Just A Sneak Peek...

We were able to pull off a surprise of a lifetime on Friday, Dec. 19th.

After months of planning, many prayers, and a couple plane rides we made it home for the holidays. Thank you Daddy!!! 

I promise we will post a video (and the full story) of everyones reactions...but just one word can sum it up, PRICELESS!

Just had to steal this off my sis's blog....

Christmas at the Taj

We had an awesome opportunity to hang out with some great people from Texas this month. It was so refreshing to hear some southern accents. (In fact, when we went to pick them up from the airport they immediately pointed out my southern accent. Guess I've still got it after 8 months of being gone!)

One of the days we with the team was spent at the Taj Mahal.  It was actually our first time to visit the Taj, believe it or not. We knew we'd be traveling to see it sometime with family or friends that come to visit, so we were were just waiting... and waiting for good weather. And we had great weather. We really had fun taking pictures and being tourists for the day. This one will just have to be our Christmas Card picture this year!

What a mess!

The doorbell rang....guess what that means??!!! a package. (hopefully, not the little boy who picks up our trash everyday, and asks for money every day)
It must be the holiday season because we were greeted with 3 packages from our postman. As he was pulling them from his sack, Joe and I began to notice the rope holding two boxes together, and a dark something all over them.
We were super excited because two of them had been stuck in Indonesia for a month. Who knows why they were hanging out there for so long....
We hurried to clean the coffee table off and get the packages where we could open them. After locating the knife, Joe started to open the first package. It was the most damaged from the outside. As Joe was opening the box he said "I think BBQ sauce busted in this box."
I said,"BBQ sauce? I don't think we asked for that....hum?!"
We quickly discovered that the stick mess was leaking out onto our coffee table. We kept going... "What is that?"
We discovered pretty quickly that a jar of molasses had shattered, covering the entire contents of that box and half of the next box... It was quite the mess. But I'm super excited to announce that we saved everything. Including the photos and fall leaves that were sent!

So, no gingerbread cookies this year. I'll just get creative and use my gingerbread cookie cutter with something else this year.

Thank you so much for remembering us during this holiday season. Thanks to your overwhelming love and generosity we have personalized stockings, starbucks coffee, and yummy treats this Christmas!
Merry Christmas

BGCH

"Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children." Mark 10:14

Daily we are overwhelmed with the amount of children who come up to our rickshaw begging for food and money. We are always torn with how to love these children during our two seconds at the stop light. We ask them their name and try to to carry on a small conversation, but we can't love them like we want to love them. We want to put them in the rickshaw with us, take them home, bathe them, feed them, and share our lives with them. We have to claim that our God knows them each by name and will provide for them.

"Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans..." Ps. 10:17-18

Last month, we had the opportunity to see the love of the Father pouring down on the lives of 200+ children at the BGCH. Our hearts were bubbling with love and joy during our time at the home. It was an experience that we will never forget!

We were greeted with flowers, smiling faces, giggles, and singing voices. They had prepared a welcoming ceremony for us filled with dancing and singing. It was beautiful.

Then we were able to go and see where the children sleep. Each child was lined up outside the door waiting for us to come and shake their hand individually. They were so excited to practice their English. "Good Morning, Auntie" "Hello Auntie" "How are you?"...

We were even able to go and visit a short time with the widows who live on campus. These ladies were glowing with excitement to see new faces. We were told that many of these ladies actually help the children with laundry and other difficult chores.

"Father to the fatherless, defender of the widows- this is God, whose dwelling is holy." Ps. 68:5

Every evening before dinner the children have a devotion time. I was able to share with the children a story from God's word. They listened so attentively, and really enjoyed getting to act it out. (A little secret about me is I never really enjoy the idea of getting up in front of a big group and sharing... Thankfully the Father can still use me even when I feel inadequate.)

I really enjoyed getting to spend time with the girls. They were very interested in who we were, where we were from, and if we knew all the hollywood celebrities. They were so cute. They even tried to teach me some of their language, which is super close to hindi so that helped.

Next time we visit I am going to make sure and bring my scissors. Not that the children had bad haircuts. In fact, they all looked really nice. The older girls just loved the thought of me cutting their hair. They were begging for haircuts... so I promised next time I would make sure and come prepared. (I love that the Father is using my talents to open up doors with new friends)

Even though our time at the BGCH was short, we left part of our hearts there with those sweet children.

Please join us in praying for these children: that they would learn the love of the Father, and that they would grow into the future leaders of this Nation (guiding this Nation to truth!)

Pray also for the pastors and leaders of the home. Pray for our friend as she pours her life daily into these children.

Check out the website to learn more about the home and opportunities to help: www.bgchm.org

Boys and Girls Christian Home

www.bgchm.org

Christmas Time is Here!

(My new Christmas ornament from the VanHorn's! I love it)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... at the Futterer's house!

(This is the canvas that Bethany helped me paint before coming to South Asia)

 We have really made an effort to have a weekly date night. It might sound a little crazy to prioritize this considering that we are together practically 24/7 with our jobs, but it has been one of the best things for our marriage. We usually spend our date trying out a new place to eat, cocoberry, or a movie. And every date consists of no internet or cell phones...just debriefing the previous week and looking to the future.

(Our Christmas tree this year... thanks to the Pal's)

 This last week our date was spent listening to Christmas music and decorating our house for the Holiday season. It took a total of 45 minutes start to finish. That includes getting the decorations out of the closet and putting up our Thanksgiving decor. Needless to say, it's a big change from our previous years of decorating.

(Our Christmas tree from last year)

 Even though I miss my beautiful tree, all my other decorations, black Friday, and tacky sweater Christmas parties.... I am still enjoying the life of simplicity. I'm enjoying the new traditions we are making together. And enjoying the complete focus on the real meaning of Christmas. Our Savior's birth!

For Such A Time As This...

"And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14

"During this hard time in my life, I have have been able to make the more difficult choice out of pure blind-eyed, bent-kneed acceptance that it was somehow part of a greater plan. I am beaten by a conviction that throbbs relentlessly against my strong self-centeredness. As much as my flesh wants relief, I know that when all is said and done, I will sit on that side of glory having much rather fulfilled my calling than served myself all the way to meaninglessness. I have to accept that I am not called to an easy life. I am called to a purposeful life." *

Oh, how this descibes my heart. My heart is constantly waging war with the emotions of longing for family, friends, and the comforts of home and finding joy. peace, and rest in knowing that I have been called to the other side of the world! Sometimes the battle of emotions is day to day. Other times, it's minute to minute.
Today, my heart rests in the confidence that God "determines the times set for us and the exact places that we should live." (Acts 17:26)
For such a time as this!

*Esther. Beth Moore Study