Sunday 20 October 2013

How to set yourself up for failure while abroad and possibly alienate people.

Here is a new recipe I recently came across to set yourself up for failure while abroad (in my case India-- just think curry) and possibly alienate people (though not anyone on my team here, because they are loving people):

1. When getting dressed, put on M.C. Hammer-esque pants that come equipped with a drawstring as opposed to the button and zipper on your skinny jeans.
2. Sometime throughout the day, manage to subconsciously tie that very same draw string in a double knot--- genius, I know.

*I was literally thanking God this happened on Saturday as opposed to Thursday after some airplane food. This could have been devastating for me, but was averted by delicious (and safe) home cooked meals by Anu (my sweet Indian mom who lives upstairs).

That's enough bathroom talk for now.... I really want to thank everyone who sent me birthday wishes for the big 3-0! Seriously, thank you so much :)  I completely failed to reply to all the Facebook messages and emails, but I still want you to know that I feel loved! I really need to get back into the wonderful world of Facebook. It's been about a month and a half.

As for India, the state-wide strikes (yep they're happening here too) and some extended holidays have really cut into our teaching schedule. It's been almost a month, but we should be able to start teaching again this coming week. I'm really excited to get back into a regular schedule. In the meantime, we've been trying to connect with some Harvest India staff... In fact, last Sunday I got to paint 70 nails :) It was nice to have some girl time with Carli, Kacie, and Sreelatha (Ravi's wife). And the other night, while Ramaraj was at work, Anu made some mahindi (henna) in her kitchen and did a lovely design on my hand. I'm hoping that tomorrow night I'll be able to paint her nails for some more girl time.



The team and I also had some time to do some traveling. We went to Mumbai for 2 full days. I was expecting much of what I've already seen in India, but that city definitely has its own personality-- some  good and some bad. First and foremost, we found a starbucks!!!!






Yep, we got in on Monday night and I had a decaf pumpkin spice latte!!! Not only was it the first sugary-delicious flavored latte that I've had since leaving home, but it was also the first decaf coffee as well :)  I entered the Mumbai airport security Thursday morning to head back to Tenali with my fourth latte of the trip in hand. Please don't judge me.... Please.

In addition from the beautiful architect and delicious food, we saw some of the heaviest poverty I've ever seen in Mumbai. The slums are literally right next to or across the overpass from incredibly beautiful and rich areas. One night, John, Kacie, Courtney (Kacie's sister) and I were walking to go to a famous ice-cream storefront and we saw 2 children (probably around age 5) sound asleep on a well lit sidewalk-- no blankets, or pillows, or even a mat. It was tough. Sort of like one of those things you look away from because it doesn't make sense and its not something you want to see, but you can't help but remember and ponder later. It really was heartbreaking, and still is.


On a lighter note, Tenali is so great.  It was different entering back into India in this stint of the trip.  As most of you know, I spent an extra month in Palestine to finish up a dance project, so I got back to what I like to call my "second home" later than the rest of the team. Our first six months were spent acclimating to our new life and family while immersing ourselves in the culture and ministry. But for some reason, I entered India with the weight of the "what's next" question. Will I stay until April? Or should I go back to the states in January? Am I going to travel on my way out? What about work, school....?" So many big questions, so many options, and incredible friends (Indian and American) to serve God's people with. There was this urgency to figure things out and have all the right answers immediately. To make matters worse, it was really hard for me to be fully present in what was happening in the moment while trying to find answers for the future. It was rough. But the good news is that God is bigger than these big life questions. The beauty of it all is that I don't have to have it ALL figured out. Granted I do need to figure out when I'll be back in the states and have somewhat of a plan for picking up where I left off, but these decisions don't have to establish my future.

