When we really need to go home...

It seems that the past few weeks have been such a struggle for us. We find ourselves longing for home. Today we got to watch Blind Side and felt like we were right there back at home as we laughed and I cried and talked about...well, MY dreams to take in every kid in Memphis and Levi tried to change the subject! :) We went down a road that we try to avoid as we talked about everything that we love back home. Then I went upstairs to get ready for church tonight. As I was digging through my closet, I found some Bath and Body Works glitter lotion and some new makeup that I packed before we left the states. So now I smell, look AND feel like I could walk outside this house and see everyone I know and love!

Of course, I will see many that I know and love when I walk out of this house in a few minutes. I will speak a different language, wear different clothes, and even approach these people a lot differently than in the states. But the love we have for them is the same and that is what makes us thrive, even through the times where our Mississippi homes are calling our names! Thank you Lord for giving us a beautiful day to celebrate where we are from and for giving us a heart for where we are. We are very thankful.

Need a little grace these days

I'm having to pray for a lot more grace these days. Our country has been experiencing visa problems and we are seeing so many of our friends leave the country while we are being asked to stay. It is so hard not to compare our situation with others. It is a dangerous road to take...the journey of comparisons and we have been convicted by the Lord to avoid it at all costs. But I must admit that we are tired, a little worn down, and pretty stressed with new decisions and responsibilities coming our way. At times I feel that I should not desire a vacation that the desire shows my shallow attempts at living overseas. If I were "hard core" I could handle living here for many years without leaving. We love it here, love our friends, our neighbors, and our life...but lately we have been quick to snap, quick to get frustrated, and in need of a lot of grace.

Levi's parents are coming in close to 2 weeks. We are thankful for God's providence. He knew we needed this time to unload and just have parents to love on us and comfort us.

Just the two of us!

People ask us all the time if we have a baby plan. This is a great question! Honestly, I have never thought about having kids....until this year. We love being together and love our life, our independence, and our freedom to go wherever, whenever without worrying about anyone else....but God is doing something so much bigger than us. This year we have seen God changing our hearts (especially mine) and preparing us for something else. We are not sure what this will look like, or when this will take place, but we are slowly opening up to the idea that our "family" may not always be just the two of us!

But for now, I must say that I couldn't ask for more. Levi and I are the best of friends. I never thought that I could spend so much time with another person and enjoy it this much. We have definitely been so blessed! So until we "know" that it is time to grow our family, then the two of us will keep on traveling, keep on working as partners and we will keep enjoying our time alone.

I really love to take pictures with our camera, but I always find it awkward to take pictures of the people. I know I will always be a "tourist" in many ways, but after living here for a while, I feel so weird taking pics of people like a tourist. But, on this last trip I made an extra effort and pointed my camera at some of my favorite people groups. Hope you enjoy!

 

Of course I had to add this picture because I think it is HILARIOUS! Tom Cruise really gets around, right?

Living in Trash

Last week Levi and I went to a garbage dump for the district. We didn't go for the trash, we went for the people who live amidst it. The scene made my stomach turn. Babies with nothing but shirts on playing in the garbage, kids chasing each other inside the dump and all you can see are their eyes and teeth. Moms with TB, Dads who are so thin they look as if they would blow away, the lastest story of a husband and father who died a few months ago by a snake bite from the trash dump....My heart was heavy. Earlier this year, I would have looked on this scene as a total outsider...would have seen these people as poor, sad, and helpless....But a year has passed and with the time, my perspective has changed. As I listened to the people speak in Hindi and as we spoke to them, I realized that they make plenty of money working at this dump. They just think they are saving the money by living in the trash! They don't HAVE to live like this! They CHOOSE to live like this! It comes from a lack of education mainly. They have to be shown why living in trash is ultimately the worst decision they could make for their family.

 How ironic it is to see these situations in real life and then think of life in the States. How many people live in a "hypothetical trash pit"? They don't HAVE to live there, they do have a choice....but the trash makes sense to them. Perhaps they are more comfortable, perhaps they feel safe amongst the garbage in their lives....or perhaps they just need someone to come in and show them what life is like outside of the pit.

Holi

Holi is a holiday that represents the beginning of Spring. We were staying in the village during this celebration time and found ourselves amidst lots of friends and neighbors. We shared snacks, we danced, and we shared lots of color! This may be my favorite holiday so far. I LOVE the colors, the dancing, and the fun! Here are some pictures

Sometimes the Beauty of the Lord just amazes me! As we drove through our state the past 3 weeks, I found myself humbled and awed by the beauty of God's creation. Who am I to be able to have a relationship with such a Powerful, Amazing God?! Oh, how we love this place and how we love our God!