Short Stories From Another World

Hello all!!! It seems every time I get on here I apologize for NOT getting on here. But I guess that is the life of a traveler. Usually I like to share what's on my heart, or circulating in and around my brain, but for today, I think an update should suffice. A few "short stories" just to keep you in the loop.


Back to India. No!!!!!!!!!!! Just kidding. But I must say, India was a whole other world. I can't explain it. You just have to go and experience it. You don't go to India to sightsee or visit any extraordinary monument (save the Taj Mahal, which is glorious by the way), but you go just to be.....well...... in India. It's a whole "sight to see" in and of itself. We hadn't been in India for more than 3 days and we both had been scammed not once......but twice. You'd think you'd learn your lesson, but those Indians are sly little bastards (if I can use such language.) They will be your best friend right up until they screw ya. We ended up in really sketchy hotels, a crazy houseboat, a 24 hour grimy bus ride, paying hundreds of dollars more than we should have, and just honestly left feeling really used and abused. It's a terrible feeling. Being taken advantage of. Someone told us while we were there - Indians will never outright rob you, but they will try to take everything they can from you. We found this most often to be the case. Also just the worldview, way of life and environment (if you can even say that word about India), is just so upside down from our way of life. Sheer madness. Two words to describe it perfectly would be - gong show. Constant honking horns, no traffic lights, constant nattering from venders and taxis, garbage EVERYWHERE, cows and goats roaming down the streets eating whatever they please - mostly garbage, and just people everywhere. The garbage especially really got to me. It is ridiculous. You have to see it. It really is disturbing. Their way of life, based in Hinduism and the caste system is really degrading. We met a "British" Indian, Jeff, who filled us in one day on a train. You can't move up or down in life - you are born into your caste. That's it. If your poor, your poor, that is your lot in life. You are what you are - born that way. So people mostly live however they want, or should I say, whatever they get. It really affects their whole way of life and society. The poor in India....are really the poorest of the poor. There is no point or reason to help them. People who say that "all religions lead to the same God or teach the same fundamental things" are simply ignorant. That is simply not true. Not only are our beliefs about the afterlife extremely different, but because of that, our lives here now, are extremely affected by what we hold to be true. That being said, my heart was often filled with sadness while being in India.


But not EVERYTHING was bad in India. In fact, people told us you have to be there at least a month to really enjoy it. To get used to the environment and shed the culture shock. By the end I was ready to leave no doubt, but I did find myself getting used to things. The Taj Mahal was simply stunning.....a massive structure, pure marble - daunting, a must see in this life. And the street food, yes I ate the street food, was unbelievable. You could eat for like 40 cents and have an unbelievable kabuli, masala chicken or lentil dish with naan bread. Mmmm....the best Indian I 've ever had. Plus eating with your hands is always fun. Although I did get sick for a day and a half - another staple of India.....ever had the Jimmy poops with an Indian toilet? Not cool. Plus we finally did make a connnection with some Christians we could trust - Ramesh and his family. We visited his Bible study, Curtis shared a confirming word for them, we prayed together and we were all really encouraged. It was cool. And then the very best was working at the Mother Teresa House for "The Dying and Destitute" for our last couple of days in Calcutta. It was a real eye opener and a humbling experience. I could fill a whole page just on that alone. You must try to go. Mother Teresa truly was a real women of God, a real suffering servant for the Lord.


