In Exile

Home - The End and the Beginning

Yes, I am home. Here’s the speedy run down on my final journey.

12 hours from Auckland to LA. 5 hours from LA to NY. Shuttle to the NYC. “Long” walk through Time Square to the wrong bus station. Had to buy another bus ticket (ugh, $20 I needed, the last time I ever take Greyhound). Long wait in the crummy station. 2 hours to Philly. Finally reunited with my Mom, Dad and sister! Cried and laughed at the same time. I had never been so excited to see any group of individuals in my entire life.

Needless to say, New Zealand was the perfect last stop on my journey. Lakes, snow capped mountains in the southern alps, farms, trails, national parks, sub-tropical forests, glaciers, quiant towns and small cities, funny accents, lots of sheep, lots of back packers, lots of hostels, and lots of adventurous things to spend your money on. Oh, and lots of sheep (10x the 4 million nationals they say). I did a lot there. Sky diving at 15,000 feet, bungy jumping at 134 meters, hiking on a glacier, tramping through Lord of the Rings territory (Mt. Doom!), backpacking 3 nights along the coast, enjoying the scenery, making new friends, taking lots of pictures, and eating at Ferg Burger. I could say that New Zealand stole my heart along with all of my money. She was well worth it though. One of the most beautiful countries I have ever been to. So, I already mentioned the Kiwi Experience bus “experience” I had, and I don’t want to be a broken record. Let’s move on. 

Here are some parting thoughts and feelings. (Disclaimer: it’s raw content from my journal, so don’t mind any bad grammar or seemingly strange thoughts.)

May 23, leaving Thailand

“…But on the way to the airport I started to become sad. It’s like I hadn’t mentally prepared for the fact that a significant chapter of this trip and even my life is down to the final words. It felt as were on our way, that we were going home. We have two more countries and I have two more months, but it leaves something empty inside of me, knowing that the clock is shutting the door on this experience in this season of my life. I’m struggling to put into words and even determine what/how I’m feeling. It’s like all that I’ve gained, it has given me so much more to lose. What remains is only to remember and reflect upon. What if this is it? What if his is truly my “last hoorah”? I guess my life will never be the same in so many ways. And with returning raises new and completely different sets of questions, doubts and fears. Something that’s been haunting me is this: what if I don’t live up to the dreams, desires and goals that God Himself has placed on my heart? What if I retreat into my old familiar self, failing to walk in this new creation my Father has so tenderly molded me into on this trip? What If I lose focus and throw all of this to the wind, only to have it blown right back into my face then fall to the earth? What if I can’t give what’s expected of me? What if I can’t rightly express or explain the wonders and blessings of God that I’ve seen and experienced? What if this makes a fool of me? But maybe that’s what You want. So Yours is the glory and not mine. So Yours is the credit and not mine. But what if, in the main act, no one gets it or understands, what if I forget the lines? And even if it’s perfect, it may fall on deaf ears, it may be shown to blind eyes. Oh God, all of this I can live with, just not to forget. Don’t let me forget my journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Don’t let me forget the struggle and triumph, the grief and joy, the brokenness and creativity, the child and parent, the orphan and widow, the tears and laughs, the loss and new relationships. But most of all, let me not forget You in all of this. The beginning and the end, the first and the last, the creator and finisher. You have given me the desires of my heart, You’ve brought my dreams to life.”

July 27, soon to leave New Zealand

“… With going home I have my apprehensions. What will I do next? Where will I work? How will I relate my experiences effectively? How will I relate to those around me? How will I fit in? Will others understand? Will I be misunderstood? Will I fall short? Will I not live up to what I’ve done, learned and experienced? Will I lose friends? Oh, and will I forget? What will I do to respond to the knowledge I have gained? How will I live differently? With my money, time, resources, gifts, abilities, how will I use them to serve others in my area and abroad? What will I do to make a difference? I’m scared I’ll settle to live the same and slowly forget all that I’ve done, seen and learned. I’m afraid I’ll forget the faces of the children, the orphans, the hungry and poor and hurting and lost and dying and homeless and widows… How can I continue to live my life for myself with the resources to help those in need? I can’t save the world, but I can help one person at a time. This trip must be more than a memory and “good experience”. It must be a transformation to my thinking and lifestyle, it must bring about a permanent change. I feel like I’ve gained knowledge and experience, like a valuable treasure held in my hands, meant to be shared and used and spread about. But God, what do I do with it? Where do I take it? I’m scared I’ll drop it or waste it or forget it or throw it away. Oh God let me not forget! I will not be one that just speaks, let me live the words I pray and speak. I want to make a difference, but how/where/with what/whom? With this great knowledge/experience comes great responsibility. I need You in this time, oh God. I need You to give this wings and let it fly where it may. I’ll follow wherever it leads. In the end, I know it all starts and ends with You. As soon as I forget You, I forget this journey and all that it holds. As much as I remember You, I remember this.”

July 31, the last day

“… It hasn’t hit me yet that I’m leaving tomorrow. I don’t know how to feel. It’s this surreal feeling, a mixture of major excitement and a sense of hesitation and that I’m walking into the unknown, yet a place I know all too well. It’s like the tables are turned and I’m now afraid to return to the familiarity of the place I was once afraid to leave. The fear of the unknown has now been replaced with the fear of the known - oh how crippling it can be. It’s like my wings are now to be forced to be folded and tucked away. I must fall back in the assembly line to once again become a machine. Can I follow through? Can I return to be the man my Father has called me to be? I’m afraid my story won’t be good enough, that I won’t be enough. These little questions/doubts/fears are pests, and I won’t live according to them. I trust You, Jesus, it’s in Your hands, as it’s been all along. You’ve proven Yourself time and time again, and You will not fail to do so now. I feel almost as unsure as when I left, but maybe that’s where You want me. I see how it turned out so far, and I believe for even better things yet to come. Then there is this sense of loss and brokenness. It’s like something very precious and valuable is being taken away. this trip has become a part of who I am, a way of life almost. It’s not who I am, I know, but it almost feels that way. It’s like I’ve been living a dream but now it’s time to wake up, or the feeling of having just lost someone dear to me. It’s like putting a knife to the throat of my dreams and watching them bleed dry. It’s empty. I feel like I’ve been truly alive and haven’t realized it until it’s been taken away. It’s hollow. I feel like this is goodbye for a while, like to a close friend I don’t want to part ways with but lose touch with when I do. I cannot let this become just a distant memory or past experience. This must always be a part of who I am. It must change the way I believe, think and live. In this loss I will now gain a whole new opportunity to live out life lessons in my home amongst friends and family. I have something to share with people, and I will not allow the enemy to convince me that I have nothing to give. I don’t care what my head tells me or what I think I can’t do. Because I can do anything Christ calls me to through His Spirit. I can do this. I can make a difference. I can be different. I’ll shoot fear in the head and watch it bleed. These dreams may die for a season, but as every seed must die before it grows, they will sprout into something beautiful. This be no loss, my God, if this be Your will. This be no sacrifice, my God, if this be Your path. It’s not always the obvious that’s right. Sometimes it’s best to take the harder route. I’m done just taking the easy way out. If You’re not in it, neither am I. I’m ready to come home.”

