March

Children at Good Samaritan School

Outside the school

Madanpur Khatar Chuch

Girls at church

Following Daniel on way to church

Girls praying at church

Daniel, Gorilah and me. Gorilah is an attendant for the school who looks after our flat. Probably one of the coolest guys I know. Good morning!

My new profession...

I am teaching tenth grade geography. This is a little challenging due to several factors: language- most are pretty good but their vocabulary is not the same and I must speak very slow while being sure to enunciate every letter, subject- I'm no geo expert and even worse with Indian geo so I must stay ahead of the students and learn the chapter before I can teach it, task- I am new at teaching so I am trying to learn this as well, students- 40 in each class. Trying to keep them quiet is probably the greatest challenge but its magnified by the fact that they sit 2 and sometimes 3 or 4 to a desk. I do enjoy trying to come up with examples that not only explain the material but are also relevant to students of India, slum kids from India. Only a small percentage of them can even afford to attend school, education is not free in Delhi. Sponsors, mostly from the US, give donations to the majority of students. These children, whether they understand it or not have been greatly blessed by God with the opportunity to receive an education and more importantly, to hear of Jesus' love for them. Please continue to pray for them, their teachers and the Good Samaritan School.

Streets of Delhi

Just another day in Delhi. Upon observing this speeding couple passing us on the highway I couldn't help remark to Daniel, "Did he have a toilet?". Daniel confirmed the siting as a smile crossed our face, you just don't get this back home. After this, It was a not a surprise to witness the scene at right. Driving in India takes a different kind of person. Driving in Delhi is not for the faint of heart. Upon landing, we piled into the Toyota Qualis, similar to a Landcruiser, and sped off for our flat. The streets aren't crowded, they're overflowing. Every meter is fought over with a passion not witnessed elsewhere in Indian life. I'm not sure how to describe the apparent animosity represented in daily driving. These are not scattered episodes of road rage, its a way of life for anyone brave enough to leave home. Pedestrians however, are prob at the greatest risk. Trying to cross the street requires an almost detached vision towards life itself. Besides cars, rickshaws (3-wheeled bikes), autoricks, scooters and motorcycles attack the roads with a vengence prevelant from a scene in a Mad Max movie. There are also large trucks and buses. Each bus carries is crammed beyond max capacity, think world record for # people in a telephone booth. The bikes and scooters weave in and out of traffic, coming within inches of the vehicles on each side of them. The bikes usually carry between 1 and 5 people, plus supplies. They do however wear helmets, usually, other than the women. Road conditions can be problematic. Potholes can spread across entire lanes but no more than 11 inches deep. They do however, even them out with speed bumps (humps in India because they are at least one foot tall). They fall randomly throughout the highway or interstate, not just for parking lots and subdivisions.

Our driver is of the rarest breed. He is a seasoned professional with over 20 years experience, who can navigate this city with a sense of ease I thought unattainable. Upon every outing, I've witnessed him do battle in the streets of Delhi. We have escaped insurmountable situations completely unscathed. Just when I think he's finally made a mistake, miscalculated by a few millimeters or won't get stopped quick enough, he somehow manages to slip by. Just the other day, we took a couple of detours that brought me to the edge of my seat. See Daniel's blog to learn of Bitoo's death defying adventures, commandeering sidewalks and busting through bus only lanes. Yep, just another day in Delhi!

Hope abounds in India

As I'd hoped, God's presence in my life has grown stronger since coming to India. Not because I'm in India, not because I'm on a mission trip and not because I'm doing God a favor, but because I've left behind so many of the distractions of home and opened my eyes to seek Him out on a continual basis. You see, there is really no where else to turn. I am 12,000 kilometers, roughly 7,400 miles, from almost everyone I know. The culture is completely different and I can barely carry on a conversation with the majority of people I meet. So who can I turn to for help except our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This is a common circumstance that God uses to teach us lessons. Many times we ask God to make our lives easier, to take away the uncomfortable or difficult situations. These are the times in which God teaches us to depend upon Him and His plan for our life. It is at our most weakened and vulnerable state that we finally submit control and surrender all to God.

