Playing dress up!

I went to Heather's house and spent the night this past week. We had fun cooking, telling stories, and playing "Dress up" in her sister's beautiful saris!!!

Resting (Email to Parents)

Streams in the Desert readings for this past week seem to be about “waiting” or “being still” or “being content where He has placed you.” It’s a good encouragement to me to wait and be still on whatever may happen in the future. I started reading the book “Inside Afghanistan” today and am already captured just by the first chapter. It’s strange too because the first chapter is mainly just background information about the Taliban and how they took over the country, and September 11th, and a lot of names of government officials and other stuff that I initially struggled to get through. But I stuck with it, and feel drawn to the adventure that lies ahead of the author himself.

Anyway, selections from Streams in the Desert for March 22 says…

“Forty years was a long time to wait in preparation for a great mission. Yet when God delays, He is not inactive. This is when He prepares His instruments and matures our strength. Then at the appointed time we will rise up and be equal to our task…

God is never in a hurry. He spends his years preparing those He plans to greatly use, and never thinks of the days of preparation as being too long or boring.

The most difficult ingredient of suffering is often ‘time.’ A short sharp pain is easily endured, but when a sorry drags on its long and weary way year after monotonous year, returning day after day with the same dull routine of hopeless agony, the heart loses its strength. Without the grace of God, the heart is sure to sink into dismal despair.

Today we may be unable to see the final outcome of the beautiful plan that God has hidden ‘in the shadow of his hand’ (Isa. 49:2). It may be concealed for a very long time, but our faith may rest in the assurance that God is still seated on His thrown. Because of this assurance, we can calmly await the time when, in heavenly delight, we will say, ‘All things have worked together for good.” (Romans 8:28)

In regards to Joseph- and his preparation (i.e. being sold into slavery, imprisoned, etc before he got to be second in command to the King!): ...and if we have gained the qualities that make us ready for a throne, nothing will keep us from it once His timing is right…

Don’t steal tomorrow from God’s hands. Give Him time to speak to you and reveal His will. He is never late – learn to wait.

He never shows up late; He knows just what is best;
Fret not yourself in vain; until He comes, just REST!

"I want to LIVE life, but I also want to remember it! (Journal Entry)

“I want to live life, but I also want to remember it.”

I told this to Roberta last night on the phone, as we were talking about life being filled with so many things, it just seems like you’re going in various directions and doing so much stuff. I told her how I can’t wait to come and just sit in my front yard, and watch the neighbors. Haha…though the neighbors at home in Delaware don’t really do much, like the neighbors here. I then said, “I mean, I want to do things, I want to live life…but I don’t want to do so much that I don’t remember any of it.”

Robin said today, "It's hard to take a break here in Kahan, but I remember it being much harder to take a break in America- because if you aren’t doing 10 things at once, if you aren’t attending 2 bible studies and teaching a Sunday school class, then it’s viewed as bad in some way."

She’s right. I feel busy here, but it’s nothing compared to my life in America. It’s TONS more busy there. Granted I could come home at night, and generally, relax. I do wonder what my life will be like when I go back.

I also wonder about Mark, Jennifer and Natatlie, and how I can be there for them, as their sister. I want to be there for them...how can I?

Akash (a friend from home) told me, “they’re growing up, and you’re missing it.”

Only a few months more til the family reunion. But then, back here or somewhere again? I sometimes think I’ll go home and never leave again. But then I picture myself at home…and thinking of…Panna, Gaitree, Hema, Ganga- images of Kahani people start to come into my mind- Kahani people doing their pujas (prayers), going to temples…dying without knowing. And not just them…Afghans, Pakistanis, Africans, too many people are crossing through this life without knowing the Truth. How can I sit back and watch? If there was nothing I could do, I might understand more. But there is something I can do…I pray that you Lord, would begin showing me NOW, what you want me to do after this. Central Asia? Delaware? Where do you want me? What do you want me to do? Why do you want me there, and why do you want me doing that? I know those answers won’t be answered for years after the fact…haha…but it doesn’t hurt to ask! :) How long do you want me there, do you want me married before or after? Okay, that question doesn’t’ need to be asked now…haha.. :) I mean, I can ask it in this way - do you want me to have a companion for the work? And in what capacity?

