Breaking News!

My sister Amber moved back to America!! Amber has been faithfully serving in South Korea as a high school math teacher in an International Christian School!! But she has decided to try something new and will be moving to Missouri! I wish that it was either Texas or California, but at least our whole family is in the same country and almost the same time zone! Amber will be moving to Missouri in August to pursue a year of intense discipleship with a program called Lead Time which is based out of Branson. She will spend her days in classes and her evening pouring into the lives of troubled youth.

Amber, I am glad to have you back on this side of the earth with me again. See you in a month!

Impact

Yesterday, I had the joy of going back to Deepa's house. Deepa lives in a low-income community or slum area only about 10 minutes from where I used to live. I spent most of the last year of my term catching rickshaws to and from her house. The road to her house is very eroded which always made for an incredibly bumpy ride and it's pretty ghetto; therefore, we got lots of stares. What was at one time incredibly awkward and uncomfortable became commonplace. Eventually the community just came to know us as the white girls that came to visit. That didn't mean they stared less, but I didn't feel quite so misplaced. There is also some ownership in a community when you are walking down their overcrowded markets hand in hand with an Indian friend...or more appropriately.... Indian family. I love what that communicates... yes, I am white and I look different BUT I genuinely love your people too.

It was so wonderful being in Deepa's home today. When I stepped out of the rickshaw, I was greeted by Deepa who hugged me for literally one minute. She didn't let go. Love tank filled. Then she had me sit down and she laid at my feet and just stared at me. It was soo awkward! This went on for about 15 minutes...I would talk and she said she didn't hear what I was saying because she was just staring at me.

I have been thinking a lot about the huge impact I personally had in the lives of Mona & Erica and Deepa's family and community. The impact I made what NOT because I am great, but because God's love is deep and satisfying. I walked into Mona's house and on the wall hanging was the cross my family left for her. On the coffee table was the photo album Lindsey and I had made for their family before we left. It was weird to see such a visible presence of my time there. In Deepa's house still remains the family portrait of my family and Lindsey's family. There were all these physical reminders of my time there. But even more are the memories. So many memories were exchanged in our short visits. I know that I am not great, but what made the impact was their encounter with the LIVING GOD. God inhabits his people. There were so many prayers, conversations, tears, and laughs that were covered in the presence of Christ. So when I come back and visit I am reminded of the beauty of Christ in this place. I am thankful that God allowed me to be a visible and tangible presence of who He is.

Deepa is a believer and hungry. Mona however is still seeking and searching. Pray for my time here as I have opportunity to disciple Deepa and opportunity to share the gospel with Mona! Mona and I are really close and I really feel like there are some great spiritual conversations ahead of us!! Please pray!!

A Texan meets California and California meets India

One of the highlights of my trip to India this time is the fellowship I have had with the "South Asia B" ISP team!! It was fun to send the CBU students off at the globe in Riverside and know that I would eventually see them on the other side of the world. I have spent the last several days with these students and it has been so great! It's soo fun when your worlds collide. Here are some fun pics for you Riverside readers. They are not headed your way....

Julie & I on a cycle rickshaw in Chandi Chowk.

More fun pics in the heart of the city.

The India ISP team! Love you guys!

India...my true love

Well the rumors are true....I am in India!! I arrived here late Wednesday night and all I have to say is.... "it feels good to be home." I do have to admit, the first night I came in I thought to myself...oh yeah...it's HOT, humid, smelly, and I can't breathe. For just a few hours I kind of hated the place. But then I woke up, got myself a rickshaw, and then I became a little giddy! It has been soo much fun being back. It's weird. A different part of me has become alive again. This place and these people encompass so many tender memories and a place of growth for me!! So needless to say.... I couldn't be happier than if I was any other place this summer!!!

I have spent lots of time since I have been here just hanging out. Believe it or not, Lindsey Ruthart (my very first roommate) is in town also. So we have been shopping together and hanging out. I have been staying in the East side with Laura (my last journeyman roomie) and it has been sooooo wonderful! I love hanging out with Laura and being in my old stomping grounds. We have watched several movies and ordered pizza and spent lots of time doing "nothing" together. It has been beautiful.

I have spent my last several days just visiting people while they are still in country. Most of my American friends are about to flee to Thailand. I am soo jealous. Everything within me wants to go with them! I have seen the Rivers, Robert & Mindy, Debbie, Mona, the CBU South Asia B team (go ISP!), and random new j-man!! I feels like coming home for summer vacation to family.

Ok....here are some pics....these are mostly for you Lindsey! India is definitely not the same without you!

It's the sweaty/sticky India Alicia look again! Here is Laura & I at the Big Chill... a classic.

Lindsey, Caskeys, & Emily these are for you. We had to get the delicious cokes from the office. Lindsey and I even sat in our "spots" from training!! Good times.

We went to dinner with the Rivers at a new restaurant "Mystic in Bali"! It is a delicious Thai and Balinese restaurant! It is where the old Big Chill used to be. I think it's the same owners cause the desserts are the same as Big Chill! It even had the Barong idol everywhere...it was really like being in Bali...impressive.

Us ladies at NJP!! I have eaten here 3 days in a row. I have definitely been loving the Indian food!! It is soo good and sooo cheap!

One of my favorite loves in India...Ericka.

Mona!!! She cooked the best food ever for us. I plan to see her SEVERAL more times this stay...and hopefully go live with her for a few days!

I am back

I am back from Germany and settling into Riverside again before I leave for India on June 17th. I will be posting some pictures soon....

I uploaded all 600 plus to my picasa website...so if you are bored...feel free to click away...

http://picasaweb.google.com/namaskarsa