August 1, the day of return

“What will be found as I return? I’m in the final moments and fighting to keep my mouth above the water. It’s only a matter of time, but am I ready to let this die? I’m struggling to hold on, oh I don’t want to let go but I must to see what lies below the surface. The end is always inevitable, leaving us without a say to it’s coming. Where you gain you always lose, but I feel that in what I’m losing I have no gain. Even though I know this does not hold to be true, right now all I can see is the tombstone above a fresh grave. What’s made me so alive has been laid to rest, it’s run it’s course. Life is seasons that come and go. The waves will take my final breath and spit me out upon a new shore of new beginning. Now I surrender to it’s grasp and float with the tide. This is only the end of a season, and the beginning of a new life. I pray the faces will never cease to remind me of the world I’ve left behind. This world that’s made and shaped me and brought me to life, opening my eyes for the first time it seems. I’ve seen heaven and hell, God and the devil, life and death. I’ve doubted at the existence of God, and have had these doubts shattered by the experience of Him in the midst of a broken people shaped by a broken world. I’ve seen darkness and the hope that pierces it. I’ve seen death and the love that overcomes it. I’ve seen hell and the heaven that overshadows it. All is never lost. But I’ve come back with questions, not answers. I’ve come back with no life goal, no career choice, no wisdom of a sage, and no money because of it. Yet all I’ve really lost is my ignorance and all I’ve gained are a set of new eyes. I now see myself for who I truly am, and some of it’s ugly. I now see others for they truly are and they’re (mostly) beautiful. My eyes will never again be that of a selfish American. Oh I want only to see as You, with eyes full of the blazing fire of passionate love. Let me see with Love. Let me live a life of Love, Your Love.”

It was a bitter/sweet return, but the excitement of coming home far outweighed the loss of leaving. Needless to say, I have never appreciated family and friends more in my life than I do now. I finally see how truly blessed I am.

I think this has said it all for now. I will continue to blog and post tid-bits from the journey as well as fresh thoughts from processing. Eventually I will be changing my address to: nielsengreiner.tumblr.com. So if this doesn’t come up, you know where to find me.

A huge, gigantic thank you to all of you who have taken the time to read, pray, support and encourage over the course of my journey. God bless you all.

Be loved freely and freely love. From family to friends to enemies: show some Love.

Nielsen

Isaiah 54:10 “For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but my lovingkindness will not be removed from you, and my covenant of peace will not be shaken,” says the Lord who has compassion on you.

Kia Ora!

Kia Ora! Or, hello! from New Zealand. I’m a month in here and week out from returning to the soil of the USA, much to my excitement. It’s been a privilege to travel all over this country and experience the natural beauty and exciting activities it has to offer travelers from all over the world (mostly Brits though I should add). The Kiwi Bus experience has been a good and interesting one. I’ve been able to share my faith with a handful of individuals along the way, which has been very encouraging. Amazing what conversations and open Bible can bring up. Aside from this, I’ll be honest and say that I’m tired of dorm rooms in hostels, the backpacker diet, the non-stop partying and one night stands of fellow travelers, and the lack of someone to relate to in my faith. I’ve become a tad anti-social towards the end here because of this, maybe for the best at times. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed time alone tramping different trails and up different mountains. I have found a new hobby indeed. Anyway, maybe next time there will be some more detail and accompanying pictures, but for now I’m afraid this will have to do. I’ll leave you with some thoughts from New Zealand.

Of What The Mountains Speak

There’s something about mountains. They declare what no mouth of man can utter. In the shadow of their magnificence we understand our insignificance. And they, in the shadow of their Creator, understand that they are to be but dust. While we struggle and triumph and hope and fear and dream and die, there they stand, unmoved by the tragic existence of mankind below them. They cover the earth as a testament to One unchanging, and even though one day these too will fall, they accept the time of their fate with no grief, only trust, knowing they were created only to rise and fall by the hand of their Maker. If only we could believe that we were made to be as such, as mountains. Unmoved, unshaken, unrivaled, unafraid, because we are made in the image of One unmovable, unshakable, unrivaled, One not knowing fear. Oh if we could trust our fate to Him as mountains, indifferent to the end and standing strong in this hour. Faith, trust, hope and love. Yes, of these rock and stone know nothing about, but we as His beloved must, or these mountains of rock and stone will cry out, putting us to shame while fulfilling our destiny because we will not. Tomorrow, I know not what it holds, and whether these mountains stand or not when it comes, I know the One who will remain, and because of Him, I as well. With you, oh mountains of rock and stone, I will not be laid to waste, because on Christ the solid rock I stand, the Chief Cornerstone, upon Whom and all under will be crushed, yet I never destroyed. In this I rest.

You are my unmoving mountain, my strong refuge, the wing under which I take shelter, and the song I will never cease to sing.

Be blessed, Beloved Children of God.

-Nielsen

NZ - The Final Chapter

This may very well be one of my last posts from overseas. I am currently in New Zealand, staying at a friend of a friend of a friend’s I barely know (I love that). Tomorrow I leave for Kiwi Experience, a buss pass/tour of the north and south islands. It’s my “last hurrah” as you will, and I’m very excited to see a large portion of this beautiful country. My feelings are bitter/sweet, being really excited to get back home yet somewhat somber about writing the final chapter of this amazing, wonderful, blessed story of a journey that has been my life for the last 8 months, 9 when I finish. There’s almost too much to say so I feel not to say anything at all, simply because words cannot yet fully express these travels.

Concerning Australia, my remaining time in the Sunshine Coast area was great. It was a perfect blend of relaxing, relationships and activity. The area has such beautiful beaches with a surfer feel in most of the small towns. I loved it, and even tried surfing for the first time (I’m glad none of you were there to see). 

So, August 1 is the big day when I leave to go back to my wonderful home in PA. I would ask that you keep me in your prayers pertaining to my future, as I’m still unsure of the next step. There are a lot of options floating around in my mind and various dreams/desires burning in my heart. Pray that I follow the path my Father has prepared for me, being willing to lay down my will along the way so that His can be done. This idea has been on my mind a lot lately, and I think He is beginning to prepare me for what lies ahead.

I’m not feeling to make this long, so I want to finish by saying a huge thank you to all of those who have prayed, gave, encouraged, and supported me along the way. Also, to every person who has given me a roof over my head and food to eat as I’ve traveled. Thanks to all of you, this trip was made possible and went beyond my expectations (in many ways I never thought of). Hospitality is something I’ve learned a lot about, and something I want to challenge myself in as I prepare to return. Again, thank you all.

I’ll have more pictures up and some final comments right before leaving NZ or when I get home. This is it for now, the rest I’ll leave for later.

Blessings to all.

- Nielsen E. G. 

Australia

G’day mates! Hello from the country down under.

Just a very quick update for those who are wondering where in the world I am and what in the world I’m doing.

