Joy

Friday at 7.
Thai college student Christmas party was fun and fulfilling:
Games, carols, and food made the fun; Billy Graham's One Hope program and small groups made it fulfilling.
Sunday at church.
4 of those students accepted Jesus.
THIS is our Christmas joy!

Thanksgiving - Five Days Early

In a few days, my family will join other Americans in the annual tradition of our homeland. We eat lots of food and reflect on God's goodness to us. But this year, Thanksgiving landed on a Saturday. No, we didn't eat any cranberry sauce or pumpkin pie yesterday, but our hearts were filled with thanks to view a glorious event.

The center of attention was not a perfectly cooked turkey, but a portable round container of water. In this container, two university students were baptized. They have forsaken the path of trying to earn eternal life and blessings by their own good deeds and have embraced the river of grace that cleanses and energizes. The Lord is raising them up as student leaders to spread hope in a culture dominated by fear and luck.

They started this journey before I arrived here, but I am currently a part of their lives as I teach English to them and they teach me Thai. I am thankful to see what the Lord is doing in this land. I am thankful to be a small part of it.

....and I will always love it when Thanksgiving comes five days early in Bangkok.

5 Baht Soi

Bangkok is a hard city to drive in if you need to make a u-turn. Our moo-bahn (neighborhood) is just beyond the u-turn for our main road, Bangna-Trad. When we leave to go to some places, we go through 5 Baht Soi to catch the u-turn from the main road. For some reason, we have to pay 5 baht to go through the moobahn next to us so we can catch the short-cuts; thus, the name 5 Baht Soi.

5 Baht Soi is full of shops and produce markets, Thai fast food vendors, and two 7-11shops (yes, 24 hours). Early in the morning (6:30 to 9 am) and all afternoon and evening, it's lively with many scooters, cars, taxis and people killing our shortcut advantage.

We went walking one night to eat soup at a Thai stall that the boys recommended. Everyone really is polite, and soft spoken. No shouting and blaring horns. On this road, you can find (think 12 days of Christmas here)the TV repairman, shoe repair, frame maker, dry cleaning, 5 million dogs, at least 4 beauty salons, 3 massage shops, 2 7-11s, and a Tesco Lotus Express (convenience store). (By the way, the soup was DE-licious.)

Sounds normal and boring almost, til you remember that there's hardly a store that doesn't have a spirit house, and that we need to learn their language well to share His love that they so desperately need on busy 5 Baht Soi.

A Bridge Not Over the River Kwai

 

 

We live about 2 hours from the city of Kanchanaburi, the location of the famous Bridge over the River Kwai. It is a popular tourist site with museums and cemeteries recognizing the importance of the bridge and the men who died in World War II for our freedom. We hope to visit it sometime within the next year but currently, I am working on building a different bridge.

 

Every Thursday, I travel to Ramkhamhaeng University Campus to work with Thai students. My friend Dennis has helped establish a ministry to students by helping them with English. They have classroom instruction, but not many opportunities to converse with a native English speaker. We talk to the students and help them with pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary, but most of all, we build relationships. After the sessions, we eat dinner at the campus cafeteria and fellowship with the students who choose to join us.

 

Through this relationship building process, students' hearts have become open to the gospel. No big pressure, no hype, no hurry- just building a bridge to the heart.

 

Joel Soi, Part 2

What we thought was going to be a normal Tuesday became a tense, busy morning filled with moving the washer and dryer into the house, bailing water, and putting the computer and first floor books upstairs. With rainy season comes flooding. As you may know from facebook, we are experiencing this for the first time, so it's been disarming, kwim? Never knowing if the rain will slow down enough to allow the water to drain off...Will we have to move the refrigerators?...

Anyway, our kids went out to visit their friends and Aasha,the always curious investigator, visited around to neighbors. She was so upset because everyone we know is flooded.

We are particularly concerned for our next door neighbor, T, who I just met and chatted with on Monday, who has 4 dogs and some cats. We think she's alone.

