Hopsitality Central

So seriously. I live in the land that could teach Martha Stewart a thing or two about entertaining guests. South Asians treat their guests like kings and queens, and it totally doesn't matter if you have a prior invitation; just stop by! I love it! Last week Danae and I went to a SA family's house on an island right off the coast of our city. As soon as we arrived, we could tell that the family was so excited we were there! They immediately turned the fans on in the room when we arrived, and the two older women went straight to the kitchen to make something for us. The older daughter started doing henna on my arms, and the two older women brought out a special mango drink. Unfortunately, it came with only a spoon and since I had wet henna on my hands, I couldn't pick up the spoon to eat it. But my hostesses couldn't possibly have me not be able to enjoy my drink! The sweet Auntie came over to me and started spoon feeding me the smoothie. I felt so humbled and so loved that even though I was trying hard not to gag getting the drink down, I didn't want her to stop. After the last spoonful (I was praising the Lord that I had not thrown it up! South Asians don't drink cold drinks so think hot mango smoothie consistency with cashews in it! It just kinda made me gag), the Auntie then walked into the kitchen and came back with her hand wet to wipe my face. Y'all, she literally wiped my face using her hand as a napkin. As weird as that sounds, it kind of reminded me of the humility Jesus showed when he washed the disciple's feet. I just can't describe how absolutely loved I felt at that moment. I just wish someone could have videotaped the whole thing cause I am sure it was a sight to behold!

But anyway, since that day, we have gotten to go back to the family's house uninvited (the Lord totally allowed us to stumble upon them). But the lack of a prior invitation didn't stop them from inviting us in and feeding us rice, fish, and giving us some amazing chai (it was the best I have ever had). And when we were ready to go, the mother even asked us to spend the night!

Danae and I have also been invited inside people's homes after meeting them on the street. Seriously, the other day I started playing with some children on the street and sure enough a few minutes later, we were being given chai, a girl was offering to put henna on my hand, and they even invited us back to lunch next week! What I am about to say next is no bash against the US, because really, I am beginning to realize what a great country the US is to live in. There is a reason foreigners are flocking to live there. But sometimes it makes me sad that people in the US are so closed off to others. No way in the world would I be invited to dinner after having met somebody off the streets. But here, that is normal. Danae and I discussed the other night about how if we could combine the efficiency of the US with the (for lack of a better word) relational-ness of South Asia we would have the perfect country. But the more we discussed and thought about it, the two just cant go together. The reason why this country is able to be so relational is because they put way more emphasis on people than on getting things done. And although it can sometimes be frustrating, the Lord is using it to teach me a lot of patience. And you know what? I simply feel loved and taken care of here. I love my new home :)

The Thieves of K-Town

So Danae and I have definitely made an impression on this place. Not only are we some of the only white people that live in this city which brings about many stares and comments, but we are now the town thieves. Don't freak out yet. This story is quite funny. Or at least to me anyway :) So there is this awesome little grocery store a short auto ride away from our apartment. It is called Ashish Super Market. It has most things that we need, and it has a pretty good produce stand outside. Danae and I were in desperate need of groceries so off we went to Ashish. We shopped for a while buying things like flour, olive oil (the price was so steep I almost died. Imported things are NOT the way to go if you can help it), my favorite Indian chocolate cereal, boxed milk, etc. Before we knew it, our tiny buggy was filled to the brim and we hadn't even gotten produce yet. We checked out because you purchase groceries and produce separately at this store, and headed outside to get some fruits and veggies. The only problem is that by this time, we were loaded down with a couple of heavy, heavy bags with no hands to spare. So I left the bags beside Danae and started picking out fruit that I wanted. I paid for the produce and Danae and I grabbed our bags and headed outside to get an auto, sweating the whole way. We hailed an auto and piled in, thankful for the break for our arm muscles. When we finally got back to the apartment and were putting the food away, Danae pulled out a mysterious bag of salt and said, "Did we buy salt?!" I said no and then we continued searching the bag. Beside the salt we also found dosa mix, a ton of okra, some weird looking purple veggies, and carrots. We both started laughing hysterically, feeling really sorry for the person whose groceries we took on accident. We contemplated keeping the food because we didn't know if it would be worth it to go back and we had no idea how we would explain because of the language barrier, but my very wise roomie said that the best thing to do would be to take the groceries back the next day. And good thing we did.....

