Yesterday afternoon, all the adults and children met together in our big meeting room after the last session of their language class. The children performed some songs that they have learned during the course of the week, the verse of the week, Philippians 3:8, and one of the young girls told the story of Paul's life. We leaders then led the whole group in some songs and shared a meal together. It was great to be able to love on our friends by caring for their children while they were learning more about the Hindi language.
Friday, July 29, 2011
A week of Service
This past week was all about serving our friends. About ten different families participated in a Hindi language class and we were given the opportunity to care for their children. The days looked a little something like this: start out with a couple games, then do some songs together, a lesson, and a craft. We taught the children about the life of Paul and how the Father provided for all of his needs. It was really cool to see the children grasp just how much the Father loves His people.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Reflecting and Refreshing in Udaipur
This past Friday through Tuesday, our team went to Udaipur in Rajastan for a mid-summer excursion. We had a great time resting and reflecting together as a team. We were able to spend a half day with the L0rd to reflect on all the things He has been teaching us this summer. Each student came back from that time with new things to share and a renewed passion to be in India.
We also had the chance to do some fun things like swimming and shopping. We even got to see the new Harry Potter in 3D one night! I must say, I think the movie theaters are way better in India. It was only 100 rps to see the movie (i.e. $2 dollars) and we sat in really large, cushioned seats. It was great!
Another exciting adventure was taking a 12 hour night train from Udaipur back to I-town. I was nervous about how well we'd sleep, but everyone seemed to do fine! I did wake up a few times when trains passed us and honked their horns.
I'm so thankful for the time we had to reflect and bond together as a team. Please pr@y for us these final few weeks in I-town. Pray we would be bold and get after it!
The hotel we stayed at in Udaipur (I know, not too shabby right?!)
Jackson! We loved getting to spend extended time with his family!
Jack, Sambo, and Sarala
I love all of the bright colors in India!
Our entire group!
Our summer group
The beautiful lake in Udaipur
The men
All those little specks in the sky aren't birds...they're bats!!
The gorgeous view from a restaurant we ate dinner at one night
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Orphanage
Today we spent the day at the orphanage. We had a great time loving on the kids, teaching stories and songs and playing games. Tomorrow we leave for our midsummer excursion and are looking forward to the time to relax, spend time as a team and come back refreshed for the rest of the summer.
Here are some pictures from the orphanage today...
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Monsoon Madness!!
So much has happened over the last week! Here is a list of just the few things that we’ve done:
• made the front page of a newspaper
• ridden a camel
• gone to an orphanage
• spent a day in the park playing village games with nationals
• gotten the grand tour of a nursing college and hospital
• worshipped with nationals in Hindi
• gotten caught in the monsoon
• shared with people in the malls
• dialogued in English classes with nationals trying to learn English
• gone to universities
• And spent time with the Vision team!
I think that all of as a team would agree that we have discovered that we on our own are very weak. Our flesh and body have failed us. But we have hope because we know that “It is God who works in us to will and to act according to his good purpose” Phillipians 2:13. How awesome to know that nothing we do is of own doing- our desire to hate sin, love people, and be sanctified comes only from the L@rd. The Word is sufficient! So pr@y that we would stay in the Word and that we would grow more and more humble and dependent on the Spirit each day.
As a team, we’ve recently been going through Phillipians 2:1-18. As I read, memorize, and meditate on this Scripture, I’m blown away by the amazingness of the g@spel. And I am reminded of the humility of my S@vior. And we are called to have this same humility. Pr@y that in every situation, in every conversation, and in every moment that we would live lives worthy of the gospel.
• made the front page of a newspaper
• ridden a camel
• gone to an orphanage
• spent a day in the park playing village games with nationals
• gotten the grand tour of a nursing college and hospital
• worshipped with nationals in Hindi
• gotten caught in the monsoon
• shared with people in the malls
• dialogued in English classes with nationals trying to learn English
• gone to universities
• And spent time with the Vision team!
