I'm going to India

Today I leave for India.

I am overwhelmed with excitement and expectation of what God is going to do in me and through me. This trip has been a long-time coming and yet it feels like I just got back from my first Christmas in India.

I am going in with few expectations but just with an expecting heart. I know that HE has something special to teach me while I am gone.

I know I am going to struggle. It is hard to be gone to another country and culture for almost a month, living in a house with 3 small children, and having a roommate. All of that is overcome with patience and understanding.

I love the fact that I get to pour into three missionary kids' lives. They are the future hope of India. They get a unique perspective into how ministry is run within their country. They speak the language and understand the locals, thus being perfectly positioned to minster. The potential of those three is awesome. God has great things in mind for them.

I plan to return to America as a refined Chai Wallah. I should be able to host a huge party, cook for them, and make them all tea. I might even learn how to cook some Indian food! Anyone feeling an Indian night coming on?

I plan (internet willing) to keep posting at least a few times during my trip (and of course afterwards). I would love to let you see my daily life, the beautiful culture I get to be a part of, the family I get to have Christmas with, and anything else that may be part of Christmas in India 2010!

Please keep me in your prayers as I travel today and during the duration of my trip. The Crossroads Worldwide Team will follow me, leaving out next Thursday. Pray that I and the team would bond with one another, travel well, stay healthy, and most of all be sensitive to HIS guiding and teaching during our time in India.

Some Lyrics To Think About

"Love is like air.

It's like breathing in.

It's like feeling up about to break, and then giving in.

It's like light.You can see it from far away, a match light in the dark becoming light of day.

It's just love and it's everything.

It's a battle fight and a song you sing.

It's just love and you know it's true but you might not know it when it happens to you."

http://www.myspace.com/leemcderment

Time to Learn Pt 4

• This section of the Hinduism documentary discusses some of the influences of Islam. It is really interesting to see how one religion can influence another and how they migrate within a region.
• Another interesting point is how the Krishna of Hinduism relates to Jesus in Christianity.
• It also begins telling the story of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of non-violent revolution in India.

Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1302EhyCf4&feature=related

emBRACE India

These are for sale ($1.50) and proceeds are going to benefit my trip to India this year and the ministry that I am going to work with and you've probably read about on here before, Crosspoint of India.

The bracelets are a mustard yellow and everyone knows yellow is a neutral, so you can wear it with anything and everything!

I leave in 8 days for my 3-week trip to Central India. I have been overwhelmed by God's goodness in my support raising. My trip is fully paid for and the plans are falling into place.

Thank you for your prayers and support. I am believing God for big things this Christmas season in India.

*Let me know if you are interested in purchasing bracelets in support of this amazing ministry.

CNN Hero

"Food is one part. Love is the other part."

Think about what he said: "What is the ultimate purpose of life? It is to give. Start giving."

This man comes from a Hindu family of high society. He doesn't have to care for these people, in fact his religion and culture discourage it. Yet, he sees that there is a gap between what 'they' say and our normal human nature. This man who has no reason to serve, does. Why is the Christian church, who has everything to give and the best reason of all to serve, not?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_3BEwpv0dM&feature=player_embedded

To Me

Hope is:

Belief in what you can't see.

Looking for a better tomorrow.

Seeing a problem as a project to take on.

Pursuing peace.

Loving people.

Acting on what you say.

Being more than a face.

Getting down and dirty.

Touching the least of these.

Never giving up.

Knowing what you do makes tomorrow better than today.

Laughing at politics.

Leveraging all you've got.

The power of a simple word.

Working your hardest and being satisfied with that.

Taking time for the little things.

Blood. Sweat. Tears.

The love of the Father.

Time to Learn pt. 3

Here is the 3rd section of a Youtube series about Hinduism. Take the few minutes to watch; it will open your eyes to the Hindu way of life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZavKqW7m08&feature=related

Are you listening?

You have so much to be thankful for. You may not drive the nicest car or have the biggest house but God is meeting your needs, isn't he? Just a thought for you today: There is always a need around you. Are you taking notice AND doing something about it or do you just pass by like it is nothing?

"Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered."

Proverbs 21:13

"Is Adoption The Only Way?"

