Friday, December 31, 2010

I love receiving updates from eMi2. Since I first applied to be an intern for them, I've never been so excited to see an email from them than from anybody else. Though my time with eMi was only for a few weeks, God blessed me so much during that time. I'm not just talking about the rare experience I had to work in a rural village of India and at the foothills of the Himalayan Mts, but He granted me an inward peace that I hadn't really experienced since I came back. 

The first few weeks of school, I was feeling very refreshed, ready to take on senior year and ready to see what opportunities my God would put in my path. During the school year, there were many ups and downs, but He never failed to lift me up out of my own mess. And though this is true, it took the latest update from my project leader in India to show me how far I pushed myself away from God. Just seeing the familiar email address reminded me of the closeness I felt from God while in India. It has only been a few months since then, but it feels like I've been away from God for far too long. I need to re-evaluate and I need work on self-discipline.  While I am here, I will be tempted with distractions that keep me from spending time with my God. I should have written this weeks ago, but I knew that by doing so, I'd be keeping myself accountable, and I didn't want to let go of my worldly possessions. I'm still learning. I'm still trying to understand. I know I will fall short. I know I will have doubts. But I believe my God is above all that and He will give me strength to overcome temptations so that I can experience the peace and joy of knowing Him.

Friday, December 24, 2010

God, remind me how great and powerful you are.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Al

Did you ever notice the man panhandling by the B,D station entrance on Grand Street? His name is Al. Please spend some time with him, feed him, be his friend.

Also, why are there so many guys on the streets named Al?

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Psalm 106

"Praise the LORD!
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
  Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD,
or declare all his praise?
  Blessed are they who observe justice,
who do righteousness at all times!

Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people;
help me when you save them,
  that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones,
that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation,
that I may glory with your inheritance.

Both we and our fathers have sinned;
we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness.
  Our fathers, when they were in Egypt,
did not consider your wondrous works;
they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love,
but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.
  Yet he saved them for his name's sake,
that he might make known his mighty power.
  He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry,
and he led them through the deep as through a desert.
  So he saved them from the hand of the foe
and redeemed them from the power of the enemy.
  And the waters covered their adversaries;
not one of them was left.
  Then they believed his words;
they sang his praise.

But they soon forgot his works;
they did not wait for his counsel.
  But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness,
and put God to the test in the desert;
  he gave them what they asked,
but sent a wasting disease among them.

When men in the camp were jealous of Moses
and Aaron, the holy one of the LORD,
  the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan,
and covered the company of Abiram.
  Fire also broke out in their company;
the flame burned up the wicked.

They made a calf in Horeb
and worshiped a metal image.
  They exchanged the glory of God
for the image of an ox that eats grass.
  They forgot God, their Savior,
who had done great things in Egypt,
  wondrous works in the land of Ham,
and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
  Therefore he said he would destroy them—
had not Moses, his chosen one,
stood in the breach before him,
to turn away his wrath from destroying them.

Then they despised the pleasant land,
having no faith in his promise.
  They murmured in their tents,
and did not obey the voice of the LORD.
  Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them
that he would make them fall in the wilderness,
  and would make their offspring fall among the nations,
scattering them among the lands.

Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor,
and ate sacrifices offered to the dead;
  they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds,
and a plague broke out among them.
  Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,
and the plague was stayed.
  And that was counted to him as righteousness
from generation to generation forever.

They angered him at the waters of Meribah,
and it went ill with Moses on their account,
  for they made his spirit bitter,
and he spoke rashly with his lips.

They did not destroy the peoples,
as the LORD commanded them,
  but they mixed with the nations
and learned to do as they did.
  They served their idols,
which became a snare to them.
  They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to the demons;
  they poured out innocent blood,
the blood of their sons and daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
and the land was polluted with blood.
  Thus they became unclean by their acts,
and played the whore in their deeds.

Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people,
and he abhorred his heritage;
  he gave them into the hand of the nations,
so that those who hated them ruled over them.
  Their enemies oppressed them,
and they were brought into subjection under their power.
  Many times he delivered them,
but they were rebellious in their purposes
and were brought low through their iniquity.

Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,
when he heard their cry.
  For their sake he remembered his covenant,
and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
  He caused them to be pitied
by all those who held them captive.

Save us, O LORD our God,
and gather us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, “Amen!”
Praise the LORD!"
 (Psalm 106 ESV)

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Double Rainbow!!!

Why are we so attracted to mountains, streams, lakes, double rainbows? I raised this question a few months ago and hadn't thought much about it since then until today when my friend commented (roughly quoting), "Everybody's always working indoors now, making us appreciate the outdoors more."

I was not all that satisfied with that statement, partially because it made me a little sad thinking how much time we spend indoors now. But I definitely believed that there was a greater reason than just having more of an appreciation because it could be a rare experience. The elements of the earth are used often in the Bible for various reasons.  In Psalm 104, the psalmist finds many ways to understand and worship God by observing his surroundings. 

  1. (vv. 3-4) God's splendor and majesty
  2. (vv. 5-9) God's authority over all creation
  3. (vv. 10-18) God who provides- Jehovah Jireh
  4. (vv. 19-23) Work is God-given
  5. (vv. 24-26) marvels at the creations of God
  6. (vv. 27-30) we all depend on God
  7. (vv. 31-35) "Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the Lord"
Psalm 104
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul!
   O LORD my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
 2covering yourself with light as with a garment,
    stretching out the heavens like a tent.
3He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;he makes the clouds his chariot;
   he rides on the wings of the wind;
4he makes his messengers winds,
   his ministers a flaming fire.


 5He set the earth on its foundations,
   so that it should never be moved.

6You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
   the waters stood above the mountains.

7At your rebuke they fled;
   at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.

8The mountains rose, the valleys sank down
   to the place that you appointed for them.

9You set a boundary that they may not pass,
   so that they might not again cover the earth.

 10You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
   they flow between the hills;

11they give drink to every beast of the field;
   the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

12Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
   they sing among the branches.

13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
   the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

 14You cause the grass to grow for the livestock
   and plants for man to cultivate,
that he may bring forth food from the earth
 15and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine
   and bread to strengthen man’s heart.

 16The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly,
    the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.

17In them the birds build their nests;
   the stork has her home in the fir trees.

18The high mountains are for the wild goats;
   the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.

 19He made the moon to mark the seasons;
   the sun knows its time for setting.

20 You make darkness, and it is night,
   when all the beasts of the forest creep about.

21 The young lions roar for their prey,
   seeking their food from God.

22When the sun rises, they steal away
   and lie down in their dens.

23 Man goes out to his work
   and to his labor until the evening.

 24O LORD, how manifold are your works!
   In wisdom have you made them all;
   the earth is full of your creatures.

25Here is the sea, great and wide,
    which teems with creatures innumerable,
   living things both small and great.

26There go the ships,
   and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.

 27These all look to you,
   to give them their food in due season.

28When you give it to them, they gather it up;
   when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.

29When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
   when you take away their breath, they die
   and return to their dust.

30When you send forth your Spirit, they are created,
   and you renew the face of the ground.

 31May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
   may the LORD rejoice in his works,

32who looks on the earth and it trembles,
   who touches the mountains and they smoke!

33I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
   I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

34May my meditation be pleasing to him,
   for I rejoice in the LORD.

35Let sinners be consumed from the earth,
   and let the wicked be no more! Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!

Sunday, September 26, 2010

God is love.

I've been having a lot of conversations about the way we should treat people the past few days. There are people who are different from us and no matter what, we may never understand them. Some people annoy me and I don't know how to treat people who annoy me. I know I should love them, but loving people doesn't mean treating them nicely when in your heart, you don't feel that way. I need to be transformed from the inside. 
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us." - 1 John 4:7-12
The one thing that stuck out in today's sermon was how spiritual maturity is not how much you know, but how much you love. I think a lot of people think the former. We worry about how to sound wise when we talk about faith or how to pray with eloquence. But that's not what it's about. God tells us the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbors as ourselves.  But in order to do so, we'd have to know God (1 John 4:8). Without knowing who God is, we cannot know what love is and when we don't know what love is, how can we love others?

I want to know God more so that I can better love others. I feel like I'm back on square one again. 

Thursday, September 23, 2010

"If I were to define Christian perfection, I should not say that it is a perfection of striving but specifically that it is the deep recognition of the imperfection of one's striving, and precisely because of this a deeper and deeper consciousness of the need for grace, not grace for this or that, but the infinite need infinitely for grace." - Søren Kierkegaard

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

WTFort?!


Fort #1 - WTFort?!
September 18, 2010

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Lately, I think God has been revealing to me what my next very, tiny steps  should be (sporatic moments) and He’s been at work in very small events in my life that seem to have magnified in my head. And I praise Him for these moments.

"1 Praise the LORD!Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
2Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!

3Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
4Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
5Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!" - Psalm 150

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Me: For my birthday, could you start a compost pile/bucket for me?
Madre: Hell no. It'll be freezing then. but daddy says he'll take a dump in a pail and save it 4 u in the back yard.
My parents are quite the role models, no?

Friday, August 13, 2010

I cannot be the perfect witness

I cannot be the perfect witness to my family or friends. It's not about what I do. Our salvation comes from the grace of God. In the same way, the salvation of my family and friends can only come from the grace of God. It would be an even greater example of the power of God, as well as a humbling experience for myself, when I mess up and somehow people around me are still able to know Jesus. 

If I judge my fellow brothers and sisters for being poor examples of Christians, I am only downplaying who God is and I'd be limiting Him to the ability of man. But God is above all men and far more powerful. My judging does not only stem from the the inability to see the plank in my own eye, but also from my misunderstanding, of God. 


"But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world? But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just." - Romans 3:5-8

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Your Opinion?

I can't sleep. So going along with getting ready for this upcoming semester and the rest of my life, I has a questions for yinz. 

Do you think it is necessary to physically attend church every week? Why or why not? I am not looking for comments on the technicalities of the question. I just want your honest opinion on whatever you think I mean by this question. *I will not be making any decisions, such as whether or not I should attend church at all, based on your responses. That would be silly.

My thoughts...

In Pittsburgh - I tried attending Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community every week because I believed that God wanted me to invest time in certain people's lives over there. Community at Hot Metal is also strongly emphasized and I really liked that and wanted to be a part of it. And I also got free breakfast and lunch. 
In New York - I try to attend Grace Faith Church every week because, as a result of some immature decisions in high school, the friends I have at GFC are almost the only community I have in New York. 

I seem to be attending church because of the community I find in both HMBFC and GFC. I am still struggling with the amount of time I should be investing within a fellowship or a community at a local church. This struggle is more difficult in college, where my circle of friends is no longer limited to the people at the church I attend. 

I'm going to go make chai now.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Not ready to go back

There has been so much going on this summer and if it's one thing I've done in past summers that I haven't done this summer is think about the upcoming year. I always looked forward to returning back to Pittsburgh. This summer, I feel so indifferent. I haven't thought or prayed about my involvement with campus ministries since I had to back in May. I have to think hard about what I had decided (if I had decided) on, as far as my involvement in anything on campus goes. I do not like to plan for things that are at least a month into the future. I try my best to keep my Google Calendar in the "Week" - "2 Weeks" tab. I got a fortune today from a cookie that read, "Failing to plan is planning to fail." Silly fortunes. Seriously though, senior year (what?!??!?!?!) is right in front of me and I still cannot see it.

God, I could use some discernment.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

RainbowwwWWwWwWW

I love learning about different cultures and I love being amongst people who are different from one another and can still get along. When I find myself in these places, I experience so much joy and I think, this is how it should be. To be completely honest, it's difficult for me to look forward to Jesus returning. However, I do look forward to what is described in Revelation 7:9-17.

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb,clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice,"Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen." - Revelation 7:9-12

I enjoy riding the subway in NYC and taking mental notes on who is riding the train with me. Being in a group of people so diverse reminds me how much closer we are to racial reconciliation. Even though I may not know the people in my subway car or the people in my class, I get excited when I see that faces around me that are clearly of a different race. On the other hand, I get very unexcited, bored, or upset even, when I find myself in a group of people of the same ethnic background.

