Paul's shouts in Tamil help keep baby half awake as I lazily attempt his night's last feeding....it seems my great scheduling efforts have all been in vain! Baby still thinks he's starving every two hours......and I jump at his waking call-such a wimp. "Isaiah has my wife well trained" Paul says! Daddy calls it "acting"...Mommy says, "he's hungry!"
It's nearly 1 am. and I haven't taken the naps with baby that I read are advantageous.
Amma (mother in Tamil) struggles to understand Paul through his old cell phone barely operating--but our life line keeping our world's connected. The speaker phone sends rickshaw bells from the road-side right to our condo here in Phoenix sending me back to Sastri Nagar as if we never left.
But we have. Paul and I have been on this journey away from our India for nearly a year studying, learning together, joining a mission agency that helps support the work of nationals in their native country, applying for his citizenship and having our first child.
I can only imagine all of the Lord's purposes for us, our marriage, our ministry in this precious time. I think of what it will all mean later for our Isaiah...being born American, where his heart will be later in life, how the Father will call and lead him.
It's been invaluable.
My husband now understands my jokes!! Sarcasm is becoming a subtle skill of his and that to me is more precious than I can even describe as our fist year of marriage in Chennai--before Paul had ever left the East lacked any kind of fellowship with humor. A heart's desire now fulfilled--as a marriage without humor is not a haven for this American girl.
He now will understand the thousand things I miss and fail to say in India in a day....from carpet, to yogurt to hugs, laughter out loud and useless, silly constant texting from family members who know you all too well. Paul has also developed a great understanding of Americans.....what they're walking through over here, the pain of broken families, the hard work behind a well earned dollar, how great and differently they love and show it.
For him to have his own friendships now with the people in my life who's photos sit in the pages of my Bible Bible in India is priceless. He knows the precious ones in my life holding us up before the throne....that means so much to his wife!
this is all a gift---I never even asked my Father for...but He's lavished this new understanding on both of us--the knowledge of our family's, our backgrounds, our cultures and comforts. I am truly thankful. Our first year as rich as it was being married lacked a certain grounding He is now giving in a deeper knowledge of one another, creating fun in friendship. We had the passion, we had the rare fellowship where we challenged and spired the faith of one another--but our friendship needed to grow as He opened the way to more understanding. I am thankful for the unique quality of a teachable spirit in my fearless leader, along with his servant's heart--I rarely see that in pastors, especially in the East.
My little sister, Michelle (or Belle) was here today before rushing into ICU where she lives practically as a night trauma nurse. Our current home is just down a block from her hospital making her visits convenient, My great highlight! She brings her crazy stories making me laugh so hard I tear up, her questions about her future, her un-ending support and love for baby, Paul and me. Her birthday is the 19th. Paul and I are excited to host her little family dinner here, listen to more stories from Haiti, just be together.
My older brother, Matthew is just 5 minutes away south of us. Paul picks him up on Tuesdays for men's Bible studies.....we share a bite when he has time, he comes in like a storm grants his approval, we laugh as he taunts me relentlessly ..... I have to treasure these moments... we never know what the Lord will do. We recall Paul's visa denials three times in a row--where the way just did not open up for his visit to the sates before marriage to come and learn and slowly He is opening the way and making sense of our timeline. I can not take a moment for granted.
These have become the sweetest parts of my time here. Moments with the ones we love. Exchanges with family and friends that believe in us, that know what Paul and I are living for. That understand how badly we want to be effective for His Kingdom. How at times our days haven't made sense here, but we realize we're on the path to be poured out for Him and look for it.
Daniel, his most loyal of disciples grabs the cell from Amma.....they are carrying up loads of bricks up the stairs balanced on their heads. As our parents oversee the project from the terrace insuring only the best mortar is used. Daniel takes a break reminding Paul of his duty this summer to help him hunt for his bride.....the boys start heckling him and we end our phone call.
Hitting our knees together before drifting off with baby....it's so clear Jehovah's hand as been on every part of our journey here. We can't wait to be back in the rich harvest He's called us to. Lord, purify us that we may be Jesus to the ones who have yet to hear! Knowing our guest house is being prepared for our mission compels us to greater faithfulness. It's all, only for you, our Lord of Glory!
We long to see you honored in our land.
Prepare us!
Quicken us!
May we only delight in Your Word!
Remain in You and bear much fruit!
The very purpose of our union on this earth
that YOU will be seen and adored because
of our obedience.
That we will decrease as YOUR Kingdom Comes!
That all may know that YOU alone are the Christ,
the Son of the living God! And coming soon to
judge the world in sin and righteousness.
May we be without shame on that great day.
Let us be poured out unto You, our precious Lord
and Christ.....for You alone are our life.
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