Tuesday, January 30, 2007

"Goliath's gods didn't help him" (Email to friend)

(Email to a friend)

Oh hey, I meant to include this in my email, but it got sent before I wrote it.... Thought you might like to hear this little update from our work here. Work is going well- I was working on the David and Goliath story with some story-crafters yesterday.

Did you know that when David is approaching Goliath, Goliath curses David by the names of his gods? I asked the girls (who are not His), if they thought that was important to include in thestory. One girl said, "No, because his gods didn't help him, we shouldn't say that. That makes his gods look bad." The other girl said, "I think that's an important part of this story- to show that David's god helped him, but Goliath's gods didn't help him." Anyway, we decided to leave it in. These are the girls who gave me a beautifully framed picture of one of their gods for my bday.

~ Elizabeth

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Dreaming of Home

So I’m a little concerned about something I shouldn’t be. Right now, and for the past few weeks, I’ve been dreaming about being back home- just relaxing, enjoying family and friends…being a “regular person” again…in a regular country, with regular, normal food, etc. And with that, the thought continues that once I get back, I’m never leaving again- it’s too good of a life there!!!

Then I think about the verses that talk about leaving home and family for HIS sake. And wondering if He will then call me somewhere else. I know it’s still a little way away, and who knows I may be miserable at home…and long to be called back here. Anyway, it's strange how I long to be home now. It's not necessarily home sickness, but just wanting to be with family. I can’t think of anything better, except Heaven perhaps, than being with them once again.

Father, thank you for giving me the awesome opportunity to see them and spend time with them here back in November…what a privilege.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Favorite pic.

This might be my favorite Kahani picture ever. This was taken on our trip to Panna's mother's village.


Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Re: You are doing a GREAT job! (Email reply to Daddy)

Daddy,

You are my biggest encourager. You don’t know how much your letter, and this email mean to me…especially coming from you. I know you would love for me to hurry up and get done and come home, yet still you are encouraging me to press on….it means so much….

I love you too- yeah, keep the hot tub warm for me….and keep the couch for me, I want to just sit on it forever when I get home!!!!!!!!!!!! :) with you, mommy, Mark and Natalie all together with me. :)

~ Elizabeth

You are doing a GREAT job! (Email from Daddy)

Elizabeth,

You are doing a GREAT job!

You are doing a FANTASTIC job!

You are doing a SUPER job!

You are doing a EXCELLENT job!

You are doing a miraculous job!

I LOVE YOU!!!!!

Dad.

You can't trust your feelings... (Journal Entry)

I cried in my meeting tonight with Robin. We decided some future stories to do- i.e. who will work on them, and I said, "I can’t say right now what Grace will do or will not do...she mayn ot be able to help us anymore."

I made a comment about myself not wanting to do anymore stories, and how we laugh and joke about having to change one thing in the stories, but I’m not laughing or joking about it anymore, I’m sick of it. Then I started crying. It was good, actually. I told her how much I’ve cried the past 4-5 days, and really want to just do what’s right and what’s next, but can’t figure it out. And, how even walking up from the post-office today, just thinking how I should have joy in this work, I should be happy, I should be excited to be here…but saying that, and knowing that, and actually having joy, being excited are very different things….

She then said something profound… “Someone once told me that sometimes you have to choose not listen to your feelings…and just go on what you know is right.”

Funny, I know we've talked about this before, when she was trusting her feelings more. She also said, “Someone also said that if you’re at a party and really not having a good time, if you pretend, kind-of that you are…you may find yourself actually enjoying it after a while.”

What she said is right…and true…and good…does it make it easier? Not really…

The worst thing about feeling this way (that is, basically feeling like quitting), is that I know the Enemy LOVES it…and wants me to feel this way. And I hate giving him that pleasure. I want to enjoy work, I want to please my Father, I want to do the right thing…I want to have joy. Just knowing that I should have joy and should praise Him…doesn’t get the work done that I see needs to be done…

I did tell Robin at one point: “You asked me last night what you could do to help me, and afterwards I thought about it and I did think of something you could do to help me…you can verbally encourage me, and tell me I’m doing a good job." I told her, "My dad often comes to my mom and says, “Just tell me I’m doing the right thing…” and that’s how I feel right now, I think I’ve been wanting to hear that from you, and yet haven’t- and I know that it seems silly to you to say that…but I think it would REALLY help me to hear it from you…and not that everything would be fine after that, but I can tell you things would be much better…

Oh Father…thank you for your faithfulness…thank you for your goodness…thank you for keeping me in your care in spite of my ungratefulness and unsatisfaction with this work…

Monday, January 15, 2007

POST-IT-NOTES!


We organized our thoughts for the stories using Post-it notes!