So at 4 this morning we woke up to more lightening and thunder, but it stopped after 30 minutes. It's draining really slowly. We have learned since moving here that Bangkok is slowly sinking so the water has nowhere to go. That's why we are bailing water again today. And checking on T. Thanks for your prayers.

Outsider in the Land of a Thousand Smiles

Thailand is known as the land of thousand smiles but the culture here is more closed than in India. Family units are tight and it takes more than a notion to penetrate these social circles. Our previous country (India) had many English speakers and was a British colony for hundreds of years. India was a divided group of cultures and languages that the British tied together for wealth and power. Thailand has never been colonized and the Thais are a proud people who love their King.

 

So although Bangkok has modern malls with American fast food and coffee shops, i.e. McDonald's, Dunkin' Doughnuts, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, etc., you still feel like an outsider. Yes, it is time to learn some Thai.

 

We can only guess what is hidden behind the everyday smiles we see.

 

Ministry here is not crusades and mass evangelism, but building solid houses of friendships one brick at a time. It is not easy being an outsider but Golgotha was not easy either. We can only hope that our small efforts will be acceptable to the One who was truly an outsider.

Joel Soi?

We lived for 7 years on a street in the U.S. called Joel Court. (No we did not name our second son after a street! LOL) Every year during the summer rains, the street flooded and the rising water gave the effect of lake front property. Of course, the kids were tempted to wade in it, but sewer water was a big turn-off to their mama. All they could do was race their newspaper boats on the draining waters. No one ever told us that it flooded like that.

Flash forward (haha) to today. It's rainy season in Thailand. We live on a soi (Thai for street) and, well, no one told us about the flash flooding, marble-sized hail, and water approaching our doorstep!! As we watched our shoes float around the front yard, we wondered if we'd be bailing out of the livingroom soon! Fortunately, we made it through dry. The neighbors on the next soi were not so fortunate...We'll keep you updated...

Mercy and Grace

Have you ever started a book and wondered soon into it, what's the end gonna read like? We started on our India journey many years ago, and after one year in India, our time there has ended. I thought we would need grace for a dying or dead child (it does happen in disease ridden areas). Or perhaps we would be persecuted for our faith. Never did I think we would need the grace to endure the hurt and shame of what we have at the hands of people we trusted to guide and lead us. But we did. And God's so faithful that He gave it to us. Just the grace we needed.
He said He would.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

And He was merciful, too.

"Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may find mercy and grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

These things happen in life, and while we own the part we played in this melodramatic chapter of our lives, we are devastated about our departure from India, for we were just learning our way. But our Lord Jesus has helped us move forward with His grace and mercy. And we plan on being a blessing here to the Thai people as we walk in His love.

Your grace is sufficient for me.
Your strength is made perfect when I am weak.
All that I cling to I lay at Your feet.
Your grace is sufficient for me.

The Symphony and the Sitar, Part 1

Last month, Mr. Gabriel played in a western classical music concert. His trumpet solo was acclaimed as a breath-stopper! How cool! In a city filled with great Indian and Western-style musicians, my dh was acclaimed in one of the main newspapers! Think I'm feeling good about that?! :-) You can learn more from our next newsletter.

There are many ways to express our heavenly Father's love, and one of those ways is using our gifts to bless the community at large. The arts are not taboo for believers, and my dh's expression of his music through the rigors of classical music gives glory to God also. Why? Simply put, because he's there, diligently practicing and skillfully using his talent to open doors for an opportunity to share the good news with those who spurn the church scene and pride themselves on "playing for the whole city". When a new bridge is being built, some fuss about how the old paths were good enough. Yet when the new bridge is operational, many leave the old and enjoy the benefits of the new way. My dh built a bridge: the director came to our house warming and plans to attend our church sometime. Pray for the Comforter to open his ears to God's symphony of love.

