Revived!

 What a monumental week for the IBM! When your starting numbers are 28 and suddenly you add 7 more, well, you check me on the math. That's 25% more man power! Our influx of 7 new missionaries-3 Indians and 4 Americans, has infused us all with renewed strength, testimony, and revitalization!

I'd been looking at their photos and preparing for their arrival for weeks and finally they're here! Welcome Elders Karmegam, Andrew, and Patta!

The American elders are not more casual. In Bengaluru they take their ties and tags off when out in public to not arouse undue attention. I snapped this before they had put them back on. 

This was our first time conducting an orientation for new missionaries and I think we both did fine. The next task was to orient them to their new cuisine and the experience of eating with their hands at the Bushis. They all dug in with initial gusto but one poor Elder tossed his biryani right after lunch.

Elders del Plain and Willis

               Elders Cook, Weight, and Andrew

The Indians fared much better here in their familiar territory but complained of the bland and soupy food they ate in Bangkok. No way. Who doesn't love Thai food? Apparently Indians.

It was a very full day because the next order of business was our Zone Christmas Devotional back at the church, put on by the Bushis and the APs. It was a spirit-filled meeting as we focused on the gift of Forgiveness, both given to us by our beloved Savior and the forgiveness we offer to others. It was a fitting Christmas exercise to think about this magnificent gift we receive from him and how we can offer it to our companions, our family and friends, and even all mankind. Additionally, we studied The Living Christ with Sister Bushi and broke into small groups to ponder and share our insights on this Proclamation. This simple devotional is what we will associate with Christmas this year and hope to do similar devotionals for years to come. They gave us stockings filled with candy, ties for the elders, and scarves for the sisters. Missionary Christmases are simple and simply the best! 

                  

I wish the day could've ended right then and there, but after personal interviews, there was one more meal to be shared together before the long day was over. I was feeling sympathy for our one elder, who wasn't feeling so hot to begin with, to go to the overindulgent Barbeque Nation for all you can eat spicy Indian style barbeque and many other rice dishes and desserts. My stomach churned all night afterwards and is still gurgling as I write this. I'm hoping and praying the new elders aren't in the same fix as me. They've got flights to catch!

The celebration doubled for a birthday party for Elder Johnson and a farewell for Sister Kalyani leaving Monday. 

 My Night of Woe might have been brought on a little by nerves because today is the Day of Reckoning for me. Getting 14 missionaries transferred to their new areas all by flight and cabs is stressful for sure. It wouldn't be so bad except the cab drivers, as you might recall from last time, send their details to me last minute after the time the missionaries have departed for the airport sans phones, so there's no way to communicate with them directly anymore. Further snags were produced by the flooded web check-in system that kept me from making seat assignments and getting boarding passes early to them. So last minute, I'm sending them their codes to do their own check-in at the airport. As I write this, I'm still in an anxious state to hear if anyone missed a flight or a cab driver didn't show up to pick them up. If I can survive this transfer, I believe we'll only have one small one to go before our time is up. This is cause to shout Hallelujah! But mixed in is some regret too. This morning I received notice in my inbox of 4 more American Elders originally slated to come to India who've been permanently reassigned to stateside missions. Perhaps they have been out longer than a year now and would not have enough time left in their missions to spend a year in India. We can only guess at the reason but my gut says we may not see more Americans coming our way and there is surely not a senior couple on the way to replace us either. We are praying mightily we aren't asked to try to do these secretarial jobs remotely, it's hard enough for us as it is. But somehow the Lord always finds a way to move his work forward despite opposition. When the Chesnuts who were over the Indian MTC had to leave a week ago when their visas expired, plans were made to then send our 3 incoming Indian missionaries to the new Bangkok MTC where they were able to receive, not only their mission preparation classes, but also their temple endowments prior to coming back to India. What a perfect solution! 

Speaking of how the Lord works, His wonders to perform, I have a story that substantiates and confirms the adage "people meet for a reason." A year ago we met Sister Amy Paul in the Church Headquarters mission. She is from Delhi. But she had to hastily return home to India and honestly, I hadn't thought much of her, because of her quick turnaround, we hadn't figured out a way to stay in touch. Who should walk into the mission office this week but this dear old friend!

With the backdrop of packaged garments, no less

She is now on a service mission with the task of writing the history of the Church in India. No small feat! The revelation suddenly hit me that one of my purposes here and our time there in Church Headquarters, was to meet her a year later and put her into contact with key people we've met along the way. I was able to put her in touch with Samuel May, the first Bengaluru convert we met in passing at the airport, Sister Berryman, the first convert baptism in Chennai, Brother Raju Joseph, a pioneer member in Semmedu and Brother Matthew, also a pioneer in Chavadi, who lives near the first built chapel in India. My mission has a purpose! I'm simply in the right place at the right time and that's one important purpose the Lord has for me. I am a bridge! We just never know when we meet someone how the Lord will use us for future essential connections. Realizing this revitalizes me too and gives purpose to my days here. It motivates me to meet as many saints and make as many friends that we can. Because you just never know...

And speaking of being revived, that's the segue way into my last inspirational story. It involves our church dog. A few weeks ago, this unnamed dog must've been hit by a car because he had a huge gash that skinned the fur off his thigh and exposed an ugly gaping wound of muscle and bone. It looked so raw and painful. No one takes ownership of any street or building dog here so they are basically on their own to survive. We saw him day after day surviving in pain, licking his wounds as his only remedy of solace. Now would'ja look at him.

He's not exactly Mr Zippy but the open wound has closed!

Yes, they say time heals all wounds but how is that possible? I'm reminded of the scripture that all creatures are under the all-seeing eye of God, that He notices even when a sparrow falls. If this dog was able to be healed of his gaping wound without the aid of medicine or surgery, how much more does this same Benevolent Father of all creation look after His children and is completely involved but usually unseen in our healing when we put our complete trust in Him? Dogs instinctively trust their Creator because they know who made their bodies to heal on their own and they don't question it. We may be smarter than dogs but we often trust God less. I know from my life experience that we are beautifully and lovingly created and watched over every day by Him.  I testify God our Father has a plan for each of our lives, that he can utilize us for His work of exalting his children and He will magnify the purpose of our lives when we submit our wills to His perfect will. What healing and revitalization can then be brought to pass! 

This week's scripture-

Alma Chapter 58 from the Book of Mormon, edited for our exact circumstances.

...therefore it became expedient that we should wait that we might receive more strength, and we did wait in these difficult circumstances for the space of many months. And why they did not send more strength unto us, we knew not. Therefore we did pour out our hearts in prayer to God that he would strengthen us. Yea, the Lord our God did visit us with assurances and we did take courage with our small force which we had received. And why they do not send more men to our assistance, it mattereth not-

we trust God will deliver us notwithstanding the smallness of our armies. And those sons of whom I have spoken of so highly, they are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day and keep his commandments continually and their faith is strong. And now I close my epistle. I am Allison, the companion of Robert.