I am currently in Sunshine Coast, which is about an hour drive above Brisbane and a one and a half hour flight from Sydney. Devon and I arrived in Sydney from Thailand the end of May, and spent four nights at YWAM Island Breeze - Sydney. We had a fantastic time of rest there and made some new friends. The weather was a bit dreary but we managed to get out for a day to see the Blue Mountains, (which were beautiful) and do some hiking. After our stay there we transitioned to a friend’s home, one who we met in India. We stayed with his family for about a week, doing lots of sight seeing in Sydney and once again making some more new friends. Sydney is a wonderful city with lots to do, and we got to see most the main attractions such as the Opera House, Circular Quay, Darling Harbor, downtown, Manly Beach, and some other surrounding areas. It was a fun filled time, and we managed to have just enough clear days to see everything.

Devon has moved on to NZ (he flew out a week ago), and I left Sydney early Sunday morning, flying into Brisbane. I’m currently staying with a friend I know from the YWAM days, and have been having an amazing time. It’s beautiful here, with nice beaches, lots of subtropical forest, hiking, views, mountains, small towns, etc. I feel like I’ve been more active this past week than I have in a long time. Between hiking, sight seeing, and hanging out I’ve stayed very busy so far. It’s a wonderful area and I’ve been trying to get the most out of my time here.

I’m keeping this brief and will refrain from going into detail as it would just probably bore most of you. I’ll be heading to NZ towards the end of this month. Needless to say, I’m stoked.

Anyway, sorry for the somewhat scattered update. I would have done this sooner but have not had internet this week until now. I trust everyone reading this is well, and may God bless you.

-N. E. Greiner (I’m pulling an A. W. Tozer and C. S. Lewis, just because I can)

SHE - a glimpse into her world

This is some raw content I thought I’d share on my time at SHE. It’s pretty much straight from the journal so don’t mind any spelling or grammatical errors. Also, it’s very vulnerable, so if doesn’t make sense or it seems a bit off, remember it was just processing. So, with that being said, here’s a glimpse into her world.

May 18, 2010

It all starts at 8PM with a time of worship, prayer, verses, and preparation. It was powerful, our voices echoing to heaven in the open room, worship sung to God, crying out for the women. These girls from the WR love God, and love the people they’re working with. I can see the love and passion of God in them. So then comes the intense part – actual outreach in Patong. I had heard a lot yet didn’t know exactly what to expect. It turns out we’ve actually been to the place before in the day time. It is 100% different at night. There’s a main drag with all the bars, full of people of various nationalities and stories. There are the men selling ping pong shows, kids selling flowers, women selling themselves, tourists buying it all up, and so on. It was a bit overwhelming at first but I’m trying to wrap my thoughts around the night. Me and two other girls did a lot of prayer walking this first night down almost every strip of bars. Oh what I saw. I don’t know exactly how to describe my emotions/feelings. Girls at every bar, available for business if you pay the bar fee and find the right price. So many internationals and old men with younger Thai girls, drinking, smoking, closed bars with only God knows what behind those doors, dancing women, lady boys, sexual perversion and confusion, lust, oppression, darkness… We prayed and prayed – for the girls, the men, the area, etc. Surprisingly, one of the first things that hit me was this – I could so very easily be any of those guys. That could be me, drinking, taking a girl for the night, living my life that way. Under any other circumstances, I would probably be the guy at the bar with a Thai girl or going behind closed doors. Why not? Without God or revelation of truth, there’s no reason not to. Their eyes tell the story of their soul, and their soul is as dead drunk as their eyes. The girls… Three of them that have been befriended by one of the WR girls had to be only 16-17, claiming to be much older of course. Caught up in a life of sexual business, becoming objects of lust, not knowing true love or anything like it. Girl after girl after girl… and as I pray I still feel helpless. What can I do? Nothing. Only He can. We spent a short time playing 4 in a row with a girl at a bar (they have games to keep you there longer to buy more drinks). She was a funny girl named Kup Kup who had worked at the bar for 10 years but isn’t one that does “business”. I met a young man and his uncle from Burma who sells DVDs on the streets. They are here for work. We spent some talking to them since the girls already knew them somewhat, and we were able to pray for them at the end. But tonight, I felt things in my spirit I haven’t felt in a while. At times I could have doubled over from the intensity of spiritual darkness and demonic presence. That place is hell on earth, and has been given over to the enemy and his work. But God owns the world and by being there we are bringing His kingdom of light into that place. They’re lost, dying, searching, hurting, broken people. They’re whores on their way to hell, like all of us really, in need of rescuing. It could be you or I in their shoes, and by the grace of God we’re not. This is all they know. How will they know the way unless they’re told? Without Jesus this is all people have to live for. A twisted, superficial façade of love. From lusting over the half-naked girl or fully-naked girl. From picking up the Thai girl at the bar for a one-night stand of empty sex. From drinking oneself into oblivion to forget for a moment their current state of wretchedness in this wretched world. At the end of the day, they find themselves alone, broken, empty and unfulfilled. Vacant eyes tell of vacant lives. Jesus is the only answer. Take Him away, and this is what remains. Can’t you see you’re beautiful? Oh creation of God, you’re worth so much ore than this! We sing, “He loves her, oh how He loves her!” Even when you’re selling yourself, even when you’re giving yourself away. I don’t stand in judgment against any man, woman or lady boy I saw tonight. Because I know it could be me, and I don’t see what’s inside their hearts. I can’t see the root of all this evil. And I don’t even care if the men and women I saw tonight have no sense of regret or wrong in what they do, I don’t care if they enjoy it and have turned their backs on God. Why? Because they’re just like everyone else without realizing it, without admitting it. They may not know they’re wretched, blind, naked, poor and in need of God. But He does. And He loves them and wants them! So do I. He values all of them so much, and desires to see them follow Him. It breaks His heart to see this, and stirs up jealousy and wrath for His created people being lost to hell on earth. They’re going from one to the next unless they meet Jesus.

It pains something deep inside of me to see one so precious and loved living as one worth so little and unloved, giving herself away night after night after night. It’s like the enemy has gone to the core of who she is and stripped it away. Her true identity rests in the fact that she is created in the image of God, made to be loved and to love and to experience all the fullness of love. Take that away, and this hell is what you get. Life is lived based on a lie that this is it, that this is all she’ll ever be, and that she’s not worth any bit more than the money that is paid for her by some man just as lost and lonely as she is. Maybe tonight I experienced a little bit of hell and the aftertaste it leaves. It’s a bottomless, endless darkness with a thirst that is never quenched, an eternity of ever unsatisfied loneliness and separation. It’s not the flames that should scare us, it’s the absence of God Himself. If a place like this on earth represents a microscopic example of the absence of Light in a place and the insatiable emptiness (demons) it feeds, my God, what about below? We cannot let her be handed over to hell, and by God we cannot allow this hell on earth.

May 19, 2010

“The afflicted and needy one is seeking water, but there is none, and her tongue is parched with thirst; I, the Lord, will answer her Myself, as the God of Israel I will not forsake her… That she may see and recognize, and consider and gain insight as well, that the hand of the Lord has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.” (Taken from Isaiah 41)

Beautiful one, you are loved! Lovely one, you are beautiful!

