To Be with Him

I was walking from school when I saw their little faces light up. All the way down the street I watched as they jumped off the wall they had been playing on. With some curious onlookers, I crouched down right where I was and waited while they ran the distance of the street. As they ran the street my eyes teared up and I opened my arms. I laughed as they about knocked me over in their excitement as I hugged and kissed them. These were some of my precious street kids that I hadn't seen in several weeks. In that simple unexpected, undefined moment; I felt the love of Jesus. My heart was blessed as they grabbed my hands and walked with me; wanting nothing but love and attention as they talked a mile a minute. My heart smiled.

I thought of Jesus and the delight when we run to him with no expectation, need, or want but to sit in his attention and love. When we willingly and enthusiastically run to him; eager to just be with him. And I wonder... how often do I run to him for no purpose but to treasure time with him or do I only go when I have a request. I am thankful for His Grace and Mercy which overflows my shortcomings but Oh Lord- help me to run to you just to BE with you.

A Week In The Village

It has been an embarrassingly long time since I have blogged; which does not at all mean that there has been nothing exciting happening and certainly more than enough humbling moments. The problem is simply- time. However, now with hartals abundant, time is what I have.

The most exciting adventure of the year begins the day after Christmas. Krikkit and I were excited to get an invitation to spend a week in Mymensingh with one of our beloved Bangladeshi families. I couldn't begin to express the excitement, laughter, joy, adventure, and pure bliss of the week. Because my words just couldn't do it... here is an collection of eclectic pictures that might help to understand what the week looked like.

Yushea and his uncle walking to get another bus. Yushea insisted on carrying the largest
suitcase. After a while, when we started the mile hike into
the village it switched to something like this... 

We stopped by the school. It was the day they were reading allowed the exams
we were asked to sit right in the front while they read the results out loud in front of
everyone and then were sifted between those that passed and those that failed. talk about pressure!

we went to visit the school- Poppry wanted to see the 5th grade classroom
and well- here it is! This room for around 40 kids

cooking breakfast over the stove

we went to visit this girl on her wedding day as she was being prepared for the ceremony

Grandma looking over the rice fields- she is one of the hardest workers I have ever met!

Cooking over the whole in the ground stove. The food was always delicious
though not the most sanitary- I mean look at all the chickens! But I was so thankful all the
ladies let me help- although usually I was just the entertainment before the serious work!

Just Hanging out with the family eating dried fish- Yushea ate all the  fish head- what a shame (sarcasm noted)

I am pretty sure we held every new born baby in the village-
this one was just a few  weeks old- her mom begged us to take her home
with us to live in the states

Yushea LOVES cows! he thought having a cow in your home
was the coolest thing ever! and just didn't understand why his dad wouldn't
let him have one in their home. This house was half barn and half home.

Grandma taught me how to make rice flour. Women in BD taking cooking to a whole new level.
The women couldn't believe that I had never made flour before- oh Americans! But Grandma was so
sweet and allowed me to help her as she worked from sun up to sun down! 

playing soccer barefoot in the rice fields! these people know how to
play soccer! It was one of the highlights of my trip to be able to play with them 

we were pretty much surrounded by people 24/7. Here we were just
sitting to eat some fruit, which turned into a village show. Everyone  was always
wondering where we were and we were never without a crowd. Our first day it was suggested that we take a nap
we wholeheartedly agreed. what we didn't realize was that we were going to lay on the bed while
7 people stood around us and watched us sleep- 4 minutes later we were "woken up" to go to a wedding
- not my ideal nap! :) 

Yushea pretending to be a cow on top of a hay pile. Often that week  I heard
"Jen coatie? Jen Asho! Apni r ami goru!"
aka "where's Jen. Come Here Jen! You and I are cows!"

oh how I adore this little boy!
cows and all! 

and with many more adventures and moments to be filled in...