4 Dimes

In order to get to the seminary where I teach English (lots of potential YL leaders there), I have to take 2 auto's (small taxi that fits 8, usually more, Indians) and 1 rickshaw.  But lately I've had to take 2 rickshaws...because the auto's from our house haven't been coming often, and if they do they're packed.  I like to take rickshaws but they're more expensive (40 cents as opposed to 10 cents for an auto).  I know, "expensive" shouldn't even be the word I use.  But what can I say?  I've become Indian and have to pay attention to the local prices!

Here's a video from my rickshaw ride last week.  Feel free to fast forward or just watch the interesting scenes, honking, and traffic of India.  And yes, you can imagine the smoke you inhale on those rides too.  But when you go through a part with less traffic, it's a nice, jolly ride!

ps - my driver looked like Rambo :)

Letters, Banana Leaves, and Mountains

Hannah is the cutest, so photogenic with her big and little E's!

Ok, so I'm pretty close to this family in our neighborhood who are also missionaries...they're from South India -  a state called Kerala.  Sophi loves to cook...she's a super amazing cook, I mean, there are no words for her cooking!  So last week there was a festival in Kerala called Onam.  I think it started out as a Hindu festival, but they said it's one of those secular holidays now that everyone celebrates just for fun.  A good excuse to not go to school and work, be with family, and EAT ON BANANA LEAVES!  haha!  yeah, pretty awesome!  So in honor of that festival, she made me a special meal.  Oh, and they only eat vegetables on that day...no meat.

Me and Sophi

Her son, Steve, snuck in :)  Love that crazy guy.

I'm hoping to visit Nepal at the end of September.  They have Young Life there and are having camp for a week in a city called Pokhara, west of Kathmandu.  Below is a picture on a clear day.  Basically the back door of the tallest mountains in the world!  Can you imagine going to camp there as a high school kid?! Yeah, pretty awesome.

Please pray that 2 potential girl YL leaders will be able to come with me....I probably won't go unless they come along.  I want them to see a picture of YL in a culture that is similar to Siliguri, as well as have the opportunity to talk with the area director there.  These girls (Munnu and Mona) I would take are both Nepali so they would feel comfortable with the language, would hopefully gain a lot from the experience, and be inspired to reach high school kids here in Siliguri.

Spinach: my Simple Staple

When I first moved to India 2 years ago, I ate a lot of rice (lunch every day).  That's definitely the staple here, and most Indians eat it at least 2 meals a day...a whole plate full.  However, I realized as I was puttin' on the pounds that I was gonna have to make some changes.  I discovered that they actually have spinach here.  So, except for the days I teach at the seminary and eat with them, I have a simple spinach salad for lunch.  I know, boring schmoring.  Unfortunately the spinach isn't packaged so nice and neat like in Kroger or Publix.  It's definitely a process...

You buy it by the bundle (now we can get it at this new and great grocery-store just built this summer)...stems and all.  Only about 30 cents for this one.  Yeah, pretty awesome.

Then I tear off the stems or bad leaves...

And throw the good ones in bowls with a little bit of potassium (that's what makes the water purple) to clean it real nice :)

My first real dinner...pineapple bbq chicken quesadillas!  The Pioneer Woman is the schniz.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SIMPLE, DELICIOUS RECIPES?

I WANT THEM!

ABC...Easy as 1, 2, 3!

For the past 2 years, I taught an American high school missionary kid.  She just graduated high school in May, and now I'm teaching two 4-year-old missionary kids.  I'm also teaching English to first-year students at a local seminary.  It is funny how different these teaching experiences are from the past 2 years.  Now I'm teaching ABC's/123's and verbs/nouns/adjectives...as opposed to philosophy, chemistry, and trigonometry.  But I'm so thankful for the decreased stress so that I can spend more of my time focusing on Young Life - pursuing/training Indian leaders as well as high school kids.  So I'm currently seeking out committed leaders and building that community while training them in the basic principles of YL.

Teaching pics:

Me, Hannah, and Kaitlyn (Liana's Teacher/Nanny).  Liana didn't want to take a pic with us :(

 Liana practicing letter "a"

Hannah enjoying snacktime...favorite part?  Duh!

