I'm dreaming of a White Christmas

All my demons that I worked with. They were so cute.

dancers

The 4th class three wise men. I love the Indian wrapping paper.

Batman (Shubaum) and Superman (Thapa)

After the Christmas program, we served food to all the teachers. Then pigged out ourselves.

Rahul loves those red sprinkles. We are comparing tongue colors after that.

Ashish is so cute, he has flour on hos little cheek. I was not there for the decorating, due to my trip to Nepal.

Careful, Careful, Miraj, our little artist.

Ajay and all of their creations

The boys making cookies

We just finished the Christmas program which we have been working on for the past three weeks. It was so good. All the students worked so hard. It was not the traditional Nativity scene like I was pushing for. There were two really cool Indian dances, Amanda helped the 8^th class with a really cool hip hop dance to Take the shekels off my feet so I can dance, as well as the whole story of Jesus. It starts with Jesus and God in heaven all the way to his Resurrection. Thapa was Superman and Shubaum was Batman in Hillsong's Jesus is my Super hero, the boys were loving it. We have been looking at all the characters of Jesus’s birth in devotions and in both of the classes that I teach. Those first class students know the story back and forth now. Christmas is in a couple of days, we are going to help today with wrapping 16 packages for the boys. I am really excited about spending this special time with the boys.

Going to Nepal for like 5 hours

Okay so this is the new visa rules. If you have a 5 or 10 year visa you have to leave the country for 2 months every 180 days. My plan was to go to Thailand for New Years but because of this rule I would be stuck there for two months. All the girls started to panic because we did not plan to leave for such a long period of time. I also did not think that it would smart to be home in January and February in Chicago after all the holidays were over. Asher was in Nepal and said that they did not know this rule. So we found that out on Thursday and by Friday night I was on a bus over to Nepal. I went with an Indian volunteer that is working with us and we got to the boarder at like 4 in the morning. Poor kid he had to deal with me. It was cold and I was crabby because it is near impossible to sleep on those buses. But we still decided to walk the 4 miles to Nepal. It was really cool, we saw the sun rise, ate breakfast, got my visa stamped (with only a few harsh words) and was on the bus back to the farm at 11 in the morning.

I am so grateful that it all worked out, such a blessing from God.

The trade off for missing Thailand is that I am heading to the beautiful beaches of Goa!!!!!

"they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh"

When I was home for the summer everyone was interested in helping with the boys. At that time I really did not know the needs, but was really blessed by all of you that helped collect school supplies, books, gave money and encouraged me.

You are all such a blessing.

Since I will be spending Christmas with the boys will will not be home to get actual things. There are other ways that you at home can impact these boys. Here are some real needs for the school and farm.....

support for a new tractor for the farm

support for new computers at school

support for new bathrooms for the small and middle boys.

Jesus was presented with three gifts and I thought that I could help present these three.

Amanda has an already established relationship with a church that has been really supportive and the best way to donate is through them.

Tax-Deductible Donations

Checks can be made to "Bridge Bible Church," with "Lehman" listed as a designation, and mailed to:
Eric Strattan
Bridge Bible Church
5035 Henry Street
Muskegon, MI 49441

Thank you all so much and hope that you are having an amazing Christmas season.

a couple cute stories

The boys will do the funniest things... Impressions, made up dances with Mr. Poatoe size sunglasses, and just all their little comments!! I am always asking them to Do it again, do it again. They are so funny.

Here are a couple of their stories....

At night we have to round up 16 boys to make sure they brush their teeth, it is always a project and even a fight. I told Mukund to, "really brush them good. Not to rush, but to sing Happy Birthday 3 times." I wanted to make sure that he brushed long enough so that he would not have fuzz on his teeth. I walked by the bathroom and heard him singing loudly, "Happy Birthday tooooooo Kelly Mam, as well as the other multiple verses that the Indian Birthday song contains. You gotta smile.

Another cute story, I brought Jello back for the boys after reading Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. If you don't know the story it is about a town in which instead of rain it "rains" food. One part includes a Jello sunset. Last time I was here I said that I would bring it back. After reading the story we ate the Jello. They really liked, but Rahul was confused and asked, "Is this from Heaven?"

I know that I might sound like a Mom bragging about her kids, but they do bring me so much joy.

Being thankful on Thanksgiving.

