Some of my Favs...

Two unsuspecting friends.





I will never see a bicycle again, and not think of India.





A window on a flower museum we visited... just so bright and happy.




a rear view...




and... a front view - too cute!!


No two the same.





I thought this woman was absolutely beautiful. She read the Bible for us, so many times over the three days. She was, also, ONE of the FIVE women who took the final test for the NT Overview class.
I didn't get her name and I should have. A regret.





"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:15


More another day. Thanks for letting me share.

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A World Away... part 4

Before I share my journal with you today I want to remind you that tomorrow is your last chance to leave a comment on a blog post and have your name entered into our "Celebration of Spring" draw. We love to get feedback from you! We will post the winner of the draw on Monday!





Wednesday, March 16
This is what I read this morning:

Psalm 67

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us,
that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.

May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you.

May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth.

May the peoples praise you O God; may all the peoples praise you.

Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God will bless us.

God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.


How timely was that? These people are praising God, and they are yielding a harvest of tea leaves, everyday!

We finished our sessions in West Bengal today. I found it hard to leave after only three days. I wanted to get to know the women better - to scratch beneath the surface. What would it have been like after three weeks, or three months or... ?

They asked us to "Please, come back again."


I caught them praising God!


...almost a smile there!






Hold up a camera and one, immediately, became the Pied Piper!


Every one's shoes off before entering any church.

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A World Away... part 3

Tuesday, Feb 15
Our second day of training. The ladies are reserved. I so wish I knew them well, and they knew me.
Sam shared her study on Hannah today - and the ladies responded to the call for prayer. Prayer is EVERYTHING to them. They are teaching me. Praying with and for them is a humbling, privilege.



The ladies are enthralled with Sam's hair - all in braids. How long did it take? Did you do it? Did a machine do it? Can you show us?

Pastor James took us to see his home today, during NT Overview class, don't tell the teacher!









I sent some laundry to be washed. Thought I'd pick it up when we got back to the hotel this evening - but, the sun wasn't out at all today. So nothing is dry ;O) Hummmm... how would I deal with that at home?

Shakti took us out to a couple jewelery stores tonight. I would LOVE to buy a gold bangle bracelet. It appears I have monster hands in comparison to the ladies here.


This picture was taken to make the mark the momentous "first time squatter experience". Can't say I'll ever like them, but we are figuring out a... system.

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A World Away... part 2

Sunday, Feb 12
I slept with the TV on BBC World News. A bit nervous last night for some reason.

I woke up to the sounds of birds singing outside my window and this thought immediately came to mind: this is "my Father's world", even though it is vastly different from "my world", it is still His world.

Another thought I woke up with was this: I can wrap my head around all of this if I think of myself as camping. I can't try to relate this to a hotel experience I'd have in North America - but it fits well in my mind if I consider myself camping... Princess!

We were honored guests at a church opening today. And, I do mean honored.

This is the new building! We all walked from the old church building to this brand new one. Then we all walked around this one three times and then dedicated each entryway to the Lord. It was so fun to be a part of. I was asked to cut the ribbon at one of the entryways... that's just one of the ways I felt honored.

They use beautiful tents for every celebration. This is the ceiling of one tent that was just for us, their guests, to keep us out of the hot sun. A bit different than our tents, eh?

Some of the beautiful, colorful ladies. I loved them.

Far left, Vino - she is married to one of the area Pastors, Tintamony, myself, and one of Tintamony's daughters. These ladies were the first to introduce themselves to us.

This lady presented me with my scarf. I wanted to tickle her to make her smile - but I didn't.


Left - Shant, director of Far Corners - the mission we travelled with. Mid - Shakti, acted as our big brother for two weeks, he took care of everything for us, everything - and he's coming to Canada in May! Right - Biplab, a Baptist pastor having great impact in his community. He and his wife had us into their home for a wonderful meal.


Being in church today has made me think of home. I wonder what my family is up to? School break has begun.
I ate a meat dish that had nuts in it, at supper time. I had such a sense that this would happen at some point in time... it near scared me to death. But God really protected me - a miracle meant just for me. I am so thankful, NO reaction... just a big swig of Benedryl and I was knocked out.

stay tuned for more...

Don't forget about our first blog draw. All the information about the draw can be found here.

How do I participate?

1. Become a follower of this blog and your name will be entered once. It is easy. Just click on the little Google "Follow" button on the left side of the page, and give yourself a Google password. Please leave a comment on the blog (not on facebook) when you have done this.

2. Leave a comment on any blog post between now and March 19th and your name will be entered each time you leave a comment.

3. If you have a blog and link our draw onto your blog, your name will be entered once if you leave a comment letting me know you have done so.

PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS ON THE ACTUAL BLOG POST - NOT ON THE FACEBOOK LINK!! Thanks!

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A World Away... part 1

Well, just over one week ago I arrived back in Canada - from a trip to India that was truely amazing.

I worked at keeping a journal while away, and thought I'd share exerpts from what I recorded there, with you.

May you enjoy.


Saturday, Feb 12, 2011
I honestly don't know what I am feeling. It's like I've been beamed, quite literally, onto another planet.
There is dust and dirt everywhere.
There are men everywehre - women, not so much.
I am completely and utterly a foreigner.

