It's Laundry Day!

Yesterday I did 3 loads of laundry (our washer was broken last week).  It looked like my whole closet was on the roof.  You can only imagine clipping all those clothes to the line!  I got a nice tan though (it was probably 85 degrees).  Dryers are definitely something I took for granted in America.  However, hanging your clothes on the line is economically efficient and only takes about an hour to dry...if the weather is nice.  Monsoon season...whole different story!

My jolly craft-fair chair!  It was only 5 bucks!  I sit and read on the roof almost every day...soaking up all that Vitamin D!

Not only was it laundry day but it was also cracked-tub-removal day!  See that little crack about 6 inches long (not near the drain part)?

After Trish and Nelson cracked all the tile around the bathtub and got it out, they found this GIANT crack on the bottom of the tub...almost 3 feet!

They're so strong!  By the way, Jeff and Trish's 19th anniversary is coming up next week.  Guess what they got each other?  Yep, a tub!

My American "Dost"

This is Em.  She's my go-to "dost" (doast, like toast!) here in India.  Dost, in Hindi, means friend.  And she's one of the best.

God has blessed me SO much with such a jolly American friend here in India.  Her name is Emily Whistance.  She's a cool, funny, married journeyman who lives in our neighborhood here in Siliguri.  I don't know what I'd do without her.  It's been so cool to see how God puts the perfect people in my life at the perfect time.  She is someone who I hope is a lifelong friend.  Someday I hope that we're able to start a bakery together with my other friend Virginia.  It's quickly becoming a big jolly dream :)  Love those!

Anyway, she challenges me to have more faith and is a faithful prayer partner.  Example: Last month she invited me to a women's meeting she was asked to lead.  She taught in Hindi for the first time.  WOW.  She's only been here for a year and she taught the Mary/Martha story.

That takes courage, trust me.  Seriously she's a champ.  I know those women were blessed to hear the Word of God in their heart language from someone who is learning it.  Em's faith encouraged me to take steps of faith in my own life - to memorize the story in John 3 about Nicodemus to share with my friend Chokey.  I'm so thankful for the ways God is working in her life because it spurs me on toward love and good deeds, fo sho!  Hebrews 10:24

check out her and her husband's blog here: http://whistanceadventures.blogspot.com/

Being Obedient, Even in Our Weakness

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight." (Prov 3:5-6)


Right now I'm writing a lesson plan on Thermodynamics.  Earlier today I was reading about philosophy and Christian apologetics.  Last week I was studying Keynesian and Demand/Supply-Side Economics and making a silly video on Economics in One Lesson.

I think I've spent 85% of my time in the last 3 weeks inside our house.  I forget that I live in India during these times.  It's really sad.

But on Sunday night, I get to speak at a local Bible School's chapel service (funny, the school is called "ANTS" - i forgot what it stands for...so all I can think of is the Ben Stiller movie Zoolander..."what is this?  a reading center for ants?!"  haha!).  ANYWAY.  Honestly, I feel incredibly inadequate and intimidated.  Who am I to speak about youth ministry (Young Life), when I'm locked up in a room all day, feeling incredibly "ineffective?"

Maybe because God wants me to understand pre-calculus so I can help a high school girl who I met recently named Priya with her math homework.  Maybe God is teaching me about true discipleship through Victoria (during his ministry, Jesus spent most of his time with 12 guys, not 12,000).  Maybe God is growing my patience and trust in His plan and not my own.  Maybe it's because God wants to be strong in my weakness.

I think He gets a lot more glory that way...when our lives are dependent on His power and faithfulness, not our own plans/glory.

Please pray for me on Sunday (I'll be speaking on incarnational ministry - Jesus being the example of meeting us where we are b/c of our inability to get to Him), and pray that God would send workers to the youth of Siliguri, India (Matthew 9:37).  They are desperately searching for something bigger to live for, an answer to life's questions.

Krispy Kreme Anyone?

So, among other things, I've become a baker in the past year living in India...craving things from America that I could just go to the grocery store and buy.  Well, as you probably could've guessed, they don't have Kroger or Krispy Kreme or really amazing bakeries here in India.  I've limited my cravings since they're not the healthiest :)  But for Valentine's Day, I decided to try something new.

Donuts.

I know.  Why would you ever try to make homemade donuts.  That just sounds gross.  Well, let me tell you, they were OUT OF THIS WORLD!  Why?  Because I trust PioneerWoman.com.  She's the man, I mean woman.  I know that any/all of her recipes will taste incredible.

 

Don't know if you can see it, but I had to put a bowl of hot water below the donuts and stick em in the oven so they'd rise.  It's still not warm enough here in India for bread to rise.

I know, so healthy, right?...

