... to everyone who helped make my birthday so special! It was a great day and lasted much longer than 24 hours!
To friends who Facebooked or Skyped sweet messages.
To new friends who celebrated with me here.
To the mailman who delivered packages from home.
To Uncle Dan, Mimi and Poppie, Mimi and Gramps, Ms. Ruth, Ms. Fran, and Ms. Arlene for beautiful and encouraging notes.
To Mom, Dad, Lindsey and Bryan for an incredible box of goodies. I'm trying to wait at least an hour before I make cupcakes :)
And to my Father. For another year. For opening doors. For constant guidance. For peace and strength. And for loving me unconditionally.
I love you all more than I can express.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
My Favorite Things
One day last week, my teammate and I rode home from school with two of our students. We somehow started talking about musicals and discovered a common love for "The Sound of Music", then spent the rest of the ride home belting out its songs. This was one of the highlights of that day and got me thinking as I looked out the car window. As we were singing "Favorite Things", I began listing my favorite things about South Asia one month in, and I thought I'd share a few with you.
1. People stare. If you know me at all, it probably shocks you that this is the first one on the list. I did hate it for a while, but then started having fun with it. Since it's inevitable that I will get stares, I make eye contact right back. The women typically have wary looks on their faces, but when I smile at them, they have time to process this and smile back before we pass on the street. Then we are both happy :)
2. Things are cheap. Pretty self-explanatory. But if you need an example, I bought three tomatoes for the equivalent of 2 cents today. And an $11 meal was ridiculous. I almost walked out of the restaurant.
3. Clothes. They are colorful, modest, cheap, and you get to design your own. It doesn't get much better than that!
4. Animals. I greet cows, dogs, goats, chickens, and the occasional monkey on my daily outings. I've even had cows outside my building to welcome me home. Almost like Brody....
5. Autos. The best way I can describe an auto rickshaw is a three-wheeled scooter with a roof and a bench on the back. We play "How many Americans can we fit in an auto?" often. I believe the current record is six, but we can do better than that. The drivers don't like this game as much as we do though.
6. Food. I have always liked a little kick to my food, but South Asia overwhelms my taste buds at times. And the freshest fruits and vegetables. Pretty amazing.
7. Our guard. There is a very nice man who stands outside our building and helps out with anything we need. He also practices Kannada with me, even though he spends the majority of the time laughing at my attempts to sound like him.
8. Birthdays. In this culture, you give gifts to your friends on your birthday, instead of the other way around. I think this is how it should be, so I'm going to try it on Monday.
9. Two-wheelers. What I like to call "scoot-scoots". It blows me away how many people can fit onto a small motorcycle. I'll see families with a child up front holding onto the handlebar, a parent driving behind the child, another squished child, and a mom on the back holding one or two more children. Typically only the dad has a helmet. I'm not saying this makes sense, but it's hard not to smile.
10. Chai. Incredible conversations happen over a cup of tea.
11. Lack of shoes. I hardly ever wear them here. And there are a lot of people who never do. Anytime you enter a building, you leave your shoes at the door. My feet feel so free.
12. People. My neighbors. Becoming my friends. Seeing my Father at work in them.
It will be interesting to see how this list changes over the next few months :) Thanks for your encouragement and support so far. Know that your prayers are felt, and He is continuing to meet our needs. Please fill me in on what is going on in your lives. I would love to be lifting you up as well! Love to you all!
1. People stare. If you know me at all, it probably shocks you that this is the first one on the list. I did hate it for a while, but then started having fun with it. Since it's inevitable that I will get stares, I make eye contact right back. The women typically have wary looks on their faces, but when I smile at them, they have time to process this and smile back before we pass on the street. Then we are both happy :)
2. Things are cheap. Pretty self-explanatory. But if you need an example, I bought three tomatoes for the equivalent of 2 cents today. And an $11 meal was ridiculous. I almost walked out of the restaurant.
3. Clothes. They are colorful, modest, cheap, and you get to design your own. It doesn't get much better than that!
4. Animals. I greet cows, dogs, goats, chickens, and the occasional monkey on my daily outings. I've even had cows outside my building to welcome me home. Almost like Brody....
5. Autos. The best way I can describe an auto rickshaw is a three-wheeled scooter with a roof and a bench on the back. We play "How many Americans can we fit in an auto?" often. I believe the current record is six, but we can do better than that. The drivers don't like this game as much as we do though.
6. Food. I have always liked a little kick to my food, but South Asia overwhelms my taste buds at times. And the freshest fruits and vegetables. Pretty amazing.
7. Our guard. There is a very nice man who stands outside our building and helps out with anything we need. He also practices Kannada with me, even though he spends the majority of the time laughing at my attempts to sound like him.
8. Birthdays. In this culture, you give gifts to your friends on your birthday, instead of the other way around. I think this is how it should be, so I'm going to try it on Monday.
9. Two-wheelers. What I like to call "scoot-scoots". It blows me away how many people can fit onto a small motorcycle. I'll see families with a child up front holding onto the handlebar, a parent driving behind the child, another squished child, and a mom on the back holding one or two more children. Typically only the dad has a helmet. I'm not saying this makes sense, but it's hard not to smile.
10. Chai. Incredible conversations happen over a cup of tea.
11. Lack of shoes. I hardly ever wear them here. And there are a lot of people who never do. Anytime you enter a building, you leave your shoes at the door. My feet feel so free.
