"Sing to us, Auntie"

I know when I’m being inspired to do something.  I know when the Lord is pushing me to be better.  I know, because I’m scared.

I felt Him give me courage while lying on a cement floor, in an Indian Hostel, singing to a group of young girls who don’t go home to their Mothers at night.  They snuggled around me on the cool floor with nothing but a thin mat to sleep on saying “Sing to us, Auntie!”  

I am NOT a singer.  I rarely sing to my own kids.  This was not a natural thing for me to do, but I knew I couldn’t say no.  Trying to conceal my dread I began singing the only song I could think of:   “I am a child of God.”

No one made a sound.  Instead, I felt a few of them move closer to me.   I was their Mother in this moment.  My voice wasn’t beautiful, but something beautiful happened in that humble room.  As I sang of being a Child of God I realized I was bearing testimony to some of them who may not know of a Heavenly Father.  

When the song was over a sleepy voice said:  “I’ve heard that one before.  Sing it again, Auntie?”

So, I sang it again and again and the Spirit filled the room as I lost them to sleep, one by one.  

Five years later I got a letter from one of the girls in that room.  “I remember that night you sang to us,” she wrote. “I will always remember that night.” 

I’m positive it wasn’t my singing that made an impression. It was the Spirit of Christ that filled the empty room and perhaps some hollow spots in her heart.   

I’m so glad I had the courage to serve others when I feared to do so.  For I realize now that being uncomfortable then meant being a tool in the hands of a Savior who both loves the orphan and also allows us to feel His love for them too.  

A Faking Beggar

I just spent 3 weeks in India.   Everytime I return to America I immediately appreciate the cleanliness, and order that exists here.

The streets are quiet.  The streets are clean.  The streets are animal free.  The streets lack beggars.

I was driving into town yesterday appreciating all those things but then again I remembered I had seen beggars here before!

A ”homeless“ man in a wheelchair sits at the entrance of a shopping complex.  He looks different from the beggars in India but he is asking for handouts nonetheless.

As I drove pass his spot I looked for him but he wasn’t there.  I wondered if he had given up.  As I went about my way I continued to compare him to the beggars of India.

He sat in a wheelchair...so did some of them.

He wore ragged clothes...so did they.

He looked un kept...so did they

He held a sign that read ”Anything helps.“..they clasped their hands over their heart suggesting this plea.

The first time I saw the man in the wheelchair I immediately thought he was faking.  He isn’t really homeless, I concluded.

Across the intersection was also was a woman, not that much older than me, pacing the cars at a street light with a cardboard sign reading ”Single mom.“

In this one spot of my town there are 2 quiet beggars.  I doubted both of them. 

I just returned from a place where a hand was thrust out at every turn wanting from me.  Eventually I got pass feeling sorry for the indians and gave away smiles instead, knowing I could never satisfy them. 

As I compared these two situations that exist in 2 different worlds I realized I HAD been more sympathetic to a different culture.

Why was it that I wouldn't give to the man on my street corner but I’d travel to a 3rd world country and offer more compassion to people suffering with leprosy (the "lowest cast) instead!?

I don’t know the truth from any beggars standpoint.  Maybe it’s sincere, maybe it’s their 2nd income.  How am I to know?

Jesus teaches us to Feed the hungry and clothe the naked, right?  Is there a stipulation to this that we need to consider first?

An hour had passed when I returned near that spot to pick up gorceries  only to find the man in the wheelchair was now there!  As I turned into the entrance my eyes met his.  I saw him and I know he saw me see him.  I watched him through my rear view mirror with conflicting thoughts.  

After my shopping I sat in my car and wondered ”What would Jesus do?“ 

My husband has been an example to our family on this very topic.  He will always stop and give something whether it be coins or dollars. He has even given gum or a sandwich..whatever  he has with him!   

Our kids once asked: ”Dad, what if they are faking?“  

His response is:  ”What if God is testing you?“ 

I decided I was going to give the man in the wheelchair some cash.  I pulled next to him and rolled down the passenger window.  He scooted forward while I wadded up my donation and tossed it for an easier exchange.  He caught it and rewarded me with a ”God Bless Ma’am.“  I wished him to stay warm and drove away with his runny yellow discharged eyes branded on my mind.

Looks like I need a paradigm shift.  Am I a faking Giver?

My moment of fame?

This weekend Sam and I attended a benefit dinner for Rising Star Outreach 

I am so excited I got to attend this one for 2 reasons.

