Back in India

Well, it's official...I get an "F" in the subject of blogging because I haven't written a post in almost 2 months!

A lot has happened over the past couple months...including the outdoor youth concert we had been planning since October, finishing up Victoria's school semester, vacationing in Hyderabad with my sweet Indian friends, and visiting my family/friends in Nashville for 2 weeks as well as getting my business visa. My time away from Siliguri was refreshing, renewing, and much needed. The Wards and I flew back from Chicago last Friday and arrived in Siliguri on Sunday afternoon. It was great to see so many sweet people in Tennessee, but it was definitely good to come back to my second home in India (although jet lag is hitting me pretty hard this time!). Here's some bulletpoint tidbits:

*there were over 2000 people who came to the outdoor youth concert and heard the gospel through song, rap, dance, skits, and a message. pray for God to water those planted seeds as Christians in Siliguri continue to build relationships and share Jesus with those seeking life. there is actually another Christian concert right down the street that will happen January 29th, 30th, and 31st. please pray for this event as well.

*i spent 16 days in Hyderabad with one of my favorite groups of Indians...i stayed at the church with the pastor's family and spent Christmas, New Years, and many days in between with these friends. words cannot express how much they mean to me. God has truly used them in my life to lead me closer to Him. they challenge me to be a person of prayer and one who gives generously. i am grateful to God for putting them in my life.

*it was really fun to be at home, spending time with the familia. it was snowing when i got to Nashville, and mom, dad, and Becca all cried when they saw me. what a sweet time to all be together for a couple of weeks. pray for my sister, who's been going through some health issues...not fun for a senior in high school in her last semester.

*i got to go to my Community Group while I was in Nashville. it was SO sweet. to hear and share truth with my sweet brothers and sisters was much needed. oh, and below are john martin and william moseley, 2 of my favorite wee ones from Grace Community Church. i got to meet their new baby brother too! Congratulations Jamie and Suzanne!

*i met 3 of my Young Life girls for coffee. it was sweet to share life with them again in person.

*went to one of my best friend's (Christa) wedding and was reunited with my college roommates, known as Gangsta's Paradise

*got to hang out with my mom and go to lots of doctors' visits. below is a picture of her with the mask she has to wear for radiation treatment for the next 14 days. yes, she looks like a fencer. ha! thank you for all who have been/are praying for her...she is strengthened by them for sure.

I am looking forward to this spring...getting back into the routine of teaching (and learning! i feel like a student just as much as victoria but love trying to engage her in critical thinking and soaking up the material), going on a medical mission trip to Manipur (state in Northeast India), and continuing to build relationships with Indians. And I want to update more frequently as well!

Check out my facebook pics of the past month...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2087570&id=34102968&l=a04c15fc6f
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2088463&id=34102968&l=2b7a36aa9e

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2089587&id=34102968&l=a3f938af9e

WARNING: this post explodes with JOLLINESS!

Yesterday a package arrived in the mail...to my surprise, the Christmas package my mom sent a few weeks ago! The box was full of about 25 small, wrapped presents for me, Trish, Jeff, and Victoria. Because I'll be in Hyderabad for Christmas, we decided to open one present a day (22 days of Christmas!). So the first day I pulled out some colored paper! ha! Silly, right? Wrong! It was exactly what we needed for our paper fire place (a tradition my roommates and I started in college at our apartment "Gangsta's Paradise"). When I told my sister how excited I was about the colored paper, she said, "Wow Meg, you're such a missionary." haha! I guess you learn to be more appreciative even for the small things.

They have at least 10 Texas ornaments...oh TX, you're too big for your own good

Trish decorating the tree!

Yes, this was the jolliest surprise! Thanks Fam!

Yes, I was so excited about this colored paper. duh.

Our tree and paper fireplace...every time I turn the corner and see these displays of joy, I just chuckle to myself, exploding with jolliness

the 2nd day of Christmas, my mommy gave to Victoria...a beaded necklace book

ps - we decided you have to wear this jolly Christmas scarf they included while opening presents

Ok, I kinda cheated on this one b/c it wasn't wrapped and I just couldn't wait to open them. They're my favorite pens...I mean, I need them for teaching, ok. ha.

Picture Update

More pics on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2085075&id=34102968&l=7644287d43

Pictures taken by me and Victoria - maybe for promotion for the youth concert

Indian "School Bus" - they do have big yellow ones, but for smaller children, they have these cage buses. It's actually pretty funny...makes me chuckle.

Our 3-week-old puppies!

Sleepy ones

My new friend Mary (girl next to me) with her friends Minakshri & Ruben...celebrating Mary's birthday. What a sweet new friend! (I met her at a Campus Crusade student leader meeting)

Mary's brother, Dipak, and sister-in-law to the left

Ginger - our language teacher's dog - one of about 5 cute dogs in India. ha!

Ruff Ruff

ps - I ate dog for the first time in my life. Shhh! Don't tell Zippy!

Badminton Tournament!

Here's a video of some of the badminton tournament we had at Havillah School, where I teach Sports & Games. It was so jolly because all of the kids were cheering (we motivated them with chocolate...of course. ha! it always works!) and there were some really fun matches.

Touch of Faith

Sometimes faith is really hard.

When life doesn't look like what we planned, when the present circumstances require stepping into unknown territory in what seems like the dark, when all control is out of your hands....it's hard.

Victoria and I read a part of Scripture every morning before school. This morning I read the story of Jairus' daughter and the bleeding woman (Luke 8) from the Jesus Story Book Bible. I almost started crying because it was exactly what I needed...

"Daughter, your faith has made you well." All she did was touch the hem of Jesus' garment. Jesus stopped because he felt power go out from him. That's odd...so many people were bumping up against him and yet one particular touch made him stop in the midst of the crowd (on their way to Jairus' house). Because Jesus knew this wasn't just any touch or brush against him.

It was a touch of faith.

Oh Jesus, I need your power. I need your healing. Give me faith, and give me the courage to act on that faith. See, this woman didn't just believe in her heart. She took action because she was so sure.

I need and want that kind of action-filled faith. Not just a silent faith but one that trusts so much that I will do what seems ridiculous to the world. God, give me this faith every step of the way.

You can definitely pray for me in this regard about the upcoming youth concert we are putting together on November 19th or 26th. Please pray that God would move you to faith, asking if He wants you to help financially with this seemingly God-size event (it will cost about 350,000 rupees, or $7500). If you want to know more, please email me at moogsmullet@gmail.com.

Also, here's a link to my October Update if you didn't receive it:

http://www.goingforgod.com/webalizer/OctoberUpdate.pdf

"Most Jolly Meal" Award Goes To...

Surprisingly, I don't crave many things from America so far. Maybe turkey and salad occasionally. But that's about it. I really didn't eat a lot of beef in the US anyway, so I don't really crave it here in India (although, also to my surprise at first, we do have it...we get it from the Muslims!).

HOWEVER, tonight I had a cheeseburger for the 1st time in 3 months, and well...it was so JOLLY!!! Not only b/c we had homemade buns, but also because we had star fruit from Nagaland (state in East India). It was like a jolly solar system on my plate and in my mouth! haha!

ps - I know I have been MIA in the last month as far as blogging goes...I apologize. A LOT has been going on...so I will update very soon. I'm also working on posting a link to my monthly update here, too (PDF file). So look for it soon!