First Impressions

Being here only a few days (literally only 3)....I feel as if I have been here a few weeks.  Instead of feeling overwhelmed by this feeling, I am encouraged.  Why you ask?  This feeling can only imply that MUCH has been accomplished!  Isn't that wonderful! What an an encouraging thought for those of us who are kingdom minded and want to see the Lord's work accomplished.

Many of my friends have been asking me about my first impressions of India.  I'm having trouble putting those thoughts into words.  My dear friend Traci says that I'm often verbally evasive. :)  I'm not trying to be in this instance, it's just that I've needed some time to process my thoughts and may need a little more.

What I have decided to do since I couldn't organize anything poetic from my thoughts is to give you a list of sorts......

Thought #1  I have traveled to only four continents, but of the countries I have seen India is indeed the most foreign.  My friends who have spent time in far off places had warned me of such.  It feels "foreign" because of the destitution, the level of uncleanliness, the naked little children running around, the smells, the  CONSTANT honking, the interesting food (not quite so foreign as China), the all out assault on the senses, and many other reasons.  BUT (did you feel the but coming?) because of God's enduring grace and mercy, I feel home.  I hope that you catch that last part because it is a miracle.  I feel home.  His lovingkindness and mercies are new every morning and He is extending them towards me now.  Praise His holy name!

Thought #2  How easy it would be to be overwhelmed by the destitution and hopelessness that this country radiates.  VERY EASILY.  Child after child seen wandering the streets unclothed and unfed.  Even from infancy they are trained to have this withdrawn saddened look on their face that undoubtedly comes naturally.  Many of their mothers being prostitutes send out to beg with malnourished child in order to bring in more money.  Where is hope?  Ladies and gentlemen we have an answer and His name is Jesus.  I am so blessed to be a part of His kingdom and among His body who is touching people just like these.  We are to be in the world, but not of it.  We should not be consumed by circumstance, but instead and faith and believe in our loving God who is the changer of hearts, minds, and yes even earthly circumstances.

Thought #3  I will actually be living IN the orphanage in which I will be teaching.  Initially this thought intimidated me, and if I'm honest I will admit I have a few quickly passing moments of trepidation.  As a teacher, I first imagined that this would be likened unto taking up residence inside of your classroom.  All the fellow teachers out there are trembling now at this thought.  Or it could be compared to a pastor, NEVER leaving the church building.  Or possibly an accountant never rising from his/her desk.  Or maybe even a medical assistant having 24 hour around the clock patients.  Is anyone out there feeling overwhelmed?   Then it occurred to me, that the problem was not my place of residence.  The problem was my thinking on the subject matter.  How often have I offered my life to the Lord?  How often do we say,  "My life is Yours?" How often do have I said, "All I have, I give to you?"  So then, the question is why would I allow moments of anxiousness when He actually takes ALL I have?  This place I'm in this season of my life will be the most blessed, the most profitable, the most fulfulling, the most empowered, and the most fruitful because it belongs FULLY to Him.  I hope there are some readers out there saying "Amen and Amen!"  Maybe even a "halalujah!"  I am rejoicing now at the kitchen table as I think of it. 

Thought #4  Will there be trials, temptations, tribulations, pain, and maybe even hardship?  ABSOLUTELY!  Is His grace enough?  ABSOLUTELY!

I am filled with hope and joy.  My request is that as the church prayed for Peter without ceasing (Acts 12:5) that you, the church, will pray for me.  It was only by prayer that he was delivered from the hand of King Agrippa by the work of an angel.  I need your prayer.  

Blessings and Peace

Thank you for reading!  There will be more thoughts to come!

Prayer request...

Yesterday I met the kids at the Life Center for the first time.  They were absolutely amazing!!! There is only one small problem....my computer will NOT connect to the internet here.  I have been using the computers of some freinds that will be leaving very shortly.  I cannot tell you about all the wonderful things that are happening if I don't have internet.  This may sound like a small problem, but if you have ever been away from home and have no other means to communicate other than your beautiful laptop in front of you....then you understand.  It's IMPORTANT.  I need help friends...and that means that I need you prayers!

Blessings and Peace!

Melinda

I have.....

I have arrived in India. That is about all the words I can muster up in my current state of mental clarity. HOWEVER, I am here in India and wanted all of my dedicated blog readers to know. I feel home here already....even though I have only been here for an hour and may be on the only person awake in the city (it's 4:00 a.m.). I'm home. God is so good to send His grace, peace, and mercy to me.

Why would anyone ever serve another?

Support Information

You will see that I have revised and revisited the support section of my blog. Please check it out!! It's entitled "Supporting the Call," and will give you all the instructions you need. :) If you have any more thoughts, prayer requests, concerns, and/or questions, feel free to email me.

