...Reentry...

Reentry is interesting. Leaving one world, in a sense, and returning to another. Life is so different from here to there and back again.

While reentry is not easy, I welcome it. It is all a part of this life altering experience. I struggled yesterday with the thought of reentering my life. I was struck with new emotions and fear. I don't want to leave behind what I just experienced. I'm figuring out, by God's grace, how to move forward without abandoning all that the Lord did in me, all that I experienced and all that I learned.

I don't really want to "reenter" as I think, to most of us, reentry means to readjust to life as usual; to the same way it was before. A return to what was normal. That is something I simply cannot do. There is a new normal now. There are higher standards to a specific calling. None of this has anything to do with me, really. I am not special. The calling on my life is not greater than anothers. I've said it over and over and over...there is only ONE special thing about me and that is that I am a daughter of the Most High King. Anything good in me comes from Him. Each of us has a calling on our life. A purpose. A plan. A conviction. This happens to be part of mine.

I believe my responsibilities have changed. Certainly I'm still responsible to love and serve my husband. I'm responsible to take care of him and to submit to him in our marriage. Serving the Lord and "wifing" Kevin are the greatest of my responsibilities at this point in my life. I'm honored and blessed to have those as my priorities :) And yes, I'm responsible to my other relationships with family and friends; to love, support, encourage, bless and minister. Of course I will continue my commitment to our church and my job; striving to be diligent and hardworking with the utmost of integrity. However, I do feel responsible to make specific changes to my life as well. I am now responsible to do my part to fight human trafficking and child exploitation. I am responsible to continue ministering in India and sharing the Gospel with prostitutes & orphans; showing love, compassion, grace and acceptance. I am responsible to spread the word and share my experiences with churches and organizations here, in America.

Do I have this all figured out? No. Will I struggle? Yes. Can I do it? Only through Him. None of this for my own glory but for the glory of the Lord. My glory is in Him alone.

I suppose I have, in fact, reentered. I've reentered with a new sense of purpose, focus and direction. My vision and strength will come from Christ and I will do my very best to humbly serve my gracious King.

...Home...

Home means two things to me now. Home is in Oregon. It's where my husband, family & friends are. Home is where my church and job are. Home is being with the people I love the most.

Home is also here, in India. A home that brings me peace in knowing who I am and where I came from. A home I love. A home where I'm certain the Lord wants me to continue serving. A home where I do not reside but that resides in me.

Goodbye to my Indian home...I will be back very soon and I will carry you with me in prayer.

Hello to my husband home ;) I will see you in 2 days!!

Thank you Lord for the blessings you've bestowed on me graciously. Thank you for the most amazing team and new friends. Thank you for using us for your glory alone.

Blessings,
>R<

...Planes, Trains, Automobiles, Boats & Bull Carts...

Yesterday we had the great honor of visiting a very remote village on an island called Riya Lanka. We drove for about 1 hour, hopped on a boat propelled by 2 Indian men "rowing" with long bamboo sticks and were finally carried through the desert and over the waters to the island on a bull cart. It was quite an experience :)

Once we arrived at the village, all of the people had lined the pathway and as we walked through they showered us with marigold petals while clapping and smiling. It was pure delight.

We sat in on a meeting with the head elders of the village to obtain information which India Partners needed about the needs there. This particular village has been devastated many times due to tsunami's & cyclones. The goal is to help them rebuild in a way that they will be able to better survive any natural disasters in the future.

I am grateful to have experienced so much of India in so many different ways. I'm grateful to have been immersed in my own culture and to have been so blessed while being home. My heart is fully at peace.

...Joy...

Joy is what you find when you look into the teethy grin of an orphaned child. Pure joy. They smile with joy that comes from the Lord even though they have nothing. They know they are sons and daughters of the most high King. They have something many of us do not. They have the ability to see past material things and superficial relationships. They are innocent. Pure. Loved. Joyful.

They are not orphaned in the way it really matters. They are owned by God. They are His beloveds. They are His gifts. He will lavish them with His love, grace, peace and JOY.

...Grace...

This past week has been full of grace. God is so gracious and has bestowed so much of His grace on us.

Today I am refreshed and renewed. I was finally able to speak to Kevin this morning and it was pure delight to hear his sweet voice and encouraging words. I am a woman in love and distance has indeed made my heart grow fonder ;)

Tonight we will take a 12 hour train ride to our next point of ministry. Please continue to pray that we will travel well, be healthy and that the Lord will use us to our fullest capacity.

Dwell on God's grace. Rejoice in His love. Delight in His joy.

Blessings,
>R<

...Finish & Finish Well...

This morning as we prayed over the conclusion of the Love & Light Conference, I prayed that we would finish and finish well.

I am amazed at the wisdom of Sandra, Kaytie & Cliff. I am honored to be on their team. I am honored to know them. I am honored that we share a passion for India. The Lord used their wisdom to touch these precious lives in a deep and impacting way. Today we heard testimonies from the men & woman and they shared how the Lord has changed their lives. They have endured pain, anguish, shame, disgrace and strife that some of us may never know; yet they express joy, love, compassion and dedication to their ministry. They define commitment. They define grace. They define love.

Finish & Finish Well.

...14...

Last night I had the honor to pray for a 14 year old prostitute. I held her small hands in mine, kissed her sweet cheek and prayed a covering of protection, love and grace over her.

I have never seen shame like I saw on her face. She dripped in it. Her eyes barely left the ground and she did not smile. She was steeped in humiliation, pain, embarrassment and disgrace. SHAME.

I prayed that she would know the love of God, see her true value and be freed from her chains. Her hopes are in those prayers. Her hope is in knowing that she is the daughter of the Almighty King. Her hope is His grace, His love, His forgiveness, His compassion. Her hope is in Him.

Her shame will be washed away by the blood of Jesus.

That is her hope.

...Safe & Found...

Yes, I do realize the saying is actually "safe & sound" but that does not clearly communicate what I want to say :)

We made it!! Praise the Lord. We travelled very well and arrived in India after over 25 hours of travel with all our luggage!!

We are safe.

I am found.

Kevin always calls India my roots. As usual, he is so right. I am found because I am back to my roots. It feels peaceful to be in India again. It feels right and lovely.

...Safe & Found...

...Today...

Precious family & friends...

PRAISE the LORD...it's finally here!! Kaytie, Sandra, Cliff & I leave for India this morning. We will be gone from September 4th - September 19th.

I wanted to express my heartfelt thanks to those of you who have prayed and helped to support this mission trip financially. Thank you. I'm not quite certain how to fully express the level of gratitude I feel so I trust that "Thank You" will suffice.

Please pray for safe travels and good health. Please pray that we would be effective in our ministry and that the Lord will use each of us to our fullest potential. Please pray for our families while we're away (I know Kevin is in great hands!!)

I leave today knowing we're covered in prayer. I leave today humbled, renewed and dressed in the full armor of God.

Much love and many blessings to each of you,

>R<

...The Rescued Part...

After we leave the red light district we'll be ministering at an orphanage that is home to roughly 300 children.

300.

Children.

300 children who have been rescued. Some may think of orphanages as depressing, sad and overall hopeless. That is so not true. The orphanage is the rescued part.

First, I was discarded. ABANDONED.

Next, I was taken to an orphanage. RESCUED.

An orphanage doesn't have to be depressing, sad and overall hopeless. The orphanage is the rescued part.

I know exactly what we'll find there...

Lovely faces.

Open hearts.

Joyful spirits.

We will love by ministering and minister by loving.

The orphanage is the rescued part.