Like a Storm Against a Wall

Four baby funerals in one day just seems like too much. It's been a pretty rough couple of weeks at work, culminating today with four funerals of children less than 2 years old. All of them were very traumatic and pretty unexpected. One got hung in the mini-blinds at home and was strangled to death. The other was playing with his mom in his hospital bed one minute and then pouring blood out of his mouth and nose the next. Another was finally starting to get well and had a seizure. Another had just come in for a clinic visit earlier that day and been fine, and went home and died later that day. Forgive the vivid descriptions, but it's difficult to explain just how really horrific and tragic they were without knowing the circumstances.

It's really rough times like these that I have to remind myself of God's sovereignty and that all His plans are for His glory and our good. As Isaiah reminds us, His plans are from of old, and they are faithful and sure.

"O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name,for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure...For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall, like heat in a dry place...He will swallow up death forever;and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation." (from Isaiah 25)

I'm so thankful that during these times that seem as though I'm being beaten down with a storm against a wall, that I can trust in the Lord whose plans are faithful and sure. He makes no mistakes, and all that He does is good. So, I encourage you whether you've watched 4 babies die this week or gone through some other difficulty, rest in Him. He is our shelter from the storm. May we wait for His rescue that is coming when He will swallow up death forever and wipe away all tears. Let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation, for this world is not our home. This life is just a camping trip...we are seeking the city that is to come (Hebrews 13:14). May we live with that in mind.

Meet Callie!

A girl that I work with was giving away lab puppies, and I picked Callie up on Sunday night. She is the runt of her litter but very playful and rambunctious. Though she still whines a little when I put her outside, she had adjusted really well. Callie is very active and loves to pounce on all of her toys and always be underfoot. She loves to chew on fingers and toes too...a habit which I am trying to break! She's so sweet...right now she's asleep on my foot, exhausted from romping around the back yard. It's so fun to have her!

House photos...finally!

Hello, all! I have no idea if anyone even checks this blog anymore...I haven't been very faithful to posting lately. Between the busyness of work , getting my house in some sort of working order, and preparing to teach a girls' discipleship group, my schedule has been more than full! But, I'm happy to report that I finally have a few photos of my new house. It's not totally together yet, but you can at least get an idea of what it looks like! It's such a blessing to be back in a house...so quiet and much more suited to my night-time schedule! I can vacuum at 3AM if I want to now...it's great! Enjoy the pictures...I'll try to be more faithful to regular posting in the weeks to come!

Guess that's enough for now...more to come later!

I bought a house!

Well, after a long and arduous search, I signed papers on my first house today! I don't know that it's really been able to sink in yet, but I'm excited! Here's a little peek at the front...I'll post more pictures later!

Decisions, Decisions

"He has made everything beautiful in its time." It's been decision time for both me and the P's. I've been praying over returning there, starting grad school this Fall, buying a house, and what my ministry here should look like. The P's have been deciding about staying where they are doing what they are doing or taking another route for ministry at this time.

I'm so pleased and grateful to say that decisions are being made on both fronts. I've decided to wait a year or two before starting back to school, and the P's have decided that D will start a 3-year seminary in south India before returning to their home. While vastly different implications are hinged on these decisions, the Lord's will is being made beautiful in His time through both of them.

I'd been wondering and praying through why the Lord would allow me so much time and a burden for that area yet seem to say that now is not the time to return there. And here is the answer! Had I decided to return there at this time, the P's would not be there, which would mean that likely I would not be able to be there without them. I'm so thankful to the Lord that He is sovereign and gives us the desires of our heart even before we know why we have those desires!

So for those of you have been praying for me and the P's, thank you, thank you, thank you, and keep praying! Though decisions are being made, there are still many unknowns and opportunities to walk in faith. Pray for both me and the P's that the Lord will provide a house of His choosing even across oceans. Pray for decisions we know still need to be made and those we don't even know about yet. May we have hearts of wisdom that desire to glorify God above all.

A Return to the Simple Things

Being back in the hustle and bustle of the States is such a stark contrast to India. While I was always busy in India the pace was just different. Everyone takes a break for an hour or two at lunch because of the heat of the day. Life is crazy difficult but at the same time sweetly simple. When I saw this ladder made out of bamboo, sticks, and wire, I was reminded of how simple things are there.

Last night at the hospital, I took a boy down to the morgue in a body bag. He had just gone to his prom the night before he came to the hospital. From the time I received him from surgery until the time he died, he received the maximum amount of medical intervention I think that I have ever seen, and yet the Lord had appointed his day to end on May 14, 2008.

It is such a comfort to know that the Lord is sovereign over every one of our days and already know the number of them. It reminds me of how important it is to live each day for His glory because we do not know how He has sovereignly numbered our days. "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12). Though life here on this earth can be crazy and demanding, our task is simple. "But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14). May we strain forward on this numbered day.

Where are you looking?

"Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward" (Genesis 13:14). Are we looking all around us for opportunities to spread the name of Christ? I often find myself getting so focused on the tasks at hand that I forget to "lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence comes my help."

