Off we go again!

Welp, my time here in North India is coming to a close, and Melissa and I will be leaving to head back to Dharwad (south) tomorrow evening. Although I didn’t get to see the Taj Mahal (it’s quite a ways away from here still) or ride an elephant (still hope in Dharwad!!), I got to see a lot of the Indian culture in a couple different cities, markets, etc!! Today in the house I got to dance with two of the "house help" children, about 5 and 7 years old (girl and boy), so undignified and free. It was SOOO much fun! They aren't as privileged as the others and aren't allowed to do a lot of things, so it was soo much fun to be able to show them music videos like Chris Tomlin's "God Great Dance Floor" and dance, clap and sing with them and showing them they were worthy! While that may seem like such a simple thing, it brought soo much joy to my heart!! I have also been so blessed by the sweet hearts of Gabriel and Susanna and how they have cared for me here at their home. Gabriel even took me to the English school that he manages today! That was super cool!! It’s large— 1,800 students, ages 3-10th grade! As I left in the car with their driver, Gabriel stayed at the school, making for a long 6 minute car ride because the driver doesn’t speak English, nor do I speak Hindi haha.

This week and a half has certainly been quite a roller coaster of emotions. Being sick away from home, let alone in another country (and away from momma) is a miserable experience that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I want to thank each of you for praying for me though...I literally cannot express in words how much it means to me. You can try to imagine, but you won’t be able to know the depth of love and appreciation I feel for you all :). The Lord has faithfully held my hand through some really difficult times this week, in which all I could do was cry to Jesus and continue to remind myself that He is constantly with me, never leaving or forsaking me. I was so reminded that even though I can often be unfaithful to the Lord, doubting his presence or love, He is a faithful groom, never leaving me and you, His beloved, His bride. What an AMAZING image and promise. He is it in for the long haul...whew, THAT’S a commitment, but out of absolute unconditional love. My devotional this morning took me to Psalm 63, one of my favorite chapters in the Bible and one that is very dear to my heart (Beulah Beach Camp 2012). If you aren’t familiar with it, check it out, meditate on it, let it sink into your heart and mind….

“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips with glorify you [this is CHOOSING JOY]. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. They will be given over to the sword and become food for the jackals. But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God’s name will praise him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.”

Prayer please!
Please continue praying for my health. If you have ever had any stomach sickness, you know that it takes several awkward days of your stomach adjusting back to normal hunger and eating...I’m moving out of that finally but I am SOO ready to be done with it! Pray for complete healing in the name of Jesus and that I would have protection from sickness and disease the rest of the trip! Pray for safety again as Melissa and I will be on the train from Sunday 9:30pm- Tuesday morning...32 hours (those dates are my time...Ohio is 9.5 hours behind). Pray that I would be able to sleep, be safe, and not get sick. Continue praying for joy as well. For my eyes to be on the King, not on my circumstances, for HE is eternal and worthy to be praised, even in hardship! Pray that Jesus would use tough circumstances to refine my heart and that he would continue to rid me of myself. And pray that in each place I’m in, the Holy Spirit would speak through and pour out of me onto others, in words and love!!

I love you all so much!!!!

Bethany



(These are photos from the school I got to see today :))

 

(the garden)

 

(what many of the classrooms looked like...very crowded)

 

(This was dedicated to the late Norma Freer...what an incredible woman) 

 (the little girl, It (pronounced like you're saying each letter), that I danced with)

choosing joy

hello friends! I wanted to post a little earlier today, but wasn't able to. These last 24 hours have been pretty dang crappy. I've been pretty sick :(...fever, stomach, chills, aches, migraine. The works. Although I'm feeling significantly better now, please pray that this would COMPLETELY end. I hate being sick in another country! Pray that the Lord would touch and set my body back into the regular and that I would get sweet rest as I go to sleep in a couple hours. Pray for peace as well, as being sick in another country w/o family is a little stressful haha. I was reminded today that even through this kind of junk, staying focused on the Lord is the key...that he won't give me more than I can handle or what would completely overwhelm me. So keeping my eyes on Him. Learning that joy in these times is HARD, but not impossible :)....Thanks for praying!

love,
bethany

same or different?

 A few things i've taken note of while being here...things that are surprisingly similar and shockingly different! All VERY interesting and intriguing! 

 1. Driving-- Different for sure. if you're walking, expect a fast car to fly past you, about 1.5 ft away! It's actually quite impressive, the "crazy" way they drive w/o ever wrecking! It's like a maze challenge!!
2. Children-- Same. they still love to play, are curious as anything, and can have a crazy attitude :)
3. Dogs-- Different. let's just say, PEETA would not be pleased haha
4. Showers-- Different. Cup and bucket usually. But surprisingly, easier than i would've thought!
5. Pop-- Same. Fanta's still rockin it in India, like everywhere else.
6. Tattoos-- Different. Many Hindu women have small black tattoos on their hands, but mostly people get henna....like I did-- woooo :)))
7. Modesty-- Different. Stomach showing is ok, especially with the traditional saree garb. Legs above the knee and chest, no no no!
8. Heat-- same and yet different. It's super hot and humid here. It's super hot and humid in Ohio. Yet, so different still! I don't know even how to explain it!
9. Meals-- way different!! Breakfast: 9am with tea. Lunch: 1pm with tea. Snack/tea time: 5pm. Dinner: 8pm. So interesting!
10. Soap operas-- same. they suck everywhere...no matter if it's English, Spanish or Indian...all bad haha

Got henna yesterday, which was SOO exciting! And today we went shopping....wooooo :))) Thanks for your prayers..the Lord has lifted my spirits soo much!

much love,
bethany

 

getting my henna done by these sweet ladies!

 

the after :)))))

 

before it peeled (left) and after!!

 

 church this morning!

 

my first full indian outfit :)))

 

those are water buffalo...hey Veggie Tales song haha

 

old Hindu temple (built before the British arrived a looong time ago)....built with pieces of stone by hand-- amazing. sad that it's such a dark spiritual place, but amazing architecture.

travel adventure, take 2.

What a journey— 30 hours on a train! Eek! One thing that has become so apparent to me is the way in which I create my expectations. When I heard the great description of the train, my mind immediately went to a normal overnight train cab in the states. I’ve realized that if my expectations don’t change, I am going to be continually shocked or worse, let down, by the reality!

Melissa and I boarded the train at 4:30pm Wednesday and packed a cooler of food for dinners, lunches and breakfast. We listened to some music and watched Twilight (it was the only movie on my computer that wasn’t nerdy nature...she wasn’t into that haha) on my computer. I had beef for the first time in weeks for dinner last night...holy crap. I didn’t realize how much I missed it! Indians are typically vegetarian, getting a ridiculous amount of protein from beans and lentils with nearly every meal. I was also afraid that I wouldn’t be able to sleep on the train, due to being a little paranoid and it being such a new experience, but thankfully the Lord gave me rest! The back of the seats fold down and the sheets they give you tuck into the top of the “bed” for you to sleep on. I slept for about five hours, until about 3:45am, when a train stop of people boarded the train with absolutely no social awareness of the time of day haha. Up until that point, melissa and I were the only ones in that cab area. Then we had two older men in the beds above us. That was a long 30 hours, but the countryside we got to see was beautiful!! Definitely not possible from a plane! I started reading “Redeeming Love” Thursday and read over half :)...dang that book is SO good!! Love getting lost in a novel. The bathrooms were an interesting situation. There were Indian style and Western style (Western including a raised toilet and tp; Indian a hole and left hand) restrooms. We finally arrived at the train stop we were getting off at midnight Thursday night/Friday morning and immediately saw the “busy” India that one might imagine fom movies...hundreds of people everywhere. People sleeping on the ground, walking around, staring at a pasty white girl; the smell of trash pungent. Melissa’s grandfather and cousin met us there and we started the 2.5 hour car ride back to her grandparent’s house. I slept most of the way. We arrived at 2:45am and, after a few minutes of talk, made my way to the guest house and slept soundly (I have become SO thankful for good sleep).

Today we just kinda chilled here at the house and bummed. It’s a challenge for me to not have things to do or plans made each day...totally contrary to the Western way— and my often “task 1st, then hangout” way. However, Jesus gave me such a blessing (out of nowhere...I love when He does that!!) Susanna and Melissa’s aunt gave me my first Indian outfit today— it’s sooo beautiful!! Then I had a wonderful and long conversation with Gabriel...mostly about all the missionaries in India over the past 100 years. It was such a blessing to listen to him tell stories and I love lending an ear also. I think it’s SOO important for grandparents to feel and know that their wisdom is wanted, respected and loved!! I also realized that Gabriel, without even knowing it, was filling a longing for my own grandpa and I found myself starring up at him as he told stories, starry-eyed and drawn into the adventures… what a blessing to me! Also, Melissa’s little cousin, Abigail, is the sweetest little thing. It’s funny how instinctive children are...so including and loving.