I still can't believe I'm here - pinch me, someone! I already know I wouldn't change this for the world.

Hummm... what all did I see on that 5 hour car "ride" today?
Cows and bicycles, and chickens and motorbikes, dogs and buses bursting at the seems and sheep and goats and cars.

And, people... people all around!
But where are they all going? That's what makes me curious.

It's midnight, and I'm beat. I pray I sleep.

This was one of hundreds...

Oh yeah - a truck load of rice, which I think I ate during my two weeks there.


I know I was/am new to the country, but, honestly, I could not detect any rule that resembled a traffic rule. "Get in and go for it" is pretty much how it felt.

Stayed tuned... more to follow.

Don't forget to get your name in for our first ever draw on TAKE SIX!! Click here and read how you can participate in this draw. It is a great opportunity to win some chalkboard paint and supplies. You can let your creativity take off by creating little chalkboards in your own home on anything!!

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Some of my Favs...

I will never see bicycles again, and not think of India.




Two unsuspecting friends.





back view...


and, front view... too cute!



Windows on a flower museum we visited... so happy and bright.




I thought this woman was beautiful. She read her Bible for the group of us women, many times. She was among the FIVE women who took the final test from the NT Overview class.
No, I didn't get her name, and I should have. A regret.

"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news." Romans 10:15

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India Team Heads Home!

News from India has been, well, non-existent this week. Their internet access has been sketchy at best from what we have heard previously. We trust everyone is well and enjoying their last few hours in India. They had planned to spend Thursday and Friday shopping and sight-seeing in Mumbai.

The team begins their long journey home today (Friday). They are scheduled to depart just before midnight local time (mid-afternoon here) with a 16 hour flight to Newark, followed by a much shorter flight back to Halifax. Please pray for them as they travel… and for their luggage to stay with them. You may remember that several members of our 2009 Ecuador team lost their bags during the return trip, never to be found. That thought has probably crossed Rebecca’s mind, as she was on that team, too.

We look forward to having them back with us and hearing of their many adventures in West Bengal, Gangtok, Mumbai and points in between!

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India Update - Church Service in Gangtok

The adventures continue for our team in Gangtok!

Pastor Don found himself in a somewhat familiar spot on Sunday morning… the pulpit of a local church, but with a little twist since he doesn’t speak the local language. Thanks to the help of an interpreter, he was able to share God’s word with some of our brothers and sisters in Gangtok. Following that, the team planned to visit a nearby orphanage.

Monday will be a busy day, as the team will again be teaching at conferences for pastors and women. As we mentioned the other day, these conferences had to be shortened to just one day because of our team’s travel delays.

Your prayers are so very important as they continue to serve and minister to the people of India. We are so thankful for God’s hand on each member of this team and look forward to hearing what He has done in and through them during their time in India. Please keep praying for continued good health and stamina during these last few days. The team has specifically asked for prayer for their time… that it be profitable for both themselves and those they are teaching and interacting with.

*Updated from the StoneRidge Church blog

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Team arrives in Gangtok!

UPDATE: taken from the StoneRidge church blog.

Our team is now in Gangtok! They received permission to travel on Thursday night and early Friday morning, a bus from Sikkim province arrived to take them on the five hour drive up the Himalayan mountains to Gangtok.

Because of the highway blockades and travel uncertainty, the conferences planned for Friday and Saturday in Gangtok had to be cancelled. Instead, the team is pulling together a one day conference scheduled for Monday. It’s expected that 50-100 people will be able to attend.

We are grateful for their safe arrival in Gangtok! Please continue to lift up Pastor Don, Colin, Tara, Lisa, Rebecca and Samantha in prayer. No doubt they are adjusting to being in another new community, as they roll with changing plans and embark upon this adventure in Gangtok.

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News from the India team!

This is the latest news from the missions team that Lisa is presently serving on in India. It is taken from the StoneRidge Church blog.

It’s been one week since our team headed to India and it’s been a busy one between travel, teaching and changing plans! Everyone is doing well health-wise and enjoying rich fellowship.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday they taught at conferences for pastors and women. Everything went very well.

Here’s where plans changed. On Thursday, the team was supposed to travel to Gangtok in Sikkim province for another conference. However, road blockades and strike actions by the Gurkha people made that impossible. Since there is only one way in and out by ground, they tried to book helicopters. Unfortunately, they were already booked solid due to the blockades.

For now, they will remain in West Bengal and keep an eye on the situation. Instead of traveling on Thursday, the team was able to have some down time and do some sightseeing. If they are unable to travel to Gangtok, they will seek opportunities to serve with other missions where they are.

No doubt God has a purpose in keeping our team in West Bengal, at least for the time being. Please keep praying for them… that they would make wise decisions about travel, that God would open up opportunities for them to serve where they are, for continued good health and that God would use them to draw people to Himself.

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SRF Team arrives in India

We are so grateful to our God
for bringing us safely to India.
Please continue to pray
that God will use us mightily,
as well as for our health & safety
while we serve the Lord here!!

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