friends and monkeys


Yesterday was a sad day! For the past 3 weeks of language study, we’ve been in another city. During our time here, we have been blessed to have a group of college students that were also working in this city to hang out with, laugh with, do fun things do. It was just so good to have other Americans to be with. Beyond that, one of those Americans is from my hometown and was nice enough to tote over some goodies with her. Thanks to Melinda (and my kind mother), I am now set in the coffee creamer depart for about 6 months now. PTL for hazelnut coffee!! Here is a pic of the girls about to head out...


melinda and i

In other news, our latest adventure took place a few days ago when we finally met a few of our monkey friends. Yep. Monkeys just took over the place during language study. I’m not really sure if they just migrate from house to house in packs, but about 15ish landed here for about 24 hours. Just by coincidence, that day our gas cylinder was out and we had to go downstairs to make food. So, I poke my head out the door, and there are about 5-6 sitting up on a ledge about 10 feet away. A few slowly walked away after I stared for a while, but one held his ground. After a few seconds, he showed his teeth at me and lunged at me!! Shrieking, we ran inside and slammed the door! Eeek! Monkeys scare me! Later on that day, we went to the monkey temple and were advised not to look at them or show your teeth because that is attack mode—good to know.


 this one walked right up to the screen door and tried to come in!
crazy kids.

lately...

It's been a while since the past post and much has happened. Life has been busy traveling to different cities, and it's made the time fly by!

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!
there were beautiful flowers all over!
this is me and Sky. she was always ready to play-- this picture shows no different.

me with the amazing back drop!
view of the city from our hotel.





thoughts

Today is my 2 months anniversary in this country. The most time I've ever spent in a foreign country was 40 days, so from here on out is new territory for me. In ways, it is what I thought it would be, but in others it is not.

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.

red sequins

Clothing is different where I'm living these days. The culture is more modest, so men usually wear pants and a collared shirt. They get to wear what we like to call "western dress". Or if you're hard at work, you can sport the stylish and usually colorful 'lungi', which is basically a man skirt.

For us women, the transition is more of a stretch. Most married women here wear the beautiful sarees, but I've been told that white women really can't pull that off. For all the single ladies, we just generally have to wear pants and a longer shirt called a kurta. I have a had fun times trying to shop and find things I will actually like. All the kurtas generally have some element of bling. Sequins, rhinestone --anything goes if it adds a little 'pop' to the outfit. Many times I have liked a shirt except for a few key elements. Like the other day, I saw a cute shirt, but as I pulled it out to look at it, these orange aluminum foil-looking sun's are stuck on the front. Nice. It's like, designers make a cute shirt and then just go crazy with all these extras. Needless to say, my wardrobe is pretty small right now.

But I feel like I had a mini-success the other day. I found a shirt I liked except for these rows of red sequins. I thought, "I'll buy it, and cut them off!" And that is just what I did. It took me a good while, but now I have a shirt I like! Anyway, I took a few pictures-- just thought I'd share a little bit from my life in South Asia. It's the little things that count. :)

Here is the first pic. At the neck, there were 3 rows of sequins.



If you look closely, you can see where the stitching is left. :)


home.

I've been able to walk around a little bit and take pictures of where I live. I hope to do this some more, but I figure I'll just post what I have for now. I got a new camera before coming, and I'm still learning the in's and out's-- hoping to get a skype lesson from that pro sister of mine.

oh, the cows...

this group of boys asked to have their picture taken
hard at work selling flowers.


cute little door
where i live! kinda sounds like Baton Rouge!

pictures coming!

I'll update soon. I promise-- I want to go and shoot some pictures of my new place to put on here. Life is going well! For now, think on this. I'll post a paragraph that I'm stealing from another blog that I like.

"If God has something specific for you, you’ll know, I promise. But if He is setting a box of crayons down in front of you (a box of crayons called life) then by all means draw. He’s taught you right from wrong, good from bad, beautiful from profane, so draw. He will be with you, proud of you, cheering you on, so draw. He loves you, so draw in the inspiration of the knowledge of His love. Draw a purple horse, a red ocean, a nine-legged dog, it doesn’t matter. Lets stop being so afraid. Lets live, and show the world what it really means to be grateful we don’t live in a dysfunctional family." -- Donald Miller

To read the full blog, here is the link:
http://donmilleris.com/2010/04/29/does-god-have-a-specific-plan-for-your-life-probably-not/

Life is different.


After having been in South Asia for about 5 days now, energy is escaping me and my brain has been overloaded with the newness of everything around me. After some time to recuperate, I'll post about my adventure of getting here. For now, I'll post some pictures that somewhat capture what I have experienced these past few days.

Cows in the street!


India Gate-- a war memorial to those who fought in WW II.
A little friend that walked with us through Lodhi Gardens... below.
tree in Lodhi Gardens
Lodhi Gardens

Don't think this quite captures the business and noise of this street.
Narrow alleyways-- notice the power lines!

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