We Remember

Today marks the 6th year anniversary of the September 11th attack which occured in 2001. Thinking back on that horrific day, I cannot believe it has been so long. I remember the day like it was just last week. I woke up that morning in my comfortable house in California, about to begin another day of school. I turned on the radio to listen to music as I often did as I got ready. The radio DJ was saying something about a plane hitting a building in New York, but they always play phone pranks on that station. I turned to another station just to be sure. Again, they were talking about it! I ran into the bonus room of our house and flipped on the television. Every channel was saying the same thing. A plane had been hijacked by terrorists and hit the World Trade Center in New York! I was in complete disbelief. This stuff doesn't happen... not here... not to us! We weren't at war. We were living our ordinary lives, going about the usual buisiness. I ran to get my mother and tell her the news. We ran back to the t.v. together to watch the coverage. Minutes later, the terrible news emerged that another plane had crashed into the buildings! Would this horror never end?! It seemed the whole world was going to end at that very moment. The pain people felt and the cries of terror and grief seemed to reach across the world. Firefighters, police officers, and civillians alike banned together as a human race to reach out and help in anyway they could. There was no distinction between race, gender, or beliefs. Everyone was simple a human being in need of comfort. An amazing swell of patriotizm arose in the nation. People wept when the National Anthem was played, it seemed even those who had forgotten God were turning to Him for comfort and understanding. It was like the country was waking up after a great slumber.
I look back and see this time that was terrible because of the lives lost and the pain suffered, but wonderfully patriotic. Although I knew that sense of patriotism would fade over time I wonder if people forget about the day for 364 days of the year and remember only on the anniversary. And will that eventually fade until we no longer remember at all? Was the time of turning to God only limited to times of tragedy? Will our Nation ever realize the need for the Savior who came and bled for them, or will it take another terrible occurance to turn them to Him? I hope that this is not the case. I hope we will remember...




"Ah! What a sign it is of evil life, when death's approach is seen so terrible!" ~William Shakespear~









"Men's evil manners live in brass; their virtues we write in water." ~William Shakespear~












"The heart bowed down by weight of woe to weakest hope will cling" ~Alfred Bunn~










The following is a song that I sang with my college choir right before the September 11 attack. We visited Ground Zero the summer of 2001 and there was a wall where we could write messages to families who had lost loved ones. I don't know if the wall is still there or if they painted over it during the construction... but these are the words I wrote:


O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be.

O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

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"I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance"

I have been thinking lately about my level of contentment. I find myself saying "If only I had that job" or "if I could just have a boyfriend" or "a little more money please"... then I would be truly happy and content. THEN I would be okay with where I was in life and what God was doing. I mean... I know God has everything figured out for my life and knows what is best, but couldn't he just give me a FEW more good things?
Then I started to think about Paul's writtings in the New Testament book of Phillippians chapeter 4 verses 11-13. Let me inturrupt myself for a moment. This is probably one of the MOST misused verse in the Bible. People take this verse out of context to make it mean that when they are going through a difficult time such as the passing of a family member or sickness or losing a job, they say "yeah well it'll be okay because I have learned to be content in any situation. I can do ANYTHING through Christ. I will get my dream job because I believe in God." This is NOT what that verse means. Paul was saying that even though he had been imprisioned for his faith, lacked the very substance he needed to live, he knew that God was in control. Please do not be the kind of person that takes Scripture and bends it to fit what YOU want it to mean. The Word of God is not here to make you feel better about yourself or your sin. It is not a self-help book or a way to make you love yourself more. It is a way for God to speak to your heart, show you (and me) the sin in our lives, and bring us to repentence. We do not bring meaning to the Bible; rather IT brings meaning to US.
ok... that was my soap box for the evening. So, having said all of that, why do I bring this verse up? I am not being persecuted for my faith in any way. And that is just my point. This verse has helped me put into perspective my so-called "trials" or hardships in life. So often (especially in the area of contentment) I find myself thinking that just having that one thing would make me content. Yet I look at people like Paul in the Bible, like Jonathan Edwards and Jim Elliot, like the people in India and around the world being persecuted for their faith-- all of these people did great things for the Lord with what they had. They did not sit around and wait for that one thing that would make life so much easier or better. They realized that God had blessed them already, and they were responsible to use that for His glory.
I want to be the kind of Christian that, instead of waiting around for the Lord to give me that dream job or enough money or whatever else before I start to work for His glory, to use what he HAS given me right now. I may not be at the job I want to be at for the rest of my life, but I am still in a position where I come into contact with unbelievers and I can have an impact on them for the Kingdom.
What are you doing right now, where you are, with what you have? Are you sitting around waiting for that perfect opportunity to come along before you make an impact for Christ? The world is dying and so many Christians are sitting around with the cure to this awful disease called sin in their pockets. We ought to be living every minute of every day with the mindset of being surrounded by walking dead. Without a relationship with Christ, your family, friends, co-workers, bosses, and neighbors are bound for eternal seperation from God. Be content with what God has given you right now, today and use it share the Good News with the walking dead you come into contact with every day.

