Our dirty laundry

It's amazing how you miss the simple things. Like a washer and dryer for example. While we have adjusted to bucket showers, we are still adjusting to doing our laundry by hand. It is so much easier to dump everything into a machine, come back 30 mins later and move it to another machine and presto, clean and DRY clothes in just over an hour.

Our process here takes a little longer. We have 3 buckets (1 for washing and 2 for rinsing) and a plunger (it isn't used in the bathroom) to agitate the clothes. Our clothes have been stretched out (not a bad thing, I think I've gained weight here) and they never feel clean. I'm not sure what I (Tim) was reacting to in this picture, but it gives you an idea of what the process looks like:

Drying our clothes during monsoon is difficult as it rains almost everyday. We try to wring out our clothes, but when the humidity is 90 - 100% with no sun they don't dry quickly.

We've had to rewash several items that didn't dry overnight as mildew had set in. One shirt actually had mold growing on it the next day because it was still wet. We strung rope around our room so we can utilize our ceiling fan to help dry the clothes. It makes navigating through our jungle bungalow a little difficult, but it's part of our adventure here!

So when you walk by your washer or dryer today, think of us and say a quick little prayer! Pray for good health for our team and that we would have more compassion for those we serve. We get to leave these conditions in a few short weeks, they live it everyday.

Why business as missions?

Some of you might be wondering why I came to India if I’m just going to work in an “office” all day. There are days that I have wondered that myself. But our time here is forcing me to rethink what “missions” really is. Historians have noted that the rapid spread of Christianity during the first three centuries was largely due to the Christians sharing their faith with everyone they encountered. One historian noted that stable boys would eagerly share their faith with those they worked with, singing songs and sharing stories about Jesus. This idea is what Business as Missions is built upon.

One must realize that the general population here (as in many cultures) has a very different set of norms that they live by. Here, corruption and greed are tolerated and expected. While there are many brilliant Indians, their schooling does not teach creativity, ingenuity, or thinking outside the box. For example, in preschool, the teacher will actually color for the student to ensure that all pictures are colored neatly. The children can pick the colors, but the teachers color inside the lines to ensure a student isn’t denied from the next level of education. What we are combating here is not as simple as “they are wrong, we are right.” God is clear that when His rules are not followed, he will not bless the people. In India, God’s principles are not taught, there is little thought to areas like hygiene (every morning we pass scores of people urinating or defecating in open fields and street corners), ethics, or compassion.

Because I’m working in a manufacturing company, I encounter a dozen or so people for 40 hours a week and get to share with them biblical principles. I can build on what Frank and his Indian business partner have already taught them, “we don’t pay bribes, we will be responsible environmental stewards, we will treat you fairly, you must work hard to earn your wages, etc…” Simple principles that we are taught from a young age. When we are asked why we don’t defecate in the street, we can explain God’s commands for hygiene in Deuteronomy. When custom officials want bribes to release the company’s goods for shipment, we can explain we don’t pay bribes because God has commanded us not to. We can literally be the kingdom of God everywhere we go. We can preach with our actions and then teach truth when others ask why we behave so differently. It’s not rocket science, just an intentional way of living that allows us to earn the trust of those we serve.

Update on Ganesh

Ganesh is home from the hospital! Kasey said he came home Monday and is doing much better. Because she wasn't allowed to go back to the hospital, she doesn't know how his x-rays looked or what the doctors had to say about his condition. It is pretty frustrating, but at least he is home! He was playing basketball with the other children yesterday, which is a HUGE improvement. Since we arrived, he hasn't had much energy and usually asked people to carry him everywhere.

Another good thing about his stay was that he was a great encourager to other patients. One girl who was quite a bit older than him, told him she was very depressed because no one loved her. She said she had no parents and with HIV, no one wanted her. Ganesh told her that he too had no earthly parents, but he knew that Jesus loved him and cared about him. It's incredible that God would use a sick little boy to encourage a girl who had so little hope. Do you need further proof that "in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him?" (Rom 8:28)

We thank you for your prayers and thank God for healing his little boy.

The White Goat

There is an expression here among the locals that goes something like this, “You should squeeze (or milk) the white goat until he is dry.” Guess who the white goat is? While we were warned about this principle when we first arrived, it quickly became a point of frustration for me (Tim). It is most evident in the ricksha drivers (a covered scooter for 3 riders plus a driver).