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

I feel like quitting. (Email to Parents)

Mommy,

So, I basically feel like quitting. Yep. You never thought I’d get to this point did you? The one and great Elizabeth. The one who can do everything, and for whom nothing is too hard. Nothing is impossible. Wait, I think you got her mixed up with God. She is just a mere human being- nothing special about her, she’s just a girl with lots of issues and yet a child of God- in whom He can work…

You know what…I know the Enemy is attacking me right now, the past day, the past week. I can’t help it. I know I can help it, but I’m frustrated…really frustrated- and tonight, I don’t even think I can sort out my thoughts to figure out why I’m so depressed about this project.

You know what…even Daddy’s card was meant to encourage me, but I’m having trouble seeing how what he says provides much encouragement at all. Trust. Persevere. Have faith, - but you know what- that doesn’t actually get the physical work done. That doesn’t learn a language. That doesn’t find new people to test stories with…

I have to go for now....

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Today was completely unsuccessful. (Journal Entry)

I feel like today was completely unsuccessful. True, it’s not over yet, but the majority of it is, and the time where I would have had strength to do anything has passed. I long for the darkness of night to come, so that we can build a fire, and then heat hot water bottles and forget the day in sleep.

It was not a bad day, just unproductive- and I guess in my mind that equals a bad day. The majority of my day was spent with Gaitree and Panna figuring out a vehicle for us to take to Panna’s, mother’s village tomorrow. Talking on the phone to taxi drivers, and listening to Panna argue with them about the price, and reassuring Panna that the amount we would pay would not mean we would lose all our money.

Today, Panna used an interesting measurement of time. I asked her, “How long/far is it from the road to your mother’s house?” In other words, “how long will we have to walk for?” She said, “As long as I was on the phone yesterday with my aunt, that is how long you will have to walk.”

We of course laughed a lot, but still I feel like nothing was accomplished today. I did try to test some stories with the lady downstairs, but she was on her way to the bazaar so that didn’t work. I could go now, but just don’t have the energy. Should I force myself? We’ll be in the village for three days starting from tomorrow, perhaps I should save my energy. And yet, once today is gone, I’ll never have it back again- why leave today’s work for tomorrow? I should go, and get something done- I know I’ll feel much more accomplished afterwards, plus what’s more than a good feeling, is I’ll have actually done something. Yet, somehow, I just don’t feel like it. Physically, I’m tired and not in the mood. Somehow, I feel like that’s an okay excuse to not do anything…but I know it’s not.

I’ve also been thinking about crafting stories, and Ganga, and trying to craft the Exodus story with her---it does seem like it would be so much better/faster if we could craft the rest of the stories with English speakers…ugh…who can I talk to about this? Of course, who could I craft stories with who speaks English? Maybe Hema, or Geetu? They are so “not-Kahani” though, the storie would lost a lot…

I guess, though- I learned a lot of that from the time spent with Ganga…and of course testing in the villages. But, can that knowledge by applied to crafters who don’t know anything about village life?

I don’t know. I guess the traveling back and forth to Ganga’s village just seems like a lot- and perhaps there is a short-cut somewhere. But where? Could she come here? She has to care for her parents, I don’t think she could come here. Maybe we could work something out, where I went for 2-3 days a week- then I came back, and she came for one night (2 days)- and in-between I could get stories back-translated, sent to Judy…

I can also take just day trips there. But it seems like to work for only 2 hours on 1-2 stories…but to spent 5-6 hours in getting there/eating/chatting/and coming back just doesn’t seem to add up. I suppose I could try to be more firm and say, I have to do other work, I can’t stay…but it’s so hard to say no- and relationships are important. If I don’t stay, if I don’t eat, if I don’t take the time to chat, she probably won’t feel loved/cared for and thus won’t be happy to do stories.

I really want to do what’s best for the work- but perhaps spending forever getting to a village just to get a sloppy recording isn’t the best for the work. True, she can do some good recordings, and her story-telling is much more natural than Precious's- but the other thing is, I’m not sure she really understands the stories- it sounds more like she has memorized them. And while her words may be more natural and some of the phrases- if she hasn’t really understood them, than most likely the way she’s told them would be hard for a listener to understand too.

I’m also wondering how easy should a story be for someone to retell- no one has EVER retold ALL of a story perfectly…is that bad? Haha…sounds bad, doesn’t it? But then again, are they supposed to be able to retell it perfectly? I guess they should be- maybe after 4-5 times of hearing it…but who would take time to listen to a story 4-5 times? Those long stories the old women know in the villages, I wonder how many times they had to listen to that story before they could retell it?

It’s strange to think in 6 months I may go home. Not for good- but for the family vacation…wow- amazing. I can hardly wait and can even hardly contain the idea.

Monday, January 8, 2007

MY BIRTHDAY! (Email Update)

Email Update

Short Version:
Birthday Party Update- thank you for praying!
“Why not have a storying workshop where people can learn the stories and how to use them in the villages?”
“Will you carry wood, eat grass, and tell stories?” (testing in villages…)

Birthday…Update
Thank you all for your prayers for my birthday party. One of our story-crafters “Precious,” helped prepare special food, and shared the story of Jesus’ birth. I followed with a brief testimony in Kahani language about what His birth meant in my life. It was a blessing to share my birthday with so many of our friends from such a wide variety of backgrounds.