We should be continually asking Him to lift up our eyes from the entanglements of this world to see the true mission at hand. "Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel" (Philippians 1:27).

Hide Away

Missionary life can be very wearisome. Every day is steeped in dying to self. Visiting the P's reminds me of how important it is for us to remember our missionary families in prayer constantly. You wouldn't imagine how difficult simple tasks such as mopping the floors or going out for a walk in the neighborhood are. However, there is such joy in serving Christ and selflessly loving others.

Sovereign Grace Ministries has just released an excellent CD called Come Weary Saints. This songs speaks of the refuge Christ is to those who are weary and of the unspeakable joy that awaits the faithful. I pray that you will pray for a missionary today and think of a tangible way to encourage them...an email, a care package, etc. What we may think of as "nothing" can go a long way to encourage a weary soul!

"Hide Away in the Love of Jesus"

Come, weary saints, though tired and weak

Hide away in the love of Jesus

Your strength will return by His quiet streams

Hide away in the love of Jesus

Come, wandering souls, and find your home

Hide away in the love of Jesus

He offers the rest that you yearn to know

Hide away in the love of Jesus

Hear Him calling your name

See the depths of His love

In the wounds of His grace

Hide away

Come, guilty ones weighed down with sin

Hide away in the love of Jesus

The freedom you long for is found in Him

Hide away in the love of Jesus

Come, hopeless hearts, do not despair

Hide away in the love of Jesus

For ten thousand joys await you there

Hide away in the love of Jesus

Here are four of my favorite little girls in the whole world. Yes, they are all girls despite what we westerners think of as "boy" haircuts. Just as a side note, did you know that there is no such thing as boy-colors and girl-colors in India? I remember one little boy was so proud to show me his new pink flip-flops or "chuples" as they're called in India.

These sisters with AG are the daughters of Momina, who you met on the previous post about House Church. They are a Muslim family who live and work on the mission compound. S told me that though they had been exposed to the gospel many times in the past, no one had ever really sat down with Momina or her family members to really explain the gospel to them. Yasmine, the oldest in the black shirt, is the one who was looking at the picture of manna that I so badly wanted to talk to. Lahje, on the left, is possibly the most joyful child I have ever met despite the very challenging circumstances in which she lives every day...she has no idea that her life is hard! The baby is on the right and her name escapes me at the moment. She always had a bit of a mischevious twinkle in her eyes!

I've had this picture on my desktop since I left India, and every time I look at it, it makes me a bit homesick for them. None of them are yet believers and are being raised in a Muslim family. It makes me tear up a bit just to think about it. I pray that the Lord may scoop them up in saving grace and that they may be tremendous lights for Him in the midst of darkness.

Here's a short clip of them playing outside...it's really short but I thought you might want to hear their voices. Just like normal sisters, they play and laugh and sometimes yell at each other. I hope that you will get a little glimpse of just how special Yasmine, Lahje, and baby are and may pray for them as the Lord brings them to mind.

Looking for the flock

"And a man found him wandering in the fields. And the man asked him, 'What are you seeking?' 'I am seeking my brothers,' he said. 'Tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.'" -- Genesis 37:15-16

Found this verse today and it so reminded me of this picture. A man walking down the road in India. I do not know his name. I do not know where he is going. I do not know what he is seeking, but I do know that he is sought. He is sought after by two...one for death and one for life. "Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." Can you not see a lion rushing out of that field to his right and devouring him right there?

Yet, he is sought by One who would give life. "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him." Though the chances that this man will even every run into a believer are dismally small, the Lord knows him by name and knows his eternal destiny. May this man and others like him be found not as prey but as worshippers. May he find where the flock is pastured and come under the protection of the good Shepherd.

State-side!

Hi, everyone! Just wanted to let you know that I'm back in LR after a wonderful trip and a fairly uneventful trip home. Again, thank you all for your prayers! This is a picture from the drive home. I plan to add some more pictures soon but just wanted to let you know that I've arrived safely...missing people in India but happy to be home!

Last post from India!

Hello, all! I'm set to leave for the airport in about 1 hour and begin my journey back to the States. I'm finding it bittersweet to leave, having loved my time here but looking forward to being home as well! I've got lots more pictures and a few videos to post when I get home so keep checking back here for more. Thank you again for all your prayers as I travel! See you soon!

P.S. I spoke with S today who wants us to really lift little Nayna up in prayer...the 15-year-old believer who is set to get married to a Hindu boy on Sunday. She told her mom that she wants to formally come out of Hinduism and not marry this boy, and her mom told her absolutely not. Please pray that Nayna will be bold and continue to take a firm stand for Christ, and that the Lord will protect her and lead her in His perfect will. S and I are taking trying to take hold of the Lord's arm in prayer as Jacob did, begging God to spare her from this life of marriage to an unbeliever. Please join with us as often as the Lord brings Nayna to mind!

Todo, I don't think we're in Kansas any more!