Monsoon

I decided to buy a few items for the kids at our care group for our last class. So I briskly walked out of our complex grounds and up to the staionary "dukahn" (store) to buy a few goodies (Pencils, pens and any school supplies are higly valued here since education is higly esteemed). I had JUST curled my hair which is rare because, well, because it's monsoon season! Have you ever seen curly hair when it's wet? That's why flat ironing and curling is a waste of time for me. Long story short: I curled my hair, went to the store, and came out to find that a clear evening sky burst open with ever-increasing showers.

Monsoon is a season just like Fall or Spring in the U.S. After the scorching heat of summer, the drenching rains of monsoon cool off the city, wash down the smog and pollution that's underfoot, and increase the water table. I refused to soak my hair so I waited under an awning for what seemed like forever! I decided to sing a praise song and to enjoy breathing deeply the clean, fresh air. All of a suddend, my dh appears through the raindrops and, look, he's carrying my umbrella and his raincoat! He came for me!! How sweet and funny: he KNEW I was not about to soak this head again! LOL

All 'round town

You raise me up...

Mrs. Gabriel:
Have you ever been to church and felt like the message was only for you? directed toward? you were found out? That's how I felt today. By the end of the sermon, I was a ball of tears. Of course, others felt the same way, but the message of perseverance was definitely one that I needed. I feel like someone has drained all the life out of me in this trial we are facing.I was immobilized with fear of failure. I needed Jesus to bring me back to life.

Jesus was there for the widow whose only son had died. He had compassion on her and raised her son to life. He did the same for Jairus whose daughter had died; "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed." (Luke 7:11-16 and 8:40-42, 49-56) How do we get ready for this life-giving miracle?

1. DON'T GIVE UP OR GIVE IN. Even when we fail, God is full of mercy if we humble ourselves under His mighty hand. The song says:
"My heart and my flesh many times may fail,
but there is one truth that always will prevail:
God is the strength of my heart!
God is the strength of my heart!
God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever!

2. DON'T SAY IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
Impossible is not a fact, it's an opinion...Impossible is NOTHING to God!

3.DON'T TAKE YOUR EYES OFF JESUS.
He is the air I breathe. His holy presence, living in me. I am desperate for Him. This is the best place to be.

So if you (like me) are in the bottom of a pit, look up to Jesus, putting your full weight on Him, trusting Him with all your heart, leaning not unto your own understanding. Our great, holy and almighty God will give us the miracle we need: a fresh start, a new and clean heart, peace, healing, restoration, courage, whatever we need, we can trust Him to provide in His way and timing that's best. We serve the Way Maker!

Hooghly and Howrah, Part 3

After exiting the boat, I followed my friend thru the very large train station in Howrah. From this station, you can board a train and travel most anywhere in India. The wealthy and the poor wait for their arrivals. You can travel general class (sardine city) or first class A/C sleeper. We pass thru the station and cross many tracks and arrive in a little group of buildings and step inside a small bright green painted room where 40 young children are tightly seated on the floor. These children are homeless drug addicts. Yes these precious kids aged 5-11 are drug addicts. Their daily routine is to acquire a few rupees to buy some glue or whiteout to give them a high. Sniffing glue helps you forget the hunger in your belly and helps you escape the hopeless life you live. They try to sleep somewhere in and around the train station and try to avoid the police.
Stan and his friends give the kids a breakfast and a lunch for their stomach and the Word of God for their souls. He has been doing this for quite a while and is a simple guy obeying the Lord. Stan has no pretension and claims to be a grunt worker here for Jesus. Stan, his wife and three young children came here a decade ago with only $3,000 to start their new life. He was a blue collar worker. No Bible School degrees. No fancy title. I know his story. He only recently got his own vehicle. That’s nine years of mostly non-AC taxis travel in the traffic jam oven of our mega city. Not easy.
Yes, Stan is a grunt for Jesus. I wish we had more grunts here like that.

