Day 1

It is my first day in Delhi. The flat where we are staying is quite nice. We have running water and air conditioning. On my list of things I am thankful for today, air conditioning was the top of the list! It is so hot that it is difficult for me to breath. I am drinking lots of water so I think I will be fine. Sweating a ton! I slept pretty well and woke before the alarm at 5:30. That’s the best thing about the time change is that I wake early in the morning.

We visited the school today for the first time. When I first walked in my eyes filled with tears. I saw the children and my heart overflowed with compassion. I am going to try to convey what it means for them to be in school and the amazing ministry this school has here. Ananthi is the lady that started this school. She gave her testimony and the story of the school this morning. Amazing! I feel like I am with a holy woman when I am in her presence. Like a Mother Teresa I guess. I am deeply moved by her story and compassion for the the children of the slums. She is a well educated woman with a doctorate degree in linguistics who began the school because of one child and the Lord’s call on her life. You can read her entire story here.

This afternoon we went to visit the slums. Picture “slum dog millionaire” and you have the idea. The children are amazingly beautiful and LOVED having their pictures taken. Their favorite question to ask is, “Ma’am, what is your favorite sport?” And I answer, “In India, it is Cricket!” While in Rome… We went into several homes to pray with families of the children who attend “The Good Samaritan School”. They were so sweet and honored to have us in their home. By home I mean 2 rooms with cement floors, no bathroom or bathing facility, one bed or pallet for numerous family members. The have no furniture to speak of, but still these were the better of the slums we will visit. At least they have permanent structures to live in. It is a huge community of over 200,000 people.

We attracted quite the crowd of followers. Most were children, but many adults also. The longer we were there the bolder they became. By the end of our visit even the adults were asking to have their pictures taken with me. Hopefully the internet will co-operate and let me post them.

It is impossible to adequately describe the heat accept to say that I have never sweated so much just standing still. Not complaining, just stating a fact. It is also extremely dusty. My feet are so swollen you would think I was pregnant….but I am certainly not…just the swollen feet. Even with all that, He has accomplished what I asked of Him. I have a deep compassion and love for the people. Many of the people worship idols and are in severe bondage, not to mention the poverty and struggles they have just to live. The message I want to give to them is that their true Father in Heaven loves them and He sees them. He sees their struggles and wants to give them hope and a future. I believe part of the hope He offers is through Anathi’s school. It is amazing to me that He allows me to feel what He feels for these people. The school has the capacity to educate 4500 students, but because of funding the enrollment now is just under 1000. That is where you, my blog readers, can help. If you feel led, you could sponsor a child for just $34 a month. You could give a child hope and a future because in India education is everything and education is only available for the wealthy. Without The Good Samaritan School the slum children would have no opportunity to be educated. My goal is to have enough of my blog readers to sponsor an entire classroom at the school. Imagine that you could be used by Him to equip a child for their entire lives. Think about it, will you?

On a personal note, I wish you call all be here with me. Seriously, it is amazing. Our team had a great day. We’ve had lots of humor and fun and even visited a divine coffee shop. Not a Starbucks, but so close to one that I could hardly tell the difference. It was like an oasis in the midst of this dusty and dirty city. They even played some western (I don’t mean country) music. The traffic is crazy…just like China. The biggest vehicle wins. The smog is just like China too. The sun is just a big white ball in a sky covered in a think haze. No clouds, no blue sky, just a very thick grey. Today we had traditional Indian food. It is very spicy, but edible. I wouldn’t say I liked it, but I didn’t hate it either. Last night we ate Dominoes pizza at about 11pm and tonight we ordered Chinese. I hope to lose some weight, but that is probably just wishful thinking. A girl can hope though, right? Even in India I can be shallow and vain. Unfortunately that part of me goes everywhere, even so, I will post all my photos even the unflattering ones for my favorite blog readers. I will sacrifice myself so that you don’t miss a thing. Smile.

A big hello to my family. Eddie, I love you. Thank you for being so supportive of this trip. Kids, I love you. You would have loved all the children today and they would have loved you.

With love from India,
Jackie SueThe morning assembly where they greeted us and sang for us. PRECIOUS!

One More Sleep...

