Sickness...& Craziness

One thing that tends to go hand in hand with living in India is sickness. We've never really been sick too terribly, praise the Lord. But, there seems to be something that's happening usually every month or every other month with someone. This time it's the girls.

Today was one of those days that just seemed like it couldn't get any crazier! The Lord was really great in keeping me calm though - praise Him!

I feel like I can't make this stuff up, which is why I'm writing it.

This afternoon I walk into Elijah's room to find him standing and peeing on his balcony! What in the world! That has nothing to do with sickness, but I couldn't believe what I was seeing. He's never done anything like that. When I asked why he did it, he replied, "I just thought I wanted to pee here." What?! Anyways...that's random. On to why I was writing this and about sickness :)

Neal left around 5:30 to go to a cricket match with a friend. It's his first match, so he was pretty excited. I was thankful he was getting to go!

It was me and the kids for the night, so we headed off to pick up some eggs from the near by shop for me to cook for dinner. I'm thankful for eggs because they're a staple food regardless of where you live!

 Elijah's really into being independent and walking on the sidewalk by himself without holding hands now. He's also really into helping me, so I let me carry our new bloom home.

Elise gets to be independent from holding my hand periodically, but only when the traffic isn't much. And of course she needed to wear her crown :)

After we returned from the store Elijah asked if he could take a shower before dinner, which he's wanting to do all the time now, no doubt a first. I think being in the 100 degree heat with no AC really makes you want to bathe. So, we all did our bathes/showers prior to dinner.

During that time I started smelling something and I looked around at each kid asking if someone was pooping. (The girls have had some really bad diarrhea over the last four days. It's come on really suddenly for both of them, so much so that Elise seldom makes it to the toilet before she's done half of it in her pants.) Elijah and Elise were shaking their heads and I looked down at Norah, and that's when I realized she was exploding some diarrhea in her little tub. I quickly got her out and double bathed her.

After I'd finished with each kid I sent them into my room to start putting on their lotion and pjs. As I was finishing cleaning out Norah's bucket tub, I looked out to check on the kids. Elise was standing with her legs wide open peeing on my rug and the bottom of my comforter! What?! Seriously? You and your brother in the same day just decide to pee somewhere random for the first time ever. I was in shock that she was doing that. So, I cleaned it up after getting everyones pjs on. Then off to make dinner.

After dinner Elise starts running into the bathroom cause she's having some diarrhea. Unfortunately she'd already started, so when she takes off her diaper and climbs onto the toilet it gets on other things as well. Then Norah kept crawling into the bathroom. I finally, after the second or third time taking her out, got Norah in her seat that she couldn't get out of. Then I gave Elise another half bath, cleaned the bathroom, and washed her clothes.

I get the movie going for Elijah and Elise and then go to pick up Norah...and I smell something. I realize that where she'd crawled into the bathroom some poop had gotten on the front of her pjs. So, I washed her hands and go to change her. Then I see where it's coming out onto her legs where she's had diarrhea again! Sniffing my own pjs I know it's gotten on me as well. So, Norah got a half bath and her clothes washed. Then I changed my clothes.

Whoo! So much can take place in just two and a half hours since Neal left!

Heal Elise and Norah Lord!

   

Revisiting the Local Park & CCD!

I took the kids to the local park two days ago. It's pretty close to our house, but still a little ways to walk, especially for their little legs. But, they were troopers and didn't complain.

Though the park doesn't look that nice, with it's dirt instead of grass, and run down equipment, it's still the nicest park in our area...kinda sad...but we're thankful. 

Elijah's always been a climber, and these bars have been a favorite since he was little. 

Elise put the bandaid on her head after putting one on my head. I'd had a headache the day before and she wanted to help it feel better. I asked her if she'd like for me to take her bandaid off before we went to the park, but she said "no." "No, Mommy, God's going to heal my head and then God will take me bandaid off." "Ok then, I'll let God take it off when He wants to," I replied. Love it!

And now Elise is old enough to climb the bars with Elijah. She's tried before, but it's always made me nervous. She's proved her climbing ability, so I let her do it now :)

Then this man walked into the park with a hark sitting on his arm! He was telling a couple of other men that the hawk has a bad wing and therefore hasn't been able to take care of itself, so he took him. Honestly, I didn't want him to come any closer to me because I watched that hawks face knowing it's still wild... and it had a very sharp beak! So crazy!

 And then off to the favorite Cafe Coffee Day (CCD). This particular one is located right down the street from the park, so it's a great place to get a cool drink after sweating from playing so hard.

Gosh I love these two! They are no doubt such a joy to be with. They've both matured a lot since we were here before, and for that I'm so thankful! Cuties!!

On our way home we passed by a veggie stand that I'd shopped at only once before. I didn't remember it being quite so nice with such luscious vegetables. I was really impressed and had to buy something! This is one thing I've always liked about living in India - the sellers on the side of the road with all the fresh foods.  

