Thursday, October 28, 2010
Indian Cooking 101
Last night I got a lesson in how to make curry! It was awesome! I made authentic India pickle! By mixing green chilies, tomatoes, a few pinches of sea salt and garlic. Using teak wood and a grinding pot you mash them together into a puree similar to a very spicy salsa. I worked up a sweat and got laughed at several times, but all in good fun. White people can cook in India, but its not recommended! :) It should come as no surprise that I couldn't eat the curry I had created because it was too spicy, but I did try just a tiny bit to taste my creation. Pretty good if I do say so myself! It's good to know that if I ever get called out of full time ministry here in India... I have a fall back plan as a professional curry maker. :)
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Stay Connected
To read the latest happenings at Harvest India go to http://www.harvestindia.org/blog/
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
So this is love...
It's been a few days and I'm praising God for the amazing ways He is already blessing me for walking in obedience. After my flight fiasco, I finally arrived in Hyderabad just 12 hours after I had originally anticipated. I could have literally kissed the ground I was so excited to reach my destination. As I exited the airport with my full cart of six bags in tow I saw Suresh's long time friend Sridel, who was there to greet me and it was a great to see a familiar face. We loaded my bags into the car and as I opened the back door of the car, in my seat, was a brand new pillow! Suresh had heard the struggle I was having with the airlines, and assuming I would be exhausted; he sent a pillow so that I could get some rest on the six our drive from Hyderabad to Tenali. I'm not sure if it was the over exhaustion or the welcomed and loving gesture but I cried. The way that this culture, and the Kumar family specifically, loves people is enough to make anyone with a heart cry. As I crawled into the back seat unwrapped my new pillow and laid down my head I remember thinking, "I'm home!" Whether the trials and delay in my flight was testing, accidental, spiritual warfare, or protection, one thing is clear, God loves me and he has my very best interest in mind.
I slept the entire drive, reached Tenali at 2AM, settled into my room and slept the whole night through. In the morning I awoke rested and experiencing no jet-lag. God is so good! I met the team visiting us from Silver City, NM and spent the day with some of my favorite elderly. I knew that there was chance I would see some new faces at the center but feared I would not see others. I was immediately crushed when the dear face of my beloved Kammabam did not emerge from the smiling faces. As unappointed leaded of the elderly center in Ventkapatnem there is noticeable difference when visiting the center without her presence.
She is truly filled with the joy of the Lord! Even in old age she would dance and sing and sometimes even jump with joy as she sang joyful praises to the Lord. Suresh shared that she is still with us, very ill and in need of much attention she has been sent to the home of one of her sons. Though it's difficult to think that she's in pain, it's encouraging to know that God is still moving and restoring relationships in her late life. Kammabam has five children and all deserted her in old age. Their hardened harts disowned their mother in her time of need. Left with nothing and forced into the streets to beg Kammabam found the Harvest India elderly center. She has been under Harvest India care for nearly four years now. As she approaches the end of this life and enters into eternity with the Savior she's known for only four years, but who's know her since the beginning of time, Kammabam leaves her legacy. No fortune, no fame, but countless joyous memories that's she has given to each visitor that has come to Harvest India. Countless hours or prayer that would surpass the average "life-long" Christian, wisdom beyond measure, and peace that surpasses understanding. Succeeded by her three sons and two daughters who have yet to personally come to know Jesus, she now in the home of her son during her final days. Shining light in the darkness, Kammabam is being reconciled to the children who one abandoned her to the street and encouraging them to seek the Lord and surrender their lives to His leading. Only time will tell the fate of her children but her identity is clear, eternity secured. Thank you Kammabam for loving God with all your heart and for loving us as an example of that love!
Read more about Kammabam's story in a coming Newsletter by signing up online at: http://www.harvestindia.org/newsletters/
I slept the entire drive, reached Tenali at 2AM, settled into my room and slept the whole night through. In the morning I awoke rested and experiencing no jet-lag. God is so good! I met the team visiting us from Silver City, NM and spent the day with some of my favorite elderly. I knew that there was chance I would see some new faces at the center but feared I would not see others. I was immediately crushed when the dear face of my beloved Kammabam did not emerge from the smiling faces. As unappointed leaded of the elderly center in Ventkapatnem there is noticeable difference when visiting the center without her presence.