Hello friends! I have one more night at home before I begin my life changing experience of India. I was praying this morning and realizing that this is not the first life long dream that has taken many years to come to fruition. My little girls were 22+ years of longing. Traveling as a missionary overseas became my passion at the same time that adopting Asian children did. Both of these passions began the summer after my freshman year in college. Interesting...! I have a really long "prep time", don't 'cha think? If you know me you can understand why God takes His time with me. I am filled with anticipation and excitement at this point. I am finally an official, albeit temporary, foreign missionary!!!! Wow...it is really just sinking in. Use me as an encouragement if you can...don't give up on the dreams God places in your heart. He may accomplish them yet!

As I awoke this morning I had an awareness, as I do anytime I travel, that I may not be coming back. Things happen and we lose people. Something could happen to me on this trip or something could happen to someone I love while I am gone. That is the truth. I was filled with this truth this morning as I began my time of prayer. I surrendered again to my God all that I love here on this earth. I am acutely aware that He has blessed me abundantly and I don't ever want to take that for granted. I want to always remember that this life is temporary and I need to hold onto people, circumstances and possessions loosely. So I had some "releasing time" this morning. I am a bit controlling so it took some time. The truth is, I am still letting go. Anyway, it had been a long week and David was finally home and I was in the middle of getting ready to leave. Ironic I know. I asked David to bathe the girls for me. Ellie girl was not happy with that. She misses her daddy when he is gone, but there is always an adjustment time with her. She is a momma's girl(and I do love that)so to appease her I told her if she would let her daddy bathe her I would read them a book before bed. She acquiesced. I know the moms reading this post will understand that by the end of a very long day I am often so "done" that it is hard to get the little ones in bed with a kiss, much less a book, but last night I climbed into Davie's bed with my girls and had a precious time. Ellie picked her Easter Knock Knock joke book that she received for her birthday from our fellow adoptive family, the Venn's, and the laughter began. Each of the girls took turns saying the "who's there?" part of the joke. Fun times...or as our Japanese student, Takuro, would say, "Big Fun!". Then Davie picked a book about Gilbert the Gopher. As I began to read I gave the characters horrible southern accents. The girls laughed. Then I gave this one girl an accent that Davie corrected. She said, "Mom, she is supposed to have a nice voice." To which I replied in a whispery sultry southern voice, "like this?" and the hysterics ensued. We laughed and laughed. One of my favorite things in this life is watching Davie get really tickled. She has the most delightful belly laugh and her mouth covers her face and her eyes disappear. It was a precious time. I tell you that because while it hurts to leave my girls and go to India I KNOW it is the right thing to do, regardless of whether I come back or not. I tell you that because I want to stop and pause and give thanks to the God who made laughter and little girls and momma's to enjoy one another and to remember that the precious time I had with my little ones last night did not cost me a DIME! Do I think I will be back? OF COURSE! Do I realize the possibilities and remember that life is temporary? OF COURSE! Relationships are all we have in this life and in the next. They are the only riches we will take to Heaven with us.

My mind is full of the preciousness of life this morning. In the last week I have been able to join with some friends several times to visit a precious woman in her last stages of cancer. We have laughed together, sung songs of the faith, prayed and given thanks for her life. Sharon and Dale have been committed, faithful members of the church we attend for many many years. This last year we were in a couples small group together and we got to know each other on a much deeper level, sharing our struggles and joys. Spending time in the room with a person who will soon be on her way to the next life has a profound impact on me. The chances are that I won't see Sharon again on this earth. It has been an honor to be with her here and I will look forward to seeing her again there. Westwood folks, can't you just see Sharon at the gates as a greeter???? Love that thought!!!

Trusting God is the only way to release those we love. Believing with all of my heart in Heaven makes all the risks I take in this life worth it. Not testing God, but trusting Him and the promises of His word. So, I head to India with great anticipation that God is doing a good thing and with an acute awareness that He is in complete control. He is good. Everything He does is right. He has my best interest and the interests of those I love in mind in all He allows. I love that His truth has penetrated to the depths of my soul and gives me His peace.

"The Lord bless you, and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26)
Jackie Sue

p.s. here is a link to follow the trip of the entire Hopechest India team and to receive prayer requests, see photos and all sorts of stuff.
p.s.s. Eddie, you are the best! I love you with all my being. Thank you for letting my dreams come true and for always being here to pick up my messes. There is no one like you in the whole world. We are a blessed family to have you as our leader. My heart is full. Happy Father's Day!!!!

and for fun...

