Follow Up on Our Fair Trade Expo Excursion- Lawrenceburg, Indiana

After about 45 minutes, I was able to thaw out our vehicle enough for us to drive over to southeastern Indiana today for a great event. I already have the date saved for next year too...it was that good. 

Community Fellowship Church hosts the annual event the first weekend in December. Much of their items come from a Festival Sales organization called Ten Thousand Villages. My new Bengal Nativity from Peru, the two bars of soap from India and my favorite purchase, the self-watering snail from Bangladesh (pictured in the pot in the photo above) are all from this organization that began in 1946.

But there were other ministries represented as well and one, Recyclo Craftz took time to tell us how she got started ministering to at-risk women in Zambia and how she barters with local tailors there for scraps of cloth for use in the projects. 

My favorite table was run by Pezulu Arts. Although I didn't buy anything from them at this time, I hope to in the future. If I'd been shopping just for myself, I would have picked up either one of their hand painted spoon rests or salt and pepper shakers. The artistry was amazing.

Divine Chocolate was also available. I've purchased this brand from It's Only Fair before and it is delicious. Finding out they have a mail order website is probably a dangerous thing!

I found this hand sewn bookmark for a gift from Amani Ya Juu, which means "higher peace" in Swahili. It was made by women in Nairobi, Kenya. I also found another gift, that I can't picture here from Trade as One.

Now that I've been to the Expo, I wish I would have organized a shopping trip with some of my friends. I think that's a good goal for next year. If you want to know why buying Fair Trade is becoming so important to me, watch the video at the Expo's website http://fightinghopelessness.org/

If what I buy for myself or as gifts for others can make a difference in someone's life, why wouldn't I choose to do that? If buying less so that I can spend more, and in turn support an individual, helping them to live self-sufficiently, instead of lining the pockets of corporate greed and devastation...isn't it not only ethically right...but also morally imperative to do so when I have the option? Knowing that my $18 for an adorable Nativity helps an artisan in Peru eat and have a warm place to sleep, is a good thing. I can't say that about every purchase I make, especially one's made at large discount stores like Wal-Mart, Target and other chains...so I'm thankful for Community Fellowship Church making an opportunity like this one available and introducing me to organizations from whom I can now purchase throughout the year.

Guru India Restaurant- Crescent Springs, Kentucky

Last night, my oldest wanted to go out to eat and spend some time with me. I hesitated at first because I knew I shouldn't spend the money...but then I felt prompted to also remember that she turns 18 in less than a month and these moments are precious and few. I attempted to let her pick the place since she is adhering to a strict Vegan diet with very little grains too. She obviously also cares about not frying her food and limiting her sugar intake to almost non-existent. But she kept saying, "I can find something anywhere". 

In my desire to allow her to eat more than a plain, iceberg lettuce salad, I wanted to try a new place. One that is locally owned and offers vegetarian or vegan options would be a huge bonus too! 

I think we found it!

Guru India in Crescent Springs, just off of Buttermilk Pike had numerous vegetarian options. And while the meal prices were a little steeper than we like to pay for dinner ($11+), there are dozens of ala carte options too. I was considering ordering some dal soup and nan, both of which I already like...when Abbey found a Vegetarian Thal special that included an appetizer, aloo tikki, choley, mater paneer, dal, nan, raita, rice and a small dessert topped with papardamm. Do not ask me other, than the dal and nan, which item was which...but they were all delicious!

We shared the $15.99 meal and together were only able to eat about half of it. Granted, there was cream in some of the dishes, but Abbey was able to steer clear of those and still feel stuffed by the end of the meal. My favorite thing is that you get to pick the spice level from 1 to 5. We chose a 2 and I didn't notice any heat. We could probably bump it up one the next time if we wanted. I also had a glass of sweet mango juice that was very tasty.

The staff, while not overly friendly was definitely pleasant and helpful. The hesitancy may have been more of a language or cultural barrier, but regardless, they were much more welcoming than our most recent excursion in Hebron.

While we were sitting there soaking in the music (which I love!) and the pleasant atmosphere, I remarked to Abbey that just the smell of spices emanating through the restaurant was wonderful. I love all things Indian and this is somewhere I know we'll visit again.

Why Doesn't the Simple Thing Work Anymore?