She is truly filled with the joy of the Lord! Even in old age she would dance and sing and sometimes even jump with joy as she sang joyful praises to the Lord. Suresh shared that she is still with us, very ill and in need of much attention she has been sent to the home of one of her sons. Though it's difficult to think that she's in pain, it's encouraging to know that God is still moving and restoring relationships in her late life. Kammabam has five children and all deserted her in old age. Their hardened harts disowned their mother in her time of need. Left with nothing and forced into the streets to beg Kammabam found the Harvest India elderly center. She has been under Harvest India care for nearly four years now. As she approaches the end of this life and enters into eternity with the Savior she's known for only four years, but who's know her since the beginning of time, Kammabam leaves her legacy. No fortune, no fame, but countless joyous memories that's she has given to each visitor that has come to Harvest India. Countless hours or prayer that would surpass the average "life-long" Christian, wisdom beyond measure, and peace that surpasses understanding. Succeeded by her three sons and two daughters who have yet to personally come to know Jesus, she now in the home of her son during her final days. Shining light in the darkness, Kammabam is being reconciled to the children who one abandoned her to the street and encouraging them to seek the Lord and surrender their lives to His leading. Only time will tell the fate of her children but her identity is clear, eternity secured. Thank you Kammabam for loving God with all your heart and for loving us as an example of that love!Read more about Kammabam's story in a coming Newsletter by signing up online at: http://www.harvestindia.org/newsletters/
Friday, October 8, 2010
Modern Day Shipwreck
So this is not the way I anticipated re-entering the blogosphere but I'm in London, exhausted, stuck, and in need of prayers. Its been a long day since I left Virginia. I had a mishap with leaving my carry on somewhere on the platform in transit to the terminal which I didn't realize for about 15 minutes. Frantically, I ran through Dulles Airport in search of anyone that cared enough to help me in my state of panic. I found no one, but eventually found my way back to TSA and a gentleman there was aware of a bag that had been turned in. A few anxious moments and my bag appeared just as I had accidentally left it. Profusely apologizing for doing the one worst thing I could have done in an airport, the man made light of the situation saying they were just about to torch it outside! It made me smile and calmed my nerves a bit and I was headed back, this time baggage in tow, to the terminal. I made a few last goodbye phone calls and prepared to board the plane. I had an open seat next to me, which was a blessing, and a very warm older man and his wife who were preparing to visit Prague and Venice. We chatted a bit and I got share Harvest India and my experience with being called to life on mission in India. He was very interested and asked some great questions. Two small children in the row in front of me cried and screamed the intire flight and while it didn't bother me to bad with headphones and earplugs it did keep me awake the entire flight and so I got no rest on the red eye flight to London.
I arrived at Heathrow at 10:20am and I had a four hour layover. I read a bit, grabbed a bite to eat and walked around the airport. With minutes until BA released the gate of my flight to Hyderabad I sat down and waited for further direction from the screens above. That was at 1:25p. The next thing I knew I was looking at the inside of my exhausted eyelids and when they re-opened the clock said 2:20pm, just five minutes after my flights final boarding call. I rushed to the counter to see if there was anyway they could hold the plane but even I couldn't charm myself out of this one. In utter frustration, confusion and on the brink of tears I walked away from the counter and collapsed to my knees. "God come on! Don't you want me in India" The words hurt to even speak. Of course God wanted me in India. He's already made that perfectly clear. I spent the last few weeks of my time in California wrapping my mind around my explanation of hard times in view of God's will. I've had this overwhelmingly, rather peaceful, feeling that this time India wasn't going to be easy. Not because God doesn't love blessing His children but because the world has fallen and what I've set out to do goes against the pattern of our world. And so, here I am! In the middle of this beautiful airport, uncertain of why my trip will end up taking nearly twice as long to travel at a significantly higher cost for missing a major leg of my flight and I'm hearing God's still small voice reminding me:
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Cor 12:10
Reminding me that He is and always will be in control. All I need do is rest in Him and He will guide me along his perfect path. Flight or no flight, though ease or hardships He's worthy and somehow I'm right where I'm supposed to be!
Learning,
John
I arrived at Heathrow at 10:20am and I had a four hour layover. I read a bit, grabbed a bite to eat and walked around the airport. With minutes until BA released the gate of my flight to Hyderabad I sat down and waited for further direction from the screens above. That was at 1:25p. The next thing I knew I was looking at the inside of my exhausted eyelids and when they re-opened the clock said 2:20pm, just five minutes after my flights final boarding call. I rushed to the counter to see if there was anyway they could hold the plane but even I couldn't charm myself out of this one. In utter frustration, confusion and on the brink of tears I walked away from the counter and collapsed to my knees. "God come on! Don't you want me in India" The words hurt to even speak. Of course God wanted me in India. He's already made that perfectly clear. I spent the last few weeks of my time in California wrapping my mind around my explanation of hard times in view of God's will. I've had this overwhelmingly, rather peaceful, feeling that this time India wasn't going to be easy. Not because God doesn't love blessing His children but because the world has fallen and what I've set out to do goes against the pattern of our world. And so, here I am! In the middle of this beautiful airport, uncertain of why my trip will end up taking nearly twice as long to travel at a significantly higher cost for missing a major leg of my flight and I'm hearing God's still small voice reminding me:
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Cor 12:10
Reminding me that He is and always will be in control. All I need do is rest in Him and He will guide me along his perfect path. Flight or no flight, though ease or hardships He's worthy and somehow I'm right where I'm supposed to be!
Learning,
John
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