Hello from Bombay! Thank you for all of your prayers...travel was long but no problems! I'm at D's parents' house right now and enjoying seeing them again. While I was travelling today, I was continually amazed at the sights that I saw...things that you would never get to see in the States. Here's a list of a few of the funny ones: ten cockroaches using my toilet as their community swimming pool, a lettuce sandwich (yes, just bread and some shredded lettuce), some goats playing "King of the Mountain" on a heap of trash, a person about every 2 feet as you go down the road, women carrying baskets of cut grass on their head that probably weigh more than they do, men urinating in public on the street, huge piles of wheat that women were harvesting by hand with only a small knife, 18-month-old children running around the villages by themselves, kids taking a bath in a hand-pump on the street or in the pond with the water buffalo, an elephant walking down the road, about 25 people in one car -- no kidding, and not a single white person besides myself since I saw S this morning! It's certainly not anything like Kansas!

Yet there was something I saw that was the same as at home: people lost and helpless, "like sheep without a shepherd." The difference comes when you realize that almost everyone I passed today probably has never even heard the name of Christ, let alone the gospel message. At one point, I looked up at all the faces around me and thought (as I rode with my Muslim and Hindu drivers), it is very likely that I am the only believer anywhere in my line of vision. It was a sobering thought to see these people so lost, and completely unaware of their lost state.

We passed lots of idol shrines and temples on the way with loud music blaring from inside. It was utterly heart-wrenching to look inside at these statues made of clay and paint and see people bowing before it or offering sacrifices. O, may they come to know the freedom and hope that are in Christ. "But how will they hear without a preacher?" Who will tell them if we do not? May we be obedient to His call on our lives!

Visiting Madhumita

This morning we were finally able to go visit S's friend Madhumita. Indians tend to be very hospitable and offer you chai and snacks whenever you come…in fact, it's expected! Here is the snack they served us today (grapes, cookies or "biscuits," cashews, raisins, banana, a spongy-sweet called may-tee, and something like very spicy ramen noodles).

Again, it was so in the Lord's timing that we were not able to go until today because Madhumita's older brother showed up while S was again sharing the gospel with her. Below is a picture of Madhumita holding AG, her mother Nani Ji, and me. As Madhumita has heard the gospel multiple times, S really wanted to take this opportunity to share with her about sin, which is not really much of a concept in her culture. As S was sharing about the difference between the Hindu gods and the one true God, she was bringing out the point that in all the stories of the Hindu gods they had all sinned. She turned to her brother and said, "Is this true?" He said yes and actually began listing off the sins that various gods had committed. He then said to S, "It is not right that gods sin; gods should be holy."

"Yes!" S said. "And there is only one God who is holy and true. His name is Jesus." The conversation went back and forth for several minutes, and we left praying that the truths that were spoken in that house would become deeply rooted in their hearts. This was very possibly the last time that S will ever see Madhumita as she will be getting married soon and moving far away. S left her with a list of Scriptures about sin and her need for a Savior. I pray that their souls may be ever restless until they find their rest in Him alone.

P.S. I will leave tomorrow morning at 5AM (April 15 at 3:30PM Little Rock time) for my 8 hour car ride. I will then take about a 5 hour flight to Bombay, stay with D's parents again who will take me to the airport the next night. Then it's lots of flying hours until I'm to LR. For those of you who have asked, I am to arrive in Little Rock this Friday at 2:47PM on Continental Airlines #5572 from Houston. You're welcome to come see me if you want!

Say Among the Nations

"All the nations You have made shall come and worship before You, O LORD, and shall glorify Your name. For You are great and do wondrous things; You alone are God" (Ps. 86:9-10). Each picture you see here has someone who has not yet come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Pray for them as you enjoy these photos!

A little boy minds the family store

Nurses loving on baby J

Kids playing on my front porch

Mahender with his daugher and wife Madhu


Sitting with friends

"Sing to the Lord, bless His name; tell of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples. For great is the Lord, and greately to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. for all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols...Say among the nations, 'The LORD reigns!'" -- Selections from Psalm 96

If I had my druthers

Well, today has not exactly gone as planned. We could not go visit S's friend Madhumita today because there is some sort of Hindu festival going on today in which swords are involved! D said that we should be able to go tomorrow, but today is just too dangerous. If I'd had my druthers, the morning would have gone a bit differently. However, as they always are, the Lord's ways were higher than ours. The three girls that S disciples came by during the time when we would have otherwise been out at Madhumita's. S really hasn't had a chance to sit down with them since we've come back and they are really facing some difficult things.

These are the 15-year-old girls I have mentioned before. Pummi, who is married, has told her family that she is a Christian and is undergoing persecution daily when she is with them. Guddi, who has just gotten married, has not yet told her family because she says she is embarrassed. It's difficult for us to understand what this means for her…parents don't really have conversations with their children here. No one can come sit down on the couch and say, "Hey, dad, I need to talk with you about something for a minute." This would be just unheard of. Pray that she will have wisdom and boldness to tell her family of her faith in Christ. S shared with her of how if we are not ashamed of Christ before others, Christ will not be ashamed of us before the Father. There were several times when all of the girls had their heads down and just seemed so heavy of heart, desirous of following Christ yet fearful of the consequences at the same time.

