September update..

When I joined Word Made Flesh in January of 2010 I made a 3 year commitment to the community. In the past few months I have been given space to discern if I would continue journeying with this community, or if it was time to “move on.” I am so thankful for the space, and the process. It  has helped bring clarity to the past 2 ½ years.

One of the patterns that I noticed while re-reading old journal entries is that back in 2010 I wrote a lot about wanting to put down roots, wondering how to make this home, wondering how to find my voice, and my place in this community. Then, somewhere in the last year that conversation changed. I started writing that in the midst of chaos and hard days I felt that my roots were going deeper and deeper into life and community here. I began to write that I felt grounded and a part of relationships here. In the midst of dark days feeling sad, and overwhelmed – my heart also wrote that I had never felt more rooted here. In hard days, rather than finding a desire to leave, I found that my roots had gone down deep and where anchoring me here. (pretty amazing, eh?!) 

I can see that I want to be here, and I want to continue to be a part of the work the Lord is doing here. (even knowing the chaos, sorrow, and injustice that are mixed in with the joy, redemption and celebration). I just kept thinking, “Why would I leave? Where else would I go? What else would I do? Why would I pull up these roots, just for the sake of pulling them up?”

So while I know some of the ways that it will continue to cost me, my family and friends at home for me to continue to live here – I can’t find anywhere near good enough reason to leave.  My family has spoken freedom over me in this decision, which in turn frees me to look into another commitment of 3 years to the community in Kolkata. 

It is with great joy that I look into the next season with my community in Kolkata, toward knowing and being known in deeper ways. It is with a sense of deep gratitude that I acknowledge the privilege it is to share life with the women of Sari Bari. It is with deep gladness that I will put one foot in front of the other alongside my brothers and sisters, and with you as we continue walking together toward freedom.

I’ll be in the States from Sept 20-Oct 25! I’m looking forward to attending a few weddings, being in MI in the Fall (yeah for Autumn leaves!...although I am a bit concerned I’m going to freeze to death now that I consider 80 chilly, and worthy of drinking hot chocolate!), time with family and friends…and connecting with you! If you have a small group or gathering of some sort that you’d like for me to speak at, please let me know. I have not set a date, but I’m sure I’ll have an open-house while I’m home. I’ll pass on the details when they’re made!

Celebrations: At the beginning of August we had a graduation at our Prevention unit. 7 new women have completed training. This is the beginning of a lot of graduation parties. There are still 18 women at different points in the training process who will graduate and start working full time at Sari Bari in the next few months. What a joy. What an absolute joy!

On August 10 we celebrated the 3 year anniversary of our second production unit. Three years of God’s faithfulness. 3 years of watching the impossible become possible. 3 years of walking with women toward freedom. 3 years of struggle, and sadness, brokenness…and hope and joy and restoration. It is amazing to look at these women, and to see how God has been at work in them over the past 3 years. It is humbling to lift your head up from the daily grind and look back…to see the stakes in the ground…to see where God was at work when it seemed like He was absent…to look around and see transformation all around you. And it is encouraging too. I can see how God has made impossible things possible over the course of the past 3 years. And if He can do that…then certainly He can, and will be at work in the situations that we would currently name as impossible. He is faithful.

Ways you can pray:

We are currently running training at all 3 of our units  Please be in prayer for wisdom as we work to meet the very different needs of these women.

Still no new flat (although we have seen a few recently, which is promising!) I still have a deep desire for a different home here. Last month I moved into a different bedroom in the flat, that is quitter as a “temporary” move til we can find a few flat.  Please continue to pray for a new flat.

The Lord has provided some new friendships in unexpected places – but I still feel a “gap” in my life in terms of friendships that aren’t work related. Please continue to pray for me for more friendships.

Please be in prayer for our community. Through the middle of November we have a few different transitions that are shifting work-loads around. Please be in prayer for rest and restoration for staff that are caring for themselves in intentional ways, and for strength and wisdom for those who are overseas the daily tasks that still need to be done!

The Fall is usually an intense time in Kolkata. There are lots of Hindu festivals and worship celebrations scattered throughout the next few months. This leads to more crowds in the streets, more noise (with marching bands, fire works and horns). It also leads to a season that in generally very spiritually intense. Please be in prayer for peace and protection over us during these next 2 months.

Peace be with you.