Time for feasting

We went to SA to renew our visas, but it was also a time of refreshing and renewal. I thoroughly enjoyed the clean big shopping centers, all kinds of food, walks along the beach breathing in fresh air, spending valuable time with my family, and seeing old friends again. I kept wondering why I should go back to India. Why should I miss out on the good things in life and miss my family and friends all the time?

In John 4:32-35 I found this conversation between Jesus and his disciples:

Jesus: I have food to eat that you know nothing about.

Disciples (among each other): Could someone have brought him food?

Jesus: My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

I enjoyed the time in SA, but that is the kind of food the world dish out for us. Everywhere I go I meet people enjoying the sweeties of life, but being deprived of a nourishing relationship with our living, loving Father in heaven. So this Christmas, will you feast with me on the Bread of Life, Jesus, our Savior.

All glory and honor to God who knows and satisfies our every need. Have a blessed Christmas!

Like grass

This was an exciting month. Anandi had a great birthday party and lots of friends came to celebrate, both the girls got chosen for a fashion advertisement and they were naturals, we welcomed a new member into our family - a puppy named Snuffels, we visited the zoo and explored new territory in Jagjit Nagar where the road actually stops.

This month I was anxious so many times over things out of my control. It is a vulnerable place to be at. At this point I was reminded that I am like grass (Psa 103:15 “As for man, his days are like grass”). It does not matter how things turn out. What matters is that God has given us his Son. In Him we have everything we need, like eternal life, forgiveness, love, etc. My own plans are nothing compared to what God has in store for me. And then something amazing happens; God steps in and changes a mess into a blessing. So we are coming to South Africa this month for a visit arranged by God. I look forward and desperately need to spend time with my family and friends.

A zoo update: Zoo life around the house changed completely. The bees flew away, the chameleons and cat-sized rats left, the geckos returned with their babies. We added a cat that keeps on eating normal sized rats in our yard; a scavenger eagle that keeps circling above our lawn hoping to catch Snuffels and miniature ants that you can only see with a magnifying glass or taste in your coffee.

Change of Season

Coming from the southern hemisphere I celebrated spring day on 1 September. Until Stephan came home and told me "but it's not" - it's only a leafless autumn. I struggle with change ...

In India thousands of peoples lives changed with the season. The Kosi River left 1.5 million people in Bihar homeless. In the south Christians are murdered and harassed for their faith in Jesus. Terrorists attacked Delhi. This change caught everyone unaware and I know it may be our turn one day. I started thinking on a small scale - what if one house disappears in our street? What if 10 houses disappear in our street? What if our block disappears? Can you imagine the chaos? What about a whole city, homeless, without food and water? We've prayed for the disasters. God can make houses shoot up from the ground, but I think He wants to use our obedient hands and feet also. But it is too far and Stephan refuses to let me go ...

So inspired to help people we took Anandi who has been coughing for 3 weeks to the doctor. As we approach the office I notice something is wrong. It stinks! Around the corner of the door I see 3 babies. I look at the mothers suspiciously. The children close their noses and I want to do it too. Next to the door sits a man that looks out of place. Around his leg is a dirty rag and the flies are feasting around it. That is the origin of the stench! The receptionist snaps out of her denial and after a short conversation she shows the man the door. I know he's not going to get the help he needs - but he is close enough for us to help! After the appointment, I sniffed him out in the market. He sits next to his blind friend. The friend bought a cup of tea and shares it with his wounded friend. Half ends up on the ground and he takes the heavier cup for himself. We talk to the man and explain if he does not clean the wound that he might lose his leg or even his life. But he refuses! After half an hour of begging and a growing, unsympathetic crowd we decided to bring in reinforcements. But the man has already disappeared. We prayed for him. As we went home the same smell hit me again. It's the garbage truck!"

Be strong! Take courage! Don't be intimidated by the king of Assyria and his troops - there are more on our side than on their side. He only has a bunch of mere men; we have our God to help us fight for us."
- God, The Message (2 Chronicles 32:7)

My family and other animals

These days we are running a zoo at our home. There are ants in the children's room that you don't want to squash, because who is going to clean up afterwards. We mistook an earthworm for a snake. We saw two rats the size of cats running in our front yard. A swarm of bees the size of the two rats has gathered in one of our trees. There are two enormous, speedy chameleons ruling at our gate. Not a nice place to be at :-). By the way, I'm really worried about the geckos - they disappeared off the face of the earth.

We are doing well. We enjoy making music together. Nadia plays piano, Stephan the guitar, Anandi the flute and I get to play the congas. The children are looking forward to their birthday party this month. I am painting. Stephan is doing well at work. Nadia has developed a keen interest in cooking and joke books. Anandi loves singing all day - she calls herself the radio. She has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge.

Except for fighting the creatures of nature, I've had other struggles too these last few months. So I've learned to toughen up and fight for myself. Previously I've trusted God to take care of these issues for me, because I simply couldn't. But thankfully God knows how to handle my stubborn head and hard heart. So the burdens kept on stacking up until I couldn't carry them anymore. And then with all the boxes of my life scattered around me, I went and cried to my Father. In the act of giving my burdens to Him, I found the peace I was looking for all along. What a relieve! There is nothing like sitting on Father's lap to open the mind about what He can do and to melt the heart. You can let go too; He's waiting for you...

Just as I am - without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God I come, I come!
- Charlotte Elliott

Two

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It was a quiet month in India, but we were busy. I wish I had a long list of things worth mentioning.

Two's seem to follow us. The first time I hit someone on the road it happened twice on the same day, first a rickshaw and then an old man on a bicycle. (No cars or people were seriously injured during these incidents.) After shopping one day I realized two things were missing: eggs and ice cream. The next week I went to buy eggs again and as I wanted to pay the man did not want to take my money. He smiled and spoke in Hindi (I understand much more but cannot hear it that fast yet). With the help of hand signs I understood that I forgot my eggs the previous week. Kind of embarrassing, because it's the only thing I bought from this man. But by now I've started to acknowledge the two-principle and walked full of hope to the ice cream man. He smiled and explained that I forgot my ice cream the previous week. I understood immediately. I was truly amazed at these two strangers’ kindness towards me. And in my mind I connected two and caring. During a difficult time we got the same verse on the same day from two different sources. Jes. 41:10 "You're my servant, serving on my side. I've picked you. I haven't dropped you. Don’t panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you." – God, The Message.

In the movie "The Endurance", there is a scene where someone is released from jail and his brother is waiting outside. They embrace and the one that was in jail said he experienced the most awful things and there was no one to help him. Let us walk arm-in-arm with, share our hope in God with them and use everything at our disposal to help others, because two is better than one. How will we be able to do this? Jesus says in Mat. 10:38-39 "If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me." – God, The Message.

"Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired."- Mother Teresa