Hello Xanga World,

Well, I am pretty much committed to bloging on here, although I rarely do. :) SO, for those who are holding faithful to Xanga...here's my thoughts as lately. Man...honestly there are so many that I am unsure of where to start - and afraid of writing a book that no one will read. :) Here's to trying :)

Been reading Re-Create the past few weeks. I really wanted to read it, as to get some ideas of how to really impact the character and lives of the kids I teach. I teach 8-11 yr old, Bronx, NY youngsters. Many of them come from crazy family backgrounds, or just parents who are still trying to get it altogether. Julia, a dear friend and the administrator/teacher the school, made this statement when I first started teaching here and it's stuck with "we have these kids longer than their parents do...we can influence then greatly." Once i got my sea legs under me, seeing how I NEVER imagined I'd be teaching kids academics, I set out to try to come up with a good solid plan to motivate them to be people of character - not just kids who believe in God and go to a Christian school. What can I say?...My fire for producing world changers for God, and not just good kids, hasn't died one bit since it was instilled in my heart when I got saved. Thus...I picked up Re-Create, and went to the parents meeting at Battle Cry NY, to get more ideas.

Since reading this book...I find myself looking and pondering the world we live in. I cant help but ask, "God...where is the remnant?" If I can be candid and open...I find myself really disheartened by those close to me and just people I see on the streets. Mainly the former. As many of you know I have a facebook account, and update it regularly. Lately my heart has been saddened, and honestly...it's mainly saddened by seeing updates on the lives of those I knew so well while at Teen Mania. I remember us all making a pledge to each other, that if we ever saw one another stray from the life commitment of honor, we would call the other out on it. It was a pledge that we may for life. To me, it was a commitment as strong as my marriage vows made to Ben in September. Was it like that for you all? Those who were there. I feel that commitment burnt into my very soul. It wasn't me making a commitment to an organization, it was a commitment to my God - and my fellow brothers and sisters.

With that in mind, I find myself asking...what has happened? Mind you, I dont point fingers without realizing 3 are pointing at me. I confessed to my husband a few weeks ago, "I dont seek as hard as I used to. I don't hold to my convictions with as much valor as I used to...and it HAS to change." I've since then have been pushing myself to return. I feel that we've allowed the world to wax us cold. We say, "ok, I need to balance myself - I don't want to be so heavenly minded that I'm no earthly good", which is true to an extent. But when others look at the fruit of your life, and it's the exact same kind coming from those who have made no commitment to God - we've gone WAY too far, I believe.

I'm sorry if this seems a condemning post...it's not meant to be. To me, it's a burden venting post. When will we wake up and realize that the enemy is smooth. His plan has never changed: Kill, Steal, Destroy. The only new things with him is the way he uses the world we live in to accomplish those 3 goals. I was just teaching my kids about sin the other day, how the enemy comes little by little...one little lie, one little peek at porn, steal one little piece of gum, one little curse word...it all starts with a little. The next thing you know...sin is so entangled around our lives that we are choking and dying. Truly the spirit of Python is playing out in our world...(if you're interested, youtube that title and watch Jentezen Franklins message one it).

Im so disgusted by the state of the world we currently live in. A president that is ok with abortion, made no big deal of the National Day of Prayer, homosexual lifestyles being accepted not only in media, but in our towns and cities, porn ALL over the place! Am I conservative Christian...TOTALLY! Come on guys! If we believe the Bible, we HAVE to live by it! Agh! Such holy anger this morning I tell you...(sigh), I'll stop venting on you all. But please, if you have time...let me know your thoughts on these matters. I choose to believe that I am not hte only one that has this sickening anger towards these sins. I remember hearing my grandparents talk about how the days we were living in were like Sodom and Gomorah - and I was too young to understand it or believe it really. But now...NOW...I cant help but see the resemblence. Lord...have mercy.

Much love guys.

Well, I was officially confronted by my fiance who said "you promised on your xanga page that you would update more frequently...and...you haven't. You gotta keep in touch with your supporters, prayer warriors, and close buddies." Thus......I sit to write.

Haha. Thank you SO much to all of you who wished me well and congratulations. I truly am just amazed by the Lord and His provision of a man. :) Ha.

An update on life here in "da Bronx" - would be that I have learned that my learned skills from 3 years at Teen Mania, FAR outweigh my bachelors of Social work degree - which cost me MORE than I care to mention! I honestly reached a point of - I'm not sure whether to call it insanity or hopelessness. This happened on TUesday of this week. Trying to find a job in your degree area, working with women and children, has proven impossible. I have thus opened up craigslist to look into administrative assistant jobs! Agh....

