It's been a hard day's night

Gambles Newsletter                                    11/19/15                                 Volume 2, Issue 8 Pix 1.  We took this family photo for the eMi2 publication Indian Thread 2.  Jaleebi is a traditional Diwali sweet that is SOAKED in honey.  They are delicious! 3.  We found this compass in Bratislava, Slovakia 4.  Chesna and Miriam in a park in Vienna, Austria 5.  Moses and Chesna trying to pick up a bronze statue in Bratislava 6.  Nathan looking down on the Danube from the UFO tower in Bratislava Today was a hard day. I had to fire a girl who worked for me doing one hour of cleaning a couple days ago.  She only speaks broken English, but it's far beyond my Hindi (which is limited to Namaste and ek neither of which have I actually tried using on an Indian).  One woman who works here with eMi had told me to ask her if I needed help.  So ask I did.  I need help telling Saloni that my landlord wants me to use his long time cleaning lady instead of her.  No big deal we both think since Saloni worked for me such a short time.  I'll pay her for her one hour, give her a bonus, and tell her I'm sorry but the landlord says I must.      First I try to explain in English.  That doesn't work. Next I try google translate - I've already discovered that it's not reliable.  That doesn't work either.  So I call my friend who has already agreed to translate.  I hand the phone to Saloni, and it's quickly apparent that she understands and it's a HUGE deal to her.  She's crying.  She tells me that her parents are dead.  She lives with her brother who took her out of school to make her start working to give him money.  She had told him about the job and he wants the money.  Typically salaries are paid at the end of the month, so he shouldn't expect money for at least another 28 days.  He hits her if she doesn't give him money.  And on top of it all, tomorrow is her birthday.  And of course, I have no solutions for her.  NONE.  NOT A ONE. But I know my God has solutions to all my problems, so I ask her if I can pray for her.  I tell her I am a Christian and I can't fix her problems, but my God can.  It's unclear to me if she understands me or not and I don't want to offend her, so I call my friend back and ask her.  She explains to Saloni what I'm trying to say and she agrees to let me pray for her.  So I pray.      So I pray in English.  My friend prays in Hindi on speakerphone.  We hang up again.  My friend had already told me that the most I should give, if I'm feeling really generous is 500 rupees. I go to my room.   I couldn't find any 100 notes, so 500 it is (the equivalent to $7.70 and way more than the typical hourly wage of 100 Rs per hour).      I go to hand her the money and she asks me for more.  She says that the lady on the phone told her I was going to give her 200.  I tell her I gave her 200 plus more.  She wants something for her birthday.  I said that's what the extra is for.  It's a gift beyond the money for the 1 hr of cleaning.  She still is asking for more.  She says she wants some money for food and the 500 she'll give to her brother.  I tell her to take the 500 to the store and buy some food and then give her brother the change.  She's not understanding me.  Again.  So I call my friend back and explain it to her.  She explains it to Saloni.  Now Saloni understands.      As she goes to leave, I think she says that she'll let me know when she's getting married.  She smiles sweetly at me when she says it. I call my friend back and ask her to translate for me again.  She thinks that Saloni is saying the same thing I am, although she's not quite sure.  We'll see as time marches on.  Until then, please pray with me for Saloni. -------   The following morning, Saloni called me at 6:15 AM to tell me (I think) that she got a job.  So, Jesus is starting to work in her life! For our adjustment.  So far it's been OK, but the kids are still looking for friends. For Saloni, that God would be her father, that He would protect her, provide for her, feed her, rescue her, and that she would turn to Him. We still need an architect for the Cambodia team. Miriam's Massages (or was that messages?) You know that kids say the darnedest things.  Here you will get a few funny quotes from our kids. While playing Canasta wearing Chad's motorcycle jacket and helmet, Moses asks, "Are A's random?" Shanthi replies, "No, but you are." Nathan asked, "How many points is a two-point conversion?" After we started laughing, Chesna said, "I don't get it."   "Smells like victory, boys!  Or like a good burrito." ~Miriam Moses' Corner Kick It has been an exiting experience coming to India. I am on a soccer team and I'm starting next week.  I went to a 60 acre park and played soccer there. There were peacocks and deer at the park. We don't have wifi at our house yet, but when we do I will email you.