Ten on Ten: i love my life

guys, i really love my life.
it isn't glamorous and it's far from perfect,
but it is great.

here's a snapshot, or ten, of what life is like:

 "Humble yourself....cast your burdens on him"

 nurse life

traffic jam

laundry

 holi remnants

 business

 russian doll suitcases

because anemia

improvising

 these women.

amazing.

happy ten on ten!

cincerely,

cindy

Simple Faith

guys.
it's 2015.
what the what!?

i also turned another year older yesterday.
i'm almost not twenty
and that's hella weird. 

i didn't always love having my birthday so close 
to christmas and the new year.
but now that i'm older, i really like it.
i am doubly reminded of all the good that has happened
and am energized with new and fresh starts.

i'm not the biggest fan of "new year's" blogs.
but this year, i really felt the need to write one.
so continue reading at your own risk

i came to india with the theme of "be brave with your life."
i think this is still very much the theme, 
but in 2015, i want to rephrase it.
"live with a simple faith."

i don't know about you, but i have a tendency to over think things.
i want to analyze the situation and all the possible outcomes,
and maybe then i'll make a decision.
maybe.
it's not bad to do that, but when it comes to following Jesus, 
it can be crippling.
 
Jesus told us to have faith like a child. 
we have a patient at the ashram who has developmental delays
and acts like a child,
and i love it.
he is constantly smiling and laughing,
and he is constantly working hard and helping wherever he can.
no questions asked.
he acts in simple faith.
he is a constant reminder to have faith like a child,
serving with joy.

this is what i want for the coming year.
i so long to be the kind of person who just says yes.
    yes to going on sporadic trips,
    yes to zip lining,
    yes to driving into delhi by myself,
    yes to praying for the stranger,
    yes to sharing Christ in whatever hindi i have,
    yes to risk being a fool for the sake of Christ.

the goal for 2015?
live with simple faith,
for Christ's glory,
and my good.


Lord, help me to follow you with a simple faith.
give me the grace to trust you deeply enough to walk
into whatever you call with simple faith.
continue to help me be brave with this life you have gifted.

Why Not?

my german teammates are pretty awesome.
i started to notice that they said the phrase "why not" quite often.
at first, i was kind of annoyed by it.
now, i love it.

it's a constant reminder to me,
the ever-doubting cynic,
to just say yes and enjoy.

in other news,
life here has been pretty amazing.

it hasn't always been easy, but it has been great. 

for recap sake, here's what's been going on the last month. 

nini and i went to Jodhpur.
it's known as the blue city.

night trains, lots of walking and exploring, 
and a bollywood movie with new friends. 

it was a great time away.

we also took another trip,
but this time, to the mountainous town of mussoorie.
hiking through villages and
a visit to sir george everest former home were on the itinerary.
i loved the clean air, the presence of clouds,
and the chance to watch the sunrise over the mountains.

when we took a break from traveling, we did some work.

well, kind of.

 

chai breaks with the paper

 best street food i ever ate

 posing for pictures because we're foreigners 

 visiting the delhi house's other learning center next to this

and learning about my role there

 special food for thanksgiving!

 a trip with our ashram family to some sites around delhi

nights on the veranda chilling and debriefing

selling the guys' jelwery at the german embassy's
annual christmas market

going to a hindu wedding

 goofing off in the clinic

 using a selfie stick

spending some great times with some awesome families.

this month has also been hard. 

in my time here, eight patients have died.

so many times, the patients come to us a bit too late.

they are only with us a few days before they pass.

but i am so glad they come here and are able to hear of Jesus.

watching so much death is really hard.

my medical mind wants to know how and why
and i want to fix it.
but honestly, there's no way i can.

God has called me to something bigger:
prayer and faithfulness.
to pray without ceasing for the men who come through here.
for their health, for their souls.
to be a faithful servant of the King,
to put others before myself and to speak of Jesus often. 

it's really that simple.
please, join me in praying for the men of the ashram,
both for their physical and spiritual healths.
 

i mean, why not?

prayer: the greater work

"prayer doesn't prepare you for the greater work;

prayer is the greater work."

my late grandmother penned that in her journal years ago.

in her later years, she would spend much of the day praying 
for lists and lists of people and ministries.

my mom must have learned the value of prayer from her
because every morning as a child, 
i remember my mom on her knees praying.

i knew that it was a sacred time.

unlike these matriarchs in my family,

i all too often trivialize prayer.

i'm all too quick to say "i'll pray for you."

and i will. a couple of times. and sometimes half heartedly.

but isn't prayer bigger than that?

i know that it is.
and i know that ministry is often futile without prayer.


as i head overseas, i'm beginning to see how crucial prayer is.
in fact, i'm craving time with Jesus.
and i've been praying for a good time of preparation, a ready heart to serve, and for the Lord the pave the way before me.

but i have a really big favor:
will you pray with and for me?
south asia is a very spiritual place and i know that i can't go and serve there without people here holding the rope through prayer.
and as important as financial support, 
i need prayer support even more.

if you are able to commit to praying with and for me, 
will you let me know?
comment below, 
send me a facebook message, 
or email me at cindymovestoindia@gmail.com.


prayer is a big deal.
it is the greater work. 



cincerely,

cindy

#cindymovestoindia

howdy y'all!
last time, i told y'all about my exciting move.
this time, i'd like to give you some more detail.

at the end of october, i'll be heading to north india. 
as of now, i'll be serving for about 10 months.
while there, i'll be functioning as a nurse 
and working with an amazing organization.

our shared goal: 
share Jesus by being His hands and feet 
to a broken and weary people.
they are all about sharing love and grace 
to the broken and hurting.
it's about living out the gospel amongst hopeless. 

guys, this is why i became a nurse.
to be a physical conduit of who Christ is and all that He's about. 
 
it's unreal that this life dream is becoming reality.
so many times i've lost hope that this dream would actually happen.
but through the years, God has been prepping me for this moment
and i am abundantly grateful that He is faithful.
 

there is a lot to get done before i go:
moving, visa getting, insurance buying,
and the list goes on.
i also need to raise some funds.
i don't have the final numbers quite yet, 
but would be so grateful if you would start thinking 
and praying about giving.

and i will need some serious prayer support.
i know i will face challenges daily, 
but i also know that the Lord answers prayers.
so please consider being a part of my prayer team.

i'd like to extend a huge thank you for all of the 
love and support i've already received!
i have been overwhelmed with the amount of texts, calls, and hugs.
my words of affirmation tank is overflowing!
thank you for already joining me on this crazy journey
and for continuing to walk with me.


cincerely,


cindy

dreams really do come true

at high school summer camp as an incoming freshman, 
i made a commitment to serve the Lord in a global context.
 i didn't know how or when, 
but i knew that was my purpose.

and then i ended up at CBU to pursue nursing, 

but i didn't really want to be there.

during second semester, 

God rocked my understanding of the gospel 

and what "missions" was all about. 

not only that, but i went overseas for the first time.

Rwanda 2006

as a newly proclaimed gloabl studies minor, 

i applied to go overseas with my school again the following year. 

a friend asked me where i wanted to serve. 

i said, "any where but india, really." 

if you don't think the Lord has a sense of humor, 

i'm here to prove that He does. 

that summer, i served in india for three weeks. 

God shook me and opened my eyes in a new way. 

i was broken and in love with this people. 

India 2008

 my heart was so drawn to india,

i went back for two months the following summer.

i knew even more deeply that i had to go back.

India 2009

and i now i get to.

the Lord has made it possible for me to serve Him 

amongst a broken and beautiful people of india.

guys, dreams really do come true 

when your dreams are lined up with God's plans.

i am humbled to have this opportunity.

i am overwhelmed looking back and seeing how God works.

i'm even more overwhelmed when i look forward 

and think how He will continue to work. 

details are still being worked out,

like when i'm going

and for how long. 
(so any coworkers reading this, please, 
mums the word for the time being.) 

 but the coming months will be a busy 
season of preparation and decision making.

i appreciate and thank you for your prayers,

especially for wisdom and a smooth transition.

  and don't worry, 
i'll be updating here with more info 
throughout this process.



  cincerely,

*an overwhelmed* 
cindy

 

six months later...

hey there.
it's been awhile.

pretty sure i just needed a break from blogging 
(as unrefined as my blogging may be).
but hopefully i'm back to stay for a while.
a lot has happened since november, so let me get you caught up:


we had a no-present christmas in my family. 
it was so good for all of us.

we did do a white elephant exchange with our extended fam

 













i turned 28 and can't believe it. 
also, my friends spoil me with weekends in wine country.

 














my bff or longer from school came to visit with her sweet fam.

 




















my uncle passed away in january after battling stomach cancer. 
it was a hard time for all of us.

 



















i took a little jaunt down to socal.

 



















became a wound care certified nurse. my geekiness continues to flourish.

 














my sister got engaged! crazy. can't believe we are growing up.

took another quick jaunt, but to yosemite this time.

went to a giants game during the opening series.

went kayaking in monterey

 



















went to morocco and road a camel. i mean, why not?

such a crazy six months! 
i am so grateful for the hard times and the good times;
God is so good through it all.

what will the next six months hold?
no clue.
but this coming season is bringing much change.
sometimes i have serious anxiety about it.
other times, i am giddy about it.
despite my feelings, the Lord is constant.
and i am immensely grateful for that. 
i can't wait to see what the Lord does and how He moves.
His way is perfect, not mine.

giving thanks for november

i love having week days off.
it makes the long twelve hour shifts worth while.
i thought it best to update my blog with recent going ons.
what better way to spend my day off wrapped up in my resto, 
sipping on a home made egg nog misto, and listening to future of forestry christmas eps?


last month, my mom and i ventured to redding, ca to visit my aunt. 
i love going to visit. 
redding is absolutely beautiful and a great place for some r and r.

fall is no joke in redding

 

 hikes and gorgeous beauty abound

 

 

balloon flying shananigans after church are pretty great

 

bay trail walks and awkward selfies are incredible

 

celebrating new life and sippin on purple kow make me smile

 

dates with my mama to the coast are too good for words

 attempting to be youths and do a cosmic 5K is hilarious

 

and who could forget thanksgiving?

it was sincerely the best 

(pun completely intented).

 steiger's thanksgiving palooza was pretty amazing as well

this was our first thanksgiving without gammy,
and very possibly our last thanksgiving with uncle bob.
but despite the emotions, i have much to be thankful for.
{please see above}
i need to be reminded so often that i have much and 
that a spirit of thankfulness should abound in my life,
especially in light of the cross.
as the popular saying goes,
"gratitude turns what we have into enough."



cincerely,

*a grateful* cindy