Several Countdowns Have Begun

The first countdown is that tomorrow officially ends Catherine Jo's middle school years at Family Christian School. They have been amazing years of development in every sense of the word. We couldn't be prouder of the young woman she is becoming. Also in this photo is my last baby and tomorrow begins the last year I will have her home with me. My last little shadow...gets me right here...points to heart....!

Another countdown...I'm down to 12 days before I leave...just 12 days!!!

Its just two days before Matthew gets home from Japan. I'm planning his favorite meal to celebrate with him if jet lag doesn't do him in before he can eat. It also looks like we will be getting another Japanese student in August for a month. We have had so much fun with them that I will really look forward to it.

It is officially butterfly season! That's a big deal around my house and if you come over I will take you all around my yard to show you the tiny life that you might miss. These are newly hatched black swallowtail caterpillars...the first of the season! They are tiiiinnnnnyyyyy!

Another countdown...I got my shots today and have my anti-malarial pills on order. In just 10 days I begin taking the pills to keep me from getting Malaria!!!

Tomorrow is the last day of school. Davie is officially heading to 2nd grade. It is official, summer is here!

Not really a countdown item, but I have to share that I just finished a book last night that I LOVED. It is by one of my favorite authors, Charles Martin, and is called "The Mountain Between Us". What a moving story! It gets the thumbs up award from little ol' me if that means anything to you.


Counting down to prepare myself for the trip I find myself worrying about the little things and not the big things, but God is helping me with that. I have gathered some things to take with me and folks have made some donations so what seemed a long way off is truly just around the corner. Back to my trip...it feels surreal that I will be traveling to India. It is much like going to China. When we were planning our trips to China it just didn't feel real until we were on the plane. This feels the same way. I know I am going, but the brain just won't grasp it. Thankfully the whole gang here at home is behind the trip. Ellie says she will "mi"(miss) me, but she also talks about how "tool"(cool) it will be for me to go there. I have figured out that my anxiety about the trip is not so much about what I may experience, but honestly it stems from wanting to "make God proud". If you know me you know how high-maintenance I can be. It would be stating the obvious to say how completely inappropriate that will be on this trip. So, I worry that I will be too much me, and not enough Him. I have found that the older I get the more I realize that I am not as easy going as I would like to think I am so I have to be conscious all the time of my words and attitudes....not unlike I should be here... and that is what He is in the middle of teaching me right now. I will try to post daily about my experience and includes some photos of the kids and area. Thanks for your prayers and support. Life is good and God makes it so. Many blessings. Jackie Sue


JUST FOR FUN:

Prayer Requests

Our team had our second conference call last Wednesday and I learned some new information about the trip. In addition to the work we will be doing at the school there will also be a part of the team that will be working in Delhi with organizations who are involved with the fight against sex trafficking in India. The leader of our team is Vince Giordano. He is on staff with Children's Hopechest in Colorado. He asked us to get the word out about our trip so that our family and friends could be praying for us. There will be parts of this trip where we will be exposed to extreme darkness and spiritual bondage. Most of us have never been in exposed to anything like this before. It involves children. Children that we cannot help at that moment. Vince has asked that we ask for prayer for the entire team to be protected spiritually, mentally and physically. Please pray for the health of the team in all of those ways, too. Team unity is also crucial.
For me personally, I plan to do most everything at the school but am asking God to prepare me for whatever He allows. If there would be a purpose for me to be exposed to the darkness then I want to be willing. I want to do whatever He calls me to. In all honesty I would rather remain ignorant. The more I know the more overwhelmed I feel. I am not at all sure that I want to know anymore about the depravity of man. I am not sure that I will be able to process what I might see or be exposed to, but I am trusting God and the leadership to take us where He is calling us to go. I am not any less scared of the trip, but I am even more convinced that He has called me to this, though I have no idea why. I would also ask my friends to pray for God to take away my sense of smell and squeamishness during the trip so that I am able to effectively minister His love no matter where I go. :-) Also, please pray for my family here at home. Pray that David remembers the details with the girls that need to be done...you know, brush their teeth, baths, bedtime, gymnastics...etc. He is such a wonderful daddy, but sometimes he forgets the details. So for now those are my prayer requests. Thank you so much for praying. Please feel free to leave me a comment about how I can pray for you...it would be an honor to carry you before His throne.
Much love,
Jackie Sue

p.s. guess who's tooth I pulled out tonight?

India anyone????

