Monday, April 9, 2012

A...l...m...o...s...t...

Sooooooooooo close! We are soooooooooooooo incredibly CLOSE!

Eli and I have been fundraising since the end of February, and, as you can see if you scroll down and look at our "fundraising thermometer", God has affirmed our mission by blessing us with the funds to go. So far, we have our tickets, our visas, our most essential supplies, and now we're just trying to raise that last little bit for the small costs (like travel food and India-appropriate clothing) and emergencies.....
A "salwar kameez"... super cheap, super modest, super fly.

So many of you have donated your money, remembered us in your prayers and given us encouragement... please keep praying!!

If you've read our last few posts, you know that we're both, shall we say, uneasy about what we're doing because we don't actually know what to expect. We're also, however, INSANELY CONFIDENT that God wants us in India. So we know He'll provide financially. We also know we should be prudent and safe, hence the importance of our emergency money. We'll be donating any extra money directly to the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata.

Our mission, while grounded in our faith, is truly a universal one - we're going to work for the oft-considered "dregs" of humanity, giving them dignity and using the gifts we've been given as 2 young American women to love others.

I know I use archaic language sometimes, but, at the risk of sounding totally cheesy, we truly YEARN to love in the deepest, most sacrificial, most humble ways possible... We hope to do that in India, where we want to be challenged to the core of who we are.

We don't want to come back the same.

... but we do want to come back, which is why our emergency money is so important...  

Perhaps this is asking a lot, but would you maybe consider posting our blog as a Facebook status one day? Or sharing it with co-workers, family, and friends?

Thank you for sharing in our mission. Pax.
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Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Terrified? Yes. Determind? Absolutely.


Today I received a text from Heide that instilled a unique combination of excitement and terror in my soul. “I GOT MY VISA!!” Upon reading this text, I called my mother and sure enough, my approved visa was waiting for me at my parent’s house.  It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that I am terrified of going to India.  (It’s usually the first thing out of my mouth when someone asks me about our upcoming trip.)  But this time was different.  Getting our visas approved was (hopefully) the very last big obstacle Heide and I needed to overcome to ensure this mission was going to happen.  I started thinking to myself….we have our plane tickets, we now have our approved visas, we have some of our supplies, and we are almost done fundraising.  This was the first time it hit me.  I’M ACTUALLY GOING TO SPEND TEN VERY DIFFICULT AND VERY LIFE CHANGING WEEKS IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, DOING GOD’S WILL. 

What kind of crazy people would do such a thing?
Oh that’s right….
Heidemarie and I.

When I got home, I lay down on my bed and tried to compose my racing thoughts and calm my nerves.  I looked over at my nightstand and saw the book about India that Heide had given me three days before.  I hadn’t looked through it yet (I’m not sure if I was too nervous or too busy) so I cracked it open to take a peek.  Let’s just say what I read didn’t do much to calm my nerves.

“ Around 25% of travelers to India will develop a respiratory infection that starts as a virus and is exacerbated by environmental conditions such as pollution….

“ Many female travelers experience sexual harassment in India – predominantly lewd comments and an invasion of privacy…..”

“ India has a number of armed groups fighting for increased political representation….”

As you can probably guess…I started to panic a little bit as I was reading this.  Then I remembered something…..GOD LOVES ME.  I was instantly calmed and filled with a strong sense of peace as I realized God wouldn’t be asking this of Heidemarie and I if He weren’t sure we could handle it.  We are answering His call to serve and if it were easy…it wouldn’t be a sacrifice.  I am 100% correct in thinking that this summer is going to be difficult.  I am about to be tested like I have never been tested before.  This experience is going to be life changing.   But I have no reason to be afraid.  He is watching over us and this is part of His plan. 

Isaiah 41:10 
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Please keep us in your prayers, we are praying for you :)

PEACE,
Eli and Heide.

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Monday, April 2, 2012

Admittedly apprehensive....

I just got a text from my dear friend Natalie asking if I'm excited for India. And it made my heart seize. Yes, I'm excited..... if by that I'm allowed to admit that I really mean terrified. India is not Boise or anything close. I mean, they both have people and they both have Jesus. 2 things. 2 things in common.

Okay, so that's a bit of an exaggeration. But still. Going to India feels like I'm about to go deep sea diving - I don't know what kinds of wonders and terrors are hidden in the Unknown, but I know they're both there.

How did I get here?? HONESTLY. I NEVER wanted to be a missionary or anything like that. In fact, I asked God many many times during my childhood to never send me anywhere, please and thank you. I prefer the comfort of my bed, my community, my world.

... "Words are failing. My melodies falter. My voice is breaking. My heart is burning. Cause blessing and honor, glory and power, praise and worship... They belong to YOU."

Thank you, Ms. Audrey Assad for singing what I need to hear in your "New Song." Everyone in the St. Paul's Student Center just looked at me oddly as I turned up my earphones to the SUPER EXTRA DEAFENING level on that song. I told them I'm allowed to listen to my music loudly. :)

I feel better. I'm processing my fear, because I know that God does not give the spirit of fear (2 Tim. 1:7)... but of POWER, and LOVE, and SELF-CONTROL. YEAH!!

Okay. India is happening. And I get to swallow my fear, trust in the Lord, and relax, knowing that He is directing my path. (Prov. 3:5 - 6)

Pray for me. Pray for Eli (Elaina). And pray for the people we'll be serving. Pax.


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