Thank you for watching over me, and loving me. I love you so much.

Amen.

Catching fish...catching people? (Journal Entry)

Something interesting came up as we were workign on the calling of the first disciples story today. While we were talking about the part that says, "Like you have been catching fish, now you will be catching men..." Heather was realy puzzled and said, "Did Jesus want the disciples to kill people?" In other words, catching fish = killing fill, so if catching people is exactly the same as catching fish, then that must mean killing them too?

Needless to say, we worked on it, and she understood, and was able to adjust the phrasing to make it understandable that it was just in the way of "collecting/gathering" the fish - to illsutrate gathering people...not killing them!!

Be all there (Email to Parents)

Mommy, do you remember writing this?

---------------------------------------
“…..All this to say that if you ever begin to doubt that you are doing what God wants you to do, don’t. If you think for one minute that you might not be where God wants you to be, you are wrong. I’m quite sure that as hard as it is to leave your homeland, it will be equally hard for you to leave India in two years.

There is no doubt in my mind that you are doing what you were designed by God to do. That is the only way we could let you go. I don’t know what plans God has for you in those mountains of Kahan, but I know He DOES have plans for you there. He has already prepared relationships, situations, and opportunities for you right there.

Just as I have prepared for you to come home so many times and fixed things up for you and prepared special food, God has prepared things for you there in India. The certainty of His Sovereignty guarantees that this is so. Each detail is carefully constructed by a loving Heavenly Father, ready and waiting for you to experience and bring glory to Him through it all.

So enjoy what God has prepared for you. Be all there….”
-------------------

It’s typed on pink paper- you gave it to me as I was leaving Delaware…and I have saved it and read it several times over the past year- always seeming to come upon it again at the right moment.

Anyway, I love you so much, and could not be here without you. I think about coming home, and thinking, “I’ll never leave again” – like Dorothy- when she finally got back home… 'there’s no place like home.’

Recently I learned that the word for home/house here should only be used to refer to the place where your family lives. I called to a neighbor and she said, “I haven’t seen you in a few days, where have you been?” I said, “I’ve been at home” (meaning right here on the roof of the home I was standing on). She said, “You went home? Really?” I said, “no, this home…” – she was pretty confused.

I asked Gaitree later about it and I said “what do I call this place I’m living in right now- my home?” She said "No." You call it your room, or your rented place. She said “My family has lived in the town Kahan for several years, but that is not our home- our home is in R town- where we actually own land and where our ‘roots’ are. It has something to do with owning the place where you reside, but it has more to do with who is there…

No matter what, at least on this earth- my home will always be there…with you. And yet, being where He wants me (here for now), also feels like “home” in many ways. I think someone else said this, that the place you are most content, is in the plane going back and forth between the two places you love the most – the place you call ‘home’ and the place where He has called you. To satisfy your heart, being between the two sometimes feels the best!

Anyway, it’s already March 17- we have only 6 more stories that have not yet actually been started yet. Most of the rest have not been ‘approved’ yet, but they are at least started. I think this work may actually get completed…I think I might actually survive :)

I love you lots. And miss you too. But, I’ll be home before you know it! :) I’m sure!

~ Elizabeth

Unfailing Love Lyrics

“…everything you hold in your hands, still you make time for me. I can’t understand…

Praise you God of earth and sky, how beautiful is your unfailing love, unfailing love. And you never change, God you remain the same, the Holy one, and my unfailing love, unfailing love.”

~ Chorus lyrics to “Unfailling Love” by Chris Tomlin

"This is really helpful to them!" (Email to Parents)

I called one of the main Indian workers who sent a several people for the storying workshop this morning to update him on how the workshop went and thank him for sending people.

Here is some of what he said- I found it very encouraging….

“They work mostly with non-literate people, in an oral culture so this is something really helpful to them.”
I think they (the guys he sent) will use what you taught them. They said they were happy to have gone to the training and were excited about it. They were encouraged, and impressed with your Kahani. I can take responsibility for my guys and challenge them to really use the training.
I am 100% behind you and supporting you.

Anyway, I think there is a bit of snow coming down with the rain right now as I look out the window- goodness!!!! It’s not sticking or anything, but it indicates how cold it is….I thought winter was over!!

