Home from the Hospital

Yay!  Morgan and Josiah arrived home today.  They were expected to be discharged by noon, but it was 4pm or 5pm...but I think that can happen in the States too.  Morgan was very happy to be out!  If you saw her room, you would understand.  I don't know how to explain, but things are very old in the room and it isn't decorated.  I took some pictures of the hospital for my mama, but have yet to figure out how to upload them on Andrew's computer.  The cost is a good thing there....the c-section and hospital stay were in the hundreds of dollars....and not the high hundreds.  I went to pay for part of the stay (Andrew's money) and the cashier had NO computer in her room.  The calculations were all hand written.  How's that for keeping it simple?  The housekeepers get paid directly by the patients, and it isn't much either.  I have a picture of one of them sweeping something off Morgan's floor and she is dressed beautifully in red and has a homemade soft broom.
I HAD to take a picture of the parking lot for the hospital.  It is only a strip of uneven yard on either side of the street with plenty of trash strewn copiously over it.  I tried to get a picture of a free wandering cow standing there eating an empty box, but he walked away.
The Lord gave Andrew and Morgan favor with the nurses and several expressed appreciation for their cooperation.
It has been wonderful to see how the campus community has reached out to help during this time.  Offers to babysit, stay with Morgan or help with food have been very generous!  It's the body of Christ.

I'm running on generator now so I will write more tomorrow.

Just like India

The airport in Delhi had many Indian people in it, but it was clean, modern and didn't make you think of the pictures you often seen of India.  However, as my old rattling airplane was descending into Allahabad, I could see pieces of farm ground below which looked more like a cobblestone path than American fields because of it's small irregularly shaped patches.  I could see small huts with children running around outside.  Yes, this is more of what I expected.
As we drove through Allahabad, there was so much more.  I told Morgan the sights, sounds, smells made America seem cold and sterile (not all bad).  Smells of smoke from burning trash or incense, spices, manure or rotting things.  Sights of colorfully decorated shops, clothing, fancy furniture, cows running loose...and dogs.  Rickshaws, motorcycles loaded with passengers, bicycles and pedestrians...and they do all come within inches of each other.  Not so pleasant ones like trash almost covering the grass along sides of the road, dwellings so squalor it makes your heart ache.   There was one lady outside the airport, she was gaunt and older and turned to look at me with half of her face covered with her scarf and the half I saw was haunting, and I must say dark - definitely a mission field.  Of course, it's noisy with the many vehicles and their constant honking....that seems to be their greatest courtesy....I can just imagine at a wreck them saying,  "But I honked at you!!  You should have known to get out of my way".  Who honked first?? :-)  Yes, there is yelling ..and the haunting sound of the Muslim calls.
After visiting Morgan at the hospital, Andrew was walking me home in the dark and we saw people sleeping on mats along the road.  One haunting scene was a woman curled on her side on the ground with a man (her husband?) leaning over her with his fist upraised and another woman (mother?) crouched in the midst begging for mercy.  I paused wondering if I should at least stop and stare so the man would know he had an audience, but went on reassuring myself that the older woman may offer more protection than me.  Was I right?  I don't know.

 

Delta to Delhi

I am sitting in a lounge drinking courtesy coffee, nibbling on courtesy cookies and using free internet.  Okay, I did pay to sleep in the sleeping room for 6 hours.  I'm in Delhi airport in my 13 hour layover.  Very nice room with a beautiful, modern bath, courtesy toiletries and wake u4p call. N I am relieved and blesses to find such treatment.  After seeing some of the behavior of a few Indian men on the last flight, I was wondering about potential 'courtesy' in India.  They were rude to the stewardess, and the man behind me wouldn't let me put my seat back even though his was!
But now I have been pampered and I am pleased!
Thank-you for the prayers!  My flights and connections went great....and, Andrew, the plane food was the best I ever had! I was able to encourage a father/financial advisor on one flight about following God's leading and parenting.  Another flight, I befriended a Swedish lady flying to India to practice yoga for a week.  I left her a How to Know God tract.  I don't feel very ept at witnessing
Now I have 4 more  hours until I fly to Allahabad....and get to see my sweet Amos anud Justice and get to meet Josiah.  Trusting the Lord to help me to be a help to the family while here.  This family is all the sightseeing I need.....sure I would like to see a local market, but the rest of India can wait!