It was weird not running back and forth to Diane's room on Thanksgiving morning trying to find something to wear. We had school during the day and I read to my classes The First Thanksgiving. In class we made turkey hands and I explained the difference between American Indians and Indians. Later that night we went to another couples house in the city and helped make dinner. We played games, ate, and laughed so much. It was different, a kitten size turkey and eating chowmein, but it is not where you are at it is about giving thanks for the blessings that you have received over the year.

My turkey hand included the friends and relationships that I have in India.

What will heaven be like?

With the tragedy that happened on Monday, I thought that it would be a good idea to talk about heaven with the boys. I made a crown and we put what we thought Heaven was like:

Shubaum- cricket

Rahul- swimming

Ashish- picnic

Then the next day I brought another sheet that was for them to put," What will happen when I met Jesus?" Since there was so many of them I can not remember who said what. But their answers consisted of...

holding his hand, dancing with him, seating with him, eating with him (which was then followed by them shouting out apples, mangoes, and bananas).

Ratan said that he wants to sing with the Angles and Mukund said," Living in love", which is their school motto.

t was really interesting to hear what they thought. It was also hard to hear one of them say that they would be with their parents. From time to time I love to close my eyes and imagine what heaven will be like. The Bible promises 4 things-no pain, no tears, no death, and no sadness.

Wouldn't that be nice?

Tech high

It was been a little hard the last couple of weeks because there has not been internet and the phone was not working. I felt really out of it. One of the other volunteers had the feeling of isolation. But in reality the internet has been working, we have power 85% of the time, and my I-pod has not been dying on me, like it used to. But I realized how amazing I feel after I do have that connect with “the outside world”. I love hearing what others are doing and seeing pictures on Facebook. My favorite is listening to podcast of church from the other side of the world. I can be filled up without even getting out of bed. I look forward to coming home after lunch, hopping into bed and “going to church.” Technology has it’s downfalls, do not get me wrong, but I could not wait to look at pictures of what people dressed up for on Halloween.

it is okay to laugh

Working at the school can be at times a challenge. The younger kids that I work with do not know much English. When you are trying to teach them and they can not understand you it gets a little frustrating. I have had two students from first grade for the last two months. They have been working hard in class, but they do not do anything at home. It doesn’t help that their parents can not help them because they too, do not know any English. This week on the other hand was a great success. Eloise finally understood me I was reading Curious George and he laughed at a funny part. All the kids looked at him, they did not understand, he looked shy, and I said, “No, it is funny you can laugh.” He understood what was going on in the story. When I first got here they could not read. Now, both of my students can now read 100 words, I made them a little certificate.
Susanna passed all her timed multiplication test We have been studying so hard for them since January. I thought that she would never get it, but she has. Her English has also improved so much. She has a million questions now that she can talk. It is so cool to see success

but she was so young

Over the weekend one of the girls in my class that I teach suddenly died. She was having stomach pain and her parents took her to the hospital. The first time the doctor said that she was going to be okay and the second time they said that nothing could be done. I told Ratan and Bhorot what had happened but they did not really believe me and are too young to understand. It was really hard tp be in the class today, because I was not sure what to say and her little friends were so upset. Bailey Mam was in pieces. She kept saying, "She was such a sweet girl, she never gave me any trouble." I read them a book about. What Happens When We Die, but I am not sure that they understood.

After school all the teachers went over to her house. We went into the mothers room. I have heard anyone cry like that, and I pray that I will never again will hear such a cry. Frieda had printed out a picture of the class from the beginning to the school. The mother was holding the picture and started to wail. It was so sad. She said that her daughter loved school and talked about the teacher and about me. I was only with the class for a little bit during the day, so I did not think that she would talk about me, but the mom said that she would. She wanted to be a doctor and spent a lot of time with the grandfather, "doctoring him up." My heart broke for this family. Please pray for this family and their son Shivam, who is in sixth grade, he just lost his only sister and everyone keeps telling him to be strong for his mother, but he is so young. And for the Bisht family.

SUPERMAN!!!!

Our Fall Festival { Halloween} was a great success. I busted out the capes that my Mom made the boys in the morning so that they had ideas for the party. Thapa ran and put his Superman underwear over his jeans and took off. All their costumes fit their unique personalities. Rahul, was the loving and kind Santa Claus, Bharat was the tough Batman, Ratan was a little mouse from Prince Caspian. They were all so cute. We had a little costume contest. Thapa won in his Superman costume. One of the big boys said that I was as beautiful as a peacock. I think that was the best complement that I have ever received. After being with everyone we went back to the house for more treats. The spider cake did not turn out the best, it was the first cake of the season, and really under cooked. But we ate sooo much. I asked the boys, "What was the best part of the day?"