Since first impressions are mostly limited to appearances, when I see an ethnically diverse group, I immediately see different people. In a not so ethnically diverse group, I only see the same person multiple times. Excuse me for sounding racist. When in an ethnically monotonous group, it takes a longer time for me to be comfortable and to appreciate who I am with, until that is, I get to know the individuals as different people. Until I spend more time with individuals, I will only know them by first impressions, or their appearances.

For the past three years, I found it so difficult to attend ACF (Asian Christian Fellowship) events. Once in a while, I would attempt, but my energy drained quickly and I would lose interest. This is one of the reasons why I think I am still a part of InterVarsity. When I walked into an event or meeting, I immediately see the differences between the people in the room and I see the beauty in it and I'm drawn to it. This past year, God gave me opportunities to spend time with, and even serve with, individuals from ACF. Through these opportunities, I learned to appreciate them as individuals.

I like these abrupt endings.

Monday, July 19, 2010

F#!& Censorship

I ultimately chose to create another blog specifically for my trip to India because I didn't want my parents to wander onto this one. I was worried some of my old entries would offend them, or even hurt them. It was also a difficult decision to include them in my updates. I don't think I'm ashamed of my faith. I don't want them to make assumptions about some of me based on what I write on a blog. I think they have a lot of questions for me, but they do not ask. I'm tired of censoring my life for them. I want my parents to ask me questions and if/when they do, I pray that God will be the one speaking through me because I will fail miserably without Him. I ended up including my parents in my updates, and though they were few, certain topics that I've touched on had been sensitive topics that have caused tension between my parents (esp. padre) and me. 

Throughout my trip, I had thought about how to describe my experience to my parents. I didn't get very far with thinking through what I wanted to say. I decided that I wouldn't say anything more than answer any questions my parents had. I return home to few questions and these were questions I was asked over and over again by many.
"Did you eat a lot of curry?" "Was it poor over there?" - I confess. Immediately, I felt really defensive and thought these were ignorant questions. But I guess these would qualify as legitimate questions for those who've only been exposed by such stereotypes and it's not the failure of the individual, but more failure of the American education system.
I do not know if I should have, in Jessy's words, "sat down my family" and tell them about my experience. I guess I can still do that. At the moment, I see no need to, my parents no longer seem interested, they're just happy I'm home. I just don't want them to think that I had "gotten it out of my system" and that I will always be in NY. This is me, again, trying to evaluate how my actions could affect my parent's view on Christianity, which is not necessarily bad, but it's something I could see being a hindrance to my own faith.

I've strayed away a bit from the original purpose of this post, which was more to serve as a cautionary notice for my parents, and I guess those who might be able to relate to them. These words and the words I've written in the past are/were my honest thoughts and feelings on life and they may/may not have changed. I do not like people making assumptions about me and I think I'm an approachable person, so why take these words out of context and ask my myself? (this last paragraph sounds really lame)

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Mussoorie



Mussoorie lies at the foothills of the Himalayas, but still at an altitude of about 2000 meters. The view from Oaklands is amazing, even on a cloudy day. On a clear day, you can see the snow capped mountains of the Himalayas. My pictures do not come close to capture the grandness of the view seen from Mussoorie.

At Oaklands (name of office), we had many power outages and the interwebs was not very reliable either. Thus, we had much time to spare. This challenged me to make better use of the time God gave me. Often I resorted to reading, but many times I could not think of anything better to do than to walk around outside and stand in awe of the beautiful creations found in Mussoorie. Whether you believe in God or not, you cannot deny the beauty found in those mountains. This leads me to question, why man is attracted to such things to begin with?

My thoughts...
When I experience these amazing creations, I feel like I am also experiencing the vastness and amazingess of the Creator. I don't think God forces us to be attracted to such beautiful things, but it is part of our nature to beto be. It causes me to want to be closer to my Creator, The Creator.

Friday, July 9, 2010

"Hell Spawns! Tree Rats!"

When serious work is not being done, we scheme against the "red monkeys," though some may call this serious work. I'm still not sure how serious my project leader, Matthew, was about some of his feelings towards these creatures. Though based on some stories I've heard, I could almost understand the animosity.


I introduce to you, the infamous, notorious Red Monkey. Red Monkey has a reputation for being aggressive and finding a way to getting what he wants. Red Monkey fears no man, man fears Red Monkey. If man leaves the door unlocked, Red Monkey will find his way to the food and bring it back to the others. Man may defend his home with a slingshot, "Monkey" bombs, or paintball guns. If Man chooses to shoot/scare Red Monkey with any of the listed items, he risks being charged at by Red Monkey, thus Man must be prepared to shoot/scare once or twice more immediately after the first time.


Orrrrr.... Man may choose to unleash the secret weapon, that is, The Hudson. The Hudson - always prepared to defend his family and friends against whatever harm may come of Red Monkey. He carries with him a not-so-sharp double-edged wooden sword, which he holds safely in the belt Nana sent him behind his back. When The Hudson spots Red Monkey, he will uphold his duties irregardless of whatever consequences he may face.  Therefore, The Hudson must be under adult supervision when Red Monkey is within sight.

Though these methods may frighten Red Monkey away, Red Monkey is not to be underestimated. He will be back for more. Only next time, he will be back a little big angrier and perhaps with more of his kind. Man must be prepared for such occurrences.
*The struggle between Man and Red Monkey are based on true events, but details may have been embellished for dramatic effect.  

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Devotion

"19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:19-25

Meet the Team!


From left to right: Pavan, Jessy, Himmat, Matthew, Ivy, Bill (Chris), Huberth

God continues to teach me through the body of Christ, a very common theme between me and God this past year. Although I've only spent about a week with my team and the people in Sironcha, the bond that we have in Christ has been trumping all our differences that enable us to work together and learn from each other. I am/was really encouraged by the women I met in India. I had the opportunity to talk and pray with Mary, our client's wife, and Ivy. The beauty that is found in the body of Christ can't really be explained in words, but can very much be experienced. We were meant to be in communion together with God, lifting up each other's burdens.
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." - Galations 6:2
(This is more of a message to myself) While we should love and care for those who do not know Christ so that they can experience Christ's love through us, we should be careful not to neglect our own brothers and sisters. Jesus redefines who is his brother and sister and mother.
"Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." - Mark 3:32
In the past, I often turned to my Christian family and completely neglected those who did not know Jesus, but whom God still loves. More recently, I've been bitter and judgmental towards other Christians because in my mind, they have the law written on their hearts, so they have no excuse. Took me a while to see the plank in my own eye.

One thing I learned from my team that really helped me come to peace with these matters is that all humans are broken. Being Christian does not make us perfect. And even the wrongdoings that "Christians" may have committed in the name of God only proves how much more we needed the crucified Lamb of God. This concept is not a new one to me, but it definitely spoke a newfound peace in my life.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Sironcha

Vandanalu! (Praise God, Hello, Thank you - Telugu)

I apologize for not being able to update this past week and half. My team and I have been staying at a very rural village, named Sironcha, where I did not have either Internet access or phone reception.

My trip to India started off with my flight in New York getting delayed and missing my connecting flight. God, however, still provided a way for me to go and catch up with my team before they went on the train to Balhashtra. Being in a car in Delhi was definitely an experience worth remembering. It was a little nerve wrecking at first, but everyone seemed to know what they were doing. Honking was not meant to taunt other drivers, but only to let each other know they were there. Road rage didn’t really exist in India. Some of us had to explain to our client, Benny, what road rage in America was. He was almost shocked by the idea of it.

The train station in Delhi reminded me a lot of the train stations in New York during rush hour, except for kids peeing off platforms and people walking across the tracks to get to the other side. Our team had seats in the AC sleeper car, which included bunks and food that we can purchase during the ride. Our train ride was about 20 hours from Delhi to Balhashtra. From there, our client met up with us and drove us to his hometown, Allapalli. We stayed there for the night before driving to Sironcha, the village where Gospel to All Peoples (GTAP) was ministering to. Sironcha is a very small village, completely different from the city of Delhi. Most people travelled by walking or by bullocks. To make a parallel to the States, it would be similar to going from New York City to a farm in the south? I might be sounding a bit ignorant about the South, but that is what I imagine it to be. There were cows, stray dogs, roosters, chickens, lizards, and pigs right next door.

In my previous email, I expressed my doubts in spending time with some of the locals. I did not realize that where I would be staying would actually be where the local people of Sironcha stayed. God blessed me with the opportunity to spend time with community already there. There was really no way around it actually.  Despite the language barriers between me and most of the children, I still felt strongly connected to them (yay for the Body of Christ!). I was deeply encouraged by their form of worship and seeing some of the young boys read their bibles while other kids were playing. I am so grateful that I was able to spend a lot of time in the village itself. I got to experience an Indian Christian wedding, eating food with my hands, bullock carts, squat toilets, and bucket baths! All quite an experience.

I was also deeply encouraged by Benny and Mary’s (our clients) hospitality and the great lengths they went to making us feel comfortable. They were worried that their accommodations would not meet our standards. The lifestyle in rural Sironcha is very different than living in New York or Delhi, but it was definitely manageable. We might not have had as many luxuries in Sironcha, but never did I feel I was lacking something. If anything, I gained much more by living simply.  Our client, Benny, came from a more well off state in India, and for him to move to Sironcha was almost like going backwards, not to mention a little dangerous due to some sensitive political issues going on there.
The first two days in Sironcha, half of us went out to the site to do some land surveying. We were at the site from 6:30am-1:30pm. Right before we got to Sironcha, the temperature was from 46-50 degrees Celsius (about 115 degrees Fahrenheit). God, however, was very merciful. I don’t think the temperature ever rose above 95 degrees Fahrenheit. I’m also grateful that we got to experience some rain. Surveying could have been very torturous.

Once the surveying was over, our team began to have daily devotions together in the morning at 7am before we started our day. Every night we had also been sharing our testimonies with each other. Both have been very good and encouraging. I think on some level, we were all able to resonate with each other’s testimonies. It’s awesome to hear how God brings people to Him. Through these times reading the Word and sharing testimonies, our team grew much closer. In addition to these more serious times, I think it was really easy for us to get along with each other and simply enjoy each other’s company.  

We left Sironcha on Thursday, June 24th. We had completed a conceptual master plan of GTAP’s campus, which included a basic layout of the land, more detailed ideas of what the orphanage might look like, and a conceptual design of the water/wastewater systems. Some of the kids came out to see us off. I’m going to really miss them. I hope to one day return to Sironcha to visit the people and to see how the ministry is doing.

Now, I am in the eMi office in Mussoorie, located on a mountain (the view is absolutely breath taking!). I will be working on a portion of the report that will be sent to Benny and the rest of GTAP.

Please pray for:
  • The ability to work efficiently
  • Self-discipline with devotions
  • The ministry of Gospel to All Peoples – focus is on Bible translation and a Children’s Home/Orphanage
  • God to continue to teach me new things

 Thanks again for all your prayers and support!

"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith." - Philippians 3:8-9

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Update #1 - Few hours away

Initial Thoughts and Expectations
The thought of leaving on a plane to India in a few hours hasn't really hit me yet. Though, I must be somewhat excited, seeing that I am writing this email at 2:30am and feeling not at all tired. I am not completely done packing yet, but was given a checklist, so it shouldn't be too difficult. Finding clothing that respected the culture in India was the most difficult part of packing. I was fortunate enough to have my sister's friend lend me some outfits. They are sooo comfortable... and colorful! I cannot wait to be surrounded by a different culture.

Within the past few weeks, I've been receiving more email from my Project Leader. These emails have already began to crush some of my expectations. When I learned that I would have the opportunity to work with EMI for the summer, I had the idea that I would have plenty of time to be invested in the community, get to know some of the locals. I love meeting new people and learning about different cultures. However, I didn't realize how much of the time in India would be used for traveling (until after receiving the itinerary), thus any time spent with some of the locals will be limited. Already, I know this trip will be a humbling one. I am so used to "touching people's lives" through conversation, that working behind the scenes so others may have that interaction with the community will definitely be a challenge for me. 

