Just about halfway....crazy
Hi friends and family,
Hey, first off I just wanted to say thanks for the emails and notes telling me you're reading this blogger-thingy. It's hard to motivate myself to write when I have no clue if anyone's keeping track, but I shall write on!
Things in Delhi, India..........ahhh, well the longer I'm in this place the more I'm realizing I know nothing about it. I mean I can get to where I need to go on a rickshaw, buy vegetables from the "subzee walla", chill with locals on the street and say a few sentences, but I really would need years to feel like this place is totally comfortable. That being said, I am enjoying parts of the Indian culture more and more and am able to appreciate some of the ways they do things.
Like for example, I really like the way religion here is so tied in with tradition and community. Most people are Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh so the culture fits mostly into those religions, but even the Christians I know in Delhi are so community-oriented, it's awesome. The tiny little church we go to meets for a regular Sunday service, a Monday married couples' prayer meeting, four seperate youth events (one for girls, guys, young guys, young girls) and a Friday night prayer meeting. I mean who meets on Friday night and everyone in the church shows up? These people actually want to be there and are excited to pour into each other's lives and be stretched and molded by God. It's incredible. I would love to see what that kind of community could look like in Canada.
Switching gears here, I was challenged the other day to not put "please pray for our team's unity" as just a bullet at the end of a blog, so here is me not putting it as a bullet. The five of us got to meet with Sam Dick, one of the Trek leaders from back in Abbotsford, a couple times this past week because he was out here for meetings, and our team has described it as "like pressing a reset button." It was really good for us to be challenged and also encouraged by him to really look to God for our strength, joy, peace, patience, and love especially. God really is the source of everything good in this world, and if we want to love each other better it has to come from Him. I realized for myself that I have been trying to please everyone on the team, by doing the whole chameleon thing and changing into who I think they want me to be. But that's totally wrong! I know that I need to be the leader, daughter, friend, woman that God created me to be--not who others think I should be. And hey, I like the girl He's made me. :) But yeah, please pray that we'd be able to be ourselves around each other.
A couple cool things:
-We went to the Republic Day parade at India Gate last week. We saw the Prime Minister of India as well as Vladimir Putin, the Russian President. Also a lot of marching bands, soldiers with huge, scary guns, marching bands on camel-back, elephants, helicopters, and waaay too many floats...one for every 28 states of India in fact. It was very well done but we were a bit disappointed they didn't throw candy to the crowds.
-After coaching soccer at the American high school, Greg and I got to eat real hamburgers and then he played basketball in a real gym with good players so I got to watch. For a minute I forgot I was in India!
-Nicole and I have been learning some "Bhangra," (Punjabi dancing) with Amy and Bindu. A few women from the community have been coming out which is awesome and it's a lot of fun!
Well I hope everyone back home is doing well. Keep the emails coming...I love hearing what is going on in your lives as well!
Miss you all, God bless,
love, Bethany
Hey, first off I just wanted to say thanks for the emails and notes telling me you're reading this blogger-thingy. It's hard to motivate myself to write when I have no clue if anyone's keeping track, but I shall write on!
Things in Delhi, India..........ahhh, well the longer I'm in this place the more I'm realizing I know nothing about it. I mean I can get to where I need to go on a rickshaw, buy vegetables from the "subzee walla", chill with locals on the street and say a few sentences, but I really would need years to feel like this place is totally comfortable. That being said, I am enjoying parts of the Indian culture more and more and am able to appreciate some of the ways they do things.
Like for example, I really like the way religion here is so tied in with tradition and community. Most people are Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh so the culture fits mostly into those religions, but even the Christians I know in Delhi are so community-oriented, it's awesome. The tiny little church we go to meets for a regular Sunday service, a Monday married couples' prayer meeting, four seperate youth events (one for girls, guys, young guys, young girls) and a Friday night prayer meeting. I mean who meets on Friday night and everyone in the church shows up? These people actually want to be there and are excited to pour into each other's lives and be stretched and molded by God. It's incredible. I would love to see what that kind of community could look like in Canada.
Switching gears here, I was challenged the other day to not put "please pray for our team's unity" as just a bullet at the end of a blog, so here is me not putting it as a bullet. The five of us got to meet with Sam Dick, one of the Trek leaders from back in Abbotsford, a couple times this past week because he was out here for meetings, and our team has described it as "like pressing a reset button." It was really good for us to be challenged and also encouraged by him to really look to God for our strength, joy, peace, patience, and love especially. God really is the source of everything good in this world, and if we want to love each other better it has to come from Him. I realized for myself that I have been trying to please everyone on the team, by doing the whole chameleon thing and changing into who I think they want me to be. But that's totally wrong! I know that I need to be the leader, daughter, friend, woman that God created me to be--not who others think I should be. And hey, I like the girl He's made me. :) But yeah, please pray that we'd be able to be ourselves around each other.
A couple cool things:
-We went to the Republic Day parade at India Gate last week. We saw the Prime Minister of India as well as Vladimir Putin, the Russian President. Also a lot of marching bands, soldiers with huge, scary guns, marching bands on camel-back, elephants, helicopters, and waaay too many floats...one for every 28 states of India in fact. It was very well done but we were a bit disappointed they didn't throw candy to the crowds.
-After coaching soccer at the American high school, Greg and I got to eat real hamburgers and then he played basketball in a real gym with good players so I got to watch. For a minute I forgot I was in India!
-Nicole and I have been learning some "Bhangra," (Punjabi dancing) with Amy and Bindu. A few women from the community have been coming out which is awesome and it's a lot of fun!
Well I hope everyone back home is doing well. Keep the emails coming...I love hearing what is going on in your lives as well!
Miss you all, God bless,
love, Bethany
posted by Beth at 8:25 AM
4 Comments:
Beth, I love it when I use my RSS reader and see that you've updated your website. It makes me feel horrible however, when I realize that I'm in front of a computer almost every day and hardly ever update mine. Rachel and I are praying for you and can't wait to see you again in June.
Love you, and thanks for the update!
(We had Zion's second birthday on Saturday and went bowling. She loved it!)
Hey Beth,
I recieved the mail you sent out (thank you so much, I never get mail!) and got caught up on your blog. Keep writing! You're words are encouraging and when you put visibility on the way God works it excites me (I'm sure others feel the same sense of joy too). I see nothing but victory in your posts as God is obviously molding, teaching and shaping you, not to mention reaching out to people with your presence and your joy!
You're only half way there and consider the amazing experiences you've amassed... coaching a soccer team, starring in a bollywood flick, sharing the truth of Lord with children, seeing a hungry church grow and flourish in a foreign community, not to mention the memories from the incredible pictures I've spotted on your site (more please, haha).
I look forward to your next adventure and rest assured God is working in your hometown of BC as well, in the lives of your family and friends who may or may not know Christ. Have fun and God Bless, don't miss a single thing!
J.
Hey Sista!
Thanks for the note on my blog :) I miss you,am praying for you and love hearing about what's going on over there. I love your reflections on deeper things, they are good challenges and a reminder of what really is important. Love you girl!
Hey Beth,
I'm glad to hear that you guys have been encouraged, and that's awesome about the basketball game, its awesome when God gives us those little "breaks". Your blog always encourages me, I admire how humble you are, and yet bold at the same time. Keep chasing after your first love,
Love,
your fellow trekker
Joelle
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