My God, swing Your sword and loose the bonds of oppression. Break the yoke of death. Set the captive free! Let her rise from the ashes into a new dawn, the day of eternity. I cry for freedom! Release the loved ones to love, and to know love. You have called her, a sinner. (Matthew 9:12-13)

He does not condemn her, so neither do I. (John 8:11)

Tonight was different, a bit more relaxed and more conversation oriented. I went with three of the girls, meeting a bunch of their friends as we went. At one bar we spent a lot of time playing games with a girl named Me. We were able to talk to her a lot and found out, like many of the women in Patong, she was from the north. Many of them come here for work, sadly ending up at a bar instead of a hotel. We also met a guy from Germany named Markus. He’s here on holiday by himself. I was able to tell him a little bit about what I’m doing, hopefully it spoke to him and hopefully he could see that we were different. I hope we had some type of positive impression on either of them. It was good to spend some time with one of the girls as a guy with no ulterior motives. She’s only been here two months. During this whole time, one of WR girls from our group was spending time with her younger group of friends I met last night. It broke my heart. One of the girls was in tears when we went over. From what I could gather, she doesn’t want to do it anymore. An older man had come up to her and mistreated her in his words and actions, and as I looked I saw some of the other young girls with white male company. The reality of this existence is revealed in these moments. To see a face bring this ugly, evil reality to life. To witness the kind of men they are subject to so often, and the degradation that comes with it. To see the tears of a young girl caught in a living hell. These tears tell a story of anguish, a story of many girls trapped in a life of darkness. I didn’t talk to the girl, and I don’t know her except for an introduction and hello and goodbye. But when I found out why she was in tears, I could recognize the pain in her eyes. There’s something screaming inside. She doesn’t know what for, she doesn’t know what she’s dying for, and that she’s worth dying for. Her life is a sad story, a dark, broken story written by broken men and broken boys. It’s a nightmare where no one can hear her screaming and her feet cannot move her. Words cannot express the depths of loneliness that envelop her. In a moment I can forget what I’m there for, until one face reveals the souls of all others. She’s scratching at the walls of her prison (cell), leaving bloody streaks writing what pens and words cannot. And my God, where are You in all of this? I want to say You’ve left them to their choices and forget, but I cannot bring myself to believe this. This it is not OK, this is not alright. She cannot forever suffer at the hands of lustful men. God, You saw her crying too. I don’t know what to do about it, but You do. Part of me wants to say this has nothing to do with me, she’s not my responsibility. Maybe that’s true. But no longer can I say, “I did not know.” Maybe You’ll ask me/us, “Now I ask you – what did you do about it?” Tonight we also handed out little pieces of paper with phrases such as “you are loved”. We visited some more friends, like a funny guy named Tom. We played some games with him and another girl there named Moo. I’m horrible at hitting nails, ha. By this time it was time to go. I didn’t feel as heavy leaving this night as the last, but I was tired physically and spiritually all the same. I cannot get ride of the image of the young girl in tears. I feel like it represents the reality of their lives. I’ve run out of words to say. I just feel this depth of brokenness and grief.

May 20, 2010

I had such a powerful time there at SHE, going out two nights, praying, meeting some of the women they’re working with, feeling the love and compassion God has for them, even though walking through a sugar-coated piece of hell it was. I even saw two of the women came to lunch today! Awesome. In the end, it felt good to actually feel again. I was impacted and touched by what I saw and experienced my two nights in Patong. After a while I started to feel numb during so many experiences on this trip, but here I felt in what I was doing – grief, sadness, love, compassion, and inexpressible depth of darkness, and so on. Some moments were heart-wrenching and physically gut-wrenching. Some were actually relaxed and fun. I have a new spiritual outlook on prostitute women and even buying men. And SHE is such a great avenue for a new life….On the bus ride home I started listening to some songs and reflecting on the girls, and my time in Patong and found myself on the brink of tears almost the whole way home, just thinking and reflecting and remembering the faces and tears. Some songs that played really expressed the sense of darkness I felt from my experience. As the songs played they seemed to speak so much of what I saw and felt, telling her stories. I almost broke down several times because of the truth and reality of what I was hearing. There is a reality of darkness and evil and hell in this world, and I grieved over the face of this in Patong with the girls and men I saw living in it, embracing it even. I don’t even know where all these emotions are coming from, I guess God is giving me a little glimpse of His heart, and when His heart and character clash with hell and its darkness, there is such a reaction inside of one whose spirit is born of God. When we think, act, love and feel like God, our view of things change, like Patong. What would normally look “fun” and “harmless” and “normal” suddenly becomes evil and dark and we understand things are not the way they were intended to be. It’s more than I can express in words, but I’ve received revelation of choosing to view the world/places through His eyes, not mine. It changes everything. I’ll never forget how I was affected by what I witness those two nights. God gives you incredible things if you let Him….Now all I ask of God is that I not forget what I felt and experience, that I not forget what I learned in all of this, and not forget about the girls. Oh God that I would not fail to tell her story, and even his story. Though dark and wretched it may be, it must be revealed and exposed. My Father does not condemn them, and neither do I. Such a powerful love and story of grace. My God wants to rewrite the story of the lost and dying into one of belonging and life. We will never understand such a great abundance of His love until we understand the love He has for such as these. We, being like Jesus, do not judge or condemn but love and befriend. Whether they love or hate who they are and what they do, it makes no difference. There’s the same depravity of their spirits whether they know it or not. The crazy thing about all of this? We need Jesus just as much as her and him. In our hearts, haven’t we all been unfaithful, almost every day? Haven’t we all been whores? We’re not all that different, except for the obvious fact that we acknowledge our sin and admit our need for a forgiving savior, thus living transformed lives. That’s it. On that note, I’ve exhausted this topic. Amen.

Thailand Part 2

So it has been a pretty busy last two weeks, with some unexpected changes along the way (thanks red-shirt protestors). We ended up staying in Khok Kloi near Phuket much longer than initially intended. Originally, we were planning on going back to Bangkok last Saturday the 15^th, but then postponed it to Thursday and further to this Saturday because of the violence and fighting going on there. Please keep that city in your prayers. Unless you’re living in a cave, I’m sure you’ve seen news on the current events. By now, they’ve dispersed the main area of protestors but in doing so pushed the violent red-shirts into various parts of the city, making the fighting uncontained. With the push came sporadic shootouts with protestors setting parts of the biggest mall in Bangkok on fire, as well as other buildings throughout the city. Last I heard, the water had been shut down in parts of the city, people were staying indoors, and the death toll had climbed to over 70 with hundreds injured. 

With that being said, here’s what we’ve been doing (I apologize for the stark transition).

On May 9 I had the opportunity to share a word at a Burmese church in the afternoon. Earlier that morning there was a Thai service at the building we’ve been staying at in Khok Kloi, pastured by Jum, the woman who has been hosting us. We spent our morning there, and I was able to help with worship, doing my best to finish my preparations for teaching before and after the service. I felt unprepared and unsure going into my teaching, and it was made somewhat difficult with two translators – English to Thai to Burmese. It took three times longer than it would have otherwise, and gave me almost too much time to think about what I was going to say next, making me lose my train of thought at times. Who knows what was coming out by the third person, ha. I’m not really sure how it went, but I did my best and was grateful for the opportunity.

