Praying for Sha's Daughter

Just yesterday Sha, who cleans my home, was telling me how her daughter was sick. She said she's been hurting and was so hot. They took her to the hospital and the doctor told her to only eat rice and take the medicine he was prescribing. She'd been doing that ever since. She could sleep during the day, but had trouble sleeping at night, which of course made for a tired Mama.

I told her that I wanted to pray for her daughter in the name of Jesus if that was ok. I expected that she would be fine with that, and we'd pray together after she was finished cleaning. Instead, to my surprise, she asked if I wanted her to bring her daughter to me for me to pray for her. Wow, what a great idea, why didn't I think of that!

Sha's daughter playing with Elise on our roof two weeks ago.

Instead of her daughter coming here, I went with her downstairs to where she was resting. As I walked in her three boys stood up out of respect, and her daughter was starting to as well. I stopped her and told her it was okay to lay down. I told her I was there to pray for her because I wanted her to feel better. Everything I said was in Urdu, since that's all she understands, so it was somewhat broken.

I asked her where she hurt, and she pointed to and told me her head and eyes. Then I asked if I could put my hand on her head and pray for her. She was more than happy for me to do that.

After praying I stood up and one of her brothers stepped up and said his head hurts as well. I thought he was just saying that so that I'd touch him too. Really, I asked. His mom confirmed that every morning he complains about his head hurting, which I think is a sinus headache because of the weather changing and rain moving in so often. Sha had actually burned both of his temples with something hot because he'd been complaining so much. I questioned why she'd do that, but didn't get an answer except that it would help him and he'd been complaining a lot...so Indian of her.

So, I prayed for him.

As I was leaving they were all saying thank you over and over. I felt like I should give a little explanation as to Jesus and His ability to heal. So, again, with my broken Urdu, I told them that Jesus is all powerful, or that's what I wanted to say...but I didn't know the word for power so I used the only word I knew, which meant big in a strong sense...not really the same :( I continued by saying he wanted to heal people.  I knew that wasn't really conveying what I was talking about and I needed something more.

Stories...there's plenty of stories that talk about Jesus healing people.

So, I told them about Jesus healing the blind man and the story of him healing the leper 2000 years ago when he walked on the earth. They listened so intently and were amazed. I went on to say that he does the same today by praying in His name.

I came back to my house filling...full, cause that's why I'm here.

My Cleaners Perspective on Being Poor

Well before even moving to Garden City I'd been praying for a sweet cousin lady to be my new cleaner (a cleaner is a very common thing to have here especially since there's no dishwashers, lots of dust, and lots of people who need employment...and it's not expensive). I was so close to my cleaner in Kite City, whom I miss so much, and therefore desiring someone I could be close to again. This person comes into your house six days a week, they see you on wonderful and not so wonderful days, they become the most intimate friend to you and your kids because again, they're always in your home. Therefore, who this person is is very important to me, and I'd been praying for her.

After we moved into our new home, almost a month ago, the lady who helps clean the building, 'Sha', offered to clean my house as well. She'd always been really kind whenever she'd seen us before, and had already helped with getting our house ready for my family to arrive. The timing of when she could come clean wasn't my favorite, but we told her that would be fine unless we found someone who could do it at better times during the day. 

Since she's been coming Elise has no doubt taken a liking to her. She wants to see her wherever she is, smile, wave, say "Hi", and basically just follow her around. Regardless of what Elise is doing, when my Sha comes in Elise will stop to watch her and say Hi to her like 20 times in a row. It's so cute :) 

I've been able to have a good bit of conversations with her even though she's been here such a short time. I'm thankful that I already have a base in Urdu so that I can talk to her, as opposed to when I first moved to India. 

One day she was telling me how she likes working for me and that she doesn't feel trouble or problems, only rest in my home. She's actually told me that on numerous occasions. However, this particular day she started elaborating in saying that foreigners like me are all good people and all Indian people are bad people...this is a common thing for people to say. I corrected her by saying that some foreigners and Indians are good, and some foreigners and Indians are bad. I'd met plenty of good, kind Indians. It didn't matter where you're from, there's the same kind of people everywhere. 

She went on to tell me that it's like I see her and I'm not different to her. She said that Indian people know that she's poor so they tell her to go over there or somewhere else because she's poor. But I treat her just the same as I do other people. She didn't used to be poor growing up, but now that she's married and has her own family she is.

I explained that the people who are that way are followers of Jesus. I went on to say that God made all people and to God they are all equal. So, when I look at her or someone else they are the same in my eyes as well.

My heart hurts for her. It seems like she has a deep wound that only the Lord can heal. I pray that He uses me to speak His love into that wound and her heart. 

Eating is a Luxury

I have two thoughts in regards to the title "Eating is a Luxury":

First, being a mom of two small children I've come to realize just that, that eating is a luxury. If you actually have the time to put food in your own mouth it's awesome. Each meal my focus is on making sure my kids get fed and during dinner my husband as well. Neal's really good about helping me when he's here, so usually he helps feed Elise, or makes sure Elijah's food isn't going all over him when we sit down together in the evenings. But, when the kids are on different nap schedules during the day, and when lunch time for one and the beginning of nap time for the other are at the same time, it's hard to think about your own needs in regards to food. I've heated, reheated, and reheated my food so many times it's practically tasteless. But, that's ok, and that's just the normal life of a mom :)

Second thought in regards to the title is that eating is a luxury for so many people. Living in India makes me realize the plethora of food that comes in and out of my house. Not only does my family have plenty, we have over abundantly. I'm not complaining about that because I feel so blessed. But I realize how much I have when I talk to poorer families who tell me they ate rice and bread for dinner. Or, their kids ate a portion smaller than my fist and then went to bed. For many of he poorer communities here that size portion is even an abundant blessing.

