Leaving for India

Many of y’all are aware that I’ll be returning to India very soon (just a few days now). For those of you who weren’t previously aware . . . I guess you are now.

I wanted to let y’all know that I’ve set up an e-newsletter that I’ll be using to send out updates while I’m gone. There’s no telling how frequently that will happen, but I’ll be able to send that out at least once every couple of weeks. If you’d like to be added to the list, visit this link and sign up at the bottom of the page. I’ll likely also be posting the contents of the newsletter here, but that is rather “iffy.”

This is a double opt-in. For those of you who don’t know what that is, this means that once you sign-up, you will then get an e-mail (from ontheothersideoftheworld) asking you to confirm that you want this newsletter. You will need to click on the link in that e-mail in order to be added to the list. If you delete that e-mail, or fail to follow through with that link, you will not be added to the newsletter list and will therefore not receive updates while I’m in India.

Because I’ll be ministering and in a third-world country where the internet is not always reliable and, when it is available it’s incredibly slow, I won’t be on the post very often until I’m back, but I will be praying for y’all while I’m gone and so dearly appreciate y’all’s prayers for me!

much love,
Rebekah

Christmas

I hope y’all all had a blessed, peaceful, and very merry Christmas, whether you celebrated the holiday or just enjoyed a day of rest. Be sure to leave me a note about your day - I’d love to hear how you celebrated!

We spent Christmas Eve at my sister’s house, visiting with her and her family, as well as my grandparents. One of my favorite things about my family is when we’re all sitting around, just visiting, and we begin to sing. This particular evening brought many Christmas carols, and Michael accompanied us on the piano, but we also sang timeless hymns. And Ariel (my five-year-old niece) blessed us with a sweet singing of Happy Birthday, Jesus, while Michael played it on the piano.

Christmas Day was quiet and lovely…we’re finally growing accustomed to not having all the family here Christmas morning. Even with just four of us, opening gifts can take quite some time since we take turns so that each person can sufficiently admire and appreciate each thoughtful gift, and the giver can enjoy seeing the recipient’s delight when opening their package.

The story of Jesus’ birth, Christmas gifts purchased (or crafted) and wrapped with love and joy, smiles and lots of laughter, and then our traditional brunch…Mommy’s delicious egg casserole.

The rest of our day was spent playing. Hours together with our new game…the popular Apples to Apples…cleaning ’stacking’ bubbles off the carpet and hunting marshmallows from behind doors after we launched them out of the wonderfully hand-crafted marshmallow gun. Books, music, and gadgets to enjoy. A beautiful family to be thankful for. And, even more importantly, a wonderful Savior to stand in awe of. How great is His love for us!

Sufganiyot

I blogged earlier about the first night of Hanukkah and why our family celebrates this glorious holiday. But I didn’t mention the sufganiyot.

Hanukkah celebrations typically involve foods fried in oil, symbolic of the miracle of the oil for the temple menorah. Traditional foods include latkes (potatoes pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts). I’m not a big fan of latkes, but I do thoroughly enjoy sufganiyot, so Mom and I made up a batch for the first night of Hanukkah.

Forgetting how well our stainless steel pans heat, and having a candy thermometer that’s a bit off, the oil ended up a bit too hot and the doughnuts started turning real dark before they got cooked all the way through. All-in-all, not our most successful batch of sufganiyot, but it was still fun to make and most of them were good after we turned down the burner and fried ‘em a second time. I thought y’all might enjoy seeing a photo or two.

So, without further ado, our sufganiyot  . . .

cutting out the dough

frying in oil

they got a bit dark

ready to eat

Frugal Fridays: e-savings account

I realize I’m a little late with this, but it is still Friday! I didn’t get to posting before I left for work this morning (Fridays are my days at the HEAV office). Anyway . . . here’s my frugal tip for this week . . .

I’ve had a savings account since I was a little girl but interest rates seem to continue dropping and the account I’ve had for the last dozen years is garnering me next-to-nothing interest on the savings I’ve accumulated. My daddy’s helped me do some research but, short of investing in stocks or bonds, there’s just not much out there that will offer much in the way of interest. After much searching I came across a money market account that offers 5% interest and makes getting to my money relatively simple (for a money market account), but after looking at that particular account for several months, I still wasn’t too keen on it.

A little more looking and I finally came across it - an e-savings account at BB&T. I already bank at BB&T, so I’m familiar with how they work (and am very pleased that they will not loan money to corporations that have acquired land via eminent domain). The next great thing? They offer nearly 4% interest. But it’s an e-savings account, so how easy is it to get to money if I need it? Incredibly simple! They sent me an ATM card that I can use to withdraw money wherever there’s an ATM.

I just got my first statement a couple days ago and I’m already earning interest. It’s so encouraging to see that the money the Lord has entrusted to me is “growing,” rather than just sitting stagnant in a bank vault somewhere.

