No TV for three days!!!!!!

The cat is away so the mice are playing. I get three days and two nights of television free bliss.

I have listened to my first CD of the night and it feels so very good. I miss listening to music. There is just something about turning on one of your favorite songs really loud and sharing it with the neighbors while dancing around like a crazy person. My kids love it too.

We were tagged for wasting water today. Our neighbor has a broken sprinkler that floods our yard in the morning and we get the warning. Funny how that works. Oh, well. I will just turn ours off and see what happens next.

Shad has talked of a possible move again. I find it funny how unsettled he can be sometimes. Anyway, I was thinking a lot about it and it would be nice to move to a place where we know no one and could perhaps start something. Not mischief, but like a house gathering of some sort. I miss having everyone over like we used to.

Tomorrow I have a meeting, and then it is off to the stuffed animal hospital to get Fluffy and Honey fixed up. They seem to be coming apart from the seams. Hailey is distraught about the whole thing, but I re-assured her that it would be alright. There are some really good stuffed animal doctors out there. Right? I mean, because I can't sew a thing!

Dream time

It is morning time! Are you awake?

I had a dream about traveling on a long and winding road in a very fast car with a bunch of others and we were on some kind of mission. But we were attacked and the road broke into pieces and we ended up crashing in the ocean. We were taken aboard a ship of some kind and we thought we were safe, but a group came in and they were shocking us all with these shocker wands to knock us out. Many of us were hit, and I thought we were toast, but we all survived.
We regrouped and decided to branch off and try to find a way to complete our mission.

I have weird dreams.

So my fist "mission" this morning was the dog poop in the back yard. I have accomplished at least that much today. Next, this blog. Man, I am just on a roll!

We are going to the meadow today. Hope to see you there as I am sure it will be an awesome time to fellowship. (that is a churchy term for hanging out with family and friends)
See you there?

Who? Me?

Yes I am still painting, but lets talk about something else.

I was thinking about this famous guy who studied black holes. He spent most of his life doing nothing because he was so smart that everything bored him. And then after being diagnosed with a disease that will eventually kill him, he decided to start studying black holes? I am so lost with all of that. To be so intelligent and to spend your life working on numbers. I would totally try to use all of my intelligence working on a cure for something. Or on trying to better the world in some way. I know, make lots of money and buy a huge amount of property and create my own commune where people could live for free and plant and harvest their food, and kids could run amuck with no shoes and there were no TV's and everyone could play music and sing and dance and worship. Okay, I think I was born in the wrong year, or growing up in the 70's took its toll on my brain.

Dave said some heavy stuff the other night and it has my head spinning. What he said wasn't all that complicated, but very honest and kind of like a kick in the gut but in a nice way.

I am sorry we missed out on the beach time. I really love it there, but funds were low. We had a good weekend anyway and actually spent time together with no children. We really needed that.

Home schooling is going great so far. I started two weeks early with the girls so we could take more time off during the holidays. We are finally getting on a better schedule that accommodates all of what needs to be done during the day. I found this cool site on the web that gave me lots of info that has helped in that department of my life. I am taking one day at a time with all of the organizing and such.

Sometimes I wish I had something awe inspiring and super intelligent to say.

Confession time

Hello, my name is Sherry and I am addicted to(deep breath) painting. I believe my obsession started at the early age of three when I was given a ceramic raggity Andy to paint. Next thing I new I was painting my closet doors with out permission, and then I moved on to heaver stuff.

Now, I can't seem to stop painting my house. I thought my obsession was slowing down, but it is getting worse. I have blue, red and brown in my house now. I can't stop. Some one, please help me.


Okay, I probably would make a horrible actress, but who cares. I really have an issue with painting. I have started it up again and I am sure I am making Shad crazy with it all. Oh well, I guess there are worse things I could be obsessed with.

Last journal entry of India

So, here it is,





Wednesday---I am so excited to go home to my family. My nose is sore this morning and so I keep messing with it. I really don't want to get it infected so I keep putting antibiotic ointment on it.

It is quiet this morning in our room. The air conditioner is drowning out the sounds behind the thin walls around us. Outside there is a Muslim priest preaching over the loud speaker. They do this three or four times a day here. Sometimes I wish I knew what they were saying. Other times, I am afraid of what they might be saying.