Check out a friend of mine's blog. She has some great things to say on adoption and family:

http://aneverydaytarheel.blogspot.com/2010/11/is-adoption-only-way.html

TIme to Learn pt. 2

Alrighty here is the second part of the Hinduism documentary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEJNbdn9t20

Origami

Origami Emotion

Elizabeth Barrette

"Hope is

folding paper canes

even when your hands get cramped

and your eyes tired,

working past blisters and

paper cuts,

simply because something in you

insists on

opening its wings."

I read this poem the other day for one of my classes and fell in love with the ideas that are underlying in it.

To me hope is about so much more than just being optimistic or looking ahead to the future but about putting actions with your words. Even though the dictionary defines hope as a feeling, I believe it is worth so much more than that. If we just 'believe' that something will happen but make no effort towards accomplishing our goal, nothing will ever come of it.

James 2:14-18,20 says:

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

...one verse later...

You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?

In the poem what made the most impact was the fact that even though all hope and any reserved energy seemed to be gone, the worker pressed on and created a beautiful piece. If they had given up just a few steps prior to finishing, they would just end up with crumpled paper but by finishing out the steps, they created a beautiful crane!

In case you would like to know what it takes to make a crane:

What Should I Do With My Life?

Ever wonder how I came up with the crazy idea of using photography to tell stories overseas? Well that would be a really long story and maybe one day I will blog about it but I will show you someone who has inspired me to believe that my dreams really are possible.

Esther Havens is a super talented humanitarian photography. I could go on and on about her but I would just rather if you would take a few minutes to check out some of her work and read her story:

When I was a little girl I was always snapping photos with my pink and blue 110 film camera. At 12 years old, I took "studio" photos of my cats by positioning them the way I wanted. I also dressed up my brother and sister and made them pose and smile while I clicked away. I bought my first Canon digital Rebel in high school and started learning about f-stop's and shutter speed. Since I was home schooled, I graduated early at the age of 16 and started a junior college in Dallas. While there, I fell in love with the darkroom and black and white images. I had some amazing professors who challenged me to see light and shadow differently. I remember seeing Mary Ellen Mark's work in India and being in awe of how she captured the essence of people.

When I was 18, I traveled to India with Youth With a Mission (YWAM). A group of us lived in a village and volunteered with the local charities, including the local Mother Teresa house. India shaped my vision for what I wanted to do. I really fell in love with the people there and for the first time I knew that I would pursue photography. I came back from that trip and wanted nothing more than to photograph for magazines while traveling the world. I knew that travel and fame alone wouldn't satisfy me because I really wanted to help those in need.

The following year I met an inspiring group of people doing exactly what I envisioned - using photography for global change. I started volunteering for nonprofits at first and slowly got jobs with them. At one point I was photographing in the Democratic Republic of Congo when a severely malnourished child walked by. I snapped an image and thought, "What a great shot." I suddenly realized with a horrified feeling that I was photographing for me and not for them. I had started out wanting to help people, but deep inside I was still looking for that image that would make me the best photographer. After that, I vowed to myself to never again take an image for my own sake, but instead to capture images that empower the individuals I'm photographing. While the child's situation was desperate, he could be photographed in a way that would help tell his story in a positive light. To do this, you have to ponder how that image will affect your audience. I could take the image of a child with flies on his face eating dirt, or I could wait till his mom comes lifts him up and maybe a small smile breaks out on his little face.

I've seen some of the worst and most miserable situations on earth but have still found people with hope and joy. Though they have little to give, they greet me with a smile and offer me a place in their home. I have chosen to search for those stories and document them to challenge viewers to not simply view but to act. In my mind, acting can best be done in the form of giving - giving time, giving resources, giving hope. World change can happen if we would all be willing to give up a piece of ourselves to another. It doesn't have to be on a global scale; giving can happen in your neighborhood. Through my photography and my travels, I have learned that in giving you find more of yourself than anywhere else.

http://estherhavens.com/

Human Trafficking Report

This is an a report by IJM. The faith-based International Justice Mission "is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local governments to ensure victim rescue, to prosecute perpetrators and to strengthen the community and civic factors that promote functioning public justice systems." They work across the planet to ensure justice is brought about for those who are being oppressed and to the oppressors. Bet you weren't aware how prevalent these types of issues of slavery are.

Time to Learn pt. 1

This is the first of several videos that documents Hinduism. It is rich in history but also gives good insight into the peoples' lives by their religion. It's about 9 minutes but worth the time (be glad I didn't post all of the documentary here at once).

