Feb 13-20th!!

Feb 13th- The family slept a little later today to help rid ourselves of the impending snowed-in/still jet-lagged illnesses. At breakfast I almost poured heavy cream into my cereal instead of milk (similar containers with sanscrit labels… they'll get you every time) then read a bit of Living Together by Bonhoeffer. We cleaned up the TreeHouse and went to the market to get bread, eggs, tomato puree, zucchini, and spices (no luck with spices--because they sometimes don't have western equivalents and other times don't know the english names of them).
While in the market, a few young girls followed us the entire way asking for money, bananas, and chapatis (local style of bread). It is so tough to figure out how we should compassionately and wisely act in these situations. This is one of the toughest recurring things in India to adjust to--please continue to keep us in your prayers for this specifically.
We came back and got some daily chores done: firewood from the wood shed on campus, water from the campus filter, and started baking (today we made Indian chocolate chip cookies--which was more like a cookie cake/blondie browny pan and texture wise was a bit gritty (because sugar, to our surprise, is only sold in the raw form). Neha's mom came by and we served her chai and "biscuits" (nom cookies). Minutes after her departure Momma Dee (one of the leaders at the children's home) and Bula Ma'am (school principal) stopped by to say "hello". The girls then made fried rice with zucchini, onions, ginger, and soy sauce for lunch. Water stopped running from 430pm-730pm. Power went out around 8pm for a few minutes, but we had just finished eating dinner and our cookie-cake (baked in 9x9in. pan in toaster oven).
Before bed, I was able to talk to my family, Stephen, and Cor. for a few minutes :) And yes it's true, the first few days I cried lots--being overwhelmed most nights when talking to friends and family at home. I didn't (and still don't) want to be a burden or emotional strain, but I really miss normalcy. I want to serve genuinely and joyfully, but my heart hurts sometimes making it hard to hear His peace and love. Everything seems so much more difficult when you don't know much about anything, and you're surrounded by it constantly.
Don't be mad that I ended on a sad note--better days (more productive ones-thank goodness!) are a'comin. I promise :) TII

Feb 14th- We went to church this morning and the pastor was in Delhi, so VJ spoke about being hidden in Christ (Col. 3). He said "We can trust Christ and we don't have to worry." This simple message is something that we misuse and over-use all the time. But he's right--we can trust Him. He knows us best, and knows what's best for us.
I met a few girls after church, both named Amy! Neha and her sisters then came over for lunch at the house--very fun getting to know them! I think they're still shy though, because they understand us when we speak english, but they still use Neha to translate their Hindi for us :) But they're so fun!! After lunch we did more chores and reading.
Also… the family found out that I'm not the biggest fan of my b-day and India doesn't celebrate Valentine's Day, so they decided to trick me by going out that night for v-day (surpass b-day) dinner. We ate at Johnson's restaurant (our group ordered things like: spinach lasagna, spaghetti, raviolis, trout, and sun-dried tomato sweet corn and jalapeno pizza). T'was a wonderful evening of laughter (partly because #1 we had to out-run Johnson's Lodge restaurant's staff which is conveniently next door with the same name, who we initially called to make a reservation with and ended up seeing the owner on the way there-confirming our seats, but we ended up eating at the other Johnson's restaurant and everyone who came in the door looked like the owners from the next restaurant looking for us {yikes} AND #2 the ultra-party-rave music playing the whole evening!). We also ordered cake & homemade ice-cream for dessert--which was also gritty? TII

Feb 15th- I snuck downstairs and made french toast for the girls still in bed and those awake in the tree house. Ashley had 'happy birthday' posters and signs posted everywhere! Such a special birthday surprise :)
However, it was another rough morning and evening for me. Every day, when the sun is out, and I become so busy with maintaining the house or cooking, I usually forget how much I miss home. But after talking to friends/family from home again I remember how much I miss them and desire to be there with them. It's hardest for me to just sit still here--which is really tough to do when you don't have tasks assigned (other than the daily chores) yet. I feel like I should be doing something, serving someone, or actively goingoinggoing… instead of building the foundational relationships with those I live with. Not doing anything for the community around us, made me thing twice about even being here.
After sneaking up prayers though home-sick tears and shivering under covers again, I know the Lord changed my heart. His words breathed life into me. A reminder of Him calming the storm for the disciples was heavy on my heart. After falling asleep, thinking about that story and praising Him for knowing and taking care of details, I woke up to the sound of the dogs barking and fighting outside (as always) around 3am. And just as I began to become frustrated again, I heard our next door neighbor step outside and all he said was "hush" in a very calm voice. The dogs stopped and I fell right back to sleep. How parallel is the Lord's hush in the craziness of our lives--His peace is in His perfect timing. I knew this we something that I had to share (His love and provision is too good not to share), but I had no idea how soon that the opportunity to do that would arise. TII