Most of last week, from the 10^th to 13^th, we had the privilege of teaching the Burmese children some English. These were the same kids we held the camp for the week before (remember?), so it was great to spend more time with them again. We would go every morning, Devon, Ja and I, teaching English for an hour, with Ja teaching another hour of Thai afterwards (making for a good time to sneak off to the beach) then eating lunch to finish it off. We eventually split them into groups according to age, going over the alphabet, playing games, doing some vocabulary and workbook exercises, working on writing skills, etc. The children did a wonderful job and I hope they were able to retain some of what they learned. It was an honor to be able to participate in giving these “outcasts” education. It’s a fact that the Burmese are often looked down on by the Thai community, having darker skin, a different language, and another nationality. I’m thankful for the Christian community showing them love and friendship, treating them as equals and acknowledging their worth as people created by God.

During the evenings we stayed busy, going to various Bible studies and meetings. On the 10^th we stopped at an incredible view in Phuket for the sunset before going to a church meeting for Tsunami awareness (not something us Americans would ever have to worry about). It is the most southwest point of Thailand and was absolutely breathtaking; on that night I witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen. We hiked down close to the water, and as I sat on a boulder, staring at the sun setting over the water, I couldn’t stop thinking of how much I am loved – all of this for me! I was overwhelmed with the presence of God, which is immersed in His creation.

The next three nights were Bible studies. During the middle of the week I started feeling sick on and off from the 12^th to the 14th, so aside from teaching I didn’t end up doing all that much, although I managed to sit through some Bible Studies and go to the beach with the kids to end our week at the school. I was a bit bummed to have felt so crappy on our last day with them, having no energy to play or swim. But so is life. I’m happy to have been a part of their lives for a short time.

Last Saturday, the 15^th, we went to a town called Phang Nga for an evangelistic outreach meeting to the community. We helped with some random practical needs and stayed the night for the meeting. It was held in the local community center. They served food beforehand, had a time of worship (which I got help out with by playing a kids size keyboard, woohoo!), and shared the gospel. I’m not sure how many of the people there were already current church members, but the turnout was decent. Of course I couldn’t understand anything as usual, but that’s nothing new. It was just neat to participate in such an event. Believers here are taking initiative and going on the offense in reaching their communities for Christ.

So another week rolled by and another day of church services arrived on the 16^th. At the Thai church I was able to help out with worship again by playing drums (quite a stretch considering my minimal experience, although I find it fun), and Devon shared a message, doing a great job as usual. The rest of the day was free and I took advantage of it, riding bike to a beach close by, having a perfect time listening to a sermon on my iPod while lying in the sand with the sound of the waves in the background, the sun climbing down the sky above me. I had the beach basically all to myself, just the way I like it. I’ve come cherish these moments alone with God, either in silence or music or a good sermon. It awakens something inside and brings life to a parched spirit.

At the start of this week we had planned on going to work with a SHE Ministries, (which I will go into further detail about shortly) but ended up having to wait an extra day until Tuesday the 18^th, giving us another free day, which I never complain about to be honest (at least not while in Thailand). I rode bike to a somewhat nearby café, located on top of a hill with a wonderful, green view. I sat with an iced coffee, reading, studying, writing, and listening. It ended up being a powerful time with Lord as I reflected on some things that have been on my heart lately (I would go into more detail, but another time). The evening was spent at a market right across the street, which is one of my favorite things about Thailand. It’s like having a fair every night, with cheap food, drinks, clothes, accessories, etc. They’re by the far the nicest out of all the ones I’ve seen in different countries, and so much fun! Anyway, this is unimportant, so let me move on.

On Tuesday we traveled further down to Patong (quite possibly the biggest tourist infested area in Thailand) near Phuket Town to SHE Ministries, spending two nights there. There are literally hundreds of bars on the main street of Patong where they do ministry, with women at almost every bar available for “business”, and by this I mean prostitution. There are dozens of closed door bars and “shows” available for anyone who wants to watch. This next excerpt is taken from SHE’s website, explaining what they do.

“Started in 2006, SHE (Self Help and Empowerment) is a Christian charity committed to helping women and children at risk in Thailand, many of whom are trapped in the commercial sex trade. SHE is dedicated to providing employment, vocational training and counseling for women who want to help themselves out of this industry. All proceeds go directly to helping them find employment, community, friendship, restoration, and above all restoration of their own value. Mark, Sharon, and visiting teams spend most nights building relationships with women working in the hundreds of bars in Phuket, Thailand. Once a relationship is established after a few visits, Mark & Sharon share the vision of SHE with the women and let them know that there is a way out: they can have a salaried job making jewelry with SHE if they are interested. The only condition of employment is that they must quit their job at the bar completely.”

For more information, check out www.shethailand.org. And actually, now that I think about it, SHE Ministries needs a blog of its own due to the extent of material on my experience there. I’ll give it a few days and post my thoughts, and boy, do I have a lot.

For the sake of a quick update on our days ahead, we will be leaving to go back to Bangkok on Saturday, arriving early Sunday morning, and quite possibly going straight to the airport right away or shortly after arrival since that’s really the only reason we need to be there. We fly out Monday night and arrive Tuesday morning in Sydney, where we actually don’t know where we’re staying for the first few nights until we meet up with a friend there on the 30^th of May. We’re both excited to go “down under” and experience Australia, but are especially stoked for New Zealand and all it has to offer young guns like us looking for adventure.

So, until next time, may God bless you and keep you, and cause His face to shine upon you. I wish I could post every single thing that I’ve been learning and growing in, but maybe that’ll have to wait for my book (just kidding) or “post trip blog”, whatever that even means.

Blessings from Thailand. Thanks to those still keeping up with us, I appreciate it.

-Nielsen and Devon

OK, so I want to share at least a small taste of my experience at SHE until my next update. Here’s something I wrote after a night out in Patong.

“It pains something deep inside of me to see one so precious and loved living as one worth so little and unloved, giving herself away night after night after night. It’s like the enemy has gone to the core of who she is and stripped it away. Her true identity rests in the fact that she is created in the image of God, made to be loved and to love and to experience all the fullness of love. Take that away, and this hell is what you get. Her life is lived based on a lie that this is it, that this is all she’ll ever be, and that she’s not worth any bit more than the money that is paid for her by some man just as lost and lonely as she is. Maybe tonight I experienced a little bit of hell and the aftertaste it leaves. It’s a bottomless, endless darkness with a thirst that is never quenched, an eternity of ever unsatisfied loneliness and separation. It’s not the flames that should scare us, it’s the absence of God Himself. If a place like this on earth represents a microscopic example of the absence of Light and the insatiable emptiness (demons) it feeds, my God, what about below? We cannot let her be handed over to hell, and by God we cannot allow this hell on earth.”

I Love Thailand

One of my favorite countries thus far is Thailand, something I determined in just the first few days I was here. Why, you may ask? Simple – beautiful scenery, green hills, lush jungle, wonderful waterfalls, mysterious culture, fantastic people, nice beaches, awesome islands, and plenty to do (as you can see) plus some.