HOTT

I cannot beleive how icredibly HOTT it is here!! However, warmish as it is... there was rain and thunder and lighting last night/this morning! I felt like I was living somewhere in the deep south... I'm SOO ready for winter!

I got yet ANOTHER substitute job today... half-day in a first grade. The nice thing was that the school is litterally RIGHT around the corner from where I live. Very convenient for walking if it weren't so HOTTT!!!!! I am excited at the prospect of being paid in a few weeks.

This weekend is a WONDERFUL 4 day weekend. What plans might I have you ask?? Tonight... dinner and a movie... tomorrow night: starbucks (aka Scubrats) and a movie in the theaters with the "GAP", Saturday: hanging with Luke and his folks who are visiting from Norcal. Sunday-- CHURCH, Monday-- Balboa?

Phew-- Hopefully there will be sleep and relaxing in there somewhere too. At some point I would like to see "Hairspray" using the free ticket I earned with my Regal Crown card (if someone would go with me- cough cough CARRIE!)

until I blog again... umm.. HASTA LA VISTA BABY! (cuz' "I'm a COP you IDOT!")

Work...FINALLY!!

Yes I realize that I am posting at the RIDICULOUS hour of 7:30 in the morning but that is only because I'm too excited to go back to sleep. Let me start at the beginning. (A very good place to start!) A few days ago I got a phone call on my cell at 7am to be a substitute teacher that day. Unfortunately, my phone was off :( I was bummed that I missed the call because 1) I could use the money and 2) because they go down the list alphabetically so who knows when they will get back to my name. Now for the good news: I recieved a call again THIS morning (at the ungodly hour of 6:30am!) to be a half-day sub for a 2nd grade class located less than 10 minutes away! Although it's only a half day thing (which pays less) I'm still excited because it means that they are in great need of subs since they got back to me so quickly, and I will be paid like $50 to go in for a few hours and have no papers to grade when I'm done! Don't get me wrong, I am still hoping for a permanant teaching position (and man is it ever hard to be patient!) but at least this will give me a job in the mean-time.
I guess since the idea of going back to sleep for a few more hours is out of the question I should pick out what to wear for my first day!! Wish me luck! (ok I know we don't believe in luck, but it's better than saying "wish me Providence...") ;)

Pictures as promised...

Here are some pictures of India I promised to post... ENJOY!



Our team consisted of: (from left to right) Joyti, Hal, Timothy, Julie, Gerry, Debbie, and myself (not pictured)








One of the kids that hung out around school was Zion. His parents work in administration. He and his younger brother could often be seen riding their tricycles or playing with the "big kids". They thrived on the attention. Zion especially liked wearing my cool sunglasses while riding out in that hot India sun.



On the last Friday we were in Bangalore, the students performed some skits and songs as a farewell gift. This skit involved blindfolds, poles, and students who thought they were going over and underneath them. It was very entertaining!





The Spiritual warefare here was made very apparent. One could not travel anywhere without seeing some idol set up for people to bow down to. This picture was taken behind one of the restaurants at which we ate.




Every few hundred feet there was another temple, decorated on the outside with the many different gods and godesses they worship. It was sad to see the open idol worship there. It also made me remember that although idol worship is not openly seen here in America in the form of statues people bow down to, it still happens in the heart.




I have never eaten so much as I did these three weeks! I learned that when it comes to food, saying you are full is not enough. Our hostess, Lakshmama, fed us until we thought we would burst! I was so overwhelmed (in a good sense) by the hospitality that the people there showed us.




The men of our team posing for one of SEVERAL pictures with students... we felt like movie stars!





On one of our days off we visited what used to be the King's palace. It was gorgeous inside, but of course cameras weren't allowed so you all will have to settle for a view of the outside.





Oh the crazy, crazy streets of India...where left is right and right is wrong (unless, of course, you are eating!) I have so many stories of traffic and traveling that will have to wait until told in person but let's suffice it to say my prayer life has never been so strengthened as it was when I was riding in an auto rickshaw!




I cannot believe how much I will miss these students! I think about them and pray for them often. Their faith costs them much, but they have such a joy. Their faith has been such an encouragement to me.

Count your blessings name them one by one..

I am SO thankful to be back in the good ole' U.S. of A! I arrived at LAX at 8:30pm on Sunday July 29th. After going through customs, we waiting about an hour and a half for all the luggage to finally make its way onto the belt and into our hands. When I got through baggage claim, my wonderful boyfriend Luke was waiting for me with roses and a big smile. Our team was exhausted and ready to be home. One of the things I most looked forward to was a HOT shower. I will never again take for granted having warm water when I want it, electricity when I need it, and a soft bed that is mosquito, spider, and ant free!
Despite my love for my home, I will miss the students that we befriended while there. I find myself thinking about them often...wondering what they are doing as I am here on my computer typing this (actually right now they are asleep!) I am so thankful that the Lord orchestrated for me to go on this trip because I learned so much. It was a difficult trip, I'm not going to lie and say it was easy. But I really learned a lot through it and I think God helped me to grow in it. I am so thankful and encouraged to see other believers all the way across the world who are living for their Lord and willing to risk everything, even their lives, to go to a Bible college and to claim God as their Savior. I can't even imagine living in a place where there is open persecuation for believing in only one God. I am so used to being comfortable and having the freedom to express my faith in whatever way I choose. I hope and pray that I will never take for granted the blessing of living in a country where I am free to love my God without fear of being beaten, imprisioned, or killed.
I know I promised to post pictures of my trip, but first I need to figure out how to go about doing this, so hopefully the next blog will contain pictures. Sorry to all of you who tried to post comments but couldn't. I had no Idea... but it's fixed now so comment away! Thanks for all of your prayers as I was over there... they helped!

