s. asia
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amie’s alphabet.
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15 months.
I’m celebrating 15 months with my faithful companion. And with a blog post, of course. It’s moving on towards the end of February, and, in true South Asia-fashion, it’s getting hot. I can say things like, “in true South Asia-fashion,” because this is the second February I’ve spent in this country. That’s long enough to experience a full year of seasons in a place. To begin to wrap my head around the unfamiliar rhythms of a April-May summer vacation, the need to eat as many mangoes as possible in May and June while they’re at their peak, and what “monsoon season” means in our part of the country. I can…
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overwhelmed.
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rock climbing.
A group of us struck out west of the city for some rock climbing. Two of my American friends are very experienced and have their own gear. But this was my first time (besides a couple trips to an inside wall). I had a blast and hope to go again soon. Our new friends gave plenty of climbing advice from down below. I finally realized that when they were shouting, “there’s a massive ledge by your right knee,” they meant, ‘there’s a an invisible spot the size of a dime to balance your pinky toe on.’ After a few goes at the bunny slope I was ready for the big…
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a few mid-february thoughts.
Probably each of these thoughts is a blog post in itself, but I’ll just clump them all together in one eternal post-of-the-week. – Changes, changes for us (or, as Mom Gentino says, “You guys always have some sort of drama.”). But good changes. David and I started language study on Monday! You think it took us long enough to begin!? Well, this is really the perfect scenario. We went in with our friends to hire a tutor for five days a week. David and John meet with her from 11-12, and Alison and I from 12-1. We all love Neetu. She is fun, a fantastic teacher, and makes the hour fly…
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discipling pastors.
An army of 118 national church planters in our denomination are laboring in cities or remote villages spanning four states and five languages (here’s a clip of me preaching in four). For these men, some new to the faith, few with any formal theological training, a robust, flexible, mobile, contextual discipleship effort is needed. Our goal is to launch healthy, sustainable, multiplying churches in the least reached corners of the country. It is an enormous task. This past week I spent several days between three groups of pastors, preaching, teaching, and discussing church planting. During these times I get to hear incredible stories from the front lines where the gospel…
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gratitude #760-761.
760. Our Vonage phone 761. Amie’s first princess dress
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a year of reading.
2011 kicked off my first reading journal. I hope from now on to write down every book I read, every year, and a few lines about it. It’s been fascinating to look back over the year and see what books I read. It says a lot about me. I read fifty-six books last year (counting a few unfinished books that I read at least 200 pages of). Yes, I set aside books that don’t grip me or better me. Julie will never forgive me for reading half of her favorite novel David Copperfield and quitting. Some notable unfinished works of 2011 are Crime and Punishment, Shantaram, and I hate to…
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one month gluten-free.
I have been gluten-free for over a month now, which is hard to believe. I am so, so thankful to be feeling better, but it’s been a hard adjustment and a hard month. It is a drastic change, and we’re still taking it one day at a time. A couple of weeks ago, I purged our home of the majority of our glutinous foods, and replaced our toaster (which obviously is impossible to completely clean of crumbs). I am so thankful that David was willing to make the switch. It makes my life much easier not to have to cook separately for myself and the rest of the family. We’re…
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The sky is blue. The day is deep and possible With heartbreaks yet to be and Wounds still uninflicted by Man and earth and all that is fallen. And yet. The sky is blue. And I, I am hopeful that this day In all its glory bestowed by God Will prove beautiful In the end. – Maggie I.