I think that all of as a team would agree that we have discovered that we on our own are very weak. Our flesh and body have failed us. But we have hope because we know that “It is God who works in us to will and to act according to his good purpose” Phillipians 2:13. How awesome to know that nothing we do is of own doing- our desire to hate sin, love people, and be sanctified comes only from the L@rd. The Word is sufficient! So pr@y that we would stay in the Word and that we would grow more and more humble and dependent on the Spirit each day.
As a team, we’ve recently been going through Phillipians 2:1-18. As I read, memorize, and meditate on this Scripture, I’m blown away by the amazingness of the g@spel. And I am reminded of the humility of my S@vior. And we are called to have this same humility. Pr@y that in every situation, in every conversation, and in every moment that we would live lives worthy of the gospel.
Monday, July 4, 2011
"Mera naam Jordan hay"
That is to say in Hindi, "My name is Jordan" -- my go-to phrase in greeting someone.
Now that we are in the purposed city I am using this phrase a lot. Our attitude is one of intentionality. Much of our intentionality, oddly enough for me, is found in hanging out in the malls here because this is where the young, college-age students flock to. You can pick them out by their Westernized dress. Often they are even the ones to approach us. We just make ourselves visible. We worked our way onto our first college campus today too.
But there is such a disparity between stepping off the street and its cow filth, mud, and the rubble of disrepair, and into malls that rival our very own.
Last week we went to Ujain, the city of temples. Entry wasn't unlike the State Fair -- handrails that corral you in line -- for hundreds of thousands of Hindus come through this temple annually to pour milk and throw marigolds (which they must buy from the temple salesmen) on the Shiva idol. Imprecatory psalms came to mind as we pr@yerwalked. As I am told, they have never been told inasmuch to do so; no code of how to worship. They come because they have always come; they bow down and kiss the filthy floor because that is what they have seen other do. If they come to this temple on a certain day of the year or on a full moon to do the ritual, then they are pretty much guaranteed to have positive karma and move up in the next life. "Their land is full of idols;" in innocence (relative to Rom. 1) and ignorance "they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made" (Is. 2:8).
They really love the H.S. here. He is not, as Francis Chan pointed out, the "Forgotten God" on this side of the world. For us in the West, faith is hard because we have a logical, scientific explanation for everything. They don't here and so rest much more upon faith and are sensitive to the Spirit. Many lives are transformed by JC here because, in ways illogical to us Westerners, prayers of faith for healing to the very Healer Himself, He indeed answers.
Cute as they may be, but don't mess with these little B-29's.
Peace 'n blessin's from across the pond...
Now that we are in the purposed city I am using this phrase a lot. Our attitude is one of intentionality. Much of our intentionality, oddly enough for me, is found in hanging out in the malls here because this is where the young, college-age students flock to. You can pick them out by their Westernized dress. Often they are even the ones to approach us. We just make ourselves visible. We worked our way onto our first college campus today too.
But there is such a disparity between stepping off the street and its cow filth, mud, and the rubble of disrepair, and into malls that rival our very own.
Last week we went to Ujain, the city of temples. Entry wasn't unlike the State Fair -- handrails that corral you in line -- for hundreds of thousands of Hindus come through this temple annually to pour milk and throw marigolds (which they must buy from the temple salesmen) on the Shiva idol. Imprecatory psalms came to mind as we pr@yerwalked. As I am told, they have never been told inasmuch to do so; no code of how to worship. They come because they have always come; they bow down and kiss the filthy floor because that is what they have seen other do. If they come to this temple on a certain day of the year or on a full moon to do the ritual, then they are pretty much guaranteed to have positive karma and move up in the next life. "Their land is full of idols;" in innocence (relative to Rom. 1) and ignorance "they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made" (Is. 2:8).
They really love the H.S. here. He is not, as Francis Chan pointed out, the "Forgotten God" on this side of the world. For us in the West, faith is hard because we have a logical, scientific explanation for everything. They don't here and so rest much more upon faith and are sensitive to the Spirit. Many lives are transformed by JC here because, in ways illogical to us Westerners, prayers of faith for healing to the very Healer Himself, He indeed answers.
Our perhaps overzealous celebration of July 4th
Cute as they may be, but don't mess with these little B-29's.
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