Enjoy! There will be more to come...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKE7enkhZyo&feature=related

In honor of my dinner outing tonight:

I had the chance to TrySomethingDifferent (we call them TSDs) tonight with a group of Honors students. We visited a South Indian restaurant near Charlotte. The food was very authentic and delicious. Here are some images of just a few meals that I had while visiting India in 2009.

Where all the magic is made:

Who ever said you couldn't have chicken curry and birthday cake?

Some of the best times were spent just sitting on the floor, drinking chai, and hearing the Family tell stories.

Chokardani: a fun outing with a plate of food filled like this:

A dosa with my adventurous teammates

A second lunch of the day: PB&J with chai and masala flavor chips.

Ministry

In my New Testament class we are currently studying 2 Corinthians. One of the main themes of this book is Christian ministry. Reading some of the scripture took me back to India because I saw a mark reading "India 12/09". We used this passage throughout our trip last year.

Check out this whole passage! It will change your life if you let it.

"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died."

2 Corinthians 5:14

Ransom

"A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act."

Mohandas Gandhi

I don't know what Gandhi meant by this but I love it. For all I know he was talking about himself but either way, I think about Jesus. Jesus came to earth to become the ransom for us, his creation. He is the best and most perfect example of love.

Invisible

Last night some 'roadies,' as they call themselves, came to Gardner-Webb to share with us about the Invisible Children in Northern Uganda. The video we watched brought the room to tears. The reality of this war was something most of us had never heard of even though it has been the longest war in Africa. So many men, women, and children have been killed, displaced, and mutilated.

Three guys from California saw first hand the carnage of this war and knew they couldn't stand by and let it continue.

www.invisiblechildren.com

Stealing gods

This man and his son have a pretty solid company. They sell coconuts and flowers to worshipers that pass by them. There are many people who worship where they are from and they have prime real estate for their buyers' convenience.

They live a sad life.

Despite how profitable their work may seem to an outsider, they have one of the saddest jobs. They sell their coconuts and flowers to the worshippers of the Rantek temple. Here they are preparing offerings that worshippers can purchase at the temple to present to the gods. The gods and their carnal forms, the monkeys that overflow the temple grounds, help themselves to the offerings even before they can be purchased. This means there is less to sell and they lose money to their gods' stealing. And what are these men supposed to do? Nothing. You can't really just chase away the gods or scold them. It's their offerings anyways, right?

How unfulfilling.

http://www.nagpurplaces.com/temple/ramtek.aspx

Message from Hillsong

"How often do we see something then just simply just change the channel?"

"Who are we to judge as if we were any better?"

"We say that's not right. That's not fair. All too often that's all we do because to do anymore is actually going to cost us something."

"When we ignore the orphan and the widow in their distress we actually add to their pain."

http://www.theiheartfilm.com/

One Man's Trash

Throwing garbage on the street is just a part of life in India. It made me mad when I first got there. I didn't understand why they would just continue to put trash on the ground. Why doesn't someone start a movement and clean up the country? If people would stop throwing trash out their car windows and everywhere, eventually the place could be clean, right? This was how I felt until I was told by a local, "Even if I stopped throwing my trash on the ground, others still would and the mess wouldn't be cleaned up. I would just be working harder for nothing."

It is interesting to think about. Could one person who stopped littering really change a country?

Could one person really loving people change a world? One person's love might not change everybody in the world, but it could change one heart. Is that one heart worth it? I'm taking the stand to live in love. I don't think I will change the world just as one person but I will make a difference to someone.

What are you waiting for? DO what it SAYS

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

James 1:22-27

Feet

I have always hated the way that my feet look. One verse that was brought to my attention over and over again in India was Romans 10:15. I had a hard time really grasping that feet even humanly ugly ones, can be the instrument of God. It is so true though. God really does love to use unlikely tools and people to do his work.

Here is that scripture. Read it and think, what are you doing to use your beautiful feet? Where do they take you?

