Busy, Busy, Busy

We are continuing to enjoy our work here and feel excited at the opportunity to love and encourage those around us.  I have been able to work with Indian couples in the process of adoption helping to prepare them for their future children.  They were excited to have someone who had personal experience to ask questions of.  I also participated in a workshop for UNICEF workers who are implementing a foster care program in another Indian state and are using VCT as their model program.  My latest project has been working with the older children (6-12) to help them process their feelings about their past losses and being adopted.  Of course, each day the girls and I spend our mornings giving one-on-one attention to these precious, needy children.  Most of these kids have been matched with families in the US or Italy but wait two or three years while their cases go through the legal process.  I think of my own kids, how long they waited, and how thankful I am for those who cared for them.

 Jeff has had the opportunity to encourage a number of men in the last few weeks.  He had been going every Friday morning to meet with a group of Christian business leaders at Campus Crusade for Christ which is near our home.  He has been working several times a week with an administrator at a local mission.  This gentlemen’s self esteem is very poor and he is in need of a lot of encouragement as well as practical advice.  Jeff is also working with this same group and another ministry to assist them in better managing their organizational growth.  Just this week he started on a project for a group that wants to develop a Sport’s Ministry minor as part of a seminary program here.  Lastly, Jeff is also busy with some academic research he is doing at the GE research & development facility here.  When we first decided to come to India he wondered what he would do to keep himself busy!

Drivers side is right so Jeff was on the left of the car.

As many of you know, we were in a car accident two weeks ago.  We were traveling in a taxi across town when the car suddenly hit a bus.  We think the driver fell asleep as the bus was clearly stopped and the taxi did not slow down or swerve.  It was really a miracle we were not hurt far worse.  Jeff was in the front seat and on the side which hit the bus.  The window caved in to a foot in front of his nose.  Gabi and I were in the second row and Nephtalie and Martine in the third row.  There are seldom seatbelts in the back of cars here and Nephtalie flew from the back into my lap.  There must have been some angels in that car stopping the window from hitting Jeff and keeping Nephtalie from going through the front window.  Martine was hurt the most cutting her lip and leg and needing stitches.  Her lip has now completely healed.  She did knock a tooth a bit loose which we will get checked out now that her lip is okay.  Her shin however is still quite painful.  I hit my knee hard and it is still swollen and painful.  The rest of our bumps and bruises are all healed.  The girls were traumatized at first and very scared to go anywhere in a car for a few days but they seem to have gotten over it.

When I first suggested going to India for the summer Jeff thought it would never happen.  He later agreed to prayerfully consider it but was quite doubtful.  Eventually, of course, he agreed it was what we were supposed to spend our time and money on.  Two weeks ago he was helping VCT to evaluate their finances.  Although he has seen many poor people around the world, he was greatly affected by the numbers he saw on paper.  “Do you realize if you put the salaries of all 30 of the employees of VCT together it would still only equal half of my salary?!”, he told me, “ We are so blessed.  We really need to give back like this every year.” 

Isaiah 58:10 says, “…spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed.”  Many people I have met have told me they would like to adopt or go on a mission trip but can’t afford it or don’t have the time.  Of course there are other things one could be doing with one's time and money.  Fun things, and even needful things.  But it says “spend yourselves”.  The Amplified Bible renders this “…pour out that with which you sustain your own life…”.

God is asking us to sacrifice; to give up a bit of the all-American dream for the hungry and oppressed.  I have been humbled here to see what is really necessary for life, it's not much.  Several months ago Gabi asked, “Why does everyone else have nice furniture?”  “They have furniture, you have siblings,” I answered, “One is earthly, the other’s eternal.”  Shortly after this we were blessed with some like-new furniture from someone who sold their beach house.  God doesn’t disregard our desires.  We don’t all have to live like monks on bread and water.  He does tell us, however, to store up our treasures in heaven.  Before writing off making a bold move, like adopting or taking a trip to volunteer in a far away land, consider the blessings God has given you.  Consider the sacrifices you may be able to make.  And consider where you want your treasures to be.

We are so thankful for:

We survived the car crash!

Beautiful weather the last two weeks; highs in the low 80’s and cool nights.

The friendly kind Indian people.

The gratefulness people express when they hear us say “Just tell us what we can do.  We are here to serve you.”

Please pray with us:

The monsoon season is upon us but the rain has been less than half of what it usually is.  This is very bad for India where these seasonal rains are necessary for the crops to grow.  It is also affecting the power supply as a dam supplies much of the city’s power.

Deena on the left

Deena, pictured here, suffers from Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bone Disease).  She has been waiting a long time but no family has been found for her.  Please join us in praying for a family for Deena.

Avinashe, a six year old boy, is very emotionally troubled.  VCT has decided after four months of attempting to integrate him he is a threat to himself and others and needs to be in a different type of facility with a higher level of care.  Sadly, this means he will never have a family of his own, and his chances of living a fulfilling life are slim.

Martine’s leg to be completely healed.