48 Hours

It's hard to believe, but tomorrow (the 27th) is my last full day here in India. The 28th we prepare to leave. My flight doesn't actually take off until 1AM on the 29th, but I'm just going to count it as the 28th I think because I don't plan on sleeping before my flight. I fly through Brussels and Chicago again I think. If all goes as planned, I should be back in the U.S. by dinner time (considering all the time changes and stuff). Crazy. Mom, if you're reading this, please let there be white seedless grapes and ice-cold 8th Continent chocolate soy milk in the fridge. I've been craving that stuff since I got here :)

Katlyn, Shannon, and Andrew will actually be flying out around 4AM the 29th to spend a week in Italy debriefing with other teams from Bryan College.

I don't know how I'm going to say goodbye to everyone here in Chennai -especially my team. They've been my life for the past 2 1/2 months. We've shared this incredibly blessed experience together constantly growing, teaching, and learning from one another. We've become brother and sisters. And in about 48 hours I'm going to say goodbye to them. This isn't even to mention the fact that I'll also be saying goodbye to everyone here in India and Word for the World. But frankly, I don't even know where to begin to process that one just yet.

So, after the Word for the World national leadership conference, the team and I have been mostly just stationed in Chennai. We pilgrimaged (ha drove) to the St. Thomas cathedral and to the St. Thomas mound - by the way, pictures will go up once I'm really able to get back on fb for long periods of time. Augustine and Sharon-akka took us to Sparkies one day for lunch. This is an American-style American-run eatery! Turns out the people who run it are actually from Iowa! Annnnd they were out for the evening. Sooo instead I talked with their manager from Cleveland - where my aunt is from! What a small world - which reminds me! Most of the vehicles here automatically play a tune whenever they're moving in reverse. I think this is for safety reasons, but that's beside the point. Of all the tunes in the world to choose for your vehicle, why "It's a Small World"?? That and the Titanic theme song. This just cracks me up. I love it :)

While we were eating at Sparkies we ran into the head of the IJM headquarters office here in Chennai. He invited us for a visit the very next day and we were able to attend their morning bible study, talk to the interns, and participate in what turned out to be a 2-ish hour presentation from some of the major leaders in the areas of social work, law, PR, and advocacy. It was fascinating, and those who know me might realize just how much this visit meant!

Last Sunday and Monday we traveled to two different leper colonies in Chingelput (about two hours south by bus). These leper colonies were different from the leper hospital and the crowded leper colony we experienced in Pudicherry. The Chingelput colonies were actually more like villages out in the foothills were lepers and their families (that is, the few family members still with them) survive off of street begging in the bigger towns nearby. We gave the service messages and did a youth program at these colonies, and at the second one we got the opportunity to visit two houses and pray and speak with the lepers there. We met one man who had been one of the first lepers converted in his village/colony. He spoke about 7 languages (seven!) including French, English, Tamil, Hindi, Maurati, annnnd some other stuff. It seems like a lot of people I meet here are fluent in several languages. Most of the time I can barely speak English so I am simply amazed.

The rest of our time here has been spent at the house. We've helped out with a little bit of filing for Word for the World, and every morning the team leads the employee bible study. I've really just been trying to enjoy what little time I've had left here with the boys, the family, and my team. As many of you might know, sometimes it's difficult for me to sit still in the same place and just relax without something to do to keep busy. At school and at home I'm always running around doing things, talking to people, and the like - and I love this! So it has been hard sometimes when I haven't had anything to do - especially because so much of this internship has been kind of action-packed and we had all gotten used to doing ministry and such this way. But God's really been teaching me how to be content just existing in His good grace and He's surrounded me with these beautiful people. So, even though these past ten days have seemed really long in some ways, I still see that God has continued to teach me and mold me into something better through my time spent here.

And now it's time to leave. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around this. I'm going to miss these people and these places. I'm never going to forget anyone - I never do. But I'm excited for the future and the ways I know God is going to challenge me and work through me back home. I'm ready to take India home with me, I'm ready to take all these experiences, memories, and lessons learned back with me. I've been blessed to find another home and another gigantically huge, vibrant, passionately beautiful family through the Christian ministry in India. And now I need to return to the ones I love in the U.S. and let this blessing shine into their lives.

God needs to humble me.

I need to grow smaller and He needs to be magnified.