"Give us this day our daily bread..." (Matthew 6:11)

Honestly, these words aren't something I've ever had to pray. But for so many here in India I'm sure they plead with the Lord for just that, because to them, eating is a luxury.

Our New Home (Pics of each room)

Here's pictures of our new house in Garden City! We Love it! We're so thankful the Lord has blessed us with a beautiful home, with great sunlight, an awesome cross breeze, incredible view of the city, lots or trees, a residential neighborhood where we feel comfortable walking with the kids & stroller to the store or just for exercise, and a strategic area for why we're here. 

I'll explain each group of pics as if I'm giving you a tour :)

When you walk in the door you step into our living room/family room area (with our dining room on your left). At our old house we had a separate front room and family room, which is why we have separate couch sets. We weren't sure it was going to work, but it's turned out great!

Left Picture: If you look to the left when you walk in the front door you see the guest bathroom & Elijah's room. (Also you'd see the dining room table, but that's in another picture)     Right Picture: Looking to the right when you walk in the front door.

Here's Elise looking out the living room windows at the city, and the the view itself. 

Then standing from Elise's spot in the above picture in our living room you turn around and see our dining table (and Elijah's room on the right). It's such a big open space, which we really enjoy because it not only allows so much sunlight and the breeze to go through the house, but it's a great space for the kids to play.

To the left of the dining table is our kitchen, which is the largest kitchen I've ever had. It's completely open on the one side, which helps when I have to spend such a long time cooking cause I can still see the kids. 

Walking into Elijah's room, you can see his double doors going out to his balcony & a full length window beside them. 

 

 

Here's mine and Neal's room. The door beside the full window leads to the front balcony, which is my favorite.

 I love the view! I'm hopeful to get two small wicker chairs for this balcony.

Here's Elise's room, which is right beside our room. You get to both of our rooms by way of a small hall right off of the family room.

I've always enjoyed rocking my babies, so whenever we're in our home and I can sit in my rocker my heart is so full! Also being able to feel the breeze and look outside at the greenery and neighborhood blesses me! I've longed for such things here in India. 

Here's the sunset view from Elise's window beside the rocker. 

The picture below is the opposite side of her room. The french doors lead out to a balcony that connects with Elijah's. Her room gets the best cross breeze because of the windows that are on both sides of the room. 

 Thanks for coming to see our home :)

Only in India # 52

Only in India do you find interesting warning signs like this one:

When someone has received an electric shock... do this... give them a "quick relief massage"

and then if that doesn't seem to help, take them to a doctor (Duh.- who always will look like this Japanese man in the photo :)

Finally give them another massage if they receive "death to negligence".

Wow! I feel so informed! I am ready for this next time!!

New Home

We have been enjoying our new home.

It feels like a sanctuary from the busyness of life here... it has been nice also for the kids to have their own rooms to sleep in.

There is a constant breeze since the monsoon has been here for well over a month now!
With that in mind we have been (especially Elise) suffering from colds. But it still has been so nice to have a large open area for the kids to play, more room for our items.

We hope and pray that this would be a place of comfort and conversations with new friends and neighbors. Also a place to meet early with our Lord, and rest well at night.

As you can see we love all the light in the day.

May it be used by God to bring comfort to many!

First Local Friend

I'd taken Elijah and Elise to the park one late afternoon and while Elijah was playing I met a kind woman. She had two boys, the oldest nine years and the youngest three.  We talked for a while until other women and children came to get my attention. Instead of walking off or saying goodbye she just waited. Waited patiently till they were finished talking, then continued our conversation. She struck me so differently than so many others. Her patient and gentle spirit was really what drew me to her...and the kindness in her eyes, which was all I could see because she was wearing a burka. 

She invited us to her house, so, we exchanged numbers and I called her later to arrange when we could meet. I took Elijah along on the visit, knowing he could make some new friends. When we arrived on their street the oldest son took Elijah under his wing as if he was his brother. He was so excited to have him visit...he wanted to show him everything.

The oldest showed Elijah all his school work and talked to him about what he was learning. The youngest son woke up from his nap and at first was really shy around the two of us. Once he warmed up, he immediately went to get a car to show Elijah, which is of course his favorite. They played cars in the front room on the table,  then in the side room where all the extra cars were located. To my surprise they played for an hour together, and they only had one instance where they weren't sharing.

 Chai, with a snack is of course always served. What's interesting here, as opposed to Kite City, is they will put the chai in a tea pot, and use china cups and saucers. I was actually thrilled about the tea pot thing because I've always loved them. I brought my favorite white Pottery Barn tea pot from the states with us this time...always being hesitant to do so before..., but unfortunately it broke in the suitcase :( I'll have a get one from here.

The little red cup on the tray was actually for Elijah. She served the boys warm milk and some of the dessert balls in the dish. It was too cute watching them enjoy their "chai"!

Doesn't Elijah look so happy?! He was! He loved being with those two boys playing cars...and my heart was overjoyed!!!

I asked her when we could come back again to visit...her in-laws, who she lives with are very strict and won't allow her to come to my house :( She said she would be really busy till after Ramadan, and then we could return. That time seems so far away, but I'm thankful for a friend whom I enjoy being with, and friends for my son! Thank you Lord, you're good to us!