30 years ago I felt the Lord calling me to serve Him and teach school overseas in Asia....now all these years have gone by and finally I am heading there to do that very thing! I am going to India for a 13 day mission trip to work in The Good Samaritan School in New Delhi. I am going with Children's Hopechest which is an organization that seeks to serve orphans worldwide. I will be leaving in 35 days and I am thrilled to be able to take this trip. I am scared too. Children's Hopechest is an amazing organization and they do so much to eradicate the alarming situations that children worldwide find themselves in. Our trip will be a vision trip to observe the school and hopefully establish a type of ministry partnership. Part of the team will travel for several days to Mumbai on a fact finding trip to bring awareness to the sex-trafficking that plagues many places in our world. Those are the facts of my trip...now to share my heart...my story thus far....

I was reading on facebook one day when a friend posted " Photographers/videographers/Bloggers WANTED!!! HopeChest has a trip to INDIA planned June 20 - July 3. They'll be working with Delit Children (think Slumdog Millionaire) and possibly safe homes for victims rescued from trafficking. Will you come and share the story? Price approx $2500 incl airfare! Who's in??? Spread the word! via Children's HopeChest" and I thought to myself...I could do that and posted interest in the trip, tongue in cheek, that yeah, I would love to go, but $$$$? Then 2 days later he posted again, "India trip first deadline is April 25. Only the bold and brave need apply. Focus will be slum kids and trafficked women". In between my friend's two posts I casually said to David, "hey, I don't want you to say anything right now, but I want to tell you about something" to which he replies his standard answer..."oh no....what is it." So I mentioned the trip to him, how I heard about it and then asked him to pray about it. After my friend's second post I responded that I had asked David to pray about it and he and his precious wife responded that they would pray too. Well, 2 weeks went by and it was no small miracle, but I didn't say another word to David. Not a single word about the trip. I knew the money was huge...I knew the time was huge...I knew this was a huge thing, but it was still a desire God had placed on my heart, although I held out not much hope. I just thought...someday...someday I would like to go on a trip like that. On the deadline day...April 25th...I was talking with David in the kitchen and he said he needed to teach me some new things about the computer. I balked at this instruction. Any other technological illiterates out there who are happy in their ignorant bliss??? Well, I am. Computer stuff is just too hard for me to understand so I began to whine....at which point he responded, "well, how are you going to be an international blogger/photographer person without learning some of this stuff?" to which I replied, "WHAT??? YOU THINK I SHOULD GO ON THAT TRIP???" David is a man of few words and he calmly said, "if that is what you think God wants you to do you should". Then I said, "well, I don't know if He wants me to go or not....I just thought I could see myself on a trip like that." And then my sweet man said, "well, I could see you on a trip like that too." A few minutes later I was on the phone to my friends who work for Hopechest asking lots of questions and feeling so excited by all I was hearing. The next day in my time of prayer in a way I can't really explain...I heard the Lord say "I want you to go." and I thought...oh, I am just hearing things...that is my own thought....but the words "I want you to go" would not leave my mind. If you haven't heard God speak to your heart while you are just quiet then it is difficult...no impossible to explain...but I knew it was Him. I shared this with David and we began to make plans. So, I am going to India!

Some days I feel terrified and completely irresponsible....after all I have 3 children still at home that need their momma....what might I see there that will be too difficult to forget....will I be able to be gracious as I visit areas that will smell and eat food that I don't prefer....this is my first missions trip....who do I think I am to go traipsing across the world, after all I am almost 49 years old...that is so much money to spend....all of these thoughts and more have kept me awake nights and yet I cannot get away from the words God spoke to my heart, "I want you to go." I am not brave...I am no hero...I am a servant of the one true God and I am trusting Him to work in and through this lowly woman to touch the lives of children across the globe. His M.O. is doing the impossible so I think He's got me covered.