Dreaming in Kahani (Email to Friends back home)

Hey Paltan! That is, if you scattered doston can still be considered a paltan (group)! Here, there, let’s see how far apart we can get!!!!

Anyway, it’s been a while since I’ve sent out an update to you all, and so here’s the latest from my side.
(two village kids and me!)
Stories…
We have been working on stories day and night- several girls have been helping us make the stories- our neighbors listen to them and provide helpful feedback. I’m encouraged that our supervisor is approving some of the stories already. It’s exciting.

I’m continuing to learn language, Kahani. It’s amazing that sometimes I dream in Kahani now. Sometimes I can’t remember which language I spoke to someone in because it seems fairly natural now! Not that I’m fluent, but I can communicate! :) My grammer might not be correct- but I have enough friends who have listened to me enough to know what I’m basically trying to say!! ;) It’s neat to hear people’s response when I say, “I really don’t know Hindi, but I can speak to you in Kahani!” Last month, Robin (The girl I’m working with) and I had a workshop for some local leaders about the story work we’re doing. We talked the whole time in Kahani- and encouraged the people there to speak Kahani too- even though they are used to holding meetings in Hindi. My Hindi has actually decreased since I’m really focusing on understanding and communicating in the local language. BUT, I can still bargain with the auto rickshaws in the capitol! :)

Today is wet, rainy, cold, dreary- though the past few weeks have had pretty warm, sunny weather. I think summer is on it’s way, but winter still lingers. It also snowed here a few weeks back. We didn’t have electricity for more than 48 hours…that was fun. Electricity goes out nearly every day- sometimes for 10 minutes, sometimes for 6-7 hours. We’ve had water, but two weeks ago, our tanks were down to about 2 inches of water left- but fortunately the next day more water came, so we didn’t actually run out.

(picture - Holi festival - yeah, it's much better in this country than DE, it lasts for 5 days!)
Life here is going well in general. Days come where I miss home so much I think I’ll just leave. But remembering why I’m here, and that this work is important…helps keep me focused. At this point, I’ll probably be home around September-October- but not any fixed plans yet. It has been so great to see several of you over the past year and a half…I miss you all a lot. I’m sure it will be different to come home to a group that is now almost all nearly married, a new paltan baby, and most of you living NOT in Delaware! Ahh!! But, I’m glad we can still stay in touch…I’d love to hear what you are all up to as well…don’t feel you have to write as much- even just a few sentences letting me know how life is! :)

~ Liz

He is here! (Journal Entry)

Lord, today is rainy, dreary, cold, gloomy…but may it be the opposite of what is inside my heart. May I sing for joy to you today Lord! May I look at these stories with new insight and ideas and a passion for your Word. Give me strength to press on- give strength to Robin too- she’s been busy the past few days. Give her rest and endurance at the same time!!! I don’t know if the girls will come today or not- the weather tells me they won’t. And of course, would I want to go anywhere today?

Lord, I’m here waiting for you to meet me, and yet, a smile crosses my face, as I think about turning around and seeing you sitting there on the bed- you are already here…how cool is that? You are waiting for me! You are sitting right here with me…looking over my shoulder perhaps…man, a little scary, but more than that, it’s comforting…I’m not alone…you are here- you are with me!! I love you Jesus!

"I don't care" - (Journal Entry)

I’m listening to a very old song right now: “Your love's got me going around the world....” (Newsong)…

Yeah, somehow I doubt these people will EVER believe you….I have such small faith- yes, I believe you parted the Red Sea, I believe you healed the lame, and gave sight to the blind, but the hearts of these people living on all sides of me- they will never see you…

And you know what- do I even care? I want to go home right now, but how can I be so heartless and not care if they spend eternity with you? Somehow, right now, in this moment, I just don’t care.

And yet, what if you said that about me? What if you said, “Oh, Elizabeth, I don’t really care about her, maybe she can find another way, maybe someone else will come along, she’s too stubborn, and not worth my time and my love- what will she do with it anyway? No, I’d rather spend time at home with my Father, in a comfortable place where I know the language and customs and don’t have to work hard. Yeah, I’ll just leave Elizabeth- I don’t really care."

And yet you didn’t say that- did you even feel that way at all? I think you did, you asked that “the cup” be taken from you…you didn’t want to go through it, in that moment you did feel how I feel right now…you felt like you’d rather be home than in the place where you were.

