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.