Uncomfortable Question

I was just organizing files on my computer and re-discovered one of my favorite quotes:

"Sometimes I would like to ask G0d why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it.

'Well, why don't you ask Him?'

Because I'm afraid He would ask me the same question."

-Richard Stearns

Small Stuff.....

Do you ever feel like you're just spinning your wheels? That what you do from day to day really doesn't seem to impact the world at large or isn't even very important? I want my life to be about significant things. I want it to count. Yet sometimes there are seasons of an awful lot of small stuff. Long periods of time where I wonder, "What is this all for?" Even though I live in an exotic location (!), that's been my life a lot lately, doing various small things that take effort and discipline, but I wonder if I'm actually getting somewhere. (When I put it all together I can see that it's 'good stuff, but day by day can seem mundane or 'not enough'!)

It's encouraging to know that our Father doesn't feel that way. That being faithful today in small things is service to Him that doesn't go unnoticed!

"Well, done!" the king exclaimed. You are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward." (Luke 19:17)

or

"And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded." (Matt. 10:42)

What's important about us isn't what we DO anyway. It's about relationship to HIM! And then after that what we do in His name because of it.

When I look back, my most cherished memories of people saying, "Thanks! You made a difference," were about things that I had no idea had meant something to someone. Or times where I was totally unaware that someone was watching.

He can use the small stuff and it's part of the walk that brings us closer to Him. So back to my day that's full of many small things!

Note: What am I doing nowadays? Language study, lots of cooking for and hosting of volunteers and teams, teaching an English class to a couple of the women, giving tours of the factory to pass on the vision, some writing for FS, loaning of kitchen utensils and bowls to the T-shirt women across the balcony when they ask for it on their tea breaks (or in other words, relationship building), school runs, mom chores, etc. Sounds like 'enough' when I list it but still can seem 'routine' when I see the needs here and want to do more! I want to be faithful day by day and thought you might relate to that. No matter where you are or what you're doing.....:-)

Postscript: I just remembered an encouraging quote by Mother Teresa about the small stuff:

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop."

Flowers

I made a comment a while back about how the women of this country make the streets look like a flower garden. Here are a few pics of the flowers:

Bells...

"From the bells, bells, bells, bells,

Bells, bells, bells -

In the clamor and the clanging of the bells."

-Edger Allen Poe

I'm not a big fan of Poe but these lines, put there by some long ago English class no doubt, have been running through my mind a lot lately. Because we hear LOTS of clanging sounds like bells.

There are set times each day that our neighbors appease their deities by lighting incense, clanging bell-like sounds and blowing horns. There are extra bells and horns every time it thunders because someone in the lane behind us is obviously afraid. We hear thunder and we know what's coming!

We're headed into 'puja' season here where there are different days where different deities are worshiped. It's a bit like the Christmas season to them. Our kids even get two weeks off of school pretty soon! And there have been lots more bells lately.

From what I have read the bell is rung to block out sounds that might distract during the ceremony. It is also the sound (the 'OM') that links to the deities they believe in, to call the 'good' ones and drive away the bad. It's all pretty complicated! And it's all based on fear. Fear that you will do something wrong and incur the wrath of the g0ds.

I'm so glad that I serve Someone who loves and cares about me! Who was Himself the sacrifice for any appeasement that I'll ever need. Someone who brings me peace not fear.

FS's Birthday...

FS opened nine years ago today with 20 women. Today there are about 160. It was a day off of work for everyone and time to celebrate! The ladies showed up in their finest and had a blast by giving thanks for the nine years, eating good food, and LOTS of Bollywood dancing!

It was also Heather's first time to wear a sari and since she had NO idea how to put it on, she got help from about 15 of the women.....at the same time!

Back to work tomorrow, though, because there are orders to be filled!

Poverty

Where we live poverty isn't a concept....it has a face. We can't take photos of our area because they're our neighbors, so here are a few from the city at large. (Thanks, Frin!)

We've Moved!!!

We're in our new home and loving it! A couple of weeks back we thought it might still be a month or so away, but the whole family and a few friends pitched in and got things finished!

We figured out that over a hundred people have labored over this place in the last 8 months to get it done. A huge 'thanks' to all of them!!! Many names and faces come to mind as we look around the walls. What a neat journey it's been to get to know so many fantastic people in the process.

The guy who's the boss of FS communications and does all of the video work did a walk through for us the other day with his camera. When he gets it finished we'll put a link up on You Tube so everyone can see what it looks like. If that's not done soon we'll post a few pics, but since the rooms aren't huge the video will be a better way to see what it's like.

We moved in on Saturday and on Monday doorways were widened to move the cutting tables from T-shirts into the large rooms that were our bedrooms previously. The rooms will eventually be renovated for about 16 sewing machines (and 16 women!) each, but the room where Cutting is currently is leaking when it rains so.......!

Enjoying our new home and smiling!

Here's the link to the video now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqfprLmabuU