I'm tired.
Actually, tired doesn't come close to describing how I feel.
I'm utterly exhausted.
This exhaustion has nothing to do with sleeping; it has to do with rest.
It has to do with perseverance.
It has to do with resting in the arms of the Father, even amidst all the busyness and choas that surrounds me.
It so often seems that there is so much to do and so little time to do it.
He has called each of us to a task.
I am surrounded by a nation who does not yet know the truth.
There is so much to do.
"... let us run with endurance the race that is set before us..." (Hebrews 12:2)
"Be still, and know..." (Psalm 46:10)
I am earnestly seeking to find the balance between the two.
~Heather
*Ask Him to grant the endurance needed to run the race He has set before me.
*Ask Him to guide me in finding the balance necessary to rest in Him and run with Him.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
the change
As one of only a handful of foreigners living in M-town, it is quite common to be seen as somewhat of an attraction. I am often looked at with inquisitive eyes. Only the most daring of school children will shout a quick, "Hello!" or, "How are you?"
As I walk through the community, it is often my intent to smile and make eye contact with each woman I pass, in the hopes that, after a moment, I will receive a smile in return. When possible, along with the smile, I extend a Hindi greeting.
The responses of women vary. Sometimes I get a smile, sometimes a head-nod, sometimes a verbal greeting in return. But, always, there is a curious look in their eyes. This look says, "Who are you? Why are you here?"
Each day I walk down the dirt road that runs beside my new home. This is the path I take to get to the main road. I find women, children, families, and animals all along the way. With some, I have talked, with others, I have laughed. With many, in my broken Hindi, I have attempted to share a bit of who I am, and find out more of who they are.
Saturday was different. Saturday as I walked along the road, I received smiles. I received greetings. I received invitations to be part of the lives of those along this long dirt road. As I reached the main road, I smiled. My heart smiled. On Saturday, to those who comprise my new community, I was no longer an outsider. I belonged. I was welcomed.
Great is His faithfulness!
~Heather
*Thank Him for giving me a sense of belonging.
*Ask Him to increase my ability to communicate with those along the way.
*Ask Him to soften the hearts of these and to draw them to Himself, so that they may come to know the truth.
As I walk through the community, it is often my intent to smile and make eye contact with each woman I pass, in the hopes that, after a moment, I will receive a smile in return. When possible, along with the smile, I extend a Hindi greeting.
The responses of women vary. Sometimes I get a smile, sometimes a head-nod, sometimes a verbal greeting in return. But, always, there is a curious look in their eyes. This look says, "Who are you? Why are you here?"
Each day I walk down the dirt road that runs beside my new home. This is the path I take to get to the main road. I find women, children, families, and animals all along the way. With some, I have talked, with others, I have laughed. With many, in my broken Hindi, I have attempted to share a bit of who I am, and find out more of who they are.
Saturday was different. Saturday as I walked along the road, I received smiles. I received greetings. I received invitations to be part of the lives of those along this long dirt road. As I reached the main road, I smiled. My heart smiled. On Saturday, to those who comprise my new community, I was no longer an outsider. I belonged. I was welcomed.
Great is His faithfulness!
~Heather
*Thank Him for giving me a sense of belonging.
*Ask Him to increase my ability to communicate with those along the way.
*Ask Him to soften the hearts of these and to draw them to Himself, so that they may come to know the truth.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
A place to call home
The time has come! I am officially settling into a new home in M-town. It is wonderful to be settling, and feel like I have a place to call home. Thank you for asking that the father would provide the right place. Cathy & I each have our own apartment, but they are quite near one another, which is perfect!
The apartments are surrounded by multiple families. We are already building so many new relationships. We are so excited to see what he has in store for those we are getting to know, and already love! May these relationships be the beginning of something truly amazing, eternally amazing!
~Heather
*Thank the father for providing this home and for the relationships that are already beginning.
*Ask the father to bless and multiply the relationships that have already begun to take root.
*Ask the father to provide the right language learning setting and to bless our language learning efforts.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Only the beginning!
