Sea World, Safari, Shopping, a Story & a Social Network

These past few weeks have been filled with lots activities and ministry opportunities. Last Thursday, we took the girls to Sea World (a water park). They had so much fun. There were 25 girls who were eligible to go and 16 adults. Each adult was responsible for at least two girls. My two girls were so well-behaved! We had a lot of fun together. I would take them home if I could...

I, of course, took my camera with me. I wrapped it in Saran Wrap and put it in a Ziploc bag to keep it dry. I took quite a few pictures before my precautions fell through. It stopped working temporarily, but, thankfully, it started working again later. I let it sit in a bowl of rice overnight to soak up any remaining moisture and now it is as good as new. :)

Last weekend, I went out of town to visit a safari. My roommates and I planned on riding elephants, but, to our disappointment, there were no elephants there to ride. The monkeys got out of the cages though (not the one below)! One came pretty close to me and I am pretty sure he would have jumped on me if I hadn't moved. Some of them chased and tried to attack innocent bystanders. It was quite the experience...

Shopping is not usually an activity I enjoy in America, but here it is different. I really didn't think I would like bartering with the salesmen, but I do. I think it is because I like to win...or I am just stubborn and won't give in to their prices. ;) Since I am a foreigner, they think they can sale me things at a much higher price, but I know better. They also liked to tell me that the price is fixed, but I tell them there is no such thing as a fixed price in this country. Today, I bought two pairs of earrings. The salesguys wanted around 100 or so for them, but I talked them down to 30 and 40 each (about 50 cents in US currency). If only I could barter like this in the States...

I have been reading a Christian fantasy trilogy by Ted Dekker (The Circle Trilogy). I am currently reading the third book in the series called White. I usually do not read fiction, but my sister recommended it and I thought it would be a good way to wind down instead of reading deep, theological books that require a lot of concentration. I am amazed, however, at how JC is using these books to make me love the Gospel even more; to grow my faith; and to teach me more about the Lord I serve and love so much. Dekker's imagery in describing pure worship, the fall, the trinity, God's love, Christ's sacrifice, the darkness of sin and the love of Christ for His Bride, the Church, has help me love and see and appreciate and understand the Gospel in a whole new way. I have set the book aside for now to focus on language learning, stuff for the Center and discipleship stuff, but I cannot wait to pick it up again.

So I found out today that this country has blocked Facebook as of today. Apparently there was some anti-M*hammed stuff posted, which they were not too pleased with. I am interested to see how all this plays out...

Spread the Love

I read this sermon this morning about God's love. It was something I needed, so I wanted to share it:
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2010/4593_Consider_Your_Calling/

At Just the Right Time...

This evening, I was feeling overwhelmed with my schedule for the weeks ahead, but the Lord sent His Word to help me refocus. During my quiet time with the Lord, I listend to a sermon and it spoke directly to my circumstances. I was both challenged and comforted. I am always amazed at how God always brings His Word at just the right time. His Word never returns void (Isaiah 55:11) and He has given me much to think and pray about.

Last weekend, I joined my supervisors for a trip to a nearby city. We also went to the beach. :)

R2D2 Battles the Forces of Evil

I am affectionately known here as R2 among the other Americans because one of my roommates/teammates and I share the same name. Katelyn likes to call me R2D2. I find this kind of funny since I have never seen Star Wars...though I did play Star Wars Monopoly!

Over the past two weeks I have been battling viruses on my computer. It seems the Enemy has chosen to leave my health alone and attack my computer instead. It is so annoying and completely wastes my time as I try to remedy the situation. After many hours of researching and downloading programs to heal my computer, I think I have come out victorious. Computer viruses are proof of our sinful nature. Mankind is bent on destruction (Romans 3:15). Why else would someone create ways to destroy the computers of people they don't know and will never meet? It's just evil. But praise be to God for Jesus Christ who is the Great Remedy for all mankind and for His grace in helping me to endure such trying times!  

Letters from Abroad

This past week has been quite eventful. It started off with a package from the States. My friend's elementary class have partnered with me here in South Asia. They along with my awesome boss sent me and the girls all kinds of goodies - brownie mixes, band-aids, vitamins, floss (as I seriously underestimated the amount I needed) - along with letters from each kid in my friend's class. I translated and read out loud the letters to the girls. The girls really enjoyed them.

 I told the story of Zacchaeus this week in the national language. The Father was so gracious in helping me to memorize it in a very short amount of time. I know without a shadow of a doubt that I could not have done it without His grace.

The two girls who moved in with us went home this week. I am thankful for the opportunity I had to strengthen my relationship with them as well as to practice the language. I am even more thankful, though, that things have settled down in their community for them to go home. I believe that the Lord has only just begun His work there!

