Ironically, we had some bad thunderstorms this past week. The night of the 20th, there was a huge storm that ripped through M town. I looked outside and watched as anxious neighbors gazed into the heavens. Those who actually watch or read the news heard about the May 21st hoax and seemed a bit nervous. I assured a neighbor that the predictions were not true and we actually don't KNOW the time of our Lord's return.

In the middle of the night, around 2am, I was awakened by a noise in the kitchen. And I thought 'now THAT'S more thief like'. (as opposed to the scheduled 6pm departure that was reported) I walked into the kitchen to see that the wind had blown my kitchen window open and sent the contents on my counter tumbling. ( The windows here are like the windows from the 'days of yore'. They have latches to keep them closed and I guess the latch had come loose in the strong winds)

This week's events have left me with a bit of sadness and holy fear. Its sad that of all the things people DON'T understand about our faith, this is what gets the attention. And I feel sad that people take this as an opportunity to mock. And..it reminds me to live with future hope that one day- our faith will become sight.

A Big Fat Hindu Wedding

This weekend, I was involved in a wedding. I am close friends with the bride's family While I have been to several weddings here in South Asia, this was the first time that I went as a special guest of the family. That means, I got to see all the nitty gritty, from beginning to end. South Asian weddings are vastly different from our weddings, but in some other ways, there are still some of the same elements. I heard countless conversations about the food being prepared, what people were wearing, "I can't believe so and so came"...etc

Also, I had the chance to see raw human emotion. The family wasn't happy about how the henna turned out on the bride's arms. Tempers flared as people rushed around to get last minute details taken care of. There was a clash between the in laws. At one point, the mother of the bride collapsed in tears. Someone had said something mean to her and it had hurt her feelings.

In South Asia, once the girl gets married, she becomes apart of the groom's family so some families very literally lose a daughter. It really depends on the situation as far as how much the bride gets to see her family after marriage. Sometimes, there is still plenty of opportunities. While in other cases, like that of a friend's, she hasn't seen her family in the four years since her marriage. So, weddings are a very emotional time.

Alot of ceremonies happened over the course of 48 hours. In the States, the festivities are pretty consise. In South Asia...they draaawwww things out for days. These are pictures of the bride's family doing some sort of ceremony. I didn't really understand the significance of this but the family all danced in a circle around the bride.

One of my favorite couples. This is the brother and sister in law of the bride. The husband told me how much he loves his wife and that she was a very good woman. Its very rare to hear things like that here so it was especially sweet to hear him verbalize his feelings.

South Asian brides wear jewelry to symbolize that they are married. In this picture, the family is giving the bride her the "wedding ring'' which consisted of necklaces, nose and toe rings. South Asian weddings are very different in that the family is the focus, not the bride and groom. The bride and groom sit passively as the family does the rest.

It literally takes hours and hours for a bride to get ready. The bride is getting flowers and beads placed in her hair in this picture.

The finished product. Traditionally, the bride is suppost to look melancholy her wedding day. This is done to show her sorrow for leaving her family. (again, notice that the focus of the wedding is on the family, not the couples personal feelings) Also, its very hot and this dress is super heavy. This bride in particular is the beloved youngest and only daughter of the family. So, she really is sad but also happy at the same time.

the sister in law of the bride and one of my sweet friends

This is the religious ceremony that takes place after a celebration at a banquet hall. I had never stayed around for this part before because by this point, its around 3 in the morning so most people go home.

This is the sacred fire that has to be lit in order for the couple to be officially married. The pink knot that you see in between them is the wedding knot which symbolizes their pledge to one another. Then, they walk around the fire knotted together seven times which symbolizes nourishment, strength, prosperity, happiness, long life, children, harmony and respectability

This is the groom placing a red string around the bride's wrist. The red string is a Hindu religious symbol which represents their belief that their favorite gods are the guiding force in all of their activities So, you will often see many people walking around with numerous red strings around their wrists. They just leave them until they fall off on their own.

I have never heard of this being done before but after the religious ceremony, they played some games. This was the first time I actually saw the bride and groom really smile. In this game, they placed some red colored water and flowers in a round silver plate. And then they put a ring in the plate. Whoever found the ring first won the game.

this picture turned out terrible. But at the VERY end of the 'night' (which was like 6 in the morning) the groom leads the bride away with with the wedding knot. THIS is when the bride's family really broke down and cried. Its a very dramatic culture but it was legitimately sad to see the bride being led away on a rope.

In an awkward and confusing moment, the groom's father actually kept repeating to the bride's family during all of this "she is not yours she is mine"

I asked my friend (the sister in law and great cultural informant) about it. And it turns out, the groom's father has some dementia so this is not actually normal to taunt the bride's family.

Overall, it was an interesting but exhausting experience. It was a happy time for the family so that was neat to see. I always appreciate seeing the things that are universal. Joy. Laughter. Sorrow. Crazy father in laws.

