TouchingHeartsForHim: May 2013

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Greetings of Love, May 23, 2013

Hello to each of you and “ may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”~ 2 Thess.3:16 This was a beautiful verse in our devotions this morning and so I hope it blesses each of you as well!

What is happening in our month, you may be wondering. So far it has been just the opposite of April. Because of May being so very hot, (tomorrow they are saying 115 degrees, we are hoping they are wrong = ) ) we had planned not to do a lot of traveling. Instead, we wanted to meet some of our neighbors and the owners of our apartment, things close to home. We did meet Mr. and Mrs. Das (the owners) one afternoon and they are a very wonderful and gracious couple. They have three daughters and they all live in USA! So Mr. & Mrs. Das spend 3 to 4 months a year in America! And they speak great English!! Which is always a huge help to us. =) We were then invited to come for supper on Sunday evening. So we had a very nice evening of fine food and fellowship. She invited me to come anytime and she would teach me to cook some of her recipes!! Mmm yum Then one evening she came up and visited with us. When she left she told us she would send up lunch the next day! So now it’s time to try out our Indian cuisine cooking skills and have them to our place.

On Tuesday May 14^th we had ladies Bible Study, for the women from church, at our place. We had 15 people here and had a good time of prayer, praise and studying the Word. Followed by refreshments. They all seemed to enjoy and liked finally seeing where we live.

We have also had “rooftop” conversation with two more of our neighbors and they also speak English =) and we are invited to visit them as well. We have been so wonderfully blessed with amazing people we have met and are getting to know. I know this is no accident and give praise to God for planning our “meetings” and making our paths cross! So pray for us as we also meet and minister in these hearts and lives. Hopefully, Thursday and Friday we will be able to go visit these neighbors.

Tomorrow, May 22, 2013, we will be traveling to Phulbani for David Brown’s engagement ceremony to Susanna Digal. She is the oldest daughter of the Director’s at the Home in Phulbani. I will try to get some great pictures for a later blog. When we visited this Home in Feb. it was wonderful, Veronica found that Susanna and her birthdays are only 3months apart and they will both be 20!! The other wonderful thing was that they became good friends in the week that we were there! PTL

This past week two other young ladies, daughters of the Director’s in Parlikamundi, Shanti and Christo came and spent almost the entire week cooking and showing us their recipes. So we now have our little Indian recipe book started and our meals this past week were delicious! We enjoyed their time here muchly! Shanti has a ministry with children all around. Her earlier visit to Cuttack in Jan. she had met with some very poor children and their families, and she wanted to go see them while here. Somehow she found the Pastors name who has meetings with the people in this area, they are mainly Hindu’s. Wow! What an amazing evening! A room full and overflowing with women, children and some men, hungry, spiritually hungry, and very possibly physically hungry also! Louis gave a brief message and we did some singing with the children. Then, so many wanting prayer… we really needed this!! God helped us see that even though there are arid desert times in our lives, don’t ever think of giving up!! There are sooo many hungry souls waiting, waiting for someone to be the hands and feet of Jesus, bringing fountains of LIVING WATER to THEIR desert places!!( this, dear ones, is not only in India, but in your “backyard” as well ) As we were leaving, one of the older women wanted us to come into her home and pray a blessing on her and her home. ( Have you ever had something happen that makes you very ashamed for grumbling and complaining about something in your life, that in comparison to another’s lot in life is nothing!! Yes! I know we are not to compare ourselves among ourselves. I do believe God does use these situations though to open our eyes) This lady’s home was a place under the stairwell in these apartments!! Her height may have come to Louis’ shoulder and in the tallest part she still could not stand completely upright! This was her home!! And I’ve been complaining about my hot little kitchen! Lord, forgive me!!

Sunday found us at Nirman Home for church. During the service I got to hold my little Emanuel. Thank each of you so much for praying for him and please continue!!! We found out he is two and half yrs. old and he might weigh 15 lbs.!! He is so weak and small it is frightening!!

