Greatest Day of Our Lives

I will begin with the lyrics from " Greatest Day" by Take That.

[Today this could be the greatest day of our lives
Before it all ends,
Before we run out of time
Stay close to me
Stay close to me
Watch the world come alive tonight
Stay close to me

Tonight this could be the greatest night of our lives
Let's make a new start
The future is ours to find
Can you see it?
Can you see it in my eyes?
Can you feel it now?
Can you hold it in your arms?

Tonight
Tonight
Oh stay close to me
Stay close to me
Watch the world come alive tonight
Stay close to me

Oh

Hold your head high
Hold your arms open wide
Let the worlds start come alive
When you stay close to me

Today this could be the greatest day of our lives
Today this could be the greatest day of our lives

Oh, and the world comes alive
And the world comes alive
And the world comes alive

Oh oh oh

Stay close to me
Stay close to me
Watch the world come alive tonight
Stay close to me... ]

Last Night I was singing to that song in my room, and realized that it is just what God has been saying to me. Stay close to me, and watch the world come alive, hold it in your arms. When I stay close to God, He shows me the world, and its so real. I really have been able to hold it in my arms. When I read these lines I loved them. "Hold your head high,Hold your arms open wide
Let the worlds start come alive,When you stay close to me". All these places I have been or are going to, I need to always get my head high, and just watch the world come alive. This may seem a bit strange...but really such a neat picture of what really does happen when I stay close to Him.

Thanks Take That ;)

Aw India

3 weeks left in India.

Some days I sit and think, I don't want to leave here. Other moments I think it will be so nice to be home. Indian people are hard to describe, but they love hard,at the same time they can hate hard. They seem to have strong personalities. So the people I have met, I have really fallen in love with. I can not imagine not seeing them ever again, or being so far from them. The students are the school are so wonderful, full of passion and soft hearts for learning. I love walking into the school in the mornings, and seeing two or three students that came in early, and welcome me with a big hello. There is a women named Sylvia who is older, and always greets me with one kiss on each cheek. I sat with her today and just chatted for a bit. She asked me when i was returning to India. That was a moment when i didn't want to imagine not ever see her again or for a long time. She was sitting there content, wrapped in a sauree and covered in grace. Her gray hair compliments for disposition. I feel like she is the wise old owl in the school, everyone loves her. A student today asked me " What are your hobbies". My first response was music, but really i felt like i used it as a crutch. I felt I needed to say something, but really my hobbies including doing random acts of kindess. ha I am a accidental traveler, who is always try to make it back home. ha I then asked him what his were, and he said " reading the word, and being with my Jesus." I loved that answer. I said, that was the perfect hobby to have. I love just seeing them, and watching how the talk and laugh. In the mornings the guys all gather in one room, and will sometimes just laugh the morning in, until worship starts. One morning i could hear singing, and I asked another lady students to tell me what they were singing. In Tamil, their language they were singing about David and the Lions den, and other bible characters. All of them dancing and singing...all about Jesus. I just can't help but smile all the time. I want to sit with each of them and just know their stories. I want to have dinner with them, and spend a day in their lives. I really have grown to love the way people are here. The men will even tell you things in America would be terriable, and I find it refreshing their honesty. A student went up to someone at school, and just said..." so you started loosing weight?". We all began to laugh and the other students didn't know why. They just say sometimes what is on their minds. India truly can bring a lot of joy. I think that more then India, its being right where God wants me that brings me the most joy of all. Its so fun to know that I am here and meeting people so far from my home!

So with 3 weeks left... I am going to try to soak up as much of India as I can.

Today the women who cleans our house here, told me she was going to a church birthday tonight. So she asked if she could change into her Saree in my room. She comes most days and afterwards goes home, but today she needed to go from here to the church.I told her, "Of course." She came and got ready for the evening as I watched every step. I was really hoping I could learn how to put a Saree on...no success. She brushed her hair out that is all the way to her thigh! She combs and combs. Then she puts her Saree on. Fabric after fabric wrapped around in such a way it looks stunning. Then she asked if I had face wash, and lotion. She said she likes my skin. lovely lovely.
After wards she braided her hair, and wanted to use my power. I try to explain I only had bronzer. We laughed as she showed me her powered that makes her skin lighter, and mine makes mine darker. That is the interesting part. They want to lighten their skin and we are trying to darken ours. She was all done and said, "Finished". I took a couple pictures so you could all see the finished product. It was a really fun experience!

Little joys

Instant temporary joys: Clean, warm sheets straight out of the dryer, and my brother’s banana pancakes, having my feet warm in winter, and a really nice cup of coffee.