But perhaps I should most implore your prayers for little Neyna. She is a very timid girl, only about 15 years old, and she is engaged to be married to a Hindu man on April 20th. She has not yet told her family or his family that she is a believer and does not want to marry this boy. After S shared some scripture with her and they all prayed, Neyna said that she would tell her family today. Please pray for her to boldly stand up in the name of Christ no matter what it means. S said that these situations can easily turn into riots when the family hears that she has converted and that the mission has had a hand in it. It can mean persecution and violence not only for little Neyna but for the P's and others here as well. Please pray for the Lord's protection over us all during this time, but mostly pray for Neyna to have such an unwavering faith in the Lord that she fears Him alone. May we all druther have Christ than anything this world affords today.

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold,
I'd rather be His than have riches untold;
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands,
I'd rather be led by his nail-pierced hands.

Than to be a king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin's dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause,
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame,
I'd rather be true to His holy name.

Than to be a king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin's dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

"I'd Rather Have Jesus," lyrics by Jeff Deyo

AG, S, Neyna, Pummi, Guddi, and Sunita

Let the nations be glad!

Here's the clip from house church I promised yesterday! "Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy" (Ps. 67:3-4).

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House Church

Every Saturday night, the P's have house church in a small room they've renovated on top of the hospital. There are anywhere from 2-8 people there each week, not including the P's. They start with prayer and singing from a Hindi hymn book, then D preaches. He has started over in Genesis this week, teaching them that God created all things and that He is eternal. They have absolutely no foundation for anything about Christ except what the P's have taught them over the last few years. None of those who attend speak English, so of course everything is in Hindi.

S has been teaching her housekeeper Sunita how to sing one of the hymns. Sunita is not able to read and does not even speak much Hindi, but a dialect of Hindi. However, she has been learning this song and singing it as she works in the fields harvesting wheat. She was so excited to be able to sing along with the others, and we pray that she will continue to grow in the Lord and teach these things to her children. She is a very bold witness for Christ and wants others to know Him too. I've got a short video of them singing in house church last night, which I'll try to post soon.

The other woman you see is Momina, a Muslim lady who had never come to house church before but has been spending time with S this week and decided to come. She has been sick lately and not able to work so this has opened up time for her and S to spend together, and S has been sharing with her. Please pray for her salvation. The man is Mahender who many of you have prayed for over the years. He is faithful to the house church weekly.

Hope you enjoy this little glimpse into the P's lives and the people God has sent them to minister to in His name!

Only a few days more

I can hardly believe I only have a few days left here…it doesn't seem like a month has passed yet! I'm missing home but know that I'm going to miss it here as well. However, I'm wanting to use these last few days to the fullest.

S and I are still hoping to go to the neighboring village where the "rat-eating class" lives. They have no electricity, running water, and not even very many clothes. They are the poorest of the poor. People from this village even refuse to associate with them though they themselves are very poor. As they speak a dialect of a dialect of Hindi, they do not even have Scripture available in their language. But they are almost all illiterate so even if a Scripture were available they would have no way to read it. The P's so desire that they are able to hear the truth, but they don't even speak the dialect but are hoping to learn it in the future.

S and I are also planning to go visit her friend in a village some ways away tomorrow. It takes 30-45 minutes by car over some pretty treacherous "roads." We went last year and there were times when we were literally driving with the tire on the edge of a small cliff. But it was well worth the trip to see this young woman who has heard the gospel so many times but has not come to Christ out of fear of what her family will say and do to her. Please pray for our time with her, that S will have the right words to speak to her and the Lord would move in her heart to draw her to Himself.

We'll also have one more day of Bible club before I leave…on Tuesday afternoon. I'll try to take some pictures this week so that you can see all of their little faces. Some are so eager and attentive to the story of Christ, and we can only pray that the Lord is calling them.

I've also been invited to eat dinner at the other doctor's house tonight with her family. They are so sweet and have a real heart for the Lord's work in this place. I know that the P's are grateful to have them here even though much of their time is occupied with working on a community health project. Their kids love playing with J and AG and are constantly knocking on the P's front door and asking if AG can play!

Guess that's all for now. Just as a side note...here's a picture of the largest roach I've ever seen in my life. This 3-inch long monster had made itself at home on my mosquito net. After I regained my composer, I quickly let him know that he was not welcome in my room! I'm going to add a few pictures to the previous posts, so you might want to check them out as well!

On the wards

The hospital is fairly empty right now as it is wheat-harvesting season for the next 2 weeks here. S says that every poor person, even down to 3 and 4 year olds go out to help with the harvest so that they can get some type of income. I wanted to show you a bit of what the hospital is like, but don't take the empty beds as the norm. It's usually pretty full here and should pick up again after harvesting is finished!

The female ward and the nurses' room

What's on the Menu?