I am anxious to get this day going. I really just want to be on the plane already going home. I have decided that if I can't travel with Shad and the girls together, I don't travel. It is so hard and I miss them so much. Some nights I forget I am gone and wake up remembering I am in India. Bumber. Not totally, I mean, I feel blessed to have traveled here, I just really miss my family.

Susie seems a bit grouchy. She has been so awesome this whole trip, I feel that she is just very upset to be leaving. I pray that her next trip will be a longer one.

I miss my kids crawling on my asking for Coco Puffs. I miss Shad's sarcasm, Gram's phone calls, Toni's sarcasm, Jim's jokes, Shannon's love, Rob's silliness, JR's arrogance, Shonna's smile, the children's laughter, among other things. Perhaps my greatest lesson is love and compassion for all people this trip. Patience and kindness, and understanding as well.

Family is everywhere, and I mean just that. I hope my children learn that. I want to be a better mother, a better wife, a better friend, a better sister in Christ. God is helping me do this. Only God.

I pray for a fun, but swift last day in India for all of us. Fun, swift, and very safe.

Thank you!





------I never had time to write anything else about our trip, so if you are wanting to know more, just ask. I am here. Thanks for reading. Love you all.

Went to a court hearing for a young girl today. I was amazed by the amount of people there, all for similar issues. How sad to see so many lost souls. It lasted a whole ten minutes(her court case) and in the end, I feel more than confident that we are to offer our home and love, and leave it up to God.

I have grown more in these last few days than in the last year I think. Funny how that works right?

I read Joe's blog and he just is such an awesome example of God's love. He and Debb are constant inspiration for us. We love you.

On another note, I am due to write the last of my journal from India, but I will have to make you wait until tonight. Sorry.

House church has been awesome. Thanks Gregg! And can you believe the stuff that floods out of Zack's mind these day!?! Very cool!

Happiness and safety to all of those going to California this weekend. Sorry we won't be able to make it. Love you all!

I finally found a nose ring that doesn't hurt to wear!

I guess I should write the last of my journal entries from India.



Monday-9:30 am India

We all spoke at Devotions today. The girls were awesome to listen to. They really have gotten so much out of this trip. Susie is ready to come back and we haven't even left yet. She loves these people so very much.

I am very excited to be going home. I love it here, but home is where my heart is and I am ready. I feel much better today which is good. Everyone else is as well I think. I just realized that Hailey's birthday is right when I get back. I will have to plan a special day for her.

I feel as though there will be a lot of change awaiting me when I get home, all of which is in God's control.

It is almost time to shower, then have lunch, then have henna done, and it is off to the train. The girls still have one last game as well.



Tuesday- 9PM Delhi

We left Damoh at 6:30 and our train was late, so we sat in our cars while we waited for it to arrive because if we were to get out, we would have created a huge crowd, and it wouldn't have been safe. There were all kinds of people staring at us anyway. This child kept knocking on the window to get our attention in an attempt to beg for money. Those moments are always so hard to deal with. I just wanted to reach out and help, but knew I couldn't.

While in the cars, we were guarded by about thirty men from the mission. Crazy. Then when the train came, we were ushered to the section we were to get on and put into first class sleeper cars again. We passed so many people just laying on the ground as though they just live right there at the station.

Our trip was 13 hours and I had to use the squattie many times which sucked. Most of us slept well though. We awoke about an hour out from our destination. We sat and watched out the window as naked children living in trash went by, as well as people living in mud huts, or just right out in the open air. Cows and pigs roamed around, people bathing or quatting. Maxin told us that there are around 60 million people just in Delhi alone! Less then half are middle class.

We all seemed comfortable with walking from the train to our awaiting SUV to take us here to the Y. Funny that we became so comfortable in Damoh, and yet so many people keep staring and gauking at us. I guess we could never really blend in.

We had time to freshen up a bit and then it was off to shop. First we went to "Central Cottage Industries Emporium" which is a huge mall type of place where you pick what you want, get a receipt, then they take the items down stairs to package for you. When you are all done shopping, you go down to pay at one place, and then just go with your receipts and pick up all of your stuff. It is a very cool system I think.

