More Masala Please!!!!! – SLink- India

We met with some students from the English class that Rachel teaches at, outside of the classroom, hoping that we could have some less scripted conversation with them.  We really wanted to try to build more intentional relationships with them.  A lot of students showed up and we got to hang out in smaller groups, and tried to help them improve some of their English. We didn’t know that they were going to be quizzing us on our Hindi though!  One thing that they really try to do is to have motivational phrases that they are working on.  One that they shared was ?Life is best for those that enjoy it.  Life is worst for those that criticize it, because attitude defines your life.?  This was great for how we were feeling, we were all going through some culture shock, and it was time for us to change our attitude and perspective. Our negativity was getting in the way of what God was trying to do.  

We had lunch with a guy named Amon at a traditional Indian restaurant.  He ordered a ton of new things for us to try.  We were all pretty nervous, but it turned out to be pretty good!  

Because of these things called Vegi lollipops, we have learned to say ?This is YUMMY!?, as a warning to the other members of our group that actually this particular dish is absolutely disgusting, and if they ask if you want any, reply that you are full.  There was confusion at one point, where everyone was just lying when they said something was good, when it was really awful, therefore everyone thought it was a safe choice, and we all ended up tasting it. 

Amon then took us to a place called Regional Park! This pic is great because when Amon first saw Justin in the mall, he wouldn?t approach him because he was so intimidated by Justin?s huge muscles! Now they have a nice bro-mance going on!

On the way to Regional Park, a couple of people were talking about how grey India is and it is depressing because we are missing God?s creation, which is something that we took for granted in the States.  There is a little green, but it is covered with trash.  There are rivers, but they are filled with trash.  The smog is so dense that we don?t see any sunsets or sunrises, or the stars or the moon.  And we couldn’t remember the last time that we saw flowers.  As soon as we finished talking about it, we had arrived to the park, and we looked around, and the park was filled with so many flowers. It?s like all of the flowers of India were gathered and put in this park.  God is so good to remind us he is still in control.  We needed to be reminded of his beauty and splendor and creativity, and he provided it!

The girls went to an apartment for a bible study with some of the national believers here.  It was mostly all in Hindi.  We studied Ephesians.  We were reminded that the same God that I love and worship and and serve, is the same God that these women worship and love and serve.  God is cross-cultural and bi-lingual, and multi-generational.  We have nothing in common with these women, but in Christ, we have everything.  It brings such Unity among believers being able to pray and worship together.  It is such a great picture of what Heaven will be like one day.

We went to the English school for Rachel?s last day there.  We spent time teaching them how to use ?a, an, and the? correctly.  It was hard for us, because this is just something easy we don?t even think about, but having to break it down for them, was really confusing for most of us!

Amy teaches a Zumba class at the gym, so we went to support her! It was super intense! Ask Josh to show you some of the moves that he learned! He will probably be teaching Zumba when he gets back to America!!

We went to Rachel?s going back to America party! India will miss her!

Josh?s new best friend in India! I see the two of them getting into some trouble while we are here!

We went to a fancy going away lunch for Rachel at the Radisson hotel!  The week that we got to spend with her went back way to fast, we miss her already! 

Josh, ?What is the right angle to take a selfie, but not make it look like you are taking a selfie??

I do realize that Josh has been the focus for the last couple of pics, but it is important for everyone at home to know that Josh is addicted to Corn that he can get on the side of the road!  His record is 4 in one day! 

Josh and Justin got to go and play Cricket with some guys at 6am! They then went to breakfast.

2 Thessalonians 1: 9-10 ?They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because of our testimony to you was believed.?

–          This is a verse that we studied in one of our bible studies and it just reminds us why we are in India.  That the reality for the unbeliever is eternal separation from God.  This motivates us to be intentional with our time here and love the lost.