Hooghly and Howrah Part II

For four rupees (eight cents), I boarded the ferry boat and crossed over to Howrah. Departing from our city's side, the boat was rather empty but many commuters were prepared to board once we arrived. This was my first boat ride on the river here. It reminded me of the times when almost all outsiders arrived by boat. I know of other carriers of the good news that traveled that way many times to this city. It was a much slower process, almost standstill compared to the jet planes of today. Yet, there is something special about transport on water.
My friend who ministers in Howrah tells me that he chooses the ferry instead of the bridge so he can pray before he crosses over to minister to the child drug addicts there.

Hooghly and Howrah Part I

Mr. Gabriel speaks:

To get to Howrah you must cross the Hooghly River. You can do it by bridge or ferry. The Hooghly is tributary of the Ganges, a sacred river in India. As I waited to board the ferry, I observed a number of people bathing in these polluted waters. Some were washing their bodies. Others had come for sacred ceremonial washing. After some festivals the riverbanks will be crowded with many coming to submerge their images and bid them farewell. Today wasn’t that busy, yet it was a reminder that in this great country many have not found the water that gives life.

Once Upon a Cyclone

A cyclone called Aila hit West Bengal this Monday. It has taken me 3 days to just get back online and our plastic table went over the edge of our 13-story balcony. Thank God no-one was on the ground floor outside! Of course with 100 km per hour winds and fallen trees, most people were trying to find a shelter in the storm. Even as the storm was raging, my heart was breaking for the millions of people who will be left homeless. I mean homeless. There are no storm shelters here. No provision by relief agencies for these natural disasters. Where will they find safe water for drinking? When will the waters recede from their HOUSES? Yes, Houses. What about their houses anyway?
Two of the ladies who work for us have lost their homes. The roofs were sheet metal and the walls were bamboo overlaid with concrete. Not real strong. SO glad we received two special gifts so we have funds to help them rebuild. Their houses cost around 5,000 rupees each for materials and labor. And they have good jobs with Christians who are showing love and concern. What about those are not as fortunate?
What a great opportunity for acts of service and the love of Christ.

God's on the Move

"Greater things are yet to be done in this city" is a line from a worship song we sang tonight at the closing of the youth conference held at our church here in India. This was a 5 hour service! We are awestruck by the sweet yet powerful presence of the Spirit of God, of His manifestations of healing and power that have happened over the past 4 days of this event. The video clip shows the wife of the young adults' pastor as she led prayer with the Indian flag held aloft across the altar. We prayed for God to help us as we all do our part to bring in a harvest of souls for Jesus Christ. All revivals can be traced back to prayer so that's where we started-bathing India in prayer. Prayer for revival. Prayer for deliverance. Prayer for a move of God.

McFamily: Super-sized!

We are learning so much about the cultural similarities and differences between us and Indians. When we first arrived, we wondered why families here consisted of parents and usually only one, or, at most, two children. We felt out of place. We thought all kinds of things based on our Western and American mindset: Did they not value children? Did they think they were too bothersome? We came to realize that we were ignorant to the situation of life in the city: it is extremely expensive on Indian salary to care and provide for even one child, much less two or three. Yes, there is a growing middle class, but it's really expensive.
Now, it's expensive somewhat in the States, too, but the clincher is education. You see, here educational success is paramount and so one should send their child to the best school possible and that costs a bunch. And that's ANOTHER difference: we are homeschoolers. How odd we must seem!
In the villages, many families have multiple children as the parents need as many hands to work the land as possible AND the infant mortality rate due to malnutrition/disease is high. So we must be considered a real anomaly: a family with four children who school at home living in the big city! We are often stared at for this reason and others that those of you who know us can guess. We just smile and sometimes stare back! We are OK in the taxis and use up a whole autorickshaw, but have to take two bicycle rickshaws, or even three! We are really super-sized here!

Brishti

We have been having a real dry spell/heat wave here. For over 4 weeks, temperatures have soared into the 100's, reaching 107 degrees F last week. Then they came. The Nor'easter storms that normally bring relief to this area of India at this time of year. What refreshing rains, or "brishti", we have had! This morning at 4 a.m., I heard the thunder rolling that signalled the onset of a refreshing storm. Yes, it makes drying our laundry for the six of us very challenging! I'm thankful for ceiling fans!