For lunch we ate at McDonald's! Sad isn't it? The place was packed with people, and we ate chicken burgers with cheese. I didn't feel so well after that but we came here to rest and I started to feel better after a while.

After our rest we went to a place called Delhi Haaut and it was fricken HOT there! It is an outdoor mall, and full of little places to shop. We tried and tried to spend our money, but couldn't seem to spend it all. Then I told Maxin that I wanted to get my nose pierced. He looked at me in surprise and said"You really want to get your nose drilled?" I told him not if they really use a drill!

He took us through some narrow streets to a jewelry shop where I bought a nose ring. Then I was told that the owner didn't do piercings, so we went on through some more of the narrow streets and approached this man standing on the corner with a brief case. He whipped out a piercing gun, marked my nose with a pen, and Bing, bang, boom it was done! I've been drilled!!!

It was sore for a while, but feels good now. I have been putting some antibiotic ointment on it to make sure I don't ge infected. Let pray about that shall we?

After that we went off to dinner. It was the best Chinese food I have ever had! Then, the girls mentioned that they were out of disposable cameras and wondered if there was a place to get one. Shireesh went to get them one, but returned and said that there was a camera shop around the corner that we could go to after we were done. After dinner, and ice cream at 31 flavors!, we went to the camera shop only to realize that the owner had closed about an hour prior and waited for us to get there so he could open up just for us! Then the girls ended up buying cameras they could keep for about $10!!! They were in shock that the place opened just for them. We all were. Then we realized that our driver had been with us all day and never left our car!

I feel so very blessed to have had all of these experiences. Did I mention that I saw one man getting a hair cut right on the street, and another getting a shave? Crazy!

Tomorrow is sight seeing day, and then off to the plane. I am excited to see my family and share the blessing I have been given.


---Well, that is it for today. I have one last entry to write, but will save it for tomorrow. Right now I must get to work. I hope you have enjoyed this. I love that I can read all of this and be brought right back to the moment. India is really a mystical place. God is so evident there. I want to love people like they loved us.

Parents, can't live with them, can't live without them.

I give it all up to the big man upstairs.

So I feel as though my mother is being her usual manipulating self as her room mate called me today to ask me if I could borrow money from my church to loan them, and then she would pay them back when she gets her check next week.

My first thought is to go over there and confront them all about all of the crap. My next thought is, how is that going to change anything? I know it won't, so then what? Do I do nothing? Perhaps I need to reflect on this a bit more.

I am going to pray about it all.

Care to join me?

Howdy!

so, here is my next journal entry:

Sunday 6:30AM India

We are about to go to church but first we have to have Grandma Pushpa dress us. How funny is that? I feel beat up after yesterday's ride.


Okay, I am very sick. I admit it, and God is in control. We got dressed with Pushpa's help and then went to the church where they have Sunday school. I started to feel real bad, but made it through, and then we went to a Sunday School class to read The Giving Tree to the kids. I began to feel very hot and, well, just crappy and sick. I made it through the story, then had to come back to lay down. I slept, then ran to the bathroom, then had to take Advil for a fever. Top it all off with a head and chest cold and you can just imagine how I feel.

I just went to lunch, and there were a ton of people there to celebrate Shiney's birthday, so I had to leave. I just felt overwhelmed with sadness and a longing for my family.

Last night we all had a serious talk with the girls about being more respectful with one another. They felt that we were ganging up on them and started on the attack. I believe they were making it out to be more than it was, but then they began to accuse Kellinee of being manipulative, and of course Kellinee took offense. In the end, I believe the conversation ended on a positive note.

All in all, we have all had a life changing, and wonderful time here, but I must confess, I am ready to go home. I miss my family very much and long to hold them again. Tomorrow will be hard. A 12 hour train ride, then we spend the day and night, and then day again in Delhi. After all of that, it is a trip to the airport where we fly for what will seem like forever to get to Taiwan, then L.A. and then home.

I have learned so much on this trip. The biggest lesson is on how to love people better. I am not sure if I could come back here any time soon, but I am definitely in to help raise money for the next trip. Susie is so love here, and she really has been a blessing on so many people.

