Minnesota Deddy Time.

Yesterday and today I've had a blast hanging out with my father in MN.
Last night, my dad and his friend Lily made fun of actors on T.V. for an hour. They called the Indian actors on the T.V. "dorks." I loved it.

Today, my dad's friend said, "Would you do something if I asked you to?" After I said, "yes," he poured a cap full of vegetable oil into my ear and told me to let him know when I felt it in my eye.

Ten minutes before this, my dad and his friends discussed how they hate it when white people say they like their food.

I love it.

-Pradeepan

P.S.

My dad used to pole vault.

Big Ballin'

On Friday the 5th my hotel gathered all the employees from two properties to discuss the state of our economy and how responsible financial changes needed to begin in order for us to do well.

Before that meeting, I got a raise.

It’s cool because the company standard is that employees qualify for a raise after three months—I’ve worked at the hotel for only two months. After a series of fortunate events (for me), however, I received a raise and then went to the meeting where we learned about the economic changes we must make in adjustment to the American economic recession.

I like it.

On a different track, from Dec. 28-31 I plan on attending the ONETHING conference, hosted by IHOP. I’m excited. My heart and mind are pregnant with expectation for this meeting, though I don’t really know what’s happening there. I feel like I’m supposed to go. If you want to go and carpool with a group from Colorado Springs, let me know. It’s predicted to be a blast.

Amreitha Update 2

how are you? i can't wait to catch up with life in America! thank you to everyone for your prayers. we feel them everyday!

first things first, we are safe. at least i think we are. all the internationals in the country have been encouraged to leave India. the day before the attack in Mumbai, we traveled 3 hours north of Hyderabad to a smaller village called Huzerabad. we are staying in a hotel here. Huzerabad is near where Leslie's father lives and lots of other families. the hotel is also near the Bungalow(where Esther raised us). we feel that we can finish our trip because we are in the small communities and covered by Les family. Praise the Lord for them! I personally freaked out a little because Dad is leaving today and it always feels better to have your dad around. :) but we will be fine.
yesterday on the way back to the hotel from visiting lots of family, one of our cars (mom and dad were in it) got pulled over and checked for bombs by "street thugs" as Augustine put it. not sure what that means totally. we are praying to stay low profile and the word doesn't get out too fast that there are Americans around....but at least we have good indian contacts.
i have been to mumbai. at the beginning of our trip, we got re-routed through there on our way to Hyderabad.

please pray that we finish strong. we are tired. and our bodies are rejecting indian food. we are ready to come home. but know there's more for us here and more for us to give in the next several days. i have done great at times and terrible at other times. the American ami has come out a few times and just wants a BURGER! and a shower. and cleanliness. i ran out of hand sanitizer yesterday. ha.

i have never experienced anything like this. large scale poverty is overwhelming. not that it's about me. but it has brought out many emotions. first compassion, now frustration. there is so much to process. i don't know how i feel about india at the moment or my connection with this nation. but i do love our new family dearly. during this trip, i gained 5 new sisters and 3 new brothers! and lots of in-laws! we have become very close to them and Kornel (Les father) and his wife. everyday we have found out new information and put the entire puzzle together of Leslie's story. it is more unbelievable than we ever thought!! i can't wait to tell you. in the past two days, we have met hundreds of family and friends. it's been wonderful and exhausting. we have been able to pray with them too and going to Kornel's church tomorrow morning.

i love you guys.
take care,
Ami

I was part of house-yard fire!

Last night so much happened. I'll write about that later. Until then, check this fire video out.

India letter from Ami/Amreitha

Hello everyone! Hope you all are doing well! I'm so excited to be writing you!

I have not been able to have internet access until tonight and this will probably be the only time. Thanks to those of you who prayed for my health. I was sick most of the trip here but by the time we arrived in Hyderabad, I was feeling much better! PTL!

I am so happy to be here in India! I don't know how to explain how I feel. But I will try. So far our trip has been wonderful. When we first got here, there was so much newness all around me and yet it felt familiar. Even through some of the difficult parts with communication, getting used to the food and smells....it has been so good. I've been asking alot of questions and soaking up my time here as I know it will go by fast.

I feel the Lord so near to us here. His grace on this trip is so evident. With each new experience here, I feel like I see Him more. Personally, this trip has been very healing for me. First it's painful, then it heals. I'm so thankful for what He is doing in my life and those around me here in India. My heart is so compassionate and passionate for the Christians here.....it's HUGE to have family (Les fam) be apart of that. Leslie will be speaking at church next Sunday. We pray that we are a blessing to those around us and not miss an opportunity to minister and encourage them.

When I'm out in the city walking and observing the culture and people, I keep reminding myself that this is where I'm from. The place, culture and people of my birth. I've gotton to spend two evenings in town down Hyderabad. The best way I can describe it is that I feel a deep connection here. It's not because I feel comfortable here or even that I fit, but when I traveled to Jordan earlier this year, I was a visitor. Here, I feel different, like I belong, more than just a visitor. A connection. I don't want to live here but I've realized that this trip is a milestone in my life. ONe of the most important things I will ever do. The nation of India is significant and important to my life. I think it always has been, but now I know the reality of it.
Today I thought to myself, I think the fragrance of India is permanently in my nose and the taste of curry forever in my mouth! ha!

We are staying in a small town near Hyderabad with Leslie's oldest half sister Sugunda and her husband Jonny. Those two along with Les's oldest whole brother Augustine met us at the airport and have taken such good care of us! I don't know what we would have done without them. We have been so blessed to build relationship with them and we truly feel apart of their family. I think Leslie might be related to the entire country of India, because SO MANY people have come to see her and been waiting for years for their long lost sister. Not just immediate family but extended EXTENDED family and friends have traveled far to come meet her (us). I like to call her "Queen Leslie" here. She has been a bit overwhelmed by this. :) The second day we were here, we met Leslie's father. We sat in a tiny bedroom with lots of Indians sitting on the floor (including me) as her father told Les and Lyndl his testimony