Nanda- Playing cricket.

John- dressing up

Rahul- My stomach is full.

It was the best Halloween ever, because it was not for me but for them.

all the girls

Nibha was Pippi Longstockings, me a peacock, Amanda the Taj Mahal, Ruth was an Indian, Kalana was an alien, Susanna was a baby peacock, and Shanon a princess(she is so beautiful!)

Bharat loves the capes!

Halloween was a beautiful day!

Me in the mist of all the boys
I gave them the capes in the morning so that they could plan out their outfits for night.

("pic-a-nic baskets")

Rahul got to ride a camel!!! He was a little scared but I threw him up there. Asher said the guy wanted money, but I did not have any. It was short lived, but he was super excited.
Being mobbed by the boys.

When I was a Sophomore in school, my grandma gave me a picnic basket. Ever since then I wanted to go with a special somebody on a picnic and use that basket. But I have yet too. Today I went on my first picnic with the boys. Anytime they go somewhere off the campus they call it a picnic. When they said that we were going I was so excided. One of the big boys asked if I was going to wear a sari, I was thinking more a cute dress and a blanket with red and white checkers, but wrong culture. Amanda said that we were going to go hiking and swimming. I thought that it might be too cold, but still brought stuff. When we got there and it was brown water I was not sure about the swimming idea. But the boys hopped in. I had to change into my pants and swimming shirt where the cows live in some little house, but I was ready. The current was so strong it takes you 50 feet down from where you would think that you would cross. We went climbing up the mountain. I was in flip flops because I did not intend to climb up. It was so much fun to be with the older boys whom I usually do not see, since we are so busy with the younger ones. To get down we had to slide!!! It was so cool!!! I little blood on my hands but I made it. After that we made it back to all the others and had amazing food. It was the best picnic I was ever on and I did not even need my basket.

Will I ever fit in?

one of the girls from my class
all the girls

at the wedding

No matter how hard I try I do not think that I will ever fit in. It is hard to look around and never see anyone, besides the other volunteers, that looks like me. I henna my hair, wear bangles, and try to rock the kurtas, but without success. The whole sari thing is a different story, I am always pulling, tugging, pinning, and complaining, it just doesn’t work.

We went to a wedding over the weekend, and I felt like an animal. Everyone was looking, pointing, and taking pictures with their cameras ( you know that those never turn out good). They all want to practice their one English phase with us, "Hello, How are you?" It is fine if it is only one person, but there was so many people. I do not like attention and felt really uncomfortable.

On the farm it is a different story. The boys all accept us and do not treat us differently. I keep trying to get the boys think that we look like family. Even though I wear the same color sweaters, Bharat will not say that we look the same. (Maybe if I give him a toffee it would be a different story.) But the longer that I am here I can see that we are beginning to mold together. They use the word "potty" and speak English to each other, where they used to only speak Hindi. They have learned so much from all the stories that we told them, the books that we have read, and the visitors that have come.

I was very encouraged this week to see how hard all the boys are working. If they finish their school work early we have been making packets of extra work that they can do. They have been reviewing, reading, and studying so hard. The boys were not excited when I told them that I had extra division work that they had to do, but when I put a piece of construction paper and a sticker on the packets of division worksheets, they were all about it.

As I was sitting the other day in the yard doing school work with the boys I realized what an amazing opportunity it is to be sharing life with these boys. I asked Amanda, "How will I ever be able to leave this place?"

Even though I will never look like them and at times feel like a circus animal, on the farm I feel like I am part of a family.

another cup of coffee, please

Ken and Frieda, the couple that started the school, boys home, teen center, among other projects, are always so busy. Every time I see Ken he is drinking coffee. So I decided that I too will drink a lot of coffee and then I too will get so much done. I can not take naps here, but around 4:00 I start to crash. I have been drinking coffee and kinda getting more done and having a harder time at night to fall asleep. I thought that the more coffee I drink the more productive I would be. I realized after the dark circles under my eyes and the being on edge that it is not the coffee, but it is Jesus that his giving him all that energy. One friends said that you don’t work so hard God will still love you and another friend said, "Well if you have a day off and you are not teaching, Where do you find purpose?" I am trying to get rid of the idea that God will love me the more I pour into the school and into the boys. In reality, He loves us no matter what!

Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds. It is based on our faith! Romans 3:27.

So in God’s eyes he doesn’t really care how many display boards I do, how many flash cards I make, how many things I try to improve at the school.......all he wants his my faith to be in him.

For Real, I git hit by a bus!

Okay this is what happened.... Amanda and I got into town and called the farm to send out a car to pick us up because we had big bags, it was hot, and Amanda twisted her ankle on the trek. After an hour they sent an old ricked scooter for us. UMMMM, I was not to trilled about it. So Amanda, VJ ( one of the boys that was sent to pick us up), me and all of our shopping tried to fit on this scooter. Fifteen seconds later after we left a huge bus comes full sped ahead right at us and smacks my hand, I was in shock. I told him to pull over, my hand was purple, and all my veins were sticking up. We could have died if we were a little closer. I was so mad that they had sent a scooter, when we have a car. I was a little shaken and my hand is pretty banged up, but I know that there was an Angle with us because it could of been worse.

I will never go on a scooter again!!!!!

To do list: nog, nap, and bath

Over the weekend we did our trek in the Himalayas. It was amazing!! There our no words to describe our experience. Ashare was our guide, his sister Nibha, Amanda and I. It took us three days to get to Nag Tiba and we rested a day before coming back down. The first night we stayed in a valley next to a river in an abanded rice field, the next night in a field of daisies, and the next on top a mountain ridge. It was hard, I am not going to lie, but I would do it all over again. Here is what God taught me...

There will be different people that you will met on your journey. Some will lie to you, some will speak the truth. We met people at just the right time when we would come to a fork in the path. Sometimes they would tell us the truth at other times, as costomary in India, they would give us the wrong directions. In life I have been told many lies and God has also put people in my life that have spoken wisdom in times of need.

In the sixth hour I wanted to give up!!! It was a lot of steep uphill climbs with a 50 pound pack on your back. We were tried and wanted to call it a day, but had to keep going to get to a place with water. At those times Amanda and I would break out those rusty cheers from our past.

Give me a V, dot the I, curl the C ...TORY!!!

The only way to get through hard times is to praise God and be joyful, or you will just want to quit.

After lunch it was hard to get going again. There are times in our lives when it is hard to get going again. After high school, after college, after my triatholon. We need to keep going in life and in the end there will be so many blessings. The pictures do not do the scenery justice.

Everyday I hear......

Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam

Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam

Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam

You did not bring this, you did not bring that, where is this? Where is that?

Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam

Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam

Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam

I want this, give me this, give me that, where did you put that?

Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam

Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam

Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam

thank you

Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam

Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam

Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam Mam

Mam

it is the little, "thank you, mam" s that make it all worth it.

Fresh Mountian Air

We did it!!! Yes we walked 12 miles up into the mountains. It was supposed to take 3-4 hours, but we took the long way and finished it in 7. It was amazing. There was fog everywhere I thought that I was in a movie. It was really good to get away-to have different food and a warm shower. I have started to train for our 5-day trek.

We were talking about how was the transition back. It felt that I was able to jump right in. I can not believe that it has been over a month. I am not sure how I am going to be able to leave this place. As we were putting the boys to bed, Bhorat was being so snugly. I worry about them so much how can I leave them in 8 months? It is good that we have so much help here now with all the girls. I feel like I can really help the boys in school because there is more one-on-one attention. It is amazing to see them grow.

While we were in the mountains we played with a group of kids that were living there. I was so much fun to be around girls, and I met a little guy, that I feel in love with. I am trying to figure out how to get him home with me. I am not sure if all his clothes will fit. He did multiple outfit changes in the time that we were there.

Bringing it back to my Roots.

Growing up I always struggled in school. I always needed extra help in math and it always took more time for me to understand things. I almost failed math a couple of times. My Grandma taught me different ways of doing math like touch points and doing the nine times table on your fingers. It was not until I got to college that I took matters into my own hands. I was the flash card Queen. I do not think that I could have passed German without the million flash card that I made. I made the Deans List, which is a really big deal because I worked SO hard. Anyways, this is not to brag but it is to thank God for those opportunities to struggle and learn in different ways.