Taken from my sister from a friend - 
"I am doing the work appointed to me by God with such faithfulness and diligence as I am able to. Therefore I know that this work, being done in faith and obedience to God, pleases God."

Prayer Requests
- Safe travels & Health
- I will be patient and open-minded in a new culture
- I will use the time in travel wisely and that God will still be at work during those "down times"

So far, fundraising has definitely been a blessing, a challenge, and a humbling experience as well.  As of June 8th, I have raised $1480 out of the total cost of $2700. EMI will also be accepting late donations until August 8th, which I am also thankful for. So if you feel led to continue supporting me financially, that door is still open.


I do not know when I will be able to create a more legitimate update, but be on the look out!

Peace and Love,
Amanda Low

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." - Hebrews 12:1-3

Dear Reader

Dear Reader,

I pray that you are doing well. I am excited to share with you how God has been moving in my life. I am currently in my third year at Carnegie Mellon University, studying Civil and Environmental Engineering. Since I arrived at CMU, God has been tearing up my old worldviews to introduce a glimpse of how He sees the world. I have had the privilege to take part in His Kingdom while serving with a campus ministry and a local church. Through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, I grew to really appreciate different cultures. I am amazed by the fact that I have brothers and sisters in other parts of the world, but saddened that some are being persecuted for their faith. Through Hot Metal Homeless Ministry, I began to see the Homeless in Pittsburgh not as issues, but as people in need of love and community, much like anybody else. God used these ministries to help me grow in faith, encourage me, and empower me with boldness to share the amazing power of His love with those around me.

This summer, I was blessed with the opportunity to serve others using my passion for social justice and skills in engineering with an organization called, Engineering Ministries International (www.emiworld.org). EMI is a non-profit Christian organization composed of professional engineers and architects who offer their services to design facilities that serve the poor in developing countries. These facilities include hospitals, orphanages, schools, and clean water projects that are used to meet physical needs and communicate God's love in a practical way. From June 12th – July 7th, I will be working under a senior civil engineer in rural Maharashtra in Central India. We will be designing water and wastewater systems for a Christian ministry (Gospel to All Peoples – GTAP) that desire to reach out to the isolated tribal groups in the village of Sironcha. GTAP has been catering to the needs of the people in Sironcha since the 1990’s and is looking to develop a newly acquired land to be used as a center for their activities.

I am inviting you to take part in my experience by supporting me prayerfully and financially. Prayer is powerful and God moves through prayer. Before and during my time in India, would you please pray for the items to the left? If you are able, I also ask that you consider support me financially. The total cost for my travel and living expenses will be about $2900. You can donate online at https://emisecure.org/donate.html (In the “Designation” field, enter ‘Amanda Low’).

Prayer Requests
· God’s provision for GTAP
· Safety as we travel
· Our skills and resources to be used wisely
· Our team to have joyful hearts as we serve to accomplish His work

All for God's Glory,
Amanda Low

"All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.” - Joshua 1:16







Monday, June 7, 2010

Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD Almighty

Reading: The Holiness of God by RC Sproul

1) When you think of God as holy, what comes to your mind?
- He is without sin, reaction of the seraphims (Isaiah 6:1-3)
2) Describe a time when you were overcome by God's holiness.
- I cannot recall a time.
3) Are you attracted to God's holiness?
- I honestly can't say that I am. I'm not not attracted.
4) What does it mean for you to be holy in the coming week?
- only by God's strength through prayer

I hope to have a better understanding of God's Holiness by the end of this book. I hope to be "overcome by God's holiness."

Monday, May 24, 2010

God is good. ALL the time.

Many a strange, and some might say, "unfortunate," occurrences these past two weeks. But above all, God remains faithful and sovereign and good.

Maryland, here I come!!!!