At the same time Ben and I are looking for a place to live, and planning a wedding. The latter isn't as hard as the former, honestly. For those wondering, I'm gettin hitched on September 20! :)

http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/Aimie Orman&BenjaminThomas

We haven't finished registries on that page yet...but it will give you an idea. :)

This coming Wednesday I'll be heading up the NYC trip for Real Impact Missions again. I'm SUPER excited about it this year, because...well, I now LIVE in NYC. :) We'll be working with Times Square Church's Raven Ministry, which ministers to the Homeless of NYC through food distribution and prayer. Also we'll be working with Metro Ministries, and doing some kitchen soup outreach. Now that I live in NY I can better understand a bit more about the place, and am excited to pour that into the youngins that are coming.

I will update you all from here on out - scouts honor, and Fiance confronting. :) Prayers for job and house are welcomed!


PS: Please feel free to add me as a friend on Facebook. I got lots'a pics on there. :)

I was jogging down by the TN river, which happens to be just about 1/2 a mile from my house, the other day and was just pondering the journey of life.

After I got saved I used to spend so much time down on the sand just talking to the Lord. As I jogged I remineced on those times, and how the Lord spoke to me and how we just fellowshipped.

I jogged around where my grandma and I used to throw our lines in the water in hopes of catchin some crappie, catfish or a bass. I looked at the spot where I was baptized. I felt the bar on the jungle gym with ease....there was a time that even on my tippy toes I couldnt reach it. Now I just raise my arm a bit...and there it is. I looked at the pavillion that was the meeting spot for our family reunions every year, which are now non-existant. <sigh> I love being home.

I love walking down the street in my small town and knowing every house and who lives there, and that they all wave to you as you pass. I love that everyone in my town knows my grandfather, and says "we sure do miss him singing on the front porch." :) Something that used to embarass the daylights outta me.

So many memories rush over me. I've been home now for 3 months. The longest visit since I left home for Teen Mania in 2000. Now as I ponder leaving again...it seems it's harder than it's ever been. Anyone felt that? You would think that being away from home for 8 yrs, it would be easy to leave.

My grandpa is doing some better. I thank you all for your prayers for him and for my family. It's been a blessing to be able to be here and hear his voice, and his prayers. Those random midnight sessions of prayer that used to bug me when I was a kid, now sooth my soul. How blessed was I to have been raised by him and my granny. :)

In the midst of my jog I thought "I need to update xanga." So, just wanted to let you all know I'm still alive and kickin. :)

Much Love.  

A vivid dream of my grandmother and I singing "Amazing Grace", left me missing home and family yesterday and today. My grandmother passed away 5 years ago, but the dream was so real I awoke, wishing I could fall back asleep and pick up where I left off. Such dreams I will always cherish...

My Uncle David is one who always reminds me, "Aimie, when you gave your life to the Lord, you gained a family as vast as the heavens, so you will never be away from family." My wonderful friend Benjamin Thomas reminded me of this truth, via chat, this morning. After this, I received the following email from a couple here in the office, whom I've come to love and adore greatly. :)

Aimie, 

We understand that you probably missing your home today, but even though you are in a part of the world, where ‘thanksgiving’ may not be celebrated but know that you are among the people who thank God every time  for everything!

The tradition & customs would be different here,

You may not have ‘thanksgiving time’ as you had last year back at home,

but you have friends in Christ here,

who can share their smile to make you feel at home!

Be encouraged by this verse – “That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works”. (Psalms 26:7)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Sheeja & Jais

Tears filled my eyes once again as I read...once again, in His gentle way, our Father reminds me that I am never alone, nor am I away from family.

To add to this, my wonderful "roomies" - the three beautiful prayer sisters who live in the apartment next to mine, invited me over for breakfast this morning. They made allu parathas! It's like 2 tortillas put together, with boiled, finely chopped cauliflower, cilantro, mashed potatoes, and chili peppers inside. Agh! SOOO Yummy! Then they spread a bit of ghee (like butter, but much tastier!) on top of the paratha! Make you slap yo pappy, it's so good! I told them "today is thanksgiving in the US, families get together and eat stuffed turkey....and I am here with 'family' having stuffed roti's!" :) haaa.

