Pictures are here! From India! Via facebook.

Rather than waiting on ALL the good pictures to load on here (takes years, folks), I'm giving you the link to the facebook album, viewable whether you have facebook or not!

This is the Women's Conference part of the trip.

And...  This is the "oops, Cole lost her passport so we're stuck in London first" part of the trip.

The "Bangalore, running around, visiting with awesome people" part is coming soon.  Even facebook doesn't have that yet, so you're now caught up :)

I have been rather anticlimactic about this September India trip.  Too much happened around it to give it the blog space that it deserves.  Moving and adding 10 more hours of work, while nesting, visiting with family, and starting to lead a small group is--turns out--a little time consuming.  Thus I find myself blogging at midnight-30 on a work night.  All because I love you dearly and I want you to feel that you're not some creepy outsider looking in, but rather that you're invited in to enjoy life with me.  Even if that life is a little strange and filled with more than its fair share of mini-crises.

Not that there's anything mini about losing a passport.

That was a big crisis.

Definitely the biggest yet.

It got its share of blog space, though, so enough about that.



Confession.  Another reason for the fewer number of posts is that Meg Shideler has introduced me to pinterest.com.  Be still, my beating heart.  It's just what I needed and didn't need all at once.  A visual, aesthetically pleasing way to organize bookmarks, favorites, or otherwise neat things that somehow improve life just a little.

You can find my pins and boards here.

It's amazing and addictive.

Join us.  There are pumpkin cheesecake recipes...

proVISION ASIA

 

Isnt' he precious?

 This is Veera.  He's a riot.  I mean, I assume.  I can't understand a word he says, but he's cracking everybody up.

Veera is one of the children that proVISION ASIA works with.  They provide physical therapy for him.  He told the main physical therapist, Esther, on his first day that he would give her 100,000,000 rupees if she could make him walk.  His progress is significant.  Esther is getting excited.  Veera is considering occupational choices.

In a video we shot of him and Esther, he told her he wants to be a teacher.  In a country where there is little sympathy for anyone with ability challenges, physical therapy is providing an entire life for Veera, not just physical mobility.  Jared and I got to work alongside proVISION ASIA in several of their ventures this weekend, including a walk for physiotherapy (in which I proudly wore heels), a visit to a school for children with mental and physical challenges, and a trip to the government boys home, where proVISION ASIA staff members trained the government workers in how to appropriately care for the boys AND played with the boys, helping them with their mobility through activities like playing toss and "jump rope" (where they jump over the non-swinging rope).

Needless to say, after spending a week alongside this group, I am amazed and in full support of them.

http://provisionasia.com/

All is great!!

Hi folks!

Blogging from a coffee shop in Bangalore.

That's crazy.

All is going well, we are well provided for, we're busy, meeting folks, shaking hands, kissing babies, washing hands after both.  This city is a lot of fun.  First shopping excursion today!  Got a super cute white top for 200 rupees.  That's about $5.  This shirt would easily be $25-35 in the states.  I'm excited about it.

Ok, gotta go for now.  Journaling a lot, so sequenced blog posts to come :)  Don't know what I mean?  Check out my "India" tag.

Love you.  Christ is amazing.  He's here.

How To Lose Your Passport, part 2

Still in London. This is day 3 here. Still no passport. I'm realizing now that my ONLY chance to get to India lies in my passport coming into my hands within the next 40 hours. If not, back to TX I go. With a heavy, but peaceful heart. I know that God has a genius plan. I shouldn't question Him--just trust Him. He is the perfect navigation system. No mistakes, and always with a clear goal of His Glory. Let this detour sing of how great He is, somehow!

Making the most of our time here. Going to the British Museum, seeing a show at the National Theatre tonight, and really enjoying using PHENOMENAL public transportation. There's something magical about London. The history, the brilliant architecture, the complex but smoothly-run transport systems, the efficiency, the civility. It's quite wonderful.

Such a blessing to have had to pause here, but I'm praying that this isn't a U turn, but rather a pit stop on my way to India.

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How to Lose Your Passport, part 1

I typed up a long and awesome big post, complete with a reference to Tangled, only for it to be deleted before posting. Quite bummed because it may have been one of the better ones I've ever written.

Today's adventures have included, but have not been limited to:

1. Cole losing her passport.
2. Amanda flying alone to Hyderabad to meet the group, with Cole and Jared staying behind. See #1 for the reason.
3. Being totally snubbed by the American Embassy, while being warmly welcomed by British Airlines. What?
4. Snagging a sweet, safe, not too crazy expensive little room in a German YMCA right near Paddington (2 twin beds, folks. Nothing sketchy).
5. Narrowly avoiding being kicked out of a Hilton for using their swanky concierge (sp?) to help us get info.
6. The actual purchase of boingo WiFi on my phone which turns out to be the best idea all day (oh, hai, blog post and emails).
7. We have our bags. If that ain't God, I don't know what is.
8. I'm stranded in another country, but that country speaks English and is really hip. Again with the blessings.
9. DO YOU KNOW WHAT WEATHER IN LONDON IN THE SUMMER IS LIKE?? WHAT IS THIS GLORIOUS GOOD WEATHER-NESS?? UM--SHARE THE GOODNESS, ENGLAND!
10. If I'm going to be stranded in another country, I'm really glad to be stuck with someone I like a lot. Who has traveled a lot. Who is used to my mode of dealing with stressful situations (this is where the Tangled reference comes in. Manic joy and thankfulness at being in London, followed by self-loathing depression about misplacing passport, worrying my parents, potentially missing the conference, etc).