I’m learning to press into the Lord and look for how he’s working in every situation, in a whole new way. When I feel purposeless or confused— Lord, what are you teaching me? When I feel lonely or exhausted— Lord, what are you trying to show me? Each time it is this: take hold of me Bethany. I don’t know any other way to describe my hold on the Lord except “sustaining”. In all times— joy, frustration, exhaustion, excitement— holding on to Him for dear life (I am loving my time here and at the same time being challenged a lot!). My devo this morning reminded me of the importance of being thankful...even when things are difficult. And that I cannot be complaining and thanking the Lord at the same time. Touche :)

Please join me in prayer:
-The Lord has something else up His sleeve other than (or in addition to) what I anticipated...pray that I would learn with joy, reliance and perseverance
-safety as Melissa and I are in north India
-That the Lord would work through me to touch people for Him everywhere I go!
-That I would be able to be an encouragement to Gabriel and Susanna (Arun’s parents, Melissa’s gparents) while I’m here.
-out of control JOY :)

Much love,
bethany

 

On the train ride up north!

 

We saw a dang mouse in the curtains and it ran down...so we thought it might have gotten into our then-opened food bag (dumb mistake we know haha)...so i was fully prepared with the camera in case it jumped at her. But it didn't :)

 

You can kinda see the set up of the train here...like bunk beds.

 

called the "Thumbs Up Mountain" there in the distance. Beautiful landscape!

 

You were allowed to just stand at the open doors and watch!

 

On the journey!! 

 

Lots of villages along the way

open the floodgates

Aww man..it’s a rainy day. Cue sweat pants, snack foods, the couch, blanket, movie and inevitably, a nap. Although thats my reaction too, it’s not really an option here because monsoon season means sprinkling, showers or rain several times a day! The rain, cooler weather and grey skies starts to throw me into that thought and drains me during the afternoon...but today has been better in that respect, because Melissa and I visited her aunt and uncle, who also live in Dharwad! And I snuck a nap in today :).

Tomorrow Melissa and I embark on a journey to north India together via train...about 30 hours :/. Eeeeek!! Evidently it’s a really fun (and safe) experience though! We leave tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon and get there really early in the morning Friday. The trip will be somewhere around 8 days (including the 4 days traveling) and we’ll probably get to go to the Taj Mahal….ya I know :). Oh, and I might ride an elephant, but it’s whatever.

Thank you soo much for your constant prayers and for being such faithful intercessors on my behalf, even in the middle of the night. You are too good to me.

Prayer Requests:
-still not sleeping well at night...i get freaked out easily by sounds, which is a problem because there are sounds 24/7 here.
-still trying to figure out my place in certain things and how to interact within their culture.
-for my teaching...that Christ would give me the words and ways to explain things.
-for the Lord to give me words of truth and identity over girls here and the words to express them.
-for safety, protection and a fun time as Melissa and I travel north, and for those suffering who have lost family and friends to the monsoon flooding and mudslides up north.

your Indian friend,
Bethany

When In India...

I have now mastered the technical Indian way of eating with my hands. Yes, there is a strategy! Squish between tips of fingers, pick up and pop into your mouth with your thumb...I was corrected for doing it wrong haha. Once a month on Fridays, the leadership from their ministries (there are several partner churches and plants of their children’s ministries about an hour away) comes together for a time of prayer and worship. I got to experience that on Friday! There’s something really cool about hearing ten Indian people individually pray loudly (that’s really the only way they pray in corporate worship)! So sweet to know that when I pray in English, we are praying to the same God and are united in spirit because of that!! The trouble comes when they’re speaking and I can’t understand a thing haha. Teaching has also been AWESOME!!!!! I’ve never taught English to kids who really don’t know it (shout out to Hannah Gilmore, who did this in Macedonia as a legit teacher!)! They are soo eager and quick to learn though. When the time to study comes, they say, “sister, 6 standard” or “no sister, 8s!”. They call it a “standard” instead of grade and ALWAYS call me Sister— precious. I have taught with 4th, 5th and 7th. One of the days with the 5s, I heard the Muslim call to worship and asked “who is singing?”, to which Nevedita replied, “satan”….I laughed soo much!!!!! This week’s schooling is different for the 8th, 9th and 10th graders (so they go to school at 2:30pm instead of 10am), so I have more time with them this week. Although it’s highly encouraged and pushed for kids to learn English, it’s basically a side topic in the schools, so children don’t know many of the basics. It’s fun teaching them phonetics and spellings in words that shape so much of English (for example, “-tion”, “-ing”, the different sounds of “th”, etc.)! Also, for those of you who have been worried sick and losing sleep over my cockroach issue, I sprayed “HIT!” and haven’t seen anymore in my little apartment...thank you Jesus— seriously. I made bracelets with the girls on Saturday and it was a huge hit :)...why are bracelets just the BEST?!?!?! One little girl, Kaveree, made one and brought it over to put on my wrist (melted heart). A few things cross language and cultural barriers: love, smiles and Jesus. And thank the Lord I’m finally learning their names (and CORRECTLY)!! I get soo excited haha. The food has continued to be yummy as well… and very new! So much fruit here that I’ve never had: jackfruit, some exotic kind of apple, guava (we have it in the States, but it grows here!) Oh and the butter...oh my word. It’s so good— and I don’t really even like butter! And no cow milk...buffalo milk! The coolest thing is that I wore my first saree yesterday for church! It took the ladies about 20 minutes to get it on me right...they’re like 15 feet long!! Who knew?! Melissa gave me some green bangles as well. Google+ video hangout with the family yesterday was sooo wonderful! I didn’t realize how much I needed to see them until I saw them all: Mom, Dad, Terri, Jen, Brad, Jan, Jenny, Rizzo, Jon, Amy, sleeping Carter, Barkley, Josh, Brooke, and Simba!! We have soo much fun, even when we’re not physically together— I’m so spoiled blessed :).

