Goodbye India

Preface: I posted 2 updates at once – so if you want to read about my Valentine’s Day in India – check out “A handful of roses and thousands of kisses”.

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Singing for thousands

God did it again! He continues to amaze me! Here I am in India doing mission work, and yet He finds a way to use the passions and talents I had for so many years competing in pageants for His glory! Last night, I got all dressed up with Lynette and the ladies from the house to go to the Jesus Festival (the conference we’ve been attending and helping with). Yes, all the way in India and I find myself wearing a sequined “evening gown” (though here it’s called a saree). I just had to laugh!

A few moments later, I found myself onstage in front of a crowd of people- the place I come alive. But this was more than I could have dreamed… here I would sing for the largest audience I’d ever performed for – a crowd of almost 13,000! I was completely blown away! Looking out over the people was the most incredible feeling, as I prayed the Lord would speak through me in powerful ways.

I shared my testimony of healing with the crowd first, pouring out the truth about the Power and Love of a Living God – the God of Israel – to an audience where many were raised Hindu, believing in 33 million gods. Then I began to sing the song, “Orphans of God”.

I ended by explaining the lyrics (with the help of a translator), and sharing John 14:18 and Psalm 34:18 with the crowd – explaining that our God is a God of comfort, hope, and joy, who will never forsake His children. I then shared John 3:16 with them, and told them how great God’s love is for them, and how He desires to be their Savior… praying that the Holy Spirit was working in hurting hearts throughout the crowd.

This morning, I got to share again. This time, in another beautiful gown, I sang “I’d Rather Have Jesus” – my talent performance from my first year at the Miss Alabama Pageant. I couldn’t help but laugh at the way God works – I never dreamed when I was singing that on stage at Miss Alabama, that someday God would take me around the world to India to share His love with a crowd of 13,000! His plans are ALWAYS better than our own if we will only surrender!

Goodbye India!

Now it’s 2:30 am here as I write this, and I still have to pack before going to bed. I just can’t believe my time in India is almost over! Lynette and I stayed up talking and looking at pictures for hours – enjoying our time together and pretending like we don’t have to say goodbye in the morning. It’s going to be difficult to leave my wonderful roomie and sister behind! God has tied our hearts together on this trip in amazing ways – though we can’t wait to see what He has in store for our friendship in the future, it will be hard to be all the way across the country from her in America after living together for almost a month! (I don’t know how you World Racers do it! I’m just no good with goodbyes!)

But hers isn’t the only goodbye… I’m saying goodbye to India too. Though I know my time is over, it’s still hard to realize in less than 2 days I’ll be back home in the US. I’ve so enjoyed traveling, meeting new people, eating new foods, and experiencing a million new things. I have loved learning about the culture, making new friends, and seeing God move in amazing ways. And of course, I have loved my time with the children most of all! They will stay in my heart long after I leave!

And so, I will take the beautiful memories home with me to share with you all. I hope you’ll keep checking in over the next few weeks, as I share more stories, pictures, and videos from my time here. God is far from finished working through this trip – He has made it very clear that I am to share all I’ve seen with all of you! So please keep checking in as I re-adjust to being home and begin to share more of my experiences with you all. Just click here: Get My UPDATES! and enter your email address if you’d like to know when I post a new blog.


My requests

Many of you have been so dedicated to reading my blogs, encouraging me, and praying for me. I can’t thank you enough – you have no idea just how much you mean to me! But there is still more you can do. Before I share my prayer requests with you, I have 2 specific requests I’d like you to consider.

1- I need opportunities to speak around the US. These would be opportunities to raise my support, to find sponsors for the orphans, to raise awareness about caring for orphans around the world, and to share my mission experiences from Africa and India. This can be for churches, church groups, youth groups, mission groups, civic organizations, or just for a house full of friends! If you know of a group that would be interested in having me speak, would you please Contact Me with the details?

2- I am still in need of financial supporters. Would you please pray about partnering with me in the call to care for orphans, and supporting me? Without your support, I will be unable to continue the mission work God has called me to. Would you consider supporting me monthly, with a gift of $25, $50, or more if you are able? One time gifts are also greatly appreciated! Just click here: Support Me!


Prayers

As I go, I ask that you please pray for safety in travel. I’ll be traveling alone, changing planes 4 times, and spending a lot of lonely time in airports trying to stay awake (through nearly 2 days of travel time). Please pray for safety, strength, and endurance. Please also pray for smooth flights, no delays, and that God would place His angels along my path every step of the way!

Please also pray for Lynette as she continues to recover. She’ll be in India for another 9 days, and then will fly back to Thailand before returning home to California. Please pray for safety and strength as she goes!

Please also pray for the work God has called Lynette, Chris, and I to here in India. Pray for God’s plans to be made clear as we seek to find ways to care for the orphans here. I’ll be explaining more on my blog how you can help if God is burdening your heart. Until then, please pray for His direction and clarity, and for His blessings to rain down over the great need here. Pray that He will show us how He wants to use us to accomplish His work in India, Africa, and around the world!