But we're safe. And we have several game plans. All of which involve us making it home eventually. Some just sooner than others. :/

So PRAY. Pray that BA finds my passport. Pray that if they don't, the processes involved in getting a new one and getting an Indian visa will be easy and smooth. Pray for continued good travel for the other women at the conference. They're amazing, and they're doing amazing things for Christ this week. I hope I get to go join them!

Love ya :) I'll update as things happen.

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Wow. What's today??

I leave for India on Thursday. Today is Monday. Pretty much Tuesday by now. Gracious.

Prescriptions, shoes, SD card, hand sanitizer

Car, cat, craft supplies, contacts, can I get this all together in time?

Once there I'll be journaling like crazy, certainly of things to share when I return. Expect a full report, complete with pictures. Because birthday camera is traveling to the other side of the world with me. So is Jared.

India: where big things happen, and God's hand is clear.

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India Trip Part Deux Update!

Confession time.  I haven't been updating about India Trip - The Return to Hyderabad because A) I've been quite busy.  For reals.  AND B) because I'm a little conflicted about how to approach this trip when talking to people.  Let me explain.

The first part of the trip is a knock-down-drag-out MISSION trip, loving on little kids in the name of the Lord for a week while their mamas are at a Women's Conference.  It's going to be hard and absolutely amazing.  I might even see some kids I know from the villages from January!!  This plan started before I even left Hyderabad in January.  Edgar was telling us about the conference coming up in September, and he looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Some of these women aren't able to leave their children at home because of their unbelieving husbands who resent their devotion to the Lord.  So we will need people to care for the children." Boom.  I was in.  Aaaand I need funding for this part.  Only about $255 more and I'll be totally funded!  Praise the Lord!  But I have less than a month to round up those funds, so I'm excited to see how He provides just in the nick of time :) 

The second part of the trip is also God-inspired, just in a different form.  Jared and I will be traveling to Bangalore to meet and hang out with folks that he lived and worked with when he lived in India.  We will visit non-profit organizations run by Christ-centered people who are focused on meeting the needs of Indians day in and day out.  Jared will be talking with the folks he's worked with for several years about what kind of a future may be in store for him.

Jared has very deliberately (and ridiculously charmingly) invited me along for that part of the journey because we fancy each other quite a lot, so our futures may bump into each other in a more permanent fashion at some point, which means I need to know what we'd be in for!  We have no idea if, whoa, living in India is part of our future.  All I know is that we both have a heart for that country, so we're going to check it out.  And I have a new camera, so I want to take some gosh darn pictures in India.

We'll also be taking some day trips to palaces and tea plantations around the area (yes, tea plantations.  Be still, my beating heart.  Have I told you all how much I love tea?  It's a thing).  I'm excited that I'll have time to explore the beauties of India this trip!  In January we were on a tight schedule (wake up, buses, medical camp/kids camp, motel, sleep) so we didn't get to do much exploring, and now that I'm pretty much in love with and committed to India, I'm excited to get to know her :)  There will be more pictures from this 19-day adventure than I will know what to do with.  There's your warning.

So, since this is a multi-purpose trip, I'm very deliberately only raising funds for the ground costs for the week of the Conference.  I've been saving and penny-pinching as much as I can for the rest of the trip, and my parents have CRAZY generously paid for a significant chunk of the plane tickets.  I've been encouraged by my mission-minded loved ones that I do not need to deprive any called person of the opportunity to support Christian missions, so with that beautiful mindset, I extend that invitation on to you.  If you want to join me on this journey, email me at colemortimer@gmail.com. 

I am, however, asking for PRAYERS for the ENTIRE trip.  If you'd like a detailed list of things to pray for, you've come to the right blog post:

- That GOD would be glorified through the conference and children's ministry
- Travel safety
- Unity of the entire group at the conference
- Funds
- Spiritual preparedness for the team (India can be a spiritually oppressive place)
- For the Christians in India - they are persecuted, especially in the northern states, but also in the southern states (where we'll be).  Pray that their trials only strengthen their faith, and that the Christian community there will grow despite the hardships
- For Edgar and his team as they plan and execute the details of this conference
- For Jared, praise that he is faithful, and prayers for his next steps
- For Amanda, my children's ministry co-leader from Ft. Worth, that she would be strengthened and encouraged, that God would reveal what's next for her
- For Cathy, my children's ministry co-leader from Memphis, that she would be prepared and at peace, that we three work beautifully together with the kiddos

Thank you for reading, being even remotely interested, for praying, and for supporting me in this.  I'm so excited about this trip.  It means missing almost 3 weeks of work and again facing my fear of throwing up (don't drink the water, be careful of the food), but all that and so much more is worth it for the experience to come!

