Cricket in Sri Lanka is Absolute Insanity

On our way home from church Ben and I found ourselves right in the middle of a Hindu processional. We did not have our camera but I found a picture off a website http://inlinethumb62.webshots.com/17149/2987394870104237032S600x600Q85.jpg and it truly captures what we saw. Men hung from thousands of hooks piercing their entire body. It was the most horrific religious practice I have ever seen. According to the Hindu religion the more hooks a person has in his/her body the more his/her family will be blessed. This is a religion and people truly in need of Christ’s grace and unfailing love. We are so blessed to have a God who loves us unconditionally. Grace if accepted is such an amazing gift.
Ben and I have truly settled in now and are feeling at home in our new place. We have a huge ant and cockroach problem but we have been spraying daily and we are hoping this will help. We also have two kittens that have made their home in our outdoor shed. They are very cute and we are going to buy food for them today. Monte Pries arrives in Sri Lanka on August 20th and we cannot wait to see him and his team. Not to mention that they are bringing some goodies for us and of course all the crafts (Thanks to Pathways Church and Ben’s family and friends). It will be so nice to see a familiar face. I still get homesick daily. I guess that’s what happens when you have a family who loves you as much as mine does.
These past two weeks have been very challenging for Ben and me we found out my Uncle has brain cancer and it is extremely challenging to be away from family when they are enduring extremely difficult challenges. Praise the Lord for the Pathways community my family has. The church members at pathways have surrounded and supported my family and my uncle during this difficult time and I am so grateful. What a blessing Pathways is to my family and me. Even though I cannot physically be there to support my family I know others are there to pray and love them.
On Wednesday night Ben and I went to our first cricket match (Watch the videos we posted!). Wow it was definitely one of the craziest experiences of my life. We arrived at the cricket match and were immediately surrounded by a mob of thousands and thousands of people who were trying to push the cricket gate down. Police men were literally beating people. One of the members of our group was pushed up against a car by the mob and dislocated her Knee. It was fascinating but I did not enjoy the experience. By the time we actually got into the cricket match (two hours too late) we were forced to sit on the floor because so many people who had not purchased tickets had snuck in. People were leaning on me and breathing on me and basically I wanted to leave the moment I arrived. But we stayed and got the cricket experience and left before the game was over in order to ensure that we would get out of the stadium safely. It was a once in a lifetime experience....Literally!
Thank you for your continued prayer. Please continue to pray for health for both Ben and me. My stomach has not had a normal day since I arrived. Please also pray for my uncle and his healing. Pray for Ben and My eyes to be open to God’s work and what we are supposed to be doing here. Pray we will be open to his direction and his call and seek him in all we do. Thank you we miss and love you all very much.