My heart must fall in love with Him.

Through His strength alone this will be only the beginning.

Right now I don't know where my path back home will lead or what other adventures God has in store my for life. God hasn't exactly shown me where my journey will take me, but He has has taught me how to take the next step.

Please pray for:

God to be glorified in your life and mine.

What more can I ask for at this moment?

:)

- Jenni

Mumbai bombing

I wanted to encourage everyone to continue praying for the victims of the Mumbai bombing the other week. I realize I hadn't said anything about it in my emails or in my earlier blog. To be honest, I wasn't really sure what to say about it.
The carnage and chaos left in the aftermath of this terrorism are difficult to reflect on. Lima - the missionary who took my team and me around the slums of Mumbai for ministry - was actually at one of the bombing locations the day before it all happened. By the grace of God he had left by the time of the bombing the next day.
It also leaves me with a lot to think about considering my team and I had only been out of Mumbai for about a week before this happened. We hadn't been staying to close to the bombing locations, but this event would have without a doubt made travel more intense.
Indian government officials are still desperately looking for intel on the bombings and whatnot, but really they aren't coming up with much. People suspect certain terrorism groups, but a lot of evidence coming forth is really suspicious and much of it has most likely been fabricated by the polic force in a desperate act to appear in control of the situation.
So yeah, please pray for this situation and for safe travels for my team and the missionaries these next 2-ish weeks. Thanks for all the support you've shown me and my team through your prayers. God has done great things through them and I have been SO encouraged :)

- Jenni

I couldn't think of a cool enough title:

Madurai was awesome. Period. The overnight train rides are always fun - I usually don't get the best night's sleep because of the train motion. Also, there was this guy who kept peaking in through the curtains at our sleep area and another guy riding near us who got up like 30 times in the night. Each time he used my bed as a stepping place to get down from his, and I'd wake up like, "Agh! What are you doing!" Ha. But anyways.

In Madurai we stayed at Jim-anna Asir's home called the Jim Sam cottage (after Jim of course and his nephew Sam). The upstairs is mostly just used as a second home for the Asirs when they visit the ministry in Madurai, but the downstairs is actually the New Life Center for disabled children. About 15 children with disabilities live in this home and are provided with food and funds for special schooling. Some are deaf, some are mute, some suffer from mental retardation, and some have other physical limitations. All have been brought to this center because their families either cannot or will not provide for them. The team and I unfortunately did not get involved with them until later in the Madurai trip - but there was one little boy who stood out to me. His name is Annun and he is a ten year old boy who is both mute and deaf. He has a habit of running outside to peddle a stand-still bike. I think he does this just for fun to pretend he's traveling to new places. If that isn't awesome, I don't know what is. All these children are cared for by Auntie Jayba. But the overwhelming amount of work she has makes me wonder if the children ever just have someone to hold and hug them.

Surprisingly, Madurai provided us more time to relax than I think any of the team or I had expected. During this time we spoke and did programs at churches, youth events, a bunch of old age homes, two Compassion International homes, a nursing students' graduation, and two schools. I was pumped to see the Compassion International homes and how this organization is working in India. As some of you might know, I have sponsored a young girl in Mexico through this organization for several years now. But being able to actually go to these centers made the need for more sponsors so much more real to me. I could actually see the results of Compassion International support. I'm not sure what else to tell you about our short visits at these homes except that these were blessings.

We were in Madurai for 5-6 days (arrived on Saturday around 6am and left late Thursday on another over-night train. I'm telling ya, except for the no sleeping part, those over-night trains are the way to go!). The Asirs were with us untill Tuesday evening when they left to come back early for Chennai leaving us in the hands of Ebbie-anna and our big brother John-anna. One of the nights we were invited to Shalin and Malin's house for dinner (these are two girls I had met at the youth camp way back when in Malihabiperum). It's funny. Here we are traveling all over the southern part of India and yet somehow we manage to keep running into some of the same wonderfully beautiful people. Hallelujer! :)

Wednesday was the busiest day we had. We actually traveled by bus out to a nearby village/town to do ministry and programs all day there. On our way this woman on the bus insisted that I hold her baby the entire way there. That was fine and all, but I was just really shocked at the level of trust I witnessed. They were all asking each other to hold their bags, children, etc. and no one seemed the least bit worried about theft. That was surprising, but really cool.
And I am repeatedly blown away by the generosity of the Indian people we meet. Ebbie-anna's wife Angel-akka gave Shannon, Katlyn, and me the most beautiful necklaces and bangles in remembrance of them. And a young girl Evelyn from one of the boarding schools begged me to keep a small ring from her. Everywhere I go I am just showered with love and hospitality and am left humbled by how others continue to serve me. I don't deserve it. Truthfully, I deserve none of this. And yet I continue to be blessed.

