home sweet home

hello all :) I have awakened from jet lag long enough to eat my welcome back to america pizza and start some laundry. Just thought I would say hello, I am home, safe and sound. I have so much to share, so many pictures to show, and a WHOLE LOT to process. Im not sure where to begin in words to express what India is like, what the trip was like. This works out really well because I have to share in front of our church tomorrow lol. Im sure I will figure it out, hopefully before then. But please do trust sooner rather than later I will have tons to say. Until then I am working on getting the smell out of my pillow. One wash in and it still smells like India, 8 flights, and 2 continents. It seems I have a long trek of laundry ahead. Hope everyone had a great week! Thanks for your prayers, sweet sendoff messages, and emails while I was gone!

holy cow

Well here we are.  The countdown is almost to an end as my team approaches less than 24 hours before we begin our over 20 hour journey to India. All I want to say is holy cow and I think that’s pretty fitting of where I’m about to go. As I reflect on the past months of what it took to get here I am just so incredibly thankful. I’m about to fulfill a piece of a dream, a calling that was placed on my life before Jesus said “let there be light.” As a child I knew this was the kind of life I wanted. I remember being 14, about to leave for my first missions trip to Ensenada, Mexico, and I was terrified. I was sick about it for weeks, so afraid to fly, to leave the comfort of my country. My dad sat me down one night in an attempt to encourage me and said “Jessy, God made you to do a lot of things in this world. You have such a big purpose, He’s not going to let anything happen to you.” I didn’t realize as a young teen what my dad was really saying then but I got on the plane for Mexico and had one of the best experiences of my life, definitely the best one at that time.

So tomorrow as I board a plane for a different country, I remember not only what my dad spoke over me but what my Father has also said. I remind myself of what I’m called to do in this world for His Kingdom. So yeah, thankful hardly sums it up but that’s how I feel. I know this trip is the beginning of so many more, known and unknown, adventures around this globe.  Thanks to everyone who was obedient to Jesus and gave towards my trip. I look forward to telling you all about it when I get back. I expect to have a farmers tan, tons of stories about miracles and, fingers crossed, a new appreciation for peanut butter and jelly.

Pray for me, our team, the pilot of our planes, and the people of India.  लेट्स गो !

[Countdown to India: 19 hours]

angel house video

sweetest video- WATCH THIS!



http://www.angelhouse.me/index12.html

[Countdown to India: 60 hours]

चार दिन

4 days, that's all I have to say. चार दिन .

याय....I think I need to start reading into some hindi...  http://www.linguanaut.com/english_hindi.htm

[Countdown to India: 4 days]

the skinny

With the trip QUICKLY approaching, as in like less than one week, there have been a lot of questions regarding what ill be doing more specifically and who with. So here's the skinny about The Awaken Women's Conference we will be attending- not quite sure what we'll be doing but we'll be there, that I know.

http://awakenconference.com/

As I said in my last post, we will be in Patna, India however we will be traveling around the state of Bihar throughout the week to open new orphanages. Word on the street is that we will have internet access so hopefully that means I can blog and post pics etc while I'm there- but if not they will have them on the website I gave you last time.

Continue to pray for our team- I know its been an intense time of preparation for us and at this point we are just ready to get there. I hardly know what to expect but it will be beyond my expectation Im sure. I cant believe how far weve all come since we first signed up for this trip- its humbling to look back and see all Jesus has done to get us here. I am confident he will do EVEN MORE while we are there. So thats it, Im READY TO GOOOOO!!!!