Several of you have asked what I eat every day. Most days, I eat breakfast in the mess, which is basically a table and a few chairs where Sister Ji (one of the ladies who works here) prepares 3 meals a day. Here's a picture of what was served this morning. Subje (any sort of cooked vegetable dish…for breakfast it is a combination of eggplant, potato, and some other vegetable that I do not recognize) and roti (a flatbread…sort of like a wheat tortilla) are served for breakfast daily.

I eat lunch with the P's every day. We get food from the mess…usually rice, dahl (a lentil broth), salad (a plate of raw beets, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, and onions), and more subje and roti. About once a week there may be some fish or chicken, but it's not quite what we would have in the states. Maybe I could help you picture it more if you could envision a fish eyeball staring up at you from a pot of broth. It tastes pretty good though…I just can't eat the one's with their eyeballs still in!

For dinner, I also eat with the P's. S cooks every night, and I help with preparation or sometimes keep the kids occupied so that she can cook. Most nights we eat Indian dishes. Last night we had an eggplant-tomato-onion subje, rice, and a dish with boiled eggs and curry.

I've gotten fairly used to the food although I have been craving lasagna for a few weeks now. There's really not any cheese available here and definitely no beef! However, we did have the first of the mangos for dessert today, and they were so good! A.G. loves to eat the mango off of the seed and let the juice dribble down her chin! After she had eaten ever last bit off of the seed she kept repeating, "I need some more! I need some more!" while S and D tried to explain to her that the mangoes were "all done."

I can hardly believe that I've only got 3 or 4 more days here before I start my long travel back home. Please pray that I will use these last few days to their fullest and that the Lord would continue to give me clarity and wisdom. Thank you for your faithful prayers!

A Hard Day's Night

The heat wave has hit the village. Temperatures are rising, and it has been especially warm with the electricity going in and out. It's sitting right about 100 degrees right now. Last night there were no fans and no pump to get the water in, so that meant…no bucket bath! I'm not sure why as a child I never wanted to take a bath…I've grown quite fond of them now and rather used to taking one every day! Oh, well! Perhaps there will be electricity tomorrow!

Yesterday, I was in the hospital in the nurse's room when an old woman brought in an old piece of cloth and handed it to one of the nurses. Relatives are often coming in and out with something or other so I didn't think much of it until the nurse said, "It's not breathing!" There was a little baby wrapped in that piece of cloth that she had walked in from who knows how far away.

We rushed into action. There were 2 staff nurses there and one of the doctors. We immediately began bagging and got a suction set. The baby was full of secretions and had likely aspirated after being fed something it shouldn't have been fed. The level of education around this place is very low which results in a very high maternal-infant mortality rate. One of the nurses started an IV line and put in an NG tube. After a few breaths, the baby began to gasp. We kept bagging but then her heart rate dropped so we started CPR. Running a code here is much different than in the States, but I was thankful for the chance I'd had to teach the pediatric CPR class last time I was here.

The doctor prepared to put in a breathing tube. I was still bagging as we positioned the head. It took several tries, but she finally was able to get the tube in and we put the baby on the one and only ventilator. But by this time, her feet were turning a blackish-purple…not a good sign. We gave several medications which did get her heart rate back up. But when we got the oxygen flowing was when she really began to pink up. Still very sick but better. I taped in her breathing tube and one of the nurses brought me a mosquito net to lay over her as there were some pretty persistent flies buzzing around.

I spiked a new IV bottle and added the ordered medication to the fluid. She still looked pretty sick, but better. There was no way to suction down her breathing tube like we do in the states so the secretions were building up again in her lungs. You can see the foot-pumped suction machine here (sorry it's sideways!). I rigged an NG tube, an empty syringe, and the suction set to create an in-line suction catheter so that we could get the stuff out of her lungs…it was her only chance.

She was looking much better than when she had come but continued to have low oxygen saturations. As I went to bed, I was thankful that God had spared her life if even for that one day. When I went to rounds this morning, I learned that she had started bleeding inside during the night and had passed away. O, my heart was so sad, and I had to remind myself of the sovereignty of God in all things. He is good even when things go terribly wrong in our eyes. All things are still under His control. "The eyes of the Lord are on every place, watching over the evil and the good." May our all-seeing God find us faithful in His work as long as He gives us life and breath.

A Sunday afternoon

It is again the Lord's Day...the best day of the week. This morning D began preaching on 1 John. He is hopeful to have more opportunities to preach in that church in the future. After church, S, Gloria (a nurse from Minnesota), and I put together the room where we will have Bible Club this week. The kids are really looking forward to it and keep asking, "When will we have Bible club again?" Hopefully, many will come on Tuesday afternoon to hear the teaching as it is basically the only time they have to hear about Christ. Here are a couple of the kids that live on the compound looking at some of the Bible story pictures. They keep asking, "What is this? What is this?" in Hindi, and I really wish that I could explain the stories to them. This little girl, Yasmine, was asking about the picture where the Israelites are gathering manna, and she asked, "Is that cotton?" All I could say was, "Nahi, khana." No, food....I had to leave it at that so it seems that a furthur explanation will have to wait for Bible Club...or until I can learn more Hindi!

