I am happy today, I am happy today, In Jesus Christ I am happy today!

Wednesday night was a very happy event for Jess and I. We had been conducting baptism classes with a lovely young lady named Laxmi who works as a cook here and lives at the Shunem Home. So, on Wednesday we witnessed her interview and then her baptism.

We have both felt very blessed to be able to help answer the questions she had and remove her doubts so she could make such a beautiful committed relationship to the Creator of the whole universe.

Laxmi is actually illiterate and only speaks Telugu, so, our classes have been translated by Sister Shanta, who also works here. We also spent a lot of time focusing on physical or visual aids for her to aid her memory of important principles. We talked often of how our God is a creator and an artist. Jessica tried to accompany each lesson with a picture she drew (some were beautiful and some were hilarious). Today, at what would have been a normal baptism class time the normally very meek and quiet Laxmi came asking us and Sis. Shanta our translator whether or not we could have class again! We had not planned on it, but, we gave her a Telugu copy of “A New Creation” and assigned a student here to read to her whenever she wants, and one immediately did.

So, on thanksgiving (Happy Thanksgiving!), we are especially thankful for Laxmi.

Weird Insects of India

Here’s a special treat for all you people who like to read National Geographic and watch nature shows on PBS. You ain’t seen nothing yet.

(I decided to name all of the following bugs myself, because I have no idea how I’d find out their real names. In fact, it may be possible that some of them haven’t even been officially discovered yet. I could very well be naming them for the first time. Seriously.)

Specimen 1: Sensory Overload Cricket

Please note that this cricket’s antennae are literally twice as long as its body. That has to be uncomfortable/awkward.

Specimen 2: KLKJHJHKASHGAGHG

What IS this thing?! It looks kind of like a shrimp or some other tiny ocean critter. It was discovered sitting on Levi’s laptop, and it was probably about half the size of my pinky fingernail. I watched it in fascination for a good ten minutes, but it didn’t really do anything worth noting.

 Specimen 3: Gross Rotating Caterpillar With Massive Camo Eyes

The name and the video together provide a sufficient description of this creature.

Specimen 4: Stealth

A Praying Mantis and a Walking Stick got married and had a baby. They named him “Stealth.” He lives at the Shunem home and hides near light bulbs, which is foolish because that’s the place where it’s easiest to spot him. Clearly, Stealth does not live up to his name.

Questions I’d Never Be Asked in the States

Really, this is an ongoing list, but I thought I’d jot down just a few for now.

1. Is he [Levi] your brother? (Uhhh…in Christ?)

2. Did you have a love-marriage? (As opposed to an arranged marriage. Yep.)

3. Do you like him [Levi]? (Doesn’t that go without saying?)

4. How much money do you draw monthly? (Usually Levi gets this one, not me. I guess I better start working on my businessman vibe.)

5. How many kids do you have? (How many of my kids do you see?)

5a. Are you pregnant? (No, it’s a combination of bunchy Punjabi pants and white rice that you’re looking at.)

5b. How come you were married last year and you don’t have a baby? (Inference: What on earth is wrong with you?!)

5c. Promise me you’ll come back to India when you have a baby? (We’ll see about that.)

Now I’ll throw in a picture just to keep you all coming back for more.

This is a passion fruit flower. It’s out of this world.

Cow Pies

Lovingly handcrafted to meet all your cooking fuel needs.

Visit to the Faith Home

Last week, Jessica and I had the opportunity to take a couple extra days off from Shunem and take the overnight train journey up to a village called Kadiam where the Agape in Action Faith Home is located. The Faith Home has 19 children in it and Sister Subha and Brother Andrew Johnson and extended family in it. We had met many of the children and Subha and Andrew at the Bible Week, but to see them all again and what the Faith Home is like was well worth the trip.

Group shot of the children with us.

Anyone who was at our wedding may remember that it was the Faith Home we made a donation to instead of having traditional favors. Here are more details about AinA and the Faith Home. Seeing the home was encouraging for us, there are so many well organized causes to support in India. James’ words really come to life:

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit (Relieve, carry, touch, cause to rest) orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27

It feels like every place we go we have lessons to learn and help to give. We only have 28 days left in India and I catch myself thinking that going home is the selfish thing to do when there is so much I can give here. Trruth is there is so much for me, and everyone, to give wherever we are. The challenge is to maintain the attitude and remember the things I’ve seen here and not let myself go unchanged or revert back to any sort of lifestyle ignorant of the need here in Kadiam, or India, or the rest of the world. 

I just can’t get enough of these gorgeous kids.

One of the new kitchen ladies has this adorable daughter. Here, she’s dressed up with flowers in her hair for Diwali. Her eyes are incredible.

Speaking of really cute little girls, here are a few more I met at Vijayawada Bible Camp.

This is Josna. She learned my name (Jessie Akka) and then yelled it every single time she saw me. Even if I was 100 feet away.

This is Santosh. She looks like a small gypsy, and she is very spunky.

Soap Bubbles

Who says doing laundry can’t be fun?