Anyway, some time in worship last night and a little reflection today made me think of songs of the Lord relating to rain.

Send down the rain
Send down the rain
Let the shower of Your Spirit drench my soul.
O LORD, send the rain.
-Mr. Gabriel, my husband, wrote this years ago.

Then there's this one:

Let it rain! Let it rain!
Open the floodgates of heaven!
-Michael W. Smith

I still need the rain of God's Spirit in my soul today! Don't you?

Can They REALLY do that?

Yes, the government in our state can take away the very car you are driving! Tomorrow is election day in our city for India's nationwide elections going on since mid April until end of May. It takes that long to cover the whole country, county by county in every state. This means that all the policitally-connected people need to get around town, and there are more of them than available, luxury vehicles. So they have legalized temporary, private vehicle seizure. Usually they want the bigger cars, so compact and subcompacts are safe. Since we use taxiz and transport from the office, we have no problem. Well, except that the car they send is sometimes not AC. Did I mention that it was 107 degrees F a few days ago?

Anyway, the police can pull you over and write up an order for your vehicle. They do return it, but no gurantees on its condition.

All this makes life here even more of an adventure!

Pray for the elections, ok? Thanks.

What a Mothers' Day!

What an unusual day! First, I woke up at 3 a.m. because I fell out last night at 7:30! Then I emailed all you Moms out there. Pretty hum-drum so far, huh? Then I made breakfast, sent Mr. Gabriel with 2 kids off to early service, and prepared to go to a local language-speaking church to be the Mother's Day special guest! Special guest means that I sit up front, and, after the sermon, I presented the mother's with a special gift and a blessing. With the songs and preaching in the language, and the lack of Western church trappings (we removed our shoes and I covered my head out of respect), I felt more cross-cultural at church than I have for a long time! They are running 80% women so there were a lot of Moms!

That's the good news. I made 3 mistakes:

1. I was overdressed: I wore a fancy salwar kameez (see blog Women in India: East meets West-Sunday April 5, 2009) with shiny jewelry that my hubby bought me. Shoulda' been more low key. But then again, I did not want to look too plain because they may have interpreted that as an insult-they were not good enough for me to dress up...
2. I forgot to take my shoes off at first. Oops! Pastor reminded me and all was well.
3. I did not wait for the interpreter when I spoke a word of encouragement! Just not used to that delayed speaking technique. Shows how ethnocentric I am!

Even so, it went well and I was able to get personal with a few ladies where language allowed. Well, I have learned that even a jet setter like myself (LOL!) needs to be sensitive to my host culture.

Hope you had a blessed Mother's Day wherever you are!

Starting Over

The problem with technology is that once you figure it out (esp. at my age), it turns on its head and karate kicks you to the moon! OK, I accidently lost our first blog, India Melodies, in cyberspace, so we are starting over. You can read the most recent posts there still, but the old ones are lost so...I am going to re-enter all of them eventually. Hey, keep moving forward, right?

We are starting over in other ways, too. Although we are still here in India, we are contemplating what the Lord has for us in the future. These deep thoughts were precipitated by Mr. Gabriel's attendance at a conference on impact. Are we in the right place at the right time doing the right thing and achieving maximum impact? And, since we are OK for now, what about the future? A more remote area would definitely challenge our comfort zone (and you are thinking,"Aren't you ALREADY challenged enough in that area?").

Right now, we have water delivered to our door. We have AC (when we have electricity). Our church is English-speaking (hey, that's how it was when it was founded 50+ years ago). What if we started over in a more remote area, a village where no one spoke much English, with wells or rationed water, and no AC (it was 107 degrees on Friday)? I know that the Lord would give us the grace to bloom wherever He planted us. Besides, we would DEFINITELY learn the language then! We will see where the second half of our term here leads us. Pray with us for His leading in His great adventure.
"He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake." Psalm 23
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understnading, but in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path." Proverbs 3