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!
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
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!
Monday, October 17, 2011
The Royal Tour
After months of putting it off, we've finally finished it!!! Tune in for the royal tour of our house. Enjoy!
Saturday, October 15, 2011
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
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
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Can you spare a few bucks for a cloth pull-up (diaper)?
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!!!!!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
So we will run...
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| "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.
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.
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| His chickenpox are almost gone! |
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| "It's higher up than I thought" -Joseph |
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| Thotngachan used this box about 20 different ways! |
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| Kai loves climbing up for a piggy-back ride! He loves climbing on everything right now |
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