Just a quick thank you to each of you who either sent me an e-mail, card, package, or (attempted to) phone on my birthday. Your kindness meant the world to me... I had such fun celebrating "with" you and felt quite loved and cared for. Thanks for making my international birthday a very homey, friend and family filled one too! You all were so creative and intentional, I just want to say THANK YOU!
And for everyone who asked... I celebrated my birthday laying on a sandy white, palm tree filled beach and swimming in a clear turquoise ocean cove on the island of Ko Samet in Thailand... sipping coconut milk and eating fresh pinapple.
It was a perfect day in paradise.
That is, for the 4 hours we were on that sweet beach.
The rest of the hours of my birthday were spent in buses, tuk-tuks, trains, and a taxi; they were spent getting lost, missing "the last bus home", and realizing that driving can get crazier than India; they were also spent realizing coconut juice is sort of gross, I sunburn in about 10 minutes flat in the Thailand sun, and that you need more than one bottle of water to conteract the dehydration that comes from the 95+ and humid Thailand weather.
In otherwords, it was a very adventure filled day! At one point (while riding on a ferry), I realized Amanda and I hadn't spoken a word to eachother for half an hour and so I asked her what she was thinking... and discovered we had been doing the same thing: at any given point we were determining which way we would swim when the boat sank. The Lord cared for us and it didn't sink, but we had a game plan if it did!
I had a great birthday... a little bit of paradise... a lot of adventure... and I shared it all with a wonderful, amazing friend who was able to laugh at it with me. It's great to be 25! Since I survived day one, I think the rest of this year will be a piece of cake!
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Making up for lost time...
My lovely and loved pals...
I am writing this post from a Starbucks in Bangkok. Yup, I said a Starbucks. And I also said Bangkok. As in Bangkok, Thailand.
I've been in Bangkok since Sunday the 25th of March and will be leaving tomorrow, March 31st to head back to Delhi. I had to leave the country (India) in order to renew/validate my visa and, as a result, came here for a week's vacation. My dearest friend Amanda graciously agreed to join me and we've had a week of Bangkok adventure. I honestly don't think I can travel in foreign countries without meeting some kind of adventure. Especially with buses... But our adventures will be the topic of another post.
One of my hopes was that during this week I'd be able to fill you in on some of the happenings in India that I'm not normally able to write about. Unfortunately, internet (like in India) was quite a challenge here, and this has been my first opportunity to post. I'll try to make the best of it without writing a novel!
In India it is illegal to share your faith for the purpose of converting. For that reason Aunty has asked me to be cautious about the things I write in e-mails and on this blog. That means that many times I've said things like "I'm meeting Aunty's friends", which really meant that I was speaking at a women's retreat! And I've had to avoid sharing the hard but wonderfully encouraging testimonies of the believers here. This has been hard for me because I feel that I've had a block in communicating what is actually going on... and I want you to know! But now that I'm posting from Bangkok, Aunty said it would be OK to share some of that stuff. Unfortunately it would take more time than I have (and more blog space than possible) to catch you up, so I thought I'd share some of the more recent exciting things.
First, about two weeks ago I went with Brejan, Solomon, and Solomon's wife Lovely on a 24 hour train trip to Jabalpur, a city in the dead center of India known most for it's beautiful marble works. Our purpose in going was to visit a school for mentally and physically handicapped children. The school is run by two beautiful women, one who has served at the school for over 47 years and the other, my age, who, after serving the children as a teacher’s aide, felt the call to teach and serve full time at the school. The school has about 52 children, all of whom were dear, sweet little things. There are both boys and girls, ranging in age from 4 to 18. They are t different intellectual levels also, with some in classes to train them on basic life skills and trade skills, and others in classes specialized to help them eventually matriculate into (and succeed in) normal school. This school is connected with WINN because WINN sponsors a small sewing center within the school that trains some of the older girls and some village women the sewing skills they need to earn a living. We spent three days of concentrated time at the school, mainly playing with the kids. I taught them Simon Says (and made a valiant attempt to do it in Hindi!), which was a huge hit! I also ran a story time with them, sharing one of my favorite books, Three Trees by Luccado. I wanted to encourage them that God, in His sovereignty, has a faithful and loving plan to use each of them. I had a hard time sharing without being teary, but it was worth it to present the gospel and encouragement to such eager, receptive children. The experience reminded me so much of my time in Romania and I was reminded, for the hundredth time since I’ve been here, how much joy I take in caring for and loving these orphaned kids. We’ll see what God is telling me through this… I should add that most of these kids in the school aren’t orphaned, but are, as one of the teacher’s said, emotionally orphaned. Society is not very accepting of children with disabilities, especially mental disabilities, and most of the children hate going home as they face abuse and rejection from their families. This had lead to many behavioral and emotional difficulties for the children and the teachers at the school are faced with the difficult task of caring for them through the deep hurts that they have experienced. I spent some time with the teachers, praying for them and asking them how I (and all of you) could partner with them. They specifically requested pray for wisdom, patience, and endurance. They are weary and often un-encouraged by those around them. They also don’t often see great progress, but instead slow, painful progress in the children. Pray that they will trust in God’s work in these kid’s hearts and minds. Pray also for the kids, for their protection, growth, and, most of all, their salvation.
I’m just realizing this is getting ridiculously long and I haven’t even shared the half of Jabalpur… but let me move on.
Less than 12 hours after I got home from Jabalpur I joined up with my church (DBF) youth group and boarded a small bus bound for Rajasthan -- the land of tattooed camels, gorgeous sunsets over desert-like brush, colorful half-saris and pointy shoes. Where in Rajasthan is beyond me as I never quite understood where we were, but suffice to say it was in the middle of no where!
It was fun to be participating in a youth group missions trip… I was reminded of my time just last summer to Mexico with the Grace youth group. On the 5 hour drive there we sang Hindi chorus, played “Would You Rather”, talked theology, and snacked on cookies. Pretty standard missions trip drive fare. Our purpose was to join up with some DBF supported missionaries and see their work with the villagers. As we were only going to be there one full day it was quite a whirlwind trip. Once we met up with the missionaries at their base, we heard from them about their work. The thing that stood out to all of us was their patience and endurance. They had begun working in the area in 1989, but hadn’t seen fruit until the year 2000. That is a long time of caring for and witnessing to the village people. That is also a long time of enduring persecution (beatings, being reviled, and some poverty) for the sake of the gospel. The missionaries shared that there were many times they felt like giving up since the staunch Hindu communities seemed impenetrable. But then God changed the heart of one woman…a woman who ended up bringing her whole family to Christ. One of the most important things to her was seeing the persistent testimony and the evidence (over time) of God’s work in the missionary’s lives. Wow!
We got a chance to visit this woman and her family, but first we had to get to her village. It required a 1 hour drive that seemed suspiciously like the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland (except instead of that big ball coming towards you it was a big truck… and instead of dropping down a secret passage way, like in the ride, we dropped down into a ditch). When the bus could go no further we walked about 45 minutes to a wheat field. There we met with a family of believers and a few of their neighbors to share the gospel. That family is the only Christian family in their village but is enthusiastically committed to coming alongside the missionaries and spreading the gospel. It was neat to see their enthusiasm. That night we visiting another family and had a similar experience – hearing their testimonies, worshiping together with Hindi chorus’, and encouraging them to press on.
But it was the next day that was the absolute highlight for me… and the thing I need to share while not writing from India. We took a two and a half hour bus ride into the real middle of know-where, to a village on the Rajastan/Haryana border. The village itself was fairly developed, with lots of clay brick buildings, farming, etc, but they don’t have much contact with the “outside” world. The missionaries had been going to the village and building relationships for some time – about 6 months – and were going to use our visit to host their first true meeting. About 70 villagers showed up… and those were just the ones in our meeting area. About 60 others were sitting in windows and on top of the roofs of surrounding buildings, staying there the entire 3 hours! On one side of our meeting area (which was just a wide, flat patch of dirt under a large tree in the center of town) sat all the men; on the other side were the women and children, dressed in their decorative, fringe covered sari’s. They – as well as I – were fully covered, including their faces, especially in front of the men. Here comes my favorite part…
One of the youth group girls, my friend Artini, became a Christian out of a Hindu family. They had asked if she would share her testimony with this Hindu community. She got up and clearly, beautifully, and sweetly shared how Jesus had saved her. It was the first time she has ever, as a Hindu convert, shared her testimony with Hindu people. Though she was so nervous she was almost terrified that quickly changed to joy and excitement and an eagerness to share again. I think she will be sharing again, and again, and again, after this experience. What joy it was for me to see this dear believer be so bold! And it gets even better. After Arthini shared Pastor Arvind followed up with a clear, solid presentation of the gospel and call to faith in Jesus Christ. This was the first time (that they know of) that the gospel had been preached in that village. Did you read that? It was the first time that Jesus Christ has been declared and salvation offered to that village. After the message we all spent time talking with the men and women who had many questions. None became believers, but what a privilege to be part of the gospel going forth. It was beautiful, an absolutely beautiful work of the Holy Spirit.
Praise the Lord! Bless His Holy Name!
I often get discouraged about the state of the church here in India, and about the overwhelming number of people who continue to worship idols and reject Jesus. But my time in Jabalpur encouraged and reminded me that believers are taking seriously the call to care for the poor and needy through patient, enduring love; my time in Rajastan encouraged and reminded me that the gospel is going forth in India and that the Holy Spirit is providing opportunities, boldness, and heart change. Both times convicted me that what is required (and what a joyful requirement!) of me is that faithful, persistent, bold declaring, humble serving attitude that is given to us in the example of Christ (Philippians 2)…
I hope this has encouraged you. I love you all… you are so dear to me and play a huge role in encouraging my heart to press on in this strange land.
Duffy.
I am writing this post from a Starbucks in Bangkok. Yup, I said a Starbucks. And I also said Bangkok. As in Bangkok, Thailand.
I've been in Bangkok since Sunday the 25th of March and will be leaving tomorrow, March 31st to head back to Delhi. I had to leave the country (India) in order to renew/validate my visa and, as a result, came here for a week's vacation. My dearest friend Amanda graciously agreed to join me and we've had a week of Bangkok adventure. I honestly don't think I can travel in foreign countries without meeting some kind of adventure. Especially with buses... But our adventures will be the topic of another post.
One of my hopes was that during this week I'd be able to fill you in on some of the happenings in India that I'm not normally able to write about. Unfortunately, internet (like in India) was quite a challenge here, and this has been my first opportunity to post. I'll try to make the best of it without writing a novel!
In India it is illegal to share your faith for the purpose of converting. For that reason Aunty has asked me to be cautious about the things I write in e-mails and on this blog. That means that many times I've said things like "I'm meeting Aunty's friends", which really meant that I was speaking at a women's retreat! And I've had to avoid sharing the hard but wonderfully encouraging testimonies of the believers here. This has been hard for me because I feel that I've had a block in communicating what is actually going on... and I want you to know! But now that I'm posting from Bangkok, Aunty said it would be OK to share some of that stuff. Unfortunately it would take more time than I have (and more blog space than possible) to catch you up, so I thought I'd share some of the more recent exciting things.
