Green things, pressure cookers, and mold.

I love waking up in the morning to the sounds of the neighbor's pressure cookers.

I enjoy the fact that one of my friends here makes the absolute best channa daal parathas I have ever tasted in my entire life.

My goal for the next few months is to learn how to cook using our pressure cooker. I will no longer be intimidated by those little monsters of pressure. They can be very scary to someone who is almost positive they have a slight anxiety disorder. But I will learn how to cook with them, I will not be afraid anymore.

I don't go outside very often these days because it's wet, cloudy, and grey. However, all the plants are SO GREEN I CANNOT EVEN STAND IT IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.

Here we have the downfall of living in an area with really, just a lot of rain during the monsoon. Mold. It gets EVERYWHERE. In your closet; on your clothes; on your poor camel leather sandals you bought just before the wedding; on your suitcases; it's enough to drive anyone crazy with the look, the feel, and the smell. Thank God I'm not allergic to any molds (that I know of...)

Last, but certainly not least, I have included the greatest picture of my husband ever taken by human hands. 

I love this guy so much it's ridiculous.

Singin' in the Rain, Just Singin' in the Rain

The Monsoon is rearing its ugly head. The rains have started and the entryway of my house will now be permanently muddy until September. Thankfully we have tile floors throughout our entire house which is easy to clean, but almost not worth cleaning because they get dirty so easily in such a dusty or muddy country.

Thanks to my new Fiancée I got a brand new, super awesome, strong and mighty umbrella! I had been using one that was missing pieces and I always had to fix it correctly, re-attaching wires and things before walking out into the rain. This new one I just push a button and it opens automatically and is huge and even has a curved handle so also doubles as a walking cane. Score!

The dog that my house-owners have is either the laziest dog ever in the world, is incredibly depressed, or is dying. I cannot decide which one. She's usually walking around exploring things and is always eager to greet you at the gate when you come home, but for the past 2 weeks she has been laying on the same step outside my door just sleeping. I have not seen her move from that spot really for two weeks! I don't know if some traumatic thing happened to her and now she's super depressed, that's what I like to do when I get emotional and depressed, but I can't. I heard once that when Lady GaGa gets depressed and doesn't feel like doing anything she gets up, looks at herself in the mirror and says, "You're Lady GaGa! You have to get up and moving!" I wish I had some cool nickname that I could call myself without seeming like a narcissist or crazy mo-fo.

If you did not know, the house I rent is somewhat of a duplex. I live on the ground floor, and my landlord lives above me on the 2nd level. It's quite a wonderful little house, I wish you all could come over and see it. I should really post pictures of it at least one of these days, now that it has almost been one year since I moved in.

This week I am teaching Daniel, and though it's full of difficult passages to interpret, the main message is God's kingdom is coming and will last forever and no other king or kingdom can compete. Reading and studying all these wonderful stories of God giving meaningful, creative dreams to kings and prophets, God causing flesh not to burn in the fire, God closing the mouths of lions, God humbling kings, and God showing Daniel exactly what will happen for the 400 years until Jesus comes, reading all these things just reminds me how truly awesome He is. I go about my days knowing He is awesome, knowing he's powerful, knowing he knows all things, but I don't truly grasp how awesome he really is. I think if I really understood how powerful, awesome, and loving he is I would explode. My mind couldn't handle it and my body wouldn't know how to react. Maybe I'd be like Ezekiel who was silent for 7 days after a vision of the glory of God, or Moses whose face would shine so brightly they'd have to cover it. It's so easy to contain and conceal God just for my personal life, but I think if I had a real interaction with him I wouldn't be able to contain my joy, ecstasy, and awe. I get so concerned with offending people, I don't want to be seen as the girl, sister, aunt, who always puts up those "Jesus" Facebook statuses, gross. But in all actuality, I should be completely unconcerned of people and feelings and reputations surrounding me, and be completely concerned with who God is.

For some reason this week (and it's only Tuesday, mind you) everyone is talking about goals, visions, 2-year or 5-year plans. What's your mission statement? What's your vision? Where do you see yourself in 2 years, 5 years, 10 years? Personally, I can barely see where I am going to be tomorrow, let alone 2 years from now. Is it so wrong to not have a plan or even an idea what I'll be doing then? I mean, I know vague things like I'll be married then and most likely be living in India. As for my future and vision and calling, I have no idea still what those are in my life and quite frankly am getting sick of those words, but this is YWAM, that's all you ever talk about. This time last year I was so proud of myself because I had the next two years all figured out for once in my life, but now just one year later I'm back in that confused, what should I do next?, sort of phase. The more I think about it, the more I realize that I always seem to be in this phase. I don't think I will ever have my life figured out. Do you ever feel that way? All I know is I must stay true to my identity, do what I love, and be with the people I love. Wherever that leads me I will be happy. I won't be living an easy life I know, but I know I will be happy.

