They are on their way home...

It's amazing to think but my brothers Jeff and Wade are returning home from India already... Thank you to those of you who prayed for them. You can check out their story here!

My better half...

Well, it was a quick turn around, but I am writing this entry in South Africa. I will let my wife explain...

Hi everyone,

Another quick note to say that now it is Tim and my turn to head out of town. We are leaving for 10 days to South Africa to our NC Conference with the whole NC team. If you could be praying for God to walk us through all He has intended for us to learn and grow from this time together. It has been 2 years since we have all been together and so much has changed in so many of our lives. We will be reflecting on the past 7 years of ministry and looking ahead to what God has for us in the years to come. A prayer was spoken by someone that was wise which said "Holy Spirit, think through me till your ideas are my ideas". What a powerful way to put our journey of life into a simple form. It is through prayer that we learn His ideas, thanks again for lifting us up to heaven.

Another huge prayer is for my mum as she is here watching all the kids for the whole time by herself. We have some incredible friends who will help her out when needed. Many prayers have already been sent, but prayers of protection over my babies and her (Lynn) while we are away would be wonderful. The Lord continues to amaze me in life and I pray He would never cease to do that in life. God bless you in the next few weeks and we will send out emails of our experience once we return.

PS I've never been there so this is a trip of a life time for me. Can't wait to see another part of God's world.

Love to all,
Britany

India takeaways sitting in Café Nero LHR… 2

James 1:2-4

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Second, I see the balance of suffering and faith fleshing itself out in these men and women’s lives much more vividly. The loss of an infant child amidst the new life of the Gospel call. Persecution and strife alongside new awakenings and miracles. Lack of belief and usury alongside complete submission and self-emptiness. It is so beautifully complex and visible here in India – you can almost taste it in the air – life and death side by side. Everything is so much more real in India… so much more tangible. Idols are idols… demons are demons… cows are holy and people are worthless. There is no were to hide from reality here. Their faith is a faith intermingled with suffering on an almost daily basis and it produces an amazing amount of courageous resolve.

The testing of their faith has produced steadfastness. And they have let steadfastness have its full effect, making them perfect and complete, lacking in nothing... Lord, make me more like that I pray.

India takeaways sitting in Café Nero LHR… 1

Hebrews 11:1&6

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen...And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

I find myself pondering a few personal takeaways from this trip.

First, I am again struck by the level of faith I see being lived out in the lives of Apollos Sam, Sam Charles, their families and Solomon. Theirs is a faith that is lived out with their lives AND with their mouths. Faith in evangelism. Faith in Money. And resources. Faith in obedience. Faith in word and deed. Even when it is so hard they trust and obey (even in the midst of their struggles). Their faith even stands out head and shoulders above the other leaders and pastors in India… they are special people. They are radical and steady all at the same time. They are faith filled and faithful to Him who has called.

They must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him... Lord, make me more like that I pray.

shots

Well, I got my plane tickets a month ago (thank you Dad) for my trip to India with The Berean Way team (Dad, Jeff, me, Wade and Don - not shown). Pretty good price and times.

Raised all my fee's and expense money (thank you E-Free Mission's & friends)... including some extra for those who are ministering full-time in India. Praise God.

My Visa arrived in the mail a couple days ago. (It feels so strange to be getting my visa and still have over a week to go till I have to travel - I am so accustom to the fear of it arriving a day before... hmm, this feels pretty good.)

Now, as I type this, my arm is throbbing from the needle that I got in my arm only moments ago. I am now good for just about any bug for like 25 years... amazing.

All that is left is to finish off my sessions and (as Jeff reminded me) pack my Indian shirt and I am away to India.

I would appreciate your prayers for this trip (even now before we leave). Especially in the areas of:

• God's Word to be proclaimed as He desires through His servants.
• Transformed lives... ours, those we travel with and those whom we speak to.
• Safe transport to and from and back and forth... by air and by auto.
• Unusual resilience to the local stomach bugs... yes, He is Lord even over Delhi Belly!

Thank you for your prayers.

saying goodbye

Yesterday we helped move our close friends Brian and Kellie (and Ethan, Emma and Owen) from their flat (right next door to ours - 7 short steps) several blocks away to a new flat... a new home. Not to sound too dramatic, but it is the end of an era for us. We have lived next to the Ingraham's longer than anyone else we know. We have moved overseas together, culture shocked together, worked together, played together, walked through children's births together, walked through difficult times together... yes, we have even laughed and cried together (don't let Brian fool ya). We have had seasons of great relationship and other seasons that were pretty tough... but we have always been neighbours and community. It is amazing what proximity does for you. Yeah, I know that they will still be neighbours... still be community, but it is also going to be very different. A lot less accidental meetings. A lot fewer "good mornings!" No more cups of sugar, rolls of toilet paper or spare keys. No more waving through the window... or waiting for Ethan and Emma (and Owen) to poke their nose through our mail slot before school each morning.
I know it's not goodbye... but it kinda feels like it.

grace and peace friends.

very funny...

I would like to strongly encourage you to check out my good friend JJ's BLOG! She has posted a video that is laugh-out-loud funny. When I watched, it was good for my soul... I pray it is good for yours.
grace, peace and bacon friends.

Brotherhood

1 Peter 5:5-10

...Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you

I’m not sure how long I was unconscious… 5-10 seconds maybe. All I remember is that I was vomiting over the edge of the fence one moment and dreaming about sleeping in my own bed the next. I think it was then that I remembered that I was in India… that only moments ago I had been standing… conscious.

We had been there to have a fun-day with a handful of orphaned kids (dieing of AIDS) but, within moments of our arrival, I was the one being ministered to by Solomon, the “man with many children”. I was heartbroken, embarrassed and humbled. He just cracked a big white smile and said that this happened to the children all the time… he had lots of experience.

Humility is an interesting thing… hard to produce; it seems to be something you need to “fall” into. Often it is difficult for us to embrace knowingly – to actually set about “clothing” ourselves. When we do, it often feels fake or feigned. I wonder if that is because, often, humility walks so closely with suffering… and suffering is a traveling partner that we are so afraid of in our western world. Yet, when I sat with one of the little ones on my lap… and imagined Solomon fanning them after they had passed out… my heart broke for him… for them. Suffering was not a stranger to these children.

In these pictures are many who I would consider my brother… Wade, my brother in Christ through the last couple of years. Jeff, my ACTUAL brother (in-law) who I have had the joy of serving beside many times. My Dad, both a father and a brother, who has been a great source of encouragement for me as I have pursued God. Solomon, a man whose passion for Christ has produced a compassion for the abandoned children of India… and still had some to spare for a bewildered foreigner/brother in Christ. But perhaps the most humbling and perspective giving brother is the little boy whose sheepish smile said, “yeah, I’ve been there before. You’ll be ok… but you sure look funny on the ground!”

Thank you my little friend.

Lord God, do the impossible today… in this moment… and heal him from the disease that ravishes his body. And may we meet again… in this age or the next. Amen.