Why not have a storying workshop…?”
This past week, our housemate, Vivian, organized a workshop to motivate local leaders to support the translation work that is happening. Robin and I also did a short presentation on stories. The result from the presentation is the idea to have a two-day storying workshop for the local leaders to learn the Kahani stories and how to use them use them in their ministries and in evang. in the villages. While there is still much to plan, the tentative dates are February 20-21st. This is a huge step in transitioning the work we’ve done in the past year into the hands of nationals. It is our prayer when our time in this project is finished, we can leave knowing that His Word, through these stories, is going forth! Please pray now that He would be preparing those who will come and develop a desire to share the stories in the villages!

(picture: dancing at my birthday party!)
“Will you carry wood, eat grass, and tell stories?”
Our house helper, “Anna,” asked us this today as we started making plans to visit her mother’s village next week to test stories. She is excited to visit her family and show us her mother’s village. She has planned that we’ll sleep in a different place each night, staying for three nights, we think. Pray that the trip will go well, we’ll be able to test stories, as well as listen to their stories, and that above all, we would be a light to “Anna” and her extended family.

Picture: Left to right: Me, Vivian (our housemate, originally from Guatemala), Robin- roasting marshmallows and keeping warm by the fire we have several times a week at our home during the winter!

PRAISE AND PRAYER:
Praise for encouraging moments with story-crafters.
Praise for Robin and me coming to some decisions regarding the rest of the stories for the set.
Praise for the blessing of being able to share a story and testimony with many at my birthday party.
Prayer for testing in villages- the next few weeks, and continuing to adjust stories.
Prayer for beginning plans for the storying workshop! (currently scheduled for: Feb 20-21).

Til All Have Heard,

~ Elizabeth
“Like the ten spies, we too can be pessimists; or like the two spies, optimists. Like the ten, we can put our difficulties between us and God and say we are not able; or like the two, we can put God between the difficulties and ourselves and say we are able!” ~Henrietta C. Mears

“Is anything to hard for the Lord? No!” ~Genesis 18:14

Sunday, January 7, 2007

Cost of not obeying God

Joining God requires major adjustments. The reality of adjusting to Godholds true throughout Scripture. David could not continue herding sheep onthe hillsides and become king of Israel. Jonah had to overcome a majorprejudice in order to preach to the people of Nineveh. Peter and others hadto leave their fishing business in order to follow Jesus. Obeying God willalways come at a cost. But few people take into account the cost of not obeying God. It is always much higher.

--Henry Blackaby

Places In-Between (Journal Entry)

So much to do, yet today, I did nothing story-related. Of course, the day isn’t over yet. It feels a little strange, kind-of like I didn’t do anything important of valuable.

I'm trying to take it easy and rest. And boy, that's not as easy as it sounds!!! Of course it’s easy when it’s the only thing to do- on vacation for example, or on a Sunday afternoon when that’s just what you do. But for me, in this place, there is always one more thing to do. One more story to check, one more neighbor to visit. One more phone call to make, on more issue to discuss. It’s never ending. But today, I've been trying to just rest.

Lord, I’ve been thinking about something recently. Coming back here after this. Coming back to continue working on stories. I haven’t felt this idea at all until about two weeks ago. And yet, this past week showed me that perhaps there are enough workers and others who can continue the work without us- wow, wouldn’t that be great? I guess only time will tell if I feel that my work here is done. Of course, my two year-commitment will be done soon, and yes, I’ll go home then. But beyond that, is my work here finished? Only You know!

I’m listening to “The Places in Between” right now, narrated by the author- it’s about his trip across Afghanistan. And is really amazing. I want to use some of his audio clips in a language/culture learning class to give an example of detail, and certain things that we might easily overlook, but we can gain so much information from. It’s been really neat to listen to it- and wonder if I might find myself in a similar situation or place one day. Of course, so much of it applies just to men- but it does give an insight to their life and ways- which I may never get first-hand experience at.

Saturday, January 6, 2007

"Home is the niecest word there is" (Email to Parents)

Mommy and Daddy,

Laura Ingles Wilder (Little House on the Prairie)said, “I’ve decided something. ‘Home’ is the nicest word there is.”

Even though I’m not at home right now, I think I might have to agree. While it’s still many months away, at least it’s within this same year…

I enjoyed watching Little House today, while sipping on that caramel hot chocolate you sent, and dipping my chocolate covered candy in it…You would never know that in a few days, I’ll be sleeping next to scrawling kids, scratching the fleas, eating grass, carrying grass and wood on my head, and cooking bread by a fire.

I love you.

~ Elizabeth

Tuesday, January 2, 2007

Kahani Art!


"Grace" and I painted some 'aparn' - traditional Kahani art while I was in her village this last time.