So we arrived in Bangkok, Thailand April 24^th after a late, sleepless flight (as usual it seems), and were met by my Thai YWAM friend Ja Jaa. We did our DTS together in 2008 and she has been kind enough to connect and travel with us here. What a blessing she has been! It is quite a fun reunion, and you really have to know her personally to understand what I mean by “fun”, considering she may be a definition of the word, ha. Anyway, we spent our first two days in Bangkok, and here were my first impressions (I tend to compare to India): more laid back than India, more developed, less horns (thank God above), less crazy traffic/drivers (take your pick), more “hip” and western, less crowded (usually), not nearly as many people living on the streets, has a good feel, lots of internationals, more sanitary, less trash, and lots of good street food (like mango with sticky rice and coconut milk, amazing)! There were also lots of soldiers around due to the recent protesting. Nonetheless, it is safe in most parts of Bangkok despite what you may hear. I’m honestly more worried about the extremely high percentage of homosexuals (Ja quoted 50%, but I can’t bring myself to believe it).

A special event we were able to witness in Bangkok was a big prayer meeting that included Christians representing churches from all over the city (there are around 200). There was barely enough room for the 700 people that attended! Different pastors spoke, and we all prayed and interceded for the country, conflict, people, government, etc. It really touched my heart to look around at all the believers and witness them worshiping with all their hearts, praying with all their might, and crying out to God for their country, their people, and their peace. What a powerful event! It makes me so excited to see individuals gather together for a righteous cause with passion and love.

On the 26^th we left for our first destination outside the big city, Chantibury, where we met up with a pastor Ekachai, a friendly happy go lucky sort of man with an honest smile plastered on his face at all times; a genuinely awesome dude. I must go on to say that Chantibury was a beautiful place with so many beautiful people, and I feel like I got a true cultural experience. Our first day there they took us around to meet some families from the church and see their work of growing and harvesting fruit in the hills. Then we spent the afternoon at Namtokphlue National Park. Beautiful! We hiked up the mountain a bit, following the stream, jumping from rock to rock, wading through water, cooling down in swimming holes, sitting under mini water falls, ducking branches, almost falling multiple times, dodging thorns, trying to find our way… what a time! (I and Devon’s next “hike” did not go so well due to wet slippery flip flops, thick brush, and multiple leeches.) It’s a jungle out there. Days like these are special to me – visiting families, seeing the work and lifestyle, praying for them, witnessing their culture, and just being somewhere away from tourists and other backpackers. It makes me feel excited and alive. There’s something about hiking waterfalls, piling four on a motor bike, eating exotic fruit, being surrounded by jungle, lush green vegetation, and tree covered hills.

While we were there we had the privilege of teaching English (or at least attempting) to a bunch of kids attending an annual English Camp at local school, meeting up with a World Race team of 13 (a Christian ministry taking groups to 11 countries in 11 months), checking out local scenery, going to the beach, attended the popular fruit festival/fair, etc. The English camp was three days with a younger and older group, both fantastic groups of kids. The first day three of us (Ja, Devon and I) were on our own, and it went surprisingly well. The last two days we had help from the other team so our job got much easier. We played lots of games and did our best to make it interesting, hoping they would learn and retain along the way. It was a super fun time and we were really able to connect with the kids on many different levels. Teaching English was certainly a first time experience! And I honestly enjoyed it. It also didn’t hurt that the school fed us extremely well and even put us up in a small lodge (with a beautiful view I might add) in the National Park for a night. Holla!

May 2^nd we left for out next location down south, a combined 16 hour bus ride from Chantibury. We said our goodbyes to the pastor and his family, church members and our new friends from the World Race team. Our time there was fantastic and really made me fall in love with Thailand and its people. After our night bus we arrived in an area known as the Phuket region (a very well known area to tourists), and connected with a pastor Jum in a small town called Khok Khoi. From the 3^rd to the 5^th we were able to assist with a summer camp for Burmese children that pastor Jum runs a school for. Many Burmese families live in this area because of the close proximity to Burma. They come here for a new life, but since some of them are here illegally the children cannot receive public education. It is for this reason that the Jum started a school specifically to educate some of these children, which I think is such a wonderful ministry. During the summer camp the children participated in worship, teachings, crafts, games, and lots of beach time! They are so beautiful and fun, and very energetic! We helped out however we could (despite the language barrier) and really enjoyed doing so. These kids are being exposed to the gospel at all times and are in an environment where they can learn and grow in the Lord. We had such a good time with them and hope to be spending some more time with them this upcoming week at the school where we will be teaching some more English. Here we go again! During the camp, we also had the privilege of meeting some Burmese pastors from this area who minister to some of the locals. It’s so encouraging to witness what God is doing in these small pockets throughout Thailand. Pray for more!

After the camp we knew we’d have a couple of days off, so we’ve been sort of “touristy” as of late. We went in to Phuket town our first day to check it out and see a movie. There are white people everywhere, and while the place is somewhat nice it is such a tourist trap (just to be honest). All the prices are jacked up and everything is catered to westerners. It’s definitely where everyone goes to vacation around here. We had a good day there though, and topped it off with a beautiful view of the coast at sunset followed by a Thai buffet, which was definitely a first time experience. All the raw food you want to be cooked right at your table on a charcoal grille of sorts. It was fantastic!

Then what a day we had on our second day off! Devon and I set out early to check out Phi Phi Island, a popular group of islands about 1 ½ hours off the coast of Phuket by boat. After our multiple means of transportation from Khok Khoi, we arrived at the beautiful area of islands standing straight up out of the water, like they just shot up from the bottom of the ocean one day. We quickly signed up for a day of boating, snorkeling and swimming. It was beautiful! Crystal clear water, exotic fish, splendid ocean floor, amazing views, clear blue sky, and a nice sunburn to finish it off. I couldn’t have asked for more! I felt so blessed to be in a place so beautiful, and it made me appreciate the gifts of creation my Father has so lovingly given us. I’ve never been to a place quite like Phi Phi Island, and I doubt I will be again any time soon. It’s just what you’d expect for a “tropical island” experience. Recommended! I must admit, it’s does feel good to be a tourist sometimes.

Our third day of fun was yet another beautiful day at another beautiful location. We went to Khao Lak town and National Park. The quaint town is in a very nice location, but at the moment is very quiet due to the tourist off season. After a short time in the town we went to the NP, it was hot and we were ready to swim! The 1.5km hike and well worth it. The beach was amazing! We arrived at a small inlet which created the only beach area around, with sand, lush vegetation, and scattered rocks and boulders. The rest of the shore was lined completely with rocks and boulders all along the water, creating wonderful picturesque scenery and beach. It was a time of swimming, hopping and climbing around boulders, relaxation, prayer and music. The water was crystal clear and warm, making for a near perfect time. God loves me for sure.

There’s something attractive about Thailand. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I can feel it in the air. I like it here. And this is only part 1.

Now just a quite update on our upcoming plans. I (Nielsen) have extended my ticket a month to spend extra time in Australia to volunteer at a YWAM base as well as to add an extra week to NZ, making it a month there. This means I will be home beginning of August. I thought and prayed about it, and felt like I wanted to make the most of my time at these locations, now knowing when or if I will ever get to go back. Devon is planning on keeping schedule, so we will be splitting off the beginning of June when he goes to NZ and I stay in Australia, which we both feel a peace about. Keep these plans in your prayers.