There are things in life that bring joy or aka happiness to your daily lives. Things that we know make us happy. I truly believe God has placed little joys in our lives, cause he wanted to give us a taste of what BIG JOY is. The thing about little joys is: they only last so long. It is temporary. Example: my clean, warm sheets… of course they are only warm for about 2 minutes. So I wrap them around me as fast as I can to enjoy the few moments of after dryer goodness. As I laid in my bed this afternoon, I was thinking about the things that use to make me so happy. I found it so strange that being so far from all those things, I feel so happy all the time. I did have the thought, “It would be nice to have my shirts feel soft and smell fresh when I put them on.” Only I didn’t feel like I needed it to make me any happier. I then started thinking about what is making me so happy here in India.

I thought about why do we do things, or like things. Where do you find joy and happiness? Why doesn’t it last long? I think people cling to things that bring them little joys, but when it runs out they don’t have anything else to cling to. So they find thing after thing that replaces the ones that have run out. It reminded me of the story in the bible about Jesus giving living water that never runs out.
John 4:7
“ A Women of Samaria came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “ Give me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Then the women of Samaria said to Him, “ How is it, that You being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?’ For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her, “ If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” The women said to Him, “ Sir You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do you get that living water? Are you greater then our father Jacob, who gave us this well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered and said to her, “ Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Just like that water, there are things in life that are part of this world that bring temporary fulfillment. God came to bring us eternal fulfillment. He gave us a perfect picture of BIG joy. He was telling that woman that, yes you can drink this water, but I want you to know that I have something better for you. I am going to give myself for you, so that we can spend life together. By Jesus coming and giving Himself for us…He gave us a joy and life that is bigger and better then what we could come up with.

In all of this I found how me being in India, and being happy came together. Just like how it works for Jesus, He gave and in return got us. John 17:22 Jesus says, “ And the glory which you gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one; I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as you have loved Me.” And earlier He says (John 17: 13) “ But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.”
Jesus found joy in what He was giving. He knew that what He was giving would bring joy to the world. John 16:22 “ Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.”

I truly believe I have been so happy here, because I know by giving I am bringing joy into someone else’s life everyday. So I found that I would rather have joy to give, then making my own for myself. In giving joy, it produces joy. I do still believe that it is good for the heart to enjoy the things the bring happiness. I still love warm sheets, and American breakfasts but I realize now that those are gifts from God, they are temporary and only He is forever.

So the little’s joys may not have much return, but the Big joy is an echo!

Come and meet my God

Finally posted on facebook a song I wrote here in India. If we are facebook friends you can check it out. They have a holiday here where the Hindu people throw their gods into the ocean. They make huge ones of all different kinds of material. So its a whole day of traffic through out the city, and ocean throwing. I remember being just shocked that people would be doing these things, and not know the real God, and you don't have to throw Him in the ocean. So I wrote a song talking about if they were to come and meet my God...and what it would be like. So hope you get a chance to hear it and enjoy.

Real India

Today was a pretty relaxed day. I spent the morning sleeping in, which is becoming a more usually event for me. When I first arrived here I was up around 7am ready for the day to begin. Down here in my new room I think it's a bit more dark in the mornings. So I woke up and headed to visit the students again, except today was part time. So the students only come once a week. I played some of my songs for them, and it seemed that they were really blessed by the words. I love playing and looking around at all their faces. I love seeing how people respond, and just they all look so Indian. I really loved it. I rode home after with a few other people out here helping in India. We stopped at a Indian food hotel a.k.a. restaurant. Here in India they called their restaurant hotels.
We ordered the usual, naun an Indian bread, and a load of different curry's and rice. They serve it on a platter with a big banana leaf! We were taught you only use your right hand for eating, cause the left hand is for taking care of business. ;)
So halfway through our meal my mouth was on fire, but I really am starting to enjoy it. They brought out the rice and I mixed up a bit of rice with curry and went in for the kill. Only to realize I swallowed a pepper! I found myself in compete silence trying to find a way to cool off my mouth. Drinking my water, drinking my lime juice, then more water, then these onions. Nothing was helping, and I still hadn't said anything, wanted to see if I could tough it. All of a sudden God sorted it out. They came out of no where with these Indian drinks. They are yogurt and sugar and I think some milk. It is to cool the stomach and mouth. MIRACLE. I think that maybe people almost die from spicy food..not really sure if that is quotable.
Once we got home all the power was out in the house, except for my room. So everyone piled in my room for a bit of hang time tell the "power man" showed up. All of us sat around chatting, and I played one of my songs. The power finally came on and everyone was about to leave, then a huge flying bug came right at me. I jumped up and yelled as I ran around literally in circles. Strange thing was it was following me...everyone just started cracking up. I found it all a bit crazy. They didn't know that I don't do well sometimes with that sort of thing. They quickly figured me out, and I leaped over the bed to escape. As we left my room, one of the guys said he thought he saw a bat flying around the house! Crazy Indian life. We all went to our rooms, and I talked a bit on skype, and then noticed a spider the size of texas run out from under my bed. Currently with my mom on skype, and freaked out. and went to grab a shoe and in the process realized the spider had disappeared.
No worries though, with my eagle eyes I spotted that bad boy quickly and destroyed it. It looked like a daddy long leg covered in hair. I was like...no more wild life. Just an update from my last post...I am currently staring at the lizard that was in my room last night. He is on my ceiling now... I don't know how he sticks up there...but he does...he is on his way out of my sight finally!
So another day in India...filled with India. Hope your day has a bit of Indian in it some how...keeps life adventurous!

