Praise the God of Justice

Last night in Cambodia there was a rescue operation in a dance bar that resulted in ONE HUNDRED girls being rescued and given the chance for a new life. This was the largest IJM-assisted operation in Cambodia and is an enormous success. Keep these girls, 19 of them being minors, in your prayers as they move forward from here.

"Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: the law will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations. My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations." - Isaiah 51:4-5

The last couple of days our Director has been reminding us about why we are here. Why we have given up things in our life to come to the developing world to help these girls, why we work long hours and face discouragement and animosity from some. Why we go into some of the darkest and scariest places to pull these girls out. Why we continue to work even when we are challenged and tired.

We rescue because we were rescued.

So praise the Lord for this success, and praise Him that He enables us to go to these places and bring light to these precious girls who are fearful, scared, trapped and abused. That is the gospel and I am so thankful to be here to see it firsthand!

Isaiah 26:8

Yes, Lord, walking in the way of Your truth, we wait for You; for Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts."

city life

Holi colours

Yesterday India celebrated one of the biggest Hindu festivals of the year- Holi- the holiday of colors. Basically, it's just a fun day off where people throw powdered and colored water at each other. If you step outside during the day you will be under attack. I didn't want it all over me because it takes a few weeks to come off my skin completely and I am too prissy... but Katherine and I went out to get a few pictures as the festivities were dying down. When we were waiting outside for a rickshaw and everyone who biked / rode by us were screaming and loving it. The best part is that even last night when people had begun scrubbing it off their skin- there are still people with purple, pink, red and green colored faces everywhere. 

Rough morning, haha

a book, a relationship and a change of heart

I have spent most of my life not enjoying reading the Bible. Vogue, Cosmo and all things Chick-lit, yes. The word of God, not as much. I remember times in high school where I would pick it up when I was sad or frustrated, knowing that the words in it would comfort me and cheer me up. Then I would put it back on my shelf until the next time I wanted something from it. I would neglect reading, feel bad knowing that I should have, and then stay away even longer out of guilt. I didn't know where to start. I don't think I believed that the Bible was the real living word of God or that it represented fundamental truth. I didn't deep-down have a desire to know more about God, and putting time into reading something that was written thousands of years ago and confused me was not something I wanted to do. Like everything else in my life that requires a commitment, I had to want it to do it.

I remember a conversation I had one night with a friend / mentor in California during the summer of 2008 shortly after I had made the decision to wholly submit my life to the Lord. I was struggling big time with the lifestyle shift I knew I needed to make upon returning to school in the fall and with guilt from a lot of my past actions, and was feeling overwhelmed about how to move forward. Her advice was short, simple and has stayed with me since: "You have to cling to the Word of God girl." Shortly after, her husband reminded our team of the three things in life that are eternal: God, His Word and the souls of men.

There are three things that are eternal. How much of my time and energy was/is spent focused on these three things? I certainly make time to make sure my hair looks perfect, my social life is functioning well, my grades are good, my bank account is stocked, my clothes are nice, and that I am comfortable and always doing what I want. But living with an eternal perspective? Focusing on the things and relationship(s) that really, truly matter? That affect life after this?

God used the two comments from Jen and Ben Treece to move me. I knew that an investment into the Word of God and the people he loves was crucial in my own spiritual growth. But I still didn't have a strong desire to read, so I still did it mostly out of duty. During this time I was also learning a lot about prayer and the power we have in approaching God and asking for his help. I began to understand something that might be  obvious to everyone else: and that was that I could actually ask God to change my desires. This was new information to me. I saw where my life was and where I wanted it to be. But to get there, I needed him to change the fundamental desires of my heart-- to make the Bible more attractive to me and to make my relationship with him more important. If I didn't have a heart-change, nothing would be different and any change would be insincere.

I have blogged about God's faithfulness many times since being here, but I am reminded again. For the last several years I have asked God to please make his gospel more beautiful to me than all the distractions that I absolutely love clinging to because I can see them and feel them and marvel at their beauty and in their immediate satisfaction. And in his love and mercy he has brought me over time from a place where I only picked up the Bible out of guilt or selfishness to a place where I look forward to that special time I get to spend in His word each day, when I can experience truth and my faith is strengthened.