A letter to YOU about what GOD's doing in INDIA!

Dear friends and family,

I pray that this letter finds you safe in God's Hands!  I would like to tell you about an exciting opportunity I have coming up in September.  I will be participating in the Grace Sathuluri Conference for Women in Hyderabad, India.  My friend Amanda, who also went with me on the short term trip to Hyderabad in January, will travel with me, and we will be partnering again with N.A.T.I.V.E. Ministries to help host the 10^th Anniversary of this women's conference for the persecuted Christian women of India.

I am so excited about the opportunity to serve in this area of the world—again!—where God is clearly raising up new worshipers and leaders in India.  I am also excited about the opportunity to participate in God's faithful work of building up disciples in His Kingdom among the nations!  My role on this trip will be to teach the children who travel to the conference with their mothers and grandmothers.  Though the women are asked not to bring their children, many are forced to.  Non-Christian husbands especially will say that if his wife is going to leave her dutiful place in her home to serve this God, then she shouldn't expect her children to be cared for in her absence.  Naturally, then, we are providing for these blessed children!

I humbly invite you to consider supporting me in this ministry with your constant prayers.  I am asking, as well, for partners who will support me financially, as I sincerely desire to be a blessing to those women and children in India.  I need to raise $1,090 by September 1, 2011 to cover the costs of this trip.  Will you consider contributing to this ministry?  Every little bit is a genuine blessing.  If God leads you to support me, please make your check payable to Christ Chapel Bible Church.  In the memo line, please write: India Women's Conference, Cole Mortimer.

Checks should be mailed to our CCBC Missions Coordinator:

Danella Hitri

3740 Birchman Ave

Ft. Worth, TX 76107

Please include a note designating the gift to my name.

I sincerely ask for prayers that we will be able to serve joyfully together and provide great encouragement to the Indian women and children at this conference.  Thank you for considering this invitation.  I look forward to telling you about everything God has done when I return!

Warmest blessings,

Cole Mortimer

817-201-4613

colemortimer@gmail.com

Pictures from the January trip!

In a village called Kalubavi, saying “Wandanaloo!” (“Blessings!” in Telugu)

With Amanda at Native Ministries, wearing our punjabis (a tunic-style top with pants and a light scarf)

Good Morning, World!

I've been awake for 2 hours.

Yep.  Since 4:15am.

I've been mad-crazy productive.

I've completed my application for an Indian Visa, to be mailed (to the tune of $200 that I hope to raise through supporters) tomorrow (today, rather, but it doesn't feel like day yet, since, oh, it's dark outside).  I'm going to India--yes, again!--in just 9 weeks.  Just NINE WEEKS!  :D  I'll be traveling for 19 days, the first half at a women's conference in Hyderabad (the same place I went in January, with the same ministry!) and the second half traveling around with Jared, meeting folks that he knows and loves in Bangalore and checking out these cool-looking Kerala houseboats!  Planes, trains, and automobiles--and maybe a auto rickshaw or 2 :)

I've also browsed through an acquaintance's facebook photos, drooling over the cuteness of her baby, and getting excited about the fact that another one, probably equally as cute, is on the way.  Not that I know her well enough to tell her that.

Facebook, by the way, has officially become weird to me.  I just peeked into this baby's bathtime.  Granted, mom took pics and shared on facebook, but I mean, I am just not close enough to this family to actually be a part of that.

But that baby's super precious.

Anyway, I also caught up on the blogs that I follow.  Which is less weird to me for some reason, and I can't quite reconcile that one yet.  I mean, I'm emotionally attached to Dooce's dogs and I feel like I'm part of Ree Drummond's family.  And I've definitely never met them.  Can't even claim "positive acquaintances."  Complete strangers who willingly share their lives with me.

But, I mean, are you and me total toenail-paintin-buddies?

Maybe, considering the fact that I think I've retained all of 3 readers.  Hi, mom, dad, and Jared!

Dad?

Two readers.  And only one of them a toenail-painter.

I digress.  Productivity!  In the wee hours of the morning!  Why??  Why am I even awake?  "Cole," you may be saying, "you never wake up in the middle of the night!"  And you're right, concerned reader who may or may not be my mother!  I don't!

Unless...

Unless I was so tired when I got home--and for no good reason, I might add--that I simply laid myself fully clothed from the day, contacts in, face unwashed, teeth unbrushed, and bedtime story unread, ONTO my bed (not into, you see), and proceeded to grab my soft purple throw blanket (the death knell of bedtime preparation...) and KONK OUT.

So when I woke from my 4 hour nap, because essentially, that's what that was, I felt quite refreshed and ready to continue with my day!  Wait...  Where did my day go?  Which day am I continuing?  Is it breakfast time yet?  [always.]

So I took contacts out, washed face, brushed teeth (I know for a fact that a few of you only just unclenched your nervous stomachs at that, and I don't blame you a bit), and just did not feel like going back to sleep.  I took one glance at my computer and thought, "Yeah... I could do one productive thing and countless other non-productive things on that contraption..."  And I proceeded to do so.