I guess this is a bit of what Pastor Strumbeck was talking about when he wrote to me about getting to the point of really not wanting to be in a place, but persevering because you know it's for His Glory ultimately, and it's because of HIM that you stay and press on - not because of the people, not because of your own strength...but because of Him. When that happens, you know you've truly arrived at embracing that kind of life.

Some Lyrics from Chris Tomlin

You made it all

Said, "let there be"

And there was

All that we see

The sound of Your voice

The works of Your hands

You do all things well

You do all things well

STORYING WORKSHOP (Email Update)

Update on Storying Workshop (“Potential Future Storytellers” - see picture)

“What she is saying is right”
One of the local believers said this to another one when we discussed the importance of sharing the stories with the village people in their heart language instead of the (more respected) trade language. Thank you again and again for your prayers for the storying workshop. In spite of a few frustrating moments, things went pretty well.

Over the past two days, the participants (local believers who speak the Kahani language and others from nearby cities) and Robin and I, listened to, discussed, and attempted to learn the first 5 stories in our initial set: Beginning-[includes Creation/Fall], Cain and Abel, God’s Promise to Abraham, David and Bathsheba, and David’s Punishment.

Encouraging and Frustrating…
It was encouraging that, at our insistence, they spoke in Kahani (local/village) language almost the whole time!
frustrating that when they retold a story they kept adding things from their own knowledge of the Bible
encouraging that when we told them of some testing results, they saw how Kahani people might misinterpret the story if they added or left out certain details
frustrating that when they acted out the Cain and Abel story they added a lot to the story that is not in the Book
encouraging that they really got into acting out the Cain and Abel story!
frustrating that we couldn’t understand everything that was said (due to our limited language)
encouraging that in spite of our limited language, they seemed to understand what we were saying, even if they are still processing the concepts.
encouraging that they saw an importance of starting at the beginning with Creation.
encouraging that they came back the second day!
encouraging that they are interested in another storying workshop, maybe a month from now.
encouraging that they said they would try to tell stories in their ministry!

* We ended the workshop with a challenge to them to try and tell the stories we learned (and others) and then when we meet again, we would like to hear a report of how it went.

Praise Him for:
- A talkative bunch of people- we feared they might not talk much. Instead, at times, it was hard to get them to be quiet!
- Several positive comments that were made about the stories and about using stories in their ministries
- Interest in another storying workshop- about a month from now.
- The participants leaving communicating with each other in Kahani- a lot more than when they arrived! :)

Ask him for:
- guidance as the people who participated in the workshop attempt to tell stories in their ministry
- stamina for us- even though it’s excited and motivating, Robin and I are physically and mentally tired- and neither one of us has slept well this week. Pray for rest and also perseverance as we get back into crafting stories.

* Immediate pr request: We haven’t had electricity for most of the day, and only have about 3 inches of water in the water tanks on our roof. Please pray that water comes tomorrow and our electricity comes back soon!!!

Til All Have Heard,
~ Elizabeth

"I don't like this story..." (Journal Entry)

The other day in testing, I didn’t have such a good day…After playing the David and Goliath story for the aunty who lives below us, she said, “I don’t like this story, do you have any other ones?”

I was like, “Um….how could you be so rude!!!!” I tried to find out why, and it seemed that she was just distracted, that her mind was elsewhere and she didn’t really want to focus on the stories at that time.

However, I’m wondering if Heather's Kahani language in the stories isn’t really good Kahani. I mean, I know she is learning, and trying, but sometimes I think, “Um, that’s not how you say that…” Her tenses are a little mixed- and while I think the ideas communicate, it’s not a whole lot better than me telling the story!!!! Hmm…If she continues telling stories, I think it will get better, but I hope it gets better real quick.

Very quick update about workshop (Email Update)

Tuesday, February 27, 2007 – 11:30am Eastern Standard Time (10pm- South Asia time)

The first day of the storying workshop went fairly well.
It wasn’t perhaps quite what we expected, but then again, we didn’t quite know what to expect.
The morning was somewhat frustrating, but the afternoon was better…
Tomorrow, we will meet again- reviewing more stories and trying to help them see how they can apply what we’ve done in these two days in their own ministries.