So we couldn't take the dosa mix with us the next day because we were stopping by the market after a lunch date with some friends, and the dosa mix said it had to be refrigerated. We had a lovely veg lunch which consisted of curries and rice served on a banana leaf. Danae and I grabbed our bags and ventured toward the market. When we arrived, we grabbed the nearest veggie lady and attempted to explain what had happened, showing her the bags of groceries. We just kept saying "I'm sorry. Accident!" over and over, hoping that they would catch that we did not steal on purpose. The lady continued to rattle things off in Malayalam, and finally left us to go grab the boss man that worked at the produce counter. He came up to us and rattled some more off in Malayalam, and I picked up that he was asking about where the dosa mix was. I tried very hard to explain to him why we didn't bring it, and when it was clear that he wasn't getting it gestured to my wallet to show him that we would just pay for the dosa mix. He finally went and grabbed a bag from the store and then I paid him for it. Danae and I both smiled at him, and walked out. As soon as we left, we just laughed and prayed that the incident wouldn't harm any relationships between them and us.

So incidentally, we needed groceries again. And since we really like this grocery store, we went back. Right before we left, we stopped at the produce counter to grab some fruits and veggies. As soon as the ladies at the counter saw us they smiled and started laughing at us. Then the big boss man saw us and started laughing too. It was a tad humiliating. I just knew they were thinking, "Oh, what dumb American girls." Danae paid for our food, and before heading out, I purposefully checked our bags to make sure that they were indeed ours. The ladies saw me do this and laughed at me again. I just smiled back and said, "Namaskaram!" When we got into the auto, Danae said, "this place definitely strips you of any pride." And it does. There is no place like it! :) 

This post is about one very special lady. She is a best friend, a confidant, an encourager, and a wonderful model of a P-31 woman. And she will probably kill me for posting this, but hey, I have done way worse to upset her :) I wish I was a better writer so that I could do her justice; but alas, my writing skills are in the "need to work on" area of my life that tends to grow cobwebs.

You see, Whitney and I have been friends for over ten years now which completely blows my mind! I have almost been friends with her for half my life! During middle school, she put up with my ridiculous immaturity always encouraging me to be mature in Christ. In high school, she taught me what it meant to be obedient to Christ and His Lordship in my life. In college, she taught me what it meant to woman who was kind and compassionate like Jesus. And now she is an awesome example of a woman who is devoted to the Father, her husband, and her soon to be child (I can't wait to meet my little mini wee or likey mikey!)

The biggest example of Christ that she has been to me was when she told me to go. I really don't think she understands what that meant and still means to me. She was enough like Christ to put His desires for my life above her own. I know that it hurts her for me to be gone for two years, but I also know that ultimately, she wants Christ to reign in my life. And that encourages me deeply.

Whitney, I love you so stinkin much. It is just about going to kill me to be gone for two years, especially during this amazing time in your life. But thank you for speaking the truth to me and considering me better than yourself. You are on amazing woman, and I love you :)

This will probably be short. But I really want to just take a minute and praise the Father. I mean seriously, He is so good! Over the past few weeks, I have been reminded (pretty constantly) of my shortcomings and mostly just my sin. I am thankful that the Father has been faithful to convict me of those areas of sin that so easily entangle. But tonight, I read Psalm 51 where David is basically pouring out his heart and soul to the Lord. He says things like, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love!" and "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Throughout this whole passage, David is showing what true repentance looks like. It was such a good example of how sorry we as believers should feel over sin. So as I am reading this, I am thinking about all the sin in my own life and how undeserving I am of God's grace. Multiple times I was thinking, "Lord, why on earth do you put up with me?!" And He gave me this verse: Psalm 30:5 "His anger is but for a moment; His favor is for a lifetime." PRAISE THE LORD. Through Jesus, I have full atonement and forgiveness and FAVOR. God looks at me like His own child. He likes me! We have such a good daddy.

Off the Chain.

This is seriously the coolest poem. This topic has really been on my heart lately, and the Father has been so good to encourage me over and over with His goodness. Enjoy this poem! I hope it blesses you like it blessed me. :)

Video

Being the Bojo Nanny: Week 1

So this week was far from uneventful. Unfortunately, we have been having to deal with Claire having stomach issues. My poor sister has had to deal with more poop and throw up (sorry to be graphic) in the last two weeks than I ever hope to deal with in a lifetime. But seriously, it has been really scary. The poor kid has had this stomach bug for over two weeks, and we are really hoping it will be resolved soon. She has already lost weight, and if she loses anymore, she will have to be hospitalized.