First, about two weeks ago I went with Brejan, Solomon, and Solomon's wife Lovely on a 24 hour train trip to Jabalpur, a city in the dead center of India known most for it's beautiful marble works. Our purpose in going was to visit a school for mentally and physically handicapped children. The school is run by two beautiful women, one who has served at the school for over 47 years and the other, my age, who, after serving the children as a teacher’s aide, felt the call to teach and serve full time at the school. The school has about 52 children, all of whom were dear, sweet little things. There are both boys and girls, ranging in age from 4 to 18. They are t different intellectual levels also, with some in classes to train them on basic life skills and trade skills, and others in classes specialized to help them eventually matriculate into (and succeed in) normal school. This school is connected with WINN because WINN sponsors a small sewing center within the school that trains some of the older girls and some village women the sewing skills they need to earn a living. We spent three days of concentrated time at the school, mainly playing with the kids. I taught them Simon Says (and made a valiant attempt to do it in Hindi!), which was a huge hit! I also ran a story time with them, sharing one of my favorite books, Three Trees by Luccado. I wanted to encourage them that God, in His sovereignty, has a faithful and loving plan to use each of them. I had a hard time sharing without being teary, but it was worth it to present the gospel and encouragement to such eager, receptive children. The experience reminded me so much of my time in Romania and I was reminded, for the hundredth time since I’ve been here, how much joy I take in caring for and loving these orphaned kids. We’ll see what God is telling me through this… I should add that most of these kids in the school aren’t orphaned, but are, as one of the teacher’s said, emotionally orphaned. Society is not very accepting of children with disabilities, especially mental disabilities, and most of the children hate going home as they face abuse and rejection from their families. This had lead to many behavioral and emotional difficulties for the children and the teachers at the school are faced with the difficult task of caring for them through the deep hurts that they have experienced. I spent some time with the teachers, praying for them and asking them how I (and all of you) could partner with them. They specifically requested pray for wisdom, patience, and endurance. They are weary and often un-encouraged by those around them. They also don’t often see great progress, but instead slow, painful progress in the children. Pray that they will trust in God’s work in these kid’s hearts and minds. Pray also for the kids, for their protection, growth, and, most of all, their salvation.
I’m just realizing this is getting ridiculously long and I haven’t even shared the half of Jabalpur… but let me move on.
Less than 12 hours after I got home from Jabalpur I joined up with my church (DBF) youth group and boarded a small bus bound for Rajasthan -- the land of tattooed camels, gorgeous sunsets over desert-like brush, colorful half-saris and pointy shoes. Where in Rajasthan is beyond me as I never quite understood where we were, but suffice to say it was in the middle of no where!
It was fun to be participating in a youth group missions trip… I was reminded of my time just last summer to Mexico with the Grace youth group. On the 5 hour drive there we sang Hindi chorus, played “Would You Rather”, talked theology, and snacked on cookies. Pretty standard missions trip drive fare. Our purpose was to join up with some DBF supported missionaries and see their work with the villagers. As we were only going to be there one full day it was quite a whirlwind trip. Once we met up with the missionaries at their base, we heard from them about their work. The thing that stood out to all of us was their patience and endurance. They had begun working in the area in 1989, but hadn’t seen fruit until the year 2000. That is a long time of caring for and witnessing to the village people. That is also a long time of enduring persecution (beatings, being reviled, and some poverty) for the sake of the gospel. The missionaries shared that there were many times they felt like giving up since the staunch Hindu communities seemed impenetrable. But then God changed the heart of one woman…a woman who ended up bringing her whole family to Christ. One of the most important things to her was seeing the persistent testimony and the evidence (over time) of God’s work in the missionary’s lives. Wow!
We got a chance to visit this woman and her family, but first we had to get to her village. It required a 1 hour drive that seemed suspiciously like the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland (except instead of that big ball coming towards you it was a big truck… and instead of dropping down a secret passage way, like in the ride, we dropped down into a ditch). When the bus could go no further we walked about 45 minutes to a wheat field. There we met with a family of believers and a few of their neighbors to share the gospel. That family is the only Christian family in their village but is enthusiastically committed to coming alongside the missionaries and spreading the gospel. It was neat to see their enthusiasm. That night we visiting another family and had a similar experience – hearing their testimonies, worshiping together with Hindi chorus’, and encouraging them to press on.
But it was the next day that was the absolute highlight for me… and the thing I need to share while not writing from India. We took a two and a half hour bus ride into the real middle of know-where, to a village on the Rajastan/Haryana border. The village itself was fairly developed, with lots of clay brick buildings, farming, etc, but they don’t have much contact with the “outside” world. The missionaries had been going to the village and building relationships for some time – about 6 months – and were going to use our visit to host their first true meeting. About 70 villagers showed up… and those were just the ones in our meeting area. About 60 others were sitting in windows and on top of the roofs of surrounding buildings, staying there the entire 3 hours! On one side of our meeting area (which was just a wide, flat patch of dirt under a large tree in the center of town) sat all the men; on the other side were the women and children, dressed in their decorative, fringe covered sari’s. They – as well as I – were fully covered, including their faces, especially in front of the men. Here comes my favorite part…
One of the youth group girls, my friend Artini, became a Christian out of a Hindu family. They had asked if she would share her testimony with this Hindu community. She got up and clearly, beautifully, and sweetly shared how Jesus had saved her. It was the first time she has ever, as a Hindu convert, shared her testimony with Hindu people. Though she was so nervous she was almost terrified that quickly changed to joy and excitement and an eagerness to share again. I think she will be sharing again, and again, and again, after this experience. What joy it was for me to see this dear believer be so bold! And it gets even better. After Arthini shared Pastor Arvind followed up with a clear, solid presentation of the gospel and call to faith in Jesus Christ. This was the first time (that they know of) that the gospel had been preached in that village. Did you read that? It was the first time that Jesus Christ has been declared and salvation offered to that village. After the message we all spent time talking with the men and women who had many questions. None became believers, but what a privilege to be part of the gospel going forth. It was beautiful, an absolutely beautiful work of the Holy Spirit.
Praise the Lord! Bless His Holy Name!
I often get discouraged about the state of the church here in India, and about the overwhelming number of people who continue to worship idols and reject Jesus. But my time in Jabalpur encouraged and reminded me that believers are taking seriously the call to care for the poor and needy through patient, enduring love; my time in Rajastan encouraged and reminded me that the gospel is going forth in India and that the Holy Spirit is providing opportunities, boldness, and heart change. Both times convicted me that what is required (and what a joyful requirement!) of me is that faithful, persistent, bold declaring, humble serving attitude that is given to us in the example of Christ (Philippians 2)…
I hope this has encouraged you. I love you all… you are so dear to me and play a huge role in encouraging my heart to press on in this strange land.
Duffy.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
World Cup 2007
I'm living in India. And in case I'd forgotten that, the Cricket World Cup Craze is here to remind me.
In America (as I'm sure you'll all agree) a World Cup (of any variety) doesn't stir our hearts, rouse national fervor, or occupy the time, energy, and money of the upper echelons of government.
But here...well, let me put it this way: We recently had a bomb scare in our little market and, contrary to the police's efforts to clear the area, a crowd of curious onlookers swarmed on in (I didn't quite understand the attraction). Suggestion: next time they want people to vacate the premises they should broadcast a cricket match… because tonight I went to the market and there was not a soul in sight. I'm not kidding. Not a rickshaw driver to hail, not an ice cream cart man loitering about, not a single person honking by on their scooter (no honking? That’s a miracle!). Tonight is the match between India and Sri Lanka, a crucial match for India’s continued World Cup hopes.
I like cricket. I really do. I'll admit that I used to think it was a sissy sport, and my time in Oxford didn't help that impression. I think it was the white uniforms that turned me off. White? Playing a sport? You've got to be kidding me. And matches that spanned days at a time? That sort of takes the adrenalin rush out of it for me. Pick up the pace guys! End it!
But Sibu loves cricket. And Brejan loves cricket. And Aunty Molly loves cricket. And Uncle Sonny loves (and plays) cricket. And just about every Indian I've met (except Aunty Sheila) loves cricket. While in Rome, do as the Romans do? Yup, in the absence of a good ol’ Dodger game with the fam or a tumultuous Laker season to break my heart, I decided adopting a love for the unofficial national sport of India would be an excellent idea. One or two batting lessons from Uncle, a church picnic pickup game, and some afternoons with Sibu later, I felt pretty confident about my general mastery of (and growing love for) the game of cricket.
Pretty simple: Someone – looking like a wild windmill – throws the ball and another someone wields the thick bat in a swing that keeps me guessing between baseball, tennis, and hockey. Then the batting someone runs back and forth between the lines (unfortunately reminding me of a really awful drill from high school volleyball team days).
Right.
When I watched my first televised cricket game and heard terms like wicket, partnership, maiden, and golden duck thrown around, I knew I was in serious trouble. So in preparation for the World Cup I went HERE and got an education. Interesting, tricky sport this cricket, and catching that nice little ball barehanded or bowling at the speed they do definitely helps pull them out of the sissy category. Add to that the fact that I watched a few amazing, intense games with the excitable fan Sibu and the fact that I finally got a handle on how to properly hold the bat and get a good hit… I was hooked.
Good thing too because on this side of the world (I use that term loosely) they take their sport pretty seriously. Any sport whose most famous competition centers around two teams vying for “a small urn containing ‘the ashes of English cricket’ (in reality the ashes of a set of bails), which ``died'' in a match in 1882 when Australia beat England for the first time” is on the slightly intense (or perhaps fanatical) side. Should you doubt that present day cricket players, fans, and countries are this “die-hard” about their sport, look at the coverage of the World Cup HERE. or HERE. Typical sports coverage fare you say? Well, besides the ads urging the Indian population to pray to the gods for Indian victory (and most of them are) check out the fact that, after Pakistan shockingly lost their bid in the first round (they were ranked #3 in the world and heavily favored to win), their coach was murdered.
Oops?
I think someone forgot this was just a game. Or someone didn’t tell them the rules.
Given that, no further comments. I think I’ll stick to park cricket with the family and root for Indian team victory from the comfort of my own home and with the relatively sane company of Brejan and Sibu.
I thought you would enjoy this slice of life from my side… the cricket craze is just part of living here. Go India!
* * * * *
Update:
There is great mourning and a spirit of dejectedness in India today. Last night India played poorly against Sri Lanka and lost...they are out of the World Cup. (There is some small, say 1%, chance that they might pass through to the next round but that depends on the performance of other teams.)
The Indian team is advised not to return home anytime soon – apparently eggs are waiting for them, among other things.
Anger management, anyone?
Just kidding. I should clarify that only a small group, i.e., very few, are actually crazy (in the insane fashion) about cricket; the rest of the country has a very healthy, normal love for the game that only occupies their every thought, most conversations (at one time or another), all TV ads, and just about every spare moment.
So, while India is out (sob sob) there is still good cricket left to watch. Pass the cracker jac... er... tea and crumpets...
In America (as I'm sure you'll all agree) a World Cup (of any variety) doesn't stir our hearts, rouse national fervor, or occupy the time, energy, and money of the upper echelons of government.
But here...well, let me put it this way: We recently had a bomb scare in our little market and, contrary to the police's efforts to clear the area, a crowd of curious onlookers swarmed on in (I didn't quite understand the attraction). Suggestion: next time they want people to vacate the premises they should broadcast a cricket match… because tonight I went to the market and there was not a soul in sight. I'm not kidding. Not a rickshaw driver to hail, not an ice cream cart man loitering about, not a single person honking by on their scooter (no honking? That’s a miracle!). Tonight is the match between India and Sri Lanka, a crucial match for India’s continued World Cup hopes.