Yesterday, my roommates and I went to the Hill Tracks area to visit some other Americans who work with the tribal people there. We went to the local market where you can buy fresh fish, veggies, spices and the like. It was much different from the grocery store I go to here in the city.

We then took a boat ride on the river. The scenery was beautiful and I was reminded of God's greatness. All creation sings of His glory!

Today, a friend and I went to visit the World Vision station here. One of the national ladies from our house church used to work there so she made arrangements for us to meet the director. We had the opportunity to ask him lots of questions about the work WV does here and then he and his wife took us to see the area. They introduced us to a woman who used to have nothing but who now owns her own business making and selling clothes. Her business is doing very well and she is training other woman to do the same thing. WV is doing a great work here, but because this is considered a closed country, they do not share the Good News of JC. That means that they have helped this woman and others for this short lifetime only. :(

Since WV is by the Sea Beach, we took a trip there. It is not exactly what I think of when I think "beach," but it was worth seeing nonetheless.

Happy New Year (1417)

This past Wednesday was the South Asian New Year (based on the Hindu calendar). My teammate and I made a new friend last week who invited us to spend the day with her. She helped us pick out the appropriate sarees and jewelry over the weekend. When the day arrived, she helped us get dressed in said sarees (which are a little involved). Then we traveled to the major university here to join the festivities. There were lots of people there and many of the women were dressed up in the New Year colors (red and white). There were booths set up with a wide array of items for sale and random parades of men with drums marching through the streets. The day was pretty uncomfortable for me personally, though. My teammate and I were the only foreigners there and we received a lot of unwanted attention. People (mostly men) kept trying to take our pictures or talk to us. It was quite annoying. Our friend, however, is pretty bold and she would either yell at them not take our picture or grab their camera/phone if she didn't catch them in time and delete the picture. She stole one guy's memory card from his phone because she had trouble finding the picture he took on it. :) The highlight of my day was when I got to share the story from the Word that I memorized in the national language. I shared it at the train station (with no small crowd) while waiting on the train and then again with our friend's mother. It is so exciting to be able to share the Word in the local langauge!

Also this week, because of certain events that took place in the slums, two of the girls from the Center came to live with us. We have turned the living room into their bedroom. I think we are all still adjusting (for us, it is mainly the lack of privacy we now have), but I have no doubt that we'll all fall into some kind of rhythm in time. They will definitely be of great assistance in learning the langauge!

My Easter Address: Retain Values Among Pluralism, Tolerance & Relativism

This past weekend proved to be an eventful one with lots of new experiences. On Friday, my teammate and I joined one of our national friends and her family for a trip to the village. It was not as I expected. I expected to visit a hut or something, but her family owns a fairly large home on some land there. The area was beautiful. It was nice to spent time with her family and watch them interact. We played cricket, ate lots of food (which included BBQ chicken), flew a kite, waded through a muddy pond and drank fresh coconut milk (not my favorite).

Saturday, I tried my hand at fried chicken Chick-fil-A style. It was a little salty in my opinion, but my roommates liked it. Later, we all went to Sea World, the local water park (not to be confused with the one with whales and dolphins that is probably coming to your mind). We took a boat to get there. It was interesting wearing a three-piece outfit into the water (like the one above), but lots of fun. Unlike amusement parks in America, this one did not have very many people.

Resurrection Sunday, I rose early and attended the sunrise service with hundreds of other believers. It took place outdoors in a local cemetary (the most beautiful place in this city) and brought believers of different denominations and churches together. Afterward, I attended another service at a local fellowship. Both of these services were in the local language. The before mentioned friend who is Muslim attended the sunrise service with me. I was so excited to have her join me. Later that evening, I attended my regular house church where we shared the Lord's Supper together. The Lord was pleased to overwhelm me with His presence throughout the day as I remembered His sacrificial death on the cross. The most horrendous thing ever done in history is now celebrated by millions of believers as the defining moment of their lives. It will continue to be so through all eternity as we sing about the Lamb Who was slain (Revelation 5:9). Jesus Christ is the one and only "rock upon which are lives are built." Let us remember the "shared spirit of humanity that inhabits us all" for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and look to Christ who was crushed for our sins so that He might make a way for us to be forgiven by God. For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (quotes, including the title of this post, taken and twisted from http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-04-03-obama-easter-address_N.htm?csp=34).

Today, we celebrated the resurrection of Christ at the Center (we were closed yesterday). I had the privelege of telling the Passion story, beginning with Christ's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem and ending with the empty tomb.

I have started memorizing my first Bible story in the local langauge (the story of the bleeding woman). By God's grace, I hope to tell it on Wednesday!