On to a more hilarious note, there was a moment when I thought Tucker was going to die. And I would be the one responsible......But don't worry folks, this story has a happy ending. Jenny homeschools MK, and because Tucker is "The Destroyer," it is very difficult for Jenny to school while Tuck pulls books off the shelves, knocks over toys, shreds paper etc. So I volunteered to take Tucker on a walk with me during school times to get him out of the house. It works out well because Tuck loves it, I get a seriously kick-butt work-out, and Jenny gets to school MK free of Tucker mishaps. Win-win.

Well, me and Tuck suite up for our walk and go outside into the garage. Normally, I push him in the jogging stroller, but today I thought, "I am gonna be super aunt and push him in his car." This "car" that I am talking about is a small plastic convertible big enough for a toddler that has a tall handle that sticks up out of the back of it, making it easy for an adult to push. So I place Tucker in his beloved car, buckle him (Praise the LORD!), and we set off on our walk.

Now, it is important to note that Jenny and Brian live in the hilliest neighborhood. These hills are ginormously HUGE. I hoofed it through our walk and was feeling ready to die from exhaustion. We started to head down the GIANT hill on the way back to the house when the worst happened. The handle that connected my hand to Tucker's car completely popped off. It took me a second to register what I held in my hand, but once I did, I lunged after the now- rolling- too- fast- down- the- hill car and missed by a inch. I gazed in horror as Tucker's car gained speed down the hill. I ran after him, but knew there was no way I was going to reach him in time. I screamed out to the only one I knew could help me. "Lord, help!" I screamed. As soon as I yelled out, Tucker's car flew up into a driveway, hit some bushes, then flipped over the curb. Poor thing didn't know what hit him. You should have seen the look on his face. He looked at me with tears running down his cheeks like, "what the heck just happened to me?!" Fortunately, he was totally fine and just a minute after me picking him up and comforting him, said his favorite word, "car?" "Yes, buddy, you just went on the ride of a lifetime in your car." Good things kids his age forget things really fast :)

So lately I have been studying Leviticus. When I first started the study, I was pretty un-excited about it. Everything I had previously read in Leviticus was either boring or to be honest, rather vulgar. However, the Lord has been teaching me a lot about the Old Testament and its use in my life. Growing up, I was more or less taught that Old Testament stories were used to teach me morals: I should obey God because Adam and Eve didn't, the Ten Commandments were a good standard to live by, I should have the same faith that Daniel had in the Lion's Den. However, and praise the Father for this, I have begun to really understand and grasp the beauty of the Old Testament being woven together for one purpose: to point to the promised one, Jesus Christ. Now when I read the story of Adam and Eve, I am reminded of the fall and what that means for me and the rest of mankind (Eph. 2:1-3). But then it also reminds me of the redemptive plan that God set into action before time began through Christ (Eph. 2:4-7). And when I look at the Ten Commandments, instead of seeing them as guidelines on which to base my life, I see them as a mirror (thank you Sky Pratt) to show me my depraved state. The law has no power to save; only the power to expose. And when a person comes face to face with his/her deadness, that is when the gospel ("good news" because it really is!) shines through. God is so good.

But anyway, back to Leviticus. What is so cool about Leviticus is that it points to Christ. As I am reading about all the different offerings, I am reminded that Christ fulfilled the law and was THE ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. And what is neat is that the sacrifices in Leviticus were a pleasant aroma to God when they were offered with a humble heart. Leviticus 1:9 says, "and the priest shall burn all of it on the alter as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord." Now on to the New Testament. Ephesians 5:2 says, "and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Like I said, Christ was the ultimate sacrifice to God on our behalf, and just as the sacrifices in the OT were a pleasing aroma to the Father, so the Son's substitutionary death on the cross was the most pleasant aroma to Him. So neat!

And now, because of all of that, we, as believers, are to live a life of love; a life of love to God as well as to others. Our lives, just as Christ's was, are to be a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Romans 12:1 says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship." We were created in Christ Jesus to live holy lives full of good works (Eph. 2:10). And when we live those lives of good works (works that are done out of love for the Lord and for His glory), we produce a pleasant aroma to the Father.

So humbling that He loves us and uses us!

Madelyn