tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050402544796329222024-03-12T17:30:11.093-07:00Jacob and SarahOur life in India.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-105040254479632922.post-21293984806140790362014-12-06T05:34:00.001-08:002014-12-06T05:51:02.460-08:00Our last month in India!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We've had a couple of cool experiences lately living in India.<br><br>My favorite experience so far happened a couple weeks ago week. We have been using the same auto rickshaw driver throughout our time in India. Although he speaks almost no English, we have become very good friends with him. He calls me his little brother. He gets out of the auto to pick up biryani for us when we are in a part of town less suitable for Sarah to be in so that she doesn't have to get out and be stared at. He informs us when we do something culturally inappropriate. He just takes good care of us. His name is Ali.</span>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ali and his wife have had multiple pregnancy difficulties over the years, and even lost a child a few months after she was born. About a month and a half ago, he told us his wife was 8 months pregnant. We told him all the time that we were praying to Isa al-Masi (Jesus) for his baby and wife. Finally, last week, he called and told us that his baby had been born, a baby girl! Two days after she was born, he was driving us around and asked us what baby names we liked. We replied by asking him what names he liked but he really just wanted to know what names we like. We had very limited knowledge of Indian Muslim girl names, so we told him we like names from the God's Word. He wanted to hear some names so we prayed about it, looked through our copies of the Word, and tried to pronounce to him names of women in the Word with a Hindi flare. When we told him the name Tabita ("Tabitha" who God through Peter raised from the dead in Acts 9) he stopped us and told us he really liked that name. I told him (in very rough Hindi) that Isa raised Tabita from the dead in God's Word. He loved it and decided that Tabita was going to be the name of his daughter. The next day he invited us over to his humble, one-room home where his wife had given birth to their beautiful baby girl just a few days earlier. We drank chai and told them how beautiful their baby is. He is grateful to God for his precious daughter. We are praying that he would recognize it was Isa al-Masi who has protected Tabita and will continue to make her healthy if he asks Him. </span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyhWM_WD2gok5dx2LHk68T_k1qLTsyrbIJDorMeaFh_Dhk8Uu1AglI_nt7acrD01TCsVLaTeCJodaRREfkV3IWDQPHL1x1KOv4cY3I4gFx3S0ZzVfVb-3lhCi74hBa3i3678G8JkbS7A/s640/blogger-image--182105717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyhWM_WD2gok5dx2LHk68T_k1qLTsyrbIJDorMeaFh_Dhk8Uu1AglI_nt7acrD01TCsVLaTeCJodaRREfkV3IWDQPHL1x1KOv4cY3I4gFx3S0ZzVfVb-3lhCi74hBa3i3678G8JkbS7A/s640/blogger-image--182105717.jpg"></a></div></span></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br>We were very blessed this week to visit the Taj Mahal. It was extravagant. The main structure is about 240 feet tall. It was built between 1631-1653 by an emperor named Shah Jahan as a resting place for his late wife. It took 20,000 laborers and 900 elephants 22 years to build. The building is made completely of marble inlaid with thousands upon thousands of hand-cut precious and semi-precious stones creating beautiful designs in the marble. By all human standards, it is truly a glorious structure. Sarah and I couldn't help but imagine, if man in his limited ability and resources can create such a marvelous structure, the beauty and splendor of God's dwelling place that cannot be built with human hands (1 Kings <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://1" x-apple-data-detectors-result="1" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">8:27</a>). </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoaONl5cWPeZ9DUBmd2aR9w7SWeHs9RVR-h5a939nRv3BYW5skjPyO5uleyg6f_j9MZP9w51Hky2TpZ67p7ilooOdi5nb5S6Rt-0CN_GNgiIBQE8STJEJmZ4xFudrZtymQCUb4a02_2Y/s640/blogger-image-297969041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoaONl5cWPeZ9DUBmd2aR9w7SWeHs9RVR-h5a939nRv3BYW5skjPyO5uleyg6f_j9MZP9w51Hky2TpZ67p7ilooOdi5nb5S6Rt-0CN_GNgiIBQE8STJEJmZ4xFudrZtymQCUb4a02_2Y/s640/blogger-image-297969041.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTqgNyC3GEMxNR_vx7kD1WTr0n_cwxFMKWx7SetkOP6Yy2I2RH2A5mZ28oQlrSDqFxkwOQ6pn9Yf-45ow2nRMY6Y6M6UKr-stDIa45w_mIHs6jI5woZuSDM7M1XtCZcChJ6Ua1niua2k/s640/blogger-image-1069071239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTqgNyC3GEMxNR_vx7kD1WTr0n_cwxFMKWx7SetkOP6Yy2I2RH2A5mZ28oQlrSDqFxkwOQ6pn9Yf-45ow2nRMY6Y6M6UKr-stDIa45w_mIHs6jI5woZuSDM7M1XtCZcChJ6Ua1niua2k/s640/blogger-image-1069071239.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Sarah was finally able to experience the Indian overnight sleeper train returning from our Taj visit. Our train was scheduled to leave <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://2" x-apple-data-detectors-result="2" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">at 4:20pm</a>, but ended up being about 6 hours late. As we waited, we had some interesting interactions with the people at the station. A teenager approached us (he was obviously under the influence of some sort of substance) and reached out to take my bag away from me. He had no idea what he was doing. I told him to go as he was making both of us very uncomfortable. Later I watched him reach into the bag he was carrying, grab a strip of cloth, and inhale whatever fumes the cloth was soaked in. He couldn't have been more than 16 years old. It was so sad to see him hopeless to the point of numbing himself with drugs at such a young age and with so much of life still to be lived. But its the reality of lostness in this place that this child does not know the truth of forgiveness and hope in a new life lived with God through faith in the Son. Even more heartbreaking is the thought that he might never here that truth because so few have that knowledge here, and even fewer are willing to share it with others.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<br>We met a different man at the station who was also going to the city we live in. He worked in the public transportation sector of the city. He was extremely excited to hear that two Americans were living in his city and begged us to skip Bhopal and go with him straight to his home village about an hour outside our city to meet his family. A crowd of about 20 men, one by one, pressed in to listen to our conversation (which, very understandably, made Sarah quite uncomfortable) as our new acquaintance become more and more excited at the prospect of us coming to his place. We didn't go with him, but the interaction reminds us of how much we can learn from Indian hospitality. Hospitality here can almost feel overbearing considering how private our culture is and how little (at least us personally) we really open up our homes and lives to strangers and foreigners. Sarah and I hope to apply this command so clearly taught in Scripture much more intentionally when we return to the States in a couple of weeks. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br>When the digital screen finally flashed that our train number was arriving, we were thrilled. An announcement was made that our train was coming, and though we were a little confused that our train name wasn't matching, the numbers matched and that was enough for us. We got on the train to find our beds empty, so we sat down. We began talking with the men across from us. One happened to be a police officer from our city. The train attendant came to check our ticket and asked me to follow him. He informed me we were on the wrong train and would need to get off at the next station, which was still 2 hours away. When I was unable to work out any way for us to remain on the train (since it was going to our city anyway) our policeman friend also tried to speak to the attendant for us, but was unsuccessful. So we got off the train at the next station <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://3" x-apple-data-detectors-result="3" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">at midnight</a> and waited for our train to arrive. Thankfully, we only waited about 30 minutes before our train came. We shouldn't have simply relied on the electronic information at the first station; instead, we should have checked the number on the actual train. As chaotic and seemingly unreliable as the system here can be to us, everyone else seems to have it figured out. In many ways this culture is not wrong, just different. </span></div>
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To end with, we have been spending a lot of time with our new Brother and Sister. They are our neighbors and our really great friends, some of the most generous people we know, and so hungry for the Word. God has totally blessed our short time with them.<br>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We only have about a week and a half left in India. We are so sad to leave but feel totally blessed by the things we have seen God do here and the way he has aloud us to be apart of them. We are so undeserving but so grateful! The Lord has really been so good to us! And of course, we have many exciting things to look forward to as we return to America. Continue to pray for our transition! We are so excited to share many of our stories with you all in person!</span></div>
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Jacob and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07142274117529196905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-105040254479632922.post-39908910325832241062014-11-02T05:17:00.003-08:002014-11-02T05:17:46.083-08:00#DuncansInThailand<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Jacob and I were blessed with the
incredible opportunity to take a trip to the Phi Phi Islands, off the coast of
Thailand. This trip was so amazing that my following words can’t even describe
how great it was. But I will try… (:</span></div>
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So this trip was Jacob and I’s
first vacation together (other than our honeymoon). We flew from India to
Thailand, and then took a two hour ferry to the tropical island that we would
call home for the next week. As we came up on the islands, the breath was taken
right out of our lungs by their beauty. It was like nothing I had ever seen
before. Giant Asian mountains shooting out of the ocean to form islands. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We stayed at Phi Phi The Beach
Resort. Our resort was located at the end of “Long Beach” and was made up of
about 50 different bungalows. We had a “partial” sea view but our view was
incredible, and so was our room, especially coming from India.</div>
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Jacob and I had agreed on a challenge
for our vacation (we are both pretty competitive so it seemed right). I would
try to out-adventure him and he would try to out-relax me. This made for such a
great time! We spent the mornings and afternoons on the beach, soaking up the sun,
reading under the umbrella and snorkeling. There were rocks and corals right
off our beach. We could walk right into the ocean, put on our gear, and see everything
from Angel Fish, to giant clams, to Nemo’s (clown fish)! Other paid tours were
stopping at our resort to snorkel. It was such a great location!</div>
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Every evening we would go into
town. To get there we would take a longboat from our resort’s beach to the
pier. This took only about 5 minutes but was necessary because there were no
motorized vehicles on the island. In town there were many restaurants, shops,
and activities. The food was SO good, again, especially come from India. Many
of the restaurants were owned by westerners. At one of the spa’s I got one (or
three) of those hair braids/wrap thingys. We also went to the fish doctor where
these little fish nibble all the dead skin of your feet (much needed after 4
months in India). Sounds gross but was fun. Definitely a unique experience. And
of course, we did some shopping!<o:p></o:p></div>
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One day we had gone into town
around lunch time and decided (my idea) to hike back to our resort. This was my
chance to be adventurous. The hike back to our resort went through the jungle
over a couple of mountains and down a few beaches. It took about an hour and
was so much fun to explore with my adventurous husband!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another day we did a tour. This
included an afternoon out on a boat. We made stops to feed monkeys that lived
on the beach, kayak, snorkel, jump off the boat into the ocean, explore another
island, and go to the beach where they filmed the movie “The Beach” that
Leonardo Dicaprio starred in. We also watched the sunset from the boat while we
ate Thai fried rice. Yumm! It was one of our favorite days (another adventure
day, I might add) and was so cheap! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Every night they did a fire show
on our beach. It was awesome! They played reggae music (which I love!) and
there was usually a thunderstorm off in the distance. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Our last full day on Phi Phi we
got up (super) early to watch the sunrise. We hiked to the east facing side of
the island and climbed down some rocks to sit on bluffs. The sunrise was so
beautiful. I couldn’t help but think about all of the scriptures that talk
about it. Psalm 19:1 and Pslam 113:3 are two of my favorites.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our Thailand vacation came at the
perfect time and was exactly what we needed as a couple. We had worked hard for
four months in India which allowed us to rest (and adventure) well in Thailand.
Our entire time we were praising the Lord for His incredible creation and
thanking Him for the amazing life He chose to give us in Jesus. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Although, it was kind of weird
going from one culture that is not our own, but we are living in, to another
culture that is not our own. On our other trips to Asian countries, especially
India, we had researched the culture a little bit. But for some reason, we didn’t
think to look up anything about Thai culture before we went. So we found
ourselves in the airport in Bangkok, water bottle in hand, wondering if we
should put the water to our lips or just pour it in our mouths like we do in
India. It was silly things like that but many situations where we weren’t sure
what was “culturally appropriate.” We have many more stories to share with you
about Thailand when we get back.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But to end this post, I wanted to
share a story that happened a few days after we got back to our life in India:<o:p></o:p></div>
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This just happened the other day so I wanted
to add it on here. Jacob and I were in this area of town called New Market. It
is an area where there are a lot of shops. You can basically find everything
you need there from mattresses for your bedroom, to clothes, to hardware shops,
to juice bars. There is also a Hindu temple and a mosque in this area. We had
finished shopping and crossed the street to wait for our auto wala to come pick
us up. We were sitting on the steps of Indian Coffee House when I noticed a
woman holding a baby. I could tell by the way they were dressed, lack of shoes,
dirty clothes, messy hair, and lack of hygiene, that they were beggars. The
woman went up to a few men who were also outside standing around and put her
hand out asking for money. While she wasn’t looking I reached into my purse and
pulled out 3 rupees in change. That was all the coins I had, which was only 5
American cents, basically a nickel. I was surprised that she didn’t come up to
me right away. Usually when I see beggars, I walk the other way because they
come up to us foreigners and won’t leave us alone. It makes me sad. But this
lady kind of wandered her way around until she was at the man who was standing
a few feet from me. I watched her and finally we made eye contact. She set her
baby down, and took a few steps toward me. I stood up as she stuck out her hand
and then put it towards her mouth, asking for money. I leaned in close and
asked her, in Hindi, what her name is. She smiled and replied with something
that I didn’t understand. So I asked again to clarify and she pulled up the
sleeve of her shirt to show me something. There, on her forearm, pretty small,
was her name tattooed in Hindi. I couldn’t read it, but just smiled at her. I
looked over at her baby who had walked a few feet away, picked up an empty
bottle off the ground and put it in his mouth. I asked her if the baby was her
baby. She said yes, and I asked her what his name was. She said something in
Hindi that I couldn’t understand so I asked “what?” and she repeated herself.
That time Jacob understood her and told me that she said that her baby didn’t
have a name yet. I just smiled as I handed her the change. I sat back down on
the step, touched the sweet baby’s face and hand, and then they wandered away
to some other people nearby. As I sat there, I couldn’t help but to continue to
think about her. Thoughts kept running through my mind: “Was that really her
baby? Why was her own name tattooed on her arm? If that baby was old enough to
stand and walk around, why didn’t it have a name?” So many sad possibilities of
answers also came to my mind. I felt sad for her. I wanted to help her in any
way I could. I had no food on me to give her. And I didn’t know what else to
do, so I asked Jacob if he had any small bills. He gave me a ten rupees bill
and as we walked to the auto I stopped to give this sweet young beggar the
money. I placed the money in her hand, told her it was for food for her baby,
and said the only other thing I knew to say, “Yeshu Masi” (Jesus in Hindi). She
gave me the biggest smile as I walked away. I couldn’t help but to continue to
think about her the auto ride back and so many other times since then. So many
unanswered thoughts. So much more I wish I could say. So much more I wish I
could do. This story is the sad reality of many people’s lives in India. I felt
so helpless, all I could do was pray that God would put someone in her life
that could share the G*spel with her and her child. Maybe she would remember
His name. Maybe it was the first time she had ever heard it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We only have a month and a half
left in India. PLEASE continue to pray for us and the people here. And as
always, your words of encouragement seriously mean more to us then you will
ever know! Thank you (:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jacob and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07142274117529196905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-105040254479632922.post-38826259993646279882014-10-12T10:15:00.001-07:002014-10-12T10:15:40.074-07:00India: A Diverse Culture<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This month I (Jacob) had the opportunity to travel to a small town (pop. 300,000) in the eastern part of our state. To get there, I took an overnight train roughly eight hours. The train car has numerous "apartments" on either side of a central aisle. Each apartment has 4 beds, two sets of bunk beds. It is wise to sleep with your belongings at your head in the case of your "suite-mates" feeling nosey. You will undoubtedly wake up dozens of times from the occasional train stops, rocking of the train, suite-mates getting up to use the bathroom, or any number of other reasons. It was a good, legit, Indian experience. </span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYfR1Ag13xyOCCFBLV7X2EGuWBLfRXJ2lfF2M34E_TXtvM3AIKhk6qYeTSIXYKjRVHusNq32mSQs8DwzI0VqymxyP9lYumPXtRu0S3xmKWeiBG6PqKWQICA-ZwxFCuMETMCJNW0EuUIs/s640/blogger-image-278913708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYfR1Ag13xyOCCFBLV7X2EGuWBLfRXJ2lfF2M34E_TXtvM3AIKhk6qYeTSIXYKjRVHusNq32mSQs8DwzI0VqymxyP9lYumPXtRu0S3xmKWeiBG6PqKWQICA-ZwxFCuMETMCJNW0EuUIs/s640/blogger-image-278913708.jpg"></a></div><br>My destination had no malls or familiar food restaurants - just a very simple town. We ate delicious homemade Indian food of roti, rice, vegetables and curry - much better than Indian food made in restaurants. I was there 2 days and 1 night observing some leadership development trainings (which were completely in Hindi) before taking another overnight train back home. It was the first time Sarah and I had been apart overnight since we've been here, and I was worried that Sarah especially would have a difficult time, but God was gracious to give us both peace until I returned. <br><br>After over three months here (can't believe our time is over halfway gone!) we began feeling a growing negativity towards this place - the pushiness of the people, the bad smells, the filth, the constant noise, the poverty, just to name a few. It became quite hard for us to love the people or feel compassion towards them. The romance of a new culture and new experiences wore off and was replaced with the hard truth that this place is not romantic, living here is not a 6 month vacation, these people are not always easy to love. It gave us a greater respect for those people who have committed to making this place home until their job is done - even if that means years and years from now. We can't help but think, however, of all that Jesus gave up, all the rights and privileges He set aside to become weak and poor, lonely and far from the Father, misunderstood and hated, to live with people who were so difficult to love, so that He could give them the greatest joy they could know - fellowship with God. Our own failures prevent us from loving them and feeling compassion towards them. But, remembering the love Jesus has for us moves us to love these people the same way.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaqWc1FqQe_ACJAyAcddwaXfdaL7M2kKRbRvbhy49qH9OTxAZDJ3fhXycZTn_Y0KDbv2AM5lKqDdJ53j9SLrJ11IUmUdzkKeiPCQzj4TV19a8aYlHeuaG4TKVyhb32Wxtwk59JzSjNZw/s640/blogger-image-905028696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaqWc1FqQe_ACJAyAcddwaXfdaL7M2kKRbRvbhy49qH9OTxAZDJ3fhXycZTn_Y0KDbv2AM5lKqDdJ53j9SLrJ11IUmUdzkKeiPCQzj4TV19a8aYlHeuaG4TKVyhb32Wxtwk59JzSjNZw/s640/blogger-image-905028696.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br>To correct our negativity towards this place and people we have started exploring the culture and people more than ever before. We want to learn to see the world more from their perspective. We want to know their histories and their hopes for the future. We have been exploring the city and meeting people more intentionally. In doing this, we will be able to know more and more what are the cultural bridges and redemptive analogies that God has sovereignly developed within this culture that will allow the gospel to come to this people with power and conviction and in a way that actually makes sense to them.<br><br>We visited a very large Jain temple at the highest point in the city. From the temple the view is beautiful! You can see a huge part of our city of 2.5 million people. There are only a small number of Jains in the city, so we do not know much about their beliefs and practices, other than, they have a high-value of all life and most attempt to live very simply.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZQzOReaD11jty0V2I-WkyDbEdYr-fcaesajYtqyfAhJ23xCFLAglE0429MYYQvY2argZPD4S6tHagPs5PTUHD6BPinRO5ar8FKvLK4E0Sc0V0soMV65z1KyPsuTq9aBpACLTvfKJGYw/s640/blogger-image-34743835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZQzOReaD11jty0V2I-WkyDbEdYr-fcaesajYtqyfAhJ23xCFLAglE0429MYYQvY2argZPD4S6tHagPs5PTUHD6BPinRO5ar8FKvLK4E0Sc0V0soMV65z1KyPsuTq9aBpACLTvfKJGYw/s640/blogger-image-34743835.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Be5iXLKkRTJNUnjctA8Wefxfpcsdp9pfqQgWtMXyURzJLrWjEUXbCrkUmNNgOses71Q2yxriPxhIEGnKCabmGPizw5teQ5Cx2989lI15l81iJ0Ck78Rwel2sTsax3R2QkTL9ViZvkfA/s640/blogger-image-249420776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Be5iXLKkRTJNUnjctA8Wefxfpcsdp9pfqQgWtMXyURzJLrWjEUXbCrkUmNNgOses71Q2yxriPxhIEGnKCabmGPizw5teQ5Cx2989lI15l81iJ0Ck78Rwel2sTsax3R2QkTL9ViZvkfA/s640/blogger-image-249420776.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJR1BRyOi_EMCr78Fo-FL6RLIphGwM0p2x_dwaDZG10QEyoZQiMa8qTI2t0HRo4_Ogd2aRq-2Y__JcpmYBJajhK1ic1aawVbdYemhdHoqvyGYQ4BzMAQWWX8rCfvrY6ljKknEmoY7gCY/s640/blogger-image--165225521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJR1BRyOi_EMCr78Fo-FL6RLIphGwM0p2x_dwaDZG10QEyoZQiMa8qTI2t0HRo4_Ogd2aRq-2Y__JcpmYBJajhK1ic1aawVbdYemhdHoqvyGYQ4BzMAQWWX8rCfvrY6ljKknEmoY7gCY/s640/blogger-image--165225521.jpg"></a></div><br>We were also able to visit a fairly large Hindu temple called Birla Mandir. We visited the temple with two Indian friends who are now in faith. They began to argue over whether or not it was ok to eat coconuts that had been offered to idols. After lots of arguing, we all studied 1 Corinthians 8 and concluded that both of our friends were right and both were wrong. Sarah and I were also wrong for bringing a brother who came from a past filled with idol worship to a temple in the first place. We all learned that for the sake of other believers, we have to be cautious not to enjoy something that might cause them to go against their conscience, even if we are free to do it in Christ. Everything we do has to be for building one another up.</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> If that means we don't eat a fresh coconut because another believer thinks its wrong, then we don't eat it. And we know the same came can be applied in America too. Lesson learned.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PZZELoEnMIW5fGyGAJwGvQfYAqwJhbn8oMUZlc6UJupnb8fMuckLwfALdgq88wOkBe8bPlGwpbg9CqxQ0ANBrkYiSf8nXCqJKOhTnmylmGjHKFWHSfrlj5uIu4KyQNx25z3UtVB0rJE/s640/blogger-image-621611275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PZZELoEnMIW5fGyGAJwGvQfYAqwJhbn8oMUZlc6UJupnb8fMuckLwfALdgq88wOkBe8bPlGwpbg9CqxQ0ANBrkYiSf8nXCqJKOhTnmylmGjHKFWHSfrlj5uIu4KyQNx25z3UtVB0rJE/s640/blogger-image-621611275.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5JCa0AuVb85YM7K3lqH6HAi4LiXunkYJc-qCo0Amn9SHpgaQEeCBcACO0tQ7LTn2AH5XMtBVVOEysfxmX6uvgE8XWbiVsdOA7fhR4JtqceXUcw6QsnZODfQHmZEtW6TLTqqYxvoRVvM/s640/blogger-image-776871822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5JCa0AuVb85YM7K3lqH6HAi4LiXunkYJc-qCo0Amn9SHpgaQEeCBcACO0tQ7LTn2AH5XMtBVVOEysfxmX6uvgE8XWbiVsdOA7fhR4JtqceXUcw6QsnZODfQHmZEtW6TLTqqYxvoRVvM/s640/blogger-image-776871822.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>We also visited the largest mosque in India. We went one day after Bakra Eid, the second major holiday of Muslims. During this holiday Muslims sacrifice a goat to commemorate the story of God providing a sacrifice when Abraham was about to offer his son. The goat skins were piling up outside to be sold or given to the poor, but the inner court of the mosque was immaculate. The two minarets we see from the roof of our apartment complex kilometers away were enormous 18-storey octagon towers with marble domes. Qurans and Islamic literature were stacked nicely on tables throughout the interior. It was very impressive. <br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2-usxfN3rm6juR-Xan55vhwEWZBeeXR1MeyzN6cFO_B54HxgmL6FVE3M8NSxFSxQZfubmVUzZzIE5J90HReY7CRdEk1apuVCq2B8jhyphenhypheny9NCHIxuZaMTuqWBwiJ5wKm61AE9mdgYwbms/s640/blogger-image-1041539787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2-usxfN3rm6juR-Xan55vhwEWZBeeXR1MeyzN6cFO_B54HxgmL6FVE3M8NSxFSxQZfubmVUzZzIE5J90HReY7CRdEk1apuVCq2B8jhyphenhypheny9NCHIxuZaMTuqWBwiJ5wKm61AE9mdgYwbms/s640/blogger-image-1041539787.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvizvbT-oAWCofbMjqm_9XW5gBocn7ZW4tFLZkUbyBq1iNItbMXXwx_-llAGmLKIhclZq8CRvAvI2MNEubF9a-H0sQyI4TNwQd6FDNg8Puah0_SX2wq0ikbNJdq-6nyrMDlWhhuGrQnAw/s640/blogger-image--551923475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvizvbT-oAWCofbMjqm_9XW5gBocn7ZW4tFLZkUbyBq1iNItbMXXwx_-llAGmLKIhclZq8CRvAvI2MNEubF9a-H0sQyI4TNwQd6FDNg8Puah0_SX2wq0ikbNJdq-6nyrMDlWhhuGrQnAw/s640/blogger-image--551923475.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloCaj54Oqz2iUDKi0UNRItwtp77xFiKFZZ2a67Dq5zKla5mEbakeeM8EpYuUZ9mETp-UhTSJpxa1AVYl1dgnhCvDgFyW6M3sP5O9gJi4tEwlPkccR9jn3VNSEPG8XCxbMOH3BpExqV38/s640/blogger-image--948404451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloCaj54Oqz2iUDKi0UNRItwtp77xFiKFZZ2a67Dq5zKla5mEbakeeM8EpYuUZ9mETp-UhTSJpxa1AVYl1dgnhCvDgFyW6M3sP5O9gJi4tEwlPkccR9jn3VNSEPG8XCxbMOH3BpExqV38/s640/blogger-image--948404451.jpg"></a></div><br><br>You can see a glimpse of the great diversity of faiths in this place. Even on a micro-level, most people within the same faith tradition have very different ideas of what it means to be Hindu, Muslim, or Indian. With so many people developing their own ideas about reality, we long to see millions of people in this place come to know the fullness of truth that God has revealed in Christ and to be unified in faith in Him. </span></div>Jacob and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07142274117529196905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-105040254479632922.post-13292504079863339522014-09-01T10:52:00.001-07:002014-09-02T01:05:21.600-07:00#DuncansInIndia - He is FaithfulOur Father has been doing some really great things here in India and we want to share them with you! <div><br></div><div>First off, we are FINALLY over being sick! Our Father has healed us and he gets all the glory. Living in India is tough, but especially when you aren't feeling good. But we are feeling back to normal, well as "normal" as possible. (:</div><div><br></div><div>We moved into our new home a couple weeks ago. We are so blessed to live in this new flat! The view from our rooftop is amazing. We can see so much of the city because our flat is on top of a hill. Jacob and I were on the rooftop one evening when i realized something kind of crazy to me. Just on the other side of the wall that surrounds our complex is a pretty large slum. In America, most people live in the area of the city that they do because of their socio-economic status. Here, in India, there are slums right beside what would be considered "upper class" homes. I look at the way these people live and I am humbled. They walk to get water and they use the restroom outside. When I am right next door with not just running water, but HOT running water, and three bathrooms. India is such a unique place. Our Father is teaching me about His compassion for people.</div><div><br></div><div>"The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made." Psalm 145:8-9</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_DYO7wcgtkVo3pVsKKgzBz48TJ-NwuJbjgcgcSPE5U71jXxhKV2TT5E3GnLqT7ha3XXyhyphenhyphen0eig2wVlXwYDZS_qcAkEGFMHycviRnA9jA-b0mGqJyKyS4GStkJb7OLlmMzPtuL7lnc0U/s640/blogger-image--1546949149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_DYO7wcgtkVo3pVsKKgzBz48TJ-NwuJbjgcgcSPE5U71jXxhKV2TT5E3GnLqT7ha3XXyhyphenhyphen0eig2wVlXwYDZS_qcAkEGFMHycviRnA9jA-b0mGqJyKyS4GStkJb7OLlmMzPtuL7lnc0U/s640/blogger-image--1546949149.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Jacob and I have been spending one day a week at a children's home on the far side of the city. This area feels like more of a village then the city. We take an auto the 30 minute ride to the home, spend a few hours there, and then take an auto another 30 minutes back home. It makes for a long cultural day but it has been totally worth it. There are about 20-25 kids who live there and they range in age from 3 years to 13 years old. The kids are either orphans or they come from families who are too poor to raise them. There are no local children who live there, they all come from places outside of the city. The kids have a pretty strict schedule that goes something like this: 5am wake up and have a devotion/study the Word; have breakfast and go to school; after school they do chores and have free time; in the evening a tutor comes (this is common in India) and they do homework; then there is dinner and bedtime. Then the next day they do it all over again. During the free time in their schedule is when Jacob and I get to come and hang out. So far we have played games with them, trying to get to know them. But we plan on doing crafts and sharing stories from the Word with them also. Most of the children speak Hindi and only a couple of them speak broken English. So being involved there has been very motivating in our attempt to learn Hindi. These children are just precious!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoReTtkN6g5hVnj4drdYAUhp3suq-ZfhCxu613ub6RNdhBtASBIfTZEOzmgvkY95piCc0B2lIADvBG_wWrsK9Qc_8vq7i0LxuABJ7BM1qRytB_TDDQmPsOgx1NDqy-XpmGv7PnKOhJSLs/s640/blogger-image-342615614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoReTtkN6g5hVnj4drdYAUhp3suq-ZfhCxu613ub6RNdhBtASBIfTZEOzmgvkY95piCc0B2lIADvBG_wWrsK9Qc_8vq7i0LxuABJ7BM1qRytB_TDDQmPsOgx1NDqy-XpmGv7PnKOhJSLs/s640/blogger-image-342615614.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWYMsnSIvSQASl6n9Dp44KUNMtIrSMd09o4fGbGDGZJjo1TOECQ-3Ru42OCpr8SkBpoy-3L_ptQ7xA2xKy7ralyXd0AJlNZVLYtTz3M4tlzoNZJGqmoe0SrtWn6VlaDixrje3a3qr-yo/s640/blogger-image-186187129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWYMsnSIvSQASl6n9Dp44KUNMtIrSMd09o4fGbGDGZJjo1TOECQ-3Ru42OCpr8SkBpoy-3L_ptQ7xA2xKy7ralyXd0AJlNZVLYtTz3M4tlzoNZJGqmoe0SrtWn6VlaDixrje3a3qr-yo/s640/blogger-image-186187129.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5Qo5dpDqT3wsKPGX7tvKjS1Q6o2HMygfVCEHaQUI1uo7nH_JMmBY-aG3-NcpCCWySUxCnZbbJkE-yxW-kce_ERjRgAQsDELR0aIHHxebLo88Ar0ZEUa4w6UC7Q0MUTGmdHs6pDk2cTc/s640/blogger-image--1311985095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5Qo5dpDqT3wsKPGX7tvKjS1Q6o2HMygfVCEHaQUI1uo7nH_JMmBY-aG3-NcpCCWySUxCnZbbJkE-yxW-kce_ERjRgAQsDELR0aIHHxebLo88Ar0ZEUa4w6UC7Q0MUTGmdHs6pDk2cTc/s640/blogger-image--1311985095.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>We have also been spending a lot of time with our friend (we wrote about him briefly in our last post). He is doing so well and we can see our Father growing him daily. His joy is contagious. We truely consider him our brother. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vvQDWiljsAz9joR8-1gJ0-Ge1sIB4C8xnCpLaFjH-bFraMx7tgpq2MGb3i7fACwgvceQgWZ4tXu8kXJmiyoqARKb0RfpFa6__PC9sAFD_qowSL7xb_sBARMmMDsQzzir1sLQYYZ_UQs/s640/blogger-image-970892700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vvQDWiljsAz9joR8-1gJ0-Ge1sIB4C8xnCpLaFjH-bFraMx7tgpq2MGb3i7fACwgvceQgWZ4tXu8kXJmiyoqARKb0RfpFa6__PC9sAFD_qowSL7xb_sBARMmMDsQzzir1sLQYYZ_UQs/s640/blogger-image-970892700.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjdviFCEf6-gxshoQ4vxr7nVG5ZXa1nn9NusQz5LJSLf0yFnDNUuKbXsSbbmVtebckS5FpLFQeMqQMPA_H5xBWfB5UTMv6fs1Oj_Bk1blQ15ACR6FL5nRP-3wB4nNzqTTEPnyvrPJdWM/s640/blogger-image-1716912102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjdviFCEf6-gxshoQ4vxr7nVG5ZXa1nn9NusQz5LJSLf0yFnDNUuKbXsSbbmVtebckS5FpLFQeMqQMPA_H5xBWfB5UTMv6fs1Oj_Bk1blQ15ACR6FL5nRP-3wB4nNzqTTEPnyvrPJdWM/s640/blogger-image-1716912102.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div><br></div><div>Jacob and I have begun trainings in leadership development. Father has been so faithful to provide people to train and we are excited to see how He plans to use these people. Our most recent training was about 20ish people including about 6 ladies! I was incredibly excited about this! Keep lifting up these trainings please.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUeJy24uO-1-o1TL6bKadocScr2vU9SQHBO0w9nmw86T3Yfycpr3C_ORWysa7wpI8uh4WIY7bIzgl80iFndDidk-qgOs11iHWdKiZ2aPxic3RaKr7yh-JDcSI7xnNsth_LTuAMDY1Igg/s640/blogger-image-990991480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUeJy24uO-1-o1TL6bKadocScr2vU9SQHBO0w9nmw86T3Yfycpr3C_ORWysa7wpI8uh4WIY7bIzgl80iFndDidk-qgOs11iHWdKiZ2aPxic3RaKr7yh-JDcSI7xnNsth_LTuAMDY1Igg/s640/blogger-image-990991480.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6g7X3AQm5XJymJ2SM_pAe6KpXvp1d4olQEEIHL15_eze8KnScNOhncopDMjy-2765IO8HozTPD6vVYf-e7sue_bjFdLACGFAh5i_mqHe-wB8NzZZAmWk9usqV5a-9AWhNcndvHJiOyU4/s640/blogger-image-1227205707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6g7X3AQm5XJymJ2SM_pAe6KpXvp1d4olQEEIHL15_eze8KnScNOhncopDMjy-2765IO8HozTPD6vVYf-e7sue_bjFdLACGFAh5i_mqHe-wB8NzZZAmWk9usqV5a-9AWhNcndvHJiOyU4/s640/blogger-image-1227205707.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>This week we are out of town. We took a three and a half hour bus ride to the next major city where our friends live. This week we are focusing on learning Hindi. We are attending a mini Hinidi intensive. It is intense (: We are spending four hours straight each day in a Hindi class. We are hoping and praying that this time of learning will really help us understand the language better and help us to speak it more confidently. Language learning has been a challenge for us.</div><div><br></div><div>This past week our sweet friends from FBCH were here! Our time with Bruce and the other guys was so encouraging but also challenging. You can be lifting us up as we seek how and when exactly Father will have us serving overseas in the future. Unity between Jacob and I in this is important. Overall, having Bruce here was truely like having family visit. We couldn't have asked for a sweeter time.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40WNaBDprjcbySEgROaHLl24-ZJRiFzKU3Hau42SNHDH2Bwe-n2YNVhX0Vs2-Ysu9Ios_xKoAruGlVUVDjYoqn4xOhPYc1q6ndA6OvTTsmlbAJOO1Wq-PocouwB3NfV3Xx5hN4tVdwH4/s640/blogger-image--281293809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40WNaBDprjcbySEgROaHLl24-ZJRiFzKU3Hau42SNHDH2Bwe-n2YNVhX0Vs2-Ysu9Ios_xKoAruGlVUVDjYoqn4xOhPYc1q6ndA6OvTTsmlbAJOO1Wq-PocouwB3NfV3Xx5hN4tVdwH4/s640/blogger-image--281293809.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>There have been so many exciting things going on lately back in the states! Maddie, our sister left for college, our best friends got married, another one of my best friends got engaged, and we have some more of our really close friends getting married in next month or two. Father has blessed us with incredible family and friends back home and we rejoice in all the great things He is doing in their lives. But, it is also incredibly hard being away and missing out on these things. We (mostly me) have had some sad days where we really miss family and friends and home. So it has definitely been a struggle. But something special has also come from it. When you are in a place where you literally feel like you have nothing, our Father's presence is more than enough. Because we are on the other side of the world and I can no longer depend on the love of my family and friends to get me through each day, I have been led to our Father and experienced His love in ways I never have before. He is more than enough and I have found so much encouragment in His truth. Praise Him because He is constant. Praise Him because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! Praise Him because He is faithful and His love truely never fails. I honestly could not live in this place without His love and faithfulness. No matter how alone I feel, I can be confident that He is with us always. Though these past couple weeks have been really tough, I am thankful for these struggles because of the things that He is teaching me and the ways He is growing my faith in Him. All for His glory. </div><div><br></div><div>"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW280Pbxe4ntaau9XGE0mZJpkBJwTWjbg9Ec6EVYG78JC2tbGMsd4q8af8dOLGrIF1uKsPrW3bC28lYYQ1srj0iiHW0g1X4ILBS_Qlry_evxU-W1rm7Dt-xueLfPnFgd8ULhB5fEi6WM0/s640/blogger-image--2109347743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW280Pbxe4ntaau9XGE0mZJpkBJwTWjbg9Ec6EVYG78JC2tbGMsd4q8af8dOLGrIF1uKsPrW3bC28lYYQ1srj0iiHW0g1X4ILBS_Qlry_evxU-W1rm7Dt-xueLfPnFgd8ULhB5fEi6WM0/s640/blogger-image--2109347743.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>"Praise The Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of The Lord endures forever. Praise The Lord." Psalm 117</div><div><br></div><div>Well, thank you for taking the time to read this post. We ask that you continue to lift us up. Your prayers are crucial to the work here. As always, email or message us anytime! Your sweet words mean more than you could ever know.</div>Jacob and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07142274117529196905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-105040254479632922.post-39077664002972124712014-08-09T12:51:00.001-07:002014-08-09T12:51:57.755-07:00Challenges & Blessings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">So
I have this ongoing mental list of things that I miss, besides the obvious of
friends and family (and puppy!), or things that I feel like I took for granted
in America. Here are a few of them:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">1.
Driving<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2.
Communicating SO easily with everyone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">3.
The simpleness in doing daily tasks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">4.
Cow's milk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">5.
Knowing what is socially appropriate <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">6.
Having things that are familiar to me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">7.
Exercising in public<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I've
come to this conclusion: It is so much more challenging to "live" in
India than to "stay" in India. I think this is true for just about
anywhere in the world. Anyone can "stay" anywhere for a few weeks.
But when it comes to "living" anywhere, that is a lot more
challenging. I literally have to ask for strength from my Father everyday just
for the living challenges, and even more so spiritually in this place. I'm not
saying that this place is terrible because I love it. And I'm not saying that
each day of living here is horrible because it definitely is not. We have been
blessed in so many ways since we have been here. But we just want to share a
completely honest post with you about life here. There are many challenges of
living in a culture that is not your own. But the blessings of living here
outnumber the challenges by so many! So here we go..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">COOKING<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">If
you haven't guessed, cooking can be a challenge. Just about everything I cook
(or at least want to cook) has to be made from scratch. For example, I made
veggies (corn and zucchini) in the skillet for dinner the other night. Sounds
simple enough, right? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">This
is the process.. Go to the market and haggle prices with the workers to get the
veggies that you need without getting totally ripped off. Come home and wash my
veggies with filtered water and bleach to clean them. Then rinse them with
filtered water. I want to have corn so I need to shuck it and get all the little
hairs off. Then I boil them on the stove to cook them and then let them cool
enough that I can touch them without getting burned (learned that the hard
way). Once cooled I use a knife to cut the kernels off and put them in the
skillet along with the peeled and chopped land gourd (that I thought was
zucchini).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Not
too difficult just time consuming. But through learning this new way of
cooking, I have found out how much I LOVE baking from scratch! Snicker doodles,
brownies, banana bread and oatmeal cookies are just a few things I've baked so
far. I have yet to master anything requiring yeast that needs to rise... But
cooking is the challenge and learning how much I love baking from scratch is
the blessing!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">LEFT
vs. RIGHT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Which
side of the street do we drive on? Which side of the set of escalators in the
mall takes us up? Which side do you move to when you are walking straight
toward someone? In America the answer is right. You always go to your right. In
India, the answer is left. Or really wherever you can find room. Needless to
say, we have made lots of apologies after running into lots of people. I guess
it's a good thing we don't drive here. (:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">MISSING
THE FAMILIAR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">At
times it can be overwhelming that everything in India is new to us. New food,
new places, new sights, new smells, new home, new ways of doing things, new
friends, and new family. We are finding that new definitely isn't bad, it's
just new. We have new "normals." When I'm having one of those days
when everything seems foreign to me (because it is) and I just want to see
something familiar I look up. No matter where I am in the world the sky always
seems to be the same. Whether it is the sun and the clouds or the night sky
with bright stars and moon (which we actually saw the other night!!), it is
familiar to my eyes. And even more so than the sky, one thing we can trust to
be constant when everything else is new and different is our Father. He is the
same in America and in India, and in the rest of the universe. He is doing
amazing things here and now, the same time He is doing amazing things in the
states. How awesome is that? I find so much peace in knowing this simple truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">SPIRITUAL<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">We
have shared some pictures, but the spiritual state of this place is magnified
compared to the states. On literally almost every corner are Hindu temples
filled with stone idols. At the highest point in the city is a Jain temple. One
of the largest mosques in the world is located in our city. If you are having a
conversation with someone you just met and it doesn't turn spiritual, some
might consider that to be weird. Religion is everywhere and in your face here.
From the buildings to giant statues, and from the jewelry people wear to the
incense burning in most shops, you can't miss it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">We
are reminded of Psalm 115:2-8,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Why
do the nations say, 'Where is their God?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Our
God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">But
their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">They
have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">they
have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">they
have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">nor
can they utter a sound with their throats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Those
who make them will be like them,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">and
so will all who trust in them."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">This
is the sad reality. But we have hope in what Revelation 7 proclaims.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">“After
this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could
count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne
and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm
branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> ‘Salvation belongs to our God,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> Who sits on the throne,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> And to the Lamb.’”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Just
a couple of weeks ago, our friend, who comes from a "Cousin"
background, became our Brother. Praise Him! Our hearts overflow with joy because
of the things we get to see our Father doing here. Keep lifting us and the
people here up!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">There
are so many more things we want to share with you that we are blessed to witness
our Father doing here. We can't share them on our blog so we will have to share
them with you when we return! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I
want to end with something Father has been teaching me...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Proverbs
3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own
understanding..."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">This
verse is one of those verses that everyone has memorized. It's one that I knew
before I even stepped foot into a church. I've known it for years but over the
past few weeks God has really been teaching me what it means... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">This
verse says to "Trust in the Lord." Okay, I trust Him, He is good
right? The easy part is to trust Him. But then there is the next part,
"with all your heart..." To trust Him with all your heart is a little
bit harder. That means without any doubt in our hearts we have to trust Him. We
have to trust Him completely and wholeheartedly. That's more challenging. And
finally this verse says to "lean not on your own understanding." Now
that part is like a slap in the face for me. Because I can trust in the Lord
and I can even trust in Him with my whole heart.. But to trust in Him with my
whole heart and to lean not on my own understanding is HARD.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">So
many times, even when I'm trusting the Lord, I'm still trying to figure it out,
to understand the situation. Especially since I've been here in India. I trust
that God is good and that He is sovereign over everything. He has shown
that to me over and over again in my life. Praise Jesus for that! But I still
don't understand why some things are the way that they are. I don't understand
why some people believe and some don't even care to listen. I don't understand
why God allows the enemy to have such a grip on this place. I don't understand
why God allows us to be attacked by the enemy when we are here for His glory
alone. I don't understand so many things.. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">But
then I can hear the Lord reminding me... "Sarah, you don't need to
understand. That's the beauty in trusting Me. You trust Me with all your heart,
knowing that I'm totally sovereign." And if I really trust that, then
there is no need for my human understanding. Understanding doesn't and won't
satisfy my heart. He is the only one who satisfies me.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">We love India. Things that I am thankful for here:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">1. New friends</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2. Hot showers</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">3. Encouraging husband</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">4. Joy even in challenges</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">5. Uncountable blessings</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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Jacob and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07142274117529196905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-105040254479632922.post-58009362441553961412014-07-22T10:59:00.001-07:002014-07-22T10:59:34.304-07:00"Puja" - Worship<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Over the last few weeks we have visited multiple places of worship in India, including two of the four primary holy sites for Hindus and numerous Hindu temples. We saw and heard many unfamiliar, sometimes disturbing things. The Hindi word for worship is "puja". Puja varies remarkably, but is generally an attempt of an individual or family at making a connection with the divine.<br />
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Our first experience immersed into Hindu religion was at a holy site called Ujjain. This city sits on the banks of the Kshipra River and houses a very large temple used for corporate worship as well as numerous temples for individual worship. We were asked to remove our shoes before entering the complex. We entered a room with stadium-style seating which could hold a few hundred people. This particular room is devoted to a fertility god, so people hoping to bear children often come to this temple. Puja began as priests (shirtless men in orange pants) began ringing large bells to awaken the god at the front of the room. The Hindu people watched as the priests anointed the stone idol with fire, flowers, and coconut milk. The priests began playing drums and cymbols in somewhat of a haunting rhythm. Other priests began chanting followed by the the crowd returning chants and clapping along with the rhythm. Mothers taught their children to bow down to the idol. The "service" lasted roughly 15 minutes after which the crowd made its way to the front of the room to give offerings of flowers, sweets, and coconut milk to give to the priests and their behalf. People then exited the room to a courtyard where about 20 other idols were set up for individual worship. Many people in the crowd were far detached from what was happening, almost going though the motions. A few, however, were very passionate about the puja they were performing.<br />
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At another temple in Ujjain, we watched as people offered bottles of liquor to a demon-god known for his drunkenness. The people offer liquor to the priests who pour it into special bowls and down the mouth of the idol. It was incredible to see people honoring a god with such a major personality flaw as drunkenness. Yet, the people we talked to said they continue to come to this god because he answers their wishes. To see so many people bound to this idol and even honoring his flaws was extremely sobering.<br />
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Our next visit was to a second holy site called Haridwar. This city, particularly the Ganges River running through it, is believed by Hindus to be the birthplace of Shiva (one of the top three most worshipped gods in all of Hinduism). Because of this belief, Hindu people flock by the thousands to Haridwar to ritually bathe in the river to wash away their sins. However, because people continue to sin, they must keep coming back to the river to wash. It was at Haridwar that we faced the most resistance to the good news: I was asked by a group of young men to go away while I was in the middle of sharing; they then followed and interrupted me as I was introducing myself to a couple of guys to share with them. Sarah faced similar resistance as the ladies were unable to share with women because they were constantly being surrounded by men. The city boasts a 100' statue of Shiva at the edge of the river. It is a stronghold of Hinduism.<br />
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A final experience happened in Delhi at a place called Kalkaji Temple. This temple is dedicated to a goddess named Kali. As we entered the temple grounds, we walked down a market area where sweets, flowers, and other offerings were sold for people to offer to Kali. In this area, we were approached by a Hindu cross-dresser. These people typically go to places where large groups are gathered (like temples or a child's first birthday party) and demand money from them. If money is not paid, they antagonize and disrupt the event until they are given money. If people refuse to give money, the cross-dresser places a curse on them. Many people are so afraid of being cursed that they give money; others give because they are greatly annoyed. We did not given money, and so he began to speak curses on us. We walked away unharmed but more than a little uncomfortable. Another group went into the temple and witnessed a demon-possessed woman.<br />
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Our experiences were shocking realities of the spiritual state of millions of people in India. Psalm 115 truly comes to life in this place. Please read and pray.</div>
Jacob and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07142274117529196905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-105040254479632922.post-45899042052728539462014-06-25T10:10:00.001-07:002014-06-25T10:10:47.444-07:00#DuncansInIndia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We have been in India about a week and it already feels like we have done so much yet so little at the same time. We are getting over jet lag and trying to keep our days straight. It's Wednesday right? </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Our first full day in India we met our supervisors, Paul and Sarah, who are really great! We have already been blessed by their friendship even in our short time here. Our second night in India we got to attend house fellowship. This time was filled with worship, teaching, and fellowship. It was such a sweet time and we are looking forward to many more of these! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Our first experience in India culture...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So Jacob and I stayed a couple nights in a hotel in the middle of the city. We decided to get out of the comfort of our room and walk about a half mile to the KFC down the street. Let me paint the picture for you... Cars, big trucks, autos (rickshaws), motorcycles, bicycles, cows, and often times wild dogs, all share the road together. There are no sidewalks so there are also people, lots of people, walking down the street right along with the vehicles. That's where you could find us that afternoon. In all of the craziness, I was more afraid of the cows (of course) then getting hit by a car. But, we made it to KFC, which is delicious in India, and we made it back to our hotel. This was one of the most stressful things that we've experienced since we've gotten here. </span><br />
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That night we were invited, along with Paul and Sarah, to have dinner in an Indian family's home. I learned a little bit of Indian cooking, which was SO fun! And Jacob ate with his fingers.<br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The next day we spent with an Indian couple about our age. They took us ALL around the city, by auto! Here is a video of what riding in an auto is like...</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We also went to the zoo where my lifelong dream of seeing a white peacock came true!! We also saw a white tiger which is native to our state in India. Fun fact - our state was the setting for Disney's "Jungle Book!"</span><br />
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We also visited the historic king's palace and spent some time at the mall.<br />
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This week we are focused on learning language. We have been able to participate in the Hindi intensive along with other workers from this area of the country. We have met so many awesome people and heard so many incredible stories of what Father is doing all over India. It has been a great week so far!<br />
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We are planning on doing a home-stay beginning next week. This will be with an Indian family. We will be totally immersed in the culture and be able to practice and learn more Hindi!<br />
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One thing Father has taught us already is the importance of community over here. Back in the states, specifically Bolivar, something we lacked was community. I guess because we were in a different stage of life then a lot of the people around us. But anyways, when we struggled with things or went through trials, we would just handle them on our own or with each other. That was as much help as we needed. And that worked fine for us, there. But here is a totally different story. With all the added stress here and the way things pile up, we are learning that we can't just rely on each other, we need that support and encouragement and love from our team members who are our friends and the people we fellowship with as well.<br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Continue to lift us up please! You have no idea how essential your words with Father are in. We appreciate it so much! We love you friends!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Blessings, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Jacob & Sarah</span><br />
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Jacob and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07142274117529196905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-105040254479632922.post-29103472625986082692014-04-21T21:00:00.000-07:002014-04-21T21:00:49.000-07:00Preparing to live in South Asia!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So our departure date, June 16th, is a little less than two months away and we could not be more excited!</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've found that there is only so much preparation you can do to be ready to live in a foreign country and the rest we will just have to learn once we are there. But there are a few ways we have been preparing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, we are taking a class called Survival Abroad (helpful right?). Recently, we've had Phonetics teachers coming to class teaching us how to learn a new language. During our time in India we will be learning Hindi so this will be extremely useful! Something I never realized before was how many sounds there are that we don't use in the English language but are common in foreign languages. These classes have been difficult at times and really funny at other times. Something we keep hearing over and over again when it comes to learning language is that you have to be able to laugh at yourself (or each other) because you will mess up. But that is something we are good at, laughing together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, 3 nights this week we will be participating in a Security Training. This will include things like how to stay safe while living overseas, what to do and not to do if something scary and serious might happen, and ways to travel safely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have studied, read books, and watched videos about India. We've learned things like their history, many common beliefs of Indian Hindus, and things that they like and are important to them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One way we've been preparing (kinda by accident) is through my cooking! I really like experimenting and creating new recipes but recently they are each turning out to be extremely spicy! Like I couldn't even finish it. We know Indian food will be quite spicy for us so I guess its good to eat some spicy things now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I grew up in St. Charles right? While I love this town, I've found that is not the best place to have grown up to be prepared to live in Asia. So we've been doing outside things like hiking, fishing, going on long walks, walking in the rain in our rain jackets, and smashing the spiders I see in our house all by myself (I know, right!). Jacob also occasionally makes us ride in the hot car without the AC to help prepare us for the Indian heat. I especially hate this when we are going somewhere important, but I know he is right, India will be hot!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As many of you know, we've been raising financial support for our time in India.We are a little over halfway to raising the amount required. It has been so awesome and encouraging to see Father provide and we are confident He will provide the rest!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While we are beyond excited to be a part of the Work in India, there are a few things that we are nervous about. If you are wanting to pray for us, here is a need at this time:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- It will be hard to be away from our families (and Dunkie), not be at some of our best friends' weddings, and just miss those people that we are close with. So pray for comfort, for us and our families, and for us to trust we are exactly where He wants us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are so grateful for our family and friends who have been so faithful to support us! We pray that He will bless your lives as well! (:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blessings,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jacob & Sarah</span></div>
Jacob and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07142274117529196905noreply@blogger.com0