Romans 10:14-15

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010:14-15&version=NIV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+52:7&version=NIV

The World of Stolen Women

The New Internationalist magazine tells a story of a girl, trafficked into India from Nepal by close friends, but rescued by the Rescue Foundation. It is a powerful story. I don't know much about the organization but from what I have read thus far, they are going some great work. Check out the article (below) from a few years ago of a rescued girl and the dark world she lived in for a time.

http://www.newint.org/columns/makingwaves/2006/06/02/rescue-foundation/

Skyline

It can be so powerful to take some time and pray over a city. One time during my first trip to India, for our group morning devotions, we had a time of worship and then spread out around our rooftop and prayed over all corners of the city. We took time to pray for God to move mightily in the people of Nagpur. It was amazing individually and as a team to pour our hearts out over the city. That can cause you to really fall in love with a skyline.

www.crosspointofindia.org

Love146

I was reading a friend's blog the other day about her recent travels and some of the things that she had seen and how they were really affecting her. She posted a link for an organization called Love146. I was very curious to see what their work was. The first thing I did was watch a video, an overview of the organization. I was blown away, yet again by the massive amounts of people TODAY being enslaved and trafficked.

This book that they have put together sums up lots of the information and stories in order to be easily found. The stuff in it can be very hard to believe. One page that blew my mind was when I learned that menus for girls in brothels are sometimes used. A picture of the girl is given along with her services and charges. Children are being treated like a hair salon.

Love146 works in prevention and aftercare "to combat the issue of child sex slavery and exploitation." If you are at all moved by hearing about slavery and human exploitation, you need to check this organization out. They are doing some great work across the world.

www.love146.org

The Power of Your Heart

Pooja is a sweet-spirited girl that I met on my first trip to India. She, at the time, was one of the children in the children's home and was attending school. She had been in the children's home since very close to the opening of it. Her English was good, which made it much easier to talk to her. One of the best things that I learned quickly about Pooja was her giving heart. She could have done what most kids would have and just used her English to hog the time of the team members by talking us herself. Instead, she became a bit of a translator for us. When we were in a group setting, she would gladly help interface between the languages. She gave the chance to many of the girls to talk with us and us with them, that wouldn't have happened before.

When I returned the next year, Pooja was still living in the children's home but had completed her regular schooling (our equivalent of graduating high school) and had started her year in the Bible school. Her English was better than ever and because of her willingness to serve, the ministry had given her a job that utilized her gifts. I know God has blessed her because of her servant's heart.

I am also thankful for the insight I gained while getting to know Pooja. She has a quite voice but leads the girls that live in the children's home. She allowed me to ask quite a few questions in our time together. Oddly enough, her name Pooja means worship. Right now I don't remember all the specifics of her story, maybe I'll tell it sometime. I do know that it is amazing how her given name reflects her total attitude of worship, even in the small tasks.

www.crosspointofindia.org

Pollution

The sunsets in India are magnificent. The colors are so brilliant, unlike anything I've seen before. One night watching the sun go down, my team and I were discussing how awesome the sky looked. Someone brought up the fact of pollution in the air creating the colors. I had never thought of that before. How could chemicals so terrible create sunsets so beautiful?

This reminds me so much of God's love for us. We do all this crazy stuff and work hard on our own but all we get in our lives is clutter, trash, and pollution. The haze is so strong that often we can see what's right ahead of us. God loves to take the trash of our lives and use it to teach us. He takes the pollution that clouds our view and paints a beautiful sunset before our eyes. Isn't our God great?

www.crosspointofindia.org

Dry and Thirsty Land

For He says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:2

The spiritual condition in India is as diverse as the terrain of the country. There are mountains with snow, deserts with hot, dry sand, but also luscious green fields. You can find Hindus, Muslims, deists, Catholics, atheists, and Christians living within the country's boundaries. God is evidently moving in one area but seemingly absent in another. He is always moving and acting,we just don't always see how. It is important to keep that mindset when observing countries like India. I feel this need to be a "knight in shinning armor" out to save the world from Hell, but God reminds me that in his time the people will know him.

45 years

While learning about missions in India, you are bound to hear about Mother Teresa. The Catholic nun moved to Calcutta, India in 1950 and spent the next 45 years ministering to poor, sick, orphaned, and dying people. She is known for all her good works to the people of India and it's easy to forget about the personal life she lived. By reading some things that she said, I really trust in the heart that she worked and gave out of. Here are two of my favorite quote from Mother Teresa:

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop."

"We can not do great things. We can only do little things with great love."

www.motherteresa.org

Abolishing Injustice

A21 Campaign

Did you know that there are estimated to be 27 million human slaves in our world today? That is more than there ever was during the time that it was a legal trade. Even though in 1833 slavery was abolished from the British Empire, it still exists in a major way. Human trafficking is growing faster than drug and weapons.