Feb 16th- Today was the best day, by far. Waking up feeling much like I have other mornings--cold (about 12 degrees Celcius in our room) and weary about bucket baths, I quickly remembered what the Lord taught me the night before and I jumped out of bed. I got downstairs and had breakfast, and read for a bit. Justin, Kevin, Ashley, and I headed over to the school to meet the teachers and Elias (one of the administrators) for tea. We had a bit of lunch with them too (fried momo's {which are dumplings} with spinach inside and spicy sauce on top followed by some fancy little cake things), and brainstormed about some of the projects that we could start doing for the school before the March Session starts for students. It was decided that Kevin would be drafting up a script for a school play about the history of the school (this is their jubilee year, the 25th year anniversary) and I will be working on paintings in the library. It was so nice just to be able to hear about the teachers' desires to minister to the kids through teaching. We took a look at the library, gathered up the clean laundry for the house from the clothes line, and went back to the tree house to hang out while the others ate lunch.
Next, we prepared a program for the children's home including some games, songs, and a devotion. Guess who was given the opportunity to share about the Lord's calming the storm? We got to the house after a rocky and brisk auto-rick ride UP our Himalayan mountain, and had tea with Auntie and Momma Dee, before we met the kids. They shared with us about some of the children's family situations {or lack there of )-: } as well as the history of that home. She explained that she had many many years of persecution for starting this home, but that she knew that it was the Lord's plan for her to continue in this work--no matter how difficult it may be to be obedient. She said "if I live, i know that it's His best for me, and if I die, I know that it's His best for me". How much faith she has! I was great to spent some time getting to know them.
Walking from that warm meeting room to the auditorium where we would be having our "program," we saw many kids stick their heads out of their windows watching us and waving. We got to the room and played a bunch of games, sang a few songs, and I shared what the Lord had just taught/reminded me about calming the storms. I'm not a great communicator or the teaching type at all, but I know that He had his reasons for each of those events… in that order.
We came back to the house smiling the entire way down the mountain (Ashley pretended to drive the jeep-sitting in the front left passenger seat). Casey and Kevin prepared a bean chili and cheesy bread for dinner! We enjoyed dinner and a skype-bible-study with Matt Orth about the "kingdom." TII

Feb 17th- Went to the school again today, and came up with mural concept of a tree scene to be painted in the library--which was based on colors/patterns from the children's book "Good-Night, Owl." Went to the market with Casey and Kevin to stock the pantry for the week's dinners. Dennis and Sheryll came over for dinner (Ashley and I made bean burgers… really spicy and tough beans--still trying to figure beans in India out) and brownies. TII

