Today Your Life Begins

I wanted to give an update on the man who had been suffering from fits for the past 12 years. They have been out of town for some time but now they are back home. Yesterday, I got a phone call. A national brother and his wife wanted to go pray for this man. So, I made the preparations and a few hours later, we found ourselves walking down the small path where this man lives with his family. Curious faces peered out of doors and windows as we walked down the street. After going on a slightly commical wild goose chase, we finally found the man's house.

This time I found him sitting on his bed watching tv. The conversation started easy enough. He was greatful we came. We were able to share with him and his wife. We told them about how to pray. Tears came to the man's eyes as he asked "but will God listen to MY prayers"? Our national brother stood up, placed his hand on the man's heart and said "God created YOU and loves you. And yes, He will listen to your prayers. Today your life begins". And in that moment, the man and his wife asked our Lord to be their Lord. Pray for this broken man and his wife as they walk in their new faith.

The Goodbyes Start

Obviously I knew I would be signing up for a time in life where there would be a lot of hellos but also alot of goodbyes. I am so thankful that the Lord saw it good to bring people along side me in the journey. Some people stay for a short time. Other people stay for longer.

And then of course you just have "those people" You know those type...the sort of friend that would help you hide the body or bail ya out of jail....and thats how I feel about my friend H. Of all things, we met the very first day I stepped off the plane in Richmond, VA. I had to share a car with her and her husband as we drove around to various events and interviews.

We still talk about our first meeting. As I was coming down the escalator, I saw this well dressed couple holding up a sign that said my name. Here I was in my sweat shirt and jeans thinking..."oh great....I think I under dressed....". But it turns out they had gotten confused about the actual dress code instructions. Almost from the first few minutues of meeting we discovered that we were going to the same place overseas. We started laughing that day and we haven't stopped since. I remember thinking that first weekend "The Lord is gracious" and that is what I would say would sum up our time in South Asia. I didn't personally see H all that much but I knew she was always a phone call away. It was always so refreshing to pick up the phone and hear my own heart as she spoke from hers. She was the one I called when I really screwed up. She was the one I called if I didn't feel like explaining myself. Or sometimes I just wanted to hear her voice. They will be leaving next month so I probably won't see them for awhile and I am just plain sad. To top it off, her husband has been a dear brother to me. I got two for the price of one. I know when he is around, I don't have to wear my She Ra costume anymore. I can put down my boxing gloves for awhile. I can just relax let and let him make coffee for us.

I just spent a few days with them celebrating some birthdays. We stayed up late laughing and talking about both our battle scars and our victories. As they dropped me off at the train station, I felt like an era was ending. As H and I walked down the corridor, people stared at us as the tears stung our eyes. Oh well...let them stare. If the Lord ever thought it good to allow me to be a wife and mother, she would be one I want to be like. Love you H, will miss you dearly. When we meet again, I will have a million things to tell you.

Birthday Bash

Started out with birthday pancakes









Then went with my friends to this cute little restaurant that was left over from the British era. There were lots of fun places to explore and take pictures. I didn't personally take these pictures...that's why they are good.... This is my friend who has been with me through it all....what a treasure!





I thought this fountain was SO beautiful and sparkly

Funny Signs

things NOT to do inside of a van

that means they eat meat

Don't want to overwork yourself there....

well...since you asked nicely....

Quite On The Set!

So, most of what I do is not really photo interesting. I am not normally jumping off cliffs (although it does seem like it at times) so I don't take tons of pictures. But in another way, the work IS exciting. Because people are learning and receiving His Word. This week we are working on getting professional recordings of the stories that we have been learning over these past several months. Here is a picture of some of our equipment.

And our superstar Nina- master story teller. That's our makeshift sound studio in the background.

Nina taking a short break in between stories.

And our super smart, totally cool sound guy. With a touch of a button he can work miracles.

What Will Bring Glory?

Honestly, these verses at the end of Matthew have been haunting me.