This is displayed continuously at the school. They are constantly calling upon the Lord for help praising Him for EVERYTHING. It is convicting to see a people living out their days in such miserable conditions, and then to witness them praising the Lord and thanking Him for all the small things in their lives. I pray that God will continue to use their example to develop and strengthen my faith and dependence in Him.

Blinded

We are oblivious to the daily strife endured by the human race. In America, we are confined to our comfortable lives and aren't to blame for our ignorance to the plight of other peoples and nations around the globe. Sure, we occasionally hear something on the news or a World Hunger commercial will flash across the screen before I can find the remote, but does that even phase us anymore. My goal here is not to cast blame or cause guilt, for I am no different. It is not our fault, how were we to know? Even pictures are not enough. The carnage must be seen with your own eyes and I'm not sure that is even sufficient. I am here seeing it but still cannot fully contemplate the extent of the poverty and hardships in which they endure everyday, and I'm not sure I ever can without experiencing it for myself. Many people here survive on less money per day than we spend on a gallon of gasoline. The living conditions for many are unimaginable. A canvas tarp strung up on the side of a busy road serves as home for an entire family, a family who is fortunate to receive one meal a day consisting of little more than a bowl of rice. Infection and disease are a way of life, stemming from unsanitary living conditions, poor hygiene and malnutrition coupled with no medical care. James 1:2-3 says: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. It is difficult to find comfort in these words. But what can I, what can we do to help. Our guilt will not ease anyone's suffering. Sending money or food provides only temporary relief. The change must come from the inside, from within India or wherever the oppressed people may be. By showing them Jesus' love and sharing the good news we give them the only hope they may ever have. We can start through prayer. Prayer not only for their physical burdens but also for their souls in hope and and knowledge that one day God will bring an end to their suffering and together we can all enjoy everlasting peace and happiness when we go Home to be with with our Father in Heaven.

Not a complaint

During our first 4-5 days here, Daniel, Will and I finished off a jar of blueberry jam. You see, our breakfast consists of two eggs, fried by our very own Gorilah the apt attendant who speaks and maybe understands less than ten english words, with toast with pb and jelly or in its absence, honey. Actually, we aren't completely out of spreadable fruit. We do have diabetic orange marmalade. Orange marmalade is not my favorite but this jar is close to inedible. I've never experienced anything quite like this. The taste is not unbearable, but the shreds of orange peal filling the jar offers a texture and taste that though not intentional, insults your taste buds. So, this morn Gorilah asked us about groceries. We asked him to purchase us some more jelly because we'd already explained that the marmalade was not to our taste. I showed him the empty jar of blueberry jam while we pointed out every jam friendly fruit in the apartment. After lunch I was joyed, but only for a moment, to discover a new jar of jam located in the refrigerator (pictured below).

Though I've yet to actually taste the jam, my growing expectations are nothing short of tremendous!

first impression

My first week in India has been amazing. I've experienced so much in the last few days. The school is incredible, the people are inspiring, the food is pretty good and our Lord is being blessed in a tremendous way. We've been playing games with the children and having Bible study with some of the staff. Everything was going as planned until we visited the slums. The living conditions there are unimaginable. But you wouldn't know it from the passion with which they worship. Singing songs and casting prayers and requests to our Lord with unchecked zeal and assurance. We are settling in to our apartment with the help of Laura Marie and Will Ditto. LM left Friday and Will is flying out on Tuesday, leaving only Daniel and me. We've been running daily and adjusting to the food and culture, trying to learn a few words and phrases. We've been discussing with the school a schedule and classes to teach. We will have the 10th graders, who thankfully speak english.

During our flight over, I told myself to forget about my wants and desires and to concentrate on others, to place their needs before my own. However, upon landing, I was caught off guard by the Indians treatment of Daniel and me. The student's and faculty's excitement andtreatment of Daniel and me is uncomfortable at times. They are so insistent upon ensuring our comfort. Onemember of the staff, Ashish repeats the phrase,with a smile on his face, "I am at your service". Their actions have demonstrated a new definition of how to serve others. With love I thank you for your prayers and support.Pictured on top is Daniel and me following the Bible study from rooftop of Madanpur Khatar slum, above are students at the school; Below are Ananthi, Daniel and Laura Marie; then me Daniel and Will at Tughluqabad Fort