Friday.  Only a couple hours with the Home of Blessings students and then begins the long journey back to home.

Once we finished our tasty Bengali breakfast, we loaded into our transports one last time. Waiting for us were all 280 girls. As we have experienced in the past, the school likes to send us off with a taste of what the girls can do, and of Bengali culture. We were shown to our seats and from there we took in the girls' breathtaking performances, and got to participate in worshipping with them, and doing a little bit of dancing with them. The time passed so quickly. The girls were beautiful and gracious and talented and inviting. It was difficult after such a time together to have to say goodbye. Our team enjoyed one last tea with the staff there, and the daughters we support through monthly sponsorship hunted us down to say goodbye.  It was very emotional and bittersweet- how special to visit them, spend time with them, hug them and look into their eyes.  Yet how sad to have to leave and be so far apart.  There is no other option, at this point though, so a few tears, hugs and waves later, off we went to head to the places God has given us as home. 

Our team stayed overnight  near the Emirates on the way home and had the opportunity to share and process and debrief our experiences while also getting some rest before the final 15 hour flight home. 

Thanks for all you who have checked in, prayed, and taken care of my kiddos. 

More thoughts and reflections in a final post coming up.  What we took away from this experience will be shared there.

Last full day

Thursday already.  Wow.  Full days and tired bodies, yet time is flying.

The final day of teaching by our veteran teammate (15 visits of love with these beautiful folks under her belt) asked the LTP students to prayerfully consider "How Much More?"  Students were challenged to wrestle through how much MORE of pursuing God and the work of His Spirit -in and through them - they really wanted.

JJ and I didn't get to participate in the teaching time as we met with CSS's leader to discuss expansion of future ministry opportunities.  Together we explored options for bringing a medical team, for sex-worker rehab, an English language camp and teaching further skills to those in the technical training institute.  We will continue to research and pray through these ideas.

We were able to catch a ride back for the end of the LTP discussion time, and to spend a little time saying goodbye to them.  Continue to pray that this generation of followers of the Way be strengthened and emboldened to live, love, demonstrate and speak the Gospel. 

This afternoon back with the younger kids was a treat.   Lots of energy as we were singing together.  Once more our team assisted the day's message of Gods lo e through His Son as our teammate who's been playing J sus washed the feet of 12 girls who represented the 12 disciples.  Then our other teammate dramatically presented Jesus's death and resurrection from the perspective of Mary Magdalene.   Kudos to her...her presentation was impressive anyway, but even more so since she did it so well even through a translator!   The Gospel was acted out and an invitation to respond given.  The whole room came upfront seeking to know Jesus or know Him more.

As the girls returned to sit and complete a final craft,  each of us felt the bond between us all.  The girls made decorative stamps while a couple team members set up games and prepped water ballons for a carnival time.  HUGE  hit!!  Even though the games never really got played.  The 500+ water ballons drew all the attention and quickly our thoughts of organized games descended into barely controlled chaos.  Basically,  a giant water ballon fight ensued.  The two girls JJ and I sponsor participated too. And really...it was a blast.   The whole thing.  Chaos and all.  These nearly 300 girls just got to freely play and be silly.  One of the workers there,  also one of our translators, said that he was so happy to see the girls laughing  and enjoying the time.  It was so good for them.  And it was special to be able to PLAY with our two girls among them.  After the last ballon was broken and every drop of water flew, we and our damp friends got to hang out some more and have dinner together.  Before saying good bye for the night,  we were invited into the girl's dorms, where they proudly showed us their rooms, and swept us into dancing circles as they sang some of their traditional songs of praise and Christmas (so we were told).   Finally, we had to give our last hugs and waves and head back to sleep and pack before our short, last visit the next morning.

Midweek Mayhem

JJ and I (and really, most of the team) tend to not sleep well when we've traveled here to the opposite side of the globe.   It's just something we accept as part of the experience.   We usually use that wake time in the dead of night to pray, read and/or prepare.   I used that time to prep for the teaching I was to do on this Wednesday.   JJ and I also chit chatted some, then went back to sleep.

Stop tape and rewind 3 years.  The night before Jim was meant to teach in the LEadership Training Program (LTP) for university age students, he woke me up  in the middle of the night to ask if I was getting bitten by bugs.   We slept in the same bed,  but I was fine.  We turned the light on to find that indeed he had visible bites and a few welts to boot.  But no bugs to be found. The invisible opposition to our teaching Gods love and truth to the next generation of His faithful here in BD was real and the effect right there for our eyes to see.   He went on to teach, even with one of the welts swelling his lip, and Gods Word strengthened many.