unnamed lizards.

Snug in my bed, and spying on a little lizard I found hanging out on my wall. He is a small little thing, but I have already figured out his game. He follows which ever light is on...so I keep trying to put a light on further from where I am currently. The thing is the lizards don't want to bother me, but they still sorta do by accident. I wish I could have a wee chat with one of the little critters and let them know if they didn't come into my room, it would keep us both happy. They scurry when they see me, and I do the same. I want to name the lizards sometimes to make it seem more normal that they linger in my room. Then I think, don't name them cause then they will think that they have a home here...which for those lizards out there that think you do...you don't. no offense, but I just don't find reptiles a cozy addition to my room. I do have a friendly lizard in the bathroom I don't mind naming, but still having thought of one yet.

India #2

Yesterday evening was my first what I will call it " Slum dog Millionaire experience".
Spent the day with a couple ladies having my first mall shopping adventure. Shopped like mad, and bought this for dirt cheap. Felt pleased with my purchases, and was looking forward for out next stop FABINDIA! A shop here in India, it reminds me of pottery barn/urban outfitters.
We waited outside the mall for our driver to come and fetch us. I waited patiently watching India live, and not from a car window. Spotted my first midget Indian, and a guy was peddling a bike with his hands with a big carrier on the back. Young boys were throwing long pieces of wood, more like aspen tree trunks into a big truck. I am still so surpised by peoples strength at such young and old ages. It is shocking. Our driver arrived and I got into the car, and grabbed my bag, and took out my first pair of India shoes. They look glam, white and silver, covered in little gems and beads. I put them on my feet right away, feeling as if I immediately fit into India.
Our driver took us on the way to Fabindia, but the second largest beach in the world! It looked like every other beach I have seen except it was packed full...with fully dressed women and men. Just on the outskirts of the beach their are women lined up along the road with little tables covered in fresh fish. Some of the women are cleaning the fish, others are staring off as if they are dreaming of a place far away. Our driver drove slow, so i could capture the moment.He then dropped us off at Fabindia. It was full of fabrics and all sorts of very nice things. I couldn't quite find what i was looking for, an Indian top. There was a sweet women there who asked if i wanted help, and was shopping there herself. She asked me where I was from in all. Wish i had asked her name. I took some photos of fabindia and the women folding the fabrics. It was full of colors wall to wall.


Once we finished our shopping it was dark and our driver was on his way to get us. All of us girls went to wait outside on the street. I noticed a little girl being pushed around by a young couple. I was wondering if it was really their daughter so i stared to watch. Soon she had be push out of their way right in front of me. She in Tamil ( the Chennai langauge) started begging. She stepped down and kissed her hands, and touched my feet. She stood and begging touching my arm over and over and asking for money. She was about 9 years old. I looked at one of my friends who has lived in India in a while, and asked " What am I suppose to do?", she replied " You have to ignore them, they are hired by someone to get money, if you give it to them, they give it to that person...and it continues that person in useing young children to gain money." At the time I was standing feeling this little girl as close as could be staring at me...trained to beg. I have never felt so uncomfortable in my life. It wasn't like the girl was being terriable...it was me having tons of thoughts at once. 1. is this girl really sad 2. is she hungry 3. where are her parents. 4. does she want the money for food 5. is she pretending 6. should I help her 7. if I help if will it even REALLY help... On and on. I was filled with so many unknowns. she followed me all the way to the car, and I thought she was going to try to get in. As we drove off i could see her little hand tapping away at the window. I drove home more quiet then usually, still being able to feel where she had tapped me over and over on my arm... it was one of the most humbling experiences I really have ever had.



