What Goes Around

Last night a friend of ours was returning from the airport late, after dropping his parents off. The taxi was stopped by some bad guys and my friend was beat up and robbed. Please pray for Daniel to heal from his injuries and to find peace about the incident. I am assuming the taxi driver was also hurt and robbed, so pray for him too. Thanks.

Last night I had a Christmas party for the ladies that come to aerobics. I am one of the worst party planners, but it turned out great. Everyone came late, which added to my anxiety. I always am ready way early and Indians usually come way late. I had a friend with me to help me pass the moments. We had lots of cookies, chocolate cake, momos and chai. I was given a very high complement by ladies when they drank my chai. Several said, "Very nice chai. You are turning Indian." So that was nice. I also think I make pretty good chai. I like cardomon chai. I squish a green pardomon pod and boil it with the tea leaves. I also give a shake of cinnomon sugur in the leaves. It makes it taste so nice. We played charades with different movies or actors. That went over well also. And then we had an arm wrestling competition. That was my idea. So we had the Americans vs. Indians. I thought that the Indian ladies would be weak, but was surprised that all of us Americans LO...

Today I ventured out to go Christmas shopping. I didn't think it would be so crowded if I went in the morning. Morning turned into afternoon when my househelp didn't show up on time. So I went to Khan Market, which is an expensive, but easy market. I had only a few things on my list which I thought would be easy to find in Khan Market. I drove around trying to find parking and ended up on the side of the street close to a "no-parking" sign. There were other cars so I figured I was okay. A little old lady who sits on the side of the road started talking to me as I got out of my car. I thought she was saying, "Give me food" and she was waving a cup of chai at me. I shook my head and walked away. All the while thinking, "What was she saying?" Later it occurred to me that maybe she was warning me not to park there. Anyway, off I went for my shopping. First stop was the Levi store. Steve mentioned yesterday that he would like a jean jacket, ...

I just have to tell you how stupid people make me so upset. I just want to hit them. Today my househelp told me she quit her second job. She had only been working for them for a couple of weeks. They paid her well. The problems started when Bimla (my househelp) arrived a little late on a holiday. It was hard to find a bus so that is why she was late. But the woman she was working for yelled at her and scolded her for being late. Now I know how it is to have to wait for Bimla to show up sometimes and it can be frustrating if you have other things to do. But to scold someone like they are a child is rediculous. Last week Bimla's brother was in an accident and she got the phone call at my house. She was very worried. His leg was got a very deep cut and he was on his way to the hospital. When a person has to stay in the hospital the family has to bring food, and sometimes sheets. It is good if someone stays with the patient to take after them. So Bimla called her second jo...

Yesterday I watched the movie Teera Zameen Per and loved it. This is a Hindi movie, but I heard it is dubbed in English now. I highly recommend it. SO I have added my two favorite songs from the movie to my playlist here. But to help you out I am also copying the English translation to the first song, Maa (Mom). I loved it. I cried, smiled, cheered. Check it out.

Thanks Linda for tagging me. I don't even have seven people to tag though. Sad me. 1. Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog. 2. Share seven random and/or weird book facts about yourself. 3. Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs. 4. Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. 1. I read a book this year that made me so mad that I made comments in it about how stupid I thought the author's ideas were. "Created To Be His Help Mate" is the title. DON'T READ IT!!! 2. I also would like to write my own book one day. I started a daily devotional book many years ago and I think I wrote two days worth of devotionals. Then my mind went blank. 3. A book is coming out this next year that I am in. An American lady, Miranda Kennedy, is writing a book on Indian ladies and she has a bit about my gym in it. She let me pick out my own alias and I chose Betty. ...

I have decided the next thing I want to give. I want to make hats and give them to the beggar kids. So now I have to find a store that sells yarn. I thought it would be easy to find a store because a lot of people knit. My first trip out to buy yarn resulted in no yarn. I have one of those Nifty Knitter circle looms that helps you make a hat or scarf or leg warmers. I could make a hat a day if I don't have a lot of other things to do. But first I need yarn. Oh where is the yarn in this city?

Today's newspaper reports that we are on the highest alert level for terrorist attacks in the city. The airports in India are preparing for attacks or hijackings. At least three air marshals are reported to be on each flight leaving the city. http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/news/top-story/airports-turn-into-fortresses.aspx Last Sunday while I sat in church, instead of listening to the sermon, I was thinking about terrorist attacks at our church and what I would do. Outside our church we have two or three armed guards. I thought about a church in Pakistan that was attacked a few years ago and several people were killed. I don't mind being killed, but I don't want Micah to have to witness anything like that. So the kids go off to Sunday school. What if someone just attacked the Sunday school area? Oh boy. I am reminded again to "take every thought captive". And I tried to concentrate on the sermon and not on my terrorist thoughts. So t...

OK, so God must be really trying to teach me about giving. Yesterday I listened to a sermon and it was also about giving. Random? I don't think so. I asked God to show me how to have joy and this seems to be what He wants to show me. So I share my giving with you not as a way to brag, but as a way to spur you on to greater giving and joy. Last week I listed online all my gym equipment to sell. I would love to get some of our investment back out of it. On Sunday I met with a friend who lives in another part of India and she was asking about the equipment. She wanted to know how much because she is thinking about opening a gym for women. I told her that I wouldn't sell it to her, but I would love to give it to her. I am all for the benefit of the women and the chance for my friend to get to know the ladies better. She told me she would still need to think about it. The minute I walked in the door after meeting with my friend, the phone rang. It was a guy respondin...

After doing the "5 Things Meme" I have been thinking about the million dollars that I have to do something with. I am also reading the little book, "The Treasure Principle" by Randy Alcorn. It is about giving. Apparently I will find more joy in giving than in keeping. So, if I ever get a million dollars at one time, I hope I give it away. I would rather have a million dollars worth of joy. That is what I am really after. I have been thinking about joy and wondering how to get it and then I found out that it is in giving. I am going to try it out. Let's see if it is really true. I want to be a giver. If someone needs a blanket, I want to give them one. If someone needs money then I want to give it. There is plenty of opportunity here in India to be a giver and I want to start taking those opportunities. Even if the person I give to is not grateful (which they seldom are here), I want to be grateful that I can give. And in this way I will store up...