I may also have the chance to hang out with a couple groups of YWAM-ers from the States and Korea...ahhhhh :)))). I was asked to speak at church yesterday (a task a little daunting when I’ve never actually been in an Indian church service) for the children’s home. Thankfully, just the children and staff. I spoke on how we are called children of God (in honor of Father’s Day) and how we are adopted by Him. I think it went okay, but it’s challenging when the culture is so different and things come across differently. However, I firmly claim the promise of Isaiah 55— that the Word of the Lord accomplishes exactly what it is intended to accomplish!! Amen! The cultural differences have definitely been challenging so far...in the States I think a lot of people (who are cultured) have a general awareness of other cultures being different and examples of what they’re like, but in countries without certain resources, other cultures are sometimes seen as weird or wrong. I’ve been trying to observe the culture as much as I can, while simultaneously being thrown in head first haha. A Devadasi mother dropped her 4 year old girl off here yesterday (she was at her home for vacation time) and the little girl cried so hard...I went to the restroom so I didn’t cry in front of everyone. It’s just seems so normal. It absolutely broke my heart. That’s what sin does— it breaks apart what God designed to be beautiful. Something else I felt led to say was that what i’m doing is not “better” than any sort of ministering you’re doing. The Lord uses you exactly where you are— so pray into it! Make yourself available and malleable. If you don’t remember Romans 8, I’ve copied some of it for you here...it really encouraged and spoke to me the other day:

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
 we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Love from India, 
Bethany

 (hangout with the fam)

 (Homemade butter and Buffalo milk!)

 

(puffed rice snack)

 

 

 (some of the beautiful girls: Supria, Nevedita, Joti, Chandrakala, Raka, Puvrita and I don't know the little one's name yet...but you understand why learning 60 of those names is a challenge!)

 (school time!)

 (first Saree!)

new errthang!

Lost of firsts today! So many new things to try and experience— tiring but sooo exciting! Everything’s unpacked in my room, but it’s definitely an adjustment not having a roomie (shout out to ame...I randomly watched some hilarious photo booth vids of ours haha). This morning I went to the market with the missionary family here in Dharwad and I got a pair of Indian shoes! One of the toughest things about going somewhere like that is to not say hi to people that you pass on the road or in the market (especially men). So when I walk from my building to the children’s home in the morning (don’t worry mom— it’s light out when I walk and it’s only about a 3 minute walk straight down the road), I’m mean-muggin’ and looking straight ahead, basically ignoring everyone :/. Shobha told me that if a stranger (man) says hello to her, she sometimes responds with: “Why are you saying hi to me? You don’t know me”, and that’s normal. So it’s a little different than my usual making friends with people in the line at Meijer!! And the grocery has SO many different fruits and veggies and the nice thing is, they’re all seasonal and fresh! At lunch Shobha made a kind of Indian bean and said, “Most Americans don’t like them, but you’re practically Indian” (made my whole day haha) because I’ve liked all the food so far! And wouldn’t you know, they were sooo good! I also tried a little piece of pickled mango (yes, you read that right) but it’s very spicy.  They’ll pickle anything! And I had homemade yogurt, which tastes basically like plain (not vanilla) yogurt would in the states. Then the encore: FRESH INDIAN MANGO. Rocked my world.