The saga continues. Well, it has been days and we are officially negotiating for the third or fourth set of apartments. Everyone has a reason for not wanting to rent to us. We are trusting that the Father will make a way for us to be just where he has for us. He continues to demand our total surrender and require nothing less than trusting fully in him. His strength is perfect, when our strength is gone.
In the meantime, we are staying with the S family. They are wonderful, truly. They have welcomed us into their home and lives with open arms. Last night, we were a family of 7 in a two bedroom/ one bathroom house. Tonight, we will increase to a family of 9, our supervisors are en route to M-town!
~Heather
*Thank the father for the S family, their support and encouragement, as well as, their welcoming us into their family & home.
*Thank the father for being all-sufficient.
*Ask the father to provide homes for Cathy & I.
*Ask for favor in the eyes of nationals, that they would become people of peace and goodwill.
In the meantime, we are staying with the S family. They are wonderful, truly. They have welcomed us into their home and lives with open arms. Last night, we were a family of 7 in a two bedroom/ one bathroom house. Tonight, we will increase to a family of 9, our supervisors are en route to M-town!
~Heather
*Thank the father for the S family, their support and encouragement, as well as, their welcoming us into their family & home.
*Thank the father for being all-sufficient.
*Ask the father to provide homes for Cathy & I.
*Ask for favor in the eyes of nationals, that they would become people of peace and goodwill.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
A day in the life...
The first days in M-town have been full. Every day is an adventure. We laugh, we cry, we sing, we shout. God is faithful, and we are his, so we trust.
What does a day in M-town look like? Well, every single day is a brand new adventure. There is never any telling what the next hour will bring. Monday was one of those days!
Monday morning, the alarm sounded and the day began. Cathy & I had agreed to help prepare for a training that was to begin at 10am. The center for the training had been rented, but the floors needed sweeping and to be mopped. The beds had to be made, and the bathrooms had to be cleaned. Now, I know it won't surprise you that we did these things, but imagine it in a salwar kameez, complete with dupatta (large scarf)!
A couple of hours was enough time to finish that task. I don't think I have been quite that hot, nor have I sweated that much since an Alabama July mid-afternoon softball game. It was just hot and humid! But, the opportunity to serve made the task sweeter.
We have a friend who also lives in the city, Ashley. Ashley has only been in country a few weeks and wanted to go to an open market, one that only takes place on Mondays. So, we told her to come on over and we would head out. In the meantime, the househelper was here, so I was trying to continually dialogue with her in Hindi. Before Ashley arrived, a sweet national girl stopped by for a visit. It was a wonderful opportunity to speak with her, share a snack, and be encouraged by her testimony.
Ashley arrived during Monica's visit. Shortly after Monica took her leave, Ashley, Cathy & I walked down the road and caught a local bus. This happened to be my first Indian bus experience. I typically use alternate forms of transportation. The bus was quicker than a bicycle rickshaw, but it was quite crowded, to say the least. We arrived at the market and shopped for a while, mingling with so many women and picking up a few new items, as well.
After finishing up at the market, we headed back to the bus route to catch a bus back to the home of the family with whom we are staying until we have apartments of our own. During the bus ride back, a friend called and told us to hop off of the bus and go to the apartments that we are wanting to rent. We reached the apartments and the property dealer was not in sight. I called and I had misunderstood. He was expecting us at his office. We waited and he came to the apartments. He reported that we would not be able to rent the apartments that we wanted, the owners were not comfortable renting to us. So, on to the next plan. There were two other apartments that we looked at and agreed for the negotiating with the owners to begin.
We left the apartments and grabbed a rickshaw back to the house. We arrived and showered. The water ran out between my shower and Cathy's, but returned after some time. Some friends who happened to be in the area stopped by. I greeted them, served them some cold water, and got them settled. A few minutes later, a national stopped by with her 1 year old little girl. We sat and chatted a little while. Supper had to be started and since the house was full, we would be serving a houseful!