In India they only teach in "black and white". I bring color to the kids that are struggling. I am able to teach them different ways of learning so that they will be able to understand. There are 35 kids in a class. Most of them are really naughty. They are being taught in English, but go home to parents that only speak Hindi. I feel so bad for them. One of my boys, Thapa, can not add and he is in third grade. We just finished exams and the boys did really well with all the colorful flash cards that I made them. I am working really hard to help these students. It is really cool to see how excited the kids get when they are finally able to understand.

Thank you Grandma, Mrs. Pool, and my Dad for being so patient with me.

Kiran Uncle, My Hero

I wish that I had half the heart of Kiran.

The boys all live in houses with a family that takes care of them. Kiran and his wife Ruth have been here for around 10 years. They have a son and a daughter on top of the 12 boys. I love my boys, but they can be naughty at times and we are only with them for short periods of time and then we are able to find peace in our own house. Kiran and his wife are amazing with the boys. He is so kind to them and is always encouraging them. They are with them 24/7. The other weekend we were on duty to watch them. We had Monday off, but they still asked us to watch them for the night. My heart was not right and I was upset because we really were not planning on having to watch them.

At 9:00 when we where putting the boys to bed we saw headlights, very rare since there are not many cars on the farm, in comes Kiran and his family from their night out. We hear all the boys, that we just put to sleep making all this noise. We came out and Kiran was shining like a light bulb. I thought that he bought a new car. But, actually he bought a game for the boys and he was so excited that they liked it. I have never seen someone so happy for giving a gift to someone else. The boys are so blessed to have him as their house parents and I am blessed to be around them. They are amazing and the most selfless couple that I have ever met.

my life with ants.

There are ants everywhere!!!

They found the sugar that I hid. There was a whole parade marching to our candy dish. They are all over my bed. I had to move my bed away from the window because they were coming in. There is this chalk that you draw two lines around where they are coming in and it kills them. I had to get another piece the other day and visualized drawing a line around my heart to keep out sin. I am trying to run the good race and I feel that I struggle so much with sin. I am so selfish, self-centered and angry at times. I would love to poison my sin with this chalk. Yet, it was Jesus's blood that protects me!

I do not need chalk... I need more of Jesus.

yet, but, instead

I had a really good weekend with the girls.

We talked over what we are feeling. We are struggling and feeling that we are not doing enough.
Yet....I help Suzanna everyday after working with the boys and being at school. I am usually so tried when I go over there, after some chai I am better. Yet her brother needs a lot of help and I feel like I do not have enough time to do it. Yet what else am I doing. I feel so selfish that I do spend more time and help him.
Instead.... Instead of being a teacher I only have 6 students the whole day. Instead of being in all the assemblies I am only planning them. Instead of being in the slums I am living on a beautiful farm. Instead of helping children in life and death situations I am helping boys do their homework.
But .... I am not suffering. We have running water, a pool, and three meals a day. I am doing well, but isn't missions supposed to be hard? But, I love it here.
After talking to the girls as they too go through the same struggles God gave me peace. Suzanna did not know any English a year ago, now she is reading, and did her whole Little Mermaid worksheet all by herself! I love the kids that I am working with a school. They are learning and laughing at the same time. And, last Amanda's brother gave her really good advise, " Even though there is a need-doesn't mean that it is your calling." still..

Please pray for all those in India.

Somewhere over the rainbow.....

skys change color all the time

crows scream

you can always hear laughter or singing

boys do not need I-pods, but will use a bucket and toothbrushes as musical instruments for their dance parties

the meals never change

nobody knows or cares what an I-Phone is

there are leaves that are the size of children

blue eyes are a rare sight.

I have found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

busy, busy, busy

I am getting into the swing of things now being here a week. I am woken up at 6 by the buses that go and pick up the kids in the village and then school starts at 8. I am on a mission to kill all of the ants that have tried to take over my kitchen. I help led Assembly ( we sing songs and share about Jesus) with the younger class and Kalana and I are going to be planning out the Assembly for the rest of the school. In the morning I work with 4 students in Kindergarden that are having trouble in class. They are sooo cute! Joy, one of the little guys, is a little cross-eyed and wears these little glasses. You would think that he got dressed in the dark. He always messes up his buttons on his shirt and looks a little out of it. Instead of saying; "okay" they say"tk". I am trying to switch, but I realized that I say"okay, okay, okay" all the time, after I heard Joy telling the others "okay, okay, okay". In the after noon I work with 2-3 students from first grade. They do not know haw to read, add, or the what the letters sound like. I have my work cut of for me with those two. The rest of the school day is spent in classes reading stories and doing fun work sheets.