GBS Camp Meeting and 'The Talk'

The girls and I spent the weekend at the GBS camp meeting.  What a blessing it was!!  Bro. Rollin Mitchell preached the services.  We were exhorted on patience, unity, the goodness and mercy of God and other timeless truths.  We were led into worship with the excellent GBS choir and orchestra and several other singing groups.  Bro. Larry Smith guided us through a deep and reverent time of communion.
On Sunday afternoon, there were several students chosen to give their testimonies.  Wonderful to hear how God led them to GBS.  An adopted young man who didn't think he was worth anything because his birth mother was a prostitute.  He shared how he almost failed school at GBS, but a professor took him under his wing, offered to do his homework with him, counseled him when he was discouraged and never made him feel like he wasn't good enough.  There was a young man who had been on drugs before Jesus saved him - he had tattoes winding up his arms.  His pastor dropped him off at GBS with a wink and a smile...Richard was shocked by the lifestyle there, but he has been helped greatly.  A Japanese girl testified of the great encouragement she has received at GBS - she is a pastor's daughter who questioned the Lord not too long ago.
In other services, we heard the testimony of a Romanian girl who lost her mother to an illness a few years back and of an Ethiopian girl who has been 'caught' walking out of the GBS prayer chapel at 5am in the morning on a regular basis.
Another thing that struck me has to do with Bro. Mitchell sharing how sometimes pastors, parents or college leaders have to 'say no' sometimes or to correct things.  He shared the example of how he would get his young men into his office every once in awhile and tell them that they had better treat the girls in the church right and if they didn't, they would answer personally to him.  He called it 'the talk'.  He said it bore good fruit.  This word made me realize that one thing I appreciate about GBS is that they are willing to have 'a talk' at times with the students individually or collectively.  Mikah has told me of several chapel services where the boom was lowered, the altar was filled, confessions were made and victory was gained.  How great is that?  May God spare us from 'overdoing' it on saying, "We'll keep our mouths shut and let the Holy Spirit work with them".  Yes, I understand we need the Spirit's help in leadership, but when we are afraid to speak what needs to be said, there are problems.
How many parents are afraid to have 'the talk' with their children about their immodest attire or entertainment choices?  There is the excuse that the children are old enough to have their own convictions, etc., but when they are living in our homes, what is this compromise saying to them loud and clear?  It's saying that we don't think it's that important.  It's saying what we believe and stand for is totally optional as far as we're concerned and as far as God is concerned for that matter.  If they want to dress in a way that causes temptation while under our care....who are we to say they can't??  This is a totally wrong mentality.  I don't understand it.  Yes, I was raised in a home  where there were strong convictions that were not optional....and I have chosen to do the same.  No regrets there.
GBS has over 400 students who adhere to a generally modest dress code which is also professional in nature.  No, I can't say every student likes it, but I can say that it is a good thing for those who are watching from the outside, and it is a good thing for those who are practicing it.  It is about more than a dress code though and it is more than about modesty.  It is about principal and it is about not compromising just because everyone else is or everyone else is expecting you to because the way of 'the talk' is just too hard and too uncomfortable.  We underestimate what standard others can be lifted to if we trust God to help us lead properly.

Another Layer

Recently we took a trip to Ireland to visit Jordan's family.  While there, I asked Naomi's mother what words of wisdom she would have for mothers who have to raise children without a father as she had to for at least half of Naomi's raising.  Her answer was to live what you teach which was such great advice, and is exactly what she has done.  Naomi then piped up and said that her grandparents stepped in and that made it feel like the gap was filled.  Not that she didn't miss her father's presence, but that her needs were met through her grandparents.  Jordan then mentioned that he also felt like his grandparents made a huge difference in his life, and I know they did.  Their walk with the Lord and concern for his well being were significant.

I don't have profound thoughts on this subject, but it is open to comments if others want to talk about their experience.  God designed the parents as a covering and protection for the children....but that obviously does not mean the grandparents are then disposable.  God has them typically living long enough to be around for the influential years of their grandchildren's lives.  It's like another layer of covering.  Extra insulation.  Or perhaps extra inspiration.  Maybe filling gaps that otherwise wouldn't be filled or adding another dimension for more depth and perspective in these children's lives.

