Meep!

Oh Goodness! 17 days until we head back to India.
I am getting so anxious...Everything has worked out so, so perfectly down to the smallest detail. Everything with flights is panning out splendidly and the time I feel is going to be divided perfectly between Varanasi and Chennai.

I want to go now...can hardly wait to get on a plane and get back to where I left my heart.

As far as the trip goes: We are leaving 12th January and Emily will be in Chennai the whole time and after we fly into Chennai at 2am (!) I jump on a flight up to Varanasi for a week...then after that, a little over 2 weeks in Chennai at the orphanage, Bernard's, and with Avanthika :) Then we fly home 5th February.

As far as Varanasi everything has worked out perfectly with accommodations and while we are there, we will be able to go to some worship times that will be held in Hindi--can't wait! Varanasi itself is absolutely stunning..it is right on the Ganges river and our hotel is right in the heart of the city.

Gah...If only everything here and people here weren't so distracting. I'm getting really, really sick of the same old, mundane things that are constantly going on around me. I am over caught up in that anymore.
My sights and heart are not meant for here.

You hold the Universe..

It baffles me just how sovereign my God is...and how He really does hold everything in his hands...why do I worry so much when I have the God of the Universe on my side?

Something I keep having to get reminded of time and time again: It's all in His hands! I don't need to worry..because he really works everything out. And nothing that is out of His plan will happen. It's all perfectly orchestrated. How beautiful.

Down to the countdown...only 33 days until we fly out for India. I can't believe it's really happening...I can't believe I will get to hold Avanthika in my arms again in a matter of weeks. I don't think it's going to hit me until we are on the plane over. I think this trip is going to be so amazing in several ways. Numero uno: It will be a DTS reunion of sorts with old DTS staff and friends...how lovely :) Numero dos: I really think this trip will be huge for me...going to Varanasi, praying God's plan for me in India out and hopefully getting direction on where I'm called, and seeing Avanthika again...it will be just a reminder of how Big God is...and how even the tiniest orphan has a purpose. and just seeing that expression of God's love again is going to be overwhelming. My heart can't contain itself.


This is what I live for.


xx

Untitled

"Bad company corrupts good character"
This is something that is becoming increasingly clear to me. No matter how strong I am or how hard I work to stand up for what I know is right..if I'm in company with bad people..that essentially almost means nothing.

No more of that. I have too much to offer to let it go to waste.

xx

Send Your Glory

I am going back to India sooner than I thought....by the amazing grace of God and every door opening up...I am headed back to India in January!
Due to work...I can only be there just around 3 1/2 weeks...But it's going to be amazing.
Word's can't express how stoked I am and how my heart is absolutely burning to go back!

Turns out that Emily can go with me..there was some worry for a while that she couldn't; so now I won't be traveling across the world by myself ha, also, we will be in Chennai for a bulk of the time then I am going to head up to Varanasi for about 5 days to meet up with my leader from my outreach, Ginny. It's going to be amazing. I still have no clue where I am called to in India and I am praying that this upcoming trip will help with that.
Recently, Varanasi has really been put on my heart, hence why I want to visit so badly. It is the number on Hindu pilgrimage in all of India. It's considered the most holy city. It is going to be amazing.
While we are in Chennai, we are going to be seeing our good friend Adam and his team that he is leading from England! It will be a joyous trip of many happy reunions :)

Some things to pray for...
-Finances...I have all my money, and I think Em has most of hers, but just that we would be able to stay within our budget and use our money wisely
-Safety/Health..for obvious reasons :)
-Preparedness of our hearts....It was quite easy to be spiritually and mentally prepared when going with an organization like YWAM..but this time it's just us and God. Pray that I could stay focused in my relationship with Him so I can be prepared for this upcoming trip..

Just an update...will post more as more things get finalized. Thank you sososoo much for your prayers and whatnot

xx
Andie

India video..

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall..

Ohmy. I can't believe it's been a year since DTS started. It has flown by so fast, but it feels like just yesterday I was walking into the Manor all groggy from 20 hours of flying! As cliche, as it may sound, I am a completely different person than the one that stepped off that plane a year ago. And in so many ways I never would have expected. Gah! I miss it so much!

At times I absolutely hate being home. It has been so hard. I'd much rather just be back in the YWAM bubble and take the easy way out so to speak :) But I know that's not what God has for me. I feel called to be here in Colorado this next year so I can be strong and work hard in Him. But the past couple months have been by far the darkest since being out of YWAM. Coming out of a bubble like that is hard regardless, and the staff definitely did a great job of preparing us for going home...but each person's story is different going back into normal life.
I have gone downhill a bit with being home. It seems kind of inevitable to me. After going from an environment like DTS, back into reality is quite the shock.

Although I have messed up in different areas and am not as strong as I'd like to be, I feel like God still meets me in that weakness. Something I have definitely noticed that has been a big change since being back is not feeling so hopeless. Before DTS when I was in a constant battle and honestly in a downward spiral...the thing that kept me rooted there was feeling stuck and hopeless and that God wouldn't want me and I didn't really want Him when I was like that.
Now, Even though, yeah, I digressed a bit, I know that his grace is SO sufficent for me in that. And that I'm okay and that I'm still loved no matter what I do. Nothing seperates me from Him except in my mind...and I'm learning how to overcome that. This may just be rantings...but I really feel so..accomplished in the fact that i am not burdened by and stuck in my shortcomings, but that I can make it out of them stronger than before. And that I never have to be stuck.

Sing me something soft

Hi, Hello.
Well. I have never had a blog before. But it seems as a post YWAM-er...it's the thing to do :)
Let's see...I finished my DTS in England 6 months ago and have been home for 5 months...And things have not been the same in so many ways. It has been so incredibly hard being home and adjusting the first few months seemed so daunting and impossible. And I have adjusted...just not the way I thought I would. I'm not doing great, but I think that's part of the struggle...and ultimately the journey to get to where I want to be.

It's so hard going from community living and constantly surrounded by a God-saturated atmosphere to basically coming home to a complete lack of that and any real, deep relationships.
I miss DTS and Ywam...I really do. I am, however, planning on going back to India next May/June. That is where I did my outreach and my heart was ruined for India and I know that someday I am called there long term. So I am going to make it back out there as often as possible! :)

Also I am praying about going back into YWAM as staff. So I will keep everyone updated on the journey and getting back to India through here :) It is a lot easier than sending out letters and emails. But feel free to send me a personal email if you want!
Until next time...