Appleseed Travel Journal

— A Word About the Food in India

Indeed, I only need a single word to describe the food here: HOT.  As in, spicy HOT.  I don’t care if it’s red curry, green curry, purple curry, or pink curry (not really)… it’s going to be HOT.

Now you need to understand, I’m a salsa-eating guy at home.  Don’t give me that mild or medium salsa, I want it hot and I will dip my chip right in and enjoy the spicy flavor.

But this is an entirely different world of HOT.

Let me give you the picture.  At lunch today, the waiter asked me if I wanted the sauce hot or mild.  Oh, thank God!  Here’s a guy who recognizes a gringo when he sees one so he is going to have mercy on me.  At home, I would have said ‘hot’ to most anything.  But I meekly concede that I would like my sauce ‘mild.’

So I began eating.  First bite, not bad.  The flavor, indeed, is always very nice.  But, this is the kind of HOT that sneaks up on you.  By the third or fourth bite I’m beginning to gulp water after each bite.  And by the seventh or eighth bite, my nose is running, my eyes are watering big tears, and I’m chug-a-lugging my bottle of water trying to quench the fire.  I’m starting to pray for mercy!  And, remember, this is ‘mild.’

OK, so, honestly the food is good despite this small issue.  But… for real… I have found that I just cannot do the spicy HOT for breakfast.  Lunch, ok.  Dinner, sure.  But first thing in the morning?  I can’t do it.

Fortunately, where I am staying, they offer a breakfast buffet.  Great!  They have these pancake-looking things that look awesome.  Oh wait, there is some red color on the top of them and they are, yep, HOT.  The breakfast soup and veggies they offer are… HOT.   The pre-cooked egg omelets are (say it with me)… HOT.  So now they know me when I come for breakfast: here’s the guy that just wants a couple of boiled eggs.  Since I get to peel each one myself no one has stuffed chili peppers into it yet!  PERFECT.

Yes, I have learned to live on Indian cuisine but, I must admit, I am more than ready for a simple fish taco (probably without salsa for now) or even a hamburger covered in sweet catsup!
 

— "Supernatural Increase" Could Be a Word for You

One of the primary themes of the conference in India this week is Supernatural Increase.

Before I describe the meaning of this term, let me tell you why this word could be for you as well.

Youth With a Mission (YWAM) is like an extended family for me, Brooks, and Appleseed Ministry.  Because of our informal connections, friendships, and ministry partnership with certain key leaders, they are a large family to us.  Thus, by extension, you are also connected to them.

We have found, over many years, that God often uses this extended family to give us direction and encouragement.

So, because these YWAM friends believe that God is stirring them to have faith for a supernatural increase in their work and life, we believe that this is a challenge and promise that you and I are able to enter into as well.

What does it mean and how might it apply to you?

In every sphere of life, we encounter human limitations; there is only so much we can accomplish, or control, or produce on our own.  Too many times (my own confession) we simply settle with those limitations as the end of the story.  We forget that it is right at this point where our human abilities run out, that God is able to step in and do far above and beyond what we could ever do or even imagine.  He can bring the increase, the answer, the power, the strength, the change, the transformation that we cannot do ourselves.

Faith is what we bring to the table knowing that He is able.

I believe, as our friends and partners, you can grab hold of this as a ‘rhema-word’ from God and step into a higher level of faith in some area of your life for God’s supernatural increase.

Let’s do it!
 

— The Joy and the Heartache

The joy is the celebration of Jesus across all languages and culture in this YWAM conference.  It’s amazing how connected we feel with one another in worship despite the many differences.  Missionaries are attending this conference from every corner of the globe, from many different backgrounds, sharing one purpose: to know Him and make Him known.  Pictured are Nepalese dancer-worshippers.

The heartache is the real price people are paying to serve Jesus and carry his life and message.  Eight people left one unnamed country to reach out with the love of Jesus to another unnamed country that is currently in great turmoil.  They were arrested and one has already died because of the abuse he was subjected to.  The others remain in custody and little can be done except the constant prayers that are being made on their behalf.  I know you will join us in this.

Even with the heartaches, it is so encouraging to know how the Gospel is changing lives, often unreported, in some of the most remote and dark places on earth.  God is at work!  You are part of that!
 

— Don't Walk Too Safely

Just this morning I read:

“If you live your life too safely, you will never know the thrill of seeing Me work through you.” Sarah Young

Honestly, I have traveled in developing countries frequently enough that I do not think much of the normal hazards of driving in tuk-tuks (see below), or petty thievery that is common, or the less hygienic conditions than we have at home.

Perhaps it’s because you cover us so well with your prayers.  I know that’s a BIG part of it!

But I appreciate reading these words this morning and being reminded that we can play it so safe that we miss out on the thrill, adventure, and deeper purposes that God has made our life to be about.

Now, I’m not suggesting that anyone go do crazy things just for the sake of risk.  That’s not wise.  But there is something to being reminded that when God calls us outside of our safety-comfort nets, we can go there… and He will be there… and the adventure of seeing Him work through us unfolds!

The conference gets started later this afternoon and, though I have some part in this YWAM gathering, I don’t know all that God wants to do through this time.  I am in a ‘wait and see’ mode as the week unfolds.

Thank you so much for traveling with me!

My kamikaze tuk-tuk driver:



— My First Time in India -- Have You Been There?

I survived the 36 hours of travel through Japan, through Malaysia, finally landing in New Delhi where it was nice to see a man with my name on a placard ready to drive my weary bones to a nearby, stop-over motel.

We drove past the Radisson (did I look longingly at it?) on to the Hotel Delhi Aerocity that looked like a simple storefront yet had all of the essential amenities: bed, working toilet, and hot water if I can just remember to turn the switch on 15 minutes ahead of time.

I was tired enough to sleep soundly, with the help of a noisy air conditioner, despite the constant honking of horns outside the window where there was a steady stream of commuting traffic mixed in with the tuk-tuks, bicycles, and motor scooters.

Then, what a joy it was to spend the next day with my friend, Michael, who has lived in this city for the last 18 months and planned a full day out of his busy schedule to take me around.

We toured the sites (i.e. Humayun's Tomb), ate the spicy food (they love their curry), and made our way through typical, developing-world traffic jams and kamikaze drivers.

What reminded me of Africa:

  • Typical shops in metal store-fronts selling local goods and foods next door to more modern markets.
  • Women dressed in beautiful colors; men… well… dressed anyway.
  • Despite the growing middle class, plenty of poverty, street children, and people in need.

What was different from Africa:

  • More peeing on the walls in town (a higher density of population with nowhere else to take care of business).
  • That unique Indian accent making English difficult to understand until you get used to it (anyone called for tech support lately?).
  • Curry, curry, curry (did I mention that?)

Another flight tomorrow taking me on to Siliguri where the conference will begin on Monday…

My friend, Michael:

Humayan's Tomb:

Pages

Subscribe to Appleseed Travel Journal