Ricksha’s are the most economical and convenient way to get around, so we use them often. We quickly discovered that every time we used one, we paid different prices to go to the same locations. We would sometimes negotiate a price and then get to the destination and the drivers would demand more. At first we thought, “what’s 20 more rupees, it’s only 50 cents to us.” However, when we realized that the drivers were trying to squeeze every possible rupee out of us, I got frustrated. Battling corruption here is difficult, but it begins in small situations like these. We can argue with the drivers, call them names and build animosity between us, we can give in to their demands and reward their evil behavior, or we can lovingly explain biblical principles of honesty and integrity and stand firm in truth. It is much easier to just give them a few extra rupees and go about our day, but such action would not be living out the kingdom of God. Now take this principle of milking the goat and apply it to the purchase of large machinery, exporting containers of manufactured goods, getting vaccinations for HIV children or even getting cable TV hooked up and you have a small understanding of what Frank and Nicole (our hosts) have battled the last 6 years. We are called to be salt and light on this earth, we are fortunate to be in daily situations where we can do that. Please pray that we would remember our need to be light and not get frustrated or angry with those who try to take advantage of us. Pray we will have the compassion and love to stay our ground and not respond in anger.

Please pray for Ganesh

We wanted to introduce you to Ganesh. He is one of the children at House of Hope. Ganesh is a very sick boy and needs your prayers. He has been on AIDS treatment for about four years now. He has recently developed pneumonia. I (Kasey) was able to go with him to the "hospital" this week and they wanted to admit him. He was so upset because we were supposed to have a big birthday party for Frank (the family we are working with) that night and he really wanted to go. This is a huge event for them, one of the only things they get to experience outside of the house and school. The staff agreed to let him go and to bring him back to be admited the next day. Our team does not work on Thursday so we had no contact with anyone. When we arrived at the school this morning I asked how he was and the head staff told me they did not take him back to the hospital because he did not want to go and because he promised to eat and smile. Did I mention that he has pneumonia?! I tried to explain how serious this is and that he has to have medicine and treatment. She promised that he would be taken back today. This is just the way things happen here. I may have to go again myself to make sure. Please pray for healing. He is very weak and has no desire to eat or drink. Please pray for good communication and patience. I will keep you updated.

Kasey at House of Hope

I have to be honest and say that the first few days here I was not very excited and started to question why I had even come. There is so much corruption and darkness. Then I met these sweet faces.

They are why I am here! These are a few of the children from House of Hope. There are 14 in all and all except two have HIV/AIDS. Six of my teammates and I have the privilege of working with these amazing small ones four days a week. The first day we met, there was not a dry eye to be found. In fact, when I came home the first night and told Tim about the experience I wept more. It is a hard thing to reconcile the fact that they are so sick and so rejected, and yet so innocent and helpless. I am learning more and more that we live in a fallen world where we face an enemy who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. However, I choose to focus on the fact that we serve a Father who is so much greater and who loves justice and freedom. He loves these children so much more than I could ever begin to comprehend. He weeps for them as I do, and longs for them to know His love and protection. And He has allowed us to be those things for Him during this time. What an honor! I look forward to sharing some of their stories with you over the next few weeks.

Adjusting to a new environment

India is a very different world! This is one of the creatures who visited our room during the night to welcome us home.

We were actually fortunate because the greeter for some other members of our team was more hairy in nature and had large teeth! Thank goodness for husbands who want to step in and show their manliness!

It has taken some getting use to, but after about a week we are starting to feel more settled. The weather is much nicer in this area, usually in the 80’s and 90’s day and night. We are so grateful! The city is actually facing a draught at the moment, as their monsoon season was supposed to start at the beginning of June. We saw an article in the paper this week about a wedding ceremony held for two frogs. The ceremony was meant to please the rain gods so that the monsoon would start. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/feature/frog-marriage-solemnised-for-rain-showers-in-nagpur_100207489.html

Crazy we know. However, that is a very normal thing here. It is truly like living in the Old Testament when man-made idols were worshiped everywhere. In America, our idols are not as obvious (tv, houses, cars, careers), but in India you can find idols on every street corner. You can hear the bells for “call to prayer” each day. These are just a few reminders that there are so many people in need of our Father. So we pray and we love them as He does and hope that as they come to know us, they come to know Him.