Losing Life

Goodbye Beach

I'll admit it.  Things were so busy the weeks leading up to Christmas that when the day after Christmas came and we were off to Mexico, I secretly wished we were going to lay on a beach somewhere.  I wanted to sleep, swim, read, and daydream.  I really didn't feel like building a house.  You're shocked aren't you?  And I seem like such a nice person.

But, as soon as we arrived on site, I was so happy that God had me right there in Juarez.  Building this house will remain one of the highlights of my life and even more cool, we got to do it with my entire family.  My parents, sisters, brother-in-laws and nieces and nephews.  It was incredible.

Day one...This is where Flor, Sergio and their three kids lived, sharing the home with lots of relatives:

Day Three:  Flor and Sergio and three kids get a new house:

 

Judiann makes a new friend:

This absolutely beats laying on a beach any day...hands down.  There's only one problem, I really want to do it again.  My beach days could be gone forever!

My Sisters are in India

I just got word that my two sisters and their team arrived safely in Bangalore, India.  They are on mission with India Gospel League, speaking at women's conferences.  Keep up with their trip on Judy's Blog.

When I was in India last August, it was the coolest most challenging thing I have ever done.  At one point, when I first got there, I freaked out for a minute....and told my sister "this is really hard, I want to go home....this makes church planting seem like a birthday party."  So now, whenever I call my sister Judy and say, "I am freaking out about church planting," she reminds me...."remember, it's just a birthday party." 

Judy goes to INDIA - again!

This is my sister Judy with Tsunami orphans in Sri Lanka, August 2006.  This was her first trip to India and now she is going back in February!  Her VISA hasn't even expired...and here she goes again!  I am so proud of Judy for letting God capture her heart for the people of India.  She and a team of four others, including my oldest sister Lori will travel and do 3 women's conferences with India Gospel League.  The conferences are designed to inspire women to reach other women for Christ in their villages.  As Pradi Stephens (Director of IGL's Women with a Mission) says, "Women are God's secret weapon to grow the church in India." 

Most women do not have the resources to attend the conferences which involves travel.  It costs about $45 for a women to attend the 2 or 3 day conference.  Judy and her team would like to raise $20,000 to help thousands of women to attend these conferences that will train them to share Jesus with the other women in their villages. 

See Judy's new blog and follow her trip to India in February. 

Hello Sri Lanka

This is Troy blogging for Janet.  I talked with Janet this morning and they have arrived safely in Sri Lanka.  Got a chance to spend some time on the beach yesterday.  Tomorrow they have a full day conference, then a day of travel followed by another full day conference.  Continue to pray for God's provision.  Everyone is doing well and the experience has changed them for a lifetime. 

Aug. 4th

Right now is Saturday morning for us…Friday night for the states.  Friday was an amazing day!  It was day two of the conference and most of our team was able to share the talks they had prepared.  Liz, Nancy, Judy, Cassandra all shared.  They all did so great!!

                                             

We ended the day with our host and IGL’s WWM director Pradi teaching.  She was amazing and the woman responded to her.  Many came forward for prayer and we prayed for them as a group for a long time. 

Nancy was especially used by God during this time with her gifts of mercy and prayer.  Many women were drawn to Belinda who loves and hugs on everyone.  The  young girls all came to speak with Cassandra.  Judy captured this time with pictures.  Unfortunately we are having trouble putting the pictures on the blog because the dial-up makes the computer freeze when we try to load it.  But we will have many great pictures to share when we come home.

The pastor and family who are hosting the conference are wonderful to us.  They are taking good care of us, cooking for us etc.  We are eating many different things…and although they are cooking with us in mind (saying it is not so spicy) everything is spicy..really spicy.  But so far we are feeling well and healthy – another answered prayer. 

Today Melody, Liz and I will get to share in the morning session.  I will do a talk about Esther from CCC’s OT and Me series. (The big idea in India!!)  I am hoping God uses these words to empower the woman to fulfill his purposes for their lives.  That seems to be quite a new concept for them…that God can use their lives for His glory.  Many of these women in Chandrapur are newer believers or just now finding their way back to God.  It is the first time WWM has had a conference in this area and for many of these women, the first time they have ever experienced something like this.

Pradi says, “women are God’s secret weapon in India to grow the churches.”  Through their gifts of connection and relationship, women will help other women find Jesus.  The pastors are receptive here and sit to the side during the conference and listen and nod their approval…that’s a good thing.

Today at 2:00 we will end the conference and drive three hours over very bumpy roads with cows, oxen, bikes, pedestrians trucks and busses…back to Nagpur where we will sleep tonight at a hotel and catch a plane tomorrow to Salem in southern India.  Our plane will land with a four hour car ride to Salem.  (Family, Judy is doing great on these crazy car rides…she is taking her Dramamine – she has felt some puckyness, but she is really a trouper.  I am so proud of her) 

Salem is a bit of a respite for us as we will visit Pradi’s home and ministry head quarters Sharon Gardens. 

We had a GREAT night of sleep last night.  Slept hard the night through.  So we feel very rested. 

We are so amazed by God’s work here in India and are very humbled by it. 

