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oh....did I tell you we had a great time dancing, eating, singing, talking down in india...... here we all are on Christmas day on the roof dancing along with Indian music being played by the students!!!!! Elise with all the children celebrating together the birth of Jesus!!!!!!!!! what a way to celebrate Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It has been actually very liberating to be in this part of the world where the majority don't even celebrate Christmas in the commercial sense..of course, it is saddening that the majority Hindu population pay little attention to the birth of Jesus...yet, there is hardly NO sign here in Nepal of the Christmas holiday.. No comercials, no sales in the stores, no body dressing up...Indeed, it allowed us to be reminded of the simplicity that we should have at Christmas oppose to getting occupied with merely the exchanging of gift items... Nepal is actually on a different calander and it is the year 2060 here, so New Years celebration won't be a big deal as well, except for the educated Nepalis who relate to the rest of the world... here a few more photos of our several days down in Raxaul for Christmas...We all did get sick (except for zayd) but it was well worth it! We had a great time of eating, dancing, laughing, telling stories....
A photo of us on Christmas day: Travelling from Raxaul, India back to Kathmandu.... a way very few americans spend Christmas day...
THe Entire ServLife Family!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know the exact count...but around 75
Zayd making some NEW friends @ ServLife children's home.... the kids loved him and he loved them....
what a chrstmas celebration we had down in raxaul, india! we all spend several days down in india with over 65 of the serlife family! it was a beautiful time and zayd loved it and did so well. we were so worried of him getting sick but he did not! We all slept in one room. The children and students performed many skits, songs, and dramas for us and we had a gift exchange time.. This week we are back in Kathmandu and it is getting bitter cold. It is raining all day and the sun has not been out. Our laundry drying on the rood stayed wet for a few extra days which forced us to wear the same clothes for severa more days than preffered!
The children at Servlife Children's Home in India / zayd making friends!
I have such a tendency to operate with a hurried and fast pace assumption to see results or grand plan that will result in the greatest fruit. what i fail to see is that God's ways are so often opposite of my own human ideas of success, growth, and fruit. The Kingdom of God is such a mystery... i am learning i need to see what will emerge rather than what is present..i often judge of what i can see, measure, and quanitify..God sees what will become in us and in our communities and in nations. We should not be absent of measurable goals, but they should be second to what is unseen first. at just at the moment when you feel a breakthrough is about to occur and you will take steps foward.. you end up taking steps backwards. How true this is ministering in a developing culture, a new and young church... My goals seem to be far from being met here. Christmas is here next week and 2003 is coming to an end. i dont know who reads these random thoughts of mine but i feel it helps me process things as i type. Kingdom fruit requires a marathon perspective and indeed not a fast sprint.
we plan on being down in india next week with over 50 of the ServLife family.. it should indeed be a fun time despite the cold. I have heard many skits are being prepared for us!
Jesus, may you be born in the hearts and minds of those around us who dedicate their life to idols and ritual...you alone bring hope!
Zayd's first birthday party! He turns 1. I think his mom and dad had more fun! We had a water balloon toss and played games....elise got the best carrot and chocolate cakes! Zayd was content the whole time playing with the wrapping paper...
Here is the story of my encounter with an angel last week down in India. I have taken 2 trips that have gotten me a bit behind on updated on what is going on:
I recently took a short trip down to India where I believe God was hearing the prayers of His people and sent an angel to save me from danger. It was a moment that left me truly humbled and thankful before God. I flew to New Delhi where I was to get on another flight to visit a ServLife missionary serving among Tibetan refugees living in the mountains in northern India. My flight ended up being canceled so I took another plane. I flew to Kashmir to then hire a car and drive 5 more hours through 3 states to reach McLeod Ganj where the Dalai Lama lives along with 5000 Tibetans living in exile. It was already dark outside after driving for several hours and my driver said he would take me no further. After realizing that I could not convince him otherwise, he dropped me off about 40 miles short of my destination. I was forced to get in a public transportation vehicle that was a large 4 door jeep.
About 8 men were in the vehicle and I got in and began to pray. Very strong smells of alcohol were in the car. Indeed, without knowing, many of you were perhaps praying at this moment as well. After about 20 minutes of driving, we pulled off the main road and got on a dirt road for about another 20 minutes. After dropping off 1 man, a large crowd gathered around the vehicle and noticed me inside. A few of the men stood in front of the vehicle preventing it from driving forward. The situation did not make me nervous at first but then came some hostility and anger in a few of the men who were obviously arguing over something as they were pointing to me and shouting at one another. The scene moved from bad to worse very fast. I began to feel fear and thought I was about to become a victim of someone's greed for money, hurt or killed by someone's weapon, or all my belongings and money were about to be stolen.
All of the sudden as I looked up there appeared to be what looked like a woman in a white Indian dress (Sari). Her head was covered and there was a light appearing on her but I could not determine where the light was coming from b/c our car lights were pointing in another direction. She began to speak to the crowd of angered men and they all looked at her. Immediately, our driver drove off because the men standing in front of our vehicle stepped to the side of our car. As we drove off, I looked back and could not see the woman at all. I realized immediately that this was an angel that God had sent to protect me from danger. I cried out in praise in the car thanking God for watching over me and delivering me safely to my destination. Be encouraged and know I thank all of you for your prayers for us here desiring to see the Kingdom of God advance. PLEASE don't stop praying. prayer is the most important tool, resource, and weapon we have, even more than financial donations. Someone once asked what is more important between prayer and funds in our mission work, and I quickly responded and said, "if it is a choice between one's prayer or penny, i will always choose the prayer. Always!"
Praise be to the Lord Jesus Christ who protects, guides, sustains, and watches those of us who claim HIM as Lord! He is our God, our creator, savior, and King! We worship our God in spirit and truth and don't bow to the idols made by the hands of other people. We place our hope, trust, life, confidence, and faith in Him alone and believe he will reveal and show his love, grace, and compassion to anyone who seeks him with a sincere and pure heart. Come Lord Jesus!
According to ESPN, a family of 4 going to an NFL game will cost you $303.33. This covers four average-priced tickets, two small beers, four small soft drinks, four regular-size hot dogs, two game programs, two adult-size caps and parking. This is why most stay at home and watch the game on the tube. After thinking on this figure, I thought of how many believers in America don't even give this much to missions each year. It is estimated that 97% of income is spent on ourselves. No wonder the cause of Christ in the world gets little funding...
I met with a pastor in west Nepal the other day. He had a class 6 education (6th grade) and was 62 years old. His mother had planted the church back in the early 70s. His church got broken into and bombed by local Maoists in the region and stole all their musical instuments. What a beautiful man of God he was while we were talking.. saying how his church was praying for the thieves...we helped them get new musical instruments
my wife's good friend is coming to visit today. she serves in honduras, where my wife served before we were married, - Robin works with the deaf there... There is lots of developments with setting up our team and office...more to come on that front.
