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