Just Kidding!

Well, it wasn't really a joke. I actually thought that I wasn't going to be able to go to Jordan with Amy to play the soccer games, but it is now happening!! I'm going to Jordan on the 30th!

I had written in my journal, about a month ago, a bold prayer asking God to provide all the money that I would need to go on this trip. And since I had peace that God wanted me to go, I trusted that the money would come. Well, there were definitely times of doubt but look what He's done!

My parents, first of all, had decided that they wanted to help me get there so they were incredibly generous...thanks Mom and Dad! But then when I found out that the cost was just going to be too high, my teammates really surprised me. They wanted me to be able to come, so three of the ladies voluntarily contributed their fundraised amount on my behalf (which was a lot of money...), so I find myself on my knees once again praising God for the way that He answers prayer! I know, without a doubt, that it was His goodness. He is always, always good.

We're having a goodbye party here on Wednesday so we're looking forward to that...lots of sad farewells :( :)

See you soon Canada!

Beth

no go for Jordan

Just a quick little update...

I'm not going to Jordan anymore because I found out that the flight was going to be mucho too costly (to go from Jordan back to Vancouver). But that's okay that it didn't work out. I trust that God has a bigger and better plan for me--not necessarily a different country to go to, but there is definitely some reason why it didn't work out. It will be nice to fly back home with the rest of the team and it's also nice not having to dish out the extra money for the trip, so it's all good. And maybe I'll get to go to Jordan another time in my life!

It's strange having only 12 days left here. We went to our church for the last time yesterday which was sad. The hardest part was saying goodbye to the girls to whom I've been teaching English. One of them in particular, one of the girls who has a terminal illness, just wouldn't let go of me. She'd say, "No Beth didi, you stay here in India. You not go...... Okay, you come back? Jesus, I pray that Beth didi will come back. I like Beth didi." So sweet, but wow, that one was hard. I really will miss the people here. I'll keep them up in prayer, although that's not always as easily done as it is to say it. A new challenge for myself--yes!!

Other than that, I'm still running my mind about what to do when I get home. I've been challenged recently to dream big dreams...even bigger than what we think is big. I really want to pick up the dreams that I've laid down in my life--I mean, if I really believe that nothing is impossible for God, then I need to live my life that way, even if it hurts sometimes. So I've been praying more about the stunt business and how/if God wants me to pursue that. It makes me excited! So we'll see....

Well I'd better be going. Tomorrow's Jen's birthday so we're planning a nice day for her.

Many blessings friends and fam,

Beth

time is drawing nigh

Hi everyone!

First of all, I apologize for not updating my blog in awhile. It's crazy how time is flying...it feels like last week that I wrote on here but almost a month has passed!

Speaking of a month, that's how long it will be until I'm standing back on Canadian soil. I was saying to Jen the other night that this place is feeling so normal now that it's not registering that we're going back to our strange culture. But I must say that I'm getting excited to see my family and friends, and to not be in a role of leadership for a little while. I have enjoyed it, but man it's harder work than I could have guessed. Way to go leaders all over the world. You guys are my heroes.

So this past month our team took one more trip down south to Hyderabad (actually, just outside in a village) where we got the chance to lead in singing, prayer, and a few of us even got to teach a class of young adults on "goal setting" and "Christ-like living." I taught the latter, although I am weak in that area, which is why I think He had me explain what not to do..hah. I was encouraged in that area though afterwards which was nice. We had a really good time down there though...our team came away with some really good memories (like making friends with young Indian leaders who were all gathered for training there, visiting a 2-acre banyan tree, and having an AMAZING answer of prayer at the airport on the way back to Delhi.) I would write the whole miracle-story but Jen already has on her blog, so I would encourage you to read it at: http://www.xanga.com/shakey80 ----------- her April 23rd posting.

Other than that, I have still been teaching English to the young girls and doing the "Bhangra" workout dancing with Amy and Bindu. A lot of women from the neighbourhood have been coming out so it's been great!

A lot of my time has been spent hanging out with an Indian friend that I've met here, who is asking a lot of questions about Christianity. She was staying with us for a week because of some problems at home and we were able to encourage her. I am really glad that I am here to support her in this time but she is really not looking forward to me leaving back to Canada. I've been telling her that God loves her more than I, or any guy on earth, ever could. She needs prayer, and so do I as I try to follow the Spirit's leadings...so please do! :)

Another exciting thing that happened just today is that the Quest (the program I did 2 years ago, which is why I came to India the first time) team came to our place to hang out, worship, and pray together. It was so awesome showing them around the area where I live, and encourage them to listen to God's voice...maybe they'll be called back to India as I was! But yeah, it was great to get to hang out with Jeremy--the leader, one of my favourite people-- and get to talk to the Questees about their experience at CBC this year. God knows how to bless us all the time!

I won't write too much on this for now, but as long as flights work out and everything, it looks like Amy and I will be going to Jordan on May 31, just before I fly back to Canada. Our soccer team is going to play some games against some teams there, as well as tour some of the country. So that's exciting! Well, except for the fact that we'll be playing in 50-55 degree weather. But that's alright...it's a good thing I come from hot Kelowna.

Okay so I'll try to answer the burning question that everyone's been asking. "What will you do when you get back?" First, there are two weeks of debrief back in Abbotsford, BC, where we'll meet back up with team Thailand, Peru, and Cheyla in Mexico. Then I'm planning on going back to Kelowna for a while (don't know how long) and maybe find a job for a couple months. Then, in either July or August, I would LOVE to visit my brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews in their respected cities. That would be the greatest. After the summer, I'm not sure what God has planned for me. But I have options in Abbotsford, Vernon, India, Kelowna, or Vancouver, so I'm definitely waiting on the Lord. I'm not really worried though cause God always has something planned for me in the end!

As for what God's teaching me, the list never ends: trust, humility, patience, confidence and boldness, the laying down of my rights, my dreams, my fears...etc. I am especially learning daily about what it means to practise trusting in Him, even for the small day-to-day things (and the big things as mentioned above). But I love that I can just ask him to help me and he is so faithful to save me every time. I wish I asked him things more often! But I guess that's what learning is--a continual process that shapes us.



Thank you so very much for all your prayers, thoughts, and letters. Seriously, I am in awe of the generosity I've been blessed with. I know that I would not have ever felt such support if I didn't have such awesome friends and family, so thank you. And I wanted to say that if there are any prayer requests that you'd like to send me, or if you just want to say "hi," you can always email me. I'd love to hear what's on your heart and how I can support you from this side of the world.

God bless you!

Bethany