Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Really cool people
I want to remember Monday night forever. We went to one of Matt's co-worker's apartment for dinner. The family is from India, and they cooked some of the best Indian food I have ever had. More than anything, though, I really loved hearing stories from their lives.
The best story they told us is the story of how they met and got married. Vivek saw this beautiful woman across the street at a bus stop one day. He felt an immediate emotional connection with her, so he followed her on to the bus and around town. He finally got to contact her at one of her family's sightseeing stops. She stratched out the address of where she and her family were staying. Unfortunately, there three different possible addresses that he could determine from her hasty handwriting. He stood outside of all three addresses for hours and days until he finally found her. They threw messages back and forth until she had to leave. He wrote to her (at her friend's address because his pursuit was a cultural faux pas) for many months. She didn't write back. He got so impaitent that he decided to go to her city to talk to her. But the day he was going to leave, he got a letter from her that said not to come. He went anyway and stood outside of her friend's house for hours. He finally got to see her, but she told him that she didn't want to see him again. He became so upset that he actually became suicidal! Fortunately, his friend that came with him was there to hold him back. For a couple more years, Vivek wrote to her. He learned that her brother had found a suitor for her. He finally became so intent on marrying her, that he took his savings and got support from his parents and went to get her--he was going to kidnap her and marry her. Her parents did not want him to marry her, and she wouldn't marry him in the Hindu temple because she wanted a legal court marriage. He and his friend didn't know what to do. They were at a local restaurant, brainstorming and calling all of their contacts in the city. The restaurant owner overheard their situation and told them about a magistrate who could be bribed for a marriage certificate, but that they would have to hurry because it was a Saturday and the courts were closing. They didn't make it in time, but after offering more money, they were able to meet the magistrate at his house and get the marriage certificate. (In India, it takes about a month for an application for marriage to be approved, but Vivek had found the one magistrate in the country that could be bribed for the certificate.) Vivek took the certificate to her house and presented it to her parents. They were very upset, but the new couple left to go back to Vivek's home. It took a couple of months to reconcile the family (her brothers were especially angry).
They have been married for a little under 20 years now. They both came to know Christ a few years into their marriage. Vivek was called into the ministry and started his schooling at a seminary in the Phillippines. Now they are here in the United States, and are looking to start a church for internationals in Boston. Their faith is inspiring. They had to go through a lot of hard times together. They are generous with their hospitality and their love of other people.
I love being at the seminary. People have very distinct callings into the ministry. I love being around people who ardently love doing God's work. It's encouraging and inspiring.
The best story they told us is the story of how they met and got married. Vivek saw this beautiful woman across the street at a bus stop one day. He felt an immediate emotional connection with her, so he followed her on to the bus and around town. He finally got to contact her at one of her family's sightseeing stops. She stratched out the address of where she and her family were staying. Unfortunately, there three different possible addresses that he could determine from her hasty handwriting. He stood outside of all three addresses for hours and days until he finally found her. They threw messages back and forth until she had to leave. He wrote to her (at her friend's address because his pursuit was a cultural faux pas) for many months. She didn't write back. He got so impaitent that he decided to go to her city to talk to her. But the day he was going to leave, he got a letter from her that said not to come. He went anyway and stood outside of her friend's house for hours. He finally got to see her, but she told him that she didn't want to see him again. He became so upset that he actually became suicidal! Fortunately, his friend that came with him was there to hold him back. For a couple more years, Vivek wrote to her. He learned that her brother had found a suitor for her. He finally became so intent on marrying her, that he took his savings and got support from his parents and went to get her--he was going to kidnap her and marry her. Her parents did not want him to marry her, and she wouldn't marry him in the Hindu temple because she wanted a legal court marriage. He and his friend didn't know what to do. They were at a local restaurant, brainstorming and calling all of their contacts in the city. The restaurant owner overheard their situation and told them about a magistrate who could be bribed for a marriage certificate, but that they would have to hurry because it was a Saturday and the courts were closing. They didn't make it in time, but after offering more money, they were able to meet the magistrate at his house and get the marriage certificate. (In India, it takes about a month for an application for marriage to be approved, but Vivek had found the one magistrate in the country that could be bribed for the certificate.) Vivek took the certificate to her house and presented it to her parents. They were very upset, but the new couple left to go back to Vivek's home. It took a couple of months to reconcile the family (her brothers were especially angry).
