naming names. Friday, December 24, 2010   It’s remarkable just how many names Luke drops in his two opening chapters (and 3.1). And they mean everything for his message.  Jesus comes not just to earth but to people.  To peoples.  To names. He comes for Jews, the children of Israel, of Levi (Zechariah and Elizabeth), Judah (Mary and Joseph), Asher (Anna) and all tribes, for high priest (Annas and Caiaphas), Levitical priest, religious teacher, prophet and prophetess, poor couple, marginal shepherds.  For every position, for every vocation, for every pedigree, he comes. He comes for the Gentiles, the wealthy (Theophilus), accomplished physician (Luke), wicked centers of political power from…

  what i like. Wednesday, December 22, 2010   Spicy popcorn chicken at KFC Fast food made without preservatives Bright-colored saris Zero percent humidity most of the time I have yet to see a roach in our apartment What I don’t like Everything here is spicy – even breakfast Big mosquito bites that cover Amie’s legs Straining to decipher thick accents Blaring temple music that starts before 5 a.m. on holidays Checking under the merry-go-round for cobras  

  cardamom chai. Monday, December 20, 2010   One afternoon last week I awoke from a nap and lay in our darkened bedroom, feeling too depressed to move.  We are nearing our one-month mark, and the realities are settling in.  Some days are just so, so hard.  It’s not one particular thing; it is everything added up … the dirt, the poverty, the brokenness around us, the power outages, the pollution, the appliances breaking, the traffic, the noise, the loneliness, the humiliation of feeling like an incompetent foreigner, the homesickness, the physical exhaustion of carrying our children everywhere … everything. So I got out of bed, and went to the…

  multitude monday, #325 – 349. Monday, December 20, 2010   Okay.  I don’t really feel ready to do this today, but I am realizing I need Multitude Monday now more than ever.  So here goes … inexpensive antibiotics for sinus infections a pharmacy within walking distance pharmacists who give you whatever you need without a prescription a husband who lets me lay down and rest 40-minute morning walks with Maggie, three times a week new, almost-physical hunger for Sunday morning worship service reminder of my purpose for living here feeling desperately “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5.3).  Today’s reminder from Matthew that that’s a good thing peaceful Sunday afternoon cooking…

  botanical gardens. Saturday, December 18, 2010      

preschool.   Thursday, December 16, 2010 Judah started preschool today. Are you shocked? I kind of am. It is something David and I talked about back before we moved here … like, “Oh, it would be so wonderful if we could find a preschool for Judah,” but I never thought we’d find one so fast, and I certainly never thought he’d start this month. But here we are, with Day One behind us, and to me this is a beautiful story of the how God is providing for our boy here in this country. Judah had a terrific first day.  He waved good-bye enthusiastically when we dropped him off at…

  state capital. Wednesday, December 15, 2010      

  what i like. Wednesday, December 15, 2010   what I like. The feel of our apartment tile under my feet Careening through traffic in an auto-rickshaw The singsong greeting, “Namaskara,” accompanied by a shy smile Everybody here thinks my kids are as cute as I do The inspiring world of South Asian flat breads what I don’t like. When my shower turns cold before I can get all the shampoo out of my hair Waking multiple times a night to the blood-curdling sound of dogs fighting Stares wherever I go because I look different The way my house helper calls me, “Ma’am” The permanent gritty feeling in all of…

  how we do bubble baths in south asia. Monday, December 13, 2010