I can’t describe the kind of experience of stretching and humility I am personally having.  When I thought God wanted to show me his work in India, I realize that He is also showing me even more about myself…not all of it I wanted to see, but a very good growing experience.

Thanks for your prayers, we feel it big time.  We need your continued prayer for

-          Health and travel safety

-          The women in Chandrapur –that they would see themselves as God’s instruments to help other women find Jesus. 

-          Pray for Stephen and Mary, a young couple we met who will be sent to Northern India soon as church planters.

The team sends their love to their families and want you to know that they are feeling very well and doing fine.  We have shed some tears over missing our families (especially Liz whose love for her newly wed husband is so sweet and fresh).  If you are friend or family of a team member, you would be so proud to see their work.  God is using each one in a powerful way…each one is unique and different with different gifts for God to use.  They are working hard, and giving it up for the Kingdom.  Their love for God and the Indian women apparent. 

I want to say hello to my small group.  Thanks for reading my friends.  I know you are praying for me.  I love you all.

More on India

We walked into the conference it was already in session.  The women were singing praises and we walked up to the front and sat together on the stage.  The praises were lively…so much more lively then at home.  Then we were introduced and given these flowers around our neck. 

Belinda spoke and the women received her well.  Then we went out among the women for a time of prayer where we just moved among them and prayed for them individually and in groups. 

Tomorrow the rest of team will each have an opportunity to deliver what we have prepared.  We will be there all day from 9:00am through the evening. We are 12 hours ahead of you in the states – so Thursday night at 9:00pm, we will be beginning our Friday morning conference.

The pastor who is hosting the conference, his wife and daughter graciously prepared a meal for us.  So we are having some interesting food experiences.  We are diving right into the middle of this culture. 

It is fascinating to see what God is doing in the leaders and pastors here. I learned today that Pradi’s husband Samuel is overseeing a network of 7,000 church plants here in India.  They have a theme every year and the theme is used with children, youth, Men and Women.  Sounds like the Big Idea to me. 

Women with a Mission (a ministry to women of India Gospel League) has a vision of raising up 50,000 women community leaders by the year 2010.  The idea is that these women will go back to their communities and help other women find their way back to the one and only true God.  (I also learned recently that there are 300 million gods in India)

Please pray specifically for protection of our spirits.  I am more keenly aware then usual of the spiritual warfare that goes on around us.

The Team

Here is the team.  From left to right: Janet, Judy Liz, Melody, Nancy, Belinda, and Cassandra.  We are in Atlanta on a layover waiting for our flight to Mumbai.  Our plane will land in Paris for refueling and then it is on to Mumbai. 

These woman are delightful.  I am sure God has a reason that we are all together on this journey.  There is a real peacefulness about the group today.  We are enjoying each other and the journey.  I am so hoping that I can connect in Mumbai and update you...Thanks for praying.

A little drama is okay

I don't think a mom should say goodbye to her kids for 17 days without a little bit of drama.  So, it happened last night.  Judiann's bedtime.  She launches into a 6 year old monologue of why her mom is choosing to go to India instead of grandpa and grandma's lake house with her.  She concluded that it must be God's plan.  Then she started to cry.  Not the "I am trying to get my way cry," but a real from the heart cry.  So I just decided to let it all go too, and we sat and cried together for a while.  We both felt better when we were done agreeing that sometimes the right thing and the hard thing is the same thing.

Not as much drama with the boys.  But even so, I saw a look in their eyes that was more then just a "see ya later mom" kind of look.  The boys hug me and I don't have to lean down anymore.

Then there was the driveway drama.  Saying goodbye to Troy.  He said, "I am so proud of you...go chase the world.  I said, "I don't want the world, I want you."  He said, "I know, but we will have all of eternity together."  He is so amazing.

Okay.  Enough drama.  I promise.  I am just feeling a little "squishy" as Eric Bramlett puts it.  And Eric says, "it's okay, it happens to the best of us from time to time." 

pssst...I want to show you something

When we took Jake to Disney World and he was three years old, he was so excited to see those disney characters, and I was so excited to show him!  Then last spring break when my son Mitch and daughter Judiann saw the ocean for the first time...I couldn't wait for them to see!

I hear God whispering in my ear.  "Janet, come here, there is something I want to show you."  I think He is so excited to show me His world, His people and His work, he can hardly contain himself.

3 more days

Even if something happened and I was not able to go on this trip to India...the preparation for the trip has already changed me.  Here's how:

I care about something I didn't care about before: I have prayed for the woman of India, women I do not know.  Suddenly I care about their lives, who they are, their struggles and their joys.

I let go of the idea that I am in control:  I have realized that any idea I have that I am in any way in control of my life, is just a grand illusion.  I am not in control.  Whether I cross the street, or cross the world, God is in control. 

I have a fresh eternal perspective:  Any thing I choose to do has significance IF what I am doing has the possibility to influence eternity.  And eternal things are worth the risk.

I Love God even more:  To think that He had such a cool idea in mind for me, to think that He loves people so much more then I can, to think He loves my children so much more then me.  I love God for that.

I have a new urgency to pray:  Stepping outside of my comfort zone just makes me want to pray... a lot.  Ya know?