I would love for you to pray for our team as we prepare for this trip. There are about 12 of us traveling together...did I mention that I don't know a soul going...that God would knit us together and allow us to be His hands and feet to the people we come in contact with. After I agreed with God that I would go on this trip I heard a song I had heard many times before and it took on a new and more real meaning. If you want, you can listen to it here. So that's the story of my trip to India, with more to come. I leave in about a month. Oh, pray for my family here, too, would you? Thanks from the bottom of my heart. (p.s.I sure would love to hear what's going on in your world...)
Much love,
Jackie Sue
And these are just for fun...Ellie's Ballet Recital

Tis the Season.....of Birthdays

It has been a very very long time since I have recorded any of our family events. I am prompted to get back at it by some recent developments here at home...but that will come later. Right now in our household it is birthday season.
Davie Anne turned 7 in February. She remains a delightful girl who is according to her teacher, "a model student". Davie has had a big year and has decided to give competitive gymnastics a try. We are blessed with our "Shorty" girl.
Sarah,our precious 1st born turned 23 in March. Her life as an old married woman seems to suit her well. Every time I talk to her she is trying a new recipe! We are so proud of our girl and celebrate her happiness. We couldn't ask for a sweeter daughter!
The next birthday is Catherine's. She turned 14 this month. It has been a good year for her. I am thrilled with her spiritual and emotional development. We aren't through the hard years yet, but we are well on our way. So blessed to be Cat Jo's mom.
Eliana celebrated her 4th birthday today. What a hoot that girl is! Sarah called to wish her a happy birthday yesterday and said, "oh, you are getting so big" to which Ellie said in her precious way of talking, "no, I dut da dame." (translation: just the same) If I could just bottle her and sell her cute self...I'd be rich!
Matt and Chris celebrate their birthdays in May...whew! 6 birthdays in 4 months is a lot of celebrating!!! Hope you have lots to celebrate in your world.
Much love,
Jackie Sue

Our Christmas Tree

This is sorta silly and I don't ever want to make light of God's activity in my life or anyone else's. He is amazing, awesome and all powerful, but what I find so amazing is that He doesn't have to be intimate and personal with us, but He chooses to. One little thing this holiday season is our Christmas tree. Typically I go all out for just the right live tree. I tend to be rather extravagant when it comes to Christmas trees. David and I have had major fights on what to spend on a Christmas tree. This is serious. Well, last year I bought just the right tree and then felt horribly guilty because of the big deal I made over a tree and how the money I spent on a tree could have fed orphaned children for a month. Soooo, this year on our way to get our tree, God reminded me of last year. By the time we got to the place we normally go to buy the perfect tree they were closed so we headed over to Lowe's. Somewhere between the two I was committing to not spending as much as last year, but didn't have a set price in mind. When we got to Lowe's they were closing up too. I asked the guy if he would let me in if I picked a tree real quick and he allowed me in. He had to turn the lights back on for me and everything. We walked in, he held up a tree and I said, "ok, we will take it" wanting to be true to my word. It didn't look like much, but it was a tree. The remarkable thing was the transformation of my human extravagant heart...suddenly the tree was in its rightful place....it was just a tree....not a statement of my value or decorating ability, or a sign of our income or a prediction of the holiday experience....it was just a tree. We paid $30 for the tree and I was just thrilled. We brought it home and David put it in the tree stand and I said, "Well, it is not much of a tree...the best thing about it is the price...but, God could transform this tree like He did Charlie Brown's. He loves me that much." David just smiled and said, "yes, He does." I asked God to bless our skinny pitiful tree on my way to bed and woke up wondering if He had done that. On Saturday my sweet friend came to put lights on the tree for me (one of my favorite holiday traditions...and yes I know I am spoiled by her gift). Still, not much of a tree but the lights helped and we turned it a quarter way around and that was better, but still, the best thing about it was the price. Last night the little girls and Catherine began to put their ornaments on our tree. By the time they were done I looked at the tree again and said, "look at the tree...it is beautiful...look how full it is....God did it! He made our tree beautiful, just like Charlie Brown's" Of course everyone laughed, but no one could deny the transformation, nor could we account for it. Now, if you don't believe in Christmas tree miracles or that God cares about my tree one way or another, I would beg to differ. God cares that we can now sponsor another child for 2 months with the money we saved and He cares to teach my stubborn heart to trust Him and to watch with expectancy what He can do with my tiny steps of obedience. I am celebrating my tree this morning and the God who cares for me. Have a story to share? I'd love to hear it. With love, js

p.s. Another wonderful blessing of this season...we celebrated Davie Anne's 6th "I gotcha day" at Panda Express, her favorite restaurant. It was so fun. After that we headed next door to Chickfila where Matt was due to get off work and had some ice cream. It was a fun evening. All we were missing was Sarah and Chris :) Our other fun blessing is my Christmas present for the dog. Samwise Gamgee is now the proud owner of a Petsafe training collar and it has changed his life and ours. I can't believe we waited so long to be able to enjoy our dog. It is amazing!!!