Please praise God for:
- The people who did come to the workshop today (most are from other cities!)
- Accommodation provided for all participants
- The participants hearing perhaps some new ideas today- that they can teach in their own mother tongue, they can verbally tell a B story rather than only reading it, and it doesn’t have to necessarily include every detail, etc…
- Robin and I working well together
- Robin and I having enough energy to speak and listen in another language the whole day (very little was in English)

Please pray that:
- We would be able to communicate ideas clearly through modeling, etc
- The participants to see how they can learn themselves from these stories as well as use these stories to teach others
- The participants would be able to learn the stories they way they have been crafted
- The participants would understand more about how the story has been crafted and tested and is the way it is now…
- Robin and I would have strength and energy to focus for another full day of listening/communicating in another language!

The workshop will be taking place while most of you (in America) are sleeping- so if you wake up in the middle of the night- please pray for us!!!

In Him,

~ Elizabeth

The main thing is Jesus!

Yesterday Heather and her friend ‘Gina’ listened to ALL the stories we currently have- from beginning to Pentecost! :) They have heard a few in between, but never all of them all at once. I told them it might help them to see what we’re trying to do- and how all the stories flow together…or at least we hope they do. After listening to all of them, Gina said, “Oh, I see, the main thing is Jesus.” It was neat to see that even though right now, we only have Jesus birth, death and two stoires in between, she saw him as the main character, and what all the other stories lead up to.

Special Prayer Request

Special Pr. Request:

Next week (Feb 27-28 *new dates) we are hoping to have a storying workshop for some Christian workers. These workers are being sent by several pastors in surrounding areas. None of the local pastors speak the local language. Thus as a result, very few people in their congregation speak the local language and few are even originally from this area. However, the pastors do have a passion to reach this area. They have trained believers from villages or the city to do evang. in villages. These believers, plus a few others from other cities (2-3 hours away) are who will be attending the workshop.

Please pray specifically for the following:
**Outcome: pr above all that He receives glory by what we say and do.
Pray that the workers attending the workshop grow closer to Him through the devotional times we’ll have with each story.
**Pray that these workers see that they can share His stories in their mother tongue. Right now most of them use the trade language to ‘preach’ in since that’s the language they have the Bible in.
**Planning: pray for Robin and I as we plan this week just how to teach/model the stories.
**Language: pray for both of us as we think about how to communicate these ideas in the local language, as well as with the help of a translator.
**Logistics: the housing- pr that there are enough accommodations for those who are attending the workshop from other cities. Praise God for the local people who have agreed to provide housing for them.
**“Holi” festival: after changing the dates once due to the 21st being election day (and here, you aren’t allowed to hold religious functions on election day without taking permission from the District Magistrate), we learned that the Holi festival days start at the end of this month- potentially the 27th-28th. This festival is one where people throw colored powder/water on each other in celebration of Spring. We are hoping that it doesn’t really start until March, and that it doesn’t affect those traveling to the workshop!

It’s so exciting to think that this workshop could be one of the most important things we do during our time here. That is, getting these stories into the hands of people who will use them when were gone. Knowing that the Enemy also knows this and doesn’t want it to happen, causes me to ask for your prayers even more….

Thank you for your support through pryers!
Till All Have Heard,
~ Elizabeth

"Do you have more stories?" (Journal Entry)

I spent several hours at the neighbors house today where I’ve tested stories. It was an encouraging trip. Instead of asking about English classes, they asked if I had more stories. I’m not sure that means that they like the stories- but more likely since every time I’ve visited them in the past I had stories- so in some ways, they were expecting them.

We played a version of hopscotch for about an hour- that was tiring, but also a lot of fun. I did also ask them about the “Giant” word in the David and Goliath story, since Irene had a question about it. I found out that it is a word for spirit/ghost, and you wouldn’t really use it to describe a man. However, in testing, people didn’t think Goliath was a ghost or spirit- they thought he was a man. The story, after all says, “he LOOKS LIKE a jhin/ghost.” Not that he was a jhin. And this word has the connotation of being tall- so it fit.