Sister Sarah

Here, the nurses are called sisters…so I am Sister Sarah. I rather like my name though it makes me feel like I should be in "The Sound of Music." I've enjoyed spending the last few days in the hospital. I've been on the wards (the in-patient part of the hospital) some but mostly helping D in the OPD (out-patient department, a clinic of sorts). Even though I can't really communicate with the patients, he's had me doing little odd jobs or entering data while he speaks with patients…until today that is. Today, I saw patients! I don't mean that I laid eyes on them, but I acted sort of like a doctor and saw all of the antenatal (i.e. pregnant) patients. There was lots of pointing and acting out with gestures involved, but the main points got across. Tomorrow, I want to spend some time learning a few key phrases so that I don’t have to keep playing charades!

The nurses here look like WWII army nurses…with long white outfits and little white caps. The hospital looks a lot like a ward from this time period too. There are 2 "wards," or units as we call them, that have beds lining the walls of each room. There are also several private rooms as well as a one-bed ICU and a two-bed NICU. There is also the OT (Operation Theater…same as our Operating Room) and the labor rooms. It's amazing what they can do here with so few resources. Forgive the nurse-talk for a minute, but for my medical friends, I've seen a couple of patients that I had a feeling that if I could see their ABGs, they would have required immediate intubation. There are lots of sepsis patients that are simply managed with broad-spectrum IV antibiotics. Lots of IM injections…I don't think I've given one of those since the last time I was here. Things are very different here that what I'm used to in a State-side pediatric CVICU, but it seems to work out well for the most part. We just to the best with what we have and trust the Lord with the results.

Guess that's all for now. I've realized that some of my previous posts have been quite lengthy, so I'll try to tone it down a bit. Now it's time for bed…I got an egg-crate today that I'm really excited about. The bed I've been sleeping on was little more than a board with a sheet on it so the extra cushion is much looked forward to! Keep the comments coming…they are a real encouragement to me and help me not to be homesick! Thanks!

Pani do

"Pani do" is a very important phrase here. "Water give" is the literal translation or, as we would say, "Please let me have some water." " Water is a precious commodity here. Multiple times a day I have to go fill up my pink water bottle with filtered water. Lots of little "friends" that are not so friendly to the tummy live in the water here and it is full of iron, which turns it an orangy-brown color and makes it unfit for drinking. The P's have a filter in the house and the mess (a "cafeteria" of sorts) has 2 large barrels of drinking water where we can go to frequently replenish our supply. It's starting to get warm here and so staying hydrated even more important.

Having to go frequently to get water reminds me of the story of Jesus with the woman at the well. You'll remember it begins with Him asking her for a drink of water and her confusion of why He, a Jew, would even be talking to a Samaritan woman. Jesus tells her that she should not be concerned with this but that instead she should be asking him for a drink of water. "Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep," she replies, "Where do you get that living water?" Jesus answers her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him with become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

As nice as it would be to not have to fill my pink bottle so many times a day, it is a gracious reminder to me of how the people I am surrounded by each day need to drink from the fount of living water. They do not go to fill up their bottles but just drink from the river or hand pumps (like the ones you've seen on "Little House on the Prairie"). While they do have this water to drink, it is filthy and polluted and does not ultimately satisfy. Their teeth are rotting out and they are often sick because or the quality, or lack thereof, of their water. Their skin, much like their souls, are shriveled and dried hard because of lack of water. But were they to drink of Him who offers this living water, the ultimate thirst of their souls would be quenched .

Jesus finishes by telling the woman, "The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him." May the precious people in this village drink of His living water and become spirit-and-truth worshipers of the only One who can satiate their souls.

"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters…" -- Isaiah 55:1

Break the Yoke

Note: This post was written on Sunday, March 30.


I broke a yolk this morning…a egg yolk that is. Egg and toast is one of my favorite things to eat for breakfast here. Everything is fresh…no processing or dozen cartons from Kroger! It's very simple chicken…egg…breakfast, and not much in between! Yet today, I've been thinking a lot about yokes rather than yolks. There are yokes binding the cows that are worshipped (ironic?), and even more sadly yokes of slavery on the people.

It is the Lord's day here…a day for worship and rest. We went to the church on campus this morning and came away somewhat disheartened. The pastor began by speaking about Pentecost and then somehow ended his sermon with saying that sometimes he wants to leave the church and become a farmer. There was some misguided doctrine somewhere in the middle, but most of it went into tangents. No, it doesn't make sense, which it seems is fairly common here. It's so discouraging for the P's to see that the desire of even those who claim Christ here do not really have a desire to see Him worshiped. It is also sad that the body that is supposed to be representing Christ in this dark place are not being lights at all. We spent some time after church this morning praying for the church to want to know Christ and to represent Him well among this people.