Just adding more nutrition :)

Our new househelper, Susma...she was a little skeptical (b/c most indians don't like sweets) but she said, "Bahoot Acha" (very good!)

Victoria's first reaction was, "They are seriously better than Krispy Kreme!"  Wow, I think that's the nicest compliment anyone's ever given me :)

When it comes to sweet, a good friend once told me, "Just drink a lot of water."  Even if the water doesn't necessarily make up for those amazing donuts...it made me feel a little better, right?  Haha!  Needless to say, I drank A LOT of water yesterday :)

Chai, Economics, and Rapping

Yesterday after I finished my afternoon cup of chai, I literally exclaimed, "I LOVE chai!"  Actually I said, "I love milk tea!"  Chai and milk tea.  Same thing.  Check out this great article about some cultural and economic issues in India...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/9385244.stm

After visiting Calcutta a few times, I brought home some of these clay tea cups.  They now serve as great little candle holders in my room.

Did you read the article???  IF NOT, READ IT!!!

I love how this article highlights one of the economic problems that many Indians are facing - being left behind in the new technology age.  It's so strange seeing villagers talking on cell phones and watching TV...and yet they live in a bamboo hut.  Seeing men and women make roads by hand.  It's surreal.  I have to step back and say, "Yes Megan, you really do live in India.  This is India."  What will those people do when their jobs are "taken" by machines?  What did people do in the Industrial Revolution?  They would burn or destroy machines because they thought their jobs were being taken.  But in reality, many more jobs are being created because the different parts of that machine have to be created, etc.  The question is...how will those people adapt?  Do they know how to learn a new skill?  Are they willing to put the time and effort into learning, even at an older age?

Because Victoria and I have been studying economics, these kinds of questions intrigue me.  Instead of a whole year in economics, we're only devoting 4 weeks to it.  So it's difficult to get our minds wrapped around this sometimes difficult topic (with all the varying opinions...from the Classical Economists to Keynesians to Monetarists).  I'm glad I ran into this article because I want to incorporate practical information into our discussion of theories.  It's easy to get bogged down in the theories and not see actual economic realities.  If you have any questions, ideas for discussion, don't hesitate to comment!

If you're an economics junkie...or just a fan of some intelligent rap :) watch this video.  I know, it's ridiculous.  But what can I say?  I'm a sucker for a good rap!

Making of the rap (more informative if you're less schooled in economics):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwsjPZgBOdU

Rap:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0nERTFo-Sk&feature=fvw

The Flower is Finally Plucked

Menuka got married December 15.  I'm a little late on this posting but thought ya'll might want to see some pics!

The "flower!"

(if you haven't read the blog posting on her engagement, go read it and you'll understand the reference!)

The reception tent

Me and Chokey having a morning snack before getting ready - chai and fried bread (not sure the name)

The ladies who made breakfast

yum!

Sunita was in charge of pinning a little flower on each guest

My sweet friends, Nick and Emily aka "Nickily" :)

Victoria, Em, me, and Chokey all dressed in our saree's

Jeff and Trish (aka Uncle and Aunty)  Trish's 1st time to wear a saree...and she's lived in India for 5 years!

Jeff escorting the bride - he's like a father/big brother figure for Menuka because her father passed away when she was younger and she has lived on her own for the past 5 years

Reciting the vows

"Menuka Weds Rajesh"

The wedding was over an hour long...partly because Indian and Nepali weddings are long anyway.  But also because Rajesh forgot the ring, so someone had to go back and get it!  Therefore, the pastor stalled...for an hour.  Man!  Fortunately, there wasn't much room in the church so we sat outside.

They took family pictures for about an hour!  Whew!

The Indian Picture - no one smiles

Honoring the couple with simple scarves 

Lots of Nepali's!

The best man and maid of honor was Rajesh's nephew and Menuka's niece.  Because they are young and single, they claim they're able to help out more and are available whenever.

Cousins - Menuka and Nelson

The chai girls!  And Nelson being silly

Lunch

Lunch after the wedding - rice, dal, fried cauliflower and potatoes, etc

Gopal's wife, Sermula, and son, Grayson - because they're Manipuri, Sermula wears the traditional skirt instead of a saree

Love this little girl!  haha!

Chan Chan and Angamla

This is Menuka's uncle and grandmother, a very strong (she's 84 and still works) and strong-willed lady (I'd heard many, many stories about her and they all seemed true when I met her!  I wouldn't want to get in a fight with her!)

V, Menuka (basically her older sister), and Chokey, now like a sister too :)

Me and Chokey.  So glad she got to come to the wedding.

Rajesh, Menuka, and Trish - lots of crying for Trish...Menuka is like a daughter to her.  It wasn't easy to give her away!  But as we've found out in the month after the wedding, Rajesh has taken good care of our flower :)