As a foster parent, I would say that grandparents could even spare the children from the harsh realities of foster care...but that could be a whole 'nother subject.

Praise God for grandparents.....

Proving I Came by my Gray Hair Honestly

Today is my birthday - I'm 48 years old!  It's the kind of age where less than half the people you know think you're still young (including my husband), and more than half think you're sliding down the other side of the hill!

I was thinking too seriously this morning, as is often my habit, and reflecting on what has happened in my life.  Like what I thought was meaningful and what I didn't.  Things I regret and things I definitely don't.  For whatever it means to you, here is a sampling.  Sorry, you don't get to hear everything that went through my mind, but some things you really don't need to know! :-)

Things I do not regret:
1) Being raised in a godly home by Reimar and Marcia Schultze!! :-)
2) Hearing godly preachers through my life as my dad, Edgar Martin, Bro. Helm....
3) Marrying my husband, Don!!
4) Having four children by birth and one by adoption (and Jasmine!)
5) Investing my life and training in these children
6) Homeschooling
7) I do not regret taking a stand and doing things differently as God called me to than even the Christian world around me did .  Yes, there were times of fear and questioning, but it has proven to be right.
8) I do not regret letting Morgan marry Andrew, Jacob marry Naomi and Jordan marry the 'other' Naomi!
9) Following the leadership of the Holy Spirit ( this is TOTALLY a not regret item)  LIFE has been in it.
10) Loving the unnoticed saints and forgotten ones around me.
11) Separating myself more from the world in the areas of dress, entertainment and motivation.  Soo do not regret keeping worldly, and fiction romance, violence, etc out of my children's lives and my life.
12) Moving to Fort Wayne!!  Love these people.
13) Being a part of the Body of Christ.  Enjoying the Bible Methodist and others!
14)I do not regret putting money into the Kingdom via a church, mission organization or the needy
15) Opening our home to children/youth/friends

Regrets:
1) That I went to public school as a child
2) My strong materialistic mindset/heart as a young person
3) Trying too hard to look cute and appealing to the world
4) Not appreciating my family more as a youth
5) Not having more birth children, and letting the world within and without of the church influence me not to.
6) That I ever let peers influence me to compromise my conscience or to question what I knew was biblical. 7) That I ever doubted that God would lead and that His leadings would have good things in them.
8) Money I've spent on unnecessary items

There's a start.  When I think of my goals as a young person of making some serious money...ummm, you really see that God spared me despite myself and my regrets and 'not regrets' show that it hasn't mattered in the long haul.

I am thankful for God's mercies.  I wonder....when I'm 84, instead of 48, what this list will look like!!  Hmmm....God isn't done yet!  More adventure in the next episode.....

:-)

Report from Portsmouth, Ohio

I'm not in Portsmouth, but Morgan and her family are - as well as Mikah.  They are helping at a youth camp there.  Their main responsibility is to conduct a missions service each morning for the youth.  They also have done some music and intermingling with the youth.
God has been helping them!  The staff have told them that this is the first time in years that the youth have had positive comments about the mission service.  Andrew has been used of the Lord with his teaching and discipling gifts.  Praise the Lord.  Mikah gave her report on China one of the mornings, and the youth responded well to that with comments and questions.
Andrew challenged the young men to meet him for devotions in the mornings...and several have.
How great of a privilege is it to be able to share with formable young people the great commission?  Could it be that one or more of them will choose to serve the Lord in this way?
The camp evangelist is Matthew Blankenship - he is about Andrew's age.  Mikah and Morgan have both told me how impressed they are with him.  They state that he has a burden for souls and a heart which is tender for the Lord.  Mikah mentioned that he was in a staff prayer meeting weeping for the young people there.  Bro. Blankenship's road has not been easy as when he chose to go for God, his wife chose another way of heartbreak.  However, he continues to press on...knowing that he is not called to remarry as long as his wife still lives. He also ministers in Pakistan and can draw a crowd of thousands there.  May the Lord be with him.
Tonight is the last night of the camp meeting.  Please pray that youth that have been holding back will respond to God's call.
Tomorrow we will join them in Charlotte, NC for a week of pro-life events.