answered prayer.

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

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!

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...

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!

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!

(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...

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!