Thursday, April 16, 2009

Getting Hitched -- Indian Style

I had the privilege of attending my first Indian wedding, complete with all of the traditional dress, decorations, and rituals. Our elementary school tutor, Kondama, who spent morning and evening daily teaching our kids, personally invited us to celebrate with her. The two day wedding began with preparing the bride and giving her our blessing. The wedding day consisted of many rituals and blessings, loud music, food, and many bright lights and decorations. Let me just say that Indians sure know how to celebrate!
Raghu and I with Kondama's twin neices before the ceremony.

So precious.
The beautiful bride.Rituals before the bride and groom see one another.

The bride.The final blessings.


"Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." [Mark 10:9]

He is Risen!

Easter Sunday was by far one of the best days I have had since I arrived in India almost three months ago. As should be the case all over the world, we had a huge celebration in remembrance of the most monumental day in the history of mankind. God miraculously provided the finances we needed to make preparations at our church in Ganapavarum to celebrate -- Praise Him! After hauling all 47 kids and all of our staff to the village, we had a wonderful time of worship, prayer, and soaking in the Word of God before an afternoon of feeding not only our own children, but over 250 local kids and their families. We had such a beautiful time of fellowship.

Enjoy the pictures!

"As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' " [Mark 16:5-7]

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Stronger



Stronger -- Hillsong

There is Love
That came for us
Humbled to a sinners cross
You broke my shame and sinfulness
You rose again victorious

Faithfulness none can deny
Through the storm
And through the fire
There is truth that sets me free
Jesus Christ who lives in me

You are stronger
You are stronger
Sin is broken
You have saved me
It is written
Christ is risen
Jesus You are Lord of all

No beginning and no end
Youre my hope and my defence
You came to seek and save the lost
You paid it all upon the cross

So let Your Name be lifted higher
Be lifted higher
Be lifted higher

Monday, April 6, 2009

The Triumphal Entry

"As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."

This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

"Say to the Daughter of Zion,
'See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' "

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

"Hosanna to the Son of David!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." (Matthew 21:1-11)

Our Sunday church service at Ganapavarum was a beautiful time of fellowship and praise as we celebrated the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. As three autos full of children approached the village we stopped and got out at its entrance. From there, we walked through the streets, waving brightly decorated palm branches and singing songs of praise to our Savior. We walked around the entire village, collecting our village children friends as we went along. With Shantu Rhagu tightly clenching one hand and Mahdu the other, I praised God that He has given these boys the hope of Jesus Christ. They might not have shoes, or many clothes, or go to school, but they have the joy of the Lord. Their eyes light up when they see us -- they know that in the body of Christ they can find refuge.

As we settled down in the church, a woman brought me her newborn baby girl and laid her in my arms. She has a two year old son as well. I've been laying hands on them and praying for them for the past few weeks as she prepared to deliver her baby. They are a beautiful family. As I held her week old baby girl in my arms, the smile would not leave my face, but inside, my heart was broken. I thought about her life, about what her childhood would be like, about what type of woman she would grow into. I wondered if she would go to school and play with other kids or if she would make it past her fifth birthday. I wondered if she would become a servant girl or a prostitute or be married off by age thirteen. I prayed that God's spirit would enter her at a young age, that the love of Christ would be her rock among shifting sand. I prayed for hope in the midst of such great darkness. I prayed for healing.

She is HIV positive.

It is a precious gift God has given me to be a part of the lives of the children and families in Ganapavarum. I am blessed each time I see them to be called their big sister, their granddaughter, their friend. These are the type of people Jesus came to earth to serve -- the orphans, the widows, the weak, and the desperate.

Lord, I want to be desperate for you.

"At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:25-30)

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Apologies and Birthdays

My faithful blog readers,

My deepest apologies to you all for my failure to update. Of course I could come up with a hundred excuses as to why I haven't been updating in the past week -- all of them being true -- but the reality of the situation is that I haven't had much to say as of late. Don't get me wrong, there has been a lot going on and many great experiences, challenges, and growth. Yet, somehow I don't seem to have the right words. I've started my blogs and tried to write many stories, but to my discouragement I haven't seemed to be able to. Perhaps soon I will be able to reproduce my many thoughts in writing. For now, enjoy the pictures below of me and my Indian family at my baby sister's 2nd birthday party. As they say, a picture says a thousand words.

Love you all.

The whole family -- (from left) Babu, Ravi, Breana, Vijaya, and Grace in front.

The cake fight!

Post cake fight.

My baby sister and I after a great day of celebrating.


"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong."
-1 Corinthians 1:27