C for cat and chocolate-chip cupcakes!

Two of my students (Numrata and Teju) at the seminary performing a Nepali dance on Teacher's Day (Sept 5 in India)

Mahi and Eliza, the MC's...surprisingly funny!

Atillo, one of my students who won the school's "Indian Idol" competition

Home

So I moved back to India 3 weeks ago.  I'm pretty settled in my apartment...yes, jolly things galore!  Tried to make it more "Meg."  Still in progress.  Me and living by myself have a love/hate relationship.  I'm an extrovert and don't love to be alone most of the time.  But as I am getting more into my regular routine, it's becoming apparent that my apartment will be a refuge in the midst of chaos.

Love this tribute to Nashville in my kitchen!

My ghetto, manual washer

The infamous squatty - it's pretty high-tech, though, with a flusher!  Probably won't get a western toilet till December

A few things I'm hoping to add to my apartment soon:

*Indian cloth to hang on my wall as decoration (maybe have some wooden frames to be covered with the cloth)
*YL logo-decorated mirror (I had the idea from Victoria, who bought mirrors and glass paint last week)

Squatty Potty

The infamous "squatty."  Having lived in India almost 2 years, you have to get used to squatties because they're everywhere...even at nicer places like malls and airports.  

Funny story:  Last summer I spoke at a kids' sunday school class, and I showed them this picture.  At the end, they took up an offering for me (a total of $4.46...my 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish!) and a little girl screamed, "Now she can buy a toilet!"  Hilarious!  Well, that dream has come true...

Sometimes I think I'm a pretty tough "missionary" because of some of the places/food/customs I've endured in India, but when I found out that the only toilet in my apartment next year is a squatty...well, I was less than thrilled.

Reasons I am having them put in a western toilet :)

1. I hate the stench of most Indian bathrooms with squatty potties...that's why Indians keep the bathroom door closed at ALL times.

2. I got really sick last year (yes, it was coming out both ends) and had to use a squatty potty.  Gross?  DUH!  Me and squatties don't get along.

*to be continued (pictures to come when I get back to India)*

Paying for What's Already Paid

Isaiah has been a book of the Bible that I've been coming back to over and over again recently.  I have truly tasted and seen that the Lord is good.  Have felt in ways never before how truly amazing and overwhelming His grace is.  Because, whether we'll admit it or not, I think most Christians only let Jesus cover/forgive some of their sins and shame.  We think other parts of our life are just too dark and too far gone.  And those parts...well, WE have to take care of, or pay for.  We pay penance (literally, inflict self-punishment) for the stuff we've struggled with for a long time.

I've been blessed to have a consistent meeting with a woman this summer who is on YL staff in Nashville.  She is absolutely outta control (in the best way possible!).  Such a blessing in my life to mentor me thru YL stuff and just life in general.  She helped me realize that I was in this cycle of paying penance, but that's not Jesus' voice.  I know His voice.  It is one of tenderness and compassion and freedom.  "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matt 11:28)  Jesus has truly paid it all, and whether we can comprehend it or not, IT IS FINISHED.  Whether we think we deserve it or not, His freedom is instant.  Abba, I am Yours.  Been breathing in the fresh air of forgiveness and God's love.

My friend Daniel (my 2nd big brother) has an awesome tatoo that sums this up:

son, I loved you in your darkest

Oh, and the Isaiah stuff that I've been reading a lot is chapters 50-51 and 62.



Some pitcha fun:

My cousin, Matt and his sweet family: Allison, Tobin, Evan, and newest addition Lauren

Sweet friends from way back when, Jonathan and Alli

Linds!  At our new favorite ice cream place: Jeni's in East Nashville

Gettin' some awesome BBQ from Memphis with Marzipan

Went to Chattanooga this week and got to see this crazy couple, Josh and Christa.  If you can't tell, this is a Smart Wool (socks) outlet in Cleveland, TN.  Amazing.  50 cent socks.  Such a jolly way to kick off my birthday!

ps - Jeni's ice cream is literally the best stuff i've EVER had IN. MY. LIFE.  check it: http://www.jenisicecreams.com/