Weird things I do now.

I realize that I've been pretty weird my entire life, but I was reflecting a little today on how I've become even.more.weird. 

I...

- only paint the nails on my left hand... because I eat with the right. 

- see elephants and monkeys often... and get excited every time. 

- ride side-saddle on the back of motorbikes and scooties.... and somehow manage to maintain balance.  

- use excessive hand motions and sound effects in every conversation. Language barrier. 

- feel self-conscious if I don't have a scarf draped across my shoulders. 

- make 'cowboy coffee' every morning by boiling the ole grinds with the water over the gas stove. 

- put things in the sun to heat/re-heat. Like this homemade syrup...

- say 'cheers' all the time... while having tea with village leaders, coffee with friends, or water at the bus stop. Cheers!

- carry an umbrella for rain AND shine. Everybody's doing it. 

    

My today.

Today, I...

Got up... naturally... and set out on my sweet little balcony. 

Made some oats and coffee. 

Jumped in this auto and headed to a trafficking shelter. 

Talked about how we were created uniquely, made picture frames, and... 

Had a legit photo-shoot!

Then, hopped in this auto to go to a baby celebration (like a baby shower, but after the birth).

 a) she's adorable  b) her parents are so hospitable/hilarious...

c) they fed us lunch

Rode this bus to my neighborhood, and...

Walked home "under my umbrella" (with the song in my head, of course).

Stared at my bed for a minute... dreaming... 

Then got over myself and made a cup of coffee... complete with sugar, 'milk,' and cinnamon.  

Went to the office in this little rickshaw (thank you small man who biked me to work). 

Wrote some official-looking letters and had a throw-down with my to-do list. 

Found this guy to take me back to the shelter.

(please notice that my knees are smashed against the bar... thank you Wilson family) 

Had snacks and heard laughter roar as we... 

Watched 3 Idiots!

Didn't get ripped-off too bad by this auto driver on my way home. 

Took this janky elevator up to the 5th floor.  

Propped my feet up, responded to a few messages, and fed my addiction to Pinterest.   

Father's Day should be everyday.

Daily Dabbles.

Life here is becoming so normal to me that sometimes I forget to share the little things... so, here are a few little normal things. 

This is the view from my balcony. Oh, I love mornings out there. 

I work with an NGO as an Education Strategist... and this is how I get to work in the morning:

 This is my office. Sure, I've got a desk, but I like to spread out my little work station on the rug. 

This is one of the village schools I'm working with. Teacher training, ESL camps, and even health camps are on the horizon. 

The ole pizzeria is quaint... and my friends here are BALLER. 

Sometimes I have a "Shoot... I really do live in India" moment... like when I walked by this little guy. 

"We're just people"

When I was saying goodbye to my grandma before I left the States, I told her I'd miss her, and she said, "We're just people. There are people everywhere." Hmm. It's hard to think about the ones that hold chunks of my heart in their hands as "just people," but the more I travel, the more He provides people to love on me and encourage me. It blows my mind that He uses "just people" to remind me of His love over and over again. 

"Just people" sent me out and promised to love me forever. 

"Just people" do life with me.

"Just people" come visit me. 

"Just people" let me live with them for 6 weeks in Thailand. 

"Just people" Skype in just to say hey. 

        

But, you know what? They're just people. It's true, but the One who sent me on this journey is with me every step of the way. 

"It is God to whom and with whom we travel, and while He is the end of our journey, He is also at every stopping place." 

— Elisabeth Elliot

May: in journal snippets

5/1- A part of me feels like I just got to India, and the other part feels like I've been here an eternity. 
5/2- Because of His love: I'm changed. Different. New. Shattered. Altered. Transformed. 
5/3- Oh, let truth sink into my head and heart today. 
5/4- I was in survival mode- I definitely needed time in Thailand for restoration. 
5/5- If we're not having problem people attracted to us, we need to ask why. 
5/6- Our God id higher than any other. 
5/7- I learned to drive stick shift today. Right side of the car. Right side of the road. Right side of the world. 
5/8- I'm broken, yet you chose me. Me. It blows my mind. 
5/9- My Thailand visa expires tomorrow, my passport is still in the US, and I'll soon be jail bait, but I love it here. 
5/10- Ruth made it to Africa. I absolutely love her and wouldn't mind being attached at the hip from this point on. 
5/11- The amount of time I spend in coffee shops with a journal in my lap directly relates to my sanity. 
5/12- I currently have traffic lights painted on my big toe nails. 
5/13- Line dancing with Thais is freakin hilarious. 
5/14- Friends. Unstoppable. Though we're scattered, we stand together. 
5/15- "Are you ready to head back to India?" Yes. No. Yes & no. I don't know. Yes?
5/16- This is the day that the Lord has made. 
5/17- You carry me when my own steps would just get me in trouble. 
5/18- Transformation. 
5/19- Turns out, I just had a run-in with the Royal Thai Police. I'm an "alleged offender" for overstaying a visa. I don't recommend it. 
5/20- His creation declares. Proclaims. Pours out. Reveals. 
5/21- I sobbed on the way to my flat from the airport... mostly because I saw on the road as a soul who desperately needs Him. I'm broken to pieces. 
5/21- I want to be ready. 
5/22- Sunday. Free to breathe. 
5/23- I'm ready to follow if someone else leads. 
5/24- I press on. 
5/25- Forget not all his benefits. 
5/26- Early mornings in the Word. 
5/27- Stronghold of my life. Lifter of my head. What I seek. 
5/28- Noise is overwhelming.
5/29- The quiet. 
5/30- Strength. 
5/31- I want chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.

To be cool.

The #1 rule to being cool is to appear to be un-phased.


I'm not very cool. 


There's no way to be un-phased in this place. 

My Mother.

In honor of Mother's Day, I couldn't decide whether to write a poem or tell some 'your mom' jokes (like... your mom is so poor your family had to eat cereal with a fork to save milk), so I'll settle with telling you about a stunning woman named Eva Jo Wilson who means more than the world to me. 

Beautiful. 

Selfless. In every way. 

Compassionate. 

Hospitable. 

Kind.

Witty.

Sassy.

Passionate.

Lovely.

Strong.

Brilliant.

Humble.

Faithful.

Hilarious. 

Nurturing.

Spontaneous. 

Mom.

And... she's pretty much encompasses every part of Proverbs 31. Read it. I'm not kidding.

BAM. April Acclimations.

From India to the ole UAE, Oman, and Thailand... my ability to acclimate to new cultures has been officially tested and tried over the last month.  

Somewhere along the way, it hit just like that. The dreaded “wall.” I had been warned, but I guess I thought I could avoid the flow of tears and sense of paralyzation that comes with it, but no, I am not above the “wall.” 

Once I got to Thailand to apply for a new visa, I had enough time on my hands to process life in India, and honestly, thinking through my experiences was more overwhelming than the experiences themselves. The intense spiritual darkness. The heartbreaking stories. Poverty. Overcrowded streets, shops, homes, temples, and mosques. Beautiful friendships. Bold believers. Oppressive noise levels. Dysfunctional school system. Abundant need. 

I didn’t realize how worn out I was until I had time to rest. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until I had time to breathe again. I didn’t really think I needed a break, but who is in control here? Good thing it’s not me. I’m SO thankful that “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.”  Though I felt like I came kicking and screaming (well, I’m not that dramatic), He is using this time to restore my spirit and to renew my focus. 

Why do I love Him? Because He loved me first. Why do I follow Him? Because He told me to. Why does he love me despite my flesh and pursue me even when I’m lost in my own world? I have no idea, but I wouldn’t trade this relationship with the King for anything.