A few lines

The first thing to greet me when we entered our new Indian home-land was a thick, steamy wall of humidity outside the airport. I still haven't stopped sweating... literally. constantly. wet. 

Outside our window is a garbage pile from the neighboring slum... it is always full of children and wild pigs and cows... actually every street in this country is full of cows! 

Our first meal was a spicy dish of chow mien that we ate standing up on the street with a bazillion flies swarming us from all directions. It was delicious.

Yesterday we took the Delhi metro that is built up over the city for a beautiful view of rooftop gardens... we traveled for over an hour.. it only cost one dollar for the trip. 

Took a rickshaw ride alongside a mountainous land-fill of endless garbage... it was also full of "untouchables" rummaging through for food and treasures. Longing for garbage pile outreaches. 

Took another rickshaw ride last night and almost crashed several times. There were only centimeters between us and other cars and motorbikes and people and bikes and boys in rollerblades and beggars... and everyone moving at high speeds. Scary traffic. You risk your life just crossing the street here.

Peace immediately floods my soul when I enter into God's presence. It's a peace that doesn't make sense in my surroundings. A peace that says God's going to take care of everything... there is no other option. 

Psalm 138:3 - On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul.

Psalm 139:5 - You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.

Scenes of the land my heart loves...

Tomorrow y'all!

Tomorrow!! My stomach's fluttering, my bags are bulging, my eyelids are heavy... but tomorrow's coming and with it, a two day trip to our new home of Asia! So excited to get back to the place my heart longs for. I think it's so fun not knowing what's going to happen... where you'll sleep, how you'll get around... because God gives HIS direction when you MOVE! Many people don't do anything at all because they don't want to face the mystery of not knowing... and then life passes you by and you're sitting in the exact same place, doing the exact same things, and you probably haven't learned so much. I want to live a life that's bigger than me. I want my life to be lived for the sake of others. I want to be experienced in many cultures of the world and be able to adapt to new ways of thinking all the time! I want adventure and challenge. I want to give myself as many chances as possible to fall in love with people and create a family all over the world! I want to chase God's heart wherever it leads me!

Things I'm looking forward to:
Seeing elephants and camels outside my window
Tiny cups of masala chai
Glittering saris
Eating meals on the floor
Crazy (and I mean crazy) traffic

Lemonade!

2 blocks before we even reached their lemonade stand when could here "Asia!" coming from these little heroes are they shouted at passing cars to pull over and sip some of their icy lemonade in return for a donation to missions in Asia! What an inspiration they are!! 

Thanks girls for challenging us, encouraging us and praying for the unreached! You are world changers!!

 

One week to go...

Our bags are packed and we are moving to Asia in 7 days! Stay tuned for the adventure!!!

Photo Friday

 I always thought it was amazing that companies like CocaCola can make their way into the most remote areas! The church needs to step it up!!!! As one! Take the world!!!

My hero! Best friend! Ready to jump on a plane with you again!

Flexible

Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal. John 6:27

Well... I thought I'd be waking up in Asia today... but we're still waiting for paperwork to go through. The bags are packed and waiting. Adventure is really spelled f.l.e.x.i.b.l.e... 

Last year at this time I had just received my visa to Sweden which took 4 months(waiting in Hawaii) to obtain! Thankfully, this one shouldn't take so long :) Enjoying the season because God still has us here for a reason :)

Beautified with salvation

I'm thinking about Matthew 5 today. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great' for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Heidi Baker writes so incredibly about the "beatitudes" in her book Compelled by Love. Get it if you're looking for a good summer read!

We have so much to learn from the poor, the hurting, the low ones of the world. I love to be with them.

Psalms says that God will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.

I took all of these photos in Africa...

Reach your world.

I love this little girl...

Isabella Mae Redmond... I love you! Having some much needed auntie and uncle time :) We've lost count of all the kisses!

  

 

Picture of the day

Jugol, Ethiopia

Adventure

Two weeks. Just two weeks before my surroundings will change again. My heart is fluttering madly in my chest. My beat-up suitcase will be stuffed with everything I own... just a stack clothes and books... and I'll make my way to the place I've fallen in love with. South Asia. My husband and I don't know what lies ahead. We have no home, no vehicle, no idea about the future except this one thing... we are madly in love with the Creator of the world who sent His Son Jesus to die for human-kind. His love is so rich and so deep, powerful and vast yet all at the same time, intimate and personal. The encounter we have had with this God real and wonderful and all we can do is share that with those who have never heard. It's a wild, radical adventure!

Standing in Africa by my suitcase in the middle of the night... life of adventure!

Christianity is not nice and neat; it's not clean and tidy. Christianity should be about snot and tears, laugh lines, sweat and bruises. What do you picture with the word adventure anyway? Does it sound like pews, vests and bowties on a Sunday morning with the New Testament under your right arm? No thanks.

Adventure is an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous experience or activity. It is the exploration of unknown territory. Adventure is dirty. It requires the use of all your senses, emotions, mind, soul and heart. Snot and tears quickly become familiar territory to adventurists, not as signs of weakness but rather the manifestation of God’s heart and the evidence of our intercession. Snot and tears speak of strong spiritual biceps and a craving to indulge in action! Snot and tears, sweat and bruises are simple evidences of a region and a people group being changed. Even Jesus Himself, when He walked the earth 2000 years ago, bore these signs on his body. He was a man of adventure… walking on water, healing blind eyes, raising the dead, praying so hard that blood came from His pores, transforming entire regions and crowds. We are made in His likeness. We are designed for adventure.

“To make your life small when it could be great is sin.” - Mari Cartledge

“A small life is a self-centered life.” -David Thomas

Missing home

Today I'm missing our (2nd) home in Africa. Deeply! It was small and super simple, but wonderful!! We were on the fourth floor, our table faced the Somali mountains to the East, and I hung my wet clothes on the roof to dry. The views were spectacular. The stars at night were out of this world! During our first week there, everything that could break, broke! The kitchen sink, the bathroom sink, the shower head, the toilet, the electrical outlets... but man, I loved that little place! 

Watching the sun rise over my cup of coffee!

The dining room :)

My kitchen!

 The view!!

 Some favorite girls hanging out in my bedroom/office/livingroom!

Sarah's room right next door :) Miss her!

I think this girl is just anxious to get a home and unpack these suitcases we live out of! We are moving to Asia in a matter of days now and I can not wait to make some little place our real home! It will be lovely just to buy the heaviest item I can find simply because I won't have to stress about going over my luggage weight!

I will be in my beloved Ethiopia soon as well... so my heart is full :) My heart beats for nations. Ready to plunge into the next season!!!

Fireworks

We had the greatest firework show at my church last night! What a fun American 4th of July(a little early) tradition!!! Wish we could do that every night of the summer! Ran into some of my old Bibleschool friends too... love them all so much! 

Fuzzy photo but I still wanted to post it :)

Darren, Jimmy, Tehesha and Jimbo!