Sunday, very late night, I feel like crap, my body hurts, and I can't stop running to the bathroom. However, God is so good to me. We should always give thanks to God, even in times of sickness and sorrow. I pray for a good nights sleep and a blessed journey home.

--Well, I will try to do more tomorrow. I have to go watch my Jags!!!

Help!

Sorry, but I have to take a moment away from my India trip to process some stuff in my life.

My mother is irresponsible and doesn't take care of herself at all, and now is in a bad place financially, and emotionally. She has used up her safety net and is in a position where she is in need of not just money, but a place to live.

You have to understand, I don't have the greatest relationship with my mother as she is a manipulator and thrives on drama. She has done some very wrong things to me in the past, however she is still my mom and I love her. I just don't like her very much.

Why is it that children end up having to take care of their parents even if the parents did a crappy job of raising their children? Sorry, I just have issues with my family. They all need prayer, and I should be the first to pray.

Just had to get that out. I will type in the journal entry tomorrow.

Hi

Time for a quick journal update, then off to work.



Saturday-8:30am India

We will be going to the jungle today. Not to run around in it, but driving through it. We get to stop some place to have lunch as well. I am excited and hope to see monkeys. I wonder if we will see any elephants?

Kellinee and I are both very sick now, and Susie sounds like she is the next victim. Amanda however is doing better thank goodness. The girls are at the school right at this moment playing basketball. They really love this.

This trip has really changed me, and continues to do so every day. I think I want to start praying with Shad every night. I will have to start it, but know it would do a world of good for us. We should pray with the girls as well. I really don't want to forget this place, or anything I have learned here. I pray that I am strong enough to withstand the evils of home. God is really working on my heart here. And these children, they are so full of beauty and longing to be loved.


Just got back from the jungle and it was so awesome! There were so many breath taking views! We were able to stop by an animal preservation building and we went to the roof to take pictures. Incredible! We saw monkeys with babies hanging form their bellies walking around. I tried to get a good picture, but we went to fast. We couldn't stop long because they were coming to the car and we were afraid they would try to get in. The roads are horrible, the worst we have seen yet, and my butt agrees, but the views were just astonishing. We saw a 400 year old fort, and a waterfall.

On our way out of the jungle, David took a road that he has not taken Americans on before, and we ended up smack in the middle of a village that has probably never seen a car, or an American. The road became to narrow and we had to back up and go another way, and the people of the village were staring in amazement just like we were. I stuck my hand out and was snapping pictures like a crazy person because I wanted to remember this moment. It was like watching a movie, only realizing you are in it. Crazy!!!!

Tomorrow we will wear our new sarees to church and do some fun things with the children in the Sunday school class. I have also decided to get my nose pierced at some point. My family will freak out. I am excited about it though. On Monday, we get to go to the school for the last time which will be sad, and then we get to have henna done before we leave for our 13hour train ride. That train ride is going to suck, but at least we will get to lay down and have cool air. It just sucks being stared at, and don't even get me started about the squattie!

I am very excited to see my family and to give them hugs and kisses. I am also looking forward to seeing the girls reunited with their families as well. A small, but much needed moment of affection for all.


---short but sweet. See you later!

Sunday

So another day of work and cleaning. My house is a mess all of the time. I really need to work harder on that. Ready for another look into India? Let's go....


Friday- ?

Amanda is still sick today. She threw up yesterday and still played ball. These girls have been so willing to try and do anything. I am still sick, Kellinee is now sick and her rash is back. I can't imagine how miserable she must feel yet she is still not complaining and moves right through the day as though she is perfectly fine. I have a cold or pneumonia, I can't tell which. Oh well, I can say I got sick in India. Cool.

We went to the village today and were greeted by many children and other villagers. We were again draped in flowers, and the children of the village sang some songs for us. The head of the village also sang for us. The mission encourages the village to sing in their traditional ways, and it was incredible to be standing there realizing that we were really there listening to this. It is like we are watching National geographic, but from a live perspective.

After we were done there, we were able to walk down the road to a house and were also able to go inside to see the way they live. The whole house was one room, about the size of my bathroom. I think there were four or five people living in there. One room. Next door they are building a new home. It will have three rooms, and a courtyard where they can keep their cows and chickens. They have been building on it for a year now, and it is far from done. Across the way, the well sits which is where they go to get their water three times a day. The water they drink, cook with and shower in, if you can call it that.