Here is an organization that is doing something about it. They are based out of Greece, but human trafficking, especially of sex slaves, is a worldwide problem. Check out this video for a fresh perspective on the world.

www.thea21campaign.org

Vikky

From time to time I will be telling a story of a student in the Bible college or a child from the

children's home. Here is one:

Vikky was one of the original boys in the Crosspoint of India children's home. He was the oldest at that time. He was born into a Hindu family. Before he had even turned 1 year old, his father was killed by a street dog. His young mother, wanting to remarry, sent him to live with his grandparents. They were old and in poor health and struggled to care for him. His grandmother cared for him until she was able to get him into the children's home. He grew up there, finishing school and growing spiritually.

Vikky loves music. He plays piano and drums. He completed the ministry's 1 year Bible school program while still in high school. He has succeeded in school and shown great interest in ministry as he grows older.

This year he will be attending a Bible college in another part of India. He i

ntends to complete his schooling and then return to be part of the Crosspoint school's leadership. He truly is a man with a heart for his own country and people. He could pretty much anything, but he has chosen to return to the ministry that changed his life.

www.crosspointofindia.org

*Photos courtesy of Rachel P.

The Gospel

One of the very first things I was told in preparation for my first trip to India was to always be prepared to share the Gospel. These are a few pictures of one evening that after working on cementing the wall (on the land for the Crosspoint of India future children's home), my team had an opportunity to sit down with the construction workers and flat-out share the good news of Jesus.

December 2008, my team was asked to tell the workers of the 'good news' that we have and to sing a worship song to help prove our point. One team member told the story of the salvation of men from Genesis, with the fall, to Revelation, and the 2nd coming of Christ. He stated it all so plainly that the men, who had probably never heard any portion of the Bible, could understand it all. We then sang the song "Mighty to Save" (by Hillsong) with our one acoustic guitar. Those few moments are forever ingrained in my mind.

We didn't have a huge revival among the workers, no one gave their life to Christ, and from the looks of it, nothing really happened BUT I know that God was working in their hearts. I don't know all the results from what was said that day but I'm believing that the seed was planted. Also each of us that sat there that day learned a valuable lesson. By being prepared and willing to share the Gospel at anytime, lives can be changed, destinies altered, and our own perspectives shifted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-08YZF87OBQ

This December

My journey with India started in December 2008. I have visited the country of India twice in the last two years and I am going back this year! December 10th, 2010, I am flying out by myself (via France, where I've never been before). This makes me a little nervous and super excited. It will be unlike the others before this. Instead of going on a team for a team trip, I will be going by myself and living a more day-to-day life. My main responsibilities will be behind the scenes working with the family there.

The main cost for this trip to India will be my airfare. This isn't just so you give me money (which isn't a bad idea either) but since this blog is all about India, I thought keeping you updated on what God is leading me through. I will continue to keep you updated on fund raising and as the time comes closer for me to leave.

www.crosspointofindia.org

A Ministry I Love

Here is a video that I and a small team created about the ministry Crosspoint of India. This ministry, located in Central India, takes in the most hopeless orphans in India. The culture despises and looks down on these children but Crosspoint brings them in to their homes and raise them up to pursue Christ.

www.crosspointofindia.org

Free Rice

We live in a hungry world.

No one really knows how many people go hungry. About 1.02 BILLION people are undernourished. That is 15% of the world's population!
There is a great website that you can learn and have rice donated via the World Food Programme. By studying for foreign language, art, science, English, math, or geography, you can help end world hunger. I'm just saying, if you need a 'study break,' end world hunger and play a little free rice game!

www.freerice.com

http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world%20hunger%20facts%202002.htm

The Heart of This All

Two years ago this coming Christmas, I stepped foot into a land that was most unfamiliar. I felt totally out of place. Having grown up in a missionary family and traveling the world, I normally was right at home in most international situations. This place was unlike anything I had every seen, heard, or smelled before. (If you've ever been to India, you know exactly what smell I mean.)

India. It is a land of 1,139,964,932 people and 35 million orphans, this place really is unlike anywhere else.

The brokenness and spiritual gravity is evident. Everywhere you go,

shrines are built to any number of Hindu gods. People give most of

what they can earn to make sacrifices. The government is divided

and biased. People go everyday without food and clean drinking

water. This is a place that will effect you.

This blog is an outpouring of my heart for India, the ways

God is burdening me for the people, update you on how HE is moving,

and some media pieces to help you better see and understand.

www.crosspointofindia.org