Home Sweet Home!

 We're Home!

 After twenty hours in the air (and thirty hours of total travel time), we are finally in the USA!  While it feels strange to be "home," we are so grateful to be back.  Joseph is applying to seminaries here in AZ, we are looking into adoption through the state of Arizona,  and we are going to see what God has in store for us!  For now, though, we have officially resigned as missionaries with CTEN (which can easily be reacquired).

PLEASE NOTE!  We will only receive gifts postmarked through Christmas this year (December 25, 2011).  After that, gifts will be given to other missionaries who work with Commission to Every Nation. 




That being said, we want to thank you for going on this journey with us!  It would not have been possible without the love and support of each and every one of you!  THANK YOU!  We have loved having this special connection and ask that you continue to pray for the children, the college students and teachers in India. 

Thank you and God bless you!
Joseph, Heather and Kai

Making Progress

 New Home

The last few days have been filled with activity!  The children moved to their permanent home and also received their bunk beds and pillows.  They are no longer sleeping on the floor!  These bunk beds were the main items that we were able to purchase for the children, thanks to the generosity of our brothers and sisters at Grace Church.  The children love their new beds and are always finding innovative ways to play on them (making tents with their blankets, etc.).

Off to School

God has also answered two huge prayers that have been on our hearts for quite some time now:  we were able to buy a bus and the children are now in school!  It turns out that buying school supplies for 20 children is pretty costly, but also very worthwhile.  We were also an hour late the first day.  Getting 20 kids ready is quite the chore.

The children loved their backpacks and lunch boxes (called tiffin boxes here) so much that they wanted to go to recess carrying both!  It was adorable:-

 Tournament

The last three days, the college has had games to celebrate the end of the semester.  Joseph is done teaching and just finished all of the finals.  He had a blast participating in all of the games.  Our team (team blue) won the basketball tournament.  It was fun getting to know all of the students, especially for Kai.  And although the students see Kai quite often, it was the first time they actually spent time with him and now they can't get enough of him.

 The Cutie

Kai has grown leaps and bounds since we arrived.  He is quite a bit heavier, a little taller, and substantially smarter and more talkative.  He can even sit still for about 30 min at a time if we need him to!  The other day, I was feeding him vegetables and chapati (his favorite food, like a bread).  He pushed away the veggies and said, "no, no!," so I told him if he ate a bite of veggies, I would give him chapati.  You could see him thinking about it and then he opened his mouth.  Immediately following the bite of veggies, he pointed and said "chapati" and laughed hysterically when I gave him a piece.  I love seeing him grow!

We're Coming Home!

 The other exciting upcoming event is our homecoming!  We leave in two days!  We're so excited to be heading home to see our friends and family.  We'll be staying with my parents until we find our own place, but we are still unsure where God has us in the future.  So, we will keep praying and enjoy our reunion in the meantime:-)  We would also appreciate your prayers.  We'll let you know when we get home safe and sound!  Let us know if you want to get together to hear more about India and our experience:-)

More Pictures

Exhausted kiddos!  The ride is about 1 1/2 hours each way

Our New School Bus- Thank you, Jesus!

Raju

Sanjipa (left) was so proud to make a friend on his first day that he wanted a picture!

Schoolyard Friends

Kai teaching the college students how to text:-)

Team Red Flag Waver

Auto Rickshaw Ride

In keeping with our video frenzy, here is a video of our mode of transportation!  An auto rickshaw costs about $10 and it will come and pick you up and wait for you.  It is basically a scooter, that has a different frame so that there is a backseat and a hood.  My mom and I are on our way to the hospital for a doctors visit.  Hope you don't get too auto-sick!

THANK YOU!!!!

Two weeks from today, we will be on a plane heading towards Arizona!  We are so excited to be heading back and can't wait to see everyone again:-)  My mom is safely back in AZ as well, leaving behind 20 smiling kids who loved all of their presents!  We made a thank-you for all of you who contributed towards these gifts.  We were able to buy them bunk-beds (along with a whole bunch of other stuff) and they are so excited.  Enjoy the show!