After school we are with the boys, which is my favorite. I am now doing homework with just two of the boys because there are more volunteers. It will work out better that way because we can really pour into them. I am going to start reading with Shubaum. Poor kid will have to read all the classics with me, since I never read them in high school ( I rather of just payed Diane to do them).

At night we review homework and read stories. They love al my American goodies- the white board and fun tooth paste are a hit.

I love being able to be a part of their lives. I do not think they realize how important they are too me.

Kalana, one of the volunteers the other day said, "I love it so much here!" I agree.

...and she does it through grace.

"What am I doing here?" What am I doing here?"

I have been asking myself that the last week. The other day we had to put on a little skit at school and I was the lazy servant in the story of the Faithful servants. Someone made the comment that I am,"really good at being bad." WHAT? I thought that I was doing good. I was loving the Lord, going to Bible study, helping at the homeless shelter, and going to church. I thought that I was on the right path. Then I came here and I feel so lost. I do not know all the songs, verses, and stories. I can not put on a half an hour skit about Jesus at a drop of a hat, led Sunday school, or devotions.

Do I need all those things? Am I a good Christian? What does that even mean?

I have been reading The Shack again and have been really thinking. Jesus in the book says to Mack about God,

"Only Papa can work all this out, and she does it with grace."

No matter what I do or do not do, it is through grace that I am saved!

So, What am I doing here?

I am trying to love these boys to the best of my ability as Jesus mold and changes me.

Oh India, how I love thee!!!

I made it!!! I was able to sleep a lot on the plane so I was not jet lagged at all this time. I was so excited to see the boys. I rushed over there and they were all out on the porch doing homework. They threw the cat at me and told me that they were planning to telling me that they had killed it. They tell me that a million times a day. They all say that the cat has died and that they do not like him, yet I see them snuggling with him when they think that no one is watching.

I am so glad to be back!!! I love waking up to the boys singing, having yellow nails from the dal, and laughing with them. They love the books that I brought. They are obsessed with the Naria book and the Lion King. It looks so different here because on the monsoon season. It has rained every day (my hair is a mess). We have corn that is taller than me and the fields are all so green. We just got a lawn mower, all the boys are super excited. Before they only had large blades that they would use to cut the by hand. The boys too look different. They are skinner, taller, and have lost a couple of teeth. They tried to act shy, but I will have none of that.

It is such a different life here. Water and power are a blessing. In the middle of writing this blog the power went out. As I sit in an office I realize that I am so blessed to have so much and I pray that everyone praises God for all that they have.

I praise God for this amazing place that I am able to pour into for the next 9 months.

I have been really busy getting situated so I will post picture later.

What I need,want, and crave

We all know how bad the economy is and how everyone is really scared of what is going to happen next, but I know the God knows everything. I am trying to find peace in that. I can not find a job. I have looked everywhere and even went to Texas without any luck. I thought that I could go to India and have a job lined up for April 2010. Nope, God has another plan. ALL HE WANTS IS ME!
Of coarse want a job, a husband, kids, to be a size 5, a new big purple bag... the list can go on and on. But my Jesus just wants me. On my bad days my crabby days and those days that I just do not feel like being loving towards others. I just need to give it all to him and pray that he strengthens me. I did not realize how hard it is, I thought that I was a good Christian, now I realize that no matter how hard I try.....it's not plan my life...it's God's.

I messed with Texas

Texas was an EXPERIENCE.

I prayed for patience and for a challenge and the Lord always provides. I feel like I can handle anything after that. It was really good to be with my sister and met all her friends. They are all awesome and I am blessed to know that there are good strong Christians that are helping her grow and love Jesus more and more daily. On the way down ( I drove all by myself: 16 hours) I listened to a podcast from the Village and they said that there was a church plant near where I was staying. It was called City View and the message and people were amazing. There was a couple that I sat near and they invited me over. I spent the next couple of Sundays with them and was amazed by their hospitality. This is what might be called "Southern Hospitality", but as followers of Jesus this is what the early church was all about- meeting other believers and helping them grow. It is so sad because I never felt so welcomed in my whole life. As Christians I feel like we really should really take note of what Ginger and Jake did- they were there when I really need them and I appreciate all that they did for me! My goal is to Be the Person that I claim to be. Ginger and Jake were followers of Jesus and I pray that I will be able to be the person they were to me to someone else.