As the death tolls are climbing in Japan, as the number of trafficking victims here are growing each day, and as laziness and spiritual complacency / relativism sweeps across the culture of North America, I am reminded again of the delicacy and fleeting nature of life and the three things that outlast all else. I am reminded that we are not promised tomorrow and that the choice is ours to move forward in our relationship with God and pursue what is of eternal worth. The danger in waiting or not caring is too grave. And where we are doubting, weak, unbelieving and scared, God will meet us. Just ask for him to change your heart, to reveal himself to you more clearly, to make his spirit alive in you. To show you what is Truth. To open wide the doors of opportunity. To give you the desire to open your Bible.

I am lucky to work in an office where a 30 minute time of stillness is factored into the start of every working day- a luxury I will likely never have again. I wanted to end this by leaving a few verses for you, and also to congratulate your longsuffering-ness if you made it to the end :) Let me know if you need help knowing where to start, because I know that true encounters with God's love and God's word changes lives forever.

"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." - John 17:17

"It is not the flesh that gives a person life. It is the Spirit that gives life. The words I told you are Spirit, and so they give life." - John 6:63

"Jesus said then to the Jews who had believed in him, 'If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know truth, and the truth would make you free.' " - John 8:31-32

"For the Word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are." - Hebrews 4:12

Mark 5:19

"Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you."

clap clap shudder shudder

Inspired by my awesome friend Taylor Switzer and a recent post from her fabulous blog - www.talesofswitzerland.blogspot.com, I have decided to give my own rendition of some of my stranger addictions-- or rather, the random things I have extremely strong opinions about-- based off her blog and the TLC show My Strange Addiction. When I read her post about how she is obsessed with Tweezerman tweezers and plucking other people's eyebrows, I could definitely relate (ACS shoutout!). Pretty much all my friends have commented on how strong my opinions are about things that to them don't matter at all, haha. These three things are the first that come to mind:

1. Brushing my teeth. I could easily brush my teeth about eight times a day if given the opportunity. Nothing disgusts me more than a lack of oral hygiene and I think I definitely inherited this addiction from my dad, who has been known to carry an extra toothbrush in his pocket. I CANNOT stand it when my mouth doesn't feel fresh. Basically as soon as I eat I want to brush again and I also am always prepared just in case I can't fight the urge.

2. Clapping. I know it is strange, but I absolutely cannot stand clapping. It is not yet a registered phobia, but I avoid in all circumstances. The absolute worst are situations where neglecting applause is rude and I have to submit to the will of the group. There are also always those individuals who have an insatiable desire to be the loudest clapper in a room and love doing so out of sync of everyone else. Every morning after prayer devotions a coworker says "And all God's people say.." and everyone claps and says Amen. I cringe every time! It's terrible.

3. Brownie / ice cream contact. There is something about a warm brownie and the cold ice cream touching each other in the same bowl and melting all over each other, making the brownie totally mushy, that I cannot handle. Alyssa thinks I am a freak because we made them last weekend and I gave her specific orders for two separate serving receptacles. Anyone with me here?

Hmm that should be enough for now. Please still be my friend! Have a wonderful Wednesday!!

I ate Rudolph!!

Today, my friend Voratida returned from her trip to Finland. She brought back smoked Reindeer jerky. I decided to give it a whirl. In case you are considering ever trying this northern delicacy, take my word for it: it both smells and tastes like cat food. Soo disgusting!



Meredith + Matt

Congratulations to one of my favorite couples and best friend. Here's to your engagement and the beginning of the rest of your life together [I had a difficult time choosing my favorite of all the drop-dead photos] :

Meredith. I can say with no hesitancy whatsoever that you are the most giving, dependable and faithful friend I have ever had. Your beauty is much deeper than your gorgeous exterior (does Ram's Head Goddess ring a bell? haha). Over the last 5 years I have seen time and time again your unfailing commitment to loving, caring for and serving others, along with your constant thoughtfulness and generosity to everyone in your life. My life would not be the same your presence in it. From stats class (arpha) / Carmichael / Ehringhaus / elevator fights, to intramural softball to Morrison to me pretending to work out at Ram's Head that week to being interviewed before football games to my 19th birthday beach trip to my slow jams keeping you up to hilarious nights out / frat parties to Halloween 2007 to lunch dates to Caribou coffee to Bible study to the Jschool to graduation to 2010 summer dinners to real life to lots of Sears Solutions to MARRIAGE! I am so, so lucky to call you a friend. Just wait for the celebrations I have planned this summer!

And Matt! As I said this morning: You are the man. I know you are aware of how majorly you have scored. Thank you for being the person she deserves. Your life is going to be awesome. I can't wait to get back and give y'all my congratulations in PERSON!

change is here

Thank you, CNN. 