Singapore...again

Well it is Sunday afternoon (early morning in CA) and I am back in Singapore... In a way it seems like it's been a long time, but then at the same time like we were just here! Thankfully our layover was not NEARLY as long this time (only 9 hrs as apposed to 19 hrs) We slept a few hours, then took a bus tour of Singapore. That was cool, I learned a lot of history about this place.
I have not been able to update this blog on the events of the trip as often as I had hoped, but it was not all that different from week to week. We taught classes during the day, graded in the afternoon, ate, then slept! On friday the students had a farewell show for us. They did special songs and skits which were very nice. The team got up and sang a song called "Until we meet again"...which in turn caused me to "lose it" in front of the school. I didn't realize how much I would miss everyone. Their sincere love for people and immediate acceptance astounded me. Americans are so often "stand-offish" The students made us feel welcomed immediately. I hope to post pictures as soon as I get home of the students and the places we have been.
Until then- I will sign off. Thanks for listening! God bless!

A week and a half in Bangalore

Namaste! (that's hello)

I have been in Bangalore for about a week and a half and am learning to adjust to life here. Classes are going well, despite the language barrier. The students here do not interact with the teacher like in the U.S. and would much rather do things in a group than be recognized individually. This makes it difficult at times, but God is good and I am learning how to get along.
I think I may be learning more about my subjects than my students. I teach "How to live a godly single life" and "How to lead a Bible study" to two different groups of girls. It requires a lot of studying and preparation on my part, but I am getting a lot out of it. I hope they are too!
Saturday, Timothy's brother Edwin was married to Priya. She is a new believer, and her family is still Hindu and therefore do not support her. We had been praying for the wedding that it would present the gospel message clearly and that there would not be a lot of tension. One of the members on the team, Hal Ring, gave a great message. The Gospel was clear and we are praying that it will change the hearts of those who were at the wedding. Already, one of Priya's uncles asked him about the TRUE God we worship. God is at work here. It is amazing to see the blatant worship of idols all around us. When we went to the zoo last weekend, there were idols set up in the zoo to the termite and elephant gods. Please keep praying for our team's ministry here and for the lost souls in need of the Living God.
I hope to email at least once more before we leave this place (Lord willing). Thanks to everyone who has supported me financially and through continued prayers. Please continue to pray for the health of our team as some (including myself) have had a difficult time adjusting to the spicy food. Please also pray that we would have an effective ministry to the students here.
Until we meet again-
God bless!

Clearly you've never been to Singapore!

Hello family, friends, and all who may have stumbled across my blog!

I am here in Singapore...still. We arrived Sunday morning at 1 am. Due to slight complications we were unable to secure the hotel rooms as we had hoped which meant sleeping in chairs in the lounge of this airport. Actually, as the guys slept us girls kept watch over the luggage and played cards. (A woman's work is never done huh?) We were able to secure rooms at about 9am this morning and had the most WONDERFUL 4 hours of sleep ever, followed by the most BLESSED feeling of a shower! I feel like a whole new person. Once we awoke, we jumped right into the culture with Burger King whoppers for breakfast. (and of course coffee) We should be leaving Singapore in a few hours to travel to Bangalore India where we will be staying for 3 weeks. I look forward to what God will do while we are there and already feel humbled to be a part of this. Please continue to pray for our team... for safety as we travel, continued good health (so far only a few members have experienced a little stomach upset) and preperation as we go to another culture. I'm sure the shock will be great no matter how much we have prepared but I look forward to it and embrace the awkwardness with open arms! I hope to update this blog as often as I can during our travels. More information should also be forth-coming on the church website: www.gracebaptist.org

Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers.

Blessings!

Ellen :)

Contemplating departure

As I prepare myself to go to the other side of the world in a few days, I can't help but feel a mixture of emotions. I am excited to be going there and working with the college students. I'm excited to see the students' and how they live out their faith in the midst of persecution. I am also nervous at the thought of having to teach college students about the Bible. I'm scared of the differences that the culture will bring and of offending those with whom I work. I am grateful that I have this opportunity and humbled that I was chosen to go. I am hopefull that God will work through the team as we are there.
I didn't realize how much preparation there would be for this trip going into it. Not only is there work to be prepared in order to teach classes and give homework, but mental preparation for a new culture. The worst thing anyone could do in going to another country is expect them to give you all the American comforts you have at home. The saying "when in Rome do as the Romans do." applies to other countries as well. Do your best to take on their cultural ideas. Observe how they interact, what is expected, how they dress, etc. You are THEIR guest, jump into the culture. You never know, you may like what you find :)