However, I got another word to ask the girls and Irene about- it’s “khabis” – we’ll see what that actually means. The Kahani village people are pretty simple minded (and by that I don’t mean dumb!) and don’t really have words for giant, as such. They would simply say, “a tall man.” Then they might describe it, “So tall that he was taller than everyone else” or “So tall, as tall as a stack of grass.” Or something like that- they don’t have as much vocabulary as we do in English- so they define what they mean by giving additional explanations, or repeating something.

Anyway, it was a good day. In language session, I did learn today that there isn’t really a word for sympathized/comforted. I tried to present the following scenario to Gaitree and Panna.

"If Panna is sick, and Gaitree goes to Panna and says, “It’s okay, don’t worry, you’ll get better, take rest, it’s okay, etc, etc.” And I was later telling a friend, “Panna was sick, Gaitree came and did what to Panna___” - what would you say that Gaitree did. What would you call what she did."

They just continued to say, “Gaitree came and said it’s okay, don’t worry…” Panna came up with a word that means peace, and Gaitree finally agreed we could say that, “Gaitree came and gave peace” but that didn’t really seem to fit. I’m pretty sure they understood my question, but there just didn’t seem to be good word/phrase that summarized the actions.

Conversations about gods... (Journal Entry)

Gaitree: It’s a festival today.
Me: really, which one?
Gaitree: Shivjee- you know the god who was in that cultural story we were doing yesterday, that god.
Me: is it his birthday, or the day he got married, or …?
Gaitree: his birthday…I think, maybe…yeah, I think so. So many people will go to the temple today
Me: Will you go?
Gaitree: yes.
Panna: will you go? (asking me)
Me: Me? No, I won’t go.
Panna: why not?
Me: well…because…I don’t worship shivjee.
Panna: why not?
Me: --silence—trying to figure out what to say!
Gatiree: she doesn’t like shivjee (saying this the same way you say, ‘she doesn’t like green grass to eat’)
Me: I laughed, Gaitree laughed, Panna also kind-of laughed- I wasn’t sure what to say, but this kind-of seemed like a good balance between, “I don’t believe in your god,” and “I just don’t worship him.”

I then said: “Nothing will happen. If I pray to Shivjee, nothing will happen…
Panna: something will…
Me: actually, if I pray to Shivjee, only bad can happen…
Panna: no…
Gaitree: that’s the way, everyone just worships their own god, then it’s okay.

The conversation trailed off and changed to chasing moneys, or gathering wood, I can’t remember. But still, it was the first conversation I’ve had with Gaitree or Panna about my personal beliefs potentially contradicting their beliefs. It wasn’t necessarily contradicting, but I am sure Panna wasn’t expecting me to say that. It is certainly contradictory to what she would think- “if we worship shivjee, them perhaps something good will happen…” But then Gaitree’s statement seemed to diffuse it all, “everyone can just worship their own god…”

Anyway, perhaps Panna, even more than Gaitree, will ponder what I thought and wonder why bad things could happen. Will they ever see You? Can you show Yourself to them? I know You can- will you please? Before they die? Before I leave this place also?

Praise the Lord (Journal Entry)

“Praise the Lord!
Happy are those who fear the Lord!
Yes, happy are those who delight in doing what he commands
Their children will be successful everywhere;
An entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
They themselves will be wealthy,
And their good deeds will never be forgotten
When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in.
They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
All goes well for those who are generous,
who lend freely and conduct their business fairly.
Such people will not be overcome by evil circumstances.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
They do not fear bad news
They confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.
They give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will never be forgotten
They will have influence and honor
The wicked will be infuriated when they see this.
They will grind their teeth in anger; they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.
~ Psalm 112

This is my prayer today, Jesus. In all situations....when the darkness comes, when people say they don’t like a story, when the weather is so cold there doesn’t seem any end, when Judy hasn’t responded with comments on a story in over a week, or when she has responded and there are still more changes to make, when Irene then has additional comments, when people drop in on a day when you planned not to have guests, when the neighbors don’t understand you can’t communicate all you want to, when the electricity is out for more than 10 hours, when your cookies that you’ve worked so hard to make have burned, when the email doesn’t work and you so desperately want to read and email from home, or send one, Lord- when these thing press in, help me to ‘let the light come bursting in’- and take on the attitude you would have me take on- that is to glorify you in ALL circumstances! May I not ‘be overcome by evil circumstances’ Lord- may I ‘not fear bad news’- Lord, may I ‘confidently trust YOU to care for me’ – Help to ‘be confident and fearless and face my foes triumphantly’

And wow- let the following be my praise to you today- just for who you are.

