ten on ten: T.I.I.

hope you enjoy these ten photos 
on this lovely tenth of february!

 

room with a view

 language and immune system building

wounds for days

x-rays and ekgs

 mails

indian pharmacy

sun and talks of the Son

doctoring

health class collaborating

teeth brushing friendship

and
#selfiesthroughsouthasia

cincerely,

cindy

the time difference makes 
linking a bit more difficult:

ten on ten: welcome to india

so it's technically the eleventh here, but eh, who cares.
i thought a ten on ten post might be a good way for y'all to see a bit of life here.
so away we go!

first off, breathing class

 breakfast of champions

 prepping to dress some wounds

 waiting at the bus stop to start my journey into delhi

 then transfering to the metro

(please note the selfie)

 my view at the registry office for three hours

 not getting ripped off by the rickshaw drivers is my fave.

busin on the way home

 our third roommate

 

it's pretty here sometimes.

today was pretty great.

taking two hours worth of public transportation by myself was quite the victory.

but today ends with a heavy heart.

one of the patients died tonight very suddenly.

we aren't entirely sure the cause, but it was very hard to be a part of.

sadly, this is often life here. 

seemingly preventable diseases lead to early and frequent deaths.

even more heartbreaking is that so many die without the knowledge of the King.

please take the next few moments, days, weeks to lift up the people of India with me.

linking up:

cincerely,

cindy

clear eyes, full heart

i feel like the last two months i've really lived up to my blog title.
well, i guess just the crazy part.
the whole "white woman" thing kinda sticks with you.

anyway,
it's been a crazy two months.
and i'll recap maybe not so quickly.

my sister got married.

it was a crazy weekend full of laughter,

 

special moments,

 and, most importantly, dancing!

at the end of september,
 i moved out of my apartment and home

for the past three and a half years.

it was definitely a bittersweet time.

i'm back living with my parents.

who knew i'd be 28 and living at home.

weird.
{i'd prefer not to have this photo documented}

the giants made it to the world series!

i really love post-season giant's baseball.

i spent a week in socal visiting some dear friends.

after a month and a half of battling,
i finally got my visa!
i think the phrase "best day ever" might actually apply.

i've worked my last day at the VA for a while.

it's been my home away from home for the past four years.

i'm still blown away about how the Lord got me there,

but that's a story for another day.

 the giants are playing in the world series!

did i mention that?

packing.

trying to prioritize your life into two suitcases that 

weigh less than fifty pounds is proving a challenge.

i leave for india in SIX days. 
unreal.
i haven't really had much time to process it all.
in all honesty, some days i feel totally 
unprepared for all that lies ahead.

the tv show friday night lights came up recently,
specifically the famous words of coach taylor:
"clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose."
i know it's completely cheesy
and completely out of context, 
but i think i have a new way of looking at this phrase.

my eyes are clearly fixed on the 

task set before me and on my prize-Christ.

my heart is full with support and affirmation 

from those around me, and full with 

the promises and love of the Lord.

i can't lose. 

romans 8:31, 37-39 says this:

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

a bit of a stretch, i know.
but i don't really care.
every girl needs a theme
and this is an obvious contender.
 
i probably won't post again until i'm in india,
and then i'll really live up to that crazy white woman thing.
so we'll see ya then!


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