While the team and I weren't running around with the Asirs doing programs and speaking, I had the opportunity to steal away up to the house roof top and have some major time with God. I spent a lot of time on that roof top when I could - basking in God's glory and the sunlight or silently watching the shadow of the palm tress sway under the stars when at night. And just so you know, lonely roof tops at night are the best places to dance :)

The last day in Madurai (Thursday) the team and I were taken around to a few tourist places before we held the last program at the New Life Center. We visited this huge Hindu temple, the Ghandi museum, and an acient palace. It's really to my shame I can't remember the names of these places. And there's no point getting into explaining what only pictures can hope to describe, so you'll just have to wait until I can put a bunch up on facebook. ;p

We've been back in Chennai for the past 3 days now attending and helping out at a leadership conference for Word for the World ministry leaders from all over India. It warmed my heart being able to see Lima from Mumbai and Uncle Raja from Pudicherry again. This conference finally provided a much coveted look into the organizational structure of this ministry, and for this I was glad.

Oh! And today is my birthday (and also my twin Sarah's birthday as well)! HA!
And guess what I did. Only the most awesome thing ever. Yes. I rode a motorcycle! In India! I don't know why, but that seemed to make it just that much cooler.

Well, that's all the news I have so far. It's hard to believe the days are flying by this fast. I have only about ten days left here. Only ten. I don't know what God has in store for my future in the years to come. I don't know how He is going to choose to work through me next semester. I don't even know what tomorrow's schedule is. But I do know that He is good and His purpose is what I want for my life. And you can't really go wrong when it comes to desiring God's heart. I just need Him more and more. End of story :)

Please pray for:

Word for the World missionaries to each reach their goal of raising 3,000 rps by August 15th (about 60$)

Cooperation and harmony within the mission field

Results! Let's see more people freed from sin and brought to life by the love of the Father!


PRAISE!:

God continues to answer prayer. I am completely humbled and sometimes even brought to tears by the reality of this. God is a God of miracles. Don't cheat yourself out of trusting this Truth. The power of prayer is REAL. Sometimes I have so little faith that I begin to doubt this. I once asked a friend why God wasn't giving me the answers I was asking for. She was kind enough to remind me that I need to make sure I'm asking the right questions. Never stop praying. Never, ever even for one moment. Because He is real and when you pray according to His will and desire for your life, He ANSWERS PRAYER. :)

Madurai again

Sooo, we're off again!

Due to that virus the team picked up in the slums, the Word for the World has moved around our schedule a lot to give us time to rest up this week. The entire team has been blessed to get back to almost full health! Aside from Saturday where I think I literally got up like 3 times only to get food, I actually bounced back fairly quickly.

So, this week has been an unusual period of rest for the team which has allowed for some great fellowship! We've celebrated Katlyn's b-day and Annun's b-day this week. We also [partly] participated in a day of prayer and fasting with the ministry workers. And how did we celebrate the 4th of July? Only with the best Chinese take-out ever of course! Seriously though, I think it needs to be a new tradition :P

I've filled my days with reading (power-reading!), prayer, helping out around the house, writing, and fellowship time spent talking, playing games, and going on walks with David, Annun, Tameel, Mohen, Sam, and Jim-anna. I also went for my first real run here ("real" as in it involved jogging further than back and forth a million times in my room). Running free out under the Indian moonlight... sounds more poetic than it really was ha.

Random: They have an actually legit mosquito whacker. It looks like a tennis racket, but when you press the button it sends an electrical current through the chords and zaps whatever it touches. Sweet!

Also, it's been in Chennai the minute I've gotten here. But I just have to say now that I love the heat lightning this city is known for. Bursts of thunderless lightning flash periodically through the night sky. They tell me it's because of the intense heat and humidity. Whatever it is, it's wonderful.