I like cricket. I really do. I'll admit that I used to think it was a sissy sport, and my time in Oxford didn't help that impression. I think it was the white uniforms that turned me off. White? Playing a sport? You've got to be kidding me. And matches that spanned days at a time? That sort of takes the adrenalin rush out of it for me. Pick up the pace guys! End it!
But Sibu loves cricket. And Brejan loves cricket. And Aunty Molly loves cricket. And Uncle Sonny loves (and plays) cricket. And just about every Indian I've met (except Aunty Sheila) loves cricket. While in Rome, do as the Romans do? Yup, in the absence of a good ol’ Dodger game with the fam or a tumultuous Laker season to break my heart, I decided adopting a love for the unofficial national sport of India would be an excellent idea. One or two batting lessons from Uncle, a church picnic pickup game, and some afternoons with Sibu later, I felt pretty confident about my general mastery of (and growing love for) the game of cricket.
Pretty simple: Someone – looking like a wild windmill – throws the ball and another someone wields the thick bat in a swing that keeps me guessing between baseball, tennis, and hockey. Then the batting someone runs back and forth between the lines (unfortunately reminding me of a really awful drill from high school volleyball team days).
Right.
When I watched my first televised cricket game and heard terms like wicket, partnership, maiden, and golden duck thrown around, I knew I was in serious trouble. So in preparation for the World Cup I went HERE and got an education. Interesting, tricky sport this cricket, and catching that nice little ball barehanded or bowling at the speed they do definitely helps pull them out of the sissy category. Add to that the fact that I watched a few amazing, intense games with the excitable fan Sibu and the fact that I finally got a handle on how to properly hold the bat and get a good hit… I was hooked.
Good thing too because on this side of the world (I use that term loosely) they take their sport pretty seriously. Any sport whose most famous competition centers around two teams vying for “a small urn containing ‘the ashes of English cricket’ (in reality the ashes of a set of bails), which ``died'' in a match in 1882 when Australia beat England for the first time” is on the slightly intense (or perhaps fanatical) side. Should you doubt that present day cricket players, fans, and countries are this “die-hard” about their sport, look at the coverage of the World Cup HERE. or HERE. Typical sports coverage fare you say? Well, besides the ads urging the Indian population to pray to the gods for Indian victory (and most of them are) check out the fact that, after Pakistan shockingly lost their bid in the first round (they were ranked #3 in the world and heavily favored to win), their coach was murdered.
Oops?
I think someone forgot this was just a game. Or someone didn’t tell them the rules.
Given that, no further comments. I think I’ll stick to park cricket with the family and root for Indian team victory from the comfort of my own home and with the relatively sane company of Brejan and Sibu.
I thought you would enjoy this slice of life from my side… the cricket craze is just part of living here. Go India!
* * * * *
Update:
There is great mourning and a spirit of dejectedness in India today. Last night India played poorly against Sri Lanka and lost...they are out of the World Cup. (There is some small, say 1%, chance that they might pass through to the next round but that depends on the performance of other teams.)
The Indian team is advised not to return home anytime soon – apparently eggs are waiting for them, among other things.
Anger management, anyone?
Just kidding. I should clarify that only a small group, i.e., very few, are actually crazy (in the insane fashion) about cricket; the rest of the country has a very healthy, normal love for the game that only occupies their every thought, most conversations (at one time or another), all TV ads, and just about every spare moment.
So, while India is out (sob sob) there is still good cricket left to watch. Pass the cracker jac... er... tea and crumpets...
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
On My Mind
PSALM 96
1 Oh sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth!
2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts!
9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;*
tremble before him, all the earth!
10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.”
11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12 let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13 before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness.
1 Oh sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth!
2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts!
9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;*
tremble before him, all the earth!
10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.”
11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12 let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13 before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Daily Life
I realized yesterday as I was preparing another post for this blog that it has been some time since I’ve updated you on what my day to day work looks like. At the beginning of my time I was involved in Bible Studies, conferences, and workshops, but since January I’ve been focused more on working here at home or in the nearby office. I’ve been busy with three main things.
First, I had the chance to become more involved in office work. For three weeks in February I spent every morning with the WINN office staff, particularly Brejan, covering topics such as workplace communication, e-mail etiquette, filing and general organizational tips, weekly planning, and excel training. It was a blessing to be able to tangibly help in the office and an even greater blessing to see how the things I’d learned during my time at ECCU were being put into practice. It was a challenge to try to first understand what Brejan (and the office’s) needs were, what was culturally different and what their requirements were, and then finally adapt and express my ideas in a helpful way. We’ve ended the day-to-day class in favor of a twice a month staff seminar. I’ll have my first one next week and will be focusing on how to organize, prioritize, and complete projects.
Second, I’ve had the unexpected blessing of becoming a teacher – a fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants teacher, but a teacher none-the-less. One day two weeks ago Aunty brought home a little girl named Poonam. Poonam is 7 years old and the daughter of the maid who cleans our office. Poonam, like many girls in her social class, is not being educated. The main reason is that because she works odd jobs with her mother she brings the family some much needed extra income; the second reason is that she’s a girl -- the little money the family has for education is going to their sons. But when Aunty offered me as a teacher for Poonam, the mother jumped at the chance! (Yay!)
The challenge in this has been that besides “Goodmorning, ma’am”, she speaks only Hindi and I, obviously, speak only English. My Hindi has been rapidly improving, though, as every night before class I ask Sibu to help me with phrases I’ll need for my lesson the next day. Poonam and I have been working on making an Alphabet book, learning colors (in both Hindi and English), shapes, basic English conversation and vocabulary, addition, telling time, and patterns. Poonam’s favorite “subject” is coloring, though to be more specific I think her favorite thing is cutting to little bits the papers she’s colored.
If any of you amazing teachers have tips on how to teach English or on how to teach the basics in such a way that reading comes more easily and naturally later on, please let me know!
The third thing I’m currently working on is gathering the material for Aunty’s book. At this point that means spending afternoons with Aunty jotting down the stories that come to her mind. I’ve also begun the process of taking testimonies that she’s gathered over the years and transferring them to the computer. The challenge of beginning this process has been that, at times, I’ve felt a bit overwhelmed with the amount of stories and information that needs to be sorted out and pieced together. At the same time it’s been a great blessing; I’ve grown in the depth of my love for Aunty as I’ve gotten to hear first hand her stories of God’s guidance and her obedience, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. I’ve been struck anew with the beauty of a life dedicated to following Christ, and the fact that such sacrifice is clearly worth it. I’ve also been blessed by the daily reminder of God’s sovereignty. I’m confronted with example after example in Aunty’s testimonies of God orchestrating events and working in people’s hearts to bring about His purposes and bringing glory to His name. I’m excited for the time when I’ll be able to share with you these “memorial stones” reminding us of God’s faithfulness.
Pray for me to continue to be obedient and faithful, even in the small things.
Karisa
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Pictures are HERE
Faridabad Groundbreaking!
I won’t keep you hanging. I didn’t actually eat that big chili in yesterday’s picture. Though I’ve gotten used to chilies while living here, I’m not crazy! At the time the picture was taken I was so amazed at the chili that I just had to record what I was convinced was a world record size… only to find out we had about 10 bigger ones in the fridge.
Now on to the really important things! On Saturday the 24th of February we had a groundbreaking ceremony at our Faridabad property. The ceremony was a momentous occasion because Faridabad is the next big step (and change) in Aunty’s ministry. Her vision is to have a house and meeting hall where she can spend her new found quiet time studying, resting, and reflecting, as well as hosting on-site training, seminars, and retreats for women, leaders, and churches. This will mean a complete pullout from the current, Gurgaon ministry.
We were having the ceremony at this particular time because the money for the project had recently arrived and the contractor had been chosen. Aunty wanted to dedicate the land by breaking the first ground with prayer. The important men of the village came, as well as the entire local WINN staff and a dear young couple from church, the Benjamin’s. Besides physically breaking ground (with a pick ax), praying for the property, and sharing the project vision with the village elders, I also had the opportunity to encourage the guests and challenge the staff using Aunty’s theme verse for the year, Isaiah 41:8-10 as well as Joshua 1:9 and 24:15.
It wasn’t until after the ceremony that the village women joined us (in their mostly Muslim society women typically do not come out in public when men are present). They represent what will be the other aspect of Aunty’s Faridabad project. They flock to Aunty each time she visits and there is huge potential for her to teach, provide health basics (Basic medical needs are unmet in this village of farmers and day laborers), and enrich their lives on many levels. The women are eager for advice and friendship, which means Aunty might not have as much quiet and rest as she hopes!
Since the ceremony the contractor has started digging the foundation to what will be Aunty’s home. We’ve had to visit daily to ensure the foundation is properly laid (I’m learning a lot about construction in India). The contractor “guarantees” that the entire project will be completed by late July or early August, right before I leave. As much as I long for the chance to move out there, albeit briefly, I’ll believe it when I see it – I think he’s being a little optimistic. Good thing God is in control!
Here are some specific ways you can pray for the Faridabad project:
…Pray for wisdom to oversee the building, especially during the initial, “babysitting” phase.
…Pray for our relationship with our neighbors in the local village, especially the women and children. Their language is slightly different than Hindi (Haryani or something like that), so that proves a challenge, as do other cultural differences. Also, having wisdom in how to answer their medical questions and how to befriend them at more than a “how are you” level are two things to be prayerful about.
…Pray also for a good watchman – we need to choose one by March 6.
…Pray for Aunty’s continued health issues (general weariness, heart stress) during this especially intense time.
More blogging to come soon. I’m making up for lost time, but trying to keep these short and sweet. (Ha!)
Karisa
Now on to the really important things! On Saturday the 24th of February we had a groundbreaking ceremony at our Faridabad property. The ceremony was a momentous occasion because Faridabad is the next big step (and change) in Aunty’s ministry. Her vision is to have a house and meeting hall where she can spend her new found quiet time studying, resting, and reflecting, as well as hosting on-site training, seminars, and retreats for women, leaders, and churches. This will mean a complete pullout from the current, Gurgaon ministry.
We were having the ceremony at this particular time because the money for the project had recently arrived and the contractor had been chosen. Aunty wanted to dedicate the land by breaking the first ground with prayer. The important men of the village came, as well as the entire local WINN staff and a dear young couple from church, the Benjamin’s. Besides physically breaking ground (with a pick ax), praying for the property, and sharing the project vision with the village elders, I also had the opportunity to encourage the guests and challenge the staff using Aunty’s theme verse for the year, Isaiah 41:8-10 as well as Joshua 1:9 and 24:15.
It wasn’t until after the ceremony that the village women joined us (in their mostly Muslim society women typically do not come out in public when men are present). They represent what will be the other aspect of Aunty’s Faridabad project. They flock to Aunty each time she visits and there is huge potential for her to teach, provide health basics (Basic medical needs are unmet in this village of farmers and day laborers), and enrich their lives on many levels. The women are eager for advice and friendship, which means Aunty might not have as much quiet and rest as she hopes!
