India~July 25, 2010

This was the team that God so wonderfully orchestrated to go on this trip together (minus our leader, Spencer, who have must have been figuring out how to get us through the airport or something.) God did so much through us and it was more and more evident as the days went by how he hand-picked each of us based on our backgrounds, talents, gifts, and personalities for a trip such as this. I kept a journal that I wrote in every day, so thought it would be cool to share some of that with you:-) And in order for you to understand my prayers for this trip especially concerning my health, I can't reiterate enough how much my physical body needed to be lifted up in order for me to be able to function there. I know this might be TMI, but in order for you to understand what God did for me on this trip...I need for you to understand the magnitude of my digestive issues. I have lived with what one might consider an extreme case of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Gastritis my whole life. There is not a day that goes by (even on my meds) that I do not experience issues with it in some form or fashion. I have learned to adapt to it, so it's nothing out of the ordinary for me, but I knew going to India with the spicy foods (and my finicky eating habits) that it was going to be a challenge. Also, something to keep in mind as you read about my trip is the fact that carsickness is pretty common for me...windy roads, fast driving, and long distances have ALWAYS made me feel queasy...and I mean really sick! Had no clue we'd be doing all the riding around that we did...but I will get to that later. Okay! On to the trip!...

Journal entry for Sunday~July 25, 2010
I know God is up to something BIG in India. I have been going through the study Believing God by Beth Moore and the Lord has been teaching me so much about faith, unbelief, and how the reason we don't see God in certain situations is our lack of belief. I hope my faith grows stronger on this trip. I pray that God uses me to do something supernatural in India. I pray that I am so attentive and so in tune with His Spirit that I can discern His voice while in India. I pray that our team will act obdediently even if we're not totally comfortable with whatever it is You would have us do!...I feel surrounded in prayer and comforted ( friends from my Believing God study and small group peeps sent me off with a huge envelope of encouraging notes:-) I know God is going to take care of me in India. My body is going to be okay, and I am NOT going to get sick!...What a huge deal this is for me to travel around the world so far to share about Christ with people who don't know and that I don't know! (as if this has just hit me on this 14 hour flight! lol) Like what am I doing? This is a long way to go! But I am SO honored to be doing this. I don't know why Christ uses me, but I'm so grateful He does! {I was behind on my Bible reading, but the Lord had me reading many verses I will quote throughout the trip at just the right time I needed them.} Micah 4:5 was one of them..."for all the peoples walk each in the name of it's god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever." I have been reading a lot about Israel rebelling against the Lord, idol worship, and God remaining faithful. Many verses state how idols will be shattered-please shatter idols in India Lord! Anxiously anticipating what you'll do...