12. People. My neighbors. Becoming my friends. Seeing my Father at work in them.
It will be interesting to see how this list changes over the next few months :) Thanks for your encouragement and support so far. Know that your prayers are felt, and He is continuing to meet our needs. Please fill me in on what is going on in your lives. I would love to be lifting you up as well! Love to you all!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Precious
I got to go spend an afternoon last week with some sweet girls from a slum area near my house. We worked on English with songs and rhymes for a while, but got a little distracted when the camera made an appearance. Had to capture the moment though!
After the tutoring, we got all of the younger kids together to play a game. It took a while to explain, but I think "joose, joose, guck" is much better than the original :) I can't tell you what a gift this experience was!
After the tutoring, we got all of the younger kids together to play a game. It took a while to explain, but I think "joose, joose, guck" is much better than the original :) I can't tell you what a gift this experience was!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Settling In
What a week! I have been in my city since Monday, and it's starting to sink in that this is home for the next few months. Thankfully, this is a place that is easy to get used to! The city is gorgeous! Even though I have been here before, I didn't realize how nice it was until I had visited another city in this country. The weather is perfect, there are trees everywhere, and I heard birds chirping as soon as I stepped off the plane. Such a great welcome!
Then I got to the apartment.... I can only tell you that Dad has done so much more than meet my needs here. He has been so gracious. It is beyond anything I could have imagined! I live in an bright and airy apartment with two great girls. And get this... my room is orange and blue! I feel right at home :)
The name of our neighborhood translates to "City of Joy". While I love the name, it's not accurate right now. My neighbors are missing out on the true source of joy. Each morning I hear a call to prayer and walk by temples on many street corners. I see people bowing to idols and offering incense to gods who don't hear their cries. Though these sights and sounds break my heart, they are such an incredible reminder of the reason I am here.
We sang a song the other night that asked "How long before your glory lights the skies? How long before your radiance lifts our eyes? How long before your fragrance fills the air? How long before the earth resounds with songs of joy?". I find myself asking these questions often, but then I see Him at work. He is here. He has not forgotten this country and this city. He loves these people so much more than I ever could.
Then I got to the apartment.... I can only tell you that Dad has done so much more than meet my needs here. He has been so gracious. It is beyond anything I could have imagined! I live in an bright and airy apartment with two great girls. And get this... my room is orange and blue! I feel right at home :)
The name of our neighborhood translates to "City of Joy". While I love the name, it's not accurate right now. My neighbors are missing out on the true source of joy. Each morning I hear a call to prayer and walk by temples on many street corners. I see people bowing to idols and offering incense to gods who don't hear their cries. Though these sights and sounds break my heart, they are such an incredible reminder of the reason I am here.
We sang a song the other night that asked "How long before your glory lights the skies? How long before your radiance lifts our eyes? How long before your fragrance fills the air? How long before the earth resounds with songs of joy?". I find myself asking these questions often, but then I see Him at work. He is here. He has not forgotten this country and this city. He loves these people so much more than I ever could.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Resting Place
It seems like we have been in this so much longer than four days, but I mean that in a good way! Things are going well and I am getting more and more comfortable, but also more and more excited to get to the place I will be for the next six months. At the same time, I don't want to miss out on what I can learn and experience here. I read in Joshua this morning about the crossing of the Jordan. That was not their destination, but a resting place. In that place, however, Dad did a mighty work, and they were able to look back and remember His faithfulness. I'm confident He can move the same way here. We are being sent out on community projects later this week, and that will be a great opportunity to use some of the things we are learning to impact this city. Be lifting us up during that time!
I am so thankful to be surrounded by such a great group of students. We are having an amazing time getting to know each other, but also learning from the other's experiences and gifts. Part of that fun has been exploring the city together. I thought I'd share a couple of pictures of it with you.
The first couple are of a "less busy" market we visited last week to shop for clothes. I thought it was crowded until I visited another on Sunday to look for a sari for a friend. I don't have words to describe it, and unfortunately, the camera didn't make it to that one. You'll just have to use your imagination :)
The last one made me smile when I saw it in a grocery store. Hope it does the same for you! I'm sure it will be the first of many. Love to you all!
I am so thankful to be surrounded by such a great group of students. We are having an amazing time getting to know each other, but also learning from the other's experiences and gifts. Part of that fun has been exploring the city together. I thought I'd share a couple of pictures of it with you.
The first couple are of a "less busy" market we visited last week to shop for clothes. I thought it was crowded until I visited another on Sunday to look for a sari for a friend. I don't have words to describe it, and unfortunately, the camera didn't make it to that one. You'll just have to use your imagination :)
The last one made me smile when I saw it in a grocery store. Hope it does the same for you! I'm sure it will be the first of many. Love to you all!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Made It!
I am here!! Everyone and everything made it into town safely last night, and we are having a wonderful time of training before heading to our cities. We also spent some time today shopping for traditional clothes, which was quite the adventure. Be looking for pictures soon!
Thanks for your encouragement so far! I love and miss you all, but have no doubt this is exactly where I need to be right now! More to come....
Thanks for your encouragement so far! I love and miss you all, but have no doubt this is exactly where I need to be right now! More to come....
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
It's Starting....
Thanks for following me on this new adventure! I'm excited about what's ahead and appreciate your prayers and support! Check back soon for updates....
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