Since the ceremony the contractor has started digging the foundation to what will be Aunty’s home. We’ve had to visit daily to ensure the foundation is properly laid (I’m learning a lot about construction in India). The contractor “guarantees” that the entire project will be completed by late July or early August, right before I leave. As much as I long for the chance to move out there, albeit briefly, I’ll believe it when I see it – I think he’s being a little optimistic. Good thing God is in control!
Here are some specific ways you can pray for the Faridabad project:
…Pray for wisdom to oversee the building, especially during the initial, “babysitting” phase.
…Pray for our relationship with our neighbors in the local village, especially the women and children. Their language is slightly different than Hindi (Haryani or something like that), so that proves a challenge, as do other cultural differences. Also, having wisdom in how to answer their medical questions and how to befriend them at more than a “how are you” level are two things to be prayerful about.
…Pray also for a good watchman – we need to choose one by March 6.
…Pray for Aunty’s continued health issues (general weariness, heart stress) during this especially intense time.
More blogging to come soon. I’m making up for lost time, but trying to keep these short and sweet. (Ha!)
Karisa
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Blocked Blog Back...
…say that 10x fast!
My blog’s been blocked but now is back. Perhaps it wasn’t blocked for you happy ones, but I haven’t been able to view blogger.com or other such web sites since around the time of my last post. Chalk it up to an adventure in India. Mike Burbidge experienced a similar “phenomenon” while here, so I guess it happens every once in a while.
But I’m back and better than ever. Just kidding; I’m still the same, and so is my blog. I’m working on updating the pictures and writing “informative and exciting” blog entries. I’ll post them tomorrow!
In other words, if you’d like to know what on earth I’m doing with a gargantuan chili that close to my poor little mouth, check back tomorrow.
Duffster
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
New and Improved
Hi Faithful Friends and Fam...
I've done it! I've finally updated my pictures site (cheer, cheer!). I'm excited about the new and improved format and the huge amount of pictures I've uploaded for you to see. I'm most excited for you to get a fresh peek at my life here in India. Check it out by clicking HERE , by going to http://web.mac.com/duffygirl, or by clicking on the link at the right of this page.
Don't worry, the next thing on my "To Do" List (yes, I still have "to do" lists... just much more malleable ones now) is to update this blog. I wouldn't recomend holding your breath, but I do hope to post by the end of this week.
I continue to be grateful for your prayers, your notes of encouragement, and your support.
Your Little Indian,
Duffy
I've done it! I've finally updated my pictures site (cheer, cheer!). I'm excited about the new and improved format and the huge amount of pictures I've uploaded for you to see. I'm most excited for you to get a fresh peek at my life here in India. Check it out by clicking HERE , by going to http://web.mac.com/duffygirl, or by clicking on the link at the right of this page.
Don't worry, the next thing on my "To Do" List (yes, I still have "to do" lists... just much more malleable ones now) is to update this blog. I wouldn't recomend holding your breath, but I do hope to post by the end of this week.
I continue to be grateful for your prayers, your notes of encouragement, and your support.
Your Little Indian,
Duffy
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Friends!
I am writing this post from my first "India Home", the YWCA in New Delhi. As usual, the weeks since Christmas has been extremely busy. I left on Christmas day for YFC Camp -- a gathering of over 1,200 Indian Christian young people in a southern beach town for a week of meetings, music, and fellowship. Being the only white person in a sea of 1,000+ people was an adventure (as was sleeping on floors, learning to eat entirely with my hands, trying to navigate the 100+ languages represented there, etc)...but it was a blessing for me to get to meet young women from all over India, to worship alongside them, to counsel them, and to be counseled by them. I had the privledge of being a group discussion leader and was able to dive into the lives of several girls, encouraging them, crying with them, and praying with them. (When I return home to Aunty Sheila's, I'll post pictures of some of my new friends.)I walked away from the conference encouraged by the dedication and enthusiasm of young Indian Christians. I also walked away with a stronger sense of the unity of the body of believers around the world; they are my brothers and sisters!
The day I returned home from Vizag and the YFC conference, Erik, Donna, and Anna arrived! I don't think I can fully communicate my joy at their coming! Perhaps it was just that I had been in the train for 36 hours, but when I got off and was coming home to meet up with them, I was downright giddy and goofy!
Erik, Donna, and Anna have been joined by the remainder of the team, Tim (Muelhof) and Jessy as of January 7th. They are here for the purpose of ministry, encouragement, and academic research. I will be tagging along during their three week stay, primarily to take advantage of the encouragement that comes from their visit, but also to help with the academic research. While they are here we will be updating their blog with details of the trip. I encourage you to check out the site, not only for updates on our life the next three weeks, but also because it contains posts from the original Grace trip to India two years ago... the trip that awakened my heart for India and that God used to draw me here. It's such a precious reminder to me to look back on God's faithful leading! The site is: www.xanga/indiateam
So, I'll let that site do the talking for me the next few weeks. Much love to you all, and I'll "see" you when I get back to Aunty Sheila's!
Oops, wait, one more blessing I MUST share. On my Monday morning, your Sunday night,Aunty, Erik, Donna, Anna, Uncle, and myself got to video conference via Skype with Grace's communion service. We essentially got to sit in and be a part of the service... seeing dear Grace people take communion, hearing Dr. Talley's exhortation, and then answering questions (as best we could through the feedback) and being prayed for. I'll freely admit that there was not a dry eye in our little room as the Grace family turned, faced us, lifted their hands and prayed for us. Beyond being amazed at the technology that allowed us to almost physically be part of the body, I was amazed, strengthened, and joyfully thankful for the support, care, and thoughtfulness of my dear church body. It reminded me of the fact that I've been sent here, that I'm being upheld in prayer, and that believers in California care deeply for the work of God in India. Thank you Grace church body for your intentionality in being part of God's work in India, in my life, and in Aunty's ministry. All those who stuck their faces in front of the camera after the service... we could see you and loved it! Eat more guavas... :)
The day I returned home from Vizag and the YFC conference, Erik, Donna, and Anna arrived! I don't think I can fully communicate my joy at their coming! Perhaps it was just that I had been in the train for 36 hours, but when I got off and was coming home to meet up with them, I was downright giddy and goofy!
Erik, Donna, and Anna have been joined by the remainder of the team, Tim (Muelhof) and Jessy as of January 7th. They are here for the purpose of ministry, encouragement, and academic research. I will be tagging along during their three week stay, primarily to take advantage of the encouragement that comes from their visit, but also to help with the academic research. While they are here we will be updating their blog with details of the trip. I encourage you to check out the site, not only for updates on our life the next three weeks, but also because it contains posts from the original Grace trip to India two years ago... the trip that awakened my heart for India and that God used to draw me here. It's such a precious reminder to me to look back on God's faithful leading! The site is: www.xanga/indiateam
So, I'll let that site do the talking for me the next few weeks. Much love to you all, and I'll "see" you when I get back to Aunty Sheila's!
Oops, wait, one more blessing I MUST share. On my Monday morning, your Sunday night,Aunty, Erik, Donna, Anna, Uncle, and myself got to video conference via Skype with Grace's communion service. We essentially got to sit in and be a part of the service... seeing dear Grace people take communion, hearing Dr. Talley's exhortation, and then answering questions (as best we could through the feedback) and being prayed for. I'll freely admit that there was not a dry eye in our little room as the Grace family turned, faced us, lifted their hands and prayed for us. Beyond being amazed at the technology that allowed us to almost physically be part of the body, I was amazed, strengthened, and joyfully thankful for the support, care, and thoughtfulness of my dear church body. It reminded me of the fact that I've been sent here, that I'm being upheld in prayer, and that believers in California care deeply for the work of God in India. Thank you Grace church body for your intentionality in being part of God's work in India, in my life, and in Aunty's ministry. All those who stuck their faces in front of the camera after the service... we could see you and loved it! Eat more guavas... :)
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas! (Or Merry Christmas Eve, depending on when you read this…)
In light of Christmas I’ve posted some new pictures, mainly of all the Christmas programs we’ve attended recently. (Click on the link on the right of the blog). You’ll be able to see pictures from our Noida ladies retreat that was conducted at the beginning of December. We had the opportunity to visit one of Aunty’s adopted daughters, Tannu, at her college, so there are pictures of her… and no, I’m not a giant, she’s just tiny! We also recently attended the grand opening of a Career Center in Delhi, so you will see pictures of the women and children I met there. Another program WINN hosted took place at the local Chrystalia – I’ve included pictures of their Christmas pageant and Philip distributing gifts. My favorite Christmas program thus far was the program for the slum children in my neighborhood. I’ve included tons of pictures of their sweet faces! I had the privilege of telling them the Christmas story, handing out presents, and playing games. The last round is from Aunty Janet’s Christmas program – she wrote and directed about 27 neighborhood children in a Christmas play put on for the entire block – about 100 people attended. It was marvelous! And I’ve included some of the family and church as well.
I hope that you are all enjoying a blessed Christmas celebration. I pray that the magnitude the of incarnation will hit you afresh, and that as a result you will magnify the Lord and experience renewed joy at your salvation. With love for you…! Duffy
Ephesians 1:1-14
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful* in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us* for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known* to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee* of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,* to the praise of his glory.
In light of Christmas I’ve posted some new pictures, mainly of all the Christmas programs we’ve attended recently. (Click on the link on the right of the blog). You’ll be able to see pictures from our Noida ladies retreat that was conducted at the beginning of December. We had the opportunity to visit one of Aunty’s adopted daughters, Tannu, at her college, so there are pictures of her… and no, I’m not a giant, she’s just tiny! We also recently attended the grand opening of a Career Center in Delhi, so you will see pictures of the women and children I met there. Another program WINN hosted took place at the local Chrystalia – I’ve included pictures of their Christmas pageant and Philip distributing gifts. My favorite Christmas program thus far was the program for the slum children in my neighborhood. I’ve included tons of pictures of their sweet faces! I had the privilege of telling them the Christmas story, handing out presents, and playing games. The last round is from Aunty Janet’s Christmas program – she wrote and directed about 27 neighborhood children in a Christmas play put on for the entire block – about 100 people attended. It was marvelous! And I’ve included some of the family and church as well.
I hope that you are all enjoying a blessed Christmas celebration. I pray that the magnitude the of incarnation will hit you afresh, and that as a result you will magnify the Lord and experience renewed joy at your salvation. With love for you…! Duffy
Ephesians 1:1-14
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful* in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us* for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known* to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee* of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,* to the praise of his glory.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Odds and Ends, Exciting Tid-Bits, and What's To Come...
Greetings from frigid Gurgaon, India! I apologize for taking so long to update you on life here; though we now have an internet connection at home, we’ve been very busy in the past few weeks combined with the fact that most times I determined to post something, the electricity had other ideas!
What a whirlwind of opportunities we’ve had in the past weeks! I’ve met and shared with Aunty’s various friends so often in the past three weeks. We’ve attended retreats, Bible Studies, youth groups, and programs in different parts of Delhi meeting with all types of people – from those in a drug rehabilitation center to a group of young call center workers. My favorite foray, however, was our week-long trip to Pune. Not only did I get exposure to a different side of India (geographically and culturally), but I also got to meet the last of the Massey sisters – Aunty Dolly. As there are 5 sisters total (and one brother – Uncle Sonny), I consider that quite a feat. As with all the other family, Aunty Dolly, her son (Arun) and daugher-in-law (Serena), and her grandchildren (Neha and Natasha), were lovely, warm, welcoming, and all together delightful.