[Countdown to India: 6 days] 

numbers

"Never worry about numbers. Help 1 person at a time and always start with the person nearest you." Mother Teresa 

Today has been India day it seems. We had our official conference call with Missions.Me and then got to enjoy an authentic Indian dinner hosted by a family at church. They spent years upon years in India sharing the gospel and wanted to give us a heads up on what its like. We were also given a few authentic Indian garments to try on and take with us on the trip...I may post a picture...well see :) 

With all this information its easy to get overwhelmed. There are so many cultural things to remember like which hand to eat food with (the right one ONLY), the way they nod yes, or safety issues about passports and pick-pocketers...its just a lot. But I read this quote from Mother Teresa and it really helps me focus. All the logistics are great, and quite necessary, but I have to remain steadfast on my purpose above all else. I'm going to India not for the experience, the cultural awareness or because 112 degree weather sounds really enjoyable. We all signed up for this trip so we could touch someone, they just happen to be more than halfway across the earth. 

I think this remains true in everyday life too. It can be discouraging when you think of the need in this world- India alone has over 1.2 billion people-People who have nothing, whether through poverty or because they don't know Jesus, or both....its easy to feel outnumbered.  But here I'm reminded that the numbers don't count...1. because Jesus already overcame the world and 2. because well I mean she's right. I'm one person so chances are I can really only help one person at a time, and that's ok. So this week as we all prepare, I'm going to keep this in mind- I don't want to wait until I'm in Asia to start helping people. I want to be aware now of how I can help others, especially my teammates. And then next week when I just happen to be in India and the nearest person to me is an Indian orphan I can help them too. It seems simple, probably because it is. 

Continue to pray for me and my team. We found out today we will be in Patna in Bihar,which google maps tell me is right here:                                               

                                                                      

Day 1 and 2 of our trip will be spent at a Women's Conference followed by a Youth Conference, both of which I am extremely thrilled about. The rest of the week is dedicated to opening at least 1 new orphanage a day. Yay! In the meantime I'm trying to get used to eating pb&j every day for lunch so pray that I learn to love that too. Good news for you just in case you are wondering- Missions.Me will be posting updates and info about our trip and pics all week 

          right here at http://www.missions.me/team.html

That's it for now. As we get closer I'll have more to update! I just got my malaria pills so I'll start taking those soon- now I just need to go shopping with all the money you donated! So thanks! 

[Countdown to India: 9 days]

12 days 12 days 12 days

Hello everyone :) Sorry its been forever but I've been a busy bee- I got a new job..and a new roommate :). Things have finally begun to calm down as I settle in at work which means I can really start thinking about India! In 12 days I will be on my way and I cannot believe it! As a team, I know we are all so ready to get over there and hug kids, meet the people, and eat pb and j's every day :)

With that said, over the next 12 days I'm going to need some prayer, for a few things...

1. focused prayer time- it's really easy to get distracted during the times we most need to be focused and intentional about our time with the Lord. So pray that my time (and my team members time) with God will be protected and intentional each day...I want to arrive in Asia FULL of God so I can pour, pour and then pour some more.

2. safety safety safety- God is in control. period. I trust our team will be protected all the way there and back....but you can still pray for that!

3. team unity- Jesus wants to do a lot through us in India, which means us all working together is really really necessary.Pray that we encourage one another, pray for one another, not get offended, or complain, or worry about what other people think and are doing.

4. I dont have a title for this one but its the biggest one for me I think- pray that I will do nothing apart from what I hear and see Jesus do. I don't want to get caught up in doing something just because I see other people doing it and then miss what Jesus wanted me to do in that moment. For example, just because some people in my group are playing with some kids doesnt mean I should right then. There are specific things I'm called to do over there but I'll miss it if I feel like I need to follow everyone else...does that make sense? I hope so :)

5. against jet lag! pray for our bodies- I know that God supplies all my needs- physical, emotional etc...even though we'll be on a plane for 21 hours, yes like a whole day, Jesus is Lord and we can still have energy and excitement and patience and no grumpiness.....

6. our leaders- pray for them to have wisdom strength guidance in abundance!

7. pray for India! Jesus loves them and created them- they are his children they just dont all know it yet :)

Thats it for now....I really appreciate all of your prayers and support!

oh. ps. this is the weather currently for India- its 2:30 am and 88 degrees- just look at this- pray for us.
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/Bihar+Sharif+INXX0025:1:IN

[Countdown to India: 12 days!]