The monster we call Sopi

Today, as I ponder the woman that I am, I am amused.

I was just thinking, "I love being the teacher, so why don't I love being the student?" Then, I realized, I love to teach children who need to be taught in a different, unique way.

In the same way, I like to learn through hearing and experiencing, through ways that are somewhat unique.

Studying Hindi has been fun. It is so encouraging to finally understand what Auntie is asking. My heart glows when a friend comments on how much my Hindi has improved. I have loved learning Hindi from my friends and neighbors, and even from Bollywood films.

However, I have reached the language learning stage in which a classroom with a teacher and textbook is necessary.

Sopi evaluates my language. She lets me know the level at which I am speaking. She has said that eventhough I can talk with Auntie now and can handle business transactions, my Hindi isn't, well, sophisticated or eloquent.

So, I am off to Hindi school. I started class this morning. The teacher gave me homework, and, it wasn't to watch a Bollywood film!

But, to conquer Sopi, I will do my homework and my best to study, and learn, beautiful Hindi.

Sopi, watch out! Here I come!

~Heather

*Thank the Father for this opportunity for me to increase in my Hindi abilities.
*Thank Him for the provisions to be in a good Hindi learning environment.
*Ask the Father to give me the ability to absorb and process so much Hindi in such a short time.
*Ask that the Father allow my Hindi to reach the place that I can clearly share His stories and truth without "Hindi hiccups," for this is really what matters.

We've a story to tell to the nations!

Saturday was cookie day. The cookie icing had dried, the cookies were packaged, and I was off to spread the story.

Now I had a picture of the cookie package in my mind and knew who I wanted to share cookies and stories with, but I didn't know exactly how it was all going to work out.

I had the privilege of sharing cookies (and tea, and tea, and tea...) with my sweet neighbors, and some of the people I interact with daily. They were so pleased, and received the "Easter Biscuits" with a smile. Each sat and listened as I shared the Resurrection story in my very best Hindi (which still needs a little work).

Everyone listened, some just smiled, others had questions. There were those who had heard this story before, and those who had never heard it.
May they each choose to allow it to change them, from the inside out.

How blessed are we who get to be part of His story!

~Heather

*Praise the Father for allowing me the opportunity to share His story!
*Ask the Father to continue to bless my Hindi efforts and allow me to further share His stories in a way that would be best understood, believed, and accepted.
*Ask the Father to allow His story to remain on the hearts and minds of those who heard it this week. Ask that they would seek after Him.

Even when it seems it may be impossible...

Some say I am independent; some say I'm stubborn.

My mother would tell you that I am just like my father.

However, there's something my Daddy often reminds me of, "When your Mama gets something on her mind, there is no stopping her. You know that."

So, this week, I may be most like my mother.

Easter is my very favorite. It is hands down, the best holiday.

Easter means a Sunrise Service at the Teel's house, dying eggs with Ellie & Mason, taking a long drive with Sarah, singing Miss PattyCake songs with preschoolers, stuffing little plastic eggs, a fantastic day of corporate worship, but above all else, it is celebrating the Resurrection!

This year, as I have been preparing for Easter, I have known it was going to look a little different, but I have wanted it to be special.

I decided I wanted to have colorfully decorated, cut-out Easter cookies to present to my neighbors & friends as I share with them the story of the Resurrection. I had a picture in my mind of what this should look like (that's where Mama and I get into trouble)!

I only ran into a few snags along the way...

my neighbors & friends won't eat eggs or anything baked with eggs, the eggless recipe calls for cream cheese, I have only a glass baking dish, I don't have any idea how to find or make food coloring, I have never made cookie icing, and I have been down with Bronchitis all week.

But, when I get something on my mind, it will happen, or I will do my very best at making a valiant effort at it and may, in fact, die trying.

So, I have learned...

If you talk to the right experienced overseas cook, she might have an eggless cut-out cookie recipe.

If you drain plain yougart overnight through a loosely woven cloth, you might get cream cheese.

If you can explain what a cookie sheet is and what it is made out of and used for, as well as what size your oven is, in the local language to the worker at the kitchen store, he might round up something that resembles a cookie sheet.

If you talk to enough locals and the right store owners, you might find that someone does have coloring (other than hair coloring) for sale.

If you scour the internet, you might find a recipe for cookie icing for which you have all of the ingredients.

If all of these somewhat possible situations fall into place, you might end the day with colorfully decorated, cut-out Easter cookies!

So, indeed, the day has ended well. I have a kitchen counter lined with colorful, cut-out Easter cookies. I have worked on a simplified version of the Resurrection story in Hindi. I am planning to visit with neighbors and friends on Saturday in hopes to share a cup of tea, an Easter biscuit (cookie), and an amazing story.

~Heather

*Join me in pleading with the Father to soften the hearts of the people of M-town.

*Ask that He would allow my Hindi to be understood.

*Ask that He would guide me to the divine appointments that He has made.

*Ask that He would use these days to change lives for eternity.

Everyday Occurrences

As I rode atop the rickshaw to language class, a crowd was gathering beside the road. I watched and wondered what they were doing.

I searched the scene; they were gathering around a large tree. They were tying red string, offering flowers, placing candles, sweets, and idols around the tree.

Later I learned that worship of this tree had begun only hours before. The tree had caught on fire sometime in the early morning hours.

It had been suggested that this tree was holy, because it had caught on fire. Therefore, the tree had become an object of worship.

Some worship in amazement, some worship in fear. May those who worship created things come to know the Creator of all things.

~Heather

Some days

As I sat in the hospital neurological clinic waiting room, I was greeted by the smiles and gazes of beautiful children. These children were so much like other children I have loved and served.

They live with a variety of abilities. These children don't walk, they don't use words to speak. These children and families learn to live and function with very special needs.

