a chance to share

everyday, i want to run and scream from the roof tops, "don't you see? the Son is the answer!! He brings grace and forgiveness." but everyday i have to be reminded by Him, "just wait, my timing is perfect." today was the day we got to share. after hours and hours of looking at family photos and playing with screaming children, (which i do love, i promise), we finally took the opportunity to tell a story about the Son. we told our closest family the story when the Son healed the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years and then acted it out. to be sure of understanding, we broke out a Hindi testament, but she had one, (truly suprising), and started reading it. more awe came over her face. later, her mom came home and she read it to her. we thought for sure we would get kicked out, but HE is good and the mom just nodded her head. we don't know what this means, but we are excited to share again. we go again tomorrow, but probably won't share another story unless asked. we don't want to be overbearing, but desire to share more than anything!! ask that He would continue to give us boldness to share and that our families would not only be receptive, but have understanding.

everything else seems to be going well. we are getting a bit of delhi-belly sonce we are eating more of the food, (i had 2 samosas today!!!). but we stomach it for the sake of the cross :).

love you all and am excited to share more in person!

why go to disneyland?

today i went on the longest rickshaw ride of my life! no joke! half an hour to some random place in our city. on our way back, after eating indian sweets and offending someone's cousin's uncle, (or something), i had a revelation. auto rides are just like the indian jone's ride in disneyland! i tried to explain this to sarah, but being an okie and never having been to disneyland, (i know, a sin for sure), she could hardly understand. well, the temple of doom ride is very indian. for reals, check out the decapitated hindu god next time you are in line-pretty much amazing. wull, you get in this crazy jeep that jerks you to and fro; zooms to the left and then to the right; it breaks down and then starts again; it has no regard for bumps in the road. if you ask me, that is just like an auto! well, at least like the auto ride we had today into the boondocks of our city. so, who needs a season pass to disneyland when you can go to india?





we were able to talk more to our family about the Son today, but no real intentionality in the covnersation. our big brother leaves tonight, so maybe in the future we will be able to have more say in the conversation. please lift up our conversations.





one family has really latched onto the fact that i am a nursing student; well, they think i am a nurse. they want me to fix everything, (write perscriptions, give injections, re-bandage wounds). it has been an adventure. please ask that i would have discernment in how to deal with these situations.





tomorrow we go to a family's home that we have only been to once(the lemon water house). we are to have lunch/dinner. little english is spoken by the women, so ask that sarah and i would be bold in communication.








on a different note-the last few days i have been impatient. i have been thinking, "when will i be able to share? Father, let me share about the Son and His work!" but He is good to remind that of isaiah thirtynine:twenty eighty through thirty one. His strength is perfect-just wait. i was able to share more today than i have in a while-PTL!





thanks for lifting us up! love y'all!

(me, rizzi, sarah)

food

yesterday we had our first "muslim" meal. it was SO GOOD! i'll be making it at a house near you, so be ready!!! i can't wait to share with you the hospitality that i have learned! the family we ate with was so gracious. the very much force fed us, but they loved us and allowed me to help a bit (ok, just cutting some onions). this family has a lot of love and happiness. ask that they would have the joy of the Son and would come to know Him!!

today we brought some stuff to our little friend who is paralyzed on one side. i hope they understood the instructions. we will check up on him on thrusday when we go to eat at his aunt's house. i know we say steiger's don't go hungry, but for reals, they feed us like no buddy's business aroudn here!

today we were supposed to go to another family's house for dinner, but that feel through. we will go another day this week, as well as re-connecting with our close indian families. sarah and i had a craving for some chicken (all veg just wasn't cutting it), so farmer d took us to a really yummy resteraunt(sp?) not too far from our hotel. IT WAS SO GOOD! (almost like njp, but more specific to this state). nothin' beats tandori chicken, dal, and naan!!!

that's all for now! please continue to lift up His work in this place, especially as we join in it (for we so often mess thigns up). in the coming weeks we will be on our own more, so ask for safety and discernment. ask for boldness as we truly begin to share the ultimate story!

bollywood

today we slept in (yay!) and hung out with our family for the day. it was absolutely fabulous! they took us sight-seeing for a bit, but since it was so hot (probably the hottest day yet), we just went straight to the movies. we got our tickets for the new show. i forget what it's called, but it was crazy, but not in a fun way. everybody and their mother got shot-for reals. but it was a good time with the family. we went straight from the movie house to our hotel (9 at night+2 white girls=bad news). well, our adopted brother helped us out. he jumped in the auto after another dude had as well. he said "for your saftey." thanks bro! but then from our hotel he said he would just walk home and he wouldn't let us pay for him to take an auto to his home. please pray that 1)we didn't offend him or his family throughout the day since a lot of $$$ came up, 2)that we would continue to shine brightly the Truth, and 3) that our purpose would be clear.

