Dance for Hope

March 23rd 2013 marks the night of my first ever community fundraiser for the work in S.E. Asia. I'm  excited, thrilled actually, and waiting in great anticipation for what is going to happen this Saturday. For the longest time I've mused over fundraising, how and when it's appropriate, how you ask for help, and why anyone would really care in the first place. But this has been different. Not only have the people in our church come around us but the community has been inspired and has been looking for ways to get involved. From teaching dance to donating print work God has blessed us through the people of Ann Arbor and is blessing the work of Encouraging Words Inc. 

This Saturday we expect between 50-150 people, and I can't wait to see how many truly come out. We're still getting the word out and appreciate all the support on Twitter, Facebook and simply word of mouth. We also want to extend the invitation for involvement to all our out of town supporters. We have a few dancers who have committed to dancing the whole time and are recruiting pledges for the hours they dance. If you would like to donate please use the DONATE link on our page or contact Sarah for more information.

There are currently 5 team members for this summer trip and we need a total of about $1,400 for the trip. Everyone is working hard, looking for creative ways to earn and raise funds and trusting that as always, when we are called to do something for the Kingdom He always provides!

Thank you for your partnership and encouragement. I can't wait to share the stories!

https://www.facebook.com/events/407585002663775/

A Whole Knew Idea

Winter is a funny time. A time when things in America seem to be transformed. When a simple drop in temperature changes rain into magical snow, and all our plans change from "have-to" tasks - to "get-to" events. When those pesky siblings become your number one priority to get to, and that disgusting green bean casserole holds a tradition that you simply couldn't imagine being without. We see the lines of scary rabid black friday shoppers, and shake our heads knowing that's not what it's all about. We snuggle beside fires, sing Christmas carols and feel a joy all it's own during candle lit services. This is a time when though the world speeds up we choose to take some time and slow down, and what we get out of it is always far more than we thought when we counted the cost and sacrifice of the hours and finances spent for those hours with the ones we love.

Maybe because of this season, maybe for a reason all together different, G0d has laid on our hearts A Whole Knew Idea, a whole knew way of looking at missions. We always have shared our stories, we've told people of what the stats look like, how stark things are and our obligation and passion to help those in need. We've talked in terms of projects and accomplishments, numbers and needs, requirements and solutions. But not this time.

This time we've taken a whole knew approach, an approach as old and natural as our worn journals and tear stained prayers. It has come time to simply introduce the people of S. Asia.

We recently spoke with some members of our church showing them pictures, pictures of real people, real faces, real stories, of real families, with real needs, real passions, accomplishments, and joy. This is the new idea, to remove the veil of stats, of programs and humanitarian aid "feel-good" projects, and simply get back to the basics of what ministry was all about, people. People who have needs that go beyond a day's activities, or one meal, or even much needed health care and education. People who need the life and love of Chr!st; yes to heal their physical bodies but so much more to reach the depth of their soul and their heart of hearts.

So that is our goal, our mission, our passion, as it's always been but is even clearer now. In 2013 we will be taking a team, a team of people, who are ready to feel and hurt and love passionately all who we come in contact with. We will gather with believers, with those questioning what is real, with children and families, the homeless and city leaders, who are sometimes one in the same. We will visit on buses on benches, in churches and homes, on sidewalks or simply in the dirt. We will share without holding back, we will love without worry, we will serve and give of ourselves, our talents, our time, to in any way possible show love and grace to the people of the city which we so greatly love. We will tell our stories, share of our pains, our healings, and our hope.

We will do these things of course not by our might, but His, and rejoice in knowing we are not in charge, but only responsible to follow the perfect leading of our gracious loving Father.

We are excited about this trip, and this time of learning and invite you to share with us, through pr@yer and partnership, and simply by asking us to tell more. Let us show you their faces, tell you their stories, and begin to get behind the crushing load of statistics into the lives and hearts of the people themselves.

Grace and Love.

-Sarah

A drop of oil and two copper coins

It feel like it was both yesterday and years ago that we were last in our dearest S. Asian city. Since then our life has been crazy, our finances providing an excellent challenge, our housing evacive, and our futures unknown but highly anticipated. Amongst all this turmoil we have seen our Father sustain us, provide for us, equip us, and uphold us; all the while revealing more of Himself to us, growing us, molding us, and absolutely loving us in ways I have never before encountered.