As I watched parents and others interact with these children, I gazed in wonder, and somewhat of a sense of longing.

A smile swept across my face as one would giggle with glee as a song was sung or a game was played.

Some days I miss serving special needs families in their homes. Some days I miss the classroom. Some days I miss the joy of seeing a child master a new skill.

The work the Father has before me looks so different now than it did in years past. Some days I wonder if I am up to this challenge. Some days I wonder what the days ahead will include.

Today I am choosing to be thankful for today and the task that is before me, but I will always look back in amazement and look forward with wonder.

I am planning to soon visit a center that provides services for children and families with special needs.

Please join me in asking the Father for His guidance in how He may choose to involve me in the special needs community of M-town.

~Heather

A birthday to remember

Children's birthday parties bring to mind hamburgers & hotdogs, clowns & balloons, laughing & playing.
An Indian First Birthday Party (especially for a little boy) is unlike any 1st birthday party you may picture.
Ridit's first birthday party was certainly an unforgettable night.

The party had dancers, DJ's, a host & hostess, animals dressed in costumes, fried snacks, cake, sweets, a full sit down dinner, a train for children to ride, take home boxes of Indian sweets, and professional photographers & videographers.

Even the invitation was quite extravagant!

~Heather

Color Day

I think we are offically part of the community now. The ladies came to get us this morning to come out and play "Holi." And, when things started to slow down and we were evidently cold, Auntie told us it was time to go in to take a warm shower and put clean clothes on.

We are truly blessed.

~Heather

Sights and Sounds of Holi

Lighting the fire and burning the wheat

(to earn the blessings of a good harvest)

~Heather

Holi

~Heather

Spring has Sprung

Last week took with it the cool weather. I wonder how many days will come and go before I will have to turn on the ceiling fans and air conditioning. The cooler weather certainly had its perks! On the other hand, my laundry dries in a couple of hours, rather than a few days.

The weather is merely one aspect of the changes that are currently taking place.

With the Spring weather comes the Hindu holiday Holi. Holi is a celebration to welcome spring and win the blessings of the gods for good harvest. Many very large fires will be lit and worshipped around tonight. Tomorrow everyone will "play Holi," by throwing water and colors on one another.

Please join me in pleading with the Father to protect the people of M-town from accidents caused by the fires and play.

Ask the Father to allow those we love to become dissatisfied with worshipping created things, that they would come to bow and worship the Creator of all things.

Ask the Father to give me opportunities to share his Truth in these days.

Ask that with Spring, the Father would bring the people of M-town to a heart knowledge and acceptance of Him.

~Heather

Celebrate!

Tuesday was Cathy's birthday. We took the opportunity to have a bit of a neighborhood celebration. It was a wonderful time of celebrating Cathy and fellowshipping with our neighbors and friends.

* Join me in thanking the Father for placing us in such a warm, loving, and accepting community.

* Ask the Father to draw the M-town families to Himself.

~Heather

Have you grieved your sins?

I have heard it said that until one grives their sin, in light of the Cross, salvation is never really understood. Have your sins grieved you?

I used to take offense to this idea. Do you?

Recently, while running errands, waiting at a stop light, I was prompted to give a homeless man money. I do not normally do that. I am well aware of the likelihood that my money has gone to purchase the gamut of harmful substances or behaviors. However, that day, I felt the stern prompting of the Holy Spirit to give the few dollars I had in my wallet. His name was Joe. And, as Joe turned away, after thanking me, he looked back, made steady, clear eye contact and said, "My name is Joe, would you pray for me please." Probably just a good homeless person tactic, right?

As I drove away, I began to ponder the concept of prejudice. I thought a lot about how it is used as explanation. I wondered how prejudice is conceived in the heart. I thought about the different angles of prejudice - the scoffing at the poor, the contempt for the rich. The black man who cannot find a job because he is "probably lazy or sells drugs." The white girl who does not need help or does not deserve to be sacrificed for because "Daddy will probably take care of it." Why do we insist on trading tit for tat?

I continued to ponder about prejudice and pray for Joe. Then came the young man on McCart. Disbelief met aggravation as I and other cars had to stop as someone began to cross the road at a less than safe time. Aggravation was met with conviction when this young man came clear into view. His gait, mannerisms, and draw hands and arms revealed that he was not only struggling with a physical handicap, but a mental one as well. I watched as he crossed in front of me, saddened that he could not make such a basic decision as when to cross the road safely. What would prejudice decide about this young man?

My mind settled on the accusation some would make, of the possibility that this boy's wrongdoing has led to his physical and mental state. Judging by his garb and skin tone, maybe drugs had rendered him handicap. After all, sagging jeans and a dark skin tone most often mean drug use, right? Its likely that this young man could have snorted enough crack or drank enough alcohol to induce mental damage, or cause a physical accident, resulting in handicap, right? Joe is probably homeless because all his money goes to buy booze, don't you think? Maybe Joe is so irresponsible that his choices put him in his homeless situation, right?

And there it was, clear and convicting, "But for the grace of God am I." But for the grace of God have my sins not rendered me paralyzed, handicapped, homeless, outcast, poor, societies burden, less than desirable! Then, I began to grieve. How could I qualify my sins as not that bad? How can I take the grace that God has shown me and use it as a crutch to not realize the offense I hurl at a perfect, loving, Holy God? How could I stand, covered in Christ righteousness, given to me, not earned by me, through His horrific death by crucifixion, and be so proud as to think that my sins would not bereave God because they are not classified as socially unacceptable?

I was broken. Broken of a proud heart. Broken of an assuming arrogance. I have begun to grieve my sins. I have begun to love my Savior all the more. Please, please won't you join me?

"For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death." - 2 Corinthians 7:10

~Sarah