They have been married for a little under 20 years now. They both came to know Christ a few years into their marriage. Vivek was called into the ministry and started his schooling at a seminary in the Phillippines. Now they are here in the United States, and are looking to start a church for internationals in Boston. Their faith is inspiring. They had to go through a lot of hard times together. They are generous with their hospitality and their love of other people.
I love being at the seminary. People have very distinct callings into the ministry. I love being around people who ardently love doing God's work. It's encouraging and inspiring.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Consumerism and Christmas
Maybe we've all heard enough about how commercial Christmas has become. It's become that way for a reason.
It's interesting seeing things from my new perspective as a poor, young, married, graduate student. Mom and Dad have always been able to spend money and make me and sister's Christmas memorable. I'm used to seeing tons of presents stacking up underneath a huge tree. This year's Christmas is different.
Matt and I splurged with our presents to each other, but this is certainly rare. Presents to the families and friends will have to be creative, and our Christmas cards are limited. Santa Claus won't be leaving even more gifts for us under our tree, but I'm okay with that. Several family members have asked us what we want for Christmas. We listed out a few, practical items that we wouldn't usually spend money on. Really, though, I had a difficult time listing things other than a Target gift card.
Not having a lot of disposable income (or even income for important things like food) creates challenges to be sure. But, I've learned contentment with my things. I don't covet the expensive, Pottery Barn decor, or that amazing blouse at Anthropologie anymore. I don't even browse the websites. Being poor helps me to prioritize where my money goes and helps me to organize wants and needs.
I'll admit that sometimes I feel like I'm a failure or that I'm left out because I can't spend money on my personal tastes. These feelings are definitely aroused when I'm around people bragging about what they can buy. But, I think that my feelings come from the devil trying to distract me from the ultimate goal of this life. Most of the time, I don't feel inadequate because I can't spend money on the little luxuries of finer, more expensive living.
What does buying into commercialism mean in the long-run anyway? Maybe other people will think you are cool because you collect expensive things. There's always going to be something bigger, cooler, and more expensive. I don't know that buying things is ever going to be completely satisfying. Yet, it's going to be something that's always at the forfront of this culture. I know it will be a temptation. Maybe this time of poorness will help me to remember how things are the key to happiness. I get so much satisfaction just enjoying the company of my husbands, friends, and family. My relationships mean more to me than anything I could ever own.
It's interesting seeing things from my new perspective as a poor, young, married, graduate student. Mom and Dad have always been able to spend money and make me and sister's Christmas memorable. I'm used to seeing tons of presents stacking up underneath a huge tree. This year's Christmas is different.
Matt and I splurged with our presents to each other, but this is certainly rare. Presents to the families and friends will have to be creative, and our Christmas cards are limited. Santa Claus won't be leaving even more gifts for us under our tree, but I'm okay with that. Several family members have asked us what we want for Christmas. We listed out a few, practical items that we wouldn't usually spend money on. Really, though, I had a difficult time listing things other than a Target gift card.
Not having a lot of disposable income (or even income for important things like food) creates challenges to be sure. But, I've learned contentment with my things. I don't covet the expensive, Pottery Barn decor, or that amazing blouse at Anthropologie anymore. I don't even browse the websites. Being poor helps me to prioritize where my money goes and helps me to organize wants and needs.
I'll admit that sometimes I feel like I'm a failure or that I'm left out because I can't spend money on my personal tastes. These feelings are definitely aroused when I'm around people bragging about what they can buy. But, I think that my feelings come from the devil trying to distract me from the ultimate goal of this life. Most of the time, I don't feel inadequate because I can't spend money on the little luxuries of finer, more expensive living.
What does buying into commercialism mean in the long-run anyway? Maybe other people will think you are cool because you collect expensive things. There's always going to be something bigger, cooler, and more expensive. I don't know that buying things is ever going to be completely satisfying. Yet, it's going to be something that's always at the forfront of this culture. I know it will be a temptation. Maybe this time of poorness will help me to remember how things are the key to happiness. I get so much satisfaction just enjoying the company of my husbands, friends, and family. My relationships mean more to me than anything I could ever own.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
New Year's Resolution (starting now!)
To those who might wander on to my blog, I want you to know of a little project my husband and I are undertaking. We want to upload a picture with a little text everyday for the next year. It's a lofty goal, so we are starting this now in order to establish the habit. But, knowing me, I'll probably add a few text-only entries here and there.
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