"Throughout 2011, CNN will use its global reach and resources via CNN International and CNN.com to report on the horrors of modern-day slavery, giving voice to both the victims and the individuals and organizations fighting to end it. CNN hails IJM as an organization with 'fearless team members at the frontlines, risking their lives in lawless lands, to help those most vulnerable.' Let us pray that the CNN Freedom Project is a powerful platform for exposing millions of people to the horrors of modern-day slavery and IJM's efforts to combat it -- and above all, that it lives up to its name in bringing real freedom for the millions who so desperately hunger for it." - from an IJM colleague

http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/04/modern-day-slavery-a-problem-that-cant-be-ignored/?hpt=C2

the stand

You stood before creation, eternity within Your hand

You spoke the earth into motion, my soul now to stand

You stood before my failure, carried the cross for my shame

My sin weighed upon Your shoulders, my soul now to stand

So what can I say? What can I do,

But offer this heart, O God, completely to You?

So I'll walk upon salvation, Your spirit alive in me

This life to declare Your promise

My soul now to stand

So what can I say? What can I do,

But offer this heart, O God, completely to You?

So I'll stand

With arms high

And heart abandoned

In awe of the One who gave it all

So I'll stand

My soul Lord to You surrendered

All I am is Yours

the simple life

"Frugality is one of the most beautiful and joyful words in the English language, and yet one that we are culturally cut off from understanding and enjoying. The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things." - Elise Boulding

Alyssa had her first Sunday afternoon village experience today and absolutely loved it. I am so glad that she got to come! We picked out a few more kids we want to take home with us. FYI it is already over 90 degrees here every day and will be increasing steadily until July, omg!



 

 



house party

Last night Alyssa and I went to our new friend's apartment for Sweta's birthday party. It was a great time, especially because we have become friends with several of her friends who are from Bhutan and have seen them a lot lately. I LOVE hanging out with them and am thinking of visiting Bhutan before I leave here. It is really nice to have friends here outside of work and it makes living here seem so much more normal. Everyone is inquisitive and extremely friendly. I was reminded that this city would be the most perfect place to do a casting for Jersey Shore: India edition. They were loving the American beatz. A couple photos from the evening:

being the usual token white girl

the birthday girl

hanging out

Next weekend we are going to have them over for an American dinner. They are so pumped. Have a great weekend everyone!

loving the Psalms

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

-Psalm 63: 1-3

slap me on da hip

Oh my goodness friends and family do I have some good news for you! But first, I will explain the title of this post in the form of a brief anecdote.

I learned a lot of new phrases during the three years I spent tutoring the UNC football boys. Un-ghetto-izing their language and writing was a continual challenge but always a pure joy. Also, when out of the office I received hilarious texts and Facebook messages all the time. Most (but not all) of them were entirely inappropriate for a tutor / student type of relationship, but they never cared esp. since I was usually only a year older.  One time I was setting up a tutoring session with this guy outside of my usual hours. He was having a writing emergency. I got his number. When I got home I had a message telling me to slap him on da hip ASAP.

Slap him on da hip. Hmm.

From there I did some preliminary research around the dorm, in my suite, from Young Marcus, on urbandictionary.com, etc. To maintain any semblance of street cred I had to pretend that I already knew and was just quizzing them. #whitegirlproblems. Then I asked one of my other boys and was notified that it simply means 'call me.' Obviously. He went on to say something about how the cell phone might be on the aforementioned student's hip somewhere and when you call it, some kind of hip-slappage occurs. That one stuck.

So this brings me to my extremely exciting news!! Before Alyssa got here, her parents did their due diligence and discovered this calling-card plan you can order online called Reliance Global Calling.

http://www.relianceglobalcall.com/

Basically you can sign up online for however much you want and get OOC low rates so you can call me on my Indian celly. It is approximately 8 times cheaper than me calling you, the connection is totally clear, it's easy to use and it works every time! Brett has been using it and it has revolutionized our convo making capacities. The best part is that it is soo much clearer than Skype. I think the calls are usually about 2-3 cents a minute. So for 10$ you can get about 300 minutes. A-mazing!

So, if you are interested, e-mail me [laurelgillespie88@gmail.com] and I will tell you the secret code, aka my number.  The person I hear from first gets an extra souvenir. How's that for bribery. Slap me on da hip people!