Courage

An excerpt from, "The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In a Ship Of Her Own Making":

"This a tub for washing your courage," Lye said, her voice as even and calm as ever, performing her task, grief packed away for the duration of a bath.

"I didn't know ones courage needed washing!" gasped september as Lye poured a pitcher of water over her head. Or that one needs to be naked for that sort of washing, she thought to herself.

Lye poured a bucketful of golden water over September's head. "When you are born," the golem said softly, "your courage is new and clean. You are brave enough for anything: crawling off of staircases, saying your first words without fearing that someone will think you are foolish, putting strange things in your mouth. But as you get older, your courage attracts gunk and crusty things and dirt and fear and knowing how bad things can get and what pain feels like. By the time you're half-grown, your courage barely moves at all, it's so grunged up with living. So every once in a while, you have to scrub it up and get the works going or else you'll never be brave again. Unfortunately, there are not so many facilities in your world that provide the kind of services we do. So most people go around with grimy machinery, when all it would take is a bit of spit and polish to make them paladins once more, bold knights and true."

Lye broke off one of her deep blue fingers and dropped it into the tub. Immediately, a creamy froth bubbled up, clinging to september's skin and tickling.

"Your finger!" she cried.

"Don't fear, little one. It doesn't hurt. My mistress said: 'Give of yourself, and it will return to you as new as can be.' And so my fingers do, when the bathers have gone."

Such a great book filled with everything about India! Here are some excerpts I have enjoyed today...

• At 1.6 billions India has the second-largest population in the world. With 17% of the earths population and still growing, it promises to over take China.
• India is a linguist paradise, with more than 1,600 languages. There are 22 official languages of India. (Well this should be interesting...)
• Per capita, income is only US $900 and 700 million are living on $2 a day or less. 
• India has the highest concentration of poor on the planet, a fact made more dismal by the statistics related to children: it has the highest malnutrition rate of young children, and despite the absence of famine, half of India's children are underweight-twice the rate of sub-Saharan Africa.
• Hierarchy is inescapable in India. Everything and everyone is ranked, up or down, from everything and everyone else.
• Theologically, the four original caste, or varnas, sprang from the body of the creator god, Brahma: Brahmins or priests from the mouth, Kshatriyas or rulers from the arms, Vaishyas, merchants and farmers, from the thighs, and Shudras, the artisans and servants from the feet. 
• There are those who live outside the caste. The 16% of the population who are too low to be considered part if the caste system are called, variously, "Dalit," "Untouchable," "Harijan," and "Scheduled."
• The Laws of Manu, state that a woman has no existence apart from that of her husband or his family.
• Pedestrians do NOT have the right away (Good to know!)
• Currently thirteen people die every hour. (From road accidents) 

And my favorite excerpt from the 'Arrival' section-

Brace yourself for impact when arriving in India. The sensory overload of crowd, sound, and smell can cause even experienced travelers to question their skills and their sanity. Airports are chaotic. Stepping outside, the heat hits you like a wave. You will be engulfed in a swarm of taxi-walas vying for your business. Scruffy-looking children tug on your sleeve, looking for a handout. The smell of pollution tinged with urine is overwhelming, the decibel level is deafening, and full of assault on body and mind can be exhausting, making it hard to think. 

Not sure what we got ourselves into but, honestly, I can't wait!

*All excerpts taken directly from 'The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture: India" 2010 by Becky Stephen

How Great Is Our God?

Sooo I'm walking in the hallway (more like pacing) of my apartment texting Kelsey about the details of our trip to India ...

So many things to do and so little time left... I can feel my anxiety levels start to rise, I began to worry about the details of planning this trip..

I stopped in my tracks and looked at my apartment's bulletin board... I wasn't looking for anything and I wasn't expecting to find anything, but I found the very thing I needed

On a post card read Philippians 4:6-7, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

In the time it took me to read the card the Holy Spirit wrapped his arms around me to comfort me...

MANNNN!!! I Love our GOD!!!

And ALL will see just how great our God IS.

Really? We're going?

On Sunday I was dropping my brother off at the basketball courts before going to church. We started talking about India briefly and I was a bit surprised by what he had to say. My brother is a free spirit and doesn't like to do things by the books typically, so I figured he would be all for quitting my job and moving across the world. But he surprised me and was actually more pushing getting a normal stable job using my degree. Now I will be using my degree by all means in India, just not getting monetary compensation.

Right after I dropped him off I thought, what in world? I am so confused God. Is this a dumb decision to be going? Should I settle down and get a stable job, make money, and start to develop to typical American life after college? I was a bit concerned, this isn't what I wanted, but I know I tend to make impulse decisions. Was this a BIG impulse decision?  I said out loud in frustration, 'God just tell me where you want me, please!' And then I walked into Antioch.

Not only was the message more than perfect, the company and conversation afterwards was without a doubt God sent. What I took away from the message was simple, loud and clear. There is nothing absolutely nothing that compares to knowing Christ and having that perfect peace and contentment in Him. I know that to be absolute truth from own personal experience. They ways of the world are truly fleeting.

Afterwards, I was speaking with someone who has the loveliest of spirits. She has an open heart, encouraging words and I was blessed to reach out to the homeless with her a few months back. I am not sure how it came up, but we starting speaking of India. She just had the most encouraging words that completely spoke to my heart. She reminded me what an amazing opportunity I had right in front of me, to minster not only to the people of India but Jesus 

" And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"Matthew 25:40 .

 In mid-conversation she looked me in the eyes and said' can I pray for you'? Of course I said yes. She took the words straight from my heart. I was truly amazing. She knew exactly what I needed and wanted to say to God but had no idea I needed and wanted to say it. Exactly what I needed to hear and be reminded of.  I walked away that night with a smile on my face and my heart overflowing with joy. It was clear, right? God spoke right to my heart and said, 'Kelsey I told you were I want you, now just go'.

 My internal dialogue:  I am going to India. Wait, no I am not that's something I only dream of, one of my crazy ideas that someone eventually talks me out of. Seriously Kelsey, you and Adrian, really? 

And then once again God reminds me and says, 'Yes, yes you are going'. But I still second guess and question it. As clear as God has made it, and how He seems to be working things out, I am sad to admit my faith it not that of a mustard seed. I wont believe it till I am on that long long plane ride! But deep down, I know with out a shadow of a doubt in my heart, that God has got it all worked out. I don't have to worry. The planning, the flights, fundraising, exact dates and times etc etc, God has got it all. Yes I have to work at it but ultimately it is all in His hands. Thank goodness for that!

Honestly, I have no idea what we have gotten ourselves into....

Doors are opening!

Pleased to announce that lots is happening here at Barouke, although no one would know it, because we have yet to release our blog to the public (just a few more kinks, and its all yours!). God truly has His mighty hand in this next season of our lives. It is so crazy to think is this is real life. I remember countless late night talks with Adrian of adventures like such. We always talked and dreamed of, 'once we are graduated and nurses...' and to think that those words and dreams are becoming a reality before our eyes quicker than we could have ever expected. I look forward to the day when Adrian and I sit in our rocking chairs in our old age and reminisce of  'that one time we dropped everything and went to live in India'. This is only the beginning and truly great things are to come. 

               Be truly glad. There is wonderful joy  ahead.--1 Peter 1:6