When bedtime finally came, exhausted only grazed the surface of my condition. I praise him because his mercies are new every morning and his faithfulness is great!
There is no typical day. The only constant right now, is the necessity of flexibility with the ever-changing plan. These are good days, they are hard days. We are hearing language and seeing culture take place all around us. It is such fun to continue to interact with people more deeply every single day.
~Heather
*Ask the father to allow Cathy & I to be enabled to rent apartments and get settled soon.
*Ask that my language abilities would increase quickly.
*Ask that the father would provide language helpers that would become long-term partners.
* Ask that the father would call the people of the state of UP (where M-town is located) unto himself.
*Ask that the father would continue to strengthen Cathy & I's relationship, that he would use us to encourage and support one another, and to share his love with those around us.
*Thank the father for his continued protection and provision.
*Thank him for new friends.
What does a day in M-town look like? Well, every single day is a brand new adventure. There is never any telling what the next hour will bring. Monday was one of those days!
Monday morning, the alarm sounded and the day began. Cathy & I had agreed to help prepare for a training that was to begin at 10am. The center for the training had been rented, but the floors needed sweeping and to be mopped. The beds had to be made, and the bathrooms had to be cleaned. Now, I know it won't surprise you that we did these things, but imagine it in a salwar kameez, complete with dupatta (large scarf)!
A couple of hours was enough time to finish that task. I don't think I have been quite that hot, nor have I sweated that much since an Alabama July mid-afternoon softball game. It was just hot and humid! But, the opportunity to serve made the task sweeter.
We have a friend who also lives in the city, Ashley. Ashley has only been in country a few weeks and wanted to go to an open market, one that only takes place on Mondays. So, we told her to come on over and we would head out. In the meantime, the househelper was here, so I was trying to continually dialogue with her in Hindi. Before Ashley arrived, a sweet national girl stopped by for a visit. It was a wonderful opportunity to speak with her, share a snack, and be encouraged by her testimony.
Ashley arrived during Monica's visit. Shortly after Monica took her leave, Ashley, Cathy & I walked down the road and caught a local bus. This happened to be my first Indian bus experience. I typically use alternate forms of transportation. The bus was quicker than a bicycle rickshaw, but it was quite crowded, to say the least. We arrived at the market and shopped for a while, mingling with so many women and picking up a few new items, as well.
After finishing up at the market, we headed back to the bus route to catch a bus back to the home of the family with whom we are staying until we have apartments of our own. During the bus ride back, a friend called and told us to hop off of the bus and go to the apartments that we are wanting to rent. We reached the apartments and the property dealer was not in sight. I called and I had misunderstood. He was expecting us at his office. We waited and he came to the apartments. He reported that we would not be able to rent the apartments that we wanted, the owners were not comfortable renting to us. So, on to the next plan. There were two other apartments that we looked at and agreed for the negotiating with the owners to begin.
We left the apartments and grabbed a rickshaw back to the house. We arrived and showered. The water ran out between my shower and Cathy's, but returned after some time. Some friends who happened to be in the area stopped by. I greeted them, served them some cold water, and got them settled. A few minutes later, a national stopped by with her 1 year old little girl. We sat and chatted a little while. Supper had to be started and since the house was full, we would be serving a houseful!
When bedtime finally came, exhausted only grazed the surface of my condition. I praise him because his mercies are new every morning and his faithfulness is great!
There is no typical day. The only constant right now, is the necessity of flexibility with the ever-changing plan. These are good days, they are hard days. We are hearing language and seeing culture take place all around us. It is such fun to continue to interact with people more deeply every single day.
~Heather
*Ask the father to allow Cathy & I to be enabled to rent apartments and get settled soon.
*Ask that my language abilities would increase quickly.
*Ask that the father would provide language helpers that would become long-term partners.
* Ask that the father would call the people of the state of UP (where M-town is located) unto himself.
*Ask that the father would continue to strengthen Cathy & I's relationship, that he would use us to encourage and support one another, and to share his love with those around us.
*Thank the father for his continued protection and provision.
*Thank him for new friends.
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