I don't have all the answers but I do feel free to be in India-- and that freedom is a gift that I am choosing to hold onto :)  I still have unanswered prayers, but just because they have yet to be answered does not mean that they fell on deaf ears. He's heard them and I trust that in His perfect time we'll hear/see/live in the answers. And isn't that so much better than anything that I could possibly come up with. After all, 1 year in India was not originally on my agenda, but His story is so incredibly beautiful and there is no other place on earth that I would rather be writing this from.



















Please continue to pray for Harvest India, my team and I . Christmas is coming up as well, so naturally there will be dancing!

*Thank you so much to all my friends and family who have supported me both financially and through prayer. Amazing news... I'm almost fully funded! I have $23,854.96 promised, which mean that I only need to raise an additional $1,145.04 by January. Please prayerfully consider helping me reach my goal  :)  

Sunday 25 August 2013

It's Official... Ive become my High School Chemistry teacher!

The past week has been filled with sad goodbyes and long-waited hellos; I am back in India!

Palastine was so much more than I could have planned for. When I left India in April, Bethlehem, Palastine was just a visa run so that I could return to India for a second six month stint. But as usual, God proved to me that His plans do not fit in my perfect little box. Bethlehem rocked me. Their hunger for the arts is palpable and it was such a blessing to stand beside them and play a part in their summer projects and classes. Here's a small taste of what I was able to help out in:


Please don't judge me. I wanted to dance my interview instead of speaking, but they said no. Seriously Rami, you should have just let me stick to what I am good at!  :) 

Saying goodbye to my new friends both in and outside of the Diyar family was hard and filled with tears (whether you saw them or not). As the locals say "Enshalla" or "God willing" I will return :)  And I really mean it. I hope that it is God's will for me to go back to Bethlehem. And soon! 



India is even more beautiful than I remember.

My memory was first jolted at the airport in Mumbai when I saw a petite woman in a beautiful bold-colored sari. During our first six months, my team would tease me because nearly everyday I would sit in the back of the car gawking at the brightly colored, sparkly, simple, extravagant, beaded, bold, beautiful, etc. saris. They really never got old to me. So yes, the first rekindling of my love for India came in the form of a sari as I sat in what seemed like the never-ending line for customs in Mumbai. Thank you Lord :) 

Then, the sweet and caring people at the Vijayawada airport. I met soldiers who want to come and celebrate my birthday with me in Tenali, a local pastor, a nurse, a doctor, a woman visiting family who is actually from the states, and others. So good :)

On the ride home, it was such a joy to see what the rain has done to the scenery. Everything, seriously everything is green!!! So, so, so beautiful. This really is God's country!



It's been 6 days and a slow intro back into life here-- which really is a blessing. I've said "hi" to a few friends, and am looking forward to many more to come. Thursday was our first day of teaching chemistry- no wait English! :) and this is why.... Back in high school, my chem teacher would always get chalk dust on his face; it was pretty funny. This time around, I am teaching English in the schools in Tenali as opposed to dance which means lots and lots of writing on chalkboards. Yep. I was covered in chalk dust after teaching on Thursday. So yes. It is official: I have turned into my high school chemistry teacher! At least that means that one day I will get married and have a dog as a pet, just as Mr. Rivas did, right?! So yes mom and dad, there is still hope. Maybe. Possibly.  :) 


Please continue to pray for my transition back into Indian life :) I'm caught in between grieving my friends in Palestine and the independence I had there and enjoying the beauty of India with all my friends here... all the while missing friends and family back home. It's a lot, but God is good and He is sufficient!

Friday 26 July 2013

House of the Word

Yep... It's been a long time, so here's a list of what I've let you miss:
  • Christmas with my Indian family!
  • The RockHarbor team came to India
  • A monkey pulled on my nose ring-- note to self, wear a stud around monkeys
  • I watched fireworks at he RH orphanage for new Years
  • Carli (now Hill) came to visit and, along with the fabulous Alicia, we went to see the Taj Majal and Jaipur
  • I ripped my one pair of jeans doing a handstand for a picture--Thank God for long punjabi shirts
  • Our team had the opportunity to start an all-Enlgish church service
  • We retold the Good News through dance for Easter
  • The RH medical team came to India for the first time
  • We went to Petra on our way into Israel for our furlough--- guess who met up with us? MY BROTHER!!!!!! So amazing!!!!
  • Jon Austin and I went to Greece!!!! Once again... Amazing!!!!