Anyways, tomorrow the team, the Asirs and I take the overnight train back to Madurai and will be staying at Jim-anna's home until the 15th. We'll be speaking at church services, bible studies, a nurses' graduation, elders' meetings.... a bunch of random places! I think we'll end up each speaking about 4-5 times though which isn't too bad. During this time, I believe we will also be working with the disabled through Jim-anna's branch of Word for the World which runs a school in Madurai and works to support children with disabilities. The amazing thing his ministry is that he himself is disabled. He is confined to a wheelchair and cannot move anything except his neck and a few facial muscles. He can't even talk. But through his passionate devotion to Christ and serving others, and with the help of his servant-hearted, fantastically-loving family and friends, he was able to design and run this ministry. I struggle to wrap my mind around it. But simply put, our God is the God of miracles. Amen.

We'll return back to Chennai by overnight train on the 15th if everything goes as planned. I hope to blog when I get back from that.

Please continue to pray foorrrr:

Health - some of the Word for the World staff has come down with fever (different from what we had though)

And that the team (me especially) stays focused on loving and serving God in the here and now. Our departure date is only an unbelievable, precious 20 days away. I need help keeping my focus here instead of on the friends and family I can't wait to see back home :) Also, we need help knowing how to best invest ourselves in the people here with what little precious time we have left!

Thanks guys, love!

- Jenni

MUMBAI (this is a long one)

Ah! Where to begin?

Well, sorry I haven't been in touch much over the last two/two 1/2 weeks. We didn't have access to internet in Mumbai like I'd thought XP Oh well!

So, our flight left at 6am from Chennai to Mumbai. This meant we had to be at the airport by 4am which meant we had to leave the house by 3am. Sooo, what did I do? Yeah. That's right. ALL-NIGHTER! Which was great because David and Annun - two of the boys that live at the Word for the World headquarters - and my team and I all stayed up through the night enjoying some seriously deep convos (and pillow fights of course).

Our plane touched down in the Mumbai airfield around 9am that morning and we were greated by the warm embrace of the Mumbai rains. I guess it's the monsoon season here or something because it gently rains on and off at least 5 or 6 times each day.

We stayed with a Christian missionary family native to Tamil Nadu, so it was comforting to be able to communicate with them using a little bit of their language. And I can honestly say I've never been more humbly served than by this generous family! Seriously, all I ever saw reflected in them was the holy joy of Christ Himself. And for some reason, they really, REALLY took a liking to me. I'm not sure why exactly, but I know I've been blessed SO much through this. I asked if they would adopt me (sorry Mom). They told me yes of course. So now, as Lima put it, I have a Mumbai family forever. :)

My typical day in Mumbai consisted of getting up at 6am (mostly just to get ready and make sure I had space for personal time with God). The team and I would then go into the nearby slum which consisted of about 2 million people. Wow. I don't even have the words to describe what that looked like. The slum we'd visisted in Pudicherry was nothing compared to the violence, poverty of spirit, and filthy living conditions we witnessed in Mumbai. But anyways, we would teach at an English medium slum school from about 8am to 12:15pm every day. Saturdays were half days only going to 10:15am however, and Sundays were free devoted to visiting and preaching at multiple churches and sunday schools.

At the school, Katlyn and I took were placed with the 6th, 7th, and 8th standards (grades) while Shannon and Andrew took the 5th sd. I hope to put up pictures on facebook as soon as I'm back in the states because none of the words I use here will do justice to describing what it was like in this school. To put it simply: it was loud, dark, dirty, chaotic, unorganized,... and wonderful.

Each morning we would start off teaching the children songs, dances, bible verses, and a bible story. Katlyn would usually tackle teaching them English grammer, vocab, and spelling while I taught the kids math, science, and geography. When the 7th and 8th sds requested to be seperated (in other words, moved to the other side of the room), I taught them algebra, geometry, and biology. But each class would recieve at least 5 new kids a day. And the 6th sd eventually grew to have about 50 kids, so I had to move back to help Katlyn with them. This was really difficult for me because this often left the 25 7th and 8th sd kids without a teacher because the school is short on staff.