Thank you Ginger and Jake for everything!

I love my boys!

I wanted to make sure that I told a couple of people before I posted this but I am just home for the summer. I really feel called to the minisrty that I was involved in India. I love the boys (how can you not?) and I feel that I have found purpose there. There is so much work that can be done there and I feel that I have the love and energy to really pour in there. There are things that I miss friends and family, as well as, things like water, salad, and washing machines- I never realized how powerful those this are- but if it is for the Lord you don't think about it as much. I am so glad to be home and around people that I love, but I will also be ready to go home in India.

Pray:

That I find a temporay job for the summer.

All I hear about is that the economy is SO BAD. I have been surrounded for the past 5 months by people that live in shack house the size of my bedroom.

That I am able to build up a community around me here the underdstands and prays for me when I am there.

home again

After a long night of fighting with a taxi driver and sleeping in a hundred degree airport- I finally got on the plane and felt so much better, even though I had to sit there for almost twenty hours. But I am HOME!!!
Johnny and I sat outside and enjoyed birthday cake and a cake that Jessica made with love in our beautiful back yard.
Before I left I asked Fazal , one of the boys that suffers from some type of mental disorder, if he could take care of my cat while I am gone. He has become obsessed with the cat since I have been there. This was the first time that he understood that I was going because it was interpreted into Hindi. He looked at me with those big dark eyes, and asked (in Hindi), "Who is going to take care of you?" This boy how comes from a family that will never except him because of his disabilities, cares more about me than about himself. I love him and will miss him so much.


Being at home and looking at all my stuff I feel really ashamed. I can not believe how much stuff I have. I think of how the boys have so little and are so happy. I am so grateful of the time that I was able to share and learn from the boys. I now know where to find happiness. It is not ANOTHER summer dress or a new pair of shoes. It is having people around you that you can grow with and love.

Prayer Request:
That the boys can share the love of Jesus with their parents as they go home for two weeks in the first week of June.

Pirate P-A-R-T-Y

I had the best birthday ever!!!!!

Themed of coarse. All the boys dressed up like pirates. They painted their faces and made costumes out of leaves. I was Wendy, Indian style and I helped make Emma Tinkerbell, with cardboard and old wrapping paper, super cute. We made three cakes and had chow mein , which is a really big deal here!! I love them so much and would do anything for them. When they are happy than I am happy.It is going to be hard leaving them. I am heading home in 10 days which is crazy. BUT, I will be coming back at the end of the summer. I am heading out before Monsoon, I do not do well in the rain. See ya all soon.
PS- It is almost impossible to use the Internet here. I am sorry that I have not updated this blog. I will have pictures and more stories when I get home and have FULL access and electricity all the time.

Home Sweet Home!

When we left two weeks ago everything was lush green and now all the wheat is golden. It is so hot here! Next week starts wheat harvest, and the boys will be up early and go to bed late. We too are going to be really busy this week with preparations for Easter Sunday. We have feet washing, communion, decorating Easter eggs and have a big Sunday brunch for all the boys. I am going through the Passion week in all four gospels which has been really interesting.
There as been many changes with where the boys are living. Two of the older boys in the middle house have moved into the big boys house and two of the boys from the small boys house are now in the middle. There is such a change in the way that the boys act now that Amanda has become the house parent. Sometimes it is bad (please pray that they find house parents for the boys they really need a male figure in their lives) but overall it has been such a good change. Yesterday as I was putting the boys to bed, Borat had his feet on mine as he was trying to buy more time to stay up and he looked at me and said, “I love you”. Indian culture is not all snuggles and I am not sure if saying I love you is even that common, so it really meant a lot.
School starts a new semester on Wednesday, I will be teaching Social Studies, General Knowledge ( the kids have to remember random facts, Why? I have no clue) and helping in Math for Third class.