We also prayed for some of the girls that S disciples. Guddi, Pummi, Neena, and Sunita have all professed faith in Christ but are undergoing tremendous spiritual battles…each persecution from their families. Each is the only believer within her family…the first 3 being about 14 or 15 years old, 2 of them are married and the other is engaged. (It is illegal to marry under the age of 18 here, but families arrange marriages early for fear that the girls will loose their purity before that time as well as for financial reasons. Can you imagine getting married at the age of 14 or 15?) They are so young and so young in their faith. Pummi confessed to S that she finally bowed down before the idols at her in-laws house because they were continuously persecuting her. S asked her if she had turned from Christ, and she said "Didi (big sister), I will never deny Christ, but you cannot understand how much sadness there is in my life." To us, it seems like such a straightforward answer to not bow down, but in the circumstances, these girls are under such pressure that fear of man overcomes them. This is a heavy yoke on their shoulders. I cannot imagine what must be going through their minds, but I know that God is able to give grace sufficient for their circumstances and give them a heart of obedience. Pray earnestly for them.

Sunita, S's housekeeper, is wanting to be baptized, which is considered the step of true conversion by the unbelievers in the village. Her husband and her mother-in-law have threatened her if she takes baptism, fearing what the other villagers will do and say. Her yoke is heavy as well. Yet, she still desires to be baptized but fears man as well. I've looked up some verses for S to share with her next time she comes. Pray that they may fear God rather than man and be obedient to Him at any cost. Pray for the P's as they counsel these girls from the Word, as they are all illiterate and cannot read it for themselves. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to read the Word whenever I want to…this is something I take for granted far too often.

Please continue to pray that Light may shine in this darkness…that these yokes of slavery will be broken. Pray for the few believers that are here…that they will be strengthened in the face of persecution and live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. May they know the truth that is in Jesus: "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ...For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to yoke of slavery." May we all know and live this truth.

Aap kaisa hai?

Note: This post was written on Sunday, March 30 at 4:15 AM

Hello, everyone! Aap kaisa hai? (How are you?) I'm doing well and delighting in my time here. My apologies for not being able to keep the blog updated. The internet has been down here for some time. Even as I write this post, it is still down but I wanted to keep you updated with what the Lord is doing here. Right now I'm sitting in my room...it's about 11x8 feet with screened windows on 2 sides. There is no glass pane in the window, but the shutters can be closed in case of rain. It's about 80 degrees in the room so we're keeping the fans on almost all the time, which makes it quite pleasant inside. Out in the sun, it's significantly warmer as you would imagine…closer to 90 during the mid and early afternoon.

It's so quiet and peaceful here. From my window, I can hear a bird singing in the trees and see the many flowers in bloom on the campus. A couple of little boys are playing ball on my porch with a rock and tennis racket. The kids here are very inventive and play contently for hours upon end with no "toys" or entertainment to speak of. Just a rock and a friend are all they need.
So what have I been doing this past week? Upon arriving to the village after a very (thankfully) uneventful 8 hour drive, we were warmly greeted by some of the hospital staff and people from the village…another answer to prayer. Some of the staff had completely cleaned and painted the P's house, which was such a blessing to them not knowing what to expect when they came back. Apparently, the inside walls were covered with mold, and you can imagine the dust that would build up over 8 months, plus all of the little critters that had take up residence in their absence. It was so nice for them to come home to some sense of order. There were lots of little things to still be done, which has occupied much of our week. Cleaning, cooking, and taking care of the kids has pretty much filled up every day. Yet there has been much time to spend in the word and in fellowship with the P's. S and I have tried to have a prayer time together each day, which has been a tremendous blessing. The week has been busy yet restful at the same time.

It's so nice to come back here and see familiar faces. I can't believe how much some of these kids have grown in 9 months. Little brown faces with eyes like deep ink wells…they tug at my heart! Most of them spend their days cutting grass with a small knife or tending cows and goats. So few smiles…their burdens are heavy. O, that they may come to know Him!

Everyone I've met seems to remember me from last year so it's nice to have a little bit of a bond with them. I'll admit that it is somewhat frustrating not being able to speak to most of them so I'm really working on my language study, which is not coming easily. But every time we go out into the village or I hear kids playing outside, it spurs me on to want to learn more. I so desire to be able to speak with these people and share with them the message of Christ. But for now, I must just express my love for Him by my actions and by my countenance. I am reminded of Paul's words, "Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ." I pray that even in this small way that they may be drawn to Him and that one day I will be able to speak to them of the truth that is in Jesus.

Guess that's all for now…more posts and pictures to come as soon as possible. Thank you for your prayers and please continue to pray for the P's settling back in, wisdom for me, and that the one true God may be worshiped among this people.

Yes, I'm still here!

Hi, all! Yes, I'm still here! The internet is up for the moment so this will be a quick update! Thank you all so much for praying! My time here has been excellent, and I am loving watching the Lord work. Please do continue to pray though as it is such dark place and much in need of Christ's love. I've written several other posts over the past days and taken some pictures, so I'll save all the details for when I can post those...hopefully very soon! But just wanted to say hello to everyone! You are all such a blessing to me!

