“And it’s going home on furlough when you feel like you have just begun.”

“And it’s going home on furlough when you feel like you have just begun.”

I think I had just begun to settle into my new way of life in India when it was time for me to come back home. The roads didn’t freak me out. The smells were just normal. The food was yummy and cook-able. I think one day I could actually do this myself.

It’s not that the country is the best in the world. They government is corrupt. The people are not always the most welcoming and honest to outsiders. It smells and trash is piled u everywhere. There are major population control problems. The largest population of orphans in the world live within its borders.

You have to go where God is calling you. If you try to fight that, even if means going to a smelly, corrupt country, you will never get over it. Trying to deny what God is calling you to do or to run from it just doesn’t work out. Take it all in stride. Whether it is learning to love someone when it’s hard, giving up a luxury, or moving to a foreign country, if He has called you there, He will prepare the way.

The same promise that God gives to Abraham, He has given to us:

“The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.”

Genesis 12:1

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

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

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:

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.

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/

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

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

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

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