and that's the story of my life....

Loo with a View!

2007-06-02T00:38:00.000-07:00

So, we were making our way through the mountians to one of our first projects,
AND as we swerve back and forth and go over bump after bump...
I realize that my bladder is going to explode!
So, "I yell 'ROCCO' (stop!) to the driver and he pulls over on the side of the road!

So, to make myself out of plain view Ash and I hike down the side of a cliff as
she holds a chadr (large scarf) out to cover me.....
In the meantime she is snapping pics of the experience.

So, I will share them with you! For a good laugh!

2007-05-21T12:49:00.000-07:00

Musical chairs and hot potato....

2007-05-21T12:28:00.000-07:00

So, today was crazy, we went to an all girls madrasa (schools that only teach islam) and checked out their needs. Most of the girls lost family in the earthquake and cannot take care of themselves, so we are going to use food and such things to get our foot in the door. It was interesting and we will be going back later this week.

Then, after that experience, we went to a "party" for our aerobics instructors 25th wedding anniversary.
(Yes, I did say aerobics and it is just like an 80's videos!)
Well, we played "musical chairs" and hot potato...hahaha...it was hilarious. You have never lived until you play musical chairs with such lively childlike women!!! Well, then being the goofy foreigner that I am...I was picked to perform center stage. they started to play techno music and called me into the middle of the circle to DANCE for them.
I wish I was kidding....so what do you do in front of Muslim women.....booty dance?
those are the only moves I know other than disco moves....so I was at a loss and made an idiot of myself! I wish you all would have been there to see it....

Marvelous life in South Asia!

hmmmmm.....

2007-05-01T06:01:00.000-07:00

There are so many things that have happened since my last blog....

Firstly, I moved to another country.
Secondly, I am learning a new language.
Thirdly, I have to cover my head EVERYDAY!

I have yet to experience culture shock in a big way, but a lot has changed since I walked
across the border. I love many things about this place- the woman and children, the food, the mountain view from my balcony, the cool night breeze and my own car with a driver included.

it has been overwhelming, yet I am at such peace and feel the presence of the Father in such a real way!

answered prayer.

2007-03-19T06:37:00.000-07:00

I have been praying and asking the Lord to clarify some issues that I have been struggling with in my heart.
Talking to people day in and day out about eternity and religious beliefs began to take a toll on me spiritually.
I began to question some foundational beliefs and even analyze the best way to share with others.

I just want them to believe that they too can be saved by grace.

After much prayer and seeking wise counsel, my dad shared with me Romans 2:4....

"Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness leads you to repentance?"

So, my testifying of God's kindness is most important in my relationships with others! Even above theological debates and deep spiritual discussions. I don't have to know ALL the answers just what the Lord has done for me.

God really answered my prayer and I can only hope that I can show His kindness through my daily walk.

Don't be sorry, wear a saree! - Ashley

2007-03-07T04:30:00.000-08:00

I got a saree for a wedding that I was supposed to go to, and didn't end up going! So because I spent 1750 rupees, i am wearing it around the house and maybe to the market for groceries...we'll see!

Okay, I love India again!

2007-03-06T00:35:00.000-08:00

I have had a rough couple of weeks... started with a headache,
then progressed into vomiting.
then progressed into potty problems,
then progressed into, yes, it is true, hemroids!
Never had them before (thought only old people got them)
And never want them again! So in the last week, I have been
to the doctor's three times and unfortunatly to my embarrassment
had two of them inspect my rear end! HUMBLING!

So, these have been a rough two weeks, and there is no good
respectable way to explain the events that took place!

But, as of last night I feel so much better....
We went to an Indian wedding festival and it was a BLAST!
We danced the night away to Tina Turner, Madonna, Bon Jovi,
Justin Timberlake, Hoobastank, Elvis, and many Bollywood movie soundtracks!
Did I mention that Ashley and I actually danced with a Bollywood star?!?
(okay, not a hugely famous one, but still!)
We closed the party down and rolled in about 4:45 AM this morning!
I love my job!

worst illness known to mankind...

2007-02-20T21:16:00.000-08:00

let me recap the last week of my life, since i jst started this thing and am already a week behind...
v-day was good. ate subway for lunch and went to a crafts festival.
the next day we got on a train and left for Jaipur. went to a monkey temple and saw a snake charmer. SCARY!
two days later we headed back and that is when i was hit by the worst illness known to man....THE STOMACH VIRUS!
I was on the train and saw indian food being served and i dashed for the bathroom. i def. had an audience and they
were very much involved in the situation. i literally threw up 20 times in 2 hours....i sat on the floor next to the bathroom!
it was awful...the only redeeming event was an old toothless indian man that after my 14th episode handed me a piece of
his caramel hard candy with a huge grin :) thank you, old indian man for caring for me in my time of need!
needless to say, the adventure didnt stop there as i had my head buried in a plastic bag while driving with complete strangers...humbling experiences to say the least. so after an entire night of this sort of thing.... other stomach issues began to appear and i have been under the weather for well, 4 days now! did i mention i love this place....

first a dance, now this!

2007-02-13T07:39:00.000-08:00

i started my day dancing in the street and finished with a delicious oreo avalanche! (just like an oreo mcflurry)
i love this place!

Dancing in the streets!

2007-02-12T22:45:00.000-08:00

(this just happened five minutes ago 12:30 on Tues. afternoon) so i'm taking some time to respond to some emails in the living room, and outside the window it sounds like half time at a college football game....the drums, the horns, and lots of laughter! so i step outside the door and down our street comes a band and a horse drawn carriage with lots of women and men dressed up dancing in the street! it was a wedding procession and the groom was on the way to the bride's house! i ran inside to grab my video camera and i filmed for two seconds and the battery died... sad story!

...so five white folk standing outside the house watching this was more of a sight for them then they were to us! we were such a sight that they pulled us into the middle of their dance procession and there we were, well, dancing in the street! I was in my jeans rolled up to my knees and a Liberty University tshirt! they were taking pics and we were on their video! that poor bride and her wedding footage is now tarnished forever...with my face grinning from ear to ear!

i always wanted to be a part of an indian wedding, but that was not exactly what i was thinking...

a little strange...

2007-02-11T12:45:00.000-08:00

it's a little strange how obsessed i am with this blog, it is 2 something in the morning and i am trying to change the font of my title....nite nite!

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-02-11T08:23:00.001-08:00

from this day forward...

2007-02-11T07:08:00.001-08:00

life is an adventure as never before. I laugh a million times a day at different sights that are both somewhat absurd and amusing!
I also find myself wanting to cry over all the hardships and lostness. Finding a balance is my new goal from this day forward....
I hope that I can share all my experiences with the justice they deserve...

since moving to asia I have had several encounters with rodents including the one named "ralph" currently living under my bathroom sink... I am also getting acquainted with the "squatty" toilets here! I roll up my pants and approach the teeny throne with confidence... some experiences are better than others. (luckily, i am fully prepared with tp, wet wipes, and antibacterial hand soap at all times...except once!)

i have also taken much pride in being told that i bargain like "an indian woman!" not sure if that is a good thing or not!
seeing elephants and camels is another thriller! (you would have thought I have never been to the zoo before as a child)

i hope that some of these pics will express my feelings better than my words....until later....