Stay tuned for more folks. Thanks to those who are doing their best to keep up with us, I appreciate your time of reading and prayers. God’s still been teaching me lots as time goes on and still sometimes I am not sure what to do with it all. Abiding is something that has been placed on my heart since India (read John 15). Sometimes we focus too much on doing, and if we do so without abiding, we are left feeling empty, loveless, and useless. We cannot minister effectively to others unless we minister first and foremost to our Father in Heaven. I want everything I do for anyone to come out of a place of intimacy with Christ and I discovered that there were times on this trip that I was probably just going through the motions, neglecting to seek the face of God to sustain me. Nothing can take the place of our secret place in the shadow of the Almighty. Not doing, not serving, not ministering, not helping… nothing. How can I love if I’m not daily experiencing the love of Christ in my own personal relationship? I know this is all (supposed) elementary Christianity, but I think it’s something we all need to be constantly reminded of. The result of neglecting this necessity is a bunch of (supposed) Christians that aren’t living at all like sons and daughters of God. Even I (a “born and raised lifelong Christian traveling around the world for Jesus”) am still just discovering my secret place in the shadow of His wings.

Be blessed.

Nielsen

P.S. I just put up a bunch of new photos: facebook.com/negreiner

India to Thailand

I just wanted to write a quick update and say that we have arrived safe and sound in Bangkok, Thailand after a fantastic final time in India.

Here’s a quick recap.

During our time in Chennai we were able to visit some YWAMers and see some of the work their doing. I was really imppressed. We visited a day care they hold in one of the slums; they take about 30 kids a day while their parents are out working. No power made for one heck of a hot day, but totally worth it.

We were also able to connect with one of their ministries that works with numerous families that suffer from HIV/AIDS. They visit the families, giving them what support and encouragment they can. There’s also a children’s home for HIV positive kids, most of whom have lost one or both of their parents. We heard some tragic stories, but were encouraged to see that there are believers who are coming to their rescue in a sense, giving them hope and purpose. In Indian/Hindu culture, you’re rejected by neighbors, friends and family if it is known that you have AIDS. Thus, this ministry is very important.

Next, we went to hang out at Sparky’s Diner (never trust a skinny chef) for a few days, which is run by an American featuring all sorts of western cuisine, and very good food at that. He is a Christian and uses it as a ministry to locals. He has lots of Indian employees he provides with work and has some help from a couple from the states. It was a great time with lots of quirky conversations and good laughs. A very unique ministry, and it was awesome to see how the Lord uses anyone in any way in their specific giftings.

Our last two days in India were spent back in Delhi. We had the privilage of spending time with a man named Abraham Sahu. He started his ministry there many years ago and it has grown into something I was very inspired and impressed by. They have multiple churches and cell groups spread out over Delhi, a Bible School, children’s programs, mothers with infants programs, slum outreach programs, micro finance programs, and the list goes. They focus on raising up leaders for the future, as well impacting and transforming communities. I feel like this sort of model is the way church be, going far beyond four walls and impacting various parts of society. The pastor’s approach was one of theology and sociology, which is necessary for us if we wish to reach out.

Right now, we are in Bangkok, Thailand, arriving yesterday in the morning. I’m already loving it here and we have a great schedule ahead. Our awesome friend Ja Jaa, who is Thai, has been kind enough to travel with us during our time here and connect us with some great ministry opportunities. Needless to say, I’m very excited! We’ll have the city, country, and beautiful beach experience in our month here.

This was an extremely short recap of our recent days, but next time I will have some more detail God willing. Thanks for your continued prayers, it keeps us going.

Blessings.

India - Pt. 1

India. Let’s see, where do I even start? At the beginning I suppose.

So, getting to India felt like the longest two days of traveling thus far. We left the Shenks in South Africa at 6AM on March 24, flew to Joburg, then to Honk Kong over night without sleeping (long layover), then our final flight arrived in Delhi after a stop in Bangkok. By this time it was the later house of the 25^th. We hadn’t slept much on any of the flights and were just plain shot. Upon arriving at the airport we had no clue where we were going to spend the night. We asked around and found a good place to stay (although we paid a bit too much) and got a taxi there. The next morning we discovered we had overslept because of our exhaustion and lack of windows in the hotel room (oops). At this point our goal was to get a train to Kolkata, our first “planned” location. It ends up the trains were (supposedly) full for a few days (that’s what happens when you do everything on the fly). Being that we were at a tourist center, they offered us a deal to go to Agra to see the Taj Mahal and other sights, transportation and hotel included, as well as a train ticket to Kolkata from there. Since we didn’t really have many options, we decided to use this as our sight seeing time (although once again we probably paid a bit too much; I’m sure those tourist centers survive by preying on the helpless travelers). It ended up being a good choice in the end. We stayed at a decent hotel, saw the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and other sights. At the Taj Mahal (which is beautiful by the way, even if was just built for dead people) we felt led to pray as we walked and observed the building. There’s tons of history in India and it was nice to get a taste, in the tourist kind of sense. After our day of sight seeing on the 27^th, we took our over night sleeper train to Kolkata, our desired destination. We were sick of traveling every day and were ready to settle down for a bit.

So, Kolkata and my first impressions: busy. I observed people bathing in the streets from random water sources, naked and probably homeless children, homeless men and women sleeping on the sidewalks, disrepair, trash, countless small shops, restaurants, taxis, horns, rickshaws, bikes, motorcycles, streets thick with pedestrians dodging traffic, etc. I couldn’t stop looking around when I first went out to walk around; there was so much to take in! Anyway, we stayed busy and had a productive time there. We arrived at night on the 28^th after a good sleep on the train (make sure you get at least 2^nd class AC, it’s safe and cool). It felt so good to have finally arrived! We got a taxi to BMS (Baptist Mission Society) Guest House and settled in for a good night’s sleep. Being in Kolkata, our plan was to volunteer with Missionaries of Charity for a few days at some of their homes, seeing as it’s where they started and continue to run the organization from (they’re currently in almost every country except China). We went to orientation for Missionaries of Charity our first day there and walked around a small part of the city to get a feel. Unfortunately, I missed the first day and a half of volunteering due to an upset stomach and unpredictable bowels (to put it lightly). I spent all day in bed that Tuesday. Thankfully I felt much better the next day and was able to go to one of the homes in the afternoon, Kalighat, which was Mother Theresa’s personal favorite. This home is for the destitute and dying (a hospice of sorts), and many of them may not live very long. Here, they are taken care of, whether they remain for days, weeks, or longer. As volunteers, you just go and help out however you’re needed, from sorting laundry to being with the patients to doing dishes. It was a great experience being there, although I didn’t feel as much emotion as I thought I would. I would attribute this to the extensive amount of travel and experience in these types of situations already. But the Sisters there, they do a good work, and it was a delight to be able to talk to some of them briefly. The next morning I was able to volunteer at a different home, PremDan, another “hospice” but for longer term patients. The mornings are busy and they put the volunteers to work with washing clothes, carrying buckets of water to clean the grounds, doing dishes, serving water and food, helping patients, etc. There are quite a few people to take care of! Some of the best times, though, were meeting volunteers from all over the world and swapping stories, experiences, as well as beliefs. We ended up volunteering through the end of the week.

