In the last 24 hours, someone is trying to tell me something! I listened to a WFC church sermon on flip talk, and how we need to change our attitude and speech to be positive. We need to stop focusing on the negative and look on the bright side. I then turned to my daily devotional to find the lesson on “grumbling.” God reminds us in 1 Corinthians 16:9-12 of all his great works and the many things he does for us that we should marvel at. Why let our hearts and mouths spew negative degrading feelings and words, when we have such an amazing God who showers us with blessings?
The same message put before me twice in one day. I wonder if God is trying to teach me something. Am I being too negative? Am I forgetting to find the good in each day, to find the God in each day? My mother could probably attest for the fact that I have. Being so close, she is the one I call to rattle off my list of complaints! The ants have found my snacks yet again..they are giving me too much food.. someone broke the football..I miss my friends and family! How often do I discuss what God is doing around and through me? With my current attitude, it is no wonder I can continue to find fault in the people and happenings around me.
Don’t get me wrong… I love India. I love the children here and I am happy with the work in which I am involved. But, I have just been forgetting to focus on those things. God is doing wonderful things here in India. There are still great needs everywhere, but every day I hear a success story and about another life He has changed. I should be rejoicing in even the smallest successes here and use it to inspire my work further. I will not be in India forever. I have a limited time here to make a difference. Even the tiniest impact on one life or one event is worth working towards and giving my focus.
God is also doing wonderful things within me on a daily basis here. I have so much time away from the distractions of American life for introspection and Bible study. In the silences, he is teaching me to work on my own heart. I have learned new things from passages I have read a dozen times in the past. I should look to these things in order to find contentment. These things should bring me peace and joy. The little troubles that bring me to complain are petty and most likely the works of Satan to bring me down.
I may have ants, but so does every home in India. On the bright side, hundreds of them barely put a noticeable dent in my snacks. They may give me way more food than I will ever have the desire to eat, but at least I have people here who love me and care enough about me to make sure I am fed. How many people in this world are starving each day? The children may be mischievous at times, but they are still kids. I would expect no different from my students in America. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to share a little love and attention with them that they may otherwise be lacking in a home of over 500 children. I do miss my friends and family. Fortunately, they are all in good health and I have the technologies necessary to keep in contact with them. They will be home when I return this December and I can delight in seeing them again. Even more, I have learned to value those who are most important in my life. Time away from the ones I love has reminded me of how much I need and appreciate them. I can thank God every day that he has put such amazing people in my life.
More than anything, I can also take comfort in the fact that no matter where I go in life, I am not alone. God is with me. He will comfort. He will defend. He will provide.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
You know you’re not in America anymore when the birds hunt the cats…
Sitting outside the NASA office on a beautiful Tuesday in August I sit back and watch as this crow repeatedly dives down at an innocent cat wandering through the boys’ campus. While I’ve seen more well fed cats in the states, this was no kitten by any means. I would be amazed to see how this crow planned to finally bring down his prey.
My first two days at Light of Love have been fruitful and entertaining. I spent the majority of yesterday setting up the room where I will stay for the next five months. Equipped with my own kitchen and American style toilet, I have more available to me than I could have expected. My biggest obstacle was trying to convince them that it’s not normal to cohabitate with bats. A losing battle I’m afraid…. According to everyone here, it’s common for them to fly around inside, and only American bats will bite. At least if they turn out to be wrong, I can say “I told you so!” And at night, I have mosquito netting to keep them from bothering me while I sleep.
Fully prepared to combat the wretched ants, I came prepared this year with Tupperware to store all of my cereal and snacks. I won’t be sharing with them or the rats anymore! Sorry for your loss of M&Ms Mom!
Before spending my evening with the 500 plus children here, I was able to walk with Premdas as he fulfilled his daily exercise requirement. We left the campus gates to walk alongside an Indian highway, rest at a local coffee shop/restaurant and continued through the local village, stopping shortly at an all girls’ school. He spent the time joking and sharing insights into the Indian culture.
Yesterday, I spent with Premdas and my laptop. He is such an amazing storyteller. Stories I hope to keep in my heart as a reminder of the struggles of India. The most incredible part is that his tales are all experiences from a life really lived in India. He has seen it all. Even in just two days, I have seen person after person come through the Light of Love campus for a moment of time to plead their case. I never see him turn anyone away. No matter what funds he has available, he calls into his office for them to write another check. I’ve never seen faith like his where he gives, trusting solely that God will provide in time. Even to me, who could be accused of having a charmed life in comparison to anyone I’ve met here in India, he offers his whole-hearted assistance.
I have been gathering information about the MACS program for women’s micro financing and learning more about the fundraising of some of my fellow Westsiders. In my short time here, I am already beginning to get ideas of my own. Premdas shared his heart for education and the great need for assistance in local dalits who do not have the financing available in their families to support themselves. He doesn’t wish to overburden any one person with all of the financial needs of India. Therefore, his hope is that someone new will take on this separate cause. Join me in prayer as I decide if God is calling me to help fulfill this need. Having begun my career as a teacher, I have the same desire as Premdas to see everyone better themselves and further their education into college and graduate school. As it is not likely I will live in India for the rest of my life, I have been searching for my way to make a difference from home.
My first two days at Light of Love have been fruitful and entertaining. I spent the majority of yesterday setting up the room where I will stay for the next five months. Equipped with my own kitchen and American style toilet, I have more available to me than I could have expected. My biggest obstacle was trying to convince them that it’s not normal to cohabitate with bats. A losing battle I’m afraid…. According to everyone here, it’s common for them to fly around inside, and only American bats will bite. At least if they turn out to be wrong, I can say “I told you so!” And at night, I have mosquito netting to keep them from bothering me while I sleep.
Fully prepared to combat the wretched ants, I came prepared this year with Tupperware to store all of my cereal and snacks. I won’t be sharing with them or the rats anymore! Sorry for your loss of M&Ms Mom!
Before spending my evening with the 500 plus children here, I was able to walk with Premdas as he fulfilled his daily exercise requirement. We left the campus gates to walk alongside an Indian highway, rest at a local coffee shop/restaurant and continued through the local village, stopping shortly at an all girls’ school. He spent the time joking and sharing insights into the Indian culture.
Yesterday, I spent with Premdas and my laptop. He is such an amazing storyteller. Stories I hope to keep in my heart as a reminder of the struggles of India. The most incredible part is that his tales are all experiences from a life really lived in India. He has seen it all. Even in just two days, I have seen person after person come through the Light of Love campus for a moment of time to plead their case. I never see him turn anyone away. No matter what funds he has available, he calls into his office for them to write another check. I’ve never seen faith like his where he gives, trusting solely that God will provide in time. Even to me, who could be accused of having a charmed life in comparison to anyone I’ve met here in India, he offers his whole-hearted assistance.
I have been gathering information about the MACS program for women’s micro financing and learning more about the fundraising of some of my fellow Westsiders. In my short time here, I am already beginning to get ideas of my own. Premdas shared his heart for education and the great need for assistance in local dalits who do not have the financing available in their families to support themselves. He doesn’t wish to overburden any one person with all of the financial needs of India. Therefore, his hope is that someone new will take on this separate cause. Join me in prayer as I decide if God is calling me to help fulfill this need. Having begun my career as a teacher, I have the same desire as Premdas to see everyone better themselves and further their education into college and graduate school. As it is not likely I will live in India for the rest of my life, I have been searching for my way to make a difference from home.
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