When I started reading Captive in Iran and have heard testimonies recently from missionaries in hostile environments, like Mid-India Christian Services, I keep having this question ringing through my head: Why don't the "old" ways of reaching the lost for Jesus work in the U.S. anymore?

Now, I'm sure there are dozens of people that would love to educate me about living in a post-modern or post-Christian culture. You could even debate how intellectual we are or dare I say, how we've "evolved"...but I already know a lot about these subjects and they just don't seem to be the answer to my question.

Are you telling me that Iranians or Indians are not as smart? That somehow people in other parts of the world have lesser mental capabilities than we do? No...I'm pretty sure we all have the same God-given mental capacities.

So why? Why can two women being held in a cesspool of human waste, hopelessness and pain walk up to a complete stranger and say essentially, "You are lost. We know the God who loves you. We would like to introduce you to His Son, Jesus. And He will be your hope and shield." And often the response they get is, "You know what...I think you're right. I believe."

Okay...so I've streamlined the conversations a little for dramatic affect...but the basic premise reigns true: Why does it take so much more here in the U.S. to convince...beg...someone to believe they are loved by the Creator and need Him more than anything else in this life?

I was asking this throughout the entire reading of the book. Here's what I think the Holy Spirit whispered to my heart as the answer...it's nothing complicated...in fact, it's only one word...but the implications are more than I think we would really like to grasp. The word?

Suffering!

There it is. In places where to be a Christian is to automatically expect persecution, suffering and even death...the Love and Hope of Jesus is spreading like a desert wildfire. Why? Because just like the early Christians going to their deaths in a coliseum singing...we innately know there is nothing rational about joy in the midst of pain. When it is witnessed by the unbeliever...God's unfathomable Love cannot be denied.

We in the U.S. for the most part have never suffered. When we grasp that the poorest person in the U.S. is still 90% richer than over half of the world...we will understand what a tremendous blessing we have been given. But the blessing has in fact, become a curse.

No longer is the love of Jesus needed for salvation here. We can self-help, self-medicate, self-esteem and self-ishly get our way out of almost anything. And if someone can't...then we can blame the government, schools, deterioration of the family, gun laws, entitlements, video games, climate change, the media or a plethora of other things for why someone fails to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps" and get better. When will come the day that we must admit...the bootstraps are not ours to pull?

I'm not a doomsday prophet...nor do I want to be. I wish the good times would just keep rolling in...but do we really worship a God that came to our Earth and said, 'Take up your cross and follow me." (see Matthew 16:24) ?? Do we worship the suffering Savior that for our own sins was beaten beyond recognition, hung on a cross in the town dump, while being mocked by strangers and denied by his friends and not really expect some of the same treatment? (See Matthew 27)

I also don't believe that God ever loses hope of drawing people to Him. We are told that God isn't slow in keeping His promises (to return). He tarries so that everyone has a chance to repent. (see 2 Peter 3:9) So I don't think God will ever just "abandon" the U.S....even though it may seem like people are abandoning Him for their own comfort, pleasure and indulgences.

What will it take to draw people to Him? If history is accurate...it takes suffering. When we have nothing left...we find that the only thing we ever needed was Him. That has proved true in my own life as well. So when the rocks are tumbling and the light is dwindling and the hope seems to be fading...do not despair...

He's on His way!

Mid-India Christian Services

Sunday, I shared that I would love to start publicizing what God is doing. Today's ministry to share is Mid-India Christian Services.

Jay Henry of MICS spoke in our worship services this weekend. He told an amazing story of how a disillusioned Hindu temple guard had come to know, worship and proclaim the love of Jesus Christ in a land where baptism of Hindus and Muslims into the Christian faith requires a court order.

MICS has a college (Bethlehem Bible College) that educates young men to become village preachers. The village churches are too poor to support these pastors, so donations to MICS financially support the men as well.

MICS also has programs to aid in Village Economic Development and help Poor Christian Widows and Children. By teaching simple skills like sewing and furnishing a family with a goat or chickens, a family can provide their own food and even sell some milk, cheese or eggs for a profit.

So again, do your own research and if this is a place you feel the Holy Spirit leading you to give or to serve...don't question the feeling...or the wisdom...or even the practicality of it...just do it, and you will be blessed!

Website available at http://midindiachristianservices.com/