Road trip

I enjoy a road trip. It often makes for a long day, but usually includes adventures and sweet relationship building.

Friday, a road trip had been planned. It would be an early, early morning, but I knew it would be a great experience, so I consented. At 4:30am, we were ready to go. At 5:45am, the car finally arrived to pick us up. We were on Indian Standard time, for sure.

After picking up the rest of Vikki's family, the cars were filled, and we were on the road. In the three cars were Vikki, her husband, and 8 month old son, along with the baby's paternal grandparents, great-grandmother, uncles, great-aunts, nanny, Cathy, and I. It was quite a crowd. The destination? R-kesh, one of the towns along the sacred Ganga River. The purpose? The baby's Mundan ceremony.

Mundan is an important ceremony in Hindu communities. It is the tradition of shaving the hair of the baby boy, on an auspicious day in the 1st or 3rd year of the child's life, followed by offering the hair as a sacrifice to the sacred Ganga River. It is believed that this ritual will purify the child, that the shaving of the hair will rid the child of his past life's negativity, bestow long life, a better future, and protect the child from the evil eye.

After an almost 6 hour ride, we arrived in R-kesh. We rested and had tea at a resthouse and then made our trek to the Ganga for the ceremony to take place.

The grandfather took a dip in the Ganga and then held the baby and spoke blessings over him. After this, most everyone took a holy dip in the Ganga. They continually told us that they felt peace from doing so. Once the barber arrived, the baby's hair was shaved. The hair was collected and placed, along with money, between pieces of bread and then offered by the father to the Ganga. The family elders held large sums of mony over the baby and spoke blessings, to ensure him a properous life. The baby was wiped with water from the Ganga and was redressed in a fresh set of clothing.

After enjoying a traditional lunch with these sweet family members, we prepared for the long journey home. It was such a long day.

What an experience it was, to see first hand the darkness that is honored. My heart was saddened by the beliefs in the power of holy water and of religious ceremony.

The water was beautiful. The time was cherished. Relationships were deepened. The Father was there.

*Thank the Father for the opportunity to be part this family's special day.
*Ask that the Father would allow Vikki's family to find truth in him.
*Ask that the Father would continue to strengthen local relationships and use Cathy & I as his light, in such a dark place.

~Heather

A few points to consider about Indian road trips:

• There will be car trouble.
• There will be at least one flat tire.
• At least one person will get car sick.
• There will be more passengers in the vehicle than there are seats.
• There will be absolutely no potty stops, even if you ask, so, limit liquid intake.
• There will be countless speed bumps and pot holes, some of which the driver will slow down to pass over, others he will just pass over, so hold on tight.
• The return trip will take longer than it took to reach the destination.

*Pictures are in the following post.*

Mundan

blessing by paternal grandfather

taking a dip in the Ganga

shaving the hair

offering hair to the Ganga

~Heather

Holidays mean family

Even so many miles from home, holidays are still about spending time with those you love. I consider it an honor that precious families have already begun to include us in their count.

*Please ask the Father to draw Koni's family into His family.

~Heather

Lord, open their homes.

Prayer walk with me. We start and finish at the "big tree." At this tree, worship of idols takes place multiple times each day. Oh, that the people of M-town would come to know and worship the Most High God, the Creator, the Father who loves them so. Please ask that the Father would open the homes, and hearts, of households throughout M-town.

~Heather

*I tried to add music. Technical stuff isn't my forte! Sorry.*

Currently...

The gather up the gopher wood and pitch kind of rain is falling. Big Texas drops, the drops that result from days of humidity withheld, are showering down in common time.

In my attempt to cook more, I am making meat loaf, with turkey, instead of beef, and rolled oats, rather than bread crumbs. It's supposed to be better for me. And it is. After some trial and error, reading and specific revelation from God, I have found that I should limit my intake of refined carbs.

I am, shockingly, not very interested in marriage, for myself. I am fascinated by marriage, as a Gospel issue; however, not pining for or relying on the "satisfaction" so many of us have convinced ourselves exists only for the coupled. This realization appeared yesterday.

I have never walked this closely with the Lord. Gone are the days of convincing myself grandiose life awaits in the atmosphere of the next great stage, town, task. This is a new stride in life for me. Enjoying the journey, ridding myself of useless desires, finding wealth in relationship, reveling in God's will and realizing the responsibility to continue seeking Him. And, this seeking Him is not reflected in me having it together, displaying vast knowledge; rather, in Him and His strength and faithfulness gloriously displayed through obedience to His Word. Lord help my unbelief!

On that note, I have decided to extend my time at Seminary, by one semester. There will be days, lots of days, I will wish to be much nearer to completing my degree. Hopefully, those days will fade with presto. I have decided to let the remainder of my classes resinate.

The meat loaf is starting to give scent to my apartment. Rain drops have decreased in measure. I have officially enjoyed the current genius playlist on my iTunes to the maximum. I should create a new one soon.

