Hey yall, sorry for the long period with no updates (again). Things have been super busy lately.
First off, the half yearly exams are going on right now, so I've been grading a TON of papers. Fun times. All the boys are getting great grades on all my exams, so that's good!
In other news, this is the season of weddings. Due to some Hindu belief of god's sleeping and waking up, they all have their marriages during a period of one month. SO, Veer and I have attending about 7 or 8 marriage parties in the past month. Lost of weird traditions, like marching through the streets dancing all the way to the bride's house while the groom rides a horse and holds a sword. They have to stay in their homes for a period of time before the wedding itself. The receptions are basically tons of food with an outdoor stage with two thrones on it where the newlyweds sit. I have pictures of that which will be posted on my return. They wear the most ridiculous (to US standards) outfits, consisting of extremely shiny and sparkly clothes and cheap looking plastic decorations in their turbans. Instead of exchanging rings, they exchange leis (did I spell that right? you know, the flower necklaces lol). Anywho, it's all really insteresting.
Construction is going well. The roof on the second floor of the school and church are both finished and the massive stage is currently being constructed. Kids who have been out here won't even recognize it anymore, it's totally different.
It's been raining a lot lately, which has made it fairly cold, even for me (the Indians have a different definition of "cold" than we do, a perfect day for us = three layers of clothes haha). But the rain has been causing some problems. Countless buses, tractors, rickshaws and cars have gotten stuck in the mud. That plus the battery in Veer's car dying on us a lot lately equals Ethan pushing a lot of cars, some to get unstuck, some to get to start.
Thanksgiving YO. Well, my thanksgiving was rather pleasant. For breakfast, I took all the poptarts my mother sent me, cut them up, and shared them with the boys. They loved 'em! After school, Veer and I went to Ajmer to visit a pastor and had some chicken nuggets and chicken burgers for lunch, that was homely. Thanksgiving night, we doubled up two celebrations: Thanksgiving and John's (the second oldest orphan) 15th birthday. We had cake, biscuits, a chocolate treat that just seemed like cereal to me, these cream filled things, and more! It was very pleasant. We also spent some time in prayer and worship, giving thanks to the Most High, for all the blessings He has given us. Missed throwing the pigskin with my brother though :[
That's really all that's been going on: exams, weddings, and life.
Still constantly struggling with the boys to steal their work. Earlier this week I was helping John, Samuel, and Shivam clean the buses. They demanded I stopped and "supervised". I told them, as their supervisor, to let me show them how it's done haha. They still don't really get that I am here to serve... I try to explain, but they just don't understand why an American would come to India to do work for some orphans... The battle wages on.
Miss you all, a little over month left here in the land of festivals, then it's back to the grand ol' US of A. Bittersweet.
Much love!
-E
"I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins." -my Father
Isaiah 43:25
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Long Over Due
Hey guys.
Let me start off by saying I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get an update posted. I've been very busy.
Happy Birthday Blessy! Yes, today is her birthday and we are having a celebration tonight. Yahoo!
Anywho, first off things are going GREAT here. I'm still growing like crazy! And my relationships with the boys are really starting to flourish. It's a daily battle to get to serve them. Literally. I have to fight them for the broom or mop. I have to force them to let me wash their clothes. I have to argue over letting me help make their dinner. Yes, they partially don't wanna let me work cause they think Veer will beat them for being lazy, but Veer knows how I am. However, sometimes they don't want me to work because they honestly want me to not have to. They still don't get that I WANT to serve them. The daily battle goes on.
Jeremiah is doing a lot better if you were wondering. The burns are completely healed on his knee and his foot is doing a LOT better. He is running and playing as if nothing happened. Praise God!
So two Fridays ago we (me and the orphans) had the first "Fasting Prayer Friday". Veer was busy going to pick up his mother (who know lives with us), so he told me to lead it. So I spoke for about 20 minutes on prayer, fasting, and worship. Then we song a few songs and prayed for about 30 minutes. Then we layed hands on Sunil (the youngest) and prayed for him. The Sohan, then Ajay, and so forth going up in age. The Holy Spirit's presence was so heavy and thick in that room. Even the Hindu night-watchman asked to be prayed over...(Sidenote: I'm regularly praying that he will dedicate his life to Christ... I ask you pray for that too. His name is Gomji, if I spelled that right). At the end I tried to just close us in prayer and conclude the meeting. They knew exactly what I was doing and stopped me, pulled me to the middle of the huddle, and prayed over me. As I knelt and had loud prayers poured over me, I teared up. It was such a blessing. Truly, I tell you, that of all the pastors, friends, family, teachors, and mentors who have prayed over me... this was the most touching to me. Then we concluded the prayer meeting. Then 10 of the boys and Samuel the cook all volunteered to fast. Touching. The only ones who didn't were the 4 youngest who weren't allowed to. So everyone who could, did. I was proud of them, then humbled by them. I began to realize that these NINE year olds were asking to fast. When I was nine I don't think I even knew what fasting was. They will grow to be great men of God.