The girls and Susie had to leave because they had to get back and play ball, but Kellinee and I got to stay for a little while longer. We went back to the school in the village and got to hand out bibles that were translated in Hindi to some of the children there who had excelled in their studies. They were so excited to receive their gift. After we took more pictures, it was time to leave. I wish we could have stayed longer. I feel truly blessed to have been able to share in this experience today.

The roads here are horrible. Pot hole after pot hole while dodging dogs, cows, cars and people. Crazy. When we got back, I sat with Amanda for a while. She stayed behind to rest because she is not doing too well. She was going to go, but Susie had to throw down the law. She is trying to be so strong, but is going through some major crap at home. Pray, pray, pray.

Next, it was off to see the first graders and to do a lesson. They were so cute! None of them spoke English well at all, but that didn't seem to matter.

I learned from Sheela that Hindi women usually get their noses pierced early in age so that when they get married (at around 13 sometimes!) they can wear a rather large ring in their noses. Also, wearing a toe ring shows that they are married. Funny, because that explains why Kellinee keeps getting asked if she is married. Married women also wear black and gold beads sometimes to show that they are married. Men however do nothing. No ring, no nothing. I have also learned that most Indian food is fried, people eat with their hands, women cover their heads while in prayer, and singing in Hindi is WAY different but fascinating!

Oh, there was this woman in the village who takes care of 60 children while the parents go work in the fields. Usually the mothers of small children would wrap their small children up in their saries and basically wear them while they work. There are rice patties all over the country side. We passed many graves and places of worship as well on the drive. An ox cart is the main mode of transportation in the village. It is also a place Gandhi visited often. What an awesome thing to get to see.

It is evening now, and we all seem to be dragging a bit. The day was long and everyone seems home sick. I know I am. I miss my girls and Shad very much. Sheeba too. I miss sleeping in my bed, with a pillow thicker than two inches. I miss taking a shower, the dry heat, milk, the smell of clean laundry, my girls waking me up, Shad's laughter, ice cream, cold water, being able to brush my teeth with sink water, just to name a few. But I am very glad I made this journey here to meet with David, Sheela and their children. The people here are wonderful and totally live for the Lord every moment of every day. They are such awesome demonstrations of how to truly live your life for God and His work. I feel compelled to write about everything so that I may share it with everyone I know. I feel so much like I can do anything as long as it is for God.


--At this point in the journal, I drew a picture, but will keep it to myself. I hope you have enjoyed my journal from India, and that you will come back tomorrow for another glimpse of just some of the many wonderful, incredible, and amazing things I was fortunate enough to experience. If you want, I have pictures as well. Yep, like 978 of them.Till next time, stay healthy, happy and safe.

Happy Saturday!

Well, I thought I would make a change in color. Blue is my favorite you know. Ready for the next portion of my journal from India? Me too.



Thursday, July 22nd? 7AM India, 7:30PM home.

Kell and I are about to embark on an adventure in learning and teaching with a first grade class in India. We only get 30min but I am super excited. All of the children wear uniforms here. School here is just so very different.

I have to use a bucket to shower, sleep in a mosquito net and sandals are the preferred shoe. I lather myself in Deet every morning noon and night to keep away the blood suckers. Hope I don't grow a third arm. In the middle of chaos, there are so many beautiful things here. Beautiful faces, fabrics, carvings. Every time we are greeted for the first time we are draped in flowers and beads. People stare at us all of the time. I guess the super white chicks will always stand out here. While in the shop looking at fabrics, there were about 50 people gathered outside watching us. The store keeper had to go out and run them off. That was just weird. It made me feel kind of bad as they are just as curious about us as we are about them.

People sleep in the dirt, or tent, or hut or what ever they have. Children wonder the streets alone, dirty and looking hungry. Some beg in the streets as a profession. I am told that certain bosses will take women with small children, hook them (the child) on heroin or some other drug so that they will be crying or whinny all of the time to help in the " feel sorry for me" process while the parent begs for money. Certain bosses are in control of certain areas and people. So many people with no concept of a better life. Yet God is working everywhere I look. You see women in beautifully colored fabrics in the fields working. Ox drawn carts, and people carrying things on their heads. Sights I would think of in my mind when reading the Bible. Amazing.