The wonderful report and praise to God is: Pretty is home and she is eating good!!! So we are praising God for His work on her little heart and life, and also praising Him for prayer warriors like you! Thanks!! After services I got to hold her and love on her a little!!! I also got some photos of her and Emanuel. To me it always makes someone seem more “real” if I can say their name and see them, even if it is just a photo! She too needs to gain much needed weight and strength. Of course, many more of my precious ones, that time and page would run out in trying to tell all, but I hope these photos will speak thousands of words for me!! =)

I guess in writing this, you may get the idea that their lives are so full and they don’t talk about us at home. I wonder if they even miss us!! Never fear, my loved ones, you are loved and missed. Sometimes tremendously!! It seemed at the halfway mark, something happened. It was like this has been a long time, now I NEED to see and hold my dear family and friends!! Looking at profile pics… was good… and hard. You look so real, so close, so beautiful and dear, that suddenly you would become a watery blur and I would need my tissue box, just like I do now!! BUT… God is good – ALL the time, and He has truly blessed us!! The technology helps a lot!! PTL for magic jack phone, e-mails, FB, and facebook messages, skype and boxes and cards from home, last, but greatest of all the prayers that we feel so surrounded by!!! Thanks seems such a small word at times, but may our Father magnify His blessings upon each of you and keep us each in perfect peace until we meet again!!!

Goodnight and Heartfelt Love to All,

Melody for the Hege Crew

Melody with Shanti one of the girls that spent the week with us.

Veronica and Christo a sister to Shanti

In a small house in a very poor section of town. These are Hindu
people that the pastor is reaching out to, the temple is in front of their house.

Shanti with the children

The little room is packed. Hindus eager to hear the word.

Speaking to the group

A dear older lady with a testimony for the Lord

Veronica with pastor Pani who has a heart for the poor
who have not heard the gospel

Children eager to hear the word of God

The room was full so some of the children were at the window

Some of the Hindu children

A lady was living under these stairs and she called it home

Praying with the lady in her home under the stairs

The children as we were leaving

Melody with little Pretty,Emanuel and Tiki mom

Melody holding Pretty

Friday, May 3, 2013

Hello April… Goodbye April,                                                                           May 1, 2013

