The Village

Last week we drove 10 hours and stayed 8 days, in some remote, Indian villages. The villages we went to felt untouched. Rarely do people travel out to them. Many of the villagers had never seen white people before, let alone heard of them! Some thought we were demons or diseased... 

We went to some villages which were unreached and had never been told about the love of Jesus.

It felt like we were the disciples in the Bible. We went village to village sharing the gospel, staying with whoever welcomed us, and having signs, wonders and miracles follow us everywhere we went...

We saw deaf ears open, blind eyes open, the lame walking, the paralzed healed and many were set free. We saw many children & adults freely give their lives to Jesus! Oh & our broken car horn and headlights also got miraculously fixed!

I took this photo in the village. It sums up my experience there. It's all the little things that say "I love you".

I felt Gods love & grace so strongly in the village. The trip wasn't ever meant to be about me.. But Jesus loves in such an extravegant way that everywhere I went, everyday, I felt like God orchestrated so much of the trip for me! Just to tell me He loves me.

From the leaf cut out like a love heart, to the beautiful lady who came in the morning and put flowers in my hair, to the children who worshiped & danced with me in the morning sunlight. One day I got given so many flowers I couldn't keep them all and everytime one died I was given a fresh one. I was given fruit (a prized possession here)! I got so many hugs & cuddles from the kids & felt the love of Jesus when I looked in their eyes. One night after praying for so many people & seeing nothing, God was so kind to allow me to hear the testimony of one woman who I got to pray for, whose eyes were healed and now she doesn't need surgery! 

To me its all the little things that count. I love how God knows this about me.

I'm not sure of the quality (sorry!) But heres a blind guy who got healed- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-D3aL8SzLI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

And some dancing in one of the village churches-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q48gqTUCqTQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

His Heart Art

God totally surprised me this week. I really was amazed by the art me & Nic created. I haven't had much experience drawing, so was totally surprised when I drew this eye below for one of the pastors. All I can say is 'thanks Jesus' for the art lesson.

When we gaze upon Him, we become like Him. 

Matthew 5:14. You are the light of the world- like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

I drew this picture for the youngest boy (14 years old) in the tribal training school this week. He was very shy, too shy to even share his experiences with us all. His picture was of a warrior, who is fearless before God and man. I particularly loved giving him his artwork, as I was able to declare over him who he really is and how God sees him- a fearless, warrior.

This was my favourite piece of art from the week. Nic created it. I love the journey of creating & discovering that we are on together. She is totally talented!

The pastors all left today. We had an incredible week with them. God showed up in a powerful way, as He always does. Last night the pastors all shared their experiences of really encountering God @ the school.

Tomorrow I get to go to my first Indian engagment party (& no its not mine haha) and then Thursday we head out to the villages! Pray for our safety & that the village people really encounter Jesus.

Love from India & my new family xxx

Letting Go

It's time to let go. This week I'm learning to try new things, to let go of my perfectionism and to be ok with making mistakes.. I don't know why but I always think I have to do things PERFECTLY! And it's driving me CRAZY! Its stopping me from so much. So I'm painting (basically for the first time since high school).. and I'm dreaming more and more about art and all the wonderful mistakes and masterpieces there are to create!

This week we are helping run a training school for 15 local Indian pastors. The pastors have come from some far away villages, where there is a lot of persecution and hardship. They are so HUNGRY & soaking in every word thats being shared! 

My friend Nic and I are not sharing with them till Saturday, so we decided to do a piece of prophetic art for each of the pastors! It has been so fun and freeing! And I really don't think these men would have ever recieved a painting created specifically for them! So I am excited to give them to them!

Next week we go with the pastors out to their villages! We will be eating some HOT curries and using our left hands for you know what! :-) I'm honoured to be here in India and with such an incredible ministry- a big part of their heart is to raise up the local pastors and leaders, so they can then go change their nation! Yippeee

This photo below is of all the men dancing last night! and the other is of my friend Ueli with some chicken heads we used for a practical joke on Nic ;-)