It is bed time again. I stayed out of the sun during the second session of basket ball today. It was a good thing as I am feeling better. The heat just makes you feel so run down. I should be drinking more water. We leave here in four days. Too soon.

Tomorrow we get to go to a village, and one of the villagers will allow us to go into their home to see how they live. Then we might get to see a Hini temple. I am a bit nervous about tomorrow because we were told that we could only stay for about an hour for security reasons. I hope to get many pictures while we are there. I hear thunder, so I am sure it will rain tonight. God really is the same everywhere.

--Well, I guess that was full of interesting facts. I really had a blessed time there and felt blessed to see God in so many people, places and things. Till tomorrow.

Thanks for reading.

Ready?

So time for another glimpse into my warped mind while in India. Oh, you know you like it.



Wednesday, this time I am sure.
Sitting here this morning I am overwhelmed with the feeling of God's presence here. I think of all I have witnessed, and He is so evident. What makes home so different? Why can't I see God like this at home? Perhaps it is all of the STUFF we think we need but don't, and perhaps we let ourselves get consumed by it. Obviously. I am learning to love my family better. I don't want to let go of the lessons I am receiving here. I pray that all I learn and experience will stay with me always and forever. I want to love people like these people are loving me.

It is 6:20 am here and the birds have been chirping all morning. Sounds I've never heard before all around me. I can hear the train in the distance. A reminder of how short our time here is.

Today, breakfast, devotions, then basketball. Kellinee and I are doing another lesson with the handicap children. They are awesome. After that we will get to go to the shopping area to pick out fabric for our clothes we are to have made. I am very excited to see the shopping area and the people who live there.

Kell and I will also get to spend time with Grandma Pushpa and some of the widows. We might even get to share our stories with them, and theirs with us. I am excited. For dinner tonight we are eating here at grandma Pushpa's and it will be authentic Indian. Oh baby!

Have I mentioned that everyone I have met that works here has their PHD? This place is just amazing!

---well, here we are. I hope you had fun. I know I did. Till tomorrow.....

So much to do, so little time......

Things are moving along, and I have a ton of work today. So, lets get this done......


I guess it is Tuesday, I am not ever sure anymore. We went to see Grandma Pushpa and listened to her stories of the work she does here at the mission. She is an amazing woman. She has a program with 600 children in it. She tries to find people who are willing to donate $12 a month to help support their needs but doesn't have the number of supporters she needs. 200 of these children are here in Damoh. She said they are in need of a vehicle that takes diesel gas so they can transport these kids to school and back, and that because they do not have enough supporters, they divide the money they do get up so that every child gets something from it. I feel a deep need to help out with this situation but will have to talk with Shad first. For now I will pray and pray and pray.

She also runs a program for widows. When a woman's husband dies here, they are considered cursed. They don't have ways of making money, so they go to live with their children and are considered a burden. Grandma Pushpa's program helps these women by teaching them trades and giving them grains and beans and rice to give to their children so that they are less of a burden on them and so that they will be treated better. Pray, pray, pray......

We went to see the handicap children and read them "The Little Rain Cloud." Then we did a little are project with them. This little cuttie boy stole my heart and I helped him with his project. I had so much fun. I can't wait to see my girls and share with them all of the things we are doing here.

Time to go play basketball! Be right back!

Well, we have done so much and seen so much. I really want to be able to document everything, but I guess that would be impossible. School is very different here. The children stay in one class room all day, and the teachers move from room to room. They don't have many books, and no air conditioning, just fans and open windows. The teachers basically lecture for 30 minutes and then move on. Children stand when anyone comes into the room and say "Good morning ma'am" and smile and seem very eager to learn. When asked what they do for fun when not in school, the kids looked puzzled, then said they do tutoring classes. Basically saying that they are always doing school, or learning except for Sunday when they go to Sunday school at church. They play games during the afternoons at break time at the school. They have a volleyball net and seem to play that a lot. Cricket is the big game here though. And of course, there is basketball. They love it. You can see in their faces that they do. They love Susie as well. That much is super obvious!
She loves it here and I feel that she will certainly be back soon. God obviously has big plans for her and this place. At least that is what I feel.