THAILAND!!! Ya I'll switch that fast. Thailand was a breathe of fresh air. Clean, modern....just a bit of "normalness" and security after India. We hung out with Mike Knudsen in Bangkok for about 4-5 days and it was awesome. We shared stories, passions, struggles and beers together. I loved every minute of it. Oh and we ate duck tongue along with some of the hottest flippin' Thai food, or any food for that matter, that I've ever eaten. I remember looking across the table and watching Mike just sweating - dying from the heat, lol, I will always carry that visual with me. We also went stark crazy buying jeans, shorts, and shirts at the street market - another must experience for travelers - I'm actually turning into quite the barterer!!! Who knew!!! We also went to the dentist there and got my tooth fixed...finally!!!! No more Lloyd from Dumb and Dumber!!! Haha. From there we went down to Koh Phi Phi and just relaxed and restored for about a week. We just lounged on the beach and got addicted to banana shakes - which I will be bringing to Moose Lake 2009 by the way. There we were blessed to meet a cool guy named Mark from Edmonton. He took us deep sea fishing - no charge!!!! We really wanted to go earlier, but didn't have the finances - so it was a total blessing from God. So cool. The line hadn't been in the water 5 minutes and Curtis and Mark had caught two massive King fish - wicked.


From Thailand we literally raced through Malaysia, Singapore and made it to the Philippines. On the way we did a rainforest trek, swam in a waterfall, saw the biggest flower in the world, spent my birthday in Kuala Lumpur, right next to the Petronas towers (see above for must sees), and realized that Singapore is NOT the cleanest country in the world. I think our own Canada may hold that title thus far.


And now finally to today. I find myself in an internet shop in Davao, Philippines. We have been here for almost 2 weeks and leave in 2 days. It has been a rich time. We have spent time with Dave Wicks, Jr at a ministry called "House of Jubilee." It has been awesome. They really serve the local kids here - feeding them, teaching them and just loving and caring on them. It's perfect. All of the kids are poor, and lots have been abused and rejected - so all we try to do is love on them the best we can. We offer a high five, handshake, hug or some form of ridiculous entertainment from time to time. But really its the kids that teach us the most day in and day out. They are little warriors - a daily inspiration. We have also been blessed to lead devos in the morning, hang out, teach some of the youth and just really enjoy Dave and Liz's company. And of course now that Dave Sr arrived, we glean wisdom from him daily. It's been great.


From here we'll go to Hong Kong for 4 days and then to Australia. Our trip is winding down!!! To share all the stories and experiences would be impossible. But I am taking loads of pictures, which I realize are not up on Facebook here (I don't have my cord...idiot), and I'm almost journaling daily. Plus I have an outstanding memory.......NAAAAAAAAAAT!!! So hopefully those 3 things will help me share and hold the memories with you and for a lifetime.


Some days are unbelieable - exciting, full of adventure and life. Others are hard - frustrating, depressing and lonely. But that is the journey we signed up for. I have learned SOOOOO much about myself it is ridiculous. What I need to change about myself. Who I really am. Who I really want to be. Who I need to be. God has really been revealing things to me and working on my character daily - restoring and refining me each day. I have also grown a lot in the Lord. Doing daily devotions, making that and prayer important, and just trying to live in him every single day - habits I hope I can carry back home with me. Seeing God's faithfulness and grace out here has been phenomenal.....unbelievable. We even started making a list, because, we as broken human beings, are so easy to forget. We have seen and experienced some neat things - HE IS SO GOOD. He really does care about our everyday lives and wants to be saturated in them...here or at home. It really does make a difference. In fact, Mom, those 5 things you listed in your note to me before I left - that you'd be praying for while we were away - I have seen ALL 5 of them come to pass. Seriously....your prayers are powerful and I see the fruit of them daily.


So.......one more short paragraph. I'll be home soon. 6 weeks. I look forward to it. I also made a list of things I miss from home!!! So I don't forget when I get back - you really realize what you have when its gone. Like real milk and peanut butter for one!!! We will try to finish well out here on the road, but please keep praying for us. It helps. Curtis and I talked about the trip being over the other day. It will be sad....and weird actually. We have spent so much time together, shared in so many experiences that it will be hard to finally split up. It's like we are being prepared for marriage, lol, - sharing in frustrations, joys, prayers, deep talks and fights.....everything. But its been really good and challenging. We are finding the proverb - as iron sharpens iron so will you sharpen each other for the Lord - to be true. It's good. If possible, I recommend a trip like this to all. Well I gotta jet. Off to the House of Jubilee to learn from the kids and harass "old" Dave. Love you all. Peace.