So why was Pune my favorite? If you visited Pune you might accuse me of liking it only for the balmy weather. Or perhaps, if you experienced the feel of the city, you might be tempted to say that I obviously liked Pune for its safe, college-town atmosphere—Pune is considered to be an academic center in India; some of their most prestigious colleges, universities, and seminaries located there. Unlike Delhi, it’s quite safe to meander around – even for a girl. And if you visited Naturals (a delectable ice cream shop that uses fresh fruits to make their flavors) or one of the two Baskin Robbins locations (“hip hip hooray” for chocolate and fudge), you’d be convinced you’d identified my reason for liking Pune.
Although I appreciated all of those things (who wouldn’t?), what I liked – no, loved – about Pune was the fellowship of the believers and the ministry going on in the WINN Pune Counseling Center. The center ministers to all types of women – some of my favorite ministry moments at the center were praying earnestly with three women from the slums, feeding some street children at the center, worshiping and sharing with a group of counselors and ministers (each one works hard in different ministries, but they come together to encourage and learn from one another), and diving into the Word with a group of retired women, self-labeled the Naomi group. Serena, who runs the counseling center, was also a treat for me as she unconsciously modeled servant leadership by hospitably welcoming, wisely counseling, and graciously loving each woman who walked through the door. She and I had some sweet times of conversation and I was blessed and strengthened by her openness and care for me. I haven’t even mentioned another amazing part of the Pune time – the church! I had an opportunity to spend Sunday morning with the most robust youth fellowship group I’ve seen since I arrived. To make my day completely satisfying, I ended Sunday by participating in the church’s equivalent to Grace Groups… something they call cottage worship. We squeezed 40+ families, youth, retired people, etc into Arun and Serena’s living room for a time of energetic worship, small group prayer, a short message, and discussion, all followed by family dinner time. What an ALIVE body of believers. I get so disappointed with this medium of sharing with you all because I find I can’t adequately express feelings, lessons learned, etc, nor can I give you all the details of testimonies I heard, encouraging conversations, etc. I hope I’m at least conveying that what I ran across in Pune was a unique set of believers who love the Lord, each other, and their neighbor. Seeing their practiced faith and participating in ministering to them and with them made me so excited – God is doing great things; His Spirit is at work!
I’ve posted just a few pictures of my time in Pune (apologies for my lack of photography skills). I think you’ll enjoy the ones of just a few of the groups I met with. There are also pictures of a day-long adventure Serena, Neha, Natasha and I took to Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay. We saw such sites as the Gateway to India, the Hanging Gardens, Juhu beach, and we took a boat ride in the Arabian Ocean. But no, we didn’t go to Bollywood,; I’d say we paid our dues it by watching a Hindi movie titled Ramji Londonwale later that night.
It’s almost Christmas time and many people have asked me what it’s like here in India. It’s not celebrated as voraciously as it is in the US, but there are some evidences, everywhere. Divalli, a Hindu festival celebrated in October, is a much bigger celebration. My two favorite evidences of Christmas in India have been the special programs we’ve attended and the Christmas caroling. Only two nights ago we attended a Christmas program put on by the Bible Society of India. It combined the traditional Indian dance Bharatnatyam with Christian Christmas Carols to retell the story of the night of Jesus’ birth in a culturally appealing way. Caroling is another staple of celebrating the season. Beginning at around 10PM, groups of people go to various homes and sing a set of carols (I should say “exuberantly sing” – their enthusiasm is evident in the one picture I’ve included). Everyone then comes into the home for tea and food before moving on to the next house on the list – sometimes they don’t end until 6 AM. Yes, that means that they are descending on homes at 2 or 3 in the morning and waking up the occupants (and probably their neighbors)...but believe it or not, it’s sort of a fun, random, middle of the night event.
Up until Christmas I’ll continue on in much the same way as the last month – meeting lots of Aunty’s friends, working a bit in the office, helping settle the house (it’s amazing how long it takes to get details in place after a move), but after Christmas my life in India will shift gears again. On December 26 I will join my dear friend Lahki for a 2 day train ride down to the south of India. We are attending the country wide Youth For Christ conference, DIVE. When we get back on January 3rd, I’ll join Erik, Donna, Anna, and Jessy (a team from my church) for a 3 week stay at the YWCA. They’ll be here to encourage others and do some academic work and I get the opportunity to tag along and be encouraged by a visit from friends. It will be a busy but blessed next month or so!
You can be praying…
… for the Christmas programs we are hosting, as well as the various WINN ministries
… for my health, as I’ve caught a tenacious cold
… for safety as Lahki and I travel… and also that I will be intentional, loving, and encouraging to Lahki during my time with her
... pray for the dear women in Pune; pray particularly for the Dalits in their community (read more about the currently explosive situation here: the Christians need real wisdom and true love to respond to these happenings)
… for my continued spiritual health*
… for relationships that I’m seeking to deepen, particularly with four women: one of the staff members, one of the youth from church, Lahki, and Aunty Sheila
* Each time I’ve met with Aunty’s friends I’ve learned to rely more heavily on my savior. It has been a stretching, growing time, and one that I would not have gracefully survived were it not for my renewed dependence on and knowledge of the Word. (I can't wait to tell more details when I'm home.) You can be praying that I will love, pray for, encourage, and speak wisely to all the women I encounter. Please also pray that I'll be daily renewed in my thankfulness for my salvation... that I will be bold and discerning... and that I will continue to love and serve Aunty Sheila well.
I'll try to post again before I'm off on my late Dec/January adventures. I love you all dearly! Thanks for your encouragement and prayers.
Duffy...
What a whirlwind of opportunities we’ve had in the past weeks! I’ve met and shared with Aunty’s various friends so often in the past three weeks. We’ve attended retreats, Bible Studies, youth groups, and programs in different parts of Delhi meeting with all types of people – from those in a drug rehabilitation center to a group of young call center workers. My favorite foray, however, was our week-long trip to Pune. Not only did I get exposure to a different side of India (geographically and culturally), but I also got to meet the last of the Massey sisters – Aunty Dolly. As there are 5 sisters total (and one brother – Uncle Sonny), I consider that quite a feat. As with all the other family, Aunty Dolly, her son (Arun) and daugher-in-law (Serena), and her grandchildren (Neha and Natasha), were lovely, warm, welcoming, and all together delightful.
So why was Pune my favorite? If you visited Pune you might accuse me of liking it only for the balmy weather. Or perhaps, if you experienced the feel of the city, you might be tempted to say that I obviously liked Pune for its safe, college-town atmosphere—Pune is considered to be an academic center in India; some of their most prestigious colleges, universities, and seminaries located there. Unlike Delhi, it’s quite safe to meander around – even for a girl. And if you visited Naturals (a delectable ice cream shop that uses fresh fruits to make their flavors) or one of the two Baskin Robbins locations (“hip hip hooray” for chocolate and fudge), you’d be convinced you’d identified my reason for liking Pune.
Although I appreciated all of those things (who wouldn’t?), what I liked – no, loved – about Pune was the fellowship of the believers and the ministry going on in the WINN Pune Counseling Center. The center ministers to all types of women – some of my favorite ministry moments at the center were praying earnestly with three women from the slums, feeding some street children at the center, worshiping and sharing with a group of counselors and ministers (each one works hard in different ministries, but they come together to encourage and learn from one another), and diving into the Word with a group of retired women, self-labeled the Naomi group. Serena, who runs the counseling center, was also a treat for me as she unconsciously modeled servant leadership by hospitably welcoming, wisely counseling, and graciously loving each woman who walked through the door. She and I had some sweet times of conversation and I was blessed and strengthened by her openness and care for me. I haven’t even mentioned another amazing part of the Pune time – the church! I had an opportunity to spend Sunday morning with the most robust youth fellowship group I’ve seen since I arrived. To make my day completely satisfying, I ended Sunday by participating in the church’s equivalent to Grace Groups… something they call cottage worship. We squeezed 40+ families, youth, retired people, etc into Arun and Serena’s living room for a time of energetic worship, small group prayer, a short message, and discussion, all followed by family dinner time. What an ALIVE body of believers. I get so disappointed with this medium of sharing with you all because I find I can’t adequately express feelings, lessons learned, etc, nor can I give you all the details of testimonies I heard, encouraging conversations, etc. I hope I’m at least conveying that what I ran across in Pune was a unique set of believers who love the Lord, each other, and their neighbor. Seeing their practiced faith and participating in ministering to them and with them made me so excited – God is doing great things; His Spirit is at work!
I’ve posted just a few pictures of my time in Pune (apologies for my lack of photography skills). I think you’ll enjoy the ones of just a few of the groups I met with. There are also pictures of a day-long adventure Serena, Neha, Natasha and I took to Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay. We saw such sites as the Gateway to India, the Hanging Gardens, Juhu beach, and we took a boat ride in the Arabian Ocean. But no, we didn’t go to Bollywood,; I’d say we paid our dues it by watching a Hindi movie titled Ramji Londonwale later that night.
It’s almost Christmas time and many people have asked me what it’s like here in India. It’s not celebrated as voraciously as it is in the US, but there are some evidences, everywhere. Divalli, a Hindu festival celebrated in October, is a much bigger celebration. My two favorite evidences of Christmas in India have been the special programs we’ve attended and the Christmas caroling. Only two nights ago we attended a Christmas program put on by the Bible Society of India. It combined the traditional Indian dance Bharatnatyam with Christian Christmas Carols to retell the story of the night of Jesus’ birth in a culturally appealing way. Caroling is another staple of celebrating the season. Beginning at around 10PM, groups of people go to various homes and sing a set of carols (I should say “exuberantly sing” – their enthusiasm is evident in the one picture I’ve included). Everyone then comes into the home for tea and food before moving on to the next house on the list – sometimes they don’t end until 6 AM. Yes, that means that they are descending on homes at 2 or 3 in the morning and waking up the occupants (and probably their neighbors)...but believe it or not, it’s sort of a fun, random, middle of the night event.
Up until Christmas I’ll continue on in much the same way as the last month – meeting lots of Aunty’s friends, working a bit in the office, helping settle the house (it’s amazing how long it takes to get details in place after a move), but after Christmas my life in India will shift gears again. On December 26 I will join my dear friend Lahki for a 2 day train ride down to the south of India. We are attending the country wide Youth For Christ conference, DIVE. When we get back on January 3rd, I’ll join Erik, Donna, Anna, and Jessy (a team from my church) for a 3 week stay at the YWCA. They’ll be here to encourage others and do some academic work and I get the opportunity to tag along and be encouraged by a visit from friends. It will be a busy but blessed next month or so!
You can be praying…
… for the Christmas programs we are hosting, as well as the various WINN ministries
… for my health, as I’ve caught a tenacious cold
… for safety as Lahki and I travel… and also that I will be intentional, loving, and encouraging to Lahki during my time with her
... pray for the dear women in Pune; pray particularly for the Dalits in their community (read more about the currently explosive situation here: the Christians need real wisdom and true love to respond to these happenings)
… for my continued spiritual health*
… for relationships that I’m seeking to deepen, particularly with four women: one of the staff members, one of the youth from church, Lahki, and Aunty Sheila
* Each time I’ve met with Aunty’s friends I’ve learned to rely more heavily on my savior. It has been a stretching, growing time, and one that I would not have gracefully survived were it not for my renewed dependence on and knowledge of the Word. (I can't wait to tell more details when I'm home.) You can be praying that I will love, pray for, encourage, and speak wisely to all the women I encounter. Please also pray that I'll be daily renewed in my thankfulness for my salvation... that I will be bold and discerning... and that I will continue to love and serve Aunty Sheila well.