Missing the streets and Lifting up the Harvest

Being home for the holidays and enjoying time with family is nice...
but reflecting on all the relationships left behind and work left unfinished is hard.

I was spending time in the prayer room and just calling out to God on behalf of our friends by name... it can be frustrating in the waiting... but we know that our God is in control. He makes all things work together for our good.

Each relationship that we develop, each person that we share with, He knows them. He knows them by name. Even if we cannot see the full harvest reaped, we know that the Holy Spirit will finish the work.

Here are some pics that take us back:

He said that the harvest is plentiful...

shopping in the market....

By the cart load they sell their crops, each person dependent on a small income to help their family.

The grain is carried from villages to the towns and cities during the 2-3 harvest times.

A drive through the streets. 

Nothing like the monsoon summer rains to cool from the heat.

Getting a Reputation of Prayer, and God Answering

After we first moved into our house here in Garden City, I posted about the opportunity I had to pray for the healing of my cleaner's (Sha) daughter. Since that time there's been Many healing prayers for that family. She often tells me about a family member that's sick, or a child with a fever, etc. and we always pray for them.

One particular day, she was in my house, and as usual I asked how she and her family were doing. She told me about the extreme pain she was having in her mouth because of a bad tooth. She said this pain started five years ago, and she's periodically taken medicine ever since. But, it had come back stronger than ever before and it was coupled with a headache this time.

I asked many questions in regards to money and getting the tooth pulled, etc. I wanted to understand the complete problem so that if it was just a lack of money then I would be able to help pay for the dentist bill. It wasn't though, she's too afraid to get her tooth pulled, so she won't do it even though the dentist says that's what's needed. I can't say I blame her though for having a fear of that procedure, especially knowing the kind of dentist she goes to.

So, I told her I wanted to pray for her healing before she left my house. She proceeded to remind me three different times that I was going to pray for her before she left :) Then when she was all finished I laid hands on her and asked God to take away her pain and to heal her tooth and head in the name of Jesus. This was all in Urdu, so I think that's what I said, although I'm terrible with their prayer language because they use different words and phrases only for prayer.

Well, apparently God did understand my Urdu, or at least my heart :) The next day she came to my house and told me that as soon as she left, after I prayed, her pain was completely gone. Thank you, thank you God!!!

Two mornings ago I got a knock on my door. A woman, whom I've seen once or twice (she's a relative on Sha), was standing with her baby, young daughter, and Sha's daughter. When I opened the door she said that her baby has had a fever since the night before. Sha, my cleaner, told her to go to my house and I'd pray for the baby because when her kids have had fevers I've prayed and the kids have gotten well, the same with headaches, her tooth ache, etc. So, that's what I did. (The baby still needs prayer though because they're currently in the hospital because his fever is so high. I think he might have Dengue,which is spreading like crazy. So, if you read this within a week or two of when I'm writing it please join me in praying for this baby's healing.)

Thirty minutes later, another woman arrived telling me Sha had told her the same thing. She brought her baby who had been crying a lot in the last few days and they weren't sure why. I prayed for that baby as well.

Let me say praise the Lord! I'm no one special and I want to give all glory to God for His great works, and His great fame! Whenever Sha tells me of an answered prayer, I'm quick to give God all the glory because He's the one doing everything. I want so much for Sha and her family to come to know the one true God and His son. I'm asking that He will continue to answer pray, and that He will receive the glory, and use those to magnify Himself.

Here's a picture with the woman and her son who has the fever. Again, pray with me for complete healing for this little boy who currently is in the hospital with a 103 fever, no appetite, but praise God he's willing to drink to stay some what hydrated. 

Only in India #55

Only in India does a little girl come to play in your house... then, without any warning, pop a squat on your rug and poop... When her mother comes to clean it up she somehow doesn't see it, steps in it, and tracks it through your living room.

All I can say is the words of my good friend Courtney, "Oh India, you're special." :)

Only in India #54

Only in India do you go to a well established American restaurant and have this happen:

Kristen: "Can I get a baked potato instead of fries?"
Waiter: "Sure mam."

Food is brought out
Kristen tries her potato...calls waiter over

Kristen: "Sir, can I get my potato cooked a little longer cause it's really hard?"
Waiter: "Sure mam."

Five minutes later
Chef from the back approaches the table

Chef: "Mam, you wanted a baked potato, right?"
Kristen: "Yes."
Chef: "Ok mam...so...what is that?"
Kristen: "Well...it's a potato, that's baked."
Chef: "Oh, ok mam"

Only in India #53

Only in India do you walk up to the hostess at a "Grilled Chicken" restaurant and ask:

Neal: "What kind of foods do you have to eat?"
Hostess: "Oh, no sir, we don't have food."
Neal: "What, you don't have food?"
Hostess: "No, we only have chicken."
Neal: "So...chicken's not food?"
Hostess: "No, sir."