Excuse me, have you seen my head?

I went to the dentist this morning for an emergency appointment -- my #15 tooth was causing extreme pain from Tuesday evening on. Of course, by the time I got to the dentist, it wasn't hurting anymore and the x-rays looked great! The dentist kept asking me if I had sinus problems. No, I replied. Two of my coworkers do, but I don't.

Yeah. Whatever. This afternoon, my head started aching and now the left side of my face/head is hurting like crazy. I'm fairly certain it's sinus something. But I keep denying it. Even with my parents on the phone this evening, I insisted I wasn't congested.

And now I sit here with a box of Kleenex on my bed.

On a less self-centered note, I found this NY Times article interviewing one of Delhi's 300,000 ragpickers. The article doesn't say, but Manorama is most likely a Dalit.

On Oct. 2, Gandhi’s birthday, the Delhi state government will make a small but significant concession. In response to pressure from a ragpickers’ union, it will supply about 6,000 with protective gloves, boots and aprons.

For now, though, they still pick through refuse — shards of glass smeared with the remains of yesterday’s dinner, broken shoes mixed in with rotting meat — with bare hands.

Upcoming Homecoming

In the Kansas area? Maybe I'll see you soon!
Thursday evening, October 18: Open House for supporters in the Anthony area
Friday/Saturday, October 19-20: Sterling College Homecoming
Sunday morning, October 21: Korean Presbyterian Church in Wichita

California and beyond

AJ and I were in California over the weekend for a friend's wedding. We saw the Pacific Ocean (in the rain), visited Santa Cruz, took pictures with the redwoods, danced with 1880's dancers, attempted to capture our reflections in an elevator, and praised God for "Mavis" (our loaner GPS unit).

Oh, we also attended Sheri's wedding! Sheri was one of my interns from August 2005-2006. It was neat to get to visit with her family and to meet her (now) husband and his family! They have such a heart to follow after the Lord and serve Him in ministry. Congratulations, Sheri and Matt!

Quiet Day

It was a quieter day in the office - I was actually working on getting past projects completed. My teenage helper and I actually worked on a couple tasks that had not been touched since May! Prayer: I have a meeting tomorrow to train some staff on software that I'm not sure I understand. Pray for wisdom and vision for me and clear communication.

Field - Several of our students in India were beaten this weekend. You can read their story and pray for them here.

Home - continue to pray for God's strength and direction to finish the year well. We've had quite a few situations this year that make us ask, "Why, God? Why is this happening?" Pray that we'll continue to have perseverance and His joy and peace in the midst of it.

Randomness - I came across a computer file today labeled "blog ideas." Many of them are quotes from various teaching times. I'll try to share a few over the next few blogs.

Today's quote from Brother K.P.: When you don't feel like praying, pray anyway. That's when you pray by faith.

Floods and Faithfulness

Thanks to all who have been praying for the parts of India, Nepal, and Bangladesh that have been devasted by the monsoon flooding over the past four weeks. Millions of people have been displaced, thousands have died, and GFA missionaries are working to address both physical and spiritual needs.

One field correspondent wrote: "Thousands of people dead, families rendered homeless as their houses were swept away, cattle drowned, crops totally rooted out, villages submerged under the flood waters-and electricity, drinking water and communications systems totally failed."

Check out the photo show with pictures of the damage and the work.

On a personal note: Congrats to co-workers Jen and Stephen on their marriage tomorrow! Jen was my roommate for six months and Stephen is my second cousin, so tomorrow is all the more special for me. Oh, and my parents, grandmother, and sister came down for the wedding! Hurrah for family!

Randoms

Here's some random information for you:

• This past weekend's activities: All night prayer on Friday and a scavenger hunt for all the interns on Saturday.
• Number of plastic yellow duckies procured for scavenger hunt: 18
• Current radio tuned to: Dallas Cowboys vs. NY Giants football
• Current activity (besides blogging): sorting grocery receipts
• Verses for this week's Bible Study: Ephesians 4.
• Fun plans for tomorrow: Lunch with Steph.
• Work plans for tomorrow: install updated beta software to help track news stories.
• Random person met today: John. He lives in the house I used to rent. Rach and I shared with him about the Lord.
• Current challenge: trying to figure out how to run soaker hoses around my house.
• Current excitement: My family is coming to visit this next weekend!
• Current learning: forgiveness.
  

Weekend Camping

The interns and intern discipleship team went camping this weekend at the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge. This photo was taken Monday morning as KT and I watched the sunrise from the top of "Mt. Baldy." I'm the one with my hair in a kerchief. And that's my SC cross country sweatshirt. Yeah for cooler weather!

I can see for miles upon this mountain
And troubles seem so small they almost disappear
Lord, I love it here - up on the mountain.
- Steven Curtis Chapman and Geoff Moore