Merry Christmas from the Orient!

So pleased to be reporting from South Asia! Our trip has been nothing short of an adenture to say the least. After traveling over 40 hours, we were greeted by our translator and friends from another DTS in Kona. I've been sleeping better here than I have in months despite the constant dog barking and rooster crowing intermittenly through the night and around 6am, thanks to some ear plugs my mom left in the back pack she loaned me (thanks mom :) Our days here are filled with bus rides around the city, meeting lots of new people, sharing love and singing every where we go.

The culture is SOOOOOO different from anything in America. First of all, there really is no celebration of Christmas exept for a service in the Christian churches on Christmas Day. This is a largely Hindu nation so Christian holidays are not observed.

Next, the food is all very spicy, flavor wise and hot wise. Even breakfast is loaded with garlic, onions, and various spices. Most foods are fried and vegetarian. That said, I get excited for every meal. I LOVE the food here...so much for a New Years Diet... God is also helping me with my lactose intolerant issues, total miracle folks :) Most houses we visit serve us chai, a drink that consists of steeped black tea in boiled milk with sugar. No stomach aches due to dairy to report! WOW...

Also, the clothes are so different. Not so much for men as they follow closely with English fashion, but the women wear the traditional sarees and costumes consisting of any variety of colors and designs printed, stitched, or painted on the fabric. Shopping was a bit overwhelming to me because of ALL the choices. But they are by far the most comfortable clothes I've worn. Much like wearing pajamas out in public. Can't wait to post some pictures of all the colors!

Driving is out. of. control. There are no blinkers used while driving. Just stick your nose in, honk, and go. Doesn't matter which side of the road your on, just swerve around anything in the way. Wildness not for the faint of heart. Thankfully we have a very calm and extremely skilled driver. P T L.

There are ornately decorated temples ev-er-y-where. More than the number of Starbucks we have in the US, lol. These people are so desperate to find truth and hope. So much of their money and food goes right to the temple to rot or be eaten by animals while they starve to death in cinder block shacks.

The Indians are such beautiful warm hearted people. We have fallen in love with India.

I love you all! Have a very Merry Christmas and know that you are never far from our thoughts.

Love Feast

YWAM has long held the tradition of the "Love Feast." It began on Sundays when the school would gather together to celebrate what the Lord had done during the week and to encourage one another in Christian fellowship while eating a meal each one had contributed to. Now, it is a time of celebration that the schools enjoy at the end of the quarter before the good byes begin. It was our chance to really clean up and shine, while celebrating the amazing quarter we have all just finished. I'd truthfully have to say, it was my favorite evening of all...

A shot I sneaked of our staff "pre"group photo. We were SOO blessed this quarter  to be lead by each of these servant hearted Jesus lovers!

Nathan and Shanna Borth: I'm gonna miss this sweet couple!

Some friends, Natalie and Chris.

Guessss who!! ;)

Love my ladies! Jessa and Odessa

Gorgeous Gals, Sam and Destiny

What a pair...lol Jonathan with Matt

Feeling the white dress vibe today :)

Miriam is seriously one of my favorites ;)

Me with the brave men of India (Ryan and Jonathan)

Gonna miss Mary so much!

Molly means so much to me!  What a sweet heart!

This was such a fun way to end the quarter. We had WAY too much fun that night. :-D

But now my dear friends, I bid you all farewall...at least until we reach the exotic land of INDIA! Much love to you all!!

Together at last!

What a wonderful few weeks we've experienced. With the visit of Christopher, my brother, and Kaelin, his beautiful bride to be we got to enjoy the beauty of Hawaii through the eyes of our guests.

Anticipating the arrival of the happy couple!

 Finally here in paradise!

 Mom, of course had quite the feast prepared.

 Honoring our families tradition of St. Nick's Day, we opened our stockings together. Definitely brought out the kid in us ;)

So wonderful to be family :)

Time at the beach. It was Christopher and Kaelin's winter break, so they deserved some much needed down time.

Adorbs!

Monday, we had our Commissioning Ceremony as our schools prepare to go to into THE NATIONS!

Look out world! We have been trained as WILD REVIVALISTS and know what the power of Jesus can do to a persons life. Wondrous things, I tell you! We are going to preach the gospel, heal the sick, cast out demons, and disciple the nations!

Near the close of the week, Jonathan was baptized for the first time by our school leader, John Gillespie, off the Kona Pier. It was so special and completely a spontaneous happening.

 Jesus is so good, why wouldn't we want to boldly declare His love to anyone and every one!

Nothing out of the ordinary

Just a short post this week :) My dear brother and his lovely bride to be are with us this week, so I have been totally soaking up every moment I can with them. It's been over a year since seeing them. I live a long distance life with most everyone I love... hazards of the trade, I say. With out any further adieu, the post of the week:

our dear classroom

Usually it is a bit more open whilst we meet therein as to allow heavenly ocean breezes to waft to and fro. ;) But most mornings we meet here 8-12 (Mon. and Wed. we meet from 9-12) for our guest speakers to enlighten us in the truth of God's Word.

Afternoon Prayer room time on Tuesdays and Thursdays 1-3pm
Interceding for unreached people groups.

Go to http://www.joshuaproject.net/ to see what we pray for each afternoon. It's truly amazing how so many have never heard the good news about how Jesus loves them and died to save them!

This was an unusually clear day, in which Hualalai, was visible from my front door. It was named the protector as it shields our side of the coast from the fiery lava spews from surrounding volcanos. Hualalai is considered an "inactive" volcano. Normally, "vog" (volcanic ash) or clouds block the mountain from full view.  There are days when the clouds meet this mountain in a way that it seems heaven kisses earth.

This kitty is ready for Christmas. Are you? I'm not what you would call "a cat person" seeing as a simple pat on the head of an innocent kitten brings an onslaught of sneezes and ichey eyes to my person. But I thought it was sweet that this feline felt comfortable resting at the foot of this Tannenbaum.

"How do I feel about Christmas being in a foreign land?", you ask.

I'll use bullet points to help outline my feelings...maybe a sign it's a bit late for me to be blogging...

• I've spent the past 6 years trying to figure out what "normal" holidays look like...no scratch that..my whole life has been a veritable moving puzzle board of questions regarding normal holiday antics.
• I spent my younger elementary years in Taiwan during the holidays as a "MK" (Missionary's Kid)
• I moved to Florida away from extended family for 8 years of life
• High School felt the most normal as I finally got to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with extended family
• College took little me completely away from all family (it was a personal decision to go to college in FL, so technically it's not college's fault) so then everything got switched around again. 
• Married life and "sharing holidays" became a habit I now accustomed myself to. So sometimes in Kansas, sometimes in Washington.
• Christopher and Kaelin being here now are bringing Christmas early. By the time they go home, I'll have 2 days before departure (Dec. 18), so I think I'll be in post-Christmas mode at that point.
• Truly, I have no idea. I'm just gonna go with the flow of what the Indian culture has to offer. Usually, that kind of mind set serves me well. I chuckle when I think of Jonathan's first Christmas with my family and my first Christmas with his. We come from such different families; it really was like a being in a new culture for each of us. But we both were so richly blessed by the new culture that welcomed us in to partake of the joys each offered.

So I look forward to this experience, and I expect it to be quite an extraordinary one. Good night all!