I’ve also been teaching/helping the girls with their English in the evenings when they get home from school (and I will also in the morning before they go to school). That has been really challenging because they speak Kannada (similar to Hindi) and the younger girls hardly know any English! Yesterday I worked with the seventh grade girls, which were easier than the 4th graders I taught today. They’re so sweet to teach though and really love learning new words (although their names are SO difficult to remember!!!) That language barrier also spills over into our play time— wouldn’t you know that trying to learn a new game with children who don’t speak much English is quite difficult haha! I just end up laughing a lot :). The jet lag is unfortunately affecting me more than I’d like...as I’m writing this its 11:30 pm and I’m completely awake because it’s 2pm at home haha. HOWEVER, at 3pm today, I crashed because it was 5:30am at home. But guys, one thing I need you to know is this: I just had my first encounter with a cockroach. Oh my gosh. Let me just set the scene for you: alone in my room, using the restroom, when I see a little thing on the pipe below the sink (why do all creepy things end up in the dang restroom?! Better than my bedroom though...please no Jesus haha). Quickened pulse. Two hands armed with hard flat shoes. Talking to myself. I have no shame. After five minutes, I go for it but it falls (precarious position on the pipe) and I freaked out of course. So I see it hiding behind a broom and hit the broom and it quickly crawls back into the hole the pipe comes out of. So, being the resourceful person that I am, I go grab my OFF 40% Deet bug spray and spray that hole A LOT, shut the bathroom door, and shoved towels in the crack between the floor.

The Lord has already taught me so much about relying on him. He is constantly reassuring me that HE is protecting me. Better than any man could. I often pray that the Lord would just make me invisible to evil people and pray Psalm 91:11-12, claiming the promise of his angel armies concerning me (it blows my mind every single time I pray it!) I feel like right now I relate to the Lord as a constant companion and protector. Being back in my room at night I am reminded of the loneliness that so quickly overtakes my heart without a group of people around me. The Lord is my constant strength and encourager. I am confident that He has sooo much to teach me during this time of being with Him and was reminded (in my devo this morning) to let the Lord’s joy bubble out of me and to not try to control the Spirit coming through me. It also makes me so thankful for my godly hosts, Arun, Shobha and Melissa, because I can ask them lots of questions and just sit and talk with them.

PRAY:
-jet lag...still happening :(. Not sleeping well at all, so pray for quick adjustment
-continued safety and for peace for me, especially at night
-JOY like crazy :))))

Love from india,
bethany

(And yes, I did ask the Lord to keep all other cockroaches away haha)

oh my word. i'm in india.

Wellllll, I’m currently sitting in my apartment room that I’ll be in for the next two months!! This has been a crazy 48-ish hours. The Lord immediately blessed me with a wonderful Christian lady, Sheralyn, to sit next to on the flight out of Columbus to Dallas...not only with conversation, but she walked with me until I knew which way to go because my layover was really short! From Dallas to London (9 hours), Mario and I discussed many things from drug and human trafficking in south Texas, to how Jesus isn’t just “religion”, but that he personally wants to know and spend time with every person. Sheesh— good stuff for sure!! AND I slept 4 hours (you know how big of a victory that is if you’re a traveler)! I was thankful (and this is my first time saying this) for the 9 hour layover that I had in Heathrow going to Uganda a few years ago...it’s so nice to just recognize sights in another country! On the tram in London I was struck by so many uniquely beautiful people. And it’s not as if i’ve never been in a situation where there are many other cultures and nationalities represented, but I felt like the Lord was really pressing into my heart that his love for them is immense and that he could tell me all about every one of them— beautiful. As I made it to my terminal for my flight to Bangalore, I quickly became the minority :). I’m thankful for experiences like that so that I can feel what that feels like to others everyday.