I'll try to post again before I'm off on my late Dec/January adventures. I love you all dearly! Thanks for your encouragement and prayers.
Duffy...
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Internet and Pictures
Dear Friends -
The title tells it all: we now have internet at our home AND I've managed to post pictures of my first months in India. Though I have lots of other pictures to sort through and show you all, I hope the few I've chosen will give you a taste for the family I've found, the people I've met, and the places I've been. Just click HERE or go to http://web.mac.com/duffygirl. I'll also make it a permanent link on my blog, so that you don't have to find this post to access it.
In other, internet related news, I've got Skype: DuffynIndia.
Disclaimer: as with everything else, internet access is subject to electricty and (probably) a multitude of other unforseen issues. Don't get sad or scared if I'm still not able to be a consistent, faithful blogger/writer.
I am thankful for this incredible, instant connection called internet. I hope you all enjoy my pictures...
More to come soon regarding our lives lately, I just wanted to get this "business" out of the way.
With love,
Kar
The title tells it all: we now have internet at our home AND I've managed to post pictures of my first months in India. Though I have lots of other pictures to sort through and show you all, I hope the few I've chosen will give you a taste for the family I've found, the people I've met, and the places I've been. Just click HERE or go to http://web.mac.com/duffygirl. I'll also make it a permanent link on my blog, so that you don't have to find this post to access it.
In other, internet related news, I've got Skype: DuffynIndia.
Disclaimer: as with everything else, internet access is subject to electricty and (probably) a multitude of other unforseen issues. Don't get sad or scared if I'm still not able to be a consistent, faithful blogger/writer.
I am thankful for this incredible, instant connection called internet. I hope you all enjoy my pictures...
More to come soon regarding our lives lately, I just wanted to get this "business" out of the way.
With love,
Kar
Monday, November 20, 2006
Thankful!
Friends -
It is almost Thanksgiving, but I'd nearly forgotten! I do have so much to be thankful for, though I must admit that at this moment the two things I'm thankful for are you and the internet!
I’m so thankful to be posting these updates! I hope that, though long, they will be an encouragement to you. I wish that I had had the opportunity to post on a more regular basis so that I could share the daily details of what God is doing…and the random experiences of living in India. For now, I’ll be content to share my thoughts from early November and thank you for your continued prayers and notes (or calls) of encouragement. Your prayers and support have strengthened me so much through this first month!
So you have some insight into my current heart, here is the passage I'm in the process of memorizing:
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. – 1 Thessalonians 5:12-23
Pray that this would be true of me; I trust His faithfulness!
With thankfulness,
Duffy
It is almost Thanksgiving, but I'd nearly forgotten! I do have so much to be thankful for, though I must admit that at this moment the two things I'm thankful for are you and the internet!
I’m so thankful to be posting these updates! I hope that, though long, they will be an encouragement to you. I wish that I had had the opportunity to post on a more regular basis so that I could share the daily details of what God is doing…and the random experiences of living in India. For now, I’ll be content to share my thoughts from early November and thank you for your continued prayers and notes (or calls) of encouragement. Your prayers and support have strengthened me so much through this first month!
So you have some insight into my current heart, here is the passage I'm in the process of memorizing:
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. – 1 Thessalonians 5:12-23
Pray that this would be true of me; I trust His faithfulness!
With thankfulness,
Duffy
Pell-Mell
Written November 15: Aunty says India is like this – you come zealous to “get things done” and God slows you down. Then, when you’ve had some “ah-ha” moments in connection with the snail pace and your far from world-changing existence, the pace quickens as He provides opportunities for you to share and serve, beyond what you would have been able to bear before your forced rejuvenation period. Here’s a rundown on our current activities…
We’ve moved! We spent our first night at our new residence on November 15th. This move has taken all of our time and energy for the past several weeks, and we’ll probably continue to finish up various projects. We moved all the furniture by rickshaw or our van. The big things came by rickshaw. Yes, I have pictures, and I hope to show them soon. My favorite is of our dining room table and 6 chairs perched precariously; you’ll have to see it to believe it. Our move means I have my own room on the 2nd floor. I love the 2nd floor, as it has a large balcony that gets the morning and afternoon sun. It will be so lovely to sit out there in the wintertime. It’s not quite winter yet, though it is getting cooler in the mornings.
“Ek, dos, teen, char, paunch, dus”… Beginning next week, I will join 10-12 slum children (ranging in age from 6 to 10) for Hindi lessons. Mrs. George, a kind, retired teacher and principal who runs a Hindi/English school for the purpose of educating slum children, has agreed to allow me to sit in on the Hindi portion in exchange for my help teaching the English portion. An 8-year-old girl named Lahlti, who lives near Aunty and I will hopefully be attending with me. She is a curious girl who would love to study but has never been given the opportunity. I must admit I’m a bit nervous for my first day of “school” and look forward to having a friend!!
Life seems to be piling up fast! Specifically, I’m sharing with some of Aunty's friends on November 25th. Please pray for me. Then again on December 2nd I am sharing about self-worth. And a few days later, I get to travel to Pune and visit with with more of our friends at the counseling center. In addition to sharing, I have begun interacting with some of the young nationals. There are about 150,000 young people coming to our neighborhood to work in the call centers. (Yes, the young people who call you during the dinner hour). The call center industry is rapidly growing and, because of the high pay and prestige of the position, drawing many in. However, the suicide rate among these people is skyrocketing. It’s a social dynamic that I don’t yet understand, but I definitely know it is a group that needs hope.
Please pray for us!
edited as of 11/22/06
We’ve moved! We spent our first night at our new residence on November 15th. This move has taken all of our time and energy for the past several weeks, and we’ll probably continue to finish up various projects. We moved all the furniture by rickshaw or our van. The big things came by rickshaw. Yes, I have pictures, and I hope to show them soon. My favorite is of our dining room table and 6 chairs perched precariously; you’ll have to see it to believe it. Our move means I have my own room on the 2nd floor. I love the 2nd floor, as it has a large balcony that gets the morning and afternoon sun. It will be so lovely to sit out there in the wintertime. It’s not quite winter yet, though it is getting cooler in the mornings.
“Ek, dos, teen, char, paunch, dus”… Beginning next week, I will join 10-12 slum children (ranging in age from 6 to 10) for Hindi lessons. Mrs. George, a kind, retired teacher and principal who runs a Hindi/English school for the purpose of educating slum children, has agreed to allow me to sit in on the Hindi portion in exchange for my help teaching the English portion. An 8-year-old girl named Lahlti, who lives near Aunty and I will hopefully be attending with me. She is a curious girl who would love to study but has never been given the opportunity. I must admit I’m a bit nervous for my first day of “school” and look forward to having a friend!!
Life seems to be piling up fast! Specifically, I’m sharing with some of Aunty's friends on November 25th. Please pray for me. Then again on December 2nd I am sharing about self-worth. And a few days later, I get to travel to Pune and visit with with more of our friends at the counseling center. In addition to sharing, I have begun interacting with some of the young nationals. There are about 150,000 young people coming to our neighborhood to work in the call centers. (Yes, the young people who call you during the dinner hour). The call center industry is rapidly growing and, because of the high pay and prestige of the position, drawing many in. However, the suicide rate among these people is skyrocketing. It’s a social dynamic that I don’t yet understand, but I definitely know it is a group that needs hope.
Please pray for us!
edited as of 11/22/06
Culture and Theology 101
(So I’m finally posting! As you can tell, my access to internet has been limited ever since I moved in with Aunty Sheila. As of December 1 that should change a bit, with us having an internet connection at our home. I look forward to being able to update you all more regularly about what God is doing in my heart while I’m here in India. For now, I’m going to post a couple of things that I’ve written over the last month to catch you up on what’s been going on!)
Written November 1: Everyone has stereotypes about Americans. It’s entirely fair, seeing that Americans have stereotypes about everyone else. In the game of pinning labels on one another, U.S. residents get tagged with characteristics centering around being task-oriented, driven, a go-getter, and being busy. It’s not really a label I would have stuck to myself, though. Oh, I know I love tasks and the lists that accompany them, and I’ll admit I relish the thought of checking a check box and charting my progress. I’ll even admit that I’ve been known to add things to my checklist, after doing them, just so I can check them off. But the real “drive” to accomplish anything and everything, being fanatical about accomplishing tasks…well, I just didn’t see that as me. Until now.
You see, I don’t think it would be possible to maintain sanity and a checklist here in India. Reason number one: electricity. During our day (7 AM until 10 PM), we typically don’t have electricity for 4-8 hours of that time. When inverters (back up power) only will last for 2-4 hours, well, you can see how that might pose a problem to one’s typical working day. Reason number two: things take time. Getting from point A to point B is a difficult proposition in the congestion of Delhi traffic, and the petrol prices discourage long journeys. National holidays, strikes, and problems caused from lack of electricity all contribute to simple tasks (such as running errands, visiting a ministry, etc) take a whole day’s time.
People here are not lacking in character – Brejan, Sibu, and Aunty Sheila are all amazing examples of diligent workers, highly capable, creative, and organized. But when you can’t determine how long a task will take, whether you have the resources (equipment, electricity, information, people) to accomplish it, and you don’t know how you might be asked to serve on a given day, you simply can’t have a checklist. Well, you can have one, but you’ll end up being frustrated at the end of the day.
It’s also not the case that you don’t accomplish anything; it’s that you most likely won’t accomplish what you “planned” to accomplish that day. As an example, some days we get up preparing to go into the office for the morning, run errands in Delhi in the afternoon, then work on the house in the evening. Instead we’ll spend the morning preparing for last minute lunch guests, take a series of counseling phone calls, visit with the guests, work on house projects because the painter came today instead of tomorrow, etc, etc, etc.
The point being – I’ve realized I love my checklists! In this India world I felt list-less (that was for you, Molls). I like being able to accomplish things; I like feeling organized, empowered, and, frankly, in control of my life. The question that came out over and over in my first weeks in India was “What am I doing here?” (emphasis on the doing). Since I wasn’t going pell-mell 24-7, I felt perhaps my ticket had been wasted. What good am I if I can’t be checking off lists? What good am I if I can’t even make the list because I am that clueless about what’s going on and what’s needed? I felt like 100 times a day I was going to Aunty and saying, “Is there anything I can do for you?” “What would you like me to do?” Then I realized that she was grinning every time I used the word “do”.
So, my first weeks with Aunty I sat and rested and thought and read and I began to realize my checklist mentality had affected my spiritual life as well. I like going to God and waving my checklist around. “See what I’ve accomplished. Come on, I really deserve a pat on the back for everything I’ve done!” But in all honesty, one of the reasons I love my checklists is because it helps prove my worth, right? It helps establish my maturity in Christ, my level of spirituality, my commitment to my faith. It’s evidence of obedience and hard work, those little check marks. Right?
Clearly not a good way to be thinking; as I examined my own heart I realized that, though part of my anxiousness to fit in and be serving was born out of an honest desire to love people well and serve Him, the other part of my anxiousness was a desire to simply get something big accomplished for the sake of accomplishment… and my checklist.
