Week in Pictures! (click on the link below)

Wedding/Naga Church

Prayer

So last night a couple of my Indian girlfriends came over - Mary and Munnu. They are crazy 21 year-olds and full of fun and laughter. But they also, like most Indian Christians, know the importance of prayer. A few days ago I went to Munnu's house, and as I was about to leave she said, "Wow, we've been talking this whole time and haven't even thought to pray." It kind of made me chuckle, but I agreed so we ended our time together in prayer. I love it!

But what is unique about many group prayers here is that, to start, everyone will pray individually at the same time. So it sounds like a jumbled mess, most likely with 5 different languages being spoken too. But then after everyone has finished, one person will close the prayer aloud. That is what we do at the house church I go to (maybe sometime I'll try to get it on video) and that's what me, Mary, and Munnu did last night. It was really neat because Mary was praying in Nagamese, Munnu in Nepali, and me in English. And then Munnu finished the prayer. I love the picture that Jesus hears and understands all of our prayers at once.

My Indian friends have encouraged God and prayer to be central, even when we're just hanging out. Gives this verse "pray continually" new meaning. It's cool when God isn't simply someone who we talk about on Sunday but someone who's in our everyday lives. I think that's how He wants it to be.

¹⁶Be joyful always; ¹⁷pray continually; ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Indian Houses/Buildings = NO INSULATION

Ok, this statement isn't completely true. However, Jeff noted this morning that one of the major differences from buildings in the US is that there is almost zippo insulation in buildings here...resulting in hearing every single sound outside when you're inside (and trust me, India is VERY loud - street dogs barking 24/7, Bhuddist chanting next door or some kind of annoying music, motorcycles/trucks/honking, constant construction, birds - not just sweet chirping birds, people on loudspeakers protesting anything/everything, etc) and letting the cold/hot air in depending on the season. Oh, and mosquitoes.

This post might appear to be a complaint (ok, maybe it is :); however, I am simply relaying cultural differences to my American amigos.

Sincerely,

Maggie

(a nickname Indians gave me because they say my hair looks like noodles, and "maggie" in Hindi means noodles...logical...and jolly)

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!