One of those being a blog post.

Good morning :)  I love ya!

September 2011 -- The Return To India

That's right.

You read that correctly.

God willing, I am making plans to return to India in September of this year.

Story time!  Here's my game plan complete with supa-brief back-story (for the rest, check out the India posts!).  In January I went on the trip led by Gina to India.  I also started seeing this great guy named Jared.  He lived and worked with a missions group in Bangalore, India for about a year and a half, so we bonded over our love for India.  After I got back from the January trip working with Native Ministries, I faced the fact that God was ALREADY calling me back to India for Native's Grace Sathuluri Conference for Women in Hyderabad India.  When I mentioned this to Jared, he told me that he'd been praying for a while about an opportunity to go back to India to meet up with his boss, Mr. Holland, and he'd been considering going around September.  What a great opportunity to serve the Lord each in our own capacities!  We contacted Sue in Memphis and began planning through her leadership. I will go to the Women's Conference and work with Native, and he'll go to Bangalore to do business with Mr. Holland and ProVision Asia (he totally designed their website-- proud girlfriend) , and visit with the dear friends he made there. After the conference he will pick me up and we will travel together back to Bangalore for a week to visit with friends and talk with Mr. Holland about what a potential life together in India would look like for Jared and me, if that turns out to be a possibility in our future.

Dad, Mom, and Jane, don't panic at that last line.  Neither of us have any intention of living there very long.  We like cleanliness and peace and quiet too much to stay in India for more than 2 years, max.  But it is, nonetheless, a very real possibility.

In the meanwhile, I'm working my caboose off, recruiting summer preschool Sunday School teachers, scratching up substitute teachers for the remaining few weeks of the spring session, preparing for training, helping Meg do wedding stuff, babysitting sweet baby Anna, trying to keep up with Alyssa's summer book stickers, and watching Brothers & Sisters (I watch the Walkers' insanity to help maintain my own sanity--don't hate).  I have a blog post simmering in my head, complete with pictures, Hyperbole and a Half style, but it's going to take a little more time to fully percolate.

Reader, I need you to know something.  God is good.  And he's really big.  Not like, "Dude, that guy is the size of a house" big.  More like, God is actively creating art 10 billion light years away from where you're sitting right now, on the same canvas that WE are a part of.  And He is actively seeking after your heart at the same time.  We know that all things work together for the good of those who love Him, and those who love Him are called for a purpose (Romans 8:28).  That doesn't mean only good things happen to those who love God.  It means that both the good and bad serve a purpose in His ultimate glory.  I want with all my heart for you to know this as you face every event in your day, from a paper cut to a promotion, from a tragic loss to a brief peaceful moment--God is good.   And He loves you passionately.

THE INDIA POST (13 - the wrap up)

2:15 pm Jan. 24, 2011

The screen on the back of the chair in front of me says we'll arrive in 25 minutes.  I can't believe this has happened--all of it!  I can't believe I was called upon to do mission work, I can't believe I actually heard the call, I can't believe it all happened, and I can't believe it's all over now. 

Let's do a quick recap for those just tuning in-- summer of 2009 God started poking me very specifically and very persistently toward mission work with kids in India.  The message was very clear from the start, though it made very little sense to me initially.  After contacting Pioneers in the summer of 2010 (God had His work cut out for Him in calling on me.  It took em a year to pick up my feet and get going!)  I got in touch with John, who taught this missions crawler how to walk.  We set up a trip, and it was clear that each step of the way was exactly the way that God had planned it to go.  God was displaying ALL KINDS of sovereignty.  It was an amazing and humbling experience to see God working so deliberately through my tiny existence.  In accordance with His Plan, but not at all in accordance with mine, that initial trip fell through.  My host missionary decided that she would leave the field.  I, clearly not having learned my lesson yet, panicked, thinking that all was lost and what was I to do now and what about that call, God??!  And, because God is glorified in all things, a second trip fell directly into my lap.  A trip going during the same time that the original trip was planned--to work with kids... in India... AND it would be through my own church in Fort Worth.

My God is so big, so strong and so mighty
There's nothing my God cannot do (ooo ooo!)

So after God blessed me with a beautiful funds-raising experience (the part I was dreading the most), I was delighted to realize that I was really and truly going to India!  It was the only plan I had for post-graduation, and I had no idea how much I would need that.  After graduating, moving, ending a year-and-a-half-long relationship, and starting the new year, all the world was filled with newness and beauty.  I saw God's blessings pouring out all over the place.  Oh such beautiful potential!

"I believe in Christianity as I believe in the rising sun; not because I see it, but by it I can see all else." (C. S. Lewis)

***

That's technically where the India journaling ends.  The plane landed after that quote, and I didn't finish that entry until today (Feb. 4).  There's been a time lapse, but you deserve a better wrap up than that, so continuing on:

So the big new year looked brilliantly promising.  And terrifying.  The only thing that I could count on for 2011 was the India trip.  I had literally no plans other than that.  I'm a planner.  Do you know how terrifying it is for a planner to enter into a new year with no plans after the 24th day of the year?  The only direction God had given me, though, was, "Go to India, then let Me take care of the rest.  I love you.  I'll take care of you."