Blessed in order to be a blessing,

Melinda - a prisoner of Jesus Christ

Following Him...

My dedicated blog readers will notice that I changed the title of my blog from "Missions to Brazil" to "Taking Jesus to the Ends of the Earth." Those of you who are personally involved with me know why.

My time in Brazil has come to an end, but the notion of my being sent to share the gospel of Jesus Christ most certainly has not! On July 16th, I will begin the next chapter in my walk with the Lord as I head of to Lonavala, India! There I will be living in an orphanage referred to as the Life Center. This venture is not with the mission organization with whom I traveled to Brazil. This organization is called Sower of Seeds. They serve the county of India with water wells, slum school, orphanages, and much more. You can check them out at sowerofseeds.org to get more information.

If you have been supporting me in the past, I would ask for your continued support. I will post the support information this week. Many of you experienced God's care of provision over the last two years as your poured into the work done in Brazil. I am certain this will not change! If you have any question about what I will be doing in India and would like to contact me, please feel free to email me at mgrant3@hotmail.com. I welcome your question, thoughts, and prayers!

Please stay tuned into this blog! I am determined to be more dedicated to communicating with you!

Blessings and Peace,

Melinda - a prisoner of our Lord Jesus.

Remembering.....

Recently I have been feeling the Lord speaking to my heart, "Write it down." More specifically, the Lord has been reminding me to testify of all He has done in my life and through my life. That sounds like an easy task doesn't it. Maybe even fun. However, what I found is that when I sat down to make myslef recall all the wonders the Lord has preformed for me....my mind went directly to all the garbage. The natural instinct of the mind is to recall the crap. Excuse my english, but that clearly articulates the point I'm trying to make.

I was brought to tears by the natural inclination of the grey matter between my two ears. I was grieved by the condition of my heart, that I would have to search through the manure of my life in order to find something praise worthy. The Lord sent His Spirit to me in that moment to convict and to heal. My life has not been deficient of the Lord's workings. My mind has been lacking in remembrance. We have to be purposeful about recalling the Lord's works. When David was downcast (Psalm 42), he would speak to his soul and say REMEMBER the LORD!

We must remember the Lord. When our minds fail us and try to be downcast because of past or present circumstances, when need to speak to our soul just as David and Jeremiah did (Lamentation 3:17-25). We must be purposeful to praise.

Why remember? Primarily because the Lord is worthy of praise. Secondly, because remembering implies action. Every time the Lord remembers in the word of God, he acts upon our behalf. (Gen 8:1, Gen 19:29, Exodus 6:5-6, Num 10:9)When we remember the Lord, we act on His behalf. Doesn't that make you want to remember!

Why are thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 43:5

The Examination Room

I just want to start off with an apology for my lack of "blogging." My ambition was to make a weekly entry, but as you can see I have greatly fallen short in reaching that goal. Lately, I have been made more and more aware of this fact of falling short. As a physically tall women at 5 ft 10.5 in, spiritually I feel very short in stature.

At some points in my life I have been less aware of this truth. However, during time of trial and tribulation it seems as if we are simultaneously in the Great Physician's examination room. During these visits our spiritual flaws, broken bones, and cancers are exposed. This is where I find myself today in the examination room because of difficult, trying circumstances. I see that there are many areas in my walk with the Lord where I must increase.

It's funny because when speaking of my life here in Brasillia as a missionary, I have heard many people say that I'm living out my own personal adventure, as if I am on an extended vacation. It has been eluded to that my being here is in fact somewhat a life of ease. These are the things people think and say when you give up your life for the call. They are unaware of the challenges I face daily. All they can imagain is "how exciting" it all must be. What they are unaware of is the many "thorns" as Paul called them that come with being a follower of Jesus.

I have deliberated on whether or not to brodcast the struggles I face here. Would it discourage others? Would it sound as if I'm complaining? This is the conclusion I have come to. I need your prayers. I am encouraged in my trials because I know that they strengthen my faith. Even still, I need your prayers. The prayers of the righteous availeth much. I will not go into specifics of my struggles here. Only know that we are warring against princes and principalities, against those who would like to disrupt and even destroy the work being done here. Pray for our leaders. Pray for the missionaries here. Pray that as we find ourselves in the Great Physicians examination room, that we would allow Him to strengthen the broken places and heal us of our spiritual iniquites. Be encouaged by our trial friends. You are not alone in your struggles. As I pray for you, please pray for me that I will grow in His power and might. Not in my own. I want His strength to be made perfect in my weakness.

For the eyes of the Lord are over the rightwous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against then that do evil.

I Peter 3:12