Fast forward to yesterday, the day before my time to teach, and the team prayed for me because i had crazy pain in my one hip the night before, making it hard to even walk.  Very unusual for me.  After prayer, that pain did not flair up again.

Fast forward once more to this early morning Wednesday.... at around 4am, JJ and I turned lights out to doze for a couple hours before the day began and I was to teach that morning, and when I got up around 6:30am, my right eye looked like a dented water ballon.  Crazy swollen for no apparent reason.  Once again the team went to prayer (with a bit of raised voice and animation I hear 😃),  and as the morning went on,  the swelling came down so that from a short distance, the puffiness was not really obvious.

So....all that drama before 9am, yet I stood before the LTP students to be a vessel through which God challenged us all to consider 2 more questions: What are You Seeking? and Why Are You Afraid?
To answer What Are You Seeking? requires looking at the true desires of our hearts.  We will seek satisfaction for what we believe our greatest needs and desires are.  God declares that our hearts are to recognize HIM as our greatest need and desire.  We looked at Solomon who,  when given the opportunity in the very presence of God to ask for ANY thing,  he sought Gods wisdom and to rule His people well.  In response, God gave Solomon just that AND was pleased to grant Solomon wealth and great honor among his people as well.  After searching some additional Scripture we learn that a heart who desires God most of all will seek humility,  wisdom from God, to be in His presence often, and to bring others to God.  Yet, we often deal with fear, so Jesus asks Why Are You Afraid?  A handful of passages from Matthew and Luke demonstrate God is well aware of the things we are afraid of:  not having what we need when we need it, fear of the unknown in following God, fear of damage and life-risk due to natural disaster, fear of not having the right words about our faith when we need them.  Life experiences also reveal our fear of rejection and loneliness.  Why are we afraid?  We of little faith don't have that faith in the right place.  Looking at the prophet Daniel's friends who publically refused to bow to the nation's idols at command of the king.  The king's anger sent them to their death in an uber hot furnace, adding the arrogance of statement "what god can save you now?" (paraphrased). Their response was faith in God Himself, whether He rescued them or not.  The worst they could face was eclipsed by their faith that God is good, in this life AND the next.  Students were then able to have small group discussion to begin to process their personal answers to those questions.

Lunch this day was a special treat - outside by the river.  Beatiful, relaxing, refreshing.

Day 2 with the younger kids was another blessing as our team acted out a couple of Jesus' miracles to emphasize His great love and tender attentiveness to our cries to Him for help.  Our dramatically gifted teammate gave her testimony as well.  We then had the chance for spending time among the girls as we assisted them to make beads for a necklace.  The craft itself less important than just being with the girls and loving them.  We all had full hearts as the day closed.  

Perfect Imperfection

Our full first day began with Scripture reading, discussion,  prayer, AND Bengali  breakfast (chapati,  potato-carrot-onion hash, scrambled egg).  Excellent fuel...all of it.

Though JJ and I have been here multiple times, there is always something new to experience.   As we traveled to Home of Blessing in the morning, amidst the dense and crazy traffic here was...an ELEPHANT! With a local riding it.  Definitely a WOW! sight.

On this first of three days of teaching university age students, one of our team members challenged the young people to learn from and pray through the first 2 of 5 questions.  These 1st two questions were:
Where Are You? (Hiding from GOD? On a Journey With God? Bringing others to God?)
and
Who Told you That? (What is the source of the things we believe about God and ourselves?).   These questions come from another study published for groups, but those teaching on our team have taken the 5 questions and prayerfully developed the teaching from Scripture to provide a foundation that students could use to answer these for themselves.   After the teaching time (and tea break that can't be missed!😊), the group of young people (about 50 in number) split into 4 small groups to spend some time in led silent prayer, journaling through a few more related questions, and had some discussion to aid them in dealing with their hearts and minds before God and honestly answering the main questions for themselves.   This small group time resulted in some connections our team members made with students, and some students voiced the challenges they face living their faith in a country where there is only a reported .04%  of 167 million people with this same faith in this country.   With the language barrier (so thankful for good translators!) and cultural differences between us, it can be hard to really be "heart to heart" with the young folks,  yet Gods spirit was moving and doing His work despite the seeming imperfections of the situation. 