"when I was thirsty...you gave me a drink of water".
"when I was hungry...you gave me something to eat"
"when I was in jail...you came to visit me"

I read statements about giving to the poor, being the Body, etc etc and the guilt just gets heavier and heavier on my shoulders. But as a song often reminds me "the weight of the world, is on the wrong shoulders. Why do I think that my back is the place for this load"?

What do I do when they are ALL hungry? What do I do when they are ALL in need? Should I just buy down to the street? I read stories about Hudson Taylor or Amy Carmichael and it just adds to the burden. I feel resentful. I feel selfish. I can't even cry about it because if I start crying, someone always has a story harder than mine. So I just sink into a pit of despair. I want to retreat.

However, a comment a dear friend made yesterday got me thinking. She said "Jesus said, the least of my BRETHREN". Oh...his brothers.... So, that made me decide to really read and study this passage that has been haunting me. Hum...novel idea...

So yesterday I took the time and really read that passage. And I was reminded of a few things. For one, its talking about the end times. For two, alot of scholars say that the "brethren" referred to here is probably Jewish people who turn toward Him during that time on earth. For three, JC won't ever tell me "depart from me, I never knew you" Oh I KNOW He knows me. But the thing is, when we do righteous acts, we don't necessarily FEEL righteous. In the passage, the righteous ask him "WHEN did we give you water, etc". That means, they didn't even know what they were doing! Oh...so our feeling don't particularly have anything to do with it...

Relief and freedom filled my heart. Oh good...I am not SUPPOSE to know what I am doing. It helped put things into perspective. I am suppose to give if that means it brings glory to His name. That means I can say no to the random beggars. I can pray for them of course. But I don't have to necessarily buy down to the street unless that is what the Lord calls me to do.

Yesterday, I was sitting with my friend Baby (the one who had the accident). Her face looks good. Her eyes look bright.And you know what she said? She didn't say "oh Cathy, you are awesomely awesome". She said "I give praise to the Lord for His work in my life". And in that moment, I felt the pleasure of God.

What am I suppose to in every situation? I am not quite sure and probably never will be. But I know that I can take a deep breath, press into the hardness of it instead of running away and ask myself "what will bring glory to His name"?

Thoughts On Food

There is a discipline here that is practiced more than in the States. And that is the discipline of fasting and praying. No matter what religion you follow, it always seems that people fast and pray on certain days.

I also have heard many sermons on Jesus being the Bread of Life here. Back home, I don't think I have ever heard a sermon preached entirely on that subject even ONE time.

There are also alot of rules about eating. 1)You can't really outright say you are hungry. 2)You can't say "yes" the first time something is offered. 3)Its rude to eat in front of someone else unless they are eating too.4) You are not suppose to eat and worship God at the same time. 5)You are suppose to drink your piping hot chai really really fast. 6) If you are with a group in public and you buy a snack, you have to share with everyone ( Kindergarten 101).And the list goes on.....

This past Sunday, I was at my driver's family's house for lunch. I was really hungry but of course didn't say anything. But this family knows me fairly well so they could see it in my eyes- I was starving! "Take coffee, take chips, take snacks" they kept prompting me. Its shameful for a guest to go hungry. (oh yet another rule)

"Oh my gosh, no way! I am not going to spoil my appetite on snacks when I know some YUMMY food is coming", I told them.

They were amazed at my control. Food is just SUCH a big subject of discussion here. And I know that food is a big deal in the States. But its a different sort of big deal.

I was thinking to myself "why is it such a big deal to go without food"? I guess you can tell alot about a culture from what teaching gets emphasized. Things like personal quite time and being purpose driven and effective gets emphasized in the States. Whereas Jesus being the Bread of Life and fasting with prayer gets emphasized here.

And its not a big deal for me to go without food...because I have never HAD to go without. No matter how bad things could get, there was always food on the table. But these followers have probably all had times in their lives where they went to bed with hungry stomachs. So to CHOOSE to go without food is a big deal for them. Its a huge act of devotion. Of course JC is their Bread of Life. Because He very literally is their BREAD OF LIFE on some days.

I guess I start thinking that I must know alot about God. But He keeps disturbing me. He keeps not fitting in my box. He keeps teaching me.