So when I sat down to write this blog update, I at first was quite beside myself. What am I going to say I’ve done, I thought. I haven’t really done anything, and (horror of all horrors) I don’t even know if I’m being helpful! But God did something beautiful with my time and with my heart. As I realized my own silly motivations, I began to enjoy the rest time I’d been given and began learning from the different pace of life.
I stopped fretting at our daily interruptions and began to delight in the visits and phone calls we get on a daily basis, a cultural and spiritual lesson. People who are involved in other ministries and churches frequently come into our home to share what God is doing in their ministry, hear what God is going in our ministry, then pray for India and ministry as a whole. It’s not unusual for someone to stop by to say “did you hear what God is doing in the North?” or “I wanted to rejoice with you over God’s protection during your surgery” (to Aunty Sheila). I feel like I’m living in the book of Acts, with intentional Christians who are encouraging one another, praying for one another, and strengthening each others’ faith. How beautiful these believers are!
In the midst of many unknowns, I’ve also seen Christian Indians demonstrate a sweet reliance on prayer and a hearty recognition of the work of the Holy Spirit. Daily plans, cares, worries, and needs are brought before the Lord in prayer; they beseech him for answers and guidance and then quietly wait on Him until He directs. When any opportunity – whether it is what was in mind or not – comes into the picture, they respond with willing obedience.
Personally, I began spending more time in the Word and realized that my appetite for it has increased since I’ve been here. I love God’s Word! I’ve struggled with memorization the past few years but that struggle has been completely taken away. As it’s become more precious to me, I’ve found it easier to hide it in my heart. I’m saddened that my checklist mentality in the past has hindered my time in (and my love for) God’s word; I’m excited that my renewed love for the Word is making me more passionate about obediently and boldly serving Him.
I guess my conclusion is that God’s done a lot; I haven’t crossed off what I thought would be my checklist, but I have visited various ministries and began to gain a more informed compassion for the people here; I’ve dusted and packed and learned to make proper Chai tea; I’ve grown accustomed to a mosquito net on my bed, to chilies in my food, and to military showers; I’ve ridden in rickshaws, seen the Taj Mahal and been to a famous cultural event, the Flower Festival of Delhi (as a VIP… accidentally). I’ve gardened and learned Hindi; I’ve read lots of books, especially biographies; I’ve made a few new friends. I’ve learned I should have brought less clothes for winter, that lunch is the biggest meal, that it can take up to 3 hours to get out of Delhi, and that it takes 3 months to recover from an angioplasty. I’ve been interviewed on national television, fallen down a flight of stairs, learned the intricacies of cricket, and made a cake from scratch in a pressure cooker. I’ve learned to love my India family, Aunty Sheila, Sibu, and Brejan and to speak a smattering of Hindi. I’ve also re-learned that the Word is precious, salvation is astounding, and that it is a necessary understatement to daily declare “to God be the glory, great things he has done!”
Written November 1: Everyone has stereotypes about Americans. It’s entirely fair, seeing that Americans have stereotypes about everyone else. In the game of pinning labels on one another, U.S. residents get tagged with characteristics centering around being task-oriented, driven, a go-getter, and being busy. It’s not really a label I would have stuck to myself, though. Oh, I know I love tasks and the lists that accompany them, and I’ll admit I relish the thought of checking a check box and charting my progress. I’ll even admit that I’ve been known to add things to my checklist, after doing them, just so I can check them off. But the real “drive” to accomplish anything and everything, being fanatical about accomplishing tasks…well, I just didn’t see that as me. Until now.
You see, I don’t think it would be possible to maintain sanity and a checklist here in India. Reason number one: electricity. During our day (7 AM until 10 PM), we typically don’t have electricity for 4-8 hours of that time. When inverters (back up power) only will last for 2-4 hours, well, you can see how that might pose a problem to one’s typical working day. Reason number two: things take time. Getting from point A to point B is a difficult proposition in the congestion of Delhi traffic, and the petrol prices discourage long journeys. National holidays, strikes, and problems caused from lack of electricity all contribute to simple tasks (such as running errands, visiting a ministry, etc) take a whole day’s time.
People here are not lacking in character – Brejan, Sibu, and Aunty Sheila are all amazing examples of diligent workers, highly capable, creative, and organized. But when you can’t determine how long a task will take, whether you have the resources (equipment, electricity, information, people) to accomplish it, and you don’t know how you might be asked to serve on a given day, you simply can’t have a checklist. Well, you can have one, but you’ll end up being frustrated at the end of the day.
It’s also not the case that you don’t accomplish anything; it’s that you most likely won’t accomplish what you “planned” to accomplish that day. As an example, some days we get up preparing to go into the office for the morning, run errands in Delhi in the afternoon, then work on the house in the evening. Instead we’ll spend the morning preparing for last minute lunch guests, take a series of counseling phone calls, visit with the guests, work on house projects because the painter came today instead of tomorrow, etc, etc, etc.
The point being – I’ve realized I love my checklists! In this India world I felt list-less (that was for you, Molls). I like being able to accomplish things; I like feeling organized, empowered, and, frankly, in control of my life. The question that came out over and over in my first weeks in India was “What am I doing here?” (emphasis on the doing). Since I wasn’t going pell-mell 24-7, I felt perhaps my ticket had been wasted. What good am I if I can’t be checking off lists? What good am I if I can’t even make the list because I am that clueless about what’s going on and what’s needed? I felt like 100 times a day I was going to Aunty and saying, “Is there anything I can do for you?” “What would you like me to do?” Then I realized that she was grinning every time I used the word “do”.
So, my first weeks with Aunty I sat and rested and thought and read and I began to realize my checklist mentality had affected my spiritual life as well. I like going to God and waving my checklist around. “See what I’ve accomplished. Come on, I really deserve a pat on the back for everything I’ve done!” But in all honesty, one of the reasons I love my checklists is because it helps prove my worth, right? It helps establish my maturity in Christ, my level of spirituality, my commitment to my faith. It’s evidence of obedience and hard work, those little check marks. Right?
Clearly not a good way to be thinking; as I examined my own heart I realized that, though part of my anxiousness to fit in and be serving was born out of an honest desire to love people well and serve Him, the other part of my anxiousness was a desire to simply get something big accomplished for the sake of accomplishment… and my checklist.
So when I sat down to write this blog update, I at first was quite beside myself. What am I going to say I’ve done, I thought. I haven’t really done anything, and (horror of all horrors) I don’t even know if I’m being helpful! But God did something beautiful with my time and with my heart. As I realized my own silly motivations, I began to enjoy the rest time I’d been given and began learning from the different pace of life.
I stopped fretting at our daily interruptions and began to delight in the visits and phone calls we get on a daily basis, a cultural and spiritual lesson. People who are involved in other ministries and churches frequently come into our home to share what God is doing in their ministry, hear what God is going in our ministry, then pray for India and ministry as a whole. It’s not unusual for someone to stop by to say “did you hear what God is doing in the North?” or “I wanted to rejoice with you over God’s protection during your surgery” (to Aunty Sheila). I feel like I’m living in the book of Acts, with intentional Christians who are encouraging one another, praying for one another, and strengthening each others’ faith. How beautiful these believers are!
In the midst of many unknowns, I’ve also seen Christian Indians demonstrate a sweet reliance on prayer and a hearty recognition of the work of the Holy Spirit. Daily plans, cares, worries, and needs are brought before the Lord in prayer; they beseech him for answers and guidance and then quietly wait on Him until He directs. When any opportunity – whether it is what was in mind or not – comes into the picture, they respond with willing obedience.
Personally, I began spending more time in the Word and realized that my appetite for it has increased since I’ve been here. I love God’s Word! I’ve struggled with memorization the past few years but that struggle has been completely taken away. As it’s become more precious to me, I’ve found it easier to hide it in my heart. I’m saddened that my checklist mentality in the past has hindered my time in (and my love for) God’s word; I’m excited that my renewed love for the Word is making me more passionate about obediently and boldly serving Him.
I guess my conclusion is that God’s done a lot; I haven’t crossed off what I thought would be my checklist, but I have visited various ministries and began to gain a more informed compassion for the people here; I’ve dusted and packed and learned to make proper Chai tea; I’ve grown accustomed to a mosquito net on my bed, to chilies in my food, and to military showers; I’ve ridden in rickshaws, seen the Taj Mahal and been to a famous cultural event, the Flower Festival of Delhi (as a VIP… accidentally). I’ve gardened and learned Hindi; I’ve read lots of books, especially biographies; I’ve made a few new friends. I’ve learned I should have brought less clothes for winter, that lunch is the biggest meal, that it can take up to 3 hours to get out of Delhi, and that it takes 3 months to recover from an angioplasty. I’ve been interviewed on national television, fallen down a flight of stairs, learned the intricacies of cricket, and made a cake from scratch in a pressure cooker. I’ve learned to love my India family, Aunty Sheila, Sibu, and Brejan and to speak a smattering of Hindi. I’ve also re-learned that the Word is precious, salvation is astounding, and that it is a necessary understatement to daily declare “to God be the glory, great things he has done!”
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Loving India!
I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with Cademon's Call, but they have an excellent album entitled, Share the Well. The album is a compilation of songs inspired by their trips to India and South America. While I've always loved the CD, it is quickly acquiring a more significant place in my heart as the lyrics ring true to my experiences. In many ways, the lyrics are an outlet for my daily increasing love for this country; they not only describe the culture, but convey a serious desire to see God known and glorified by the Indian people -- from the little beggar girl to the wealthy business man, from the modern Hindu to the strict Buddhist.
One thing that is helping me increase my love for this culture is just being in it. Specifically, I got the chance to explore New Delhi on my own today and really relished the experience. I will admit that walking the streets alone was a bit of an... "adventure", but the people watching and cultural observation was worth it! I set off from the YWCA and walked past a monument that is on all the maps. To be honest, I don't quite understand what it is, but I was told it helped to tell time in ancient days. Again, I didn't quite get it, but was pleased that I'd found and checked off an historical, tourist landmark. I walked down a street (the wrong one, it turned out) that was full of people who are paid to protest various political bills. Between noon and 3 on various days they gather and demonstrate.After walking down this street twice (like I said, it was the wrong one), I finally made it to the Imperial Hotel, one of the oldest and most beautiful hotels in all of India (according to their brochure). I was asked for my autograph there (I don't know why; I guess we can chalk it up to a "Karisa Experience"); no, I didn't give it! I then went to the Januper Market area, a place with many outdoor shops and ended up at a McDonalds for my ice cream fudge Sunday fix. I completed my time with a walk in a "park", where I sat on a bench and observed people in the outdoor market, before hiring a rickshaw to take me home. During this ride I learned the valuable lesson that rickshaw drivers are paid commission to take you to shop locations, as my driver tried to take me to several before taking me home. I believe that in the future I should be firm about my destination before I hop in!
The Indian people, as a culture, are so friendly and helpful! I have been most impressed and encouraged by how readily they extend themselves into conversation with me. It has allowed me to ask lots of questions about individuals and about the culture. It has also allowed me to share easily about why I am here in India -- they are always amazed I am staying so long. I have been presented with numerous opportunities to share openly, albiet briefly at times, the gospel, and I am encouraged, challenged, and joyful for it! Please continue to pray for these opportunities -- that I would be obedient to willingly & readily share my faith.