P.S. love getting emails from EMI.. exciteeddddddddd

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

some kids have too much time on their hands

Dearest Amanda,
   My heart aches (heart burn) because you are not here/ just had chipotle. The shine in your hair makes me want to sing Taylor Swift songs on the cut in front of everyone (You should also wash that..). Who could ever replace the stench of your burps, the pain of your punches, the manliness of your voice, or the hair on your chiny-chin-chin. I wish we could be together but you’re out of my league, sometimes. Sometimes I run, sometimes I hide. Sometimes I’m scared of you. But all I really want to do is hold you tight. So tight that I can hear that fart of yours. I just want to treat you right. Be with you day and night (like you’re my homework!) Because Amanda, I would never want to give you up or let you down or run around and DESSERT you mmMMMm ;).

Love you always,
Your secret admirerS.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Praise be to God!

All the glory goes to God! :)
To be continued...

Sunday, May 9, 2010

status

1/5 finals completed
Hydraulics take home final- due Monday
Environmental Engineering final - Monday
Modern Chemistry II final - Monday
CompApps assignment11 - due Monday
Materials Lab final - Tuesday


"I am doing the work appointed to me by God with such faithfulness and diligence as I am able to.  Therefore I know that this work, being done in faith and obedience to God, pleases God."

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

since when did "being a good witness" mean being well-liked by everybody or seeking satisfaction from others?

Monday, May 3, 2010

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Chris and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" - 2 Corinthians 5: 17-18

Sunday, April 25, 2010

There is so much bitterness in me.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

I think I don't like it when people ask about my day. I don't know why. No, I think I do. I think it's because half the time I don't think people who ask genuinely care. Half the time, I also don't have anything to say and when I say "uhh.. I don't know" or "uhh.. okay" or "uhh.. nothing," people seem disappointed. Maybe because I just killed the conversation. oh well. Lately, whenever I see George, he's been commanding me, "Say something interesting or new that happened!" And I get upset at myself when I'm not able to give an answer right away. Everyday is a new day with new beginnings, new conversations, and new experiences. I should be able to come up with a genuine response to George. If I can't, I must be complacent and that's not good.

Monday, April 12, 2010

thank you Jesus for not giving up on me.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Monday, April 5, 2010

sorry, dennis.


On Saturdays, I easily get caught up in the conversation with the guys in the South Side. I admired the community I saw they had. They were always looking out for each other. But sometimes I forget that it's 1 in the afternoon when they've opened their second, third, fourth can of beer.  Sometimes I forget how dangerous living on the streets can be. I forget that they are still slaves to their addictions. I've been told and I tell others, we're not there to tell them how to live their lives. But I don't want to see them hurt anymore.

Monday, March 29, 2010

humility

When someone asked St. Francis of Assisi why and how he could accomplish so much, he replied: "This may be why. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the earth and said, 'Where could I find the weakest, the littlest, the poorest man on the face of the earth?' Then He saw me and said, 'Now I've found him, and I will work through him. He won't be proud of it. He'll see that I am only using him because of his littleness and insignificance.'"

I need to realize how insignificant I am without God.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Becoming the Answer To Our Prayers


Part of the EPILOGUE to this book I just finished
"This book has been about the marriage of prayer and action. We began by suggesting that we need to pray like everything depends on God and live like God has no other plan but the church.  We are the ones God is waiting on.  When we throw our hands up at God and inquire, "Why do you allow this injustice!?" we have to be ready for God to toss the same question back to us. 
Predictably, some will say it's absurd to assert that we are the answer to our prayers because God is the only answer to prayer.  That's the beautiful mystery: we have a God  who chooses to need us.  We have a God who doesn't want to change the world without us.  We have a God who longs to cooperate with us, to allow us to fail an flounder and who promises to make up for our shortcomings, but nonetheless wants us.  It's the story of our faith.  Certainly nothing hinges on our own ingenuity or strength; quite the opposite - God works through weakness."

These past few days, God has been teaching me a lot about the importance of discipline.
1 Timothy 4:7 - "train yourself to be godly."  
1 Timothy 4:16 - "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them..." 
2 Peter 1:5 - "make every effort to add to your faith..."

For me, reading the bible can be very difficult to do. It takes at least training, perseverance, and effort. But there is much at stake if I decide to quit. My faith does not only concern me, but those around me as well. I need to be more cautious.
1 Timothy 4:16 - "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."