adventures in grace

On the 10th of this month, I had my first train experience-- riding the overnight express to a city in the mountains for a weekend retreat. Being in the mountains was such a blessing! I really can't describe what it does for your soul when you can walk outside in jeans and a shirt and feel fine. Where I'm living, jeans are way too heavy and you couldn't pay me money to wear them. Aside from being the sickest I've been in a while, and having giardia to follow that, it was the most refreshing time I've had since being in country. The sickness, which I'm pretty positive was food poisoning (shouldn't have eaten the veggies!) only lasted 24 hours or so and giardia wasn't too bad. It also does something for my soul being in a room filled with people singing out to Jesus with all that they have. The corporate worship and solid teaching was indispensable. Thanks to all the peeps at ECBC!

After being home for about a day and half, enough time to wash clothes and repack, we hopped another overnight train to the city where we are now studying language. This has also been somewhat of a refreshing place to be. I will say it did take a few days to adjust to the 100+ degree temps, but there is so little humidity, which I think it makes it more bearable. And the power is out more here, but it kinda has a schedule (10-2 during the day). Things have been fine except for that one time the transformer or something blew up outside our window and we slept on the balcony... yeah, ask me about it sometime.

The people who actually live here might think I'm crazy, but I get the "small town" feel in this city of only 3 millionish people. People here seem to be a bit more friendly, and they are solely Hindi speakers which has done wonders when that is the language you are learning. I have been able to hang out with other American girls my own age and had a great time swimming in a pool where I didn't have to wear a swim cap!

Overall, I feel that the Lord has been good to me lately. I have felt a freedom that I have been lacking in previous months. I have been reading a book called "The Normal Christian Life" by Watchman Nee and highly recommend it to anyone. There is a chapter entitled "Holy Spirit" where he talks about the work of the Spirit and encourages a deeper reverence for Him in our lives. Nee says, "Do you know, my friends, that the Spirit within you is very God?...Oh that we might realize the vastness of the resources secreted in our own hearts! The Spirit who dwells within me is no mere influence, but a living Person; he is very God. The infinite God is within my heart!" (p.141) This is something I have been pondering and asking for fresh awakening to the fact that the very Spirit of God lives within me. It's really mind boggling when you think about it.

Lastly, I'll end with another quote I read tonight from the chapter on Walking in the Spirit. He says, "God will not give me humility or patience or holiness or love as separate gifts of his grace. He is not a retailer dispensing grace to us in packets, measuring out some patience to the impatient, some love to the unloving, some meekness to the proud, in quantities that we take and work on as a kind of capital. He has given only one gift to meet all our need: his Son Christ Jesus. As I look to him to live out his life in me, he will be humble and patient and loving and everything else I need-- in my stead."

I love it-- such deep truths about trusting in the resources He has for us. What a wonderful Savior we have.

I haven't put many picture up lately, and since the mountains were so wonderful, I'll put up a few from there!

this is me and Sky. she was always ready to play-- this picture shows no different.

There is just no way to prepare yourself completely before moving to a foreign country. So much comes with a new culture-- new food, new way to eat food, new friends, new language, new clothes, new way to buy clothes, and new way to wash those clothes, new way to get around the city. Different values are put on time, money and even human life. I think the list can be endless. And honestly, after a while, some of this newness begins to wear on you. You begin to long for the familiar and do a little dance on the inside when you get to eat at Subway or KFC.

Amidst all the 'differentness' of this new culture, I'm reminded from Heb. 13-- that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. I'm learning about His faithfulness to me. I think it's easy to say, "God is faithful", and hear that He will be faithful to you, but actually believing it and standing on it can be hard work. Sometimes I question & doubt so much!

Along with His faithfulness, I think God is always calling me to a deeper trust in Him. I was laying in bed last night thinking about the concept of trust-- specifically trust in God. When I think of trust in a person, I think I almost equate it to loyalty. If a person can be trusted, they are reliable, loyal, able to be counted on, a safe bet to go with if you are in need. I think I need to toss the whole "safety" aspect of God. We all know the C.S. Lewis quote that says, "He is not safe, but He is good." And I agree. His words says He is a refuge for us, but that does not mean He will not push us into risk, unknown, or heartache if the outcome is that we are made more like His Son.

So, I say all that to say, I think it will be worth it. Pushing through the 'newness' of life, being sharpened in ways I never thought I needed, living in this crazy country where nothing reminds me of home will be worth it if I walk out of this experience clinging more closely to Jesus. He is it. He is all that works in my life--- and I'm so thankful for His grace to carry me along on this adventure.