Laundry, Villages, and Birthdays... oh what a busy life!

After nearly a month, we are beginning to develop a routine here. We awake about 7 am and spend time with Jesus in the morning. Before he leaves for school, Havilash is usually our delivery boy and brings over breakfast and Indian tea on the mornings we aren’t cooking for ourselves- which is every morning right now because our gas is needed in the “main kitchen.” We usually see David first thing in the morning so that we can discuss the schedule for the rest of the day – it’s kind of like having a personal secretary, he takes care of our schedule.

On the days we are home all day or until evening, we study our Bibles and prepare for longer messages, write in our journals about all the Lord is teaching us, speak with our families on Skype, play with Nathan and Havilash, write these updates you so enjoy reading :), and get house work done… especially laundry and cleaning. It still takes us a very long time to do our laundry… think 2+ hours of washing and rinsing and ringing out once or twice a week. (I (Chelsea) have decided that doing laundry for my family at home would be a full time job requiring at least 4-5 hours on a daily basis. Mom- aren’t you thankful for washing machines!)

On the days we travel out to a village, we spend extra time preparing/praying for the day in the mornings. Saturday and Sunday were this kind of day. We visited a different village each day (so far there have been no repeat visits to villages). Saturday evening we met with a small flock and held a short service in the open air. They have a space they are using for church gatherings, but it is small and was very hot in the evening, so we moved outside where it was cooler and there was more space (this has the added advantage that everyone nearby can hear what it being said whether they are attending the meeting or not).

Sunday, after children’s Sunday School (conducted for the first time in all English with the children helping to translate if some didn’t understand), church (where we did not teach this week – it was wonderful to just sit with the congregation and enjoy spending time with the Lord, I don’t know how pastors do it every week), and youth meeting (also English only), we had a short rest and lunch and then we were off to another village. This was our first meeting in a thatched church (about 10’ x 13’), we didn’t have much chance to get pictures of the “building” itself, but you can see the interior in the pictures we got while the service was going on.

It was our great delight to share the Word of God with our brothers and sisters from Psalm 16:8 (Bethany) and 23 (Chelsea) and to share with them in the Last Supper. Before and after some of the children showed their skill in traditional Indian dancing, it was really wonderful! Just look…

We also have a major praise report: Last week, Bethany and I were discussing our need for some additional Indian style clothing since we have been rotating just a few tops and bottoms, especially things which are appropriate for wearing to the villages. Saturday before we left for the village, our neighbor and landlady, called us over and gave us about 10 of the long shirts and several pairs of pants which are perfect for wearing the to the villages, or any other time. Sunday evening while we were visiting the family, David’s niece, also gave us a bag of her things she no longer wears. We both feel like the Lord has been showering us with blessings… especially since we did not even ask Him directly, but were just discussing it among ourselves.

Shout out to Bethany! All the clothes needed to be washed as they had been sitting in drawers for some time. She has spent many hours in the last two days rinsing clothes so that everything we have smells and looks fresh and clean! Thank you! You’re the best!

Yesterday was an “at home day” and we spent it mostly doing the above described activities. But in the early afternoon, Pastor David brought us a special treat. A package from home (Chelsea’s family) and a letter (from Patrick).

My mother couldn’t believe I left home without it!

Today is David’s mother’s 77^th birthday! Last night, everyone stayed up and David’s youngest sister and her three children came over and at midnight we ate cake and sang “Happy Birthday.” Did you know that there is more than one verse to “Happy Birthday?” I didn’t before I got here. The additional verses say, “May God bless you dear,” “Many greeting to you,” and “Happy long life to you.” So the next time one of us is around for your birthday, you should ask us to sing you an Indian birthday song. Another interesting Indian tradition is that all the guests must feed the birthday person a bite of cake. I innocently asked if people ever get cake smeared on their face, and was informed that only happens to children and then told “apply cream (frosting) [to your face]”

We are off to another village this evening, so I must leave you for now.

Grace and peace to you all!