Spring is Springing in India!

Thank You?

Today I went to ANTS graduation..."All Nations Theological Seminary."  I wonder if they thought about the acronym when they named the school?  Hmmm.  It's unforgettable, that's for sure!

Anyway, yesterday I received what I thought was a compliment, although I had slight hesitation in saying "thank you" because I am pretty familiar with Indian culture by now.  But today, it was confirmed that the "compliment" I had received was basically a rebuke!

Picture this: any American girl gets told she looks "thin."  What's her reaction going to be?  Sheer excitement, right?  DUH.  That was my reaction to an Indian's comment to me yesterday.  However, you can only imagine what a "LOL" moment I had when I overheard a conversation today that went something like this:

Boy says to girl, "You're looking very fat these days."

Girl replies in an excited voice, "THANK YOU!"

Haha!  I laughed not only because this would NEVER be a compliment to an American girl (and you'd get the "Jerk of the Year Award" for saying it), but mainly for the fact that I had expressed gratitude for a "compliment" yesterday that wasn't really a compliment.  Oh man!  Were there any Americans around to share my cultural story?  Of course not.  So I just had to hold in my laughs and chuckle at the irony.

Oh, and if you're labeled "healthy," it doesn't mean you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.  It means you eat a lot of rice...aka too much.  So I guess I'm not eating enough rice :)  I love learning and using the cultural terminology of "Indian English."

ps - another cultural twist is that Indians want to be "fair," (they have BOATLOADS of fair creams, even for men) while Americans want to be dark.  Today in the service, a pastor was talking about pride and said, "For example, if you think, 'I'm more fair than that person..."  Haha!  I also smiled at this, thinking that my sister would have a lot of pride issues here in India :) 

Megan Susan Stephens...Calling Us By Name

This morning I'm thankful that our God is not only a living God but is personal and that he knows us, he knows me, by name.  He doesn't just deal with us on a universally human level but on an intimately personal level.  Isn't that amazing?  No other god does that.  No other god knows you by name....and desires such a relationship with you that he would die for you.  THAT is love.

I've been reading about some old testament prophets, who God called out by name.  Elijah and Isaiah.  Remember the time when Elijah called down fire on the false prophets of Baal?  Well, everybody was pretty mad after that and wanted to kill Elijah.  So what did this mighty prophet of God do?  HE RAN.  Not the most courageous thing to do.  But who could blame him?  After he'd been running for 40 days, God confronted him.  "What are you doing here?!"  haha!  So Elijah explained he was on every "Wanted" list in the country, although I'm pretty sure God didn't need his explanation :)  Sometimes God asks us questions for our own benefit, to show us our sin.  After that, God told him to get ready b/c His presence was going to pass by.  He sent a wind, earthquake, and fire but God wasn't in any of them.  Then he sent a still, small whisper.

what are you doing here, Elijah?

God did not abandon Elijah simply because he ran.  His mercy covered him in love and compassion, one that didn't destroy him but mercifully confronted him.  After Elijah gave him the same explanation, God told him to go back and anoint some kings and finish the job he had started.

And it's not just a one time deal.  I've been dwelling on these verses recently:

"Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death.  But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.  He HAS delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he WILL deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will CONTINUE to deliver us" (2 Corinthians 1:9-10)

God delivers us.

Past

Present

Future 

He is the God who knows you by name.  Do you know Him?  Do you know His continuing deliverance?  Let the truth of these verses and truths wash over your heart.  This is the spring of living water that is inside us who call Jesus our Hope.

Indian "Lunch"

On Saturday two of my friends (and potential Young Life leaders!), Munnu and Anu, came over to make and eat lunch.  However, because they are Indians and arrived an hour late, coupled with the fact that any Indian meal takes at least an hour to prepare...our "lunch" turned into dunch...or linner, whatever you want to call it.  We didn't eat til 4pm!  haha!  However, this is a somewhat typical time for most Indians to eat lunch.  Dinner is usually around 9 or 10pm.

The time, effort, and large amounts of oil paid off!  We had roti (kinda like a baby tortilla), ahloo dahm (potato with lots of chili powder), and green bean/pea mixture.  Sounds a little strange.  But a great Indian meal.  Use that roti to grab a scoop of veggies, and enjoy!