I received a package from my family about two weeks ago. Such a blessing. Candies and snacks, a FRISBEE, some CD's, a shirt, and some hilarious boxers with mosquitoes on them (speaking of, I'm being eaten alive right now... seriously, I've killed 5 mosquitoes since I started writing this blog and they just keep coming). They package wasn't just a blessing to me but to the boys as well. I immediately went and shared the gum with them all. The other night, I gave them all the Oreo's, which they loved! It was hard for me to not just eat them all... and I feel GUILTY for not sharing the Reeses Pieces... I just love that peanut butter, chocolate-coated candy. Point is, it truly is better to give than it is to receive. Trust me.
I had a straight razor shave the other day at a barber shop. Wow. My face hasn't been that smooth since I was a baby. Afterwards, I got an Indian face massage (no, not a head massage as my fellow Indian travelers have received) which was pretty awesome.
Diwali! Now is Diwali season, the largest Hindu festival. There are lights everywhere and fireworks going off all the time. We went ahead and bought some firecrackers and had a blast setting them off with all the orphans. I'll post videos of it when I get home.
Okay, there's literally 6 other things on my "BLOG" list on my iphone BUT I am way to fed up with these mosquitoes to type about them. So I'll conclude.
I love you all and miss you all very much! Cannot wait to be back in the grand ol' US of A!
Alvida!
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." 2 Peter 3:18
Let me start off by saying I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get an update posted. I've been very busy.
Happy Birthday Blessy! Yes, today is her birthday and we are having a celebration tonight. Yahoo!
Anywho, first off things are going GREAT here. I'm still growing like crazy! And my relationships with the boys are really starting to flourish. It's a daily battle to get to serve them. Literally. I have to fight them for the broom or mop. I have to force them to let me wash their clothes. I have to argue over letting me help make their dinner. Yes, they partially don't wanna let me work cause they think Veer will beat them for being lazy, but Veer knows how I am. However, sometimes they don't want me to work because they honestly want me to not have to. They still don't get that I WANT to serve them. The daily battle goes on.
Jeremiah is doing a lot better if you were wondering. The burns are completely healed on his knee and his foot is doing a LOT better. He is running and playing as if nothing happened. Praise God!
So two Fridays ago we (me and the orphans) had the first "Fasting Prayer Friday". Veer was busy going to pick up his mother (who know lives with us), so he told me to lead it. So I spoke for about 20 minutes on prayer, fasting, and worship. Then we song a few songs and prayed for about 30 minutes. Then we layed hands on Sunil (the youngest) and prayed for him. The Sohan, then Ajay, and so forth going up in age. The Holy Spirit's presence was so heavy and thick in that room. Even the Hindu night-watchman asked to be prayed over...(Sidenote: I'm regularly praying that he will dedicate his life to Christ... I ask you pray for that too. His name is Gomji, if I spelled that right). At the end I tried to just close us in prayer and conclude the meeting. They knew exactly what I was doing and stopped me, pulled me to the middle of the huddle, and prayed over me. As I knelt and had loud prayers poured over me, I teared up. It was such a blessing. Truly, I tell you, that of all the pastors, friends, family, teachors, and mentors who have prayed over me... this was the most touching to me. Then we concluded the prayer meeting. Then 10 of the boys and Samuel the cook all volunteered to fast. Touching. The only ones who didn't were the 4 youngest who weren't allowed to. So everyone who could, did. I was proud of them, then humbled by them. I began to realize that these NINE year olds were asking to fast. When I was nine I don't think I even knew what fasting was. They will grow to be great men of God.
I received a package from my family about two weeks ago. Such a blessing. Candies and snacks, a FRISBEE, some CD's, a shirt, and some hilarious boxers with mosquitoes on them (speaking of, I'm being eaten alive right now... seriously, I've killed 5 mosquitoes since I started writing this blog and they just keep coming). They package wasn't just a blessing to me but to the boys as well. I immediately went and shared the gum with them all. The other night, I gave them all the Oreo's, which they loved! It was hard for me to not just eat them all... and I feel GUILTY for not sharing the Reeses Pieces... I just love that peanut butter, chocolate-coated candy. Point is, it truly is better to give than it is to receive. Trust me.
I had a straight razor shave the other day at a barber shop. Wow. My face hasn't been that smooth since I was a baby. Afterwards, I got an Indian face massage (no, not a head massage as my fellow Indian travelers have received) which was pretty awesome.
Diwali! Now is Diwali season, the largest Hindu festival. There are lights everywhere and fireworks going off all the time. We went ahead and bought some firecrackers and had a blast setting them off with all the orphans. I'll post videos of it when I get home.
Okay, there's literally 6 other things on my "BLOG" list on my iphone BUT I am way to fed up with these mosquitoes to type about them. So I'll conclude.
I love you all and miss you all very much! Cannot wait to be back in the grand ol' US of A!
Alvida!
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." 2 Peter 3:18
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