Do you know how difficult that concept is to explain to a society of planners?  I'm fairly certain that there is a veritable team of people genuinely concerned for my mental well-being because of that plan--or lack thereof.  There's a big part of me that doesn't blame them.  In our world, even our "time off" must be structured, with an end point.  You can "take [this specific amount of time] off to [do some sort of planned activity]" but you can't not have a plan.  It makes us uncomfortable!  But we weren't made to be comfortable.  I've been fighting that discomfort for months now, and I've reached a quiet joyful place with it.  Others, not so much (I love you, daddy).  But hey, that's where I am, and I've learned that the best way to make God laugh is to try to make a plan on my own.  If He can spin the world, dress the lilies, and send me to freakin INDIA (!!), I'm sure he can handle carrying me through tomorrow.

So he did it.  He took me to India.  Posts about that start here and flow straight up through January to this post.  About 15 or 16 posts total.  If you're just starting out, don't worry--some are short little dudes.  I wanted to divide them up by days rather than do one big overwhelming post (you know, like 10x longer than this one).  To understand how incredible the experience was, you'll just have to read the posts, then see the [coming soon] pictures, and then go for yourself.  Since I've been back I've had a hard time processing it all.  SO much happened, and I still don't quite know what to do with it all.  I know I'm here for a purpose, and I was sent there for a purpose, but not all of that has been revealed just yet.  I know part of it, but who knows what our great God has up His sleeve!

We've had 4 snow days in a row, and I can't fully express how amazing that's been.  I've had time to just sit.  To talk through it.  To process and write all this out.  To spend time with a charming young man named Jared.  To bake double chocolate rum cupcakes.  To make a snow angel, unpack my room, and nap--a lot.

For those of you who haven't been so much into the India posts, look forward to a post about the story of the promise of 2011, and for you hopeless romantics, there may be a sweet story heading to a blog near you sometime soon...

THE INDIA POST (12)

12:26am London time, 4:26am TX time, Jan. 24, 2011

This is my 40th India page in my journal.  Wow.  I've passed our 3 cough drops, some Kleenex, and some humor on this plane thus far, and we haven't even taken off!  I'm sitting next to a lovely British couple and the wash closet.  I was boarded early because I asked for a seat change to an aisle seat.  At first I regretted asking because of the proximity to the bathroom, but I think this will be wonderful!  Finally no one kneeing me in the back!

Yesterday's flight was rough, but Tricia, a flight attendant, was precious.  36 years as a flight attendant.  Very British and friendly.  So sweet.  And flight attendant John looked weirdly like Victor Boschini--ole V.Bos.

So, I don't know how to rebuke in love with grace while still making the point..  That's the next big place of growth I need to focus on.  Also, I can be quite condescending to people sometimes. It was pointed out to me last year that I do this, and thus I now catch myself at it sometimes.  I don't know why that tone is any kind of normal to me.  It's all pride.  It's all way too much pride.  If I'm going to be a good representative of Jesus Christ, if I'm going to be a good wife, if I'm going to be a good mother, I need to learn to recognize pride in myself, learn how to kill it, and learn how to override it with grace and love.  God, help me.  That's going to be a long hard journey.  Bless me with an understanding husband and merciful friends.  Give me patience with myself and others.  And please, Lord, give them patience with me...  Jesus' rebukes always sound so harsh to me when I read His words.  Is that because I am so harsh when I rebuke others?  Am I reading my own tone into Him?  I'm getting into the words of Jesus.  And Isaiah.  A little old, a little new.  Every day.  Let's do it.

Ok, 14 pages to the end of this journal.  I'm gonna take a nap, and then I'm going to write a blog post and write some letters.  We'll see what kind of a dent I can make in those 14 pages in the next 10 hours!

***

8:40am (TX time) Jan. 24 still

Still flying!  Watching Gandhi.  He's an incredibly impressive man.  He has flaws and such, as every human but Jesus has fallen prey to, but his dedication to human rights and to nonviolence in achieving his goals has blessed the world in a big beautiful way.  I believe the only thing that truly sets him apart from any other human with a heart is his stubborn, lifelong commitment to that stuff in his heart.  For a man who wasn't a Christian, he sure sets one heck of a lifestyle example for us.  That statement convicts all us Christ followers... As does his incredibly accurate observation about Christians:  "I like your Christ.  I do not like your Christians.  They are nothing like your Christ."

Oooph.  I've heard many non-believers say that Christians are the main turn-off from Christianity.  True, they aren't looking at the right example (please please look at Jesus--not us), but also true is the fact that there should be no difference in the life of Christ and that of His followers.  I just left the presence of Native Ministries, a true Christian presence in an area where Christ followers are persecuted.  I am returning to the land of churches and lukewarm faith, which I would argue is no faith at all.  If you read that and feel prideful and defensive, I will throw a Sassy Gay Friend quote at you:  look at your life--look at your choices.  Pride and complacency have NO PLACE in Christ-like discipleship.  Just because we're born in the "Bible belt" doesn't mean we get a free pass.  It's not "just in the water."  You decide to follow Jesus, and then you do it diligently because you realize that you owe him your life.  There is nothing passive about it.  There is active prayer, active fellowship, active Scripture reading, active discipling, and an active life on mission, all of which are focused fully on the Glory of God.  A high call with a high standard.  Settle your heart for nothing less.  You are here for His Glory and what a JOYOUS purpose that is!!

