adventures in grace

It's probably obvious, but blogging is not my favorite thing.  I think it was a good tool to keep everyone updated while I was in India, but I can't really promise my life in America is going to be as interesting.  I did want to write one little update about how my re-entry has been, mostly because I feel like God has been so gracious through all of it. 

I can't believe it's been just over 4 months since I left India [and about 2 months since being back in the States].  I was reading my notebook where I write down prayers/scripture last night and came across an entry when I still had a few months left in India.  I wrote Proverbs 3:5-6 --"Trust in the Lord with all your heart.  Lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."  .. Next to it I wrote, "This is a good strategy for re-entry."  And, I've gotta say that's what He's done during this time.  He has deepened my trust in Him and made my paths straight. 

I could probably talk for a while about how God has worked during these past few months of me being back.  But, I think most of all He has assured me of His love for me.  I'm not sure why, but when I'm really honest with myself, it's one of the things I doubt the most.  Sure, on this epic, massive scale, I get the fact that God sent His son, Jesus, to die for me and pay the price for my sins and that is done out of God's love for me.  But, I begin to doubt and question on the smaller, more intimate scale.  Does God care that I need a car or a job or even just friends when I get back?  What role does He play in the daily details of my life? 

I was listening to a Tim Keller sermon the other day called "Your Plans: God's Plans" and he was talking about how we come to know that God loves us.  He was saying that no one ever believes God loves them just because they are told, which I would agree.  He said God has to show you His love for you.  This means that over and over we have to be brought to a place where we think God has abandoned us and then He proves us wrong.  He comes through.  He shows up.  And then, over time, we become more and more assured of His love for us.  I would say He has done that with me in the past 2 months. 

It's not that I was to the point that I thought God had abandoned me, but I was just really questioning and wondering how He would work... if at all, through my re-entry.  Was I going to be left to myself to navigate re-ordering my life in America?  Thankfully, the answer is a resounding "no".  I could write for pages if I went into the details, but overall, I'm learning that yes, He is definitely in the details. 

Another huge thing I am feeling, which I think is just a latent effect from living in India, is just how grateful I am.  There were parts of life over the past two years that were incredibly difficult.  It was definitely a 'pruning' season in my life, and those usually aren't fun.  It was painful and I feel like He allowed me to see parts of myself that are not pretty.  But from that,  I have developed a greater realization of God's grace for me.  I have no business keeping company with the God of the universe.  The fact that He has pursued me, grabbed a hold of me and isn't letting go, is beyond me.  I just keep on having the thought... "Apart from the grace of God, where would I be??"  I'm seeing how my life is such a testament to God's massive amounts of mercy and grace. 

Also, I just feel like life in America is just super cush.. (is that a word?)  What is there to complain about?!?  There is Mexican food, coffee creamer, salads, air conditioning and TARGET!  And, I'm in the same country as my family! 

One of my favorite things about being back:  

Sitting around in the mornings with my niece, Kate.  Love her!

I've been following the GOP nominees for a while now and Ron Paul has been my choice from the beginning.  No, I don't think any one person holds all the answers, but Ron Paul is by far the most intelligent, qualified, and on point candidate.  He has such a grasp and understanding of the issues and seems to be light years ahead of the curve.  I encourage you to really educate yourself and check him out!

I know this video is a little long, but this excited me!!
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BIcIkoOwp7s


Here is a list of a bunch of other films, if you're a documentary lover like me.
http://libertydocumentaries.com/documentary-list/


This short film about the history of the US intervention in Iran was also interesting:
http://libertydocumentaries.com/military-intervention-and-war/a-brief-history-of-american-intervention-in-iran/

What are you doing on your Friday the 13th?  Apparently, I'm supposed to be partying it up with the rest of my complex.  Tonight is supposed to be a celebration for some Punjai festival.  I got invited, but I didn't realize I didn't have a choice in the matter.

Here's a little video to give you a slice of my night/life in India.  Also, the sound in the video does not do it justice.  Our windows were vibrating earlier.  Needless to say, this is one thing I'm not going to be sad to leave.  

This is a snapshot of what went on at my flat tonight.  We had a little Christmas party with some girls we gotten to know.  Towards the end everyone was taking pictures, and I decided to break out the video. 

