Goodness knows we could all use some smiles this week....
Friday, April 19, 2013
Monday, April 1, 2013
I'm not able, on my own: Prayer Requests
Many of you have asked me how you can specifically pray for this journey that is before me. From the bottom of my heart thank you for joining with me in this way. It doesn't seem the most glamorous thing to do but I strongly believe that, prayer is one of, if not, the most important and powerful thing to do. This trip will only be fruitful if it brought before the throne of God above.
When I am asked for prayer requests the first thing that comes to my mind is that if you can think of it, I need prayer for it. But that is not helpful in the least and so I have given some specifics in the list below (but seriously if you think of something that is not on the list please pray for it!)
1. Wisdom and discernment
Quitting my job, leaving my family, and planning to live abroad is a whole new territory for me. I have received lots of advice from very wise people but at the end of the day the decisions are left up to me. There are so many big and little details that have to be planned and finalized in the next two months before I even get to India. Once I am in Ongole, I will need to learn how to live life there.
~Pray that I will make wise decisions every step of the way. From finances here at home to choosing an apartment in India.
~Pray that I will be blessed with a spirit of discernment because I am quickly learning that good and bad are not always black and white.
~Pray that I will have the wisdom to nurse these kids well. I have never been a pediatric nurse before and as anybody will tell you, kids are not little adults.
2. Spiritual health
India is a spiritually dark country. With thousands of gods worshipped and none of them offering hope. As a Christian this is both an exciting and intimidating prospect.
~Pray that this journey makes me more like Christ and that everything I do will be to His glory.
~Pray against any plans that Satan might have up his sleeve.
~Pray that I may be a "child of light" to a very dark and hurting country.
2. Traveling mercies
I love India but the travel involved in getting there is tough. In total it is about 19 hours to fly from here to Hyderabad, India. So I leave here at 1pm on a Wednesday and get to Hyderabad at 7pm on Thursday. It is then a 2 1/2 car ride from Hyderabad to Ongole and SCH.
~Pray that I get my India travel visa approved this Wednesday.
~Pray for my health and safety as I fly.
~Pray for my sanity as I deal with time changes and culture shock all at once. (More specifically you can pray that I sleep on the plane because I never do and sleep makes everything a whole lot better.)
~Pray for my travel in India. Road rules and traffic laws are more like suggestions....
3.Health
This one is almost self explanatory. India is a third world country where you don't drink the water (which means no fresh fruits or veggies) and you eat without asking questions. In addition, I am a migraine sufferer. I have taken a daily preventative medication for years and will not be able to receive this medication in India. Because I will not have a paid "job" in India I also will not have health insurance.
~Pray that I will maintain good health for the next year.
~Pray that I will not suffer from any migraines in India. I believe in the Great Physician who can heal the blind and make the lame walk.
~Pray for the health of the kids. These kids are sick to begin with and even a simple cold makes everything else more complex.
4. Safety
American woman traveling alone in India. I don't need a bigger sign on my forehead calling for trouble. Woman in India are second class citizens and as the world recently learned India does not have much of a legal system in place to protect woman. Having said that, when I was in India before I can honestly say that while I was well aware of my place in society I never felt unsafe. Not that it gives my mama much peace of mind...
~Pray for God's protection over me while I am gone.
~Pray that I will make wise decisions in regards to my safety. Pray that I will remember that just because it is safe for me to do here in the U.S. it may not be safe for me to do in India.
5.Relationships
From maintaining my relationships here at home and building new ones abroad.
~Pray that I love the kids and fellow staff at SCH well.
~Pray that I will be able to build good solid friendships.
~Pray for my relationship with my family, this is the longest and farthest we have ever been apart.
~Pray that I will be able to maintain friendships with my friends here at home.
6. Open Mind and Open Heart
If there is one lesson I have learned over the past year it is that whenever I have expectations of something, I find that God’s expectations of what He can do through me are ten times greater and fifteen times crazier than anything I could imagine. And in the mysterious foreign land of India there is no telling what might happen.