Bibles for the Children

What a beautiful day I’ve had! God has provided all the finances I need to purchase Bibles for the children in the orphanages. Care to hear the story? Sit down with me and I’ll start at the beginning . . .

Two weeks ago I sent out a mass e-mail to friends and family members who have been interested in my India updates in past years. This note informed them of my upcoming trip and invited them to sign up for the new e-newsletter I’ve set up to send updates from India while I’m gone this coming year.

When Becky received this e-mail she immediately wrote me back to see what sort of financial help I might need. I let her know that the Lord has taken care of my personal finances for the trip, but that there were two needs for the children. One, basic toiletries and such for the children who will be attending the VBS and two, Bibles for each and every one of the children at the two orphanages.

You see, out of the 190 children at the two homes, only a small handful of these sweet little ones actually own their own Bibles. And those few who do have to share with their siblings. I can think of no greater blessing to give these precious children than the Word of God in their native tongue. I know how deeply they love the Lord and how tremendously Bibles will bless them. So I shared this desire with Becky.

She wrote me again, letting me know that her church would like to help cover the cost of the Bibles. I mistakenly told her there were approximately 150 children at the homes and gave her a guesstimate on the amount of the Bibles. She assured me it would be covered and asked me to come share at their church. Today was the date was agreed upon.

This morning, armed with photos, a Telugu Bible, and lots of prayer, I arrived at the church. In speaking with Becky and Jim before the service I let them know that the number of children was actually 40 more than I had thought. Jim said that the church had written me a check for the original number, but that he would let the people know that the need was a little greater.

Praise and worship was beautiful. Prayer time was exquisite. Then Jim prayed for me before introducing me to the church, asking the Lord to give me peace since he and Becky know how I don’t care to speak in front of large groups that don’t consist solely of children. He introduced me at last and I took the microphone . . . and began to cry. Not from fear or bashfulness, mind you, but from the emotions welling up in soul at the mention of the precious country I love so much.

I spoke for 5-10 minutes, sharing a brief history of my love affair with India and how I came to be involved with Bless India Ministries. Then I told the church about the children. How they rise at 5:00 every morning to pray and worship the Lord for an hour before they begin the rest of their day. That these children desire to become pastors, teachers, doctors, and politicians. That they are the future of India . . . ambassadors for our Lord. And yet they have so little that they lack many of the simple things we take for granted . . . including Bibles. How much more powerful and well equipped these dear children will be when they are able to arm themselves with the Word of God without having to wait for someone to read it to them in chapel or in church. They’ll be able to read it themselves and search the Scripture for truth, not relying on another man’s understanding of it, but allowing the Holy Spirit to speak His truth to them individually as they spend time poring over the Word.

I’m not certain how these beautiful people understood anything I said . . . even the microphone didn’t seem to amplify my tiny voice sufficiently, and my tears seemed to drown out the words that forced their way out of my lips. But, somehow, God used me to speak His words and the message was heard.

When I returned to the table Becky had helped me set up with my photographs and such, the people of that little church poured over to where I stood. The women came up and hugged me, tears glistening in their own eyes. The men shook my hand fervently. They thanked me for sharing . . . and I was blessed by seeing how faithful the Lord is to use us when we let Him. Timid as I am, He used my mouth to speak the words He wanted those people to hear. It blessed me to see them so touched. To hear them all promise that they would be praying for me and for the children.

And then the Lord blessed me through those dear people yet again . . .

as they passed by me, people pressed checks and bills into my hands. The Bibles were paid for. One small woman speaking to one small church . . . both used by one mighty God.

He is faithful.

Freebies for Little Ones

Great free stuff for your kids, your siblings, or the little ones you baby-sit!

Fizzy Wizzies bath tablets

Child Safety/ID Kit

sample of Huggies Sensitive baby wipes

paper toys to print and make

First Night of Hanukkah

Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah.

Our family is Christian, but we loosely observe a few of the Biblical holidays, as well as Hanukkah (which Jesus observed), as we believe that Christians are adopted Jews. Since several of my sisters are adopted, our family has a neat perspective on how adopted children can honor their families by observing and participating in the celebrations of their new family. Just as my sisters began celebrating holidays with us when they became a part of our family, so we believe it pleases the Lord when we, as Christians, adopted into our Lord’s family, begin to honor and celebrate the feasts He mandated.

Now, because we are under grace, and because we are not orthodox Jews, we don’t hold to strict observances of any of these holidays. (And we don’t even observe them all, just some.) But I believe it makes Abba smile when He sees that we choose to honor the celebrations He designed for His family.

And so tonight, once we’re all home (those of us who still live here anyway ), we’ll light the shamash and use it to light the first candle on the hanukkiah as we thank the Lord for His light, His provision, and His deliverance.