“Praise the Lord!
I will thank the Lord with all my heart, as I meet with his godly people.
How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in him should ponder them.
Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty, his righteousness never fails.
Who can forget the wonders he performs? How gracious and merciful is our Lord!
He gives food to those who trust him, he always remembers his covenant.
He has shown his great power to his people, by giving them the lands of other nations.
All he does is just and good, and all his commandments are trustworthy.
They are forever true, to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.
He has paid a full ransom for his people. He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever.
What a holy awe-inspiring name he has!
Reverence for the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
The rewards of wisdom come to all who obey him.
Praise his name forever!
~ Psalm 111

Kahani Worship! (Journal Entry)

I just got back from testing and back-translating, and various other things in the bazaar. It’s a cold dreary day. I watched the dvd of the youth worship at Cornerstone- that brightened my day SO MUCH! :) It was beautiful to listen to.

I then started wondering what that would look like and sound like for Kahani people to be praising Him? I then pictured Panna walking into Cornerstone Church in America, with one kid hanging from her, and her basket on her head….woah- talk about too much to fit into one idea…

I then thought, “oh yeah, that’s what’s Heaven is for- to fit everyone and their uniqueness” – but then I started thinking about it and was like, “How in the world is Heaven possible? I mean, for Cornerstone to exist in all it’s uniqueness, then for Ganga with a bucket of water on her head, and Panna, grass on hers, and Precious dressed in jeans, but then our landlord’s wife in a sari…how will it all mix?

Will we all wear the same clothes- or have royal robes? Will we all sing in the same ‘heavenly’ language- something we all understand? Or will we be able to understand all the languages and thus we can praise God still in our ‘own’ language, but it’s understood by everyone else? Or will we not be able to understand other langauges- only He will be able to understand? What kind of instruments will be there? Will we have a projector or slides? I have a feeling it will be mostly oral!! But still…just to imagine the culture I’m in here, mixing with the culture at home- is way too much for my mind to figure out…what in the world will it look like to have all the nations from all over the world together???

Of course, just as Panna would look odd coming into Cornerstone, so I must look odd tramping through the village…in spite of trying to dress like them and speak like them- still how odd must it be!! If only I could see myself, I imagine I would laugh for hours- thinking of it that way, I’m surprised how much grace they do give me and that they don’t laugh at me more than they already do!!!

Anyway…it’s interesting to hear the worship song “from the mountains, to the valleys- hear our praises rise to you…..from the islands, to the nations….hear our praises fill the air…”

Somehow I am encouraged that perhaps, through this work- there will be people who will sing praises to Him one day…and then this song will really ring true- “From Cornerstone, PA, America, to "Kahan," India, and beyond…hear our praises rise to you!”

February 2007 Email Update

Short Version:
--Precious, one of our story crafters is noticing a difference between our God and hers
--I’ve been trying to come up with creative testing situations
--Forgiveness- a tricky issue to communicate in a culture that doesn’t practice it!!!
--P & P

Long Version
“Will you please pray for me?”
“Precious” one of our story-crafters called one night this past week and explained that her stomach was hurting her a lot. I asked if she wanted one of us to come over or get medicine for her. She said, “I’m just calling to ask you to pray for me.” A little embarrassed that my first reaction was to help her by human means, I then told her I would pray for her. Then I hesitantly asked, “Do you want me to pray for you now, on the phone?” She said, “yes, please.” We prayed, she said thanks and hung up. The next day, she came over and said, “Thank you for praying, I feel much better and know that it’s because God helped me because you asked him to.” From coming to our prayer time each week, Precious has heard many stories and seen us pray for each other. Earlier last week, Precious told her mom about how we (Robin and I) pray for other people. That really impressed her as it’s different from how she would typically pray to her gods.

“Let’s see who can retell the story better, you or your grandmother”
When listening to stories, people often get distracted by the goats, breakfast, other guests who drop in, the weather, washing clothes, fetching water, etc, etc…It’s hard to find ways to keep them focused for more than 5-10 minutes. While I’m not trying to make a competition out of these stories, today, I tried to make a game out of remembering the story by saying. “Yesterday, Aama (grandmother), remembered and told this story really well, let’s see if you can remember it better than her, or if she can tell it better than you!” It was interesting to see their attentiveness to the story after that!