Time for bed.

--well, that is it for today, hope you liked it or learned something. Remember, if you have questions, just ask. Thanks for listening.

Happy Birthday Hailey!!!

I am a mother of a 10 year old. How the hell did that happen?!?! Oh, right. Well, on to other things.

So this day is a very special one for me. Once Hailey wakes up we will watch the video of her birth, I will cry, she will smile, and we shall celebrate the life God allowed me to help bring into this world. I am blessed.

I thought we would do girlie stuff like get our nails done and go shopping, but now I realize that it would be better to spend some time together with God. So I am taking the girls to the mountains where perhaps He can hear us better. We will have cake and play and enjoy the day together.

So, on to the India journal entry of the day. Enjoy:


Monday- I think.

Today was awesome! These girls are changing right before our eyes! Two of them prayed tonight which was very cool. We took a tour of the whole mission campus today. There are so many things going on here. An eye hospital, a Bible College, a school for the blind, a school for handicap children, a women's center, a movie/music studio, and the list goes on. Incredible!

The ants are HUGE here. I mean, HUGE!!!!

I am very emotional right now. So much goes on and it is surreal. I miss Shad and the girls. I really wish Shad could be here with me to see all of this. He would be changed forever.

It rained tonight, and it was so lovely. I love the rain here, it just pours down and is so refreshing.

Tomorrow is devotions, then teaching, then basketball. I am very excited but a bit nervous as this is all out of my comfort zone.

The food has been awesome as well. Five course breakfast, lunch and dinner!! Sheela is a great cook. I really am a bad wife and mother. Sheela doesn't even sit down until everyone is served and has everything they need. Do people really do that in the States?

I am very exhausted and need sleep. Till tomorrow.


--well, that was a short one, but full of some info. Hope you all have a great day.
Thanks for reading.

Ah! Monday morning!

I woke up at 6:30 this morning. Curious.

Well, the Apex gathering was really good. They still did child care though, which I thought was kind of weird, but what do I know.

So, ready for another look into our trip? Me too.



Not sure of the date or time. I know it is around 4am India time, and we just arrived in Damoh. We were greeted by about 60-70 staff members from the mission with flowers and hand shakes and smiling faces. The girls looked a little overwhelmed. I know I was.

David said Mama Pushpa's home is 100 years old. This is where we are staying and it is very beautiful. The girls are together which is great because they will have a chance to become closer I think. I am sharing a room with Kellinee, and Susie has her own room. Much deserved I feel. She is the reason we are all here really. I feel welcome, safe, but still a little on guard. I believe that there isn't anything on our agenda for the day but rest and relaxation from the journey.

I can't put into words accurately enough the full events of today. We saw the Taj Mahal and it was awesome and beautiful, breath taking, full of history behind the reason and way it was built. It was extremely hot, and at one point I thought I was going to faint. Between the heat and humidity you dehydrate very quickly and I don't think I was drinking enough water.

We also saw the Red Fort which I thought was going to be very close to the Taj for some reason, but isn't. It is across the river. I took pictures of everything I could. Keeping up with our guide was a bit difficult, but we pushed on and we ended our tour at the Only restaurant in Agra. Yes, that is it's name. The food was very good, the water and air even better for me. Funny how we take so much for granted until we don't have it any more.

I have seen people begging on the streets, causing their children to cry so people will feel sad. I have seen children wondering alone in a pile of trash. I saw and was approached by a man who walked on all fours because his back was twisted and deformed. I've seen cows, wild dogs, pigs, monkeys, donkeys, camels, and an assortment of birds that I have never seen before. People sleep on the curbs that separate the middle of the road which freaks me out. Wouldn't you be afraid to roll off and out into the street? They drive on the other side of the road here. Weird.

While at the Taj, we were greeted by a large group of Indian girl scouts who wanted to have their picture taken with us. Many men and boys stare and grin. That's freeky.

I am so grateful to be here, yet miss my girls and Shad very much. I did get to call them today. It brought me to tears and was totally awesome to hear all of their voices.

