Reforming the Feminine ContentTyphoid Vaccine = Microwave Popcorn Cravings?
I’m not sure if there is a correlation, but I’m experiencing random microwave popcorn cravings this afternoon … and wondering if the vaccine I had for Typhoid this morning could be related? Hmm … while I ponder that some more, let me explain what I’m talking about!
This seems to be a great month for announcements on the Reforming the Feminine blog … Candice is pregnant … Hannah is getting married … well I don’t have an announcement quite as exciting, but I do have some news and I’m happy to share it with you!
My last post was about the scarf project I’ve undertaken to raise funds to equip sewing schools in India where widows in need learn skills-training to be able to support themselves. My news is that since then I have been given the opportunity to travel to India myself this summer to visit the schools where instruction is given and meet the women I’m helping to support!
So I find myself in the midst of a whirlwind of travel plans, Visa applications, vaccines for developing countries, travel insurance and the like. I really don’t know exactly what to expect next! The cool part though, is that with each part of this whole process I’m able to give it all to Jesus knowing that he has allowed me to take part in such a cool endeavor. This morning is a great example as I was sitting waiting for a series of shots I thought, “Ok Jesus, I am really committing to this. I’m being poked in the arm with all sorts of things, going to swallow some really big pills, and it’s really expensive. But if this is really what you have for me, then great!” And I can honestly say that now as my arm kind of hurts I’m smiling, because I know the ache puts me just a little bit closer to the destination!
I have to say, I’m amazed at how this small project has exploded and has begun to change my life. I’ve definitely never been very interested in overseas missions and have never felt persuaded to sacrifice my time to actually go and visit people in need to learn more about how I can help. But for the first time I am so excited and anxious at the same time; I have no idea what might be in store for me!
I am compelled to go and learn about the lives of the women this project is supporting. I want to meet them, know them, sit and laugh with them and sew with them. I want to learn from their hardships, their lives, their stories. My flesh wants to jump up and say “I’m going to fix all their problems!” But as I talked with a friend the other night who just returned from a developing country I was really convicted that rather than me going on this trip to help others, I’m going to learn more about Jesus and to experience life from a totally different perspective.
I hope that I’ll be able to help and encourage. Maybe what I know about sewing will help their school? I don’t know. But really, I hope that I am able to go on this two-week trip with an open heart; I hope to really get to know these women so that I can come home and encourage others to get involved, buy a scarf, pray for a woman, and just be willing to make a difference!
Do you have a fun experience or some wisdom to share from international traveling? If so, I’d love to hear! Leave a comment … a funny story, a sad story, an encouraging story!
Cambria - I’m so excited for you! This sounds like an amazing opportunity and a God-given adventure.
In 2006 my ex boyfriend dumped me. I was heart-broken. And a little irritated because we’d just booked tickets to go to Poland to stay with his family. He still went. I didn’t.
But this meant I had a free week of annual leave I wasn’t expecting. And that resulted in a trip to India with my church that I’d never thought I’d want to go on. And if I had still been with my ex, never would have.
And this may lead to 6 months to a year in India, starting later this year. If God wills.
The arm ache will go soon. I hope this trip is life-changing for you.
Cambria: I went to Tanzania 6 years ago to volunteer as a teacher, never expecting that I would spend 2 years there, would see over 1,000 kids come to our school in a very rural area, find nursing, and know without a shadow of doubt that I would be doing fulltime missions work. This is all as a result of saying at the age of 16 that I would NEVER become a missionary…I told God I would do ANYTHING but that! Isn’t it great that He knows us so much better than we know ourselves and what we are capable of? Teaching people to sew is huge! I had two of my male students who were also Pastors, learn to sew as a way to support their families while they were in school and leading a church. It makes a difference! Have a great trip!
Cambria,
What a wonderful opportunity! I’ll be praying with you as you prepare, go, and reenter after your trip. My time in Russia remains in my heart. I think the biggest blessing was the experiential reality of God’s global church…to stand alongside Russian believers with hearts and voices lifted in praise to Jesus was (and is) an overwhelming experience. May you learn and grow in this process even as you seek to serve and encourage.
Hey Cambria,
What a blessing you will be to those girls, prepare for a stretching of your heart-strings!! 2 tips: 1)don’t eat anything with curry from now until you go ( you’ll know why later) and 2)psyche yourself up for visual and emotional overload!! It is going to be life changing, no doubt and you will meet Jesus in the most unexpected ways!! Love you, Janet
[...] can read the whole story, part one and two, of how I decided to go to India on the Mars Hill Women’s [...]
[...] you aren’t familiar with my trip, there are a couple blogs that will tell you more about it on reforming the feminine and my personal trip [...]
[...] a chance to read the story, check it out on these two earlier posts. (click here for part one and here for part two) So if you have read the posts you’ll know that I’m taking a trip to India [...]