THE INDIA POST (11)

5:30pm India time, 6:00am TX time, noon London time  Jan. 23, 2011

Landing in London in about 10 minutes.  Legitimately ready to be home.  Miserable sleepless flight...  Lots of music and a little Bollywood, but very little sleep.  I'm sure I napped a little, and maybe the resting time counts as some rejuvenation, but it can't be much.  I really just want to connect on through to home...

God, please work on the hearts on this trip.  I think we're now tempted to forget that we're still on mission for You.  Satan has found a foothold in our sleeplessness and weariness.  He has been working overtime these past few days (or we've been working undertime...). Complaints, pride, gossip, bad attitudes... not to mention that we seem to have all forgotten at least a little of the lives we led for 5 days in India.  Otherwise how could all this have crept in?

There are some MISERABLE babies on this plane.  Descent is clearly not their faves.  I missed a meal because I was trying to pretend I was napping to make me actually nap.  So now I'm hungry and tired.  Game plan--food and contact Chelsea and Willie T.  I just need some wifi!  And some munchies so I can take my malaria medication!  All will be well... I'll find a second wind after some food and I'll get to bed early tonight.  And tomorrow I"ll see my dear home people!  Jared and Sydney and Alyssa and Ehleshea and Meg and Baggy...

God, bless each member of this team with an amazing reentry story.  Pour out your love and grace on every single person, and help us to better understand our purposes on earth by thinking on this incredible experience.  Guide us to help us not to forget WHO sent us, WHY we were sent, and WHAT we learned in the process.  Bless our tongues while we talk about the experience, and lead us in prayer to show us what the life implications of this trip should ultimately be for us.  Help me to figure out how to talk about the changes in my life with grace and love.  That's not my strong suit...

THE INDIA POST (10)

5:00pm Jan. 22, 2011

Just got done playing duck-duck-goose with about 20-25 kids at Native.  This was my favorite camp, closely followed by "Tight Squeeze Village" and Kalubavi (with the sisters).  The age that I was playing with today was just SO MUCH FUN!  I love 7-13 year-olds.  They're my jam.  Younger is great too, but every time I get done playing with a group of 10-year-olds, it feels so amazing.  I'm exhausted, but glowing.

Hah!  We just passed a sketchy looking "poultry disease diagnostics lab" and an "export reject sale."  I feel like every flat surface here is advertising something or being used to sell something directly, but none of it is very successful.  I've gotten so used to this place.  It sounds, smells, tastes, looks, and feels normal.  The warm brown complexions and sarees and bellbottom pants have become familiar.  I love it.  I don't want to return to lukewarm Christians.  I hate that.  Christians here are real.  They mean it.  They have the light and they share it.  They're answering the call, praise God.

THE INDIA POST (9)

Random notes on a scratch page:

Day 4, morning - village with the worst bathroom - we were in the church building.  Cut short because we had lunch in that building, rather than in Kalubavi.  Bonding time and culture chat with our helpers.  Kumba Lanoor village.

Our interpreters were Solomon and David.  They're young dads and best friends.  The helpers were Sudhakar and Shalem, who were young 20's and also best friends (it took me so long to remember their names that I wrote "Sudhakar- no mustache.  Shalem- mustache" in my journal to help me out).

Vumahla- little girl in green.  She stayed behind to blow us a kiss goodbye.  Beautiful little girl.
Rikatesh- Edgar's nephew?  13-year-old at Native.  Gold eyes.  Felt too old to play with the kids, but played anyway.  Sweet sweet kid.
Krishana, Mario, and Musheni - Precious group of boys in Kumba Lanoor.  They were so much fun!
Srikant- Solomon's nephew.  Suman- Solomon's younger brother.  They helped us and hung out with us during the Native camp day.  Between the 5 helper men and the 3 of us, we totally emptied a big container of cashews.  That was such a good purchase.  Who knew :)

Books to check out on Amazon:  Let the Nations Be Glad- Piper, Rich Christians in the World of Hunger, Don't Waste Your Life- Piper, Telugu Bible (for language learning purposes)

Chala-bah-goondi - How beautiful!
Bah-ghoo-na-dha - How are you?
Neh-nu bahga-oonahnu - I am fine.
Ahrundi! - Come!