The Royal Tour

After months of putting it off, we've finally finished it!!!  Tune in for the royal tour of our house.  Enjoy!

Joe's Post

Well seeing as it is nearing the time when we are to come back, I thought it was appropriate that I should post at least one time from my perspective. Thus, this is called, "Joe's Post." I tried very hard to be original with the title. Well anyway, here it goes.

Over three months in India so far and I think that we have grown substantially as people and in our walks with the Lord. I can't speak for Heather at the moment because she is watching the children, but I have definitely come closer to the Lord through this experience. I have taught three classes, preached multiple times, led worship twice a week and helped start an orphanage. How is that for four months of your life! (Of course I didn't do any of this by myself, in fact, I did very little for the orphanage.) I miss everybody every day, but I am so glad that we listened to God and came here even when I had zero desire to come. You know what, scratch that. I meant negative desire to come. I really did not want to come. Luckily, God really knows what He is doing.

It's so funny that we try to reason with God and tell Him what the best plan for our lives is. "You know what, God, I think it wold be best if I wrote books for You. They would glorify You and lead many people to Your name. Doesn't that sound great, God?" And God says, "No, go to India." To this my response is, "Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!?" Again, God knows what He is doing.

I have had many teachers over the years, and many of them have said this, "The best way to learn something is to teach it," or something to that tune. I wholeheartedly believe that. As many of you know, I teach three classes: 1st Year English, Second Year English, and 3rd Year Survey of Matthew. I have to admit that I have not learned any more about English than I already knew, except that Indian grammar books are terrible and very difficult. But when it comes to the Book of Matthew, I have learned a tremendous amount.

When I was first told that I would be teaching this class, a full five days before we were to leave Arizona, I was a little scared and didn't know how to teach an entire semester on only the Book of Matthew. To my surprise, I am now having the opposite problem, having only reached chapter twenty with one and a half weeks to go. I didn't realize how much was in the book of Matthew. It is not even one of the more studied books in the Bible, or even the most studied Gospel! I am so thankful to God that He has given me this opportunity to teach and to learn.

As far as teaching the classes goes, it has been an interesting ride. First of all, even though it is a college and the learning is at a college level, it feels more like a high school in many ways. The are five classes of students, first years, second years, third years, etc. These are the same as freshman, sophomore and so on with the fifth years being 1st year graduate students. They take all of their classes with the same people in the same room, just with different teachers. There is a warden who watches their every move and makes sure they are doing the things they are supposed to. They have to wake up at a certain hour, go to the library at certain times, do daily duties and other such things.

The self-motivation here is very low which does not translate into good grades in the classroom most of the time. There was one instance where 2 out of 30 people in the class turned in their assignment that I gave them the week prior. I was shocked at the time. It was not even a difficult assignment at all. Now I am not so shocked. That is just how the culture is here in India. If you can get away with it then it is fine. If you cheat and are not caught it is fine. You would think that people in a Bible college would be better behaved, and many of them are, but some of them are there because their parents sent them or because they want to learn English or various other reasons. Also, it is simply the culture that they grew up in. If they have never had high quality education, they have no idea how to behave in a classroom. Most of them come from villages where the school consists of one teacher and they pretty much run around all day learning nothing.

As there are many difficulties and trials throughout the semester, I must constantly remind myself why I am doing this. I am doing this for God. Many of these students are studying to become pastors and elders in their church, taking the word of God to places where I cannot go. Of course, there are the good students that make me happy to be a teacher, and the bad students that make me wonder why I even try.

Overall we are very thankful to be here and even more thankful to be coming home shortly. I will have more posts coming soon.

-Joe

Can you spare a few bucks for a cloth pull-up (diaper)?

One of our young girls is having bed wetting problems every night.  For now, we are having to handwash her sheets and clothes every morning!  

