after a week...

Karli arrived Saturday morning. YEAH! so we're complete. Saturday afternoon we moved in with our host family. Kirin is the mom. she works for Sari Bari, she has 2 daughters in their mid twenties, Kanak and Preety. Kirin doesn't speak great english, but her daughters both do, and since we're learning Bengali, we communicate just fine, and it will only get better! apparently there's some confusion about the shower situation...we do have an indoor shower...but we still use buckets...and now there's no hot water...although, its already warming up, and last night my cool shower felt great!

As far as living with Kirin and her girls, its a tight fit, they're house is quite small. There are somethings that are less than ideal...but i'm really excited to get to know them. I know that living with a family will be harder in some ways - but i also know that i'll have the opportunity to experience the culture in different ways. (you can pray for all of us as we adjust to living with each other. 5 women in 1 house is a lot...no matter the size!)

We had our second language class yesterday. Protima Didi is our teacher (Didi means "older sister" and its a term of respect, Protima is her first name). She's incredible. as she teaches us, she also tells us stories, about the culture, and living here. I'm going to enjoy those lessons...and Protima Didi is just the sort of lady you have an inherent respect for...i want to study hard, so that she's pleased.

As for pictures...i'm still working on it...kind of. i've mentioned taking a pic of the team...we just haven't gotten around to it yet. And i think its hard for me to imagine capturing this place in pictures...as if those dimensions just aren't enough...and in some ways, i just don't "feel like" taking picutres right now. i know it would help you all to know more about where i'm at...maybe its that i'm not a tourist here, and so taking pictures of everything just doesn't seem quite right. Just be patient with me...i'll get to it eventually!

Yesterday we went to Church - and it was good...oh so good. We went to an English service, so i was able to sing, and understand the teaching. It was good to worship corporately! I was struck by how "empty" i was feeling. Like i'd been drained...and i didn't even know it. I've had time with God...but its like the city just drains you...and until i was in a worship service...i didn't even realize how much i needed to be there! I'm so thankful for that time!

Lastly, i've realized a few ways you can be praying for me specifically. I need to learn how to be alone here, or how to be recharged. I love being with people...but if i don't get time alone, i tend to go nuts. Being alone is one way i'm re-filled...and there isn't really any alone time built into our lives here. My guess is it will get easier as we're here longer and figure out more of a pattern/schedule...but i've realize already that i need to find a way for that to at least feel alone!

the second way you can pray for me, is that i'll have tough skin, but a soft heart. The city requires tough skin...its a city, its busy, there is an overwhelming amount of visible need. And at the same time - i don't want to miss the opportunity to obey God because my skin is so thick. I want my heart to remain sensitive to the people i'm passing and the ways i can interact with them appropriately to point to the God who is Hope!