Happy Easter!!!
Please pray:
For Amanda, who is taking on a huge responsibility.
For the boys to be good examples for the younger ones and at school.

books books books

We read to the boys ALL the time. They want books to be read to them at bed time, after work time, and will take them to bed during rest time. I also use the books in class and read them to Susanna as I help her. I thought that it would be a cool way to connect the boys with my community in Chicago if everyone would send their favorite book that they had read to them when they were little. If you would like too, please send a paper back copy( which is lighter and will not cost as much) to the address below. In addition, if you could right a memory in the front cover the boys would love that!
We have: Good Night Moon, Giving Tree ( my favorite), Where the Wild Things Are, Flat Stanley, The Cat and the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, Danny the Dinosaur, and if there are doubles we can donate to the library at the school.
Thank you!
Kelly Hochstetter
Shishya SchoolVillage- Attak Farm
P.O. Selaqui Dehradun
Uttarkhand- Pin- 248197

I am writing a letter.

There is never any power here!

It was not this bad last time I was here. The power comes on from midnight to four in the morning. The rest of the time there is no power. We have been doing a lot of reading by candle light. I will post pictures as soon as I can.
We made it to the YWAM base, which has been amazing hearing what the Lord is doing here. They are setting up homes for the street kids. The homes will give the kids a basic education, food, shelter, and begin to teach them a trade. It was started by a YWAMer from Brazil that was also raised on the street. Please pray for them. They always run out of food because the kids eat so much.
We got a stack of movies for the boys and it is such a tease because there is never any power to watch them. We are in Lakeside now and will spent the night in our nice $2 a night hotel and will spend another couple of days at the base, head back to Kathmandu, than back to Delhi. I miss those boys so much, it was good to be away to really appreciate them.

Mom, I promise that I will never do that again!!!

So I made it to Nepal-barely!!!

We started on Tuesday getting into Dara Dune and the next morning took a 6 hour train ride to Delhi. We stayed there for the day and than took another train ride to the boarder.
Oh FYI there are 2 train stations in Delhi- an old one and a new one. We did not know that so at 5:00 we asked someone because we could not find our train. Oops, we had to run because our train left at 5:15. We barely made the train thanks to the fact that everything runs late in India. The train was a 24 hour ride but we ended up at the boarder an hour and a half later. We wanted to get there early because it is really scary and you can not trust anyone!!! There is a reason that it is called, "the den of thieves". I have never been so scared in my life!!!!! We stayed in a horrible hotel that had a MILLION mosquitoes. I have bits on top of bits and did not sleep because I was so scared. We woke up, had every problem in the world trying to get money, that is a whole other story, but got in a taxi, and got out of there!!!

We made it to Katmandu banged up, bruised, and hungery-without money of coarse.

Dad- I got out of the taxi and right away got hit by a car, oops!

We got into a hotel and got a menu, we were so excited because we have not had choices in so long!
Pizza, puffy toast, and sausage!!!!
I miss the boys so much and can not wait to see them!
Pray for the boys they are still taking test and will soon be going into a new semester.

I live in the Garden of Eden

I saw a glimpse of Heaven.
The other day I was in the field and had such an overwelming joy being here.
Amanda's parents came and brought all these goodies for the boys, frisbee, smores, and a suitcase full of books. We had all the frisbee out and all the boys were out playing it was so cool.
All the big boys were playing ultimate frisbee, the little boys were just throwing them around. I stopped and looked at my surroundings- all these amazing boys running around with smiles, the foothills of the Himalayas, a breath taking pink sunset, and colorful frisbees soaring all over the sky.

I pray that heaven is the same way!

Ants in their Pants!

I feel that all I do in class is yell at the kids to sit down and stop talking. They are not the best for foriegners. I have been praying that for just one day that they would not be so naughty. Usually the kids will not calm down or stop talking. They all have their back packs on their chairs so they sit on the very edge and always stand up. I think that they all have ants in their pants. Mam, mam, mam!!!!!! That is all that I hear, I have nightmares.
But in reality I love it.
Today the class was spilt because we are doing a Easter program and half the kids are in it and the others will sing. Shubaum is Jesus and Susanna is Mary Magdalene (I will sent pictures). I was with the kids that did not have parts. It was so good to have only 15 kids over the usual 34. We read books and hung out all day. I was not told that I was going to have them all to myself all day so I had nothing planned, and I just had to wing it. But Denise, the other 2nd class teacher and I have big plans for Monday.

All my prayers are being answered!

boys on a sugar high
Sarita doing laundry, it is quite a process.
I throw all my clothes in a bucket with soap and let them soak. They smell good, I am not sure how clean they are.

hanging around

Ratan's Birthday

He might be either 6 or 7, we do not know his real age.