Enjoy your day.

(One of a collection of recent creative efforts)

~Sarah

Diwali

Diwali has officially come to a close. Hopefully the nightly midnight fireworks are also coming to an end. The holiday certainly didn't turn out as we had expected, but I know that it is what the Father had planned. I am earnestly searching for the place that I walk in step with him, daily, in all things; and find true satisfation, complete contentment, and ultimate joy in doing so.

We did get to spend bits of time with those we are coming to know and love. The time with sweet friends is something I have come to treasure. Cathy & I spent good time together. We watched fireworks from our roof, walked down the street to look at the lights, and spent time worshipping the Father. It was a good day. May we truly abide in him and seek to be guided by his plans, rather than any plans we make on our own.

Cathy & I have been distributing gifts and cards to the families around us. We wrote words of truth on those cards. May the Father allow those to fall into the hands and be read by the eyes of those whom he is drawing to himself. Ask the Father to use his words to soften the hearts of these precious friends.

I am looking forward to all he has in store. He has certainly allowed the days gone by to be quite an adventure. However, I have no doubt that the best is yet to come. It is! He will return one day. He will meet us in the air. It is more than I can imagine. May we all live each day looking forward to and ready for that day.

~Heather

The lights are being hung

The children are excited. Diwali is coming! Lights are strung on homes. Gifts are being purchased. Plans are being made.



Diwali will be celebrated in our area on Saturday, and the days following. It is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil, within individuals. It is a time that includes the worship of light. It is a time that people seek to drive away darkness and engulf the light of knowledge.

Cathy & I will visit in the homes of our neighbors and friends. We will take gifts with the message of hope attached. We plan to boldly share the story of The Light of the World. Join us in asking that the Father show His hand mighty this week as we share. May this be a week that we see His kingdom grow in number!

~Heather

The saga continues...

Are you tired of hearing about these mice? Yes, they seem to have multiplied. Since they are still present and accounted for, I visited the carpenter today. He came and nailed boards to the bottom of my door so that the door would be flush to the floor, as to keep mice out.

To no avail, as I was lying across the bed this afternoon resting for just a few minutes, yes, I saw a little critter scurry across my floor. I redressed and gathered my belongings and headed off to the market. There is a little store not too far away of which I have become a regular. Two older men, who are brothers, own and run the shop. They know a little English and they have become quite helpful in times of need.

I entered the shop and told one of the gentlemen (in my best Hindi), "Uncle, I need help. There are mice in my house. I am not happy. What can I do?" With a gentle smile and a nod to an employee, he produced a small box. As I took the box from it, it read "Rat Kill Cake." He asked how many I would like. I asked how many he had? I bought all four. Surely they will be gone soon, surely.

*Here's my door with it's new addition, and my latest purchase, rat kill cakes.*

~Heather

Oh, that their hearts would be opened

Cathy & spent time prayer walking our area this morning. We found intricate networks of roadways and pathways weaving together the peoples of M-town.

There were extravagant homes that are owned by doctors, lawyers, and professors. There were desolate homes composed of some old bricks and a tarp that belonged to families of 6 or 8.

We passed by those who were intrigued by us, and by others who did not even choose to glance our way.

Some gates were open; some gates were closed.

Some faces were open; and some faces were closed.

Some hearts are open; some hearts are closed.

May each of these hearts and homes be softened, and opened to the Father.

~Heather

*Thank the Father for where He has placed Cathy & I.
*Ask the Father to direct us to those who are open to hearing His story.
*Ask the Father to allow those who worship created things to become dissatisfied, and, therefore, search for the Truth.

An update on the "little creature"...

I awakened this morning, sure I would find an exterminated mouse under my refrigerator. I gathered the necessary supplies and the motivation to move the refrigerator and clean up whatever I found. I unplugged the refrigerator. As I began to move it, I saw a little piece of sponge. As I continued to shift the refrigerator, I found all 8 pieces of sponge. That little rascal didn't eat the sponge, he just moved it under the refrigerator!

Needless to say, all I found under the refrigerator was 8 pieces of yellow sponge and some dust; no mouse was there, dead or alive. Wonders never cease!

The tubing that connects my sink drain to the main drain had been moved and was no longer attached. The house helper may have moved it; the mouse may have moved it; it may have moved all by itself. I am going to just decide to believe that the little critter decided to take the route outside, by means of the water drain. It could be true, right?

~Heather

All creatures great and small...

Around here, there are a few critters, and creatures, to say the least. We have the usual instigators, mice, rats, cats, dogs, spiders, ants, mosquitoes, and then we have a few that are not so typical, monkeys (large and small), pigs, goats, large lizard-like things, the list goes on...

