"If and but can't count to zero." An Indian man told me that Shakespeare once said that. I'm not so sure...
Anyway, this next week is our last week of ministry here, so a lot of conversations need to be tied up. I plan on seeing Kitty and Peace this week, along with Mrs. Clause and the preschool children that I have grown attached to. I will also have to say goodbye to the women we work with, which will be sad.
Yesterday was a really good day with the women. Jess, one of the girls on our team, taught self defense yesterday. It was fun to do something different than stitching or teaching English. We all joked around, pretended to attack each other, and just had a good time. And it was really helpful, too. So if anyone ever tries to attack me, I could try to fight them off. Just saying.
Something I was thinking about on Sunday was how much I love going to church in other countries/cultures. On Sunday nights, there is Hindi church, which, if you can't tell, is a church service in Hindi. People translate so we can understand, too, but it's just really awesome to watch these people worshiping the same God I worship in another language. Hindi songs are great. I've learned a few lines of some songs. I plan on getting the rest of the words before heading home, though.
So, while I'll be home soon, it's still significant to say that we still have one week left. Not only one week, but still one week. Please pray for focus, unity, and perseverance.
"So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him 'This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: "...Let my people go, so that they may worship me." ' "
Exodus 10:3
God wanted the Israelites to be free from slavery so they could worship him. So, we can either be a slave or worship God. Though we are not actual slaves, we can become slaves to our sin, to other idols in our lives, to other people. God wants to set us free from that. Jesus died to set us free from all of that so we can live to glorify him. Because at any moment, we are worshiping something. Look at your priorities, what you spend the most time doing, what your motives are...and that is what you're worshiping. So remember that Jesus wants all of us, especially our hearts, because everything we do stems from out hearts.
So be a slave or worship God.
I will be home in 2 weeks. See you all soon.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
hello kitty
This week has been amazing.
On Monday, all of India was on a bus strike. Thus, we were unable to get to the 2 different sites our team goes to during the week to help at the preschools. Instead, we took the day and worshiped *Dad--through song, journaling, prayer, and reading. I started reading Revelation, which I hadn't read in a few years. It's really good. You should all read it sometime.
"They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."
Revelation 17:14
So Monday was a good day.
Working at the preschool this week was really good. The kids remembered us and were really excited to see everyone again. Like I said before, I absolutely love those kids with all of my heart and would do anything for them. There is one boy in KG1 (I teach in KG 2), we will call him Steve, and he is a little mischievous. He likes to "make musty." Anyway, I have had to discipline him before, because I saw him hit another kid "right in the schnauz!" Even though I do not see him in class, I love him so much. I just want so much for him in life. And I want him to know love and share it.
In the afternoons after preschool, we go out into the slums and do community outreach. It's really fun. On Tuesday afternoon, a teammate Jess and I went out to the slums together. We met a woman and her daughter (who is 19). Let's call the mom Peace and the daughter Kitty. We were only able to talk with them for about 10 minutes until they had to leave. They both speak English very well, so we were able to find out some things about them. Before we left, we asked if there was anything we could pray for them about and that we pray only to Jesus. Immediately, Peace took us to their neighbor's house, and we prayed healing over a woman who had a limp left arm and left leg.
On Wednesday, Jess and I went back to the same place, hoping that we'd be able to speak with Peace and Kitty again. They were not home, but the kids from their neighbor's house told their moms that we were there. The woman we prayed for came out and invited us into her home. We don't know Hindi, and they don't know English, so there was no conversation really. Except I said "pratna laykeen Yeshu?" (which is something along the lines of "pray only to Jesus?") and they said yes. They ended up making chai for us, and it was the best chai I'd ever had. After chai, we were going to pray for the woman, her 3 daughters, and 5 grand children. Then Kitty came in. She was able to translate for us, so we found out more about the family. Two of the woman's daughters are mute. So we prayed healing over her, her 2 mue daughters, and they rest of the family. We then left, and as we walked out, I asked Kitty if she believed in Jesus only as well. She said no but that she believes in the Hindu gods. We weren't able to continue that conversation with her because we had to leave, but we told her we would come back the next day.