Romel, the Fiancée, and I are attempting to figure out how he can get a visa to the US to come in August. Please, please, please keep this situation in your prayers and thoughts. If you get any words, a vision, a picture, a verse, anything at all as you pray please let me know. Any encouragement or confirmation is welcomed. I'm worried, being a worrier that would naturally occur, but this time it's a bigger thing. I have faith that whatever God wants is going to happen, and I feel like he will get a visa, but I also know from friends and stories that what we are trying to do is virtually impossible seen through earthly eyes, but after studying Daniel it's safe to say that God is fully capable of doing this, it's easy for him, the real question is does he want Romel to go to the US in August?

I will leave you with this quote from C.S. Lewis, after studying Daniel and also reading a book full of stories of martyrs, I am left thinking what I would do in a life or death situation if I am forced to deny my faith. I think, "I'd definitely be shot, beheaded, burned at the stake for God, but I don't know if I would want to be slowly tortured and killed in a long-lasting painful way." People have been steam-rolled because of their faith! I don't know if I could do that, but why wouldn't I? I won't actually know until and unless I am in that situation I suppose. C.S. Lewis said it best, "You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood become a matter of life and death to you."

For You are good, for You are good, for You are good to me.

The School of Biblical Studies in Lonavala has begun! One-and-a-half weeks ago the 2010-2011 SBS has started and both staff and students are very excited! For the first three weeks we have the "Seminar" which is the time we teach them the study method and how to observe, interpret, and apply the book we are currently studying. It is three weeks of class from 10:30 AM until 6:30 PM with a few breaks here and there and a major break for lunch. Basically it is the most overwhelming three weeks of anyone's life! They learn tons of new things every single day and feel like they will never be able to remember them over the next nine months. O what will they do? How will they ever complete this SBS with passing grades?? Well, I am here, an alumni, a survivor, to say that if I can do it literally anyone can do it. Look at me now! I am even staffing this school! How crazy am I? SBS really is not as hard as people make it out to be. It just takes up so much of your time, that is all. If you are good at managing your time then you would be super at an SBS!

We have 15 students and 8 staff for this school year. There are a few students who are planning to only do the first quarter, or first three months of the school, but typically once they complete the first quarter they end up finishing all 9 months because why stop without finishing the New Testament? Then, why stop without knowing the Old Testament which is the foundation for the New! And so, that's typically how it works.

Monsoon is officially over! It is sunny all day every day, and now my things are finally beginning to dry out and I pray the smell of mold gets out of my bedroom soon. I wish I could just rip off the roof of my house and let my bedroom bask in the sunlight all day so that it dries.

Recently I have started working out every day. Running every other morning, and then "weight training" every other day in between. But as I do this I know I need to eat more veggies and protein, but it is so hard in India to get protein in your system. I really think I have an iron deficiency when I come here because I eat no red meat and am not sure how to get iron any other way. Spinach maybe? No thanks. Anyway, at least it is not impossible to get iron tablets here.

The theme for our school this year is, "Experiencing God." We are encouraging staff and students to experience God every single day, and to write down or somehow record their experiences. How did you experience God today? Because, as we study the Bible we realize we are studying other people's experiences with God, not necessarily God Himself, but other's experiences. From those experiences we can know who God is. Therefore, we are desperate to have our own experiences with God so that we can know Him even more and be inspired to go out and do the things He calls us to.

I have been experiencing God's goodness lately. His goodness in bringing me here and providing all my needs. His goodness in calming my nerves and removing my fear of teaching and replacing it with confidence. Even through a bad teaching outreach experience He was good and has strengthened my confidence through it. I have seen His goodness in my family as my brother and sister-in-law just had a beautiful, healthy baby boy a few days ago! His goodness is seen every time I walk to my house here in Lonavala because just living off campus is good in and of itself! He has provided a new and wonderful roommate who is consistent and so encouraging. He has answered a huge prayer in my life and I am so excited for what the future holds in this area. God is truly good. In the midst of all this I feel as if I have never been attacked spiritually as much as I am right now, but I don't even focus or think about that because God is good in the midst of this. I often wake up singing praise songs, it is crazy the things God is doing here in India.

I am truly blessed to be living this life right now. To be in India, a country that is so hungry for a real God. A country that desperately needs justice and peace. To be here teaching that there is a God who brings justice and peace. A God that is real and alive and active. I am blessed to be a part of God's heart for India, and am excited because I think that He is beginning to show me that India will always be a part of my life. I am blessed to have so many people here and at home who are partners with me in bringing God's kingdom to this earth. Partnering with me in prayer, finances, and love. I could not ask for anything more than obeying God and bringing others along with me!

I hope that the days begin to get cooler. It is now becoming quite hot as the monsoon is over and the sun is out and shining brightly. It will get cooler next month, but for now I think it will remain hot for a few weeks. I would say it is around 90 degrees every single day now, but the funny thing is that the first time I came to India was at this same time of year and I thought I would never stop sweating. I slept with no covers at night and I took only cold showers. Now I have become used to this weather somewhat. I still am pretty sweaty (I know you are enjoying hearing about how much I sweat), but I take hot showers because cold is too cold for me, and I also sleep in a sleeping bag at night! A sleeping bag! That is a super contrast to when I first came to this country.

