I could be done.

Letting down. IM ready to be done here. I do not know if its the Holidays or the fact that in 36 hours I will be leaving here for two weeks or what it is...but part of me is just ready to be done here. WHo knows what God has planned for me? DO you? SOmetimes I think He is ready for me to go somewhere else? Sometimes I think I am ready to stay here? Sometimes I feel like I am doing no good? SOmetimes being over here is a wonderful experience? Sometimes its heart wrenching and torturous? Live as a missionary is not easy, and I GET to see my family at christmas. Please pray for all of us.

Sabbath after noon walks

Today we went for our customary sabbath afternoon walk, and it was once again splendid. We laughed and walked through the cut rice fields as the children ran barefoot behind us. We made our way to the soccer field where all the villagers came out to meet us. I used my limited Bangla and communicated the best I could, as they spouted off anything that came to mind in Bangla, and I had no idea that was being said.

Today I tried 2 new Bangle things. One I learned how to do that game where you run alongside a tire and keep it upright and spinning, by hitting it with a stick. It is sometimes seen in old time movies (I will put up pictures soon) and I rode of the back of a peddle bicycle while Britney wheeled me around!

Also kids are So honest. The girls swarmed me and one pointed right at my pimples and said what is this? And they were demanding me explain what was on my face and why. I just had to laugh. Even the caregivers have asked us about out pimples...LOL They have been called bug bites, bumps from not drinking enough water, or from dirt LOL people in Bangladesh just have amazing skin. Its not my fault I don't :)

Sabbath is such a wonderful day here in Bangladesh, I hope its great for each of you. Prayers, love and GODS Blessings from Bangladesh!

Today I drank Hot Cocoa with my Roommates and watched the movie 21. God is better than that.

I’m learning patience. Tonight I feel like God has given me a big list of things to do, and I was complaining and thinking…GOD I just want to go to bed…

But that made me stop and think. How big of a list did I give to God today? How much did I just ask Him to do? And How much time did I spend thanking HIM for all the things HE has done? I can be pretty selfish sometimes…

SO I ask you…How big of a list have YOU given God today?

How much time have you spent accomplishing the one HE gave YOU?

And how much time do YOU spend thanking GOD for all HE has already done and is yet to do?

I have realized this is something I really need to look at. Thanks God for being patient with me, and for teaching me things that are seemingly so simple… Now can I get some sleep?! Yes.

Today I drank Hot Cocoa with my Roommates and watched the movie 21.

I’m learning patience. Tonight I feel like God has given me a big list of things to do, and I was complaining and thinking…GOD I just want to go to bed…

But that made me stop and think. How big of a list did I give to God today? How much did I just ask Him to do? And How much time did I spend thanking HIM for all the things HE has done? I can be pretty selfish sometimes…

SO I ask you…How big of a list have YOU given God today?

How much time have you spent accomplishing the one HE gave YOU?

And how much time do YOU spend thanking GOD for all HE has already done and is yet to do?

I have realized this is something I really need to look at. Thanks God for being patient with me, and for teaching me things that are seemingly so simple… Now can I get some sleep?! Yes.

Eid. Henna. Laughs. Pictures.

Sick. Today I spiked a fever have a stuffy nose and woke up with a splitting headache. SO I will be spending the morning in bed: sleeping, watching movies and catching you all up on my last few days here. It seems that everyday I should write a long inspiring blog because when I really think about it almost everyday here is one I hope to remember, and God teaches me something so new. But I am not that dedicated or gifted enough to translate ALL that I am learning into blogs. So I will just continue to do what I am.

Yesterday we went to eat at a Muslim families house in honor of the Eid Festival. It was So fun.This family was so hospitable. We arrived after a 30min. drive. My bum was sore, from the ride in the back of the pick-up. My freshly washed clothes were slightly dusted, from the dirt swirled up by the truck tires.

Stepping out of the truck we were once again in Ponchbibi, the streets are starting to become familiar and I recognize the best stores to buy things from and which to avoid. We are greeted by a nice looking man who leads us away from the main street and into a maze of narrow dirty streets. The sewer runs openly below my cautious feet, the dirt streets are swept clean in front of the nicest houses and garbage piles high in all other places.