Love One Another

In the book of John, the Lord commands us to love one another as He has loved us. This includes Him bringing people into our lives that are difficult to love. There is a family that lives close by to me that I have known since my early days here in M town. At times, its fun being with them. They are a great family to practice my Hindi with. They are always warm, welcoming and inviting. But they also happen to be from a low class in society. While the three girls in the family are quite bright, they also tend to have some bad manners. Which, truthfully, I find annoying. They are pretty presumptuous. They ask me questions that I would NEVER in a million years ask a neighbor. Their joking is rough. The mom basically (lightly) slaps me around..in a playful manner of course... but sometimes I am like...come on...really?

But ya know, they are rough because their lives are rough. And when it comes down to it, He is working in their lives. And so I go. Because the Lord tells me "I am going to put people in your life that will irritate you. But you are going to exhibit My love to them just as I have exhibited My love to you". And I must admit, this kind of love is not natural. If I love only in the flesh, it would be a patronizing kind of love. Oh ok I guess I HAVE to love you....

But I have to remember that He loves me not because I am lovable. I was a enemy of God before He picked me up out of the muck. He loves because He is Love. And this is the love that I can give to others. I have to remember how He has dealt with me. The knowledge that He has loved me beyond all limits should compel me to go out into the world and love in the same way. And this is my prayer..that I would love as He has loved.

Come Lord Jesus

Even after two years of living here, I still get overwhelmed with sadness at times. Just a stone's throw away from my apartment, there are people who live in houses made of tarp. Last week, I held a beautiful baby girl with huge black eyes in my lap. Her little fingers instinctively grasped my pinkie. This precious creation of His...will no nothing other than poverty...because she happened to be born into a family who lives on the side of the road.

And but for His grace...there I would be. Everything that has been given to me is not from my own doing. Why me? Why not that little baby girl? How does the goodness of God really work? Today, with a head faced down...I just cried and cried. I cried for the broken. I cried for the lost. I cried for reasons that I can't even express. Come Lord Jesus...

In A Lightening Storm

Last night, we got caught in a lightening storm. I didn't take this picture but this is what the skies looked like. Its wedding season and we got invited to a wedding. Our old language tutor, Hope, had a wedding in her family. Hope is notorious for not really giving us important information over the phone. So...I called her to confirm. And she said "come at 7 to my house". Hope lives along a muddy raven by the water buffalo. I DID wonder in my mind how she was going to have a wedding at her house. The day of the wedding, Hope calls. "Come quickly NOW" she said. Well..there was just no way to come quickly. I had to drape my sari on me...a task that takes awhile...

When we finally ventured it, the skies were looking angry. Oh man... I had already put that blasted sari on. So, we persevered. We went down to the corner interaction and hired us a tempo, (which is kinda like a riding lawn mower with a little sitting area on the back).We were quickly trying to bargain the price and get in. A pesky man kept saying "excuse me excuse me excuse me...are you from here"?

Ugh...look buddy...I am wearing a sari...we have to go walk in the mud...its about to start raining... I kinda chuckle at people here. They will stop you for ANYTHING and EVERYTHING no matter what the current condition is...all war could be breaking lose and invariably, someone would stop me and ask a question like "so... what kinda music do you like"?

We finally reach Hope's muddy little lane. But there is no sign of a wedding. Lightening is now lighting up the sky. I am feeling nervous. The water buffalo are getting restless.I call Hope. No answer...of course a neighbor stops us...wants to chat...(in the lightening storm...)

It is finally discovered that the wedding is actually in a different location (remember I said Hope sometimes forgets to give us important information sometimes) Only in South Asia will a wedding location change on a dime....

By now, we have to pull out our umbrellas. We decide its just not worth it. We want to head back home. So, I call our tempo driver (who had decided he was hungry so he had left) We stand there on the side of the road, waiting for our tempo buddy to finish his dinner...in the lightening storm...

And wouldn't you know it...a young girl recognizes us. I think I had met her before but I don't remember She comes over to us and stands under our umbrellas. I can barely hear her over the rain. The lightening is full force now. Loose electrical wires everywhere.... And of course the girl....wants to chat.

Our tempo friend finally shows up. We get in and laugh about the evening. One thing I can say is that life is never boring.

Funny Days

I have been laughing to myself about all the little funny things that happen throughout my day. Lately, every morning, I have really been dragging. My house helper has noticed apparently..today she basically wanted to make coffee for me but she didn't really know how. She was trying to shake my coffee press back and forth. I appreciated her effort but quickly took over. So, I made coffee while she made chai. And we shared a sweet moment together.

And then this morning, I went to go visit one of my favorite families. They are so sweet to slow down their Hindi for me so I can understand them better. But....they also think I am deaf. Because they SPEAK REALLY LOUDLY. Hehe...but then I think about all the times that I have probably done the same thing to those who don't speak English. I guess that trait is universal.

These days its SO hot. The ice cream man roams the streets with his little cooler full of frozen goodness. There is no ice cream song, he just yells "ICCEE CREAMM" in the little sing song voice they have. But just like anywhere else, he is always surrounded by kids asking "what can I get for __ rupees"? Today I was so hot I thought "step aside kids" and laughed to myself as I picked out my flavor and paid with my little coins. I was the only grown up in a sea of children.

Ah, funny days...

Village Fun

giving balloons to some of the village kids

I thought these two were cuties!

see you later kids!