Oh, and we watched some of the World Cup Cricket Final - India vs. Sri Lanka.  INDIA WON for the first time since 1983!!!  I'm finally understanding the game of Cricket so it was fun to watch the cricket tournament last month.  Our city (and the whole of India) went absolutely NUTS after they won at 11pm (a cricket game lasts 8 hours...i know, insane).  Fireworks, drums, screaming, etc.  It cannot be adequately explained how much Indians love cricket.  It's an obsession unlike anything I've ever seen.  Below is a picture Jeff and Trish took while in Sikkim, a few hours from our house.

Pray for me as I show leaders like Munnu and Anu how to meet and build relationships with high school kids (in order to earn the right to be heard to share the greatest Story ever told).  Sometimes it can be pretty intimidating but you just need someone to show you.  I never thought that's what I'd be helping them do.  But many of these potential leaders have asked me to show them how to meet kids where they are and build friendships.  Although it comes naturally to some people, many people need guidance along the way.  Here's some advice I was given when I first became a Young Life leader:

*Give them a compliment - no one can resist a compliment

*Find something they are interested in and ask questions about it to get them talking

(Don't ask yes and no questions.  They can be conversation killers)

*Be consistent and show up often (yes, they might think you're a weirdo, but that's inevitable...at least they'll recognize your face!)

*Once you meet one kid and have talked to them a few times, get them to introduce you to their friends

What advice would you give to leaders who are trying to build friendships with young people?

As of Late...

I just got back from a 10 day trip to Tennessee.  Feelin' a little jet lag but hoping to get back on track this week.  Me and Victoria only have 2 months of school left together.  I think I speak for both of us..."WOOHOO!"  haha!  It's been fun and challenging, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.  I hope she wouldn't either ;)  Anyway, here's some happenings...

The day before I left for Nashville was Jeff and Trish's (missionaries I live with) 20th wedding anniversary.  We had a little shindig for em at Awor's house...with KFC for dinner!  One of about 2 American restaurants in Siliguri

This is my dear Indian friend, Rupa

She married an American, Brian.  I had the privilege of being in her wedding last weekend.

Happy 1st day of Spring in Nashville!

Got to spend a lot of time with this lovely lady...my mama!

And this guy...BROTHA!  No, not my brother...my dad.  Everybody calls him the "brotha."  Notice he's pointing to his Alabama shirt.  What can I say?  He's a diehard fan.  Roll Tide!

Because we don't have strawberries in Siliguri, my mom made my favorite cake when I got home.  Strawberry!  DUH!

Although I had a great time at home, it's good to be back in India (despite my jet lag!).  Already seeing God at work...specifically my Buddhist friend Chokey, who started reading a book about a fictional conversation between Jesus and Buddha by Ravi Zacharias.  Pray that she has the courage to continue to seek the truth and that she'll understand God's deep love for her.

I also saw a potential Young Life leader in our neighborhood who is still very interested and asked when our next prayer meeting was.  Psyched about meeting with people who want to love high school kids like Jesus does.  Continue to pray for wisdom for me in casting this vision to leaders.

The Workers

36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Matthew 9:36-38

Praise God for sending workers to the harvest field of teenagers.  These 16 young adults (plus Pastor Enos in the back left) are interested and passionate about Indian and Nepali high school kids knowing Jesus as LORD.  Pray for them, as they try to meet at least 1 new high school kid in the next couple of weeks and begin to build relationships with them.

Continue to pray for more "workers."  It is difficult to find faithful workers.  Pray for me also, that I would pour into these potential Young Life leaders the vision of YL, which is ultimately the vision of the gospel.

Thank you for being the arms of Christ by your prayers and support.

We Just Had a Baby Owl in our House...

This little guy fell from a building and lost his mommy.  Nelson and some other guys in the neighborhood rescued him.

Trish endearingly called him "Sunshine," til she realized that he should really be called "Owlbert"...her son, Luke, has a stuffed animal owl that he calls Owlbert...who also has a facebook :)

Um, I was a little nervous about those talons to say the least.

How cool is his face!

Trish trying to feed him chicken...yes, he's a cannibal owl now.

He was the softest, jolliest little guy...besides the screeching sound he made before he ate each piece of chicken (see video)

ps - nelson also spotted a cobra in our drain today.  glad i wasn't home!

Video of Owlbert experience: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0lePTCeyS8