Since we are unable to afford disposable pull-ups for her, we were wondering if any of you are interested in helping out?  We really only need two and they are about $13 a piece (we are looking into the Happy Heinys Pocket Trainer).  

If you are interested in contributing for a single diaper, shipping the package to India once it has been ordered (most companies don't ship directly to India), or convincing a company to give a discount for a good cause,  please let me know!  There are many colors to pick from!  My email is heather.wegert@gmail.com.  Thanks!!!!!

So we will run...

"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."   Hebrews 12:1

As we look back over the last few months, it is so obvious that God has been with us every single step of the way.  In March, we gave up our financial security to follow what we believed was God's will for our lives.  Even as some said hurtful words of doubt, we watched thousands of dollars drain from our bank account to pay for plane tickets, passports, and visas; praying that we weren't misreading God.  There were many tears: tears of confusion, tears of anger, tears of frustration.  What if we were wrong?  Even more scary: What if we were right but God didn't give us back what little security we once possessed?  What sane mother takes her child into a land of giant spiders, vicious monkeys, and hiding cobras?  We were surrendering our lives to God and it was/is a scary process.

It hasn't been easy.  While we have been here, I have been bed-ridden with flu symptoms for days on end (not once but three times), and Joseph got it twice, but Kai not a single time (which was specifically an answer to prayer).  We've been through a miscarriage and felt completely isolated at times.  There's been excitement, depression, hope, anger, disappointment, and chickenpox. 

Surely, we are completely discouraged and ready to give up?  Somehow, it is not so.  It is at this point that we can say, "If God is for me, who can be against me?"  and "Lord, here I am.  Send me."  (Of course, we also add "Send me if it's Your will, because if it's not we would much rather live in Arizona"). 

So, where do we go from here?  We were hoping that by the end of the trip, we could let you know where we are going from here.  Unfortunately, we have found out that God doesn't work that way.  He's more of a scavenger hunt than a calendar.  At the present, we don't know if we will come back to India more permanently or not.  What we do know:  We are leaving on November 8th and we will move in with my parents temporarily while looking for housing.  Joseph will look for a job in ministry back home, and perhaps more schooling.  And we will pray, pray, pray.  

Please pray for us!  Pray that we hear God's whisper in this noisy world and that he will prepare us for whatever He has next in this amazing scavenger hunt.  I know that prize at the end is worth the trials.  Also, pray for the ministry here in India.  The Children's Home is under-staffed and will be even more so when we leave in November.  Also, the other woman in charge is having a baby in the beginning of January.  It will be a difficult time.
 

His chickenpox are almost gone!

"It's higher up than I thought" -Joseph

Thotngachan used this box about 20 different ways!

Kai loves climbing up for a piggy-back ride! He loves climbing on everything right now

A Day in the Life... (+ Women's Bible Study Info)

Most countries have cereal with prizes in the box.  In India, out poured a rusty nail instead!  Joseph's response?  "At least it isn't sharp."  Way to look at the bright side Joseph;-)

I spy something brown, rusty, and covered in chocolate

Kai has chicken pox right now and I was sick the other day, so the posts have been in short supply as of late:-(  It was the birthday of the President of the college yesterday and it's his daughter's wedding next week, so we have been having some interesting happenings lately and thought you might enjoy "A Day in the Life of the Wegert Family (+ mom)" post.

Whilst cleaning our house for the upcoming wedding, the college students cleaned the spiderwebs from our property.  Turns out, there were 70.  Yes, seventy ugly, black, big as a man's hand spiders.  Things are not wasted here, so what did they do with said spiders?  Made them into a chutney and ate them.  I kid you not....

Pointing at the spider

That reminds me, the kids were looking at a nasty (smallish- about the size of a peanut plus long legs) spider.  I took pictures and all was dandy, until Rai reached out and grabbed it by the legs!  I started screaming at him, thinking he had gone bonkers, so he drops it and looks inquisitively at me.  "What on earth were you thinking?" I asked.  "In my village, we eat those..."  Ewww... 