I have had a little practice already of trapping and killing the mice and rats. Between my apartment, and Cathy's, I am becoming well-versed in the "how-to's of rodent extermination." And then, there are the creatures that you just learn to live with because getting rid of them is just too large of a task!

However, Cathy & I had a new adventure with creatures this weekend in the hill town that we visited. There were monkeys. There were lots, and lots, and lots, of monkeys.

We had already visited a wonderful little store at the top of the path and Cathy had gotten a Pop-Tart to eat. She had opened it and had eaten some of it, but wrapped the remainder and had it in a plastic shopping bag.

As we walked down the pathway, we saw an area that we had to pass through which had monkeys on either side. There was no way to avoid the monkeys. We had to walk through them. And, Cathy had open food on her! Not a good combination.

I had already told her the story of being attacked by monkeys one day when I was with some children who were eating peanuts. We had to walk through the monkeys in order to continue on our way. There was no other option.

Cathy was convinced, that because they were scurrying, they were going to get us. I told her, "If they come for the food, give it up!" However, after all of this, I am pleased to announce that we successfully passed through the monkeys without incident. There were several minutes that it was touch and go!

It just makes me laugh. I am convinced that the Father has such a sense of humor. We have certainly done many things since our arrival in country that were much more difficult than passing through a large group of monkeys, but it was the monkeys that caused us alarm!

~Heather

*Just a note to update you: I wrote and posted this entry this morning. That sense of humor that the Father has; it has in fact been apparent today. I spent the better part of an hour chasing a mouse around the kitchen. He is itty-bitty and superfast. He would go from under the refrigerator, to in the pots, to on the gas cylinder. After getting tired and frustrated, Cathy suggested that I Google, "How to kill a mouse." There were, indeed, many recommendations. The one that I had the supplies for involved leaving out oil soaked sponges for the mouse to eat, and that is supposed to do the job of extermination. Well, there were 8 oil soaked sponge pieces in my kitchen floor an hour ago, and now there is only one. Surely this will work, surely!

My Best Day

At the end of the day, one of the things I like to ask Sarah is, "What was your best thing today?" I love to hear about her favorite part of each day. I love to see how the Father is providing, protecting, and blessing each and every day.

I think the Father gives us best things each day, and best days every so often. A couple of Saturdays ago, I had the opportunity to go meet and spend the day with a precious national family. They are believers.

The woman of this family has between 22 and 25 children from the slum come to her home each afternoon to have school. The families of these children cannot afford to send the children to school. In India, there are no cost free schools, all education requires tuition to be paid, therefore, a huge population of Indians never get to spend a day in school.

This woman is doing her very best to teach, using a one house school room type approach and she hasn't had any training in teaching. The family had been asking that I come to spend some time there with them, observe, and offer any suggestions or assistance possible.

It was an amazing day for me. I didn't realize just how much my teacher's heart has missed the classroom. I loved sitting with the children and allowing them to show me all that they had learned. I loved that this sweet teacher wants to do her very best and is so open to new ideas and teaching strategies. It is my earnest prayer that the Father allow me to get to be involved with this program, as well as others like it.

M-town is well known for their production of athletic equipment. The families in this particular area weave badmitton rackets. I sat with some women who were chatting close-by and watching the children have school. Once I joined them, I saw the unfinished rackets on the ground and asked about them. The young ladies immediately showed and taught me to weave the racket. It was such fun to sit, laugh, and chat with them while we wove rackets.

We took the opportunity to speak to the Father with our new friends before heading home. What a wonderful, fulfilling day! I can hardly wait to see what else the Father has planned in the days, weeks, and months to come.

~Heather

*Thank the Father for giving me a "best day so far."

*Ask that the families in this area would become more open and their hearts would be softened, in order to understand and believe the truth.

*Ask that the father guide and protect this family as they strive to share within their community.

*Ask that the Father would reveal His plan for how we are to encourage and support this program.

*Ask the Father to continue to sustain Cathy & I as we strive to learn Hindi well and build relationships that will eternally change lives.

*Ask the Father to continue to allow good conversation about Him with my language helper, Koni, as well as all of those in our community.

The Latest Adventures

Cathy & I had a beautiful a day of retreat and sweet partnership building fellowship in the foothills of the Himalayas. We so enjoyed the beautiful scenery and fresh air.

My language helper, Koni, and I made Indian parathas with potato and onions. We have so much fun when we moving language learning into the kitchen! Pictured above, we were just finishing tea and parathas.


Those of you who know me must know full well my love for organization, planning/scheduling, and timeliness. So, you may not be surprised by my current fascination with beautiful, or unique, clocks. It seems that every area has a clock tower, an idea carried over from the years of British rule, I am assuming. Pictured above, you see the beautiful clock tower of M-town, and below is the clock tower of the hill town that Cathy and I recently visited.

~Heather

A Visit to Koni's Village

~Heather

Faces of M-town

~Heather

Sights of M-town

~Heather