We finally made it to our destination. A small complex of houses. We were greeted by the man of the house who was still in him Lungi (kinda like a male sarong!!) We were shown to a bedroom and told to sit! We removed our shoes and promptly sat. The room was quite lovely, clean, many hand made decorations and lots of color. It soon became packed with people wanting to meet us and see us. There were 3 boys about our age who also came to meet us, I think they must have used up all the memory on their phone camera taking pics and videos of us!

(here is one of the boys! YES! HE had a major unibrow!)

We were brought some snack. In bangladesh everyone feeds you, and it is expected that you eat. Man did I have to eat. First we were give a sort of trail mix snack, then some oranges and apples, then some sweets (sugar balls basically...not a big fan) then came the fried things: Chicken, potatoes, and deep fried breaded cauliflower. Then another sweet thing a pudding cake...which I was too full to even try. I just ate everything as slow as possible so that when they came around for us to take more...I could just claim I was still eating the previous thing! We thought this was our meal...So we are as much as we could. BUT come to find out these were just appetizers!! I seriously thought i was going to be sick if I had to eat more...

While we were visiting with the people a girl about my age, by the name of Polly, asked if she could Henna our hands, we of course wanted this...but didn't know if it was acceptable to have at the our Christian orphanage with children around. SO we didn't know quite what to do, but we were told it was okay for just this once and to go ahead and do it. It was priceless to see Polly's face light up as she ran to get her Henna and carefully illustrated our hands.

(all us girls with the Artist Polly)

We were soon told to "ASho Asho Asho," come, come, come. We were lead into the dining room where there were big plates of piled high food for us to try to eat. I knew I would NOT finish...but I attempted. I did not finish and they kept trying to get me to, but I said in the best Bangla that I could.."I am sorry, I cannot eat more!" They were so hospitable and we had such a fun time. It was a wonderful after noon, and I could not have eaten another bite.

(here was my next meal...)

(here is Polly trying to "help/make" me finish!)

After we returned to the orphanage Jehanna, Popri D, and I all decided we needed a walk! So we took about a 45 minute walk to a Indian Fair we saw on the way back to Bangla Hope. It was really fun just to walk around. I bought some hair clips, a toy, and an Amazingly cool ring= ;) but right after that it broke...!

(Jehanna and I at the fair)

(The fair!)

Observations:

We were invited to this families house for dinner, yet they did not eat with us. They only brought us the food and then watched us eat it.

Shoes are always taken off, and you walk barefoot on the floors...no matter how dirty!

Laughter, love and Hospitality are the universal language.

Remember These Commandments.

Keep them because YOU LOVE YOUR GOD.

I was doing my devotionals and was inspired to just go back and reread the 10 commandments. And yes, they were exactly as I had thought and heard thousands of times, it was the verses after them that caught my attention.

"Remember these commandments of the Lord as long as you live. Keep then because YOU love YOUR GOD. Teach your children to love the Lord by obeying them. Talk to them about Him whether you are at home or traveling with them, in the morning and in the evening. Do whatever you need to so as not to forget what the LORD has SAID, even if you have to write them on the backs of your hands or on your forehead, on the doors of your houses or on your fence posts and gates."

That really made me think. I know the 10 commandments, but have I memorized them, do I really KNOW them. Which one is what number? The full instructions of each commandment.. Now they are written on an orange piece of paper and taped right to my wall.

The seemingly simple things for me, always seem to surprise me with how difficult they can become when neglected.

Thanksgiving: Finally my blog is caught up!

I woke up this morning and it really didn’t feel like thanksgiving.

I was not rushing to the mirror to make sure I had not been pranked during the night, I was not waking up to the smell of my grammies fresh fried spuds, my family was not all gathered near the fire place having morning worship while the cold air swirled around outside, Lori was not trying to get me to drink some “pond water,” and I was not nestled up with my family at the ranch.

Thanksgiving will never be quite right with out all my family together, the anticipation of freshly baked pumpkin and apple pie, a yummy turkey dinner, and a taffy pull. Being away I realize how much I value all the little traditions and time with my family. You guys have made my life so full, but today I am still happy. I am so thankful just to have you all in my life and know that in a few months I will be able to see you all again.