     Did it seem about that fast for you also?! We were just talking, as a family, that in two short weeks it will be three months that we have been here!! Much travel and visiting have happened in the past month. I will try to give you a brief description of our month. ( hey now, was that a snort of laughter when you heard me say I would keep it short! =) ) Fair enough. When I get started and the words are rolling, it is so easy for me to get an epistle going!!
      Right now, Philippians 1: 2-11 is in my heart for each of you. May our Father’s love and strength preside over each one in the coming month.
       April 1^st found us at Mercy Home in Bhubaneswar (1hr. away) to give out school supplies and backpacks, with the Home logo on it. Also took fruit and cakes as a treat for the 35 children there. The 2nd we went to smaller home in Cuttack with pretty much the same happening, taking school supplies, backpacks and snacks for the 35 children. Usually there are some songs, by the children, and one of our guys shares a Word from the Lord. Fun evenings of interaction with the children and before you can believe it, the evening is gone!! The goodbyes are always tough, with children all around hugging you, saying, “Cali acibo” Cali acibo” tomorrow come”. =)
         April 3^rd we left for the Homes in western Odisha. The first Home about a 7hr.trip by bus, we left at night, believe me, if you travel by bus, night is by FAR the most advisable!!! I’ve seen loaded cattle trailers with more room than a day bus, okay so that’s my observation after having taken several 7 hr. trips by day. Oh yes! Add 109 degree temp. to that and it becomes more interesting!! =) These two homes were the first two that Louis and Jon had gotten “started” four years ago. Also, our sponsored “daughter” is at the first home we were visiting!! We were excited to get there and enjoy four days with them!! Great times! Great worship, food, fun and fellowship!! The children are overall amazing at singing, drum playing, skits, and Bible memorization! Then, the teary farewells and a day bus ride to Grace Childrens Home. There, many more beautiful, loving children ( 50) and games, worship, fun and fellowship. The director took us on a small tour of the town, which is known for its hundreds of Hindu temples. He once was a Hindu and now is a Christian! And he has a heart for seeing many more come to know the True God. We enjoyed three days with them and arrived back in Cuttack the 10^th, with hearts full and bodies worn. Enjoyed being home from 11^th – 21^st . Helped two days at Nirman Home as the Pastor and his family went out of town for his brother’s wedding. It was very fun getting to be with the children more than a few hours. We did some very amateurish Cricket playing with them and they loved it!! ( they are serious about their Cricket!! ) Taught a couple new English songs during devotions, they are very quick learners, and just had a great time together. Then we were able to attend the newlyweds wedding reception here in Cuttack the evening of the 19^th . That was new and fun experience, and it was great to be able to meet Rebekah and wish her and Naresh God’s blessing.
        Saturday April 20^th, time to get all clothes washed, apartment cleaned. April 21^st take in wonderful Sunday service, then be packed and ready 5am. Mon. for a journey to next three homes.
Took bus to Bhubaneswar and got the train. Chris &Veronica’s first train ride!!! Arrived at Bless India Children’s Home towards evening. Beautiful home in mountains, caretakers with huge hearts of hospitality and love, and again lovely children, some with unreal stories, eager to love and be loved!! Joy! Joy! Joy! Left on day bus 24^th, standing room only! Chintu,( someone we wouldn’t want to be without!! our Indian assistant and driver and language teacher and teacher of new Indian food recipes, who says we are his American mom and dad, =) was along also and made sure we got seats as soon as people exited. ( these bus rides were amazing, I wish there was space to tell, pictures of the buses and the amazing amount of humanity that can be packed in and on these buses, to show ya’ll !) We arrived at Royal Palace Lodge that afternoon. After being shown the rooms… the only thing royal about this hotel, was it’s name!! Again, the children make whatever you have to endure worthwhile!! We were at Peace Life Home 25^th, 26^th , and 28^th. Lots of good times, fun, fellowship and worship!! The 27^th we went to another home for the day. It is in a village with no hotel and the home is thatched roof and mud walls. The caretaker, his wife & two daughters and 20 children live here. We had a very special day at this home, because it is not only filled with precious people, but with God’s presence and much love. When this Pastor moved into the village six years ago, all were Hindu. Now they meet for church with 50 baptized believers and more that are seeking God!! Hallelujah!! It was a blessing hearing him give God the glory!!
    The other wonderful blessing that we got to participate in, with Louis this time, was visiting with the people of New Kikesing. This is the place that God led them to four years ago and with CAM’s funds and God’s wonderous works they were able to build homes for these persecuted, homeless people before the rainy season began. What a joy to meet with these believers and to see God’s blessings on them and their village.
    We said our tearful goodbyes at Peace Life Home Sunday night and after a night of rest headed for home April 29^th. Ten hours later we arrived in Cuttack. God had again blessed us with protection and safety!! We give Him our sacrifices of praise! April 30^th, a day set aside for rest and restoration. Oh, and also for a mountain of laundry.
     Thanks for “stopping by” and we hope you had a terrific April also!!

                                   Love and God’s Blessings,
                                         Melody for The Hege Crew

Chris & Veronica With Our India Daughter Punam

The Newly Weds... Ok They Look A Little Frightened But
He Only Saw Her One Other Time Before Their Wedding Day

Yep This Is One Of The Buses We Rode In For Five Hours.
Notice The Buckets Full Of Water With Rags Over Them? It Was For
The Radiator And They Poured Six Gallons Through a Hole In The Dash
While Driving Up The Mountian.