India

Ive made it to India where speed limits and signals mean nothing and horns mean everything. FYI a 10 hr taxi ride is not smart for weak stomachs. Slowly adjusting to heat. Loving the pol here, locals and travelers alike. God definitely went ahead and prepared the way as we face open doors and meet pol really easily. A highlite for me wad blessing 2 indien children with Hacky sacs and planning with them. Merry Christmas all!

which hand?

So. In 5.5 hrs my team and I leave for India. Our first bit consists of a van ride, 3 flights, a long layover, most likely crashing in an airport, a 5ish hr train ride, and then who knows. I'm so so so excited to go bring the light that is Christ to these people and just pour out His love on them. I've been eating with my hand nearly all week in preparation, and just cuz it's so fun, and contemplating whether or not it's possible to go 8 weeks without toilet paper (some of you may be shocked to find out the left hand is quite useful for wiping in India. And even more shocked to know I'm so going to try it!) and cutlery. I shall find out shortly.. .more seriously though, my team has been having some sweet prayer times together. Some things we've been praying is that we're really spirit-led and that God gives us enormous hearts for India. I'm stoked to see what God has in store for these next 2 months and can't wait to hear everyone's stories when we get back to base in February. Next update coming at an unknown future time from another country!

But first, another bone: "I finally understood what true love meant…love meant that you care for another person’s happiness more than your own, no matter how painful the choices you face might be."

Content and Contemplative

PRAISE REPORT : Dave's knee still isn't really bothering him, and he's really beginning to think there might be something to this prayer stuff. Please keep him in your prayers and really pray for friends and family to surround him and bless him this holiday season-he's definitely a lonely guy.

So I still fail at regularly updating my blog. Whatevs...MAJOR PRAISE REPORT: so 2 weeks ago there was still heaps (at least to the human mind-to God it's pennies) of moolah needed totally over $21,000 NZD ($15,900 CAD). With God as the Almighty Provider, as of today the needed money is in and everyone is able to go on outreach!

Alot of prayer went into this as well as some fasting. I was really stretched during my fast and am figuring out how to go about a lifestyle of fasting. I learnt that God meets you even if you decide to fast without His leading. I learnt that my body is stronger than I thought. Sleep is always important, but I really realized how important it is while fasting. I learnt getting a good friend whom you respect alot to keep tabs on you is key. I experienced God's grace and love alot. It was cool to just be real with God and just go to Him unsure and taking my weak faith and holding onto it with my everything, and saying, "Lord, help me."

I'm leaving for India in 6 days to spend 8 weeks there travelling and living life for God, reaching out to anyone and everyone we meet. My team's vision? "To submit ourselves fully to God with reckless abandonment, and to show His love in everything we do." I'm excited to really push myself as a leader and have a blast with my team. I'm also really excited as this week God confirmed that I will be making a second trip to India sometime in my life. I'm not sure when or how, but I'm so excited! I'm sure I'll love India. I hope and pray that I head-on embrace everything this experience entails. I have been practicing eating with my hand and after 2 days of it I'm ready to throw out my fork forever! I'm so excited for my first train ride, authentic Indian food, among other things. And how could I forget squattie potties! Yup, this trip is going to be an experience to say the least...

Last but not least a meaty bone to chew on..."The way to be hypocritical is to only do what you feel like doing! The believer does things because they’re right. In the world you do things because you feel like it. In the kingdom you do things because they’re right and then the feeling follows.” - Bill Johnston