9:20am Jan 21, 2011

We're on the bus heading to Hyderabad.  The boys are outside the bus, fascinated by us.  So funny!  What a mind-blowing few days... Last night and this morning especially.  After changing into punjabis at the hotel, we boarded the bus (the van on the previous day was NOT gonna work.  It was making me feel ill, and I never get motion-sick) and headed to the prayer hut dedication.  On the way there we encountered a mass of people so big that the bus couldn't go through.  Everyone was dressed in the most beautiful clothes outside, there was drumming, and we heard fireworks. Someone on the bus murmured, "a wedding?..."  The bus was going so slowly that we all hopped off to get ahead and see the drums.  I was so entranced by the drums that I didn't notice that the volunteers we'd been working with were there beside us.  They were facing us, holding hands.  Amanda asked Sudhakar what he was doing, and he said, "For your protection."  We were there--at the town where they were dedicating the prayer hut.  The celebration was for the prayer hut dedication, and all the people were there to see us.  It was an intoxicating experience.  My heart was pounding with the drums, and we were all traveling slowly toward the prayer hut.  It felt like I was being ushered into heaven itself.  The only thing missing was dancing, which apparently would have been wildly inappropriate.  The men and boys kept taking my picture with their camera phones.  It made me SO UNCOMFORTABLE.  It's made me uncomfy all week, but last night especially.  It felt SO inappropriate.  Edgar and his brother Mohan spoke to the crowd before we went in, and it moved my heart so much.  When we went in, we CRAMMED in.  "Fire code" clearly does not translate.  The children sang, we prayed, we read Scripture, and they told us how that particular prayer hut came to be.  Then, oh then, they gave beautiful gifts of shawls and flower necklaces to our doctors.  A group of women from the church also gave the rest of us flower necklaces!  Oh they were gorgeous...  And they smelled so sweet!  I was so
(I have to pee SO BAD) [we were on the 5 hour bus ride back to Hyderbad. The one potty stop was about 30 minutes away]
wiped on the way back.  Totally spent.  I'd been overstimulated and overheated, and if I saw another camera phone I think I'd have thrown it.  I'm ashamed to say that even after that incredible spiritual experience, I was unhappy and grouchy.  It was 11pm and I wanted sleep.  So God did that funny thing that He does... My phone died in the middle of the night and we overslept a little the next morning.  "You want sleep?  Then sleep!"  Thank you, God, for breaking us.  This morning we gave gifts to the Colonel (?) District pastors and their wives.  One of the pastors in return gave us a mighty gift.  He asked Gina to name his tiny baby girl.  Cue tears.  Gina said, "The only two names I'd choose are those I've already chosen for my daughters, so I choose Sarah Elizabeth."  How stinkin precious.  But then the baby's dad and granddad stood up and said, "Wait!  The baby's mom's name is Sarah!"  They chose instead to name the baby Gina Elizabeth.  OH such waterworks in that room.  That prayer time was awesome, and the idea of not working with this group of Christ-centered people made the tears even greater.  We said goodbye to Sudhakar and John--so hard.  They made all us children's ministry folks promise to come back.  Promise made.  I will be back.  No doubt.  I feel like I need to talk to a particular friend or two about going with us next year.  They would be excellent additions.

Aaaaaaanyway.  I've learned a lot on this trip.  Namely I've been convicted in my daily walking practices.  I need more Word.  I need more prayer.  Both in very deliberate, disciplined ways.  I need to be familiar with the Book that rules my life.  I need to be sharing the gospel for Christ, discipling new Christians, and putting firewood under the asses of lukewarm Christians so Christ can light that fire.  What all that looks like in action, I'm not totally sure.  But if I keep Christ, Edgar, Mrs. Stansel, and Aunt Pamela in mind, I bet my heart will be led to a place that will make it beat faster for the Lord.

Edgar reminds me of Aslan (nerd alert!).  I want to care for him, help him, and look to him because of the pure light that emanates from him.  He's so Christ-centered that he really seems to shine!  His eyes always have a light in them, and he always seems so full of joy.  When I briefly talk to him, I kinda feel like Lucy feels in Narnia!  He's truly an inspiration.  And despite his disability, he works harder than all of us.  He's the Paul of NATIVE Ministry.

THE INDIA POST (8)

8:45am Jan 19, 2011

I never know how long these bus rides will be, or how bumpy they'll be!  I've come to love this bus.  It means a moment of rest, a moment to write, a moment to look around and reflect.  Sometimes, maybe, a moment to call or text home.  Home.  Mmm.  We're here!  We've got to be.  I don't know how this bus is maneuvering around in here.  This is SUCH a tight squeeze.  This bus driver is freaking awesome.  I am SO IMPRESSED.

Prepping for a big day of kids!!

****

Evening:  not much to report.  We were inside a church building.  I don't remember much about that evening.  I was kinda down for the count, I'm afraid.

THE INDIA POST (7)

8:50am Jan. 18, 2011

On the road again! Off to village #3!  Praise God, Edgar just told us that after a scary moment with customs, we are getting our final medical bags!  Which means the Memphis team will have their bags!  We're on day 5 of the trip, and they haven't complained at all.  Bless them.  I LOVE how close to God we are on this trip.  Edgar leads in such a sweet, Christ-centered, light-filled way that you can't help but praise the Good Lord with him!

7:30pm

2 villages today.  I love these kids!!!  Sihnu.  Speaks some English.  Learned all our strange American names.  Green shirt, kind loving soul.