In Kolkata we had the privilege of meeting a wonderful pastor and his family, as well as American man that works with their ministry there. We attended their small Bible Study one night and went to their church on Sunday. They were kind enough to invite us for lunch that day and then for dinner the next night. There’s something to say about Indian hospitality and kindness to mere strangers (especially with the Christians we’ve met), and it was one of those small gems of an experience. It’s wonderful to meet families that love the Lord and serve Him in the midst of a mostly “un-Christian” society.

We ended up leaving Kolkata on Tuesday the 6^th of April. The day before we left, we had the opportunity to visit a ministry called Freeset. Read the website for more information, but in a nutshell they provide jobs to women coming out of prostitution. They’re a fair trade company that sells bags and t-shirts made by these women, who are paid well and provided with accommodations like health care. We were able to tour the factory and meet some of the women. I was very impressed, and please, check them out and spread the word. There are around 10,000 women prostituting in the red light district near them, and they desire to reach all of them. They can’t do this without your business, donations, and advertising. Spread the word! For a few hours we were even able to help out with some current construction work they’re doing in a recently purchased building. It was a blessing to bless them. As I said, check out the website to see their ministry in greater detail, and buy a bag and tee!

Kolkata came to an end, and I was blessed by the numerous individuals we were able to meet, the ministries we were able to serve at, the India we were able to discover, and this part of the journey God had planned for us. So, once again, we hit up the AC2 sleeper train and continued our way south to a small(er) town called Razole.

We were in Razole since from 7^th to the 13^th, and our short time flew by rapidly. We spent time with a pastor Sharath (connected with New Life Fellowship of Ephrata, PA) we heard of from a friend at home, and it must have been the will of God, because it was right on the way to our next planned destination here in Chennai. It was a wonderful change from the big cities of India – coconut trees, rice fields, some peace and quiet, a big river close by, shade, water buffalo… I guess you could say it had a country feel to it. During our time there we visited a few homes with the pastor to participate in various celebrations and thanksgiving (which the Christians here have for almost everything). The ministry we stayed at has a Bible School, a church, and a children’s home of about 15, as well as other churches planted all over the area. I played cricket for the first time there with some of the boys during our down time, and was able to explore some of the area thanks to the pastor, all the while just enjoying the peaceful time. The pastor and his wife were, once again, a genuine display of hospitality and were kind enough to feed us and let us stay there.

We have now moved on to Chennai to meet up with a friend we met back in the states, after a bus ride through the night with little to no sleep. Looking forward to what the Lord has in store for us here before we move on Thailand.

India. Here are some points I’ve pondered: First, I’ve concluded that India is a puzzle (of sorts). What is the root of poverty here? What’s with the caste system? How corrupt is the government? Why such a lack of care/concern for improvement? The rich, the poor, the cities, the country, the Hindus, the Moslems, the minority Christians, the government, the corruption, the poverty, the underdevelopment, the caste system… all fit together to form some kind of picture that is India. Second, I find myself looking at people and thinking, “What is their story? Where did they come from? What have they gone through? Where are they going?” I can only begin to imagine what stories must lie beneath the dark faces that hide things untold. Third, what if I was born as the naked baby on the side of the street? What if I was born into a completely different world with no home, no food, no clothes, destined to be a beggar on the streets just like my mother, if I even survived? What if I was the man with the rickshaw, or the old man sleeping on the sidewalk? It just so happened that I was born in America, and they in India. And that changes EVERYTHING. It’s hard to wrap my mind around.

In all honesty, sometimes I have felt empty and helpless here, like I have nothing else to give anyone, like at the Mother Theresa Homes. At least they can live out their lives off the streets with food, shelter, clothing, medicine and people to look after them. I guess serving them by just being there is all I can offer. I suppose it’s things like three guys chipping in to buy a pair of glasses for a man named Eddie who’s ended up on the street with his wife because of a (maybe past) drug problem. I liked the guy, even though he talked a bit too much and apologized even more for asking for help to buy new glasses. But he was happy, and it’s the least we can do right? I guess it’s the little things.

On another note, I learned a little bit about the caste system from pastor Sharath (which, by the way, still has a very big impact on society no matter what you hear in the news). First, there are priests, second, there’s kings/royalty, third, there’s business men, fourth, there’s tradesmen, and finally, there’s the “untouchables”, who are greatly looked down upon by those above who believe in this system. I think life must be hopeless for those at the bottom, for reasons such as: if one in a higher caste touches them they consider themselves defiled. The interesting fact is that most Christians in India are from the “untouchable” category. The pastor himself was born as an untouchable, and is thankful because, probably thanks to this, he is saved. Talk about perspective. To find out more you’ll have to do some research on your own. These are things us Americans don’t know much about. For example, marriage and the caste system – some Christian and/or orphaned women have trouble getting married because of the expensive dowry to be paid to the groom, and if they’re of different castes, from what I’ve gathered, it’s basically out of the question. I’ve heard stories of men and women of different castes falling in love and not being approved because one was untouchable, the woman couldn’t afford the dowry, etc. One couple had to run away to get married. When the girl’s family found out, they held (in some sense) a funeral service for her to signify that she was dead to the family. As you can see, this caste system is still a very strong force in India. It affects jobs, marriages, status, opportunity, worth, and the list goes on. It leaves mothers in tears and families hopeless.

Let me say now that it was a blessing to see families in Razole turning from Hinduism to the Lord. Instead of following traditional religion and culture, they’re asking men like the pastor to do their parties and celebrations, which displays a hunger for God and a desire to follow Him only, in doing so giving up status and reputation amongst neighbors, friends and family. It turns out that there is a noticeable difference between the Christian and Hindu families there. There is more respect for women, homes and children are dedicated to God, there is no idol worship or superstition, etc. Believers here are living as children of God and not children of their culture. These are just a few small examples of the some of the transformation that is taking place in communities like this one in India. The Lord is blessing His people here and healing the land as they turn to Him. Hindus and Moslems are being saved one at time, and family by family. Churches are being planted and are growing, and people are overcoming strongholds such as the caste system. Now, they have their value in Jesus Christ.

Oh, and one more thing. While we were in Razole, a local newspaper interviewed us and published a small piece on our trip and some of our thoughts of India. It was exciting to see our small picture in the newspaper and an article in a language we couldn’t understand.

I know, this got really long, but I felt the need to throw in some of what I’ve been learning about this culture and what God is doing here. I hope you’ve been at least a little blessed through reading this, and that something stuck out to you, maybe a phrase or sentence or paragraph. I simply can’t process all that is going on all the time, so this will have to do. I pray you can gather a small glimpse of the India we’ve had the privilege of experiencing thus far.

If you like to read, these are two fantastic books I read in Kolkata: White Tiger, and The God of Small Things. They’re fictional but give an extremely accurate glimpse into Indian life and culture. I would highly recommend them, although they’re definitely for adults and contain, as some would say, “questionable” content. All the same, some of what I read I’ve been able to pick out first hand, and it’s dead on.

Thanks for reading. God bless.

- Nielsen and Devon

Freeset

Missionaries of Charity