The Lord is good... I pray you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving...remembering to thank Him for all that he has done, taught,  protected you from this past year, and for His unending tender love and mercies. 

Much Love to you all.... Here's a pic of the amazing Sheeja and Jais, and their beautiful daughter Gloria. :)

 

 

 

Wow,

Just when I think that I am getting good about updating on life here in India...I drop off for about a month! Ha. Well, so much has happened that I'm not sure where to start, without producing a BOOK of an update! How about a highlight and an Elijah quote?? Then in the coming days I'll post a few more nuggets. :)

Ministry with Geeta (aka:Sungeeta):

 

I spend my sundays afternoons with my friend Sungeeta, who has a ministry here in Delhi to children in the slums, and also to teens who are searching. She often has people from all over the world who come in for short term missions, and it's a joy to meet them and fellowship. I left work a little early one saturday and planned to go with Geeta and a few teens to a village a little ways out of Delhi, for ministry. I was then going to stay the night with Geeta and her folks and spend ALL day sunday with them in childrens ministry. :) I was STOKED.

It turned out to be a great time to get out and get some hands on ministry time. The village church we visited was pastored by a Nepali man, and family. A good majority of those in the service were from Nepal, then of course Indians. The church service is held in a really small room, and thus was PACKED with kids. We then decided to lay out the mats and take the service outdoors! :) The stars were a GREAT joy for me to see, not to mention the stringed lights. :) At one point the lights went out, and by candles we all sat listening to the message.In the open spance of India...surrounded by little brown bodies, the stars and moon above, the flickering of the candles...here - my heart found contentment and swole at the moment.

Mayu - an incredible gal from Japan, who spends 4 months of the year as a missionary in Nepal - was there, as she was going to be visiting Geeta and her family for a month, to do ministry. She and I bonded immediately. After the message, in which Mayu busted out some of her Nepali (!!!!), and we all did some dramas, we then prayed for the people. Ashima, one of the teens, and I partnered up - as I don't speak hindi.

My heart broke as one lady came and asked us to pray for her husband, who has sold all their belongings, as they struggle finanacially. The husband, feeling frustrated at their situation, has begun beating her. She cried as she asked for prayer. Her two little girls stood beside her, their beautiful little eyes looking up at  us, the mothers arms around the shoulders of both. I, being the social worker, and just one who loves kids, asked if the children were ever phycially beaten as well. One can only imagine the emotional trauma they face of such things happening in their home. The mother said that he did not beat the children...just her. Ashima and I laid hands on her and prayed...I wish I could say we knew what happened after that, but we dont. By faith.....

We made our rounds to others in the crowd, praying for eyes to be opened, exams to be passed, and jobs to be had. I then noticed a line of folks sitting down on the tarp. I asked Joby and a few of the other guys why those folsk were sitting and praying alone - "They are praying for the Holy spirit". Wow! I was amazed. Aunty (Geeta's mom) was walking and laying hands on them, as they sat and prayed. I watched for some time, then felt in my heart to pray for the one lady that was amongst the men. Such a determination came over me to sit there with her til it happened. I squatted and prayed in tongues - after a bit a mightly rush of electricity was felt by us BOTH, and I couldn't keep the smile from my face as my sister began speaking in tongues! Aunty and I just rejoiced! It was amazing. 

One cultural moment was when Aunty, Mayu and I all binded together to pray for another aunty who was having some shoulder and hip pain. We all jumped in to pray.... Mayu prayed in Japanese, Aunty prayed in Hindi and I in english! We all prayed at the same time, adn I couldn't keep my mind from wondering to the JOY and AMAZEMENT we will all face one day before the Throne of our Savior!

Well...that will be highlight #1 - haha!

The Elijah quote:

Him - "You know if Indians and Americans were to play cricket...we would beat you all!"

Me - "That's because we dont play cricket in the US, silly goose. However, if you wanna talk baseball, we would WHOOP you all - REEEAL bad!"

He laughs and then I say...

ELIJAAAAAAHH! One of these days I am just going to SQUEEEEZE YOU!

Him - NO! Girls don't squeeze boys!

Me - Hahaa, then I'm just going to catch your arm and SQUEEZE your arm!

Him - NO...you can't squeeze me AT all!!

Me - FINE...then I'm hiring Grace and Jerry....they will SQUUUEZE you!

Hahaaa... I have little brothers here in India! Ha. I scare them by "moo-ing" when they least expect it and they hide behind doors to try and get revenge. Ha.

Life is Good. :):)