What's different?

Things have changed, that's for sure. Some things are small changes and some things are massive. Most of the changes I am more than thankful for because they have taught me value of life, things, people and most of all, the importance of God in my life.

These will not be in any particular order but will be as they come to mind, these are some of the changes in my life.

Church:

1. From a large church with building, meetings, lots of friends, worship team, corporate worship, microphones, instruments, to a home church that doesn't even have a guitar ( actually that's not quite true, we have an electric guitar but no amp), just our family and the Benjamin's so far, more intimacy with God and only God to lean on. Freedom in meetings and lots of meeting people outside of "church". Meeting people in the street, having strangers in our home and talking with people about what they believe and what we believe. Learning who we really are in Christ.... Sons with a powerful message of the kingdom.

In the kitchen:

1. From bulk monthly shopping once a month to everyday shopping at many little stores and markets.
2. From buying meat in clear plastic covered foam pots to choosing meat hanging that is covered in flies, bringing it home and washing every single bit before cooking it and still being able to enjoy it.
3. From buying fruits in bags to picking out produce on the side of the road cart and then washing everything thoroughly before putting it away.
4. From drinking water from the tap to buying bottled water, drinking filtered water or boiled water.
5. From easy access to fresh milk to powdered milk, UHF milk or having to boil the fresh milk first.
6. From the coffee percolator to boiling coffee grounds in a pot and draining through a cloth.
7. From cooking with electricity to cooking with gas. From a slow cooker to a pressure cooker.
8. From meat dominated meals to sparse meat or no meat at all. Lots and lots of Rice and Daal. Yummy.
9. From low spice to high spice tolerance.

Transport:

1. From 11 seater Family van to a scooter (we can get 5 on it :)
2. From piling into one vehicle to a scooter plus a 3 wheeler auto if we all want to go somewhere.
3. From lanes, road rules and order on the road to utter chaos that works in it's own special way.
4. From arrogant drivers that don't budge to drivers that work together in relative tolerance. Defensive driving is excellent here in India. I think Indian drivers must be the best in the world. talk about spacial awareness.
5. From airplanes or long distance caravan hauls to overnight sleeper trains

At home:

1. From daily showers to daily bucket baths
2. From high water pressure to pressure that depends on how full the tank is or how much water is in the sump.
3. From constant water supply to water coming every second day to fill the sump.
4. From constant electricity to power cuts a few times a day.
5. From vacuuming to sweeping and swabbing the floors.

General:

1. From thinking we were relying on God to really relying on God
2. From earning an income to having faith
3. From stability of a job to trusting God
4. From worrying about small things and finances to resting in God

What a huge privilege it has been to experience such change in our lives and I haven't even mentioned the cultural change yet. I shall continue this at another time. I am so grateful for what India is and is continuing to teach me.