When I first arrived in Kolkata, many things were a shock to my system-- the dirtiness of the city, smells, pollution, the sheer number of people here, etc.  It was difficult at first, but over time I have adjusted.  Now, I feel way more comfortable and am able to move with the flow of life as crazy & exhausting as it may be on some days.  (Even now, my mom is visiting and she keeps insisting that there is a certain smell in the air of burnt trash or something.  I still have no idea what she's referring to.)  Among the many things I've had to get used to, the mass amount of poverty was one of the things that I think I just couldn't wrap my mind around.  I knew I wanted to do something, but I was at a loss at the "how".  

Over time, the Lord was faithful to provide a place for my teammate and I to teach English in the slums.  We did this is our free time and mostly with the intentions of building relationships so we could point these people to Jesus.  We have had many chances to do that and have seen steps toward life change with some we are working with.  Even more, the kids and families of this slum area have become dear friends.  I love these people. 

 In August, we were asked to oversee a card making income generation project that would potentially bring in some money for the kids.  I was super pumped because this meant that I could be all artsy and junk and it was a chance for these kids to get to work for money.  So, I'll spare you the details, but after time, we developed a pretty good looking greeting/Christmas card if I do say so myself.  It is a simple design and it involves old saris from a local market in the north.  And the kids are really good at it!

I heard Louie Giglio say one time, "I can't do everything, but I can do something."  I am a firm believer in this statement, and I have come to see this is my "solution" toward the problem of poverty in Kolkata.  Doing what I can with where I am right now.

I get excited when I think about the future of where this could possibly go.  There are talks and hopes of it becoming something more, but right now we are just selling locally.  Recently, we had the chance to set up shop at a local Christmas Bazaar.  The cards did well and many people said they were beautiful!  When we told the kids that many cards sold, you could tell a sense of pride and amazement welled up, huge grins came across their faces and we all clapped and smiled at each other.  I'm smiling now just thinking about it...Wonderful things are happening in the slums of Kolkata.

Here are a few pictures from the local Christmas Bazaar we went to:

I recently stumbled upon the website to back up the "I am Second" movement and watched a few of their videos.  I haven't had the chance to watch all the videos [partially because my internet often takes 30 minutes to load them and most of the time looses connection], but the ones that I have watched, I've been really encouraged by.  I always find honesty refreshing.  These peoples lives have really been changed by the power of Jesus Christ.  There is no way to deny it.

Click here to watch a few of the videos.

There are a buncha nasty tasting "snack foods" here in India.  I mean NASTY.  It's so hard because the people who bought it are being so generous and usually they bought the snack just for you.  So, you really can't refuse.  And India's version of hospitality is like none I have seen before.  Notice, I said "version".  Where I am from, I would feel so terrible if someone ate something I cooked even though they didn't like it.  Here, I don't even really know if that enters their mind... the fact that I might not like it.

Needless to say, I'm always excited when I find a snack food that I actually enjoy  They are few and far between or maybe I'm just not looking in the right places, but one of the really good tasting snacks is called "Hippo".  We call them "Hippo Chips".  As an added bounus, each little bag of chips has a little rhyme on the back of it about fighting hunger that is super funny. 

Here are the rhymes from the two little bags that are in the picture:
(You need to say it in a 'hippo' voice.  I think I channel the whale from the movie "Elf" when he says... "byyyeeee buuudddyyyy"--I think it helps.)

"Hello, me hippo.
Hippo make lots of Hippo delicious baked munchies for everyone.
Hippo feel bad you work, work, work and not eat on time.  Hippo like you keep Hippo munchies handy.
Look, Hippo care for you.  Hippo say, 'don't go hungry'.
Hippo think hungry people less happy.  Hungry people more fight.
Hippo believe world will be better if nobody hungry.
So, Hippo try."

"Hello, me Hippo again.
Hippo happy you join Hippo mission to fight hunger.
But now Hippo need more munchies to fight hunger.
Hippo say mouth round, stomach round, world rough. So, Hippo makes munchies also round-round.
Hippo say hunger give world hard time.  Eat Round-Round munchies and give hunger hard time.
Because what go round must come round, ho ho ho!"

Tell me you're not smiling!