I finished talking to my Dad, Mom, and sister right before I went to class and they inspired me to do something new. Today we talked about Thanksgiving and made videos on my photo booth so they could practice their English, they had so much fun. I realized in that moment, that yes Thanksgiving should be spent with the people you love, but I am so lucky just to have so many AMAZING people in my life, and even if I cannot see them face to face…they are with me in my heart. I love you all so much.

Eat LOTS of yummy food for me, and all my family wherever you are…don’t forget to say what you are thankful for: that is one of my favorite traditions. We all said what we were thankful for at my mothers worship last night. I love you all SO much. I am so thankful for all of you.

11-25-09

Cram them, smoosh us, its dirty.

Yesterday was my first trip on a Bengali bus. It was intense. We were headed into Panchbibi, a largish town about a half hour away for a little shopping. Today we would venture into the unknown: Public transportation. Something two months ago I had sworn I would never do. Those busses were nothing but death traps on wheels, but yesterday I was up for some adventure. So Jehanna, Banni, Brittni, Polimool, and I all boarded a bus to Panchbibi. When we first got on it was really nice. Brittni and I choose seats un front on the left side and Banni and Jehanna took seats in the very front. I though man this is not too bad! We were leaded to Panchbibi and that is when I started to get a taste of the bus system. People started pouring in at every stop, more and more people. Men filled all the seats, women were crammed into the front. There was one time when it felt like a man was actually sitting in my lap!! The buss was coop muela (very dirty) and the smell. There was definitely an unpleasant smell. But this adventure was exactly what I needed. We laughed and laughed, bartered and shopped, Banni and I have so much fun together! I also got another interesting look into Bengali culture. I came to find out that women were only allowed in one part of the bus.: the front left. Men are given the rest of the bus. I also noticed that the men smiled there toothless red stained teeth grin, while the women rarely make eye contact. One really sweet lady tried to ramble something to me in Bangla and I could not understand, I just smiled and said Tu me kay mon nacho? (How are you?) She timidly replied, “Balo” meaning good. My language skills are not good, but it was great to be able to make this woman smile.

I love it here. I finally am feeling comfortable, I can joke with the people, I can haggle like a Bengali and I can laugh and really mean it. Today I went for about an hour walk. We walked through the rice fields, past the mud huts, and passed by the cows, goats, sheep, and pigs. Things are so different from when I frist arrived. No longer and I scared to make eye contact, to walk outside the compound, to be silly and laugh. No longer are the rice fields brillant green, they have all been cut and brown stubbs replace the once tall, swaying, green fields.

Time ticks on. Life always moves. Seasons pass. And we have no control over them. All we can do is live each day the best we can. Make memories, enjoy the little things, pray more, worry less, and love unconditionally. Bangladesh finally I am falling in love with you.

11-18-09

Today I played doctor.

My roommate Brittni thought she just cut off the nail of her pinky, turns out she cut off all the skin that went with it.

I stayed pretty calm, cleaned it, put some Triple Antibiotic ointment on, and bandaged it! Then called my mother and she confirmed I did everything right! Now were praying for quick healing and no infection.

11-17-09 Happy Birthday Brock!

Rice. The staple food for Bengali people.

I love the rice fields. They are so brilliant green. From the moment I arrived, I have loved the way they embellish the flat land here. Today I did something I never thought I would do! I harvested this beautiful rice. Yes, a sickle and me. Together we harvested three fields of rice. All the Bangla Hope staff was out in the field working. Also we brought out the KG and Grade 1 class, they were so cute and loved to help! Many of the Housemothers are very fast at harvest rice because they used to work out in the fields. Harvesting rice, gave me a new appreciation for ever rice grain I will ever eat, it is hard work!

You much bend down and hand cut each bundle, then you must lay them neatly in piles and come back and tie each of them. And this is just the beginning of the process, the rice must then be thrashed, dried, boiled, sent to the mill, and then it is FINALLY ready to be cooked!

I worked out there for about 3 hours, and by the end I was getting fast! They were impressed with my cutting skills; I have some of my mother’s competitiveness in me…I finished first once!!...But I did have the fewest rows of rice to cut LOL. It was a really great experience and I will never forget my morning of harvesting rice! My legs were SO sore for about three days to follow!

Only bad news: My roommate Brittni cut her finger, those sickle’s are SO sharp!