We took a couple of train rides today. One in first class seats and one time in a sleeper car. The sleeper cars have air and are separated by just a curtain. There are four sleepers to one compartment. Kell was above me, and there were a total of three families that shared our spot on the way here. I woke up at one point as I was being sat on by some lady and some kids. She apologized, and I told her, "no, no problem, just sit." and I went back to sleep.

The squattie is something else. Gross to the nose, and hard to use on a moving train that is bouncing you around every which way, but better than the western toilet which is just foul.
There were a lot of military traveling on our train which was freaking me out at first sight, but eased my concern at the same time. David said he upped security while we are at the mission so we would feel safer. That just freaks me out a bit but I will keep that to my self.

For now, I lie here on my bed under a mosquito net and I am very glad to be in the cool air, stretched out, safe and finally done traveling for a while. I have taken 160 pictures so far. And, I spent my first bit of money on these marble jewelry boxes for the girls. I found out later that I was totally ripped off, but I don't really mind.

I have been blessed with this whole experience so far. More tomorrow.


-well this ends today's journal entry. I hope you enjoyed. If you ever have questions, just email me.
Happy day!

Good Morning!

Here it is on a beautiful Sunday morning and I have just finished my toast. So, I figure it is time for another journal entry from the trip. Hope you enjoy:


Saturday-I think. Not sure of the date but will check on that later.
We had an amazing day so far. We had breakfast which consisted of toast, a banana, porrage, an egg and this potato pancake thing that was spicy but real good. I am sure I will pay for that later. After breakfast, we had a little meeting with the girls.

The girls talked about their highs and lows and voiced some concerns about being stared at. They liked it and felt guilty about that, but it also felt weird to them as well. Interesting.

While we were talking David came in and we all listened as he gave us some history on Hinduism and on some of the gods they worship. There are over 33million gods! He said that people are beginning to ask questions about the actions of these gods and finding that their gods can't give them the answers. He gave us a lot of information and the girls asked a lot of good questions. An awesome moment to watch and participate in as well.

It was then time to pile into the SUV and drive through town. It was hot and very humid and uncomfortable. So much to see on the drive. Things that tug your heart in all directions. To many emotions to process.

We were taken to the underground mall. It is what it is called. A huge mall that is under a park. We were taken to a place to exchange our money. The room was small, and so humid it was foggy. I have a ton of rupees which is kind of cool. It kind of makes you feel like you have more money than you do. I plan on bringing a few home for school purposes.

To exchange money, we had to take turns signing our travelers checks, hand them over to one guy who calculated the rate on a piece of paper, and then he passes it on to another guy. The first guy whipped out a bunch of money, and so much that it is all stapled together. The next guy filled out the exchange form, and after we sign it, we are done. It took a while for all of us to go through the process, but once we were done, it was time for shopping.

We found ourselves in a shop and before we knew it, outfits were flying everywhere! The girls picked out some very pretty clothes to wear on the train to Agra and Damoh. I wasn't so lucky so I will get to shop in Damoh and have some clothes made. I can't wait to meet Sheela. David and the other guys who's names I can't say just yet have been wonderful. I will get into that later. So after the shopping spree, we left for the Lotus Temple. Very cool looking, and again, very hot. We could see the Harri Krishna (spelling?) temple and could hear the bells ringing and the people chanting and singing. Weird. Next it was off to lunch. We had cheese pizza of all things! The place we ate at was sweltering hot and we were very tired and unsure if we wanted to continue on with the sightseeing, but sucked it up and continued the day.

We ended up at this very old temple tower that was built in the 1300's I think. Amazing that they could build such things. And the carvings were incredible. There were many native people there and they were so interested in us which is funny because we were interested in them. The sky opened up with rain and it was awesomely refreshing. We played in the rain which made us the center of attention. Oops. Suddenly everyone wanted to watch us, and take pictures with us and of us. The rain woke us all up and we were full of life once again. The best day so far.


-Well, there is some more from my journal. Hope you enjoyed it. I wasn't always awake enough to write everything as explicit as I wanted to. I left some stuff out of course. There is just so much that we were seeing and it was way too much info. to write all down. This particular day was one of the most fun for me I think. As a group anyway. If you are interested, I have tons of pictures! Have an awesome day and thanks for reading.