First, I always miss their events because head quarters are in Provo, Utah.

This time I moved to Utah one week before the event!

The second reason I was excited to go was because they showed my video I made from my first trip to work with the leprosy afflicted in India.

But it doesn't end there!  The singer/songwriter of the song I used, Bianca Merkley, was there and performed live during my video!!  How cool is that?

She sounded great too!

        Bianca Merkley!

I was excited to wear my Indian clothes, until I saw this picture!  Is it cliche to say these clothes make me look fat!!?  I'm so bummed about the turn out.  My hair!?!  What?  I've seen better days.  I looked so much better in my mind.  :)

Sally Read, President of Rising Star Outreach.  

I got started with this organization because of Sally!  I was her visiting teacher in New Canaan (before she became the Pres.)  You can read about that here.

I am so happy I live closer to this organization.  Working with them is so uplifting!

So, who wants to go to India with me??

Hobi's in India Video

I don't know where my brain has been!  While updating the Rising Star blogs I realized I never posted my family video from India on my own blog!!
Here it is...10 months later!

The year of Karma

I think I'll call 2012 my year of Karma.

Karma is a fundamental doctrine in Buddhism, coming from India.  

I like the concept of it.  

There are various theories on how it all works which include; past sins or advantages from a past life, that follow you into this life identified as Bad Karma or Good Karma.  

My version is all Karma is good Karma.  It's a reflection of our actions, whether we like it or not.    

Thanissaro Bhikkhu (an American Buddhist monk) said:

Karma is caused by Ignorance, or not knowing things as they really are.

Or put differently Karma is a catalyst to knowledge, if you see it as such.  

You don't know what you don't know, right?  

If Karma is a result of being ignorant; It's a smack in the head telling you to smarten up! 

To me, that's Good Karma.

Well, my Karma came, ironically enough, while I was in India last Spring.

The day I returned to the US the wheels were in motion to turn me upside down and teach me a few things.

The following months, even up to this day, God is showing me what I don't know.

However you want to look at it, Karma is just another expression used to teach what the Apostle Paul did:

 Whom the Lord loves he chastens

Hebrews 12:6

That's what I call God Karma! 

Great things

Great things are happening in the Hobi Home!
Sometimes I am up all night working on "Project India" and other nights I'm in bed before the baby.
Most my blog posts are geared to India these days.  Swing on over to www.EmberInIndia.blogspot.com to see what we've been up to.

Kids, we're going to India...

Today we made the announcement to the kids.  Ideally, we wouldn’t have told them till the day before we left but since it’s in the local Newspapers I figured it’s best they hear it from me rather than someone else.

I pulled up the Newspaper article on the Computer and had Jarom read it out loud.  It mentions the ages and names of my kids going to India with me.  They didn’t respond like I thought they would.  I was expecting more excitement.  It took them a few hundred questions to understand what it meant.

As expected the first thing Jarom said was:  “What about Abi?”

I explained that she would not be going and it broke their hearts.  They are so worried that she is going to be so sad without them.  I reassured them that she would be in good hands.

As the day wore on sudden bursts of excitement would come from one of them as they hammered me with more questions about what it would be like.

Jace asked if we will drive the RV there.  He LOVED our Road Trip to Nauvoo last year.

Jennica wanted to know what clothes she would pack.

Jarom asked if he could watch Sports on the airplane.

We booked our flights today.  That was a scary moment.  Just before clicking the “Purchase Tickets“ button I got really scared.  

”What if this is a crappy airline?  What if one of us gets sick?  This is a lot of MONEY!”

After the “CLICK” I felt better.  It was official!  No turning back.  

Then I got excited.

This is going to be so much fun!!

In the News

I’ve had many sleepless nights this week.  Not because of too much chocolate, this time.  Yes, I still have a little one that wanders into my room almost nightly but he’s not the cause either.

This is why I can’t sleep: Read it here

Dani, from Rising Star called and asked me to Coordinate the Spring Session in India.  How can I refuse that?  I get to recruit people and then introduce them to the Rising Star Life!

Let me be clear, I’m losing sleep because I am so excited to bring my family!  I can’t believe I am returning already.  

I remember the day I left Rising Star last July. As I hugged Pam, the Director, she whispered in my ear;

 "I think we'll be seeing you again."  

I thought of her comments on the long ride to the airport and wondered why she said that.  My time in India was a once in a life time experience...or so I thought.

Now I climb in bed and my mind takes off to India.

Won’t you come with me?