Feb 18th- Thursday is Malaria pill day… we have no mosquitos yet, still 17*C in our city and…. sometimes colder inside (because of the lack of sun exposure on our apt).
Went to the school at 9am, found Elias Sir and met with the teachers for a devotion given by VJ (who spoke about Jacob's struggle with God & how Jacob was searching for all the blessings, even Esaus' and was never satisfied with anything. VJ went onto explain that in Jacob's wrestle with the Lord's messenger, for Jacob to say his name (which means 'deceiver') meant that he was admitting his faults and failures, and accepting his new name allowed a change of character for him… letting go of his old self and putting on his new person in the Lord, being completely satisfied by everything that the Lord provided for him. The variety in attitudes towards this devotional time for the teachers (every morning before their lesson planning/preparation for the next school session) is so similar to that which I see in the states. Some of the teachers fell asleep, and some were preoccupied with twisting their spectacles into a level submission, but some were intently focused on what the Lord was saying through his servant VJ. What a blessing it was for me to sit and listen to the word of God being preached in a school, with educators, in a closed country. We sang "As the Deer." Even though it can be considered a cheesy song, there is so much biblical truth tucked away in those lyrics, it's hard for me not to appreciate every ounce of that song, now… after hearing and singing in agreement with those teachers lifting up those words as a personal prayer to long after Him.
After the devotion time, I acquired the key for access to the library, found an overhead projector in the biology department that the teachers let me borrow for sketching the mural concept onto the wall. Tea time at 11am (everyday) included chai (always!) and mom's (dumplings--today more like pot stickers with a spicy steamed cabbage inside) with a spicier dipping sauce on the side… and a small red biscuit/cake looking lump (to cut the spice--which really was very sweet and had almond slices in it too). VJ sat with us during tea time, and we talked about the devotion that he shared that morning, his role in the school, and his educational background. We appreciate his friendship very much already! What a help and encouragement he has been! We finished up in the library after tea, by my deciding on colors for the wall art. Krishna, Elias Sir's assistant showed us the stock of paints that they already had in store downstairs and requested a list of what other materials I would need to complete the mural. He was back with the materials by 1pm--our time to leave for the day as well as his break for lunch which was perfect timing.
Grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch (compliments of the Brock Cafe in our tree house). Next we hiked up, though Old Manali to Monu Temple. This part of town includes very traditional Hindu people who are living in the shadow of religious lies. We saw a few grammas hiding behind a bunker of snow (unmelted snow that was pushed to the side of the road so autos could get up the mountain) and were throwing snowballs at kids and other touring passer-bys (our group included) we spent a few minutes with them, playing and taking pictures! We reached the intended overlook destination (only 1/3 of the way our Himalayan mountain) and prayed over the city that we will be serving in. It was a beautiful sight with miles and miles of snow capped mountains all around and a valley teaming with houses,shops, orchards, and patches of dense forests, but at the same time an intimidating view of a world that has still yet to see the truth behind the beauty of the wold that they live in. How can they not see God, though His beautiful creation. We, as people, take so much for granted!
We hiked back down the mountain, praying for those we passed, and the group split (some to go back to the house and begin preparing for dinner, and J&J and I to head to the market to get a few items). We also spent a few hours at Mayur, having coffee and butter and cheese naan. A warm, cozy restaurant was a perfect place for a review of the time we've had here so far. I learn a lot from Auntie and Unckie J&J. Their joy for the Lord and one another is so encouraging and a good reminder of home :) Came back home and had Casey & Kevin's taco soup--including beans, corn, taco seasoning, cilantro, and chapatis on the side! Ashley whipped up another dessert recipe with Justin (while we all danced to Owl City) and we had peanut butter cookies with hershey kisses on top after our dinner. And some left over batter went into making Nutella lava cakes. Yum. We watched a few episodes of the Office by using the house computer and projector--for our Family Fun night activity. Headed up to bed, got a chance to talk to momma and Stephen for a bit!! TII

Feb 19th- Met the teachers at the school again for devotions in the morning and started the painting part of the mural--which has a very messy clean-up process (because the paints are oil-based, we use kerosine to clean off brushes and mixing trays).
Headed to the mess (where the hospital staff and outpatient families eat meals. also Indians eat with their hands--we stick out like sore thumbs using utensils… maybe one day we'll learn) and saw some friends there--good to talk to familiar faces that live on campus during lunch--which was rice and spicy daal (beans) and spicy cauliflower (osososo good=fave).
After lunch I had more chances to talk to friends and family from home as well as getting some more reading done.
Sent J&J on a date night, and we four kids went out to Johnson's again, but decided on the German Bakery for desserts and coffee instead--which was a good choice indeed--including good chatter and laughter. Made momma proud by coming back to the room and watching an episode of House (american TV shows--what a treat in such a foreign land). TII

Feb 20th- Free day, Saturday… meaning chore and reading day :) There was absolutely beautiful, warm, sunshine today!! I spent most of the morning doing laundry and reading in the shade of the clean laundry on the clothes line. What a blessing it is to have the privilege of cleaning clothes. Still reading Living Together, and read a few more chapters of Bruchko, and had some good laughs with Neha in between paragraphs.
Got the room cleaned up and organized. Next, we three girls headed to the market to get our staples: 1kg of flour, 1kg of sugar (yay), bananas, milk, 2 kg's of potatoes, zucchini, cheese, and cereal (which reminds me… we're running out of tomatoes & will need to pick up more tomorrow because our sneaky pet {Ratilltoui} keeps munching on ours--also we set another trap for him tonight--hopefully we can free him off-campus tomorrow!!). While in the market, we also stopped by the seamstress (which was actually a sir… so seamsir?… i dunno) to have Justin's new scarf altered. More kids followed us, poking us, today asking for money--which is still just as heart wrenching as the first time and that will never change :(

We came back and decided on breakfast for dinner (proud to say is one of my poppa's favorite choices & mine, too). Ashley and I made banana & walnut pancakes and scrambled eggs. Tasty treats indeed. Everyone decided on watching more episodes of the Office again tonight and I was writing/editing all of this. Also… snow is almost completely melted (with the exception of the huge piles from shoveled/tractor'ed streets). TII