On a more humorous note (and to return to Cademon's Call lyrics) I spent the day with a certain phrase of their song running through my head. It became an almost anthem, actually, as I "puttered" (that word has not nearly enough action packed into it to be an adequate adjective)around in my autorickshaw. Although I'm forgetting the first words, it goes something like this... "...rickshaws beg the question, 'Are all these red lights just suggestions?' Oh, it's gonna be OK, they know dead men can't pay..." That, my friends, is driving in India.
One thing that is helping me increase my love for this culture is just being in it. Specifically, I got the chance to explore New Delhi on my own today and really relished the experience. I will admit that walking the streets alone was a bit of an... "adventure", but the people watching and cultural observation was worth it! I set off from the YWCA and walked past a monument that is on all the maps. To be honest, I don't quite understand what it is, but I was told it helped to tell time in ancient days. Again, I didn't quite get it, but was pleased that I'd found and checked off an historical, tourist landmark. I walked down a street (the wrong one, it turned out) that was full of people who are paid to protest various political bills. Between noon and 3 on various days they gather and demonstrate.After walking down this street twice (like I said, it was the wrong one), I finally made it to the Imperial Hotel, one of the oldest and most beautiful hotels in all of India (according to their brochure). I was asked for my autograph there (I don't know why; I guess we can chalk it up to a "Karisa Experience"); no, I didn't give it! I then went to the Januper Market area, a place with many outdoor shops and ended up at a McDonalds for my ice cream fudge Sunday fix. I completed my time with a walk in a "park", where I sat on a bench and observed people in the outdoor market, before hiring a rickshaw to take me home. During this ride I learned the valuable lesson that rickshaw drivers are paid commission to take you to shop locations, as my driver tried to take me to several before taking me home. I believe that in the future I should be firm about my destination before I hop in!
The Indian people, as a culture, are so friendly and helpful! I have been most impressed and encouraged by how readily they extend themselves into conversation with me. It has allowed me to ask lots of questions about individuals and about the culture. It has also allowed me to share easily about why I am here in India -- they are always amazed I am staying so long. I have been presented with numerous opportunities to share openly, albiet briefly at times, the gospel, and I am encouraged, challenged, and joyful for it! Please continue to pray for these opportunities -- that I would be obedient to willingly & readily share my faith.
On a more humorous note (and to return to Cademon's Call lyrics) I spent the day with a certain phrase of their song running through my head. It became an almost anthem, actually, as I "puttered" (that word has not nearly enough action packed into it to be an adequate adjective)around in my autorickshaw. Although I'm forgetting the first words, it goes something like this... "...rickshaws beg the question, 'Are all these red lights just suggestions?' Oh, it's gonna be OK, they know dead men can't pay..." That, my friends, is driving in India.
Friday, October 13, 2006
I'm here!
Dear Ones,
After a 21-hour trip, I arrived safely in Delhi, India! I was greeted at the airport by my new friends, Brejun (Sheila's assistant) and Simu (Sheila's adopted son). Since I arrived at 6:15 in the morning (to early to check into the YWCA, where I am staying for 4 days) they took me on a walking tour of the block and showed me the YMCA book store down the street. We hit the ground running, with Brejun heading up us sharing the gospel with a man we met there. Brejun just LOVES talking about the Lord; he gets giddy about it. His joy had an infectious impact on Bruno, the French man we were sharing with, and Brejun will be following up with him again. The rest of the day was spent sleeping off my jet lag and sleeping through the night (yay!).
I have felt fine all day, no touch of jet lag at all and have taken no naps... I will sleep well tonight, though! After a leisurely morning in my room, reading and journaling and overlooking the city (I have a small balcony overlooking a busy street), two co-workers of Sheila's, Christopher and Solomon came to show me more of India. So for the past three hours I've been puttering around in an autorickshaw (they describe it as a gasoline trike... I'll have pictures soon), stopping at the local indoor and outdoor markets to get a feel for Delhi and the culture. One thing I will surely have to get used to is being stared at. Everything about me is odd, from my white skin to my red hair. It makes wandering through the marketplace even more interesting, to say the least.
This afternoon's experience confirmed my fist impression of India... "whoa". Everyone and everything is so unique, busy, different, poor, beautiful, colorful, cacophonous... I hope to be able to give you more specific descriptions soon, but I think I need to process it a bit more. What a combination of life there is here; it's so incongruent, I both appreciate it and am confounded by it.
I am anxious to end my time here at the YWCA (relaxing as it has been) and be with Sheila. I have not seen her yet, as her home is quite a distance from this part of Delhi, and she is not feeling well and has been ordered to rest as much as possible. I will be with her soon, probably on Sunday.
Please continue to pray for me as I settle in here. I've had moments of being overwhelmed, confused, and lonely, but also wonderful times of rest, adventure, and peace. Please pray for my time in God's Word, as today I started a plan to read through the Bible in my 10 months here. Please pray for Aunty (Sheila), as she needs to be resting. Please pray that I would know my place and what it looks like for me to live here and serve here. Please pray that I would love this place and these dear people, and that I would long for God to be glorified more than I would long for the comfort of home or friends and family.
I love you all!
In case you wondered, India is 13 hours ahead of California time. So, if it's 2PM on a Wednesday for you, it's 3AM on Thursday for me. Hope that helps!
After a 21-hour trip, I arrived safely in Delhi, India! I was greeted at the airport by my new friends, Brejun (Sheila's assistant) and Simu (Sheila's adopted son). Since I arrived at 6:15 in the morning (to early to check into the YWCA, where I am staying for 4 days) they took me on a walking tour of the block and showed me the YMCA book store down the street. We hit the ground running, with Brejun heading up us sharing the gospel with a man we met there. Brejun just LOVES talking about the Lord; he gets giddy about it. His joy had an infectious impact on Bruno, the French man we were sharing with, and Brejun will be following up with him again. The rest of the day was spent sleeping off my jet lag and sleeping through the night (yay!).
I have felt fine all day, no touch of jet lag at all and have taken no naps... I will sleep well tonight, though! After a leisurely morning in my room, reading and journaling and overlooking the city (I have a small balcony overlooking a busy street), two co-workers of Sheila's, Christopher and Solomon came to show me more of India. So for the past three hours I've been puttering around in an autorickshaw (they describe it as a gasoline trike... I'll have pictures soon), stopping at the local indoor and outdoor markets to get a feel for Delhi and the culture. One thing I will surely have to get used to is being stared at. Everything about me is odd, from my white skin to my red hair. It makes wandering through the marketplace even more interesting, to say the least.
This afternoon's experience confirmed my fist impression of India... "whoa". Everyone and everything is so unique, busy, different, poor, beautiful, colorful, cacophonous... I hope to be able to give you more specific descriptions soon, but I think I need to process it a bit more. What a combination of life there is here; it's so incongruent, I both appreciate it and am confounded by it.
I am anxious to end my time here at the YWCA (relaxing as it has been) and be with Sheila. I have not seen her yet, as her home is quite a distance from this part of Delhi, and she is not feeling well and has been ordered to rest as much as possible. I will be with her soon, probably on Sunday.
Please continue to pray for me as I settle in here. I've had moments of being overwhelmed, confused, and lonely, but also wonderful times of rest, adventure, and peace. Please pray for my time in God's Word, as today I started a plan to read through the Bible in my 10 months here. Please pray for Aunty (Sheila), as she needs to be resting. Please pray that I would know my place and what it looks like for me to live here and serve here. Please pray that I would love this place and these dear people, and that I would long for God to be glorified more than I would long for the comfort of home or friends and family.
I love you all!
In case you wondered, India is 13 hours ahead of California time. So, if it's 2PM on a Wednesday for you, it's 3AM on Thursday for me. Hope that helps!
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
7...6...5...
...the countdown has begun! Exactly one week from today I will be boarding a plane for my new life in India; I can't believe how quickly my departure date has crept up on me!
First things first, I survived the triathlon, ankle and all! I met my goal of finishing in under 2 and a half hours (I did 2:01:48) AND of not being the last person in my age group (it should be noted that I was the next to the last person. It was difficult, but exhilarating, and a beautiful time of fellowship, actually, with my "teammates". We all can't wait to do it next year. I hope to post pictures soon, but haven't figured out that aspect of my blogging life.
I have felt very supported -- through individual visits with family and friends to my church's prayer time for me on Sunday -- these past several weeks. I am so sad to be leaving home, but so joyful to be moving forward with what I am confident is God's gracious plan for me. I've appreciated everyone's prayers and expressions of love.
Please continue to pray for me as I plow through details... here are some specific items:
* I'm sick, and need to see my doctor, but am having trouble with insurance
* Financial concerns: It looks like I'm just under $1,000 short of my budget
* Saying goodbye... and saying it well. I want to say goodbye in a loving, encouraging, excited way, NOT a stressful, selfish way
* Packing: Jessy knows I'm the world's most optimistic packer, and I usually make it work, but fitting everything in my 2 suitcases is going to be a test for even the mighty optimist packer. Please pray that things like medicine and books will fit in easily without adding too much weight
* My computer: I'm currently in Biola's deep dungeon, waiting for the outcome of a computer test. Please pray that it will be fixed easily so that I can take my computer to India.
* Spiritual preparedness... as I prepare to leave, I want to be ever mindful of the blessings of the Lord and of his faithful, continuous work and hand in my life. Pray that I will daily rejoice in my salvation and that I will be motivated to leave for India based on a desire to proclaim his name.
Thanks for your prayers...I love you all!
First things first, I survived the triathlon, ankle and all! I met my goal of finishing in under 2 and a half hours (I did 2:01:48) AND of not being the last person in my age group (it should be noted that I was the next to the last person. It was difficult, but exhilarating, and a beautiful time of fellowship, actually, with my "teammates". We all can't wait to do it next year. I hope to post pictures soon, but haven't figured out that aspect of my blogging life.
I have felt very supported -- through individual visits with family and friends to my church's prayer time for me on Sunday -- these past several weeks. I am so sad to be leaving home, but so joyful to be moving forward with what I am confident is God's gracious plan for me. I've appreciated everyone's prayers and expressions of love.
Please continue to pray for me as I plow through details... here are some specific items:
* I'm sick, and need to see my doctor, but am having trouble with insurance
* Financial concerns: It looks like I'm just under $1,000 short of my budget
* Saying goodbye... and saying it well. I want to say goodbye in a loving, encouraging, excited way, NOT a stressful, selfish way
* Packing: Jessy knows I'm the world's most optimistic packer, and I usually make it work, but fitting everything in my 2 suitcases is going to be a test for even the mighty optimist packer. Please pray that things like medicine and books will fit in easily without adding too much weight
* My computer: I'm currently in Biola's deep dungeon, waiting for the outcome of a computer test. Please pray that it will be fixed easily so that I can take my computer to India.
* Spiritual preparedness... as I prepare to leave, I want to be ever mindful of the blessings of the Lord and of his faithful, continuous work and hand in my life. Pray that I will daily rejoice in my salvation and that I will be motivated to leave for India based on a desire to proclaim his name.
Thanks for your prayers...I love you all!
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
...and in non-India related news...
September 24th (countdown: 4 days) about 8 friends, my brother Ryan, and I are all participating in the Long Beach Triathlon Sprint. You can check out the course at this site. If I don't die in the ocean, am able to finish before the sun sets, and keep from falling on my face, I'll consider this a highly successful event! :)
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