tomorrow we head to another home and then visit with the our family again so that we can visit with the boy who i think is having strokes (or at least had one; if any nursing folk are reading this, feel free to email me with some advice-every time someone finds out i'm a "nurse" the questions and tasks pile on!!!). the Almighty is amazing and we are excited to see what He has in store for those we are able to share with. thank you for lifting not just us up, but those we meet!!

our south asian family

sarah and i have the priveledge of having a south asian family. we have met with them 3 times and already they feel like home, (yes, they). they welcome us, love us, barter for us, watch over us in the streets. the brother who is now in charge of the family since the father died is like our big brother. he was our protector today as we experienced the real south asia. he carried our bags and made sure we didn't pay too much for our clothes. our sister, (his real sister), is a gem. she helped us pick out suits. sarah got three ready mades for 900! and i got one to make for 225, (a bit pricey, but i REALLY liked it). also, she helped me at the talor. ok, so this doesn't really even begin to describe how much we love and appreciate this family, but we love them. sadly, they do not know Jesus as the way. pray for their eyes to be opened. pray that we would be bold in sharing. pray that their hearts would melt after this wonder God!!

today, we saw a child who had had an accident. he was pretty well malled on one side and screaming. i wanted to run out of the rickshaw to help him, but big brother wouldn't let me. our family has a family member, a young child (maybe 4?), who is paralyzed on one side, (mostly). he gets real bad headaches. strokes, you say? i would agree. doctors aren't doing anything for him. sarah and i are investigating what we can do for him-you? you can pray for him. pray for healing.

so much is going on. sarah and i had omlettes for dinner (yum!). it was nice to have a day with out farmer d, although we love and apprecite him. today was amazing to see the faithfulness of the Almighty in and through every step, (prayed for breeze, breeze came; asked for rest, we rested; prayed for a refreshment, we were offered bani). HE IS WORTHY!

families

we have had such a pleasure of meeting with families. farmer d (as sarah calls him) is happy because he can get into homes because of us. who knew that women could play such an important role in a culture that opresses women so much! :). it has been a blessing to pray for these families, to eat with these families, to laugh with these families. our beliefs are so similar, but oh so crucially different! lift them up, that they may have their eyes unveiled to the saving work of the Son.

today we met with 2 families. the first after a long walk in the town and a short bicycle rickshaw ride (i still hate those-they work so hard for so little money!). they family was so kind! they spoke little english so farmer d did most of the chatting. however, they served us LEMON WATER! (any old teammates out there? yes! the same stuff, but with good water-it makes ALL the difference.) we go again sunday for lunch; ask for open doors and hearts to share the good news and for receptiveness.
we also met with a family we have meet previously. one of the girls is going to be our informal language teacher and we hers. she is AMAZING! there has been a lot of tragedy in their family, so one of the younger brothers acts of the father. he is kind. well, they all are. i had two cups of tea, just tea today. what we can learn from their hopsitality and giving out of poverty, both spiritual and finicial. we will go with the girls to the market to buy fabric for a new suit on wed. also, we will take a cs lewis work to them to have the youngest practice reading. ask for opportunities, understanding, and receptiveness.

thank you for lifting us up. we have our moments of sickness and culture shock, but the Father is great to remind us of our purpose. Isa Acha Hai!

in focus area!

we are in our focus area/main city now! we get a betterrate on internet so maybe moree blog posts?? anyway, the drive was good; thank you for lifting us up! sarah is also feeling better-PTL!!!! lift up her digestive system (no matter how cheesy that sounds) so that we may be able to enjoy the yumminess of this state!

our field coordinator used to be a chef and so he tells us the "good" places to eat-really! he is also like dad, (he called bill clinton "slick willy;" it made me laugh a lot). he loves the Father and has such a heart for our focus group! cannot wait to start tomorrow! lift up our two visits tomorrow as well as our time in the holy area.

for any of you reading this from india a=team of the centry. i saw where they make lemon water!!!! well, how the make. super crazy! thought of you guys and think of our times often. will have much to share with you when i return! will also be SUPER excited to hear about your summers (whether trips, marrage or work :)). sa101 gave us a banner just like last year! HAHAH defiantely a side buster! will have to see what sarah and i do with it...hmm...

sarah and i got another suit today. very exciting, but ackward to have a sikh man measure you (gulp). also have alread had 2 cups of chai with people (yay!). sarah and i (from now on we) are settled into our room very nicely. we realized it would be our home for 6 weeks (good golly!) so we made it homey!

so many stories, so much to share. not now with internet at 1min=1rrp

love you all and appreciate you asking the Father for him to work through us this summer!