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
Good times! I miss you man! Sounds like God is continuing to do great works through you and around you. I will continue to pray for you and and orphans, and also the Hindu guard! That's so cool that he requested to be prayed over! Anyways, peace brosef and God bless!
ReplyDeleteDude, I'm so glad you're growing so much in God. It really is a blessing to see how this trip is molding you into such a man of God. I'm doing my own catching up as well. I think you would be proud. Speaking of, I'm REALLY proud of you bro. I love hearing about what's going on over there man, I really miss you bro. Praying for you, as always. Love you man, real talk.
ReplyDeleteEthan, so glad to see another post - thankful that things are going so well. We miss you desparately but know that you are right where you are supposed to be! Our prayers & thoughts continue for you and India. Much, much love. Mom
ReplyDelete