“We don’t really forgive people here…”
Recently we realized that part of the reason people haven’t been able to retell parts of a few stories that talk about someone forgiving someone else or God forgiving someone is because they don’t really practice forgiveness here! They understand the word and maybe even the concept, but as one testing subject said, “Why should we say sorry and forgive, if we are just going to fight again? I’ve been in a fight with my sister-in-law for 15 years and we haven’t spoken in 15 years.” Pray that we find ways to illustrate this concept through the stories.

Praise for:
finding new neighbors with whom to test stories
being able to craft stories with new story-crafters, “Heather” and “Gina”
“Precious”- one of our story-crafters coming weekly to our story/prayer time.
being able to connect with various local Christian leaders regarding the storying workshop, and being able to get a list of several people who may attend!

Prayer for:
Pray for our story-crafters as we figure out how to communicate the concept of forgiveness.
Pray for creative ideas to help people stay focused on to the story in testing situations, and that they don’t distracted by life around them!
Pray for preparations for the storying workshop (February 20-21st!!!).
Pray for the Kahani people to see Truth in our lives and in these stories!

Thank you as always for your continued support and prayers…

In Him,
~ Elizabeth
“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. For He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.” ~Psalms 24:1-2

129 days...And "no changes needed" email from Judy!

Two exciting things...

1) I have counted, and guess what- 129 days til I will see my family…approximately- but shh don’t tell them, that will be June 14th- it will be a surprise! I’m hoping to go home for the family reunion!!! So, 129 days means, 18 ½ weeks. That means, about 4 months…yeah, 4 months sounds a lot better than 129 days!! Haha…Anyway, it’s not that far away!

2) Guess what- we got an email from Judy regarding the Beginning story- this is what it said, “NO CHANGES NEEDED” – WOW- that’s a first…it’s SO EXCITING!! We know we’ll still make changes perhaps in the final recording, but for now- IT’S DONE. Wow, that’s amazing…thrilling- even scary…what if we missed something, maybe we should test it one more time!!! Ahhh!!! Haha…but no- it’s fine, it’s been tested in and out, and recorded and re-recorded, and adjusted…it’s fine!!!! I’m quite thrilled!!!

"Is it okay to lie?" (Journal Entry)

We just had prayer time with Precious. She told a story for the first time this week- she told the story of David and Batsheba, including when Nathan confronts David. You could tell she memorized a lot of it- but who wouldn’t the first time, and especially for her- doing it in a second language- English. She did a great job, really.

Afterwards, I was talking to her while Robin made chai. She said, “I have really learned a lot of things about God from these stories…” We talked about the story- and I praised her a lot- because it really makes her happy to know she has approval (she’s like me in that way!). She said she is thankful for our friendship because she can learn a lot from us, and from the stories about God.

We talked during chai about our professors in college, and somehow Precious brought up “manipulating the truth”- and asked us what it meant and if we thought it was good or not. We said no, that means you’re lying and that’s wrong. She then went on to say how she thought it was okay if there was a good reason- i.e. if you were saving someone or doing it for a good reason. After discussing it for a while, Robin told her the story about how Abraham lied about Sara being his sister- and how God punished him for that. I also told her about the story when God gave all the rules to his people about not worshipping other gods, he also said never to lie- and that lying was really bad. Robin explained that God sees David killing Uriah in the story we just did, just as bad as if we lie about something. I explained how it’s hard for us to see that we are just as bad as someone who murders someone else- but if you think about how great and good God is—anything compared to him, even if it’s just one lie, is not good…

She was silent for a while, and then said she had to go- she wasn’t upset or anything, but you could tell she was thinking about the story and everything we said- it was probably not what she was expecting from us- she probably thought we would agree with her- because humanly speaking what she said would make sense…If you lie to save someone, isn’t it okay?

Anyway, it was interesting- and just another step towards realizing more of the truth. In so many ways she has come so far, but in other ways, she has so much further to go…will she get there before we leave? Will she ever get there?

"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

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.

Favorite pic.

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

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…

POST-IT-NOTES!

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