  • I started teaching dance at Diyar in Bethlehem
  • I fell in love at a coffee shop.
  • Not really, and this is why:  1. You have to have a heart to fall in love :)  and 2. I really really really miss good coffee shops at home. Does anyone know if Starbucks or Coffee Bean or Pete's is planning on moving into Tenali, India? Is there a number I can call to suggest that? Can you do that for me?
  • I went on a tour through the Holyland with Telos and literally wept at Jacob's well. God is so good and He loves me so much that he pursues me. Sometimes I just need a little reminder :)
  • I helped choreograph for a show called Paletime with teenagers- the show came together in 3 weeks. If anyone needs a director at home contact Elizabeth Malone-- She's a local
  • I taught a college course-- you may now refer to me as Professor. Not really!
  • I continued teaching dance at Diyar in Bethlehem
So why is this post called "House of the Word"? Excellent question. I thought you might ask :) Since coming to Bethlehem in early April, I've been volunteering at Dar Al'Kalima. It is a branch of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church also known as Diyar. Along side a school and college (and not to mention an incredible massage therapist), the facilities house a center for youth where they offer classes in dance, theater, visual arts and swimming. Dar Al'Kalima literally translated into english means "House of the Word". So beautiful!!! So for the past 3 months, I've been working at the House of the Word :)

Dance is a big part of the culture here in Palestine-- perfect fit, right?! The only problem is that the people here do not have the resources to dive into very many styles of dance. Right now, the center offers Depka (a beautiful traditional dance style), beginning ballet, and break dancing (by a talented self-taught dancer). There is a hunger for more stirring within Dar Al'Kalima.


Earlier this year, Rami, my boss, and a few others began praying for a contemporary dancer to come to Bethlehem collaborate with them on a show called "Out of Place". And then God brought the Residency team to Bethlehem...

Within a few days of meeting Rami and the Dar Al'Kalima staff, I was asked to stay an extra month to finish choreography for "Out of Place". My initial reaction was "Are you crazy?! You just met me and my heart is still in India..."--- but my filter only let me reply with, "Ummm... I'll pray about it." So I did, and God began to work. He tends to do that when you leave Him space :)

So, I'm staying one extra month in Bethlehem. My official return date to India is August 19th, which is definitely on my heart even though I love it here as well. It took a ton of prayer and discussion, but I completely believe this extended stay is in His will. It's amazing to sit in a place that you know God has called you to. Even though Bethlehem feels like a third home to me, I still get amazed by what happened here. I'm a 3 minute walk from where tradition tells us that Mary gave birth to the Savior of the world!!! Incredible!

Please continue to pray for India and all that the team is doing there as they try to re-enter into the culture after being away for 3 months. Also pray for what God is doing in Bethlehem. In terms of my work here, I should finish up the last bits of choreography at rehearsal tonight, though we have a lot of "cleaning" to do. Please pray for my dancers, the actors, and the people coming to see the show as it tells the incredible story of the Palestinian people and the hope they still have for a beautiful future.

One last need--- well for today :)  I'm just over half way through my 15 month adventure overseas. However, I'm still in need of financial support. At this point, I've raised $18,539.96 of the $25,000 I am committed to raising for India. This means, that I still need to raise $6,460.04 over the next 5 months. Please pray and consider joining me in this through monthly or one-time donations. I have a website to help you do so:

rockharbor.webconnex.com/austin

Thank you so much for the ways many of you are supporting me financially and spiritually!!! It has been a huge blessing to step into the work that God has prepared for me. Shout out to my Life Group---Thanks so much for all your letters!

With all my love from Bethlehem,
Renee