Thursday afternoon, we went back to see Kitty and Peace. They were both home and welcomed us inside. Though we hadn't had much previous conversation, they absolutely loved us. They told all of their friends about their new American friends. We took some pictures with them, and then Peace made us coffee and some really good dough with onions and spinach. Best. Snack. Ever. We kept saying thank you and how delicious everything was, and Peace said "Do not say thank you. I am like your mom and you are like my daughters." It was so great to be accepted and welcomed like that. While we were there, we found out more about their family and were able to bond with them more. They are amazing people.
We are planning on going back next week to share stories with them about *Dad and His Son.
Prayer for Peace and Kitty would be great. Also, please pray for continued focus on *Dad as we wrap up our last 2 weeks of work.
Sorry if this seems a little rushed...I'm running out of time here at the internet cafe.
Love and miss you all.
On Monday, all of India was on a bus strike. Thus, we were unable to get to the 2 different sites our team goes to during the week to help at the preschools. Instead, we took the day and worshiped *Dad--through song, journaling, prayer, and reading. I started reading Revelation, which I hadn't read in a few years. It's really good. You should all read it sometime.
"They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."
Revelation 17:14
So Monday was a good day.
Working at the preschool this week was really good. The kids remembered us and were really excited to see everyone again. Like I said before, I absolutely love those kids with all of my heart and would do anything for them. There is one boy in KG1 (I teach in KG 2), we will call him Steve, and he is a little mischievous. He likes to "make musty." Anyway, I have had to discipline him before, because I saw him hit another kid "right in the schnauz!" Even though I do not see him in class, I love him so much. I just want so much for him in life. And I want him to know love and share it.
In the afternoons after preschool, we go out into the slums and do community outreach. It's really fun. On Tuesday afternoon, a teammate Jess and I went out to the slums together. We met a woman and her daughter (who is 19). Let's call the mom Peace and the daughter Kitty. We were only able to talk with them for about 10 minutes until they had to leave. They both speak English very well, so we were able to find out some things about them. Before we left, we asked if there was anything we could pray for them about and that we pray only to Jesus. Immediately, Peace took us to their neighbor's house, and we prayed healing over a woman who had a limp left arm and left leg.
On Wednesday, Jess and I went back to the same place, hoping that we'd be able to speak with Peace and Kitty again. They were not home, but the kids from their neighbor's house told their moms that we were there. The woman we prayed for came out and invited us into her home. We don't know Hindi, and they don't know English, so there was no conversation really. Except I said "pratna laykeen Yeshu?" (which is something along the lines of "pray only to Jesus?") and they said yes. They ended up making chai for us, and it was the best chai I'd ever had. After chai, we were going to pray for the woman, her 3 daughters, and 5 grand children. Then Kitty came in. She was able to translate for us, so we found out more about the family. Two of the woman's daughters are mute. So we prayed healing over her, her 2 mue daughters, and they rest of the family. We then left, and as we walked out, I asked Kitty if she believed in Jesus only as well. She said no but that she believes in the Hindu gods. We weren't able to continue that conversation with her because we had to leave, but we told her we would come back the next day.
Thursday afternoon, we went back to see Kitty and Peace. They were both home and welcomed us inside. Though we hadn't had much previous conversation, they absolutely loved us. They told all of their friends about their new American friends. We took some pictures with them, and then Peace made us coffee and some really good dough with onions and spinach. Best. Snack. Ever. We kept saying thank you and how delicious everything was, and Peace said "Do not say thank you. I am like your mom and you are like my daughters." It was so great to be accepted and welcomed like that. While we were there, we found out more about their family and were able to bond with them more. They are amazing people.
We are planning on going back next week to share stories with them about *Dad and His Son.
Prayer for Peace and Kitty would be great. Also, please pray for continued focus on *Dad as we wrap up our last 2 weeks of work.
Sorry if this seems a little rushed...I'm running out of time here at the internet cafe.
Love and miss you all.
Friday, July 2, 2010
the north pole
On Thursday, two of my teammates and I worked at a preschool. We were waiting for the bus to go into town when a woman came up to us, we'll call her Mrs. Clause. She didn't speak much English, and we don't speak much Hindi. A man at the bus stop translated for us and told us that she wanted us to go to her house with her. On the way, she stopped at a store and bought 3 sodas for us. As we continued walking, she asked if we p-ed to *J. We said yes and asked if she did. She replied that she p-s to *J and not Mary. In India, many people who follow *J also follow and p to the other saints. We were all excited that she follows *J and only *J.