~Pray that I will be found a willing servant in every situation
~Pray that I will be able to adapt easily to Indian life and culture.
~Pray that I will remain a life long learner and not close myself off to situations because they are new and different.
When I am asked for prayer requests the first thing that comes to my mind is that if you can think of it, I need prayer for it. But that is not helpful in the least and so I have given some specifics in the list below (but seriously if you think of something that is not on the list please pray for it!)
1. Wisdom and discernment
Quitting my job, leaving my family, and planning to live abroad is a whole new territory for me. I have received lots of advice from very wise people but at the end of the day the decisions are left up to me. There are so many big and little details that have to be planned and finalized in the next two months before I even get to India. Once I am in Ongole, I will need to learn how to live life there.
~Pray that I will make wise decisions every step of the way. From finances here at home to choosing an apartment in India.
~Pray that I will be blessed with a spirit of discernment because I am quickly learning that good and bad are not always black and white.
~Pray that I will have the wisdom to nurse these kids well. I have never been a pediatric nurse before and as anybody will tell you, kids are not little adults.
2. Spiritual health
India is a spiritually dark country. With thousands of gods worshipped and none of them offering hope. As a Christian this is both an exciting and intimidating prospect.
~Pray that this journey makes me more like Christ and that everything I do will be to His glory.
~Pray against any plans that Satan might have up his sleeve.
~Pray that I may be a "child of light" to a very dark and hurting country.
2. Traveling mercies
I love India but the travel involved in getting there is tough. In total it is about 19 hours to fly from here to Hyderabad, India. So I leave here at 1pm on a Wednesday and get to Hyderabad at 7pm on Thursday. It is then a 2 1/2 car ride from Hyderabad to Ongole and SCH.
~Pray that I get my India travel visa approved this Wednesday.
~Pray for my health and safety as I fly.
~Pray for my sanity as I deal with time changes and culture shock all at once. (More specifically you can pray that I sleep on the plane because I never do and sleep makes everything a whole lot better.)
~Pray for my travel in India. Road rules and traffic laws are more like suggestions....
3.Health
This one is almost self explanatory. India is a third world country where you don't drink the water (which means no fresh fruits or veggies) and you eat without asking questions. In addition, I am a migraine sufferer. I have taken a daily preventative medication for years and will not be able to receive this medication in India. Because I will not have a paid "job" in India I also will not have health insurance.
~Pray that I will maintain good health for the next year.
~Pray that I will not suffer from any migraines in India. I believe in the Great Physician who can heal the blind and make the lame walk.
~Pray for the health of the kids. These kids are sick to begin with and even a simple cold makes everything else more complex.
4. Safety
American woman traveling alone in India. I don't need a bigger sign on my forehead calling for trouble. Woman in India are second class citizens and as the world recently learned India does not have much of a legal system in place to protect woman. Having said that, when I was in India before I can honestly say that while I was well aware of my place in society I never felt unsafe. Not that it gives my mama much peace of mind...
~Pray for God's protection over me while I am gone.
~Pray that I will make wise decisions in regards to my safety. Pray that I will remember that just because it is safe for me to do here in the U.S. it may not be safe for me to do in India.
5.Relationships
From maintaining my relationships here at home and building new ones abroad.
~Pray that I love the kids and fellow staff at SCH well.
~Pray that I will be able to build good solid friendships.
~Pray for my relationship with my family, this is the longest and farthest we have ever been apart.
~Pray that I will be able to maintain friendships with my friends here at home.
6. Open Mind and Open Heart
If there is one lesson I have learned over the past year it is that whenever I have expectations of something, I find that God’s expectations of what He can do through me are ten times greater and fifteen times crazier than anything I could imagine. And in the mysterious foreign land of India there is no telling what might happen.
~Pray that I will be found a willing servant in every situation
~Pray that I will be able to adapt easily to Indian life and culture.
~Pray that I will remain a life long learner and not close myself off to situations because they are new and different.
...The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. ~James 5:16
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