Jesus Stuff

Week 4. We are in a routine, finally getting comfortable. Maybe too comfortable? Yeah, let’s start there. I can only speak for myself, but that is how it was for me last week, until Sunday afternoon. 

A few things that have made me almost “too comfortable.” 

1. Our steady routine. 

2. Our frequent down time.

3. The way that Pastor and his family treat us. 

Our steady routine is nice, because the days go by so quickly. However, at the same time, I started to get dependent on the routine and become almost reliant on it. We have worship every night which works like clockwork. First we pray, then the kids sing 3 songs, then we sing two songs, then one of us speaks, then Pastor talks about the prayer requests and we pray for 10 minutes. It has been a challenge to stay in earnest prayer rather than just pray the same thing every night because I am used to it. 

Our down time became a stumbling block. I began to enjoy it to much. Instead of looking forward to spending time with the kids, I looked forward to just spending time at home. Even though I was spending time in the Word and reading some incredible books, I was not pushing myself to get out of my comfort zone by spending my free time at ASHA house. 

The way that Pastor and his wife, and even the kids, treat us is so sweet and also… kind of weird. They treat us like guests. I know that that is part of the culture, but I find myself searching for ways to wedge myself into chores like helping Pastor’s wife cook and make us tea. She cooks us fabulous meals three times a day, we have a super lenient schedule, and when we go on prayer walks August always insists on buying us treats, no matter how hard we insist on paying. We couldn’t ask for a more welcoming group of people. 

So I am in a weird place. I feel SO blessed and so uplifted to be in a place across the world and still feel so at home, but I know that is not why I am here! I am not here to be comfortable. I want a heart change. I want to move these kids to desire a real relationship with Jesus. I want to be love to these kids like they have never experienced. I want to take something home from every experience we have here. 

Also, I have been having kind of a hard time hearing from God. I KNOW God is preparing me for what it will be like when I go home. I know that I am going to have to search for God because everything is so comfortable. Life is going to be so easy, TOO EASY. I am going to have to devote time to really searching my heart, loving the Word, and listening to God. Not just reading, and talking. But searching and listening! 

Anyways, that is what is going on in my life here in Calcutta. Also, Thursday I am going to speak at a campus crusade gathering for middle and highschoolers. I am super excited about it. I know that God gave me the gift of speaking and I really want to use that. Be praying for that! I will have 25 minutes and I honestly don’t know what God wants me to say to them yet, but I know that He is going to speak. 

Also, thank you SO much for those of you who have been praying for my team and I. I have been getting to know God so well and learning to love him so well and I know that you have all been praying for that. I miss you all, but life is good here, God is better, and his love is the sweetest. J You guys… HE CLAIMED ME!!!! 😀 

Jeremiah 24:7 

“I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with ALL their heart.” 

Oh, P.S. Mom and Dad… got a picture of my next tattoo. Don’t worry… I will NOT be getting it done here.