The thing is I can't change India, and I can't change the people. God already came and changed the world with Jesus...and we have to tell people about Him. People get to chose for themselves if Jesus really did ever come, and if they want to believe it. Once they do that's when you SEE REAL change. So I should have expected things like this to happen, because not everyone knows the truth, so how can you expect them to change or be something I am familiar and comfortable with. God brought change...but some people don't want Him, or know Him. God loves them no matter what they believe...He loves them because He made them...to love them. So I need to look at that little girl, and everyone else that seems so different and unpredictable as an opportunity to show them that God can change their circumstance...and He brings hope.

India is full of opportunity, you just have to keep your eyes and heart open to see it.

Here's Some cake.

I was spending time with a hand full of students, when during a break Victor a young guy disappeared. We all began to wonder where he was. About ten minutes later he showed up secretly with a cake for a friends birthday. I thought, “ Great, lets sing and eat!” They celebrate a little different then I am use to. Victor came in the room with the cake and surprised the other students and the birthday boy kumar. He brought him to the front of the room, and said some nice things about him and handed him the knife. I was wondering where the candles were… All of a sudden Kumar began to cut that cake, and all the students began to sing Happy Birthday to him. Once the song ended, Kumar picked the piece of cake he cut, into his hand, and walked around giving each person a bite before eating the last bite himself. I did not know he was “Feeding” us, I got frosting all over my face. It was delicious, but I was wondering why he didn’t eat it himself. So instead of blowing out the candles and singing, they sing as they cut the cake. After wards, Victor asked someone to come and pray for him. Then we finally each received a piece of cake. In Indian culture that is how a birthday is done. It really is a congratulation party. People shake your hand, and tell you “ God bless you.” They don’t need candles, they sing when the cake is being cut. It all seems so real, and personal. I mean I shared a piece of cake with 5 people, out of the hand of a stranger. It really is a great experience.

India #1

September 9, 2009 {Day 23 in India}


I have been in India for over three weeks now, and love it more each day. At the same time I have been more comfortable in my life, but I don't know about content. I just know that I am suppose to be here, right now. When that happens I feel so content, I don't need to think about anywhere else.
Each day seems similar, but unpredictable. The place I am staying at it beautiful and safe. The couple I am staying with I have been able to help out all over the place, do all sorts of things. I enjoy knowing that I can just make someone else's life a little easier.

There have been so many times when I just have the thought " I couldn't be happier then right now..." I think it must be the joy of the Lord. I'll be in the car, and watching people outside, and just get so overwhelmed with excitement. I think the reality of me being here is just so incredible. I think I just know me being here is God, cause I couldn't have made it here by myself.

In the LA international airport, I found myself feeling so overwhelmed with fear. Fear of the unknown and feeling alone. When I travel I find it quite a lonesome experience. When the Singapore airlines began to board the plane, they were speaking a totally different language, and I had no idea what I was in for. I felt out of my comfort zone, but I was still in LA. My focus was on India, but my heart wanted to run back home where everything is familiar.

Each flight that I boarded ( lets note I had a total of 5 flights...) the more I wanted to turn around. Calling every member in my family, each stop I made. My mom kept reminding me that I am never alone, even when I feel like I am. God is walking before me, and behind me. I wish I could have found more comfort from those words, but really I truly could not feel much more then my nerves. I knew it was the truth, but my emotions seem so much more real then the Truth.

I can still remember the feeling of relief once I made it to my room in the Singapore airport. I thought " Ok, I can't turn back now...". So i was able to sleep and begin to enjoy the rest of my traveling.

I arrived in Chennai, late at night and wondering how I really did make it there alive. God.
I think I may have turned around if I knew He hadn't called me here. Once a few days had past in India, and my jet lag left...I saw really how amazing it is. I started to soak up as much as I could. At the same time learning how to handle being so different from the people around me. I love the way they are, its neat to experience difference once in a while.

I wish i could put into words everything what happens around me, and pictures of everything that is going on. It is hard to capture a moment sometimes. I have seen so many things that I didn't even know was happening. 5 people on a motorbike. The father driving with his daughter in front of him, his son behind, and wife at the back, holding their 6 month old baby...fast asleep in her arms. While they swerve in and out of traffic, honking away. Women carry baskets on their heads to carry building material, and men tie cloth around their waist and it looks like a skirt. I wonder as I watch all these people walking around " Where are you guys going". I want to find out and see. All of their shoes seem so wore, from walking here and there. Me traveling Northern Ireland to India you can see what each place see's as important. In Europe shoes are a statement, in India shoes are either well wore, or not on. bare feet : )

India is beautiful if you are looking through the right eyes...Gods eyes. I truly love it here.