We often play games with flashlights because the electricity goes out all the time.  My mom thinks it's hilarious:-)  Just another day in the life!  (The electricity goes out for hours at a time, several times a week).

2 Camels meandered past our restaurant window (TGI Fridays) carrying some sort of green vegetable and a Bull blocked my path out of a store.   

Climbing over a  wall is a perfectly ordinary occasion.  There are ladders, but test it first lest it fall  apart.

A gigantic idol (hindu) is hauled past our house on a tractor with a full drum procession and dancing on its way to the lake.

Contractors use rusty metal for the structure of buildings!  Don't worry, though, they paint over it first (what!?!)!

Traffic reluctantly stops for the cow moseying across the street, but hardly for the people running across it.  

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirsty for righteousness..."  Stifling my giggle, I smiled to show the little girl that she did a good job reciting her verse.  Moving on, I realized that every single child who recited their verse thought it was hunger and thirsty (It's supposed to be thirst)!  Ah, what wonderful surprises these little ones bring daily:-)


A farewell dinner was served on banana leaves while sitting on the floor.  The food was amazing, though.  It was a feast!
 

Hebrew's Women's Bible Study- Draw Near to His Throne

Also wanted to mention that my sister has a God-given talent for teaching and happens to be starting an awesome inductive Bible study (Kay Arthur).  The sign-up deadline is very soon (okay, it was yesterday), but Gretchen would love to have you join, so sign up asap (even if it's a wee bit late)!  I'll be attending the Tuesday night classes starting when I get back (November 8th).  I've done this type of Bible Study before and it is superb.

When - 2 CLASS TIMES AVAILABLE!!

                Saturdays, 9-11am Starting October 8th

                Tuesdays, 6-8 pm Starting October 11th

Where - Grace Church of Mesa;  8701 Brown Road, Mesa (Brown and the 202)

Materials - $45 for the 19 week study;  Can be made in 2 payments of $22.50 in Oct and Jan;  FULL Scholarships available just let me know!!!!

Invite A Friend!  Please pray about someone you may want to invite to come with you!!

Info Session Sept 27th - Need More Info?:  Want to know more about "Inductive" Bible Study -  Attend the "How to Study Your Bible" Women's Dessert, Sept 27th at 6:30 at Grace Church!  Email me to sign-up!  (Ooops... sorry for the late post!  Instead you can email me for more info:-)

TO SIGN UP FOR THE STUDY - Email Gretchen (lowerygretchen@gmail.com) or call (480)353-9417 by Sept 28th;  Please let me know if you would like to attend Saturday or Tuesdays.

Winter Visitors:  Please let me know if you would like to join us but won't be back yet in early October.   Depending on when you will be here we can work out a plan together!!

Another view of that lovely nail

close up of almost-eaten spider (Rai is the child on the left)

He's the happiest spotty baby I've ever seen!

Oh Happy Day!

What a day!!!  My mom arrived around midnight last night and we didn't get to bed until 4am!  At 9:30am, Kai woke up and got to see his mimi for the first time in months!  He was a happy boy.

Twenty stuffed animals knelt in prayer this evening.  Twenty bears hugged me goodnight.  And twenty bears are snuggled in next to twenty happy, sleeping children.  Do you think they liked their gifts?  Why don't you take a look and see what you think!  Today was a fun-filled day; from a brand new soccer ball (thanks Martha!), to watching Veggie Tales (thanks Lukers!), to coloring with brand new school supplies (you should have heard the "oohs" and "ahhs" when they received their very own eraser and ruler), to getting a new, snuggly friend.  I think this may well be one of the best days of their young lives:-)  God is so good to us!  We have seen God bless us through these children time after time.  God blesses the giver even more than the recipient.  We thank you all for your support in God's work.  May He shower blessings on you.

I would love to hear from you!  Which picture/post is your favorite so far?  Regale us with a recent tale of yours (a time that brought tears to your eyes, your best memory, a God moment, etc.)!

Athing is reading to her bear

Gigantic Termite Mound