The walk to Mrs. Clause's house was fun. I enjoyed waving at all of the kids as we made our way through the slum. Anyway, as we got to her house, she apologized that it was so small. None of us cared about the size, and we told her that. We were just so grateful that she wanted us to come inside and speak with us. So that is what we did. We drank our sodas (lime soda is awesome, by the way) and exhausted all of the Hindi we knew. Something really cool is that the previous day we asked the women in the RR stitching program a lot of Hindi words and phrases, and we used all of them on Thursday. It's amazing how *Dad works. We talked about family a lot. Her husband used to hurt her and did not provide food or clothes for their kids. We were so happy that she is out of that situation and doesn't have to deal with him anymore.
A little while later, she took us to the beach, which is about 10 steps from her house. The view was absolutely gorgeous. The coast of India is very pretty, minus the trash that lines the shore. We only spent a few minutes looking at the water and nearby island until we headed back. This time, a group of people followed us. We went inside to p for Mrs. Clause, and afterward we found ourselves with 7 other kids inside the one room house and saw more crowded around the doorway to hear us. One of the girls, Roxy, was 17 and was able to translate some things that Mrs. Clause was trying to say to us. A teammate suggest we tell stories (Indians love to hear stories), and Roxy said she could translate for us. They were all very excited to hear what we had to say. Each of us told a *B story and part of our story. They clapped after each of us spoke. Then both Mrs. Clause and Roxy shared their stories with us. It was really awesome to have them open up to us.
After some time, we decided to head back. Mrs. Clause, Roxy, and about 6 kids walked us back to the bus stop. Pretty much the whole way back a little girl named Chyenne held my hand. She was precious. Every time I looked at her, she smiled up at me. It was just such an awesome day to be received, respected, and loved by these people. *Dad definitely blessed all of us in that experience.
As for the rest of this week, I worked in a preschool in the morning twice and with the women in the afternoon 3 times. I really enjoyed getting to know some of the women better. And a few of their daughters did mehendi (henna) for us on Friday. All in all, this week has been great. India is awesome, and I love it a lot.
Please continue p-ing for us all here. For me, to listen to *Dad better and distinguish his thoughts from my own.
Half way there. See you all soon.
The walk to Mrs. Clause's house was fun. I enjoyed waving at all of the kids as we made our way through the slum. Anyway, as we got to her house, she apologized that it was so small. None of us cared about the size, and we told her that. We were just so grateful that she wanted us to come inside and speak with us. So that is what we did. We drank our sodas (lime soda is awesome, by the way) and exhausted all of the Hindi we knew. Something really cool is that the previous day we asked the women in the RR stitching program a lot of Hindi words and phrases, and we used all of them on Thursday. It's amazing how *Dad works. We talked about family a lot. Her husband used to hurt her and did not provide food or clothes for their kids. We were so happy that she is out of that situation and doesn't have to deal with him anymore.
A little while later, she took us to the beach, which is about 10 steps from her house. The view was absolutely gorgeous. The coast of India is very pretty, minus the trash that lines the shore. We only spent a few minutes looking at the water and nearby island until we headed back. This time, a group of people followed us. We went inside to p for Mrs. Clause, and afterward we found ourselves with 7 other kids inside the one room house and saw more crowded around the doorway to hear us. One of the girls, Roxy, was 17 and was able to translate some things that Mrs. Clause was trying to say to us. A teammate suggest we tell stories (Indians love to hear stories), and Roxy said she could translate for us. They were all very excited to hear what we had to say. Each of us told a *B story and part of our story. They clapped after each of us spoke. Then both Mrs. Clause and Roxy shared their stories with us. It was really awesome to have them open up to us.
After some time, we decided to head back. Mrs. Clause, Roxy, and about 6 kids walked us back to the bus stop. Pretty much the whole way back a little girl named Chyenne held my hand. She was precious. Every time I looked at her, she smiled up at me. It was just such an awesome day to be received, respected, and loved by these people. *Dad definitely blessed all of us in that experience.
As for the rest of this week, I worked in a preschool in the morning twice and with the women in the afternoon 3 times. I really enjoyed getting to know some of the women better. And a few of their daughters did mehendi (henna) for us on Friday. All in all, this week has been great. India is awesome, and I love it a lot.
Please continue p-ing for us all here. For me, to listen to *Dad better and distinguish his thoughts from my own.
Half way there. See you all soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
