from India to the US other than there was loads of security. Check check check. We really needed that three hours.

So, I will be moving on to American type posts for the next couple months.

Buying a new camera today so hopefully I'll be back to loading pictures very soon! Yippee they say! Picnic tonight. Photo ops.

Fun With Mom And Dad

The computer we use while in the US is not working properly so I've had to do all Internet-type things from my parent's office since I've been in this past week.

Mom & Dad's Conversation about caring for their tenant's fish while he's away for a few days.

Mom: Tomorrow's Saturday and someone needs to come and feed Bob's fish.
Dad: I'm coming up tomorrow, I'll do it.
Mom: But are you coming in the morning?
Dad: Does it have to be in the morning?
Mom: Well, Bob says they eat in the morning and evening.

silence from Dad

Mom: Well, he did say we could just feed them once a day if necessary.

Later, Dad sends Mom (secretary) to find a file on Dan's (son's) desk.

Mom: (after looking) It's not there.
Dad: He had it there this morning.

Mom checks other areas of the office.

Mom: (resignedly) I'll check the filing cabinets. Dan doesn't file.

meanwhile Dad goes out and checks Dan's desk himself, walks back in with file in hand..

Mom: How'd I miss that?

Home In NJ

We're home in NJ. My computer is not working so I'll be back on later. But I love the fast internet.

Leaving Tomorrow

My peaceful life got a little more crazy with the knowledge that Petra needed an Indian visa - I found this out yesterday. - arg. Thankfully we know our local police well and the nice man got it all done for me in two days. She's set.

Then, we were planning on driving to Bombay for our flight by leaving at 7AM tomorrow. There have been monsoon rains in Bombay for days now. So, I spent much of yesterday trying to get flights from our state to Bombay. Thank the Lord we got them booked but we're on a tight schedule, pray for no late flights - or cancellations.

well, the worst is yet to come. i hate the goodbyes, I hate all the paperwork/documents in the airports. Please keep us in prayer of the next 36 hours.

Next Week At This Time

You know, a week is not a very long period of time. Last week at this time I was dropping O. off at the train station of another city so he could go to Jaipur for teaching on leadership and unity. I saw Terminator Salvation while O. and the guys went to some Hindi comedy, which they ultimately didn't like. Should have come to Terminator with me, P. and I had a great time.

So, that feels like yesterday to me.

Then, I guess next Friday should just seem a day away. We're into the "lasts" right now.

The Last Friday.
The Last Ladies Weekly Prayer Meeting.

C. was very into asking me "How many Sundays til we go to America?"
Two.
Few hours later, same question.
Still two.
And so on...
Well,in two days it will be none.

I know people must be praying because I'm feeling utterly calm and I'm getting loads of work done in incredibly short periods of time. I'm not even reduced to blogging in my head!

The Healing Of My Back

The day after we went for P.'s US citizenship interview my lower back started to hurt. That was June 4th. By June 6th my back hurt so badly I could not even walk on my own and I went right to the doctor.

I suspected I might have some internal problems of a gynec nature and was right and my doctor put me on antibiotics and sent me home. I started to feel better. Then after three days I started to feel worse and on the 5th day I went back. Eventually, the doctor put me on 5 more days of antibiotics assuring me my back pain would stop and I'd be good as new.

I wasn't.

By day 10 I was back in the doctors office where I was told to get an ultrasound and X-ray. I bailed on the X-ray but did get the ultrasound done which came up normal. I didn't even go back to the doctor after that. I decided I was going to pray and let the Lord heal me. I'd had enough of doctor's offices.

So, I prayed and asked others to pray for me (putting up with a lot of: "You started working too hard too soon after giving birth.") Finally, at our pastors conference on June 24th one of our pastors, Madhu, came in from South India and he often calls me with prayer requests and I know him to b e a person of great faith. I had previously told him about my lower back and asked for prayer. When he came for the conference I asked him to pray then and there and he said, I'm always praying for it, but let's both fast and pray on Sunday.

To tell you the truth, Sunday couldn't get here fast enough. I was tired of being in severe pain every minute of every day. I was moving around only by the help of painkillers. Sunday we both fasted and I later heard from a man who lives with us, that Madhu prayed* long into the night only for me and the healing of my back. Three-four hours continuously, as well as fasting 24 hours.

Seeing Madhu's faith, my faith in God increased.

Monday morning, my back still hurt.

Yet, instead of my usual 2 painkillers, I only needed one. By afternoon my back was feeling better. By Monday evening it barely hurt at all.

In the end, I had a stiff (but not very painful back) for a few days after the fasting and prayer, but now, a week later, I'm fine and pain free. Praise the Lord.

* Indians often pray out loud, even when praying alone.

Renewing Your Mind

Just a single shot from our "Renewing Your Mind for Ministry" conference last month.

1st Day Of School 2009

Well, I'm way behind, I know. The first marking period exams are next week!. But here are my girls on their first day of school, June 8th.

The Fourth?

I had no recollection that today is the 4th of July til about 7:30 PM this evening. Weird.

I think this happens every year.