Later in the afternoon,  we returned to spend time with the younger kids.   280 of them.  I can't imagine  that ANYone could NOT be cheered by their wide,  eager eyes and bright, contagious smiles!
We have a a team member gifted in creatively sharing God's good news with youth.   Or whole team participated in a mimed version of the Christmas story and the hope of our Saviour coming. Didn't exactly come across as smoothly as we'd hoped, but no worries.  The girls already had their own version prepared and blew ours out of the water.  😄  Still, they loved it all. Then one of our team members gifted in dramatic communication began to tell of the hope of God's son coming to rescue us.

The next hour and a half was spent by the 11 of us helping the 280 girls create a fun decorated poster celebrating the hope of God's  son.

Once we'd returned for dinner, everyone was ex exhausted to the bone,  fighting to keep awake just through the meal.   Thus ended our Tuesday in BD.

A far off country

Oh friends,  for those of us who have had to wait several years to return to our friends in Bangladesh, it is so sweet to be back here!   It is a long journey to this far off country, but so worth it!

After arriving in the capital city at about 2am, we were grateful to have a comfortable place to stretch out and rest for a few hours, then eat from a nice breakfast buffet before loading a domestic flight and and then a van for a 2+ hour ride.  When the team finally got to our final destination,  the struggle to keep pace with the late afternoon/ early evening activities was real!

The Home of Blessings grounds also house the Hope Technical Institute.  Here young folks can learn a trade...carpentry, auto mechanic, civil engineering, computer tech, fashion design (sewing), cooking/nutrition and beauty school.  Out team toured the facilities, and it is encouraging to see a place that is helping young people to be equipped for a productive future.

From here we went across the street where we were greeted by the nearly 300 girls of Home of blessings.  The two girls JJ and I sponsor came to meet us and held our hand through the procession created by the other girls lined up to welcome our team through.  The smiles and waves were so warm and genuine.  And so ended day 1.

Some pictures

After arriving in the capital city, we were able to rest for a few hours then have breakfast and begin our journey to our final destination in-country.  Included are a few pictures of sites along the way.  

And then, tired as we were, we were able to visit with the younger students for a short time.  What joy!

The Journey begins soon!

In just a little over 24 hours from right now, our team of 11 will assemble for prayer before loading into a van with trailing vehicles holding our luggage, and heading to O'Hare Airport.  Our team has had to pray through and invite God to conquer several difficulties that have arisen in the past couple of weeks.  He has answered many prayers, so we leave tomorrow ALREADY with joy having experienced God's love and power on our behalf.  Thank you for praying thus far. 

One of our team members has put together an excellent daily prayer list that equips you with specifics for continued prayer.  That content is below.

Please also pray for our two middle school kiddos and the awesome team of folks loving on and taking care of them while we are gone. JJ and I could not travel and minister together without them. We are blessed indeed!

I will try to update this blog daily when we are on the ground there...depending on electricity being on and wifi working.😋

Thank you so much! And may God bless you with peace and compassion. 

Love, JJ and Andrea

Bangladesh Prayer Guide
October 20-28

Please pray for:

Safe travels/no delays, etc. Eleven of us will be traveling for a day and a half on three different planes each way. That  our luggage will be with us. That we will be able to sleep on the plane. That our connections work out. That we get from one plane to the next.  That we can be a good witness as we travel. We will be with our partners CSS from 10/22-10/26 (Remember there is about a 12 hour time difference.)

Health  for all of us. That we remain healthy, That we remember to drink only bottled water. That we remember to use the insect repellant.

Stamina for the team. We will have full days

In the mornings we will be teaching with the LTP students. These are young adults who have been part of CSS and are currently college age and the next generation for Bangladesh. That we make heartfelt  connections. That the teachings are clear in presenting the God honoring questions. That the translators understand the topics and can explain them well. That the message will be internalized and remembered.   For God to use us and our stories as we share in break out groups.

In the afternoon we will have teaching/worship with Home Of Blessing girls. There will be approximately 300 girls who live in dormitories that will be attending. We will be running a VBS type program with a skit and worship. That the stories will be understood as the translators express the meaning of the Bible account.

Crafts…that all goes well. That we have enough supplies. That we are able to have fun with the girls. That they will  enjoy the time together and their projects

That we will provide general encouragement for CSS staff, the girls, and all those we encounter.

That we provide support and encouragement for each member of our team, and we love and respect each other unconditionally.

That we are on the edge of out seats in anticipation of the wondrous and small things that God is orchestrating.

Boldness to step out in faith and be open to trust in God in all that we do.

As we return home that we would be able to express the the feelings and work of the Holy Spirit that we experienced on our trip.