This week we are studying Philippians and next week we begin Ephesians. Pray for the students as they are feeling overwhelmed learning all these new things suddenly! I will be teaching the book of James on November 5th! Pray for inspiration to make creative assignments and to use creative teaching methods as all the staff are teaching. We want to see more creativity in this school.

Rain down, all around the world we're singin'

Monsoon. What a wet, messy life. Some days it hardly rains, some days it rains most all day, but there is never a day without rain. One must always carry an umbrella with them where ever they go, no matter the inconvenience. Right now I did not carry my umbrella with me and I am stuck because it is raining and I straightened my hair today for some stupid reason and now I do not wish to go out in the rain which I will have to if it does not let up in the next 15 minutes.

It is good to be back. Back in India, back in Lonavala, back on base. Seeing familiar faces and catching up, and at the same time meeting new people and getting to know them. The house I live in is wonderful. I love living off campus in spite of the money issues that very suddenly came up when I got here. I'm not worried. God will provide if that is where he wants me to stay. There is always the option of moving back on base.

Yesterday I experienced my first time buying chicken at the market. How incredible! You tell the guy which chicken you want, he picks it out of its cage, weighs it, then slits its throat and drops it in a barrel where you can hear it moving around, flapping and squawking. Then he pulls it out of the barrel and this bloody chicken then gets its feathers taken off amongst other things and he puts your meat in a plastic bag and then in another plastic bag. All without wearing gloves, all out in the open, all in the same place he has executed chickens for the last who knows how many years. My roommate, Chitti, who is from Hyderabad and very much Indian asked me how we buy our chicken in the US. I told her we just go to the store, and it's already cut up and packaged in nice little trays, wrapped in plastic. We do not ever have to see the live chicken. What a difference! I look forward to buying chicken in the future. Being here has always reminded me of Biblical times. It must have been a very similar culture when Jesus was around, except there would be a whole lot more Jews.

Titus Project starts on Monday. Three weeks of lectures, the seminar, teaching the students (me) how to teach what I learned during SBS and how to prepare and give lectures. Then I will go for 5 weeks to Delhi in North India and teach at IHOP (International House of Prayer) there, at least that is what I have heard. I am looking forward to being in classes again and learning. I am more nervous about this outreach than I am for two years as an SBS staff.

In a few minutes all the staff on base are going to our Base leader's home for dinner and so I must bid you farewell for now. Know that I have reached safe and sound and although I am having some trouble adjusting it is getting better slowly but surely.

A hard rain's a-gonna fall

Monsoon has begun. Not the horrible all day for weeks rain, but it has begun to rain every single day at least for a little while each day. It's nice because our clothes still dry quickly, and the temperature has cooled down a lot. Praise God for that! I was getting ready to die of heat stroke.

It is the final week of SBS. There are exactly 3 days left until I graduate! Time has flown by faster than I ever thought possible. It is quite humorous and of course completely a good idea to end this SBS with three wisdom books. Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Proverbs. Yes we've learned a lot and studied historical backgrounds galore, but that is all knowledge. This is wisdom. Practical things to do in order to apply that knowledge we have gained. When we finish this school we must go back into the world making wise choices. We must set an example like Paul did for Timothy and so many other young disciples of Paul. Like the Israelites did for all the surrounding nations, but also not like the Israelites did when they constantly worshiped other gods and idols instead of the one true God. When I leave here and come home, I want to be an example. I want to be passionate about what I've learned and pass it on to people at home.

There also seems to be a running theme this final week of SBS which is marriage and life partner. This is a huge thing in India. Everyone looks forward to getting married and a common question to be asked is when you want to get married. People really say "in two years I will get married" or "in one year I'll get married" however, they at that time, do not have a significant other. It's so crazy how heavily ingrained marriage is in these people's minds. It mostly has to do with the fact that most marriages are arranged here in India. Even Christian ones. It's rare to hear of a "love" marriage, and when I do hear of one I get very excited. However, it's a bit overwhelming most of the time when people keep talking about marriage, love, etc. That is not what life is all about.

On Friday for graduation I am going to wear a tribal skirt from Nagaland instead of a Sari. I would have loved to wear a Sari, but since i already wore one for Christmas, I thought I'd choose a different type of custom dress from the Northeast part of India. It is a beautiful skirt with green and pink stripes on the top and bottom. The skirt itself is black in color, and the tribe it comes from is called Angami. I'll be sure to put up pictures in a few days!

I will soon be home and am anxious, nervous, sad, excited, and ready to come home for a season. Pray that the transition won't take too long and that I can catch up on my sleep quickly. Also, pray that I find a full-time job very soon after getting to Minnesota. Pray for wisdom and discernment for some big decisions in my life soon, but also pray that they don't overwhelm me or seem so huge. God is bigger than these decisions.

Love you all! See some of you soon!