I just realized that I may forget which village is which!  Day 1, we went far from camp, between mud-huts in the village.  It was hard to be thrust so quickly into another culture--especially such an extremely different one!  Day 1 village 2 was beautiful.  A tent with a bunch of helper girls--my sisters.  This morning we were under a buggy tree.  I almost picked up a beautiful little crawling girl when she peed on our mat right at my feet.  This evening we were on a concrete slab outside a little building.

Our volunteers are rockstars. The NATIVE guys are awesome, and the local church folks are just precious.

THE INDIA POST (6)

10:05 pm Still Jan. 17, 2011

Incredible day.  So hard.  So wonderful.  The 3 sisters, Aruna, Syamala, and Esteri, plus 1 or 2 more (there were 7 altogether) are now MY sisters.  Begged me to stay, to go to their home, to return to Kalubavi, to sing with them, to dance with them, to take pictures with them...  I loved it.  Today was beautiful.  Village #2, (Kalubavi) went so smoothly for us in the kids area.  What a difference a tent and some prayer makes!  I didn't feel tired, I kept smiling, kept loving, kept touching (and sanitizing)... They called me "Auntie" or "Cole Madame."  I adore both, but my favorite is definitely "sister."

THE INDIA POST (5)

8:50am Jan 17, 2011

India is so strange!  There will be a broken-down shack on the side of the road, but it will have a beautiful spire on top!  They take off their shoes when they go into a building because shoes are dirty, but they wipe their poo with their left hands!  The begging women wear some of the most beautiful fabrics I've ever seen, and the standard style for men is blast-from-the-past 70's clothes!

We're on the bus ride to the 1st village.  We have it SO NICE.  Our immediate response is complaint, but we have the nicest sleeping conditions in the city, we're riding in the nicest bus I've seen here, and we have a team of people cooking food for us.  We are NOT roughing it by Indian standards.  But it's definitely not a standard we're used to.

I just talked to family and a dear friend.  Maybe it's the contagious lightness of my own heart, but they all sounded so joyous!  We've hardly started the trip and I already can't wait to get home to tell everyone about this adventure!  This place is amazing.  The Native leader, Edgar, says that 80% of India's HUGE population lives in the villages.  THIS is where India's heart beats.  THIS is who we're going to love on and care for.  THIS is where Christ has sent us.

I love the random palm trees.  And the herds of Brahma bulls.  And the incredibly strong women.  And the vivid colors.  I love the warm culture.  Everyone waves and smiles at us.  I love the honking--it's a language all its own.  Speaking of--I want to learn "This is the day that the Lord has made" in Telugu.  Goal for the week. 

Cotton fields!  Home!  Brahma bulls carrying loads of sticks!  Not so much like home.  Incredible... If a few people were here with me, I think I could stay here forever.  Well... in these cushy conditions.  I don't know if I'm strong enough to live as rough a life as is here.  Dear God, bless each one of these people we see...

*****

2:40pm

Wow.  This is going to be hard.  150-200 kids.  Mass chaos.  Helicopter moms, ps, are universal.  So after struggling against the language barrier and bathing in hand sanitizer, we're on the bus again.  Rather than stealing these children and taking them home, THEY'RE stealing ME.  In village #1 i life my heart with Marco, our little 9-year-old helper, and Anita, my Telugu teacher.  There were many many more, but I remembered those 2 names and they were the most enthusiastic.  The mass of children yelling goodbye by the bus was the clincher.  "Coooole!  Ah-mahn-dah!"  So.... sweeeeeet...

Dr. Katoo (spelling?) is awesome.  God-fearing man.  Spoke on the bus and refocused us--thank the Lord.  I hope the next village goes smoother for all parties.  God, work in us.

Beautiful moment with some older women.  They were asking something of me and I couldn't figure it out.  After several desperate tries, I realized how ridiculous I must look, and I started laughing.  They all laughed with me, which made us all laugh harder and harder.  It was such a sweet moment of shared humanity.  How appropriate that common ground can be found on the other side of the globe through laughter.

THE INDIA POST (4)

11:20pm Jan 16, 2011

Dear Bloggers,

DEFINITELY in another country now.  We drove for 6 hours south to Adoni (ah- DOH- NEE) on a crazy bumpy bus ride.  We've been stationary for 3 hours, but my body is still vibrating.  We're staying in what is probably the nicest hotel in town.  Running water, toilet, clean top sheet and towels, and AC units.  By western standards, this place is 100% shit.  By local standards, we're big-timing it. 

There's totally a donkey braying outside.

I AM DEFINITELY IN ANOTHER COUNTRY!  This is my kind of adventure, honestly.  Despite how careful I have to be with water and despite some severe discomfort experienced when seeing that bathroom, I love this.  I love the food, the friendly helpful people, the blessed amount of sleep I'm getting, my awesome roommate, the funny honking... I just feel deep down that I was made to come here to glorify the Maker, and He gave me the personality tools and tricks to get the most out of it.  Praise God.

Sleepytime now!  Getting up at 6:30, breakfast at 7, leaving at 7:30 for village #1!  I'm excited and a little nervous.  I hope love really does cross language barriers as easily as they say...

LOVE,
Cole