The plane ride from London to Bangalore was a good flight, but a little rough for me at times haha. Since I had slept on the other flight (still a good thing), when I hit that second “night” 10 hours later, my body said “ya right”. So while the airplane was dimmed for the normal sleeping population, I quietly watched the Big Bang Theory and slowly went a little nuts in the darkness and quiet. I eventually made an escape for the restroom, just to be somewhere lit. I’ll admit, I just stood in there and talked with the Lord even after I was done haha. It was in those moments of clinging fervently to the Lord that I opened my Bible...this time to Psalm 18, which was really encouraging to me :). I sat between an older man and woman who were very friendly and asked me a lot of questions, although hard to understand them :). The woman saw that I was reading “The Happy Intercessor” by Beni Johnson and asked if it was the Bible or about the Bible...so, with her broken English receiving, I tried to explain the idea of intercessory prayer being joyful instead of constantly depressed...I’m not sure how much got through haha. I also noticed that these two Indian people were so curious! I had just pulled a magazine out of my bag when the man reached over and picked it up off my tray table and began looking through it haha. Also, I have to say, we’re really getting jipped on our food on planes in the U.S. They’re holding out on us! I had organic yogurt for goodness sake! Also, a girl who works in the children’s home has done YWAM...yessss :). Looking forward to some wonderful conversations with her!!!

I’m sorry this was is so long, but all this to say, it was a crazy long journey but the Lord is even more faithful. Thank you soo much for your prayers constantly surrounding me. Please continue them!

PRAY:
-for me to recover from jet lag quickly
-for my physical safety (this is a safe area though)
-health...can’t drinking their water
-for my role to fall into place in terms of how the Lord wants to use me in the ministry
-for encouragement, as this is the first time living by myself (although another wonderful staff family lives downstairs).

Love from India,
bethany

(This was one of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen...this doesn't do it justice!)

IT'S TODAY!!!

Oh.My.Word. I cannot believe this day is finally here. Surreal doesn't even touch how crazy this is to me. The Lord has been sooo unbelievably faithful to guide me to even going with Arun and Shobha and their ministry and has taught me countless things along the way. These last 24 hours have been a modge podge of emotions (mostly today). I honestly don't think I've ever been so consistently on the the brink of tears...fragile haha. I'm just so overwhelmed by the Lord's goodness. He keeps reminding me: "Bethany, you're fine. You're ok. I'm going with you. I've prepared you. I will be with you the whole time. Just take hold of my hand." Wow...such beautiful reassurance. Thank you Jesus!! I'm reminded of Psalm 27 (what I call my "courage chapter"), verses 1-2:
         "The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?"

Please be praying for me and my safety...I fly out of Columbus at 4:30pm today to Dallas. Then Dallas to London, then to Bangalore, India. I arrive in Bangalore at 4:30am Wednesday (their time...9.5 hours ahead of home), then catch a domestic flight to Belgaum a few hours later. So I will be meeting Arun and Melissa, his wonderful daughter, in Belgaum at 9:05am.

Pray:
-flying safety & getting good sleep on the plane (gotta be on my game traveling alone)
-that I would get all my bags (not lost!)
-for safety in airports by myself
-for overwhelming peace in the midst of potentially anxious situations
-for the Holy Spirit to bubble out of me talking to people about Jesus to on the plane :)))
-crazy JOY!!!!!

Psalm 91:11-12: "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." WHEN WE COMMAND ANGELS, THE LORD SENDS THEM!!!!

I love you all so much. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support as I make this journey. Blessed beyond belief.

Bethany

one week to go.

Well, it’s hard to believe that I leave for India in just a week from today... but man, I’m ready to get there! After 2 years of planning and figuring everything out, it’s completely surreal that I am in the single digits and just 7 days away! I think I've experienced pretty much every possible emotion preparing for this trip-- excitement, utter fear, worry, frustration, hope, expectation. Through each, the Lord has faithfully taken my hand and walked me through, reminding me that HE called me to serve in India and HE has gone before me and is before me now. This is HIS adventure that I have the unbelievable privilege to join...how ridiculously awesome is that?!?!

As I wrap up loose ends, buy last minute items and receive last requests from The Massey family (the missionaries I’ll be working with while I’m there), my eagerness to serve with the Masseys and learn about the Indian culture is building immensely. This eagerness has led to some meager, but surprisingly successful, attempts at the Indian culture: a few basic phrases of the Kannada language (which, can I say is literally harder than the small amount of swahili I learned for Uganda!) and even some homemade Indian food (also much harder...3 hours to make!).

This last week is filled with lots of family and friends time, packing, and resting (trying to get rid of these dumb allergies before I leave!!) I’m soaking up my time at home, but can't help but daydream about living with just my essentials and trying a million new things in India...food, clothing, climate, culture and wonderful new friends =)!!! I'm itchin to go. 

Also, if you wanna check out the ministry I’ll be working with, click here!

Please pray: That I will be physically well before I leave. That I would be mentally and spiritually prepared.That the Lord’s peace would continue to reign over my heart and mind.

Much love,
Bethany