In our last update we spoke of our call to M. work this next year, and that desire has not wavered. It is a new year, with new challenges and obstacles, and wonderful new promises and opportunities and adventures! We are trying to take one day at a time, living in beautiful anticipation of what He IS doing and WILL do, taking each blessing as a brand new present design and given just to us showing His great love.

One of these beautiful presents came in the form of a new team member for the Hope Project! We have a few youth in serious pr@yer regarding this summer's trip as well as whole teams seeking direction for future projects. One of the youth in particular has felt the confirmation of the Spirit over her burdened heart for the people we work with in S. Asia. It has been amazing to watch God create this desire in her as over the past year we have watch Him ignite her heart for the lost and hurting of this world and create in her a desire to serve. Please pray for Ms. A. as well as the other individuals still in prayer about joining us this summer!

That brings us to plans, I could use this room to detail all our ideas and plans, projects and wishlist, but I think God has much greater things to say than I, so instead I will state the Words He has placed on my heart.

In thinking and praying for direction for the journey the great Teacher laid two references on my heart, both of which surprised me at first. The first is about drops of oil, and the second - two copper coins. Many of you are probably familiar with this stories, the first which can be found in 2 Kings 4, when G0d uses the prophet Elisha to show His miraculous care of a widow with only a few drops of oil. The woman is in a hard place, she is stressed and desperate for help as the creditor is about to come and enslave her two boys because of her late husband's debts. When she seeks Elisha's help she says "Your servant has nothing at all. . . except a little oil". As the story goes on Elisha tells her to first gather every jar she can find, both in her home and from all her neighbors, she is instructed to ask for MANY, "not just a few". She is then to go into her house with the boys and start pouring the oil into the jars. As those who are familiar with the story know, the oil keeps pouring . . . and keeps pouring . . . in fact, it keeps pouring until the probably awed and enthusiastic mom yells for the boys to bring another, and with the boys' answer of "there is not one jar left" the oil then stopped flowing.

The second reference is Mark 12:41-44. Again this story involves a woman in harsh circumstances, something that the moment rings very true to my heart and emotions. This woman is a widow, to be more exact, a "poor widow". As J*sus sits with his disciples watching the crowds make their way to the temple treasury they watched as many rich people threw in large amounts. But then this woman came, and into the treasury she put two "very small copper coins". This was the time J*sus chose to speak to His diciples telling them "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on."

I'm sure these stories resound with you in some way and the Spirit is probable teaching you something completely unique through them so take a moment to listen to His teaching.

The things I learn from these passages is fairly simple, yet life-changing & custom-challenging: faithfully obey and God will equip you to give everything, all you have to live on. When it comes to the drops of oil I see myself with my little "stuff" and I hear Papa saying, woman, start gathering the jars. I see the $500 set aside for our next trip, a fairly ample drop in the bucket for the $5,000ish we will need to provide for Sean and I, but still sometimes only looking like "a few drops" and I hear Him say, Sarah, starting asking your neighbors for jars for when this starts flowing it will pour.

As for the poor widow, instead of the amazement of the former I see dedication. I see a call to give absolutely everything I have to live on, for the glory of G0d. It is the call He challenged us with last year regarding the trip, and though scary it was tremendous to watch Him sustain us and allow us to serve overseas on "only enough to live".

I am sure you have your own stories of struggle, your own trying places, the stress and even depression that threatens to come in some times - and so I encourage you to look at these woman, these poor widows, one scared and yet abudantly cared for, and the other dedicated and confident in her Father's love.

Pray with us about giving "all you have to live on" for the glory of G0d. Also lift up the summer team and trip, the current $7,500 needed which increases by $2,500 with each added team member, and ask if He, the lover of the broken and provider of the sacrificial, would have you help us on the way.

We love you all, may the G0d of peace and provision comfort and delight you today as you obey Him and give all you have.

Love you,
Sarah

Tax-deductible donations can be made through our umbrella NGO accessible at: http://www.encouragingwordsasia.com/

Non Tax-deductible donations can be made via the "donate" button on this page or through checks payable to us.

The call to Go.

We've been home for almost 2 weeks now, and it seems like we got back yesterday. We hit the ground running and have just now started to slow down and ease back into life here in the states. But alot is different. After waiting 2 1/2 years to return to S. Asia a fire is now lit in our souls that we are told in 1Thess 5:19 not to quench. So that fire consumes us, drives us mad, and pushes us forward, always desperate to praise our Father and honor Him through our obedience daily. We feel hungry and thirsty to the point of starvation, and consumed to the point of madness, for our G0d is a raging fire and salvation for the lost, getting hope to the hopeless has become our one and only desire.