At first, it was overwhelming how naughty and loud these kids were. They ran up and down the aisles, threw things, screamed, punched, slapped, kicked, bit, and choked eachother until they drew blood or tears or until I could break them up. I still can't believe how much they beat on eachother - even the girls. My sense of justice was absolutely inflamed when I was called into the 7th and 8th sd section of the class to break up a punching fight. Two large boys were going at it hitting and throwing eachother against the desks. But the thing that made me furious was when I found out these boys had been previously trying to beat and cut a 7th sd kid literally about half their size with sharp, broken pop can. I can't remember the last time I was that angry. But it's tough because I'm also filled with such sympathy and sadness because the bruises on their faces tell me that this is the very same way many of them are treated by their parents at home or by other kids/people out on the streets.

So yeah, needless to say, the experience of teaching at that school was something else. And even though it was filled with frustrations, God grew me (of course) and blessed my time there by showing me the beauty and all the wonderful things He is working in these children. You wouldn't believe the way some of these children are thirsting to hear more about Jesus. And the way their eyes would light up in excitement when I stepped into the classroom or when I was teaching them something new - it's difficult to describe fully, but it's miraculous. Everyday, almost without fail, the girls would make origami lotuses for Katlyn and me. The kids would all try to share what little food they'd brought for lunch and ambush us with candies and sweets. Seriously, the ways these beautiful people sought to share and serve us was humbling and so convicting. How can people who have so little give so much while I, who have so much more than I'll ever need, find it difficult to give at all? Messed up. Something I need to change when I'm back at school. Something I need to change right now.

Typically, after school got out, we would find somewhere to eat. Sometimes this meant going back to the house and sometimes this meant visiting Christian families somewhere in the slum for lunch. We'd have a bit of free time to rest and whatnot. But I don't usually make a habit out of taking naps. So I'd usually write poetry, practice ballet, work out, read the bible, connect with the family, journal, or read something. (I've actually worked my way through almost 3 books and am nearly halfway done with a Foundations of Civilization history textbook. ya! I'm def way too school for cool). And then anywhere from 3-6pm we could expect Lima - a missionary, local pastor, and inspirational reflection of Christ - who would pick us up and take us to different homes and areas in the slum for prayer meetings, to give the message at bible studies, or to just visit with people he was evangelizing. 

I've never learned more about what it means to have a zeal for our God than from watching the ways Lima LIVES OUT Christ's love. Lima moved to Mumbai hundreds of miles away from his native state of Orissa because he had the passionate desire to share the love of Christ with others. When he first moved into this slum, he was the only Christian in that area. But he was not alone, the Spirit of our God is ALWAYS by the sides of those who believe and trust in Him. Now, Lima has baptized over 400 people in that area, started at least 3 churches (that I know of), visists, evangelizes, and leads bibles studies all over, houses about 8 boys without families in the area, prays to God for hours?? a day, and amazingly is able to take time to disciple us in God's ministry.

And the Spirit of God is moving strong in these people. Two people I'd met had had visions of a man called Jesus Christ before they ever became Christians. These encounters with our God actually led them to seek Him out. I know this sounds radical, but I truly believe this. While we visited families and preached, children, sick people, and bottles of water were brought to us to be prayed over. I wasn't sure how I felt about this at first. But read John chapters 14-16. I am nothing - this team, these missionaries are nothing - but God is big. And God's Spirit is powerful. People here have faith and I've seen this faith in our God bring about amazing things - I've seen God's Spirit working miracles here. This is evident in the visions people have had, the blessings that have been multiplied, the ways the Spirit has literally put words in our mouths and Lima's (even in other languages??), and the joy, peace, hope, and radically transforming love that have all been poured out. And I've been convicted about how little my faith actually is without the strength of Christ. I met a man well-known to the family I was staying with who prophesied in the name of God to each one of us. I struggled and prayed and cried and searched my bible because this was strange and terrifying and so new to me. But I've decided that when it comes to the Holy Spirit's workings, it is not up to us to use our spiritual measuring sticks to judge how He is working in others. Sure, we must ALWAYS pray and search out truth in scriptures and be discerning in our hearts. But I have asked God to grow my faith in Him, and I believe He has. I trust God will use what was told to each one of us for His glory and to further His Kingdom - no matter what. This is because the Spirit of the Living God resides and lives through me - He lives through all people who've repented, accepted, and believed in Christ. Again, turn to John 14-16! :)

Anyways. So. Needless to say, I'm still trying to sort out a lot of things that happened in Mumbai. I can't forget some of the images I've seen: children playing in piles of filth, a woman sobbing because of the burden idolitry places on her soul... But I will also never forget the smiles on the faces of those school children, the pure and beautiful hunger in the eyes of the new believers, the way street children ran up to us everywhere we went wanting to shake our hands, the joy shining out from peoples' faces as they raised their voices in complete adoration singing to our God.

