a month

well, it's been a month since this crazy adventure really got started and today it felt like it (i won't lie). with more rickshaw drama and drama with our families, i felt like i wanted to go home, but i was totally convicted when i read proverbs twenty four, thirty to thirty three. there is a huge harvest ripe for harvest and i must be out there, no matter how tired, (rather sick and tired), i get. that's right cindy, it's not about me, it is SO about Him and His glory. i find that when sarah and i lift Him up before we go out in the mornings, the day is much more "productive." sadly, today was not one of those days. language was a real difficulty. please lift up not just our ability to speak and communicate, but also to remember to lift up the Name about all names before we begin anything. thank you again for your faithfulness.

it's been a while

well, google hasn't been letting me long in, so forgive my inability to update. here are some things that have been going on.
(begin the emotional rollercoster)
Thursday: we went to our main house and because the head of the house was sick, th mofi was there. definately an intense situation to walk in on. the mofi gave the head some "magic" words on a piece of paper and told him to do some stuff with it. it'sweir dhow similar sufism is to hindiusm, (but don't tell them i said that). after the mofi left, we had a great conversation about the Son. we full on told him the good news. while there was some language problems and some confusion, he is still inviting us back, so yeah. how blessed we felt to be able to share with such a good, but lost friend! later that night we went to the durga again. down we went on the rollercoaster as we saw the friends we love so much pray not unto the Most High, but unto the dead.
Friday: we went back to the house for a short visit, but it is their day of worship, so the two girls we are closets with were praying and reading from their book. it was hard to deal with. we left shortly after, but had some good conversation. nevertheless, we went further down on the emotional rollercoaster, wondering why He had allowed us to share, only to set this overarching spiritual conversation four steps back. we also headed to another friend's home for a short visit. we met with two women there and some kids. this brought the emotions up on the rollercoaster. one of the women had been married at 13 (that's right, 13!!!). it was crazy to them that i was 22 and had no kids! she showed us her work and her pictures and made us some delicious chai :). then the other lady was making lunch/supper/something. it is amazing to me that these women do so much with so little. she made chapaties and it was fun to watch. we headed out b/c sarah's meds were making her feel like pooh.
SAturday: it was our supervisor's last day with us for a bit (no worries, we are doing okay), so we wantedto go to pizza hut to get some meat and celebrate. first, we paid a visit to a home we had gone to a few times before, (selma'shouse). her sister has been in and out of the hospital, so we went to visit her. as you know, as soon people find out i'm a nursing (student-they seem to forget this part), they show me lab work, med sheets, x-rays, etc. this poor woman is dying of chronic kidney failure. the family can'tafford any sort of dialysis. she has other diagnosis that would cause such a disease,but those weren't treated/diagnosed until recently.it drives me crazy because ifshe had been in the us, she would have received SOME sort of medical attention, insteadshe's left to die at home with no hope and in complete pain. what's even worse is that she has no hope of eternity with the Father.talk about an emotional rollercoaster.
Sunday:yesterday we hung out with our closets family adn we really felt like family.we laughed and shopped, ( i finally got another suit!) and it seemed the tension was cut fromt he previous week. we are slowly slowly learning the language and so are they. it was really a super day :) we also had chicken for dinner.

i don't know what the Almighty has in store for those we have met and been able to share with, seeds are being planted. i know that the work here is by NO MEANS dependent on me, but it is exciting to see the work eing down. ask that the next few weeks we may continue to be diligent with out time inorder to bring most glory to Him. ask that we would be bold and couragous in sharing. pray that my body would stop feeling yucky.
thank you for being faithful.

much needed update

it's been a few days-and rightfully so. we finally called a doctor regarding sarah's health and he recommnded not only some anti-biotics, but some tests at the hospital. the next day, no improvement, so to the hospital we went expecting a mere outpaitent poceedure and got an overnight stay in an indian hospital. at one point i said i wanted to see the indian health care system; this was sure a funny way of making that come about. all in all, sarah is doing MUCH better. after some iv fluids, antibiotics, and being a co-author to an amazing poem, she is on the road to recovery. however, it seems i am now presenting some of her previous symptoms. i am being more proactive than we were with her, mostly because we know how serious it was/can become. please ask that i will find the ability to drink 3-4 liters of water a day, eat, (i know, who knew i would ever need prayer in this area!), and have the ability to keep ministering to our families. last week we had some people from the company come and spend time encouraging us in our task. it was really amazing! they gave us ideas of how/where to talk with people and reminded us to be bold in sharing. the also reminded us to be bold in the homes, (how will they know our motives for loving on them and serving them if we do not speak of the One?). on a more physical level, they brought us chocolate, (which we haven't eaten b/c of our health but are longing to enjoy ;)), told us we could just get antibiotics at the chemist, (a trip to be sure!), and showed us where to get sme simple grocieries so we didn't have to survive on trail mix for the next 4 weeks, (yes, even PB&J :)). tomorrow we will visit with our closest family. we hope to them a story. ask for boldness for us and understanding for them. in the eveing, it is off to farmer d's. things are exciting as we are finally "comfortable" without being fully comfortable. please ask that we would have our minds fixed on Him and on His work here and not be distracted by home. also, ask that we would be open and honest with each other as we begin to start a new way of reaching out to this city. THANK YOU for lifting us up this weekend; i will defiantely have some crazy stories to tell!

shorty

just a short update.
-sarah is sickly again. flu-like symptoms. lift her up please!
-our friend is reading luke before she goes to bed at night (what!??!) PTL!!! He works in ways i would never expect! ask that we would discern how to share with her and which stories to tell!
-it is starting to rain. it is good ebcause it is not so hot, but bad because the roads suck.

wull, that's all for now! thanks for lifting us up!!!

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!