We ask for pr@yers, we ask for partners, and we ask for help. It's not just S. Asia. It's the world. We have a tug on our heart for the people we lived with for those 11 days most definitely G0d has placed them as a focus in our lives that way may pour ourselves out for them. But our Father loves not only one nation but all, He bled for not one race, but all. He LIVES and LOVES not one area, but the world. For our names are written on the palms of His hands. And so as Sean and I seek to be created into the image of our Saviour we watch as He molds our hearts souls and minds making us desperate for EVERY nation tribe and tongue to come to know the HOPE of our salvation!

Our desire next year is to go on three international trips. That sounds insane, and it is - but our G0d never called us to be sane, simply to be abandoned to His purposes. Please pr@y first of all for the time, that jobs and necessary work wouldn't get in the way of our calling. As it stands my vacation time wouldn't even be saved up for another trip like this one for another year and a half. Secondly pr@y for finances, we're still amazed that we were able to afford this trip and how it all came together, but 3 trips seems impossible from a financial standpoint - but the G0d we serve is the G0d of impossibilities!

Please pr@y, please help, please come!

With all joy and peace, and love,

The Carrolls <><

Coming Home

After a week and a half of serving here in the city we are preparing to head back home. Thousands of miles, and hours of flights to come back to so many things and so much more work to be done. This trip has been amazing. We have seen so much more of the city, and learned so much more about everyday life that will be vital for our longer stints, and eventual long term goals. We were able to see what the people live like, and what they do on a basic day, and we were able to teach and work for something everyday and are already seeing the benefits to the people.

This trip has been too short as always, but it has been such an encouragement to me with so many challenges to share with so many of you when we get home. I can't wait to share the pictures, the clips, and the stories with you!

One last thing, our Papa has laid so much on our heart for the future of our work here, so be on the lookout for our update letter when we get home and settled, if you want a copy please contact us!

Things that still shock.

Within this trip I have been so pleased to see how comfortable I am here! After so many years of coming I am slowly becoming a native :) We have been trying to take pictures of the "odd" things here to bring back home to try to share as much of the experience as possible, but to be honest I have become so used to everything we keep forgetting to take pictures! Haha, in trying to accomplish this task I have kept my eyes wide open for things that would shock a first time visitor and in doing so have realized how much has become normal and what things G0d has still allowed to shock my heart and soul.

First, the "nomal". After so many years I have come to find so many things commonplace; I am no longer shocked by the dirt, the traffic, the squatty pottys, the cows wandering the streets, the rickshaws/taxis/autorickshaws/motorcycles/buses and pedestrians all traveling the same road side by side. I am no longer suprised when I see a taxi driver turn off his car in the middle of the highway to save gas, or a motor rickshaw cram 8 people in its 3x4 ft area. I am no longer shocked by the stares, the "wow"s that sound more like "wooooooooooooooooowwwwwww" or the pointing and laughing at who knows what odd facial expression I must be making. I am no longer surprised to have the electricity cut off mid day, to eat foods I do not recognize, or to listen intently to a language I don't comprehend for hours on end. I am no longer surprised when vendors charge me a white-tax, or women pinch my arm and tell me how fat I am (a compliment mind you). I am also no longer surprised by drinking hot milk tea 3 or 4 times a day despite the 100 degree weather. The dirt the dust, the almost constant smell of urine and rotting garbage are now just how things are and I would be more shocked to find them changed. Yes, so many things I can hardly even realize any more.

But there are still things that shock me and for that I praise our Father for they are the things that I believe shock His heart and bring our compassionate and loving L0rd to tears. They are the naked and malnurished children playing in the ditches. The beggars crawling through the streets. The rickshaw driver who though maybe in his 30s looks to be 60 and will so be on his death bed. The things that still shock me are the unseen people. Those everyone else has long forgotten, the people who have sunk into the backdrop of this city and are thought of as no more than scenery. I am still shocked by the street children whos wounds are not taken care of and who cry and complain of the infections. I am shocked by the families living in the median of the road as if it were normal, because for them it is what life always has been. I am still shocked by the children given over to begging for a "master" in order to receive food in return. I am shocked by the young boys involved in drug rings, and the small street girls who speak of being scared of being stolen in the night and forced into prostitution. I am still shocked by the faces of the hurting, the cries of the brokenhearted, and the drastic darkness of so many situations here.