When you walk in the joy and hope and peace of the Lord, even the poverty of the slums can take on a certain vibrance that I never expected. The vibrant hues of the rooftops reflecting shots of sunlight, the contrast between the bright red stone against the vivid emrald of the grass and distant mountains, the absolute abandon of walking through the mud and the rain with the freedom of knowing it's futile to even pretend to keep up the pretense of staying clean,... Maybe I'm weird, but it almost seems like it'd be a crime to NOT see God's presense and beauty working in a place so shunned and forgotten by the world.

Don't get me wrong. There were those other moments when I didn't want to think about what I'd just stepped in, when the last thing I wanted was to be stared at because I looked so different, when I wished with everything I had for just a small chocolate milkshake... Just something cold and chocolate... Agh.

Matt and Danielle from Spiritual Formation at Bryan College came to visit us a few days in Mumbai. Although I love Indian, it was refreshing to be able to connect so easily with two Americans. They took us to the Gate of India, the Hanging Gardens, and the more touristy side of Mumbai. Danielle was absolutely wonderful :)

The second weekend we were there Shannon got sick. Really sick. Fever, whole body ache, headache, stomach stuff, sore throat, violent coughing, shaking. It came on pretty suddenly and was so bad that Saturday night we took her to the "hospital". That was a whole other experience in and of itself. I'm not even going to blog about it because it still makes me angry. Basically though, hospitals here are not like hospitals I'm used to. I ended up telling them we needed to take Shannon back to the house and that we'd take care of her there. I stayed up with her all night and then Andrew and I went to church the next morning to speak at two services. That weekend Katlyn got sick with the same thing as well. Long story short, we had to quarantine ourselves for the Monday and Tuesday because we couldn't risk getting the children at school sick.
Andrew and I went to school Wed and taught the classes alone (which was a lot). And it looks like Shannon probably picked up the virus from the kids at school because a lot of them and the teachers were also ill with the same fever thing. By Thursday they were all feeling better but I was feeling ill so I had to stay back. And it was bad. Ohmygoodness, it was bad. Friday I made myself go to school though because it was the last day we'd be in Mumbai and I wanted to say goodbye to the kids. I'm glad I did :) They kids scrambled over one another to get pictures with us, a few kids gave us gifts, and all the girls wanted to get hugs from me. All the kids wanted our emails and to hold our hands; a few girls even planted gentle friend kisses on my cheek. Just like it has been everywhere in India I've gone, we were asked to never forget them. As if I could! I know I'm going to treasure everyone at that school forver.
I was also somehow able to go with Lima to a final bible study as well before we caught our 9pm flight back to Chennai. But I def overdid it Friday, so Saturday I was in bed all day back here at the house in Chennai.  I still can't stand for too long and I'm still absolutely exhausted, but I'm getting better. I can actually sit up to blog! :)

Anyways, sorry this is such a long blog XP. There's still so much more to tell! I haven't even begun to scratch the surface yet! I kind of wish I'd done a better job blogging about my experiences throughout this trip, but oh well. I can't look back, only try to do a better job of it in the future!

Please pray fooooorrrrr:

Team health. My health. XP This sickness usually knocks people out for about 10 days. I don't want that.
Deeper spiritual understanding and growing faith in God
Focus on God working HERE and NOW
Lima's ministry in the Mumbai slum area

AND PRAISE!

God has delivered me from two major sins that I have struggled with for years! Simply put, this is a miracle. This has nothing to do with my own strength or spirituality or whatever! God is the God of miracles and new life and new beginnings. I still can't believe the ways He's rescued me. I can't believe it. But I do. Praise God for being Holy and for never giving up on making us more and more to resemble Him!!! He is awesome. I seriously don't even have words to describe how He's rescued me. Of course, this doesn't mean the work is over. I'm kinda a mess without Him and I know the two of us have more difficult work ahead of us. But God is good - God is GOOD! :) Hallelujer
<3

- Jenni