P.S. Please pray for me tomorrow as I'm supposed to spend my first day in the hospital! I've needed to wait just because there was not someone to take me around or translate for me, but hopefully that will be resolved in the next day or so. Spending time with the P's has been great though...mostly helping S around the house and with the kids, but I'm excited to get over there. Please continue to pray for wisdom for me!

Arrived safely @ final destination

Hello All,
This is Sarah's dad. Received a call from Sarah this morning @ 9:15 ( 8ish in the evening their time). The internet is down @ their location. She said it might be up tomorrow, but it might take as long as a week to get it going. They arrived at their destination safely. The trip was thankfully uneventful, but a little warm. Sarah says she has pictures to post as soon as she can. They passed festivals where the participants were throwing paint on themselves & everything around, so it was at least a colorful trip! She & S spent the day cleaning the kitchen & setting up the baby crib, etc. Sarah thanks you for your continued prayers & she will post as soon as it is possible.

Namaste!

Namaste or hello from India! I am here!!! Thank you for all of your prayers. The travel went so smoothly, and I am right now sitting in the living room of D's parents' apartment. It is currently 3PM here, and we have just finished lunch. This morning we went to a small church in the city for Resurrection Sunday celebration. What an encouragement to know that there is a small fellowship of believers worshiping the risen Savior in even such a dark place.

Before church, S and I went for a walk this morning around the apartment complex and saw a man praying to a tree in the middle of the road. As we passed by I thought how ironic it was that he should be praying to a tree when we are today celebrating that the Lord is no longer on a tree but risen to life. It was a sobering yet all too commonplace moment. "The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel" (Acts 5:30-31). They truly are in need of a true knowledge of the risen One who has died that they might have abundant life in His name.


This afternoon we are resting up for tomorrow long journey to the village. We will leave for the airport around 2:30AM for our 5AM flight. Please pray that all of the luggage and us foreigners will have no trouble making the flight. The flight will be about 2 hours, and then we will begin our 8 hour drive to the village. This time is when we especially need prayer...I believe it will be about 9PM Arkansas time when we begin the drive, so please pray for us as you go to bed and as you wake up throughout the night. The biggest prayer request is for safety...for the elements but mainly that anyone who would want to stop the car for evil purposes would be hindered by the Lord.


Again, thank you for your prayers! I am having a wonderful time and really enjoying being back. The P's keep asking me if I am experiencing culture shock, and I really haven't...no jet lag either. Praise God! Looking forward to telling you more as we get to the village! Have a very joyous Resurrection Day...celebrating the Savior who is no longer on the tree! The Lord is risen...He is risen indeed!

One week and counting

One week from today, I am scheduled to fly across the Atlantic to the wonderful land of India! I am so excited to get back, see familiar faces, and serve the Lord in a very focused setting. I'm in the process of packing right now, trying to fit everything I need and some things for the people I'm visiting (well call them the P's) into one 50-pound suitcase. So, pray for me as I prepare my suitcase and my heart for this trip. This is a place I love dearly and am seeking the Lord's will if I am to return there for a longer period of time. Even though I'm unsure right now, I trust that He knows and that I just need to trust and obey.

When we walk with the Lord

In the light of His Word

What a glory He sheds on our way.

While we do His good will

He abides with us still

And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey

For there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus

Than to trust and obey.

What it's like to be an owl

Sometimes I feel like an owl...or a bat, as my brother likes to call me. (However, thinking of myself as a flying rat with fangs is much less appealing than the proverbial gentle, wise owl.) I work the night-shift at the hospital, which means I wake up around 4PM and go to bed around 9AM. On the weekends, I try to switch back to living during the day, but it's difficult when your body is in complete rebellion of being awake at 10AM. In such an attempt yesterday, I slept from 11:30AM-6PM, then again from 1:30AM-3:35AM. Crazy!

Just to give you a picture of my schedule, imagine yourself waking up around 3:30 or 4 in the morning, driving to work at 6, working on your feet with critically ill children until about 7:30PM...with a 30 minute lunch break somewhere in your 12-13 hour workday, and then coming home and going to bed by 9 each night. No, it's not the ideal schedule; and, yes, everyone thinks I'm crazy for doing it (which is probably true), but I really enjoy it.

While it's not conducive to life outside of work...i.e. grocery shopping, meeting anyone for lunch (for some reason there aren't many takers for lunch at Chili's at 2AM)...working the night shift on my unit is great. It's much more laid back (well, laid back for an ICU), and everyone gets along pretty well. There's also a little more time to have a conversation with people, be it parents or co-workers.

I was talking to a dad several days ago who was preparing to take his almost 2-month-old daughter off of life support yesterday. I asked her how she was doing and told him that I was praying for her, he said, "I do hope she gets better, but the Lord gives and the Lord takes away." I almost fell out of my chair...this is not the kind of thing that gets said on my unit much, but it was so good to hear him acknowledge the sovereignty of God over this very sad situation and to know that no matter what happened to his sweet baby girl, he would be at peace with the Lord's will. Yet another of the Lord's precious reminders to me to trust in Him in all circumstances, no matter how difficult things seem. He is in control of it all. "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good" (Proverbs 15:3).