For these things I pr@y that I will never grow accustomed to. I ask that they would always shock me, always move me to prayer and action, and always grip my very soul and leave me on my knees pleading for these people and this nation.

This trip has been a blessing in that what I have always wanted I now feel comfortable in - that I have been equipped by G0d to serve here, that this is doable and He is capable of working through us in such a setting. I has been a joy to learn so much more about day to day living, to experience the exhaustion so many of our family here face daily, and to participate in their ministries. One thing that has become very clear this trip is our need to learn the language. I say this every time I return home, and I pursued training once but couldn't find a good teacher. Now more than ever it has become such a strong desire, for if we are the ones that see the invisible and hurt for the unwanted, then we must be the ones to speak to them, and we cannot do that unless we know the language. Please pray with us that a way would be made that we could study the language and become proficient quickly for the glory of G0d.

Pray also for the last three days of our trip that we would keep our eyes wide open, speak when speaking is necessary, act when actions are needed, and pray continually. Pray also for our words as we have taught at least once a day while here and will continue until we leave Monday, pray that just the right words would be spoken, no more, no less, to be an encouragement and instruction to the Fellowship here.

We love you all and cannot wait to share the rest of the journey with you when we return home. Continue with perserverence in the faith, not letting anything sway you. Stand FIRM and LIVE as free in Chr!st. Be BOLD, never stopping, never pausing - always on your knees and always obedient. For our G0d is great and greatly to be praised - who are we to choose not to glorify Him to the fullest? No, I say glorify Him with every last breath we breathe, with every word, every action, every thought - glory glory glory to the One and Only!

All our love,

Sarah

Sudder Streets

Today has just one word to describe it:amazing!

Today we had the chance to work with the street kids that live on Sudder Street, right across from Kolkata's biggest market "New Market." This place is swarmed with economy, tourists, and local business yet there is great need. Right under the highway there are hundreds of families that have been forced to live on the streets because of the lack of work and money, many live in villages but can't afford to go back and live there either.

So today we went out with some of our friends to just be with these children. Our friends have been hanging out with these kids for over 2 years and working to impact their lives and they have some many awesome plans and ideas for the future! But the heart of the matter begins here. I speak no Bengali, and these children speak no English. Today we came to be with them, and we took them over to the park to play, sing and share stories. These children embraced us, they climbed all over us, they hugged us, and some even kissed us goodbye! They did not know English but we spoke the language of our hearts, words such as joy, grace, love, and care. Some things the streets do not offer. They responded in kind. Even more they sang for us songs about our Father, and of who he is, and even shared things about our Father's character that many still don't understand in their hearts, but they see everyday. Things like real grace and miraculous works of provision and protection.

As I come back to the village for the evening, covered in dirt, and sweat I know I feel complete. This is life, and life to the fullest. I can't wait to continue to share their stories, as they are all part of His story for all things, and for restoration for all things!

-Sean

Today while at the Market we also got the change to buy the B!bles you, our partners, purchased! We purchased 10 in Bengali, and 5 in Hindi to be prayed over and to seek who God would have us give them to, one at a time.

Today was a tremendous blessing, it started out with me in near heat exhaustion, and ended up with an epic battle against the hundreds of red ants found living in our sheets tonight - but in between those to was LIFE and life to the fullest.  God is so good to grant us friends here who share our heart for children and ministry to the poor. As sean wrote, we visited with the children who live in the median of the highway and their families. We played hand games, and laughed as the hundreds of people in taxis, rickshaws, and motorcycles drove by with some of the most hysterical quizzical expressions on their faces. We then took the children to near by field where we played our favorite game "stop go chicken" (holla out to my homie chels!) and sang songs and told about Jonah. They told us back what the stories meant to them and how they should live. These children are so young and learning so well the Truth! As sean mentioned we came back about as grimy as possible - and loving every inch of that dirt. Our friends kept apologizing for making us work too hard and for our clothes - to which we kept replying - no, this dirt proves we are doing right - this is how we SHOULD look.

Please pr@y for our friends as they continue to seek a room for these kids to meet in and land to purchase to build a house for them. They are still pr@ying over details as they want to work with ALL street children and their families, not just the orphaned. They want to be partners with Chr!st to bring restoration to whole families and not just the young ones. Please lift them and their great ministry up as they seek guidance.

We love you all, this week is going by so fast, but G0d is working even faster and is doing so much in us and around us!

<3

Sarah