We have really settled back into our lives here in Oregon. Theresa and I are both working on our Masters degrees. I am still at Yahoo! and Theresa is still at West Hills. Additionally, I am working really hard on a startup with a partner.
The startup is http://blacklakestudio.com/
It is a really fun process.
India will always be with us, and everytime our thoughts turn to Roshan, Reema, Irene, and the children we have fond and hopes for the future.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Back Safe and Sound
I didn't know this before we left, but apparently Theresa and I have the world's most comfortable bed. We are back in Oregon and although there is some lingering illness from the trip, we are definitely doing well.
Thank you for all your prayers and comments.
We are going to do some more posts of reflection and we have a LOT more pics to put up that, due to the lack of internet availability, we haven't yet.
There might be some more video too.
A couple things we did that I want to make sure we mentioned...
We went to Mother Theresa's finale resting place. We went to her home for the dying and destitute, we walked through a Hindu festival, and spent over 80 hours on a trains in the last week or so.
We will chat about them later, but for now we are safe and sound.
Thank you for all your prayers and comments.
We are going to do some more posts of reflection and we have a LOT more pics to put up that, due to the lack of internet availability, we haven't yet.
There might be some more video too.
A couple things we did that I want to make sure we mentioned...
We went to Mother Theresa's finale resting place. We went to her home for the dying and destitute, we walked through a Hindu festival, and spent over 80 hours on a trains in the last week or so.
We will chat about them later, but for now we are safe and sound.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Internet
Hey guys- lots to say about what we have been doing, but unfortunately we have limited internet access now that we have left Shimoga and journeyed (30 hours on a train) to Kolkota (or Calcutta). It is really crazy here. There is so much spiritual oppression. We have seen parades in the street to show dedication to the idols, we have seen demonic things too. - Details to follow... but where there is darkness, the light shines even brighter!
We went to Freeset- which is possibly the coolest things ever. They offer jobs to women who are entrenched in prostitution. They say in India, women don't choose prostitution, it chooses them.
Freeset, however, employs over 100 women (although there are 40K currently) and they have found a sustainable way to generate income and provide work for these women so that they can get off the streets and out of the brothels. So if you are in the market for a new bag- get one here.
We saw first hand the work they are doing, and believe me it is the Lord's work.
What I found very interesting about their method was the fact they there are self-sustaining. So many organizations rely on donations and they do not. They design, create, and sell their products which provides enough income to sustain their business model. Unlike traidtional business models, however, their emphasis on not on turning profits, but rather creating jobs; so many of the jobs that could be automated are not. This way they can hire more and more workes and in turn get more and more women off the street. REALLY REALLY COOL!
There is so much more to say and even some thing we shouldn't blog about, but please ask us when we get back and we will tell you.
We will leave you with this thought....
1 John 4:4
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
This is true.... we know it to be true firsthand.
We went to Freeset- which is possibly the coolest things ever. They offer jobs to women who are entrenched in prostitution. They say in India, women don't choose prostitution, it chooses them.
Freeset, however, employs over 100 women (although there are 40K currently) and they have found a sustainable way to generate income and provide work for these women so that they can get off the streets and out of the brothels. So if you are in the market for a new bag- get one here.
We saw first hand the work they are doing, and believe me it is the Lord's work.
What I found very interesting about their method was the fact they there are self-sustaining. So many organizations rely on donations and they do not. They design, create, and sell their products which provides enough income to sustain their business model. Unlike traidtional business models, however, their emphasis on not on turning profits, but rather creating jobs; so many of the jobs that could be automated are not. This way they can hire more and more workes and in turn get more and more women off the street. REALLY REALLY COOL!
There is so much more to say and even some thing we shouldn't blog about, but please ask us when we get back and we will tell you.
We will leave you with this thought....
1 John 4:4
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
This is true.... we know it to be true firsthand.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
My friend
In Indian culture, when men are good friends in India, they are a bit more "touchy" than we are in the states. I cannot remember the last time I hugged, or held the hand of a friend who was male... in fact I cannot remember holding hands with anyone who was not either "A" praying or "B" Theresa...
Being that I am not a touchy-feely guy, this was a surprise to me, but you know what they say, "When in Rome."
So everyday, this one kid waves to me and runs over to me and grabs my hand. Then he points to nowhere and we start walking... and I am thinking, "this is really weird, where are we going?" And the answer is "nowhere." We are going nowhere at all, and so I would kinda let it go for a couple minutes and then pull away and play with the other kids. Then one day I thought, "I will just go with it and see where it leads." And sure enough, we went nowhere, in fact, we went in circles. He would lead me by the hand and we walked around in circles. When we would come up to anyone he would grunt and point me out to them like a trophy
And this made no sense until I took an step back and thought about Indian culture. Today it clicked- he was showing everyone there that he had a friend and that friend was me.
Being that I am not a touchy-feely guy, this was a surprise to me, but you know what they say, "When in Rome."
So everyday, this one kid waves to me and runs over to me and grabs my hand. Then he points to nowhere and we start walking... and I am thinking, "this is really weird, where are we going?" And the answer is "nowhere." We are going nowhere at all, and so I would kinda let it go for a couple minutes and then pull away and play with the other kids. Then one day I thought, "I will just go with it and see where it leads." And sure enough, we went nowhere, in fact, we went in circles. He would lead me by the hand and we walked around in circles. When we would come up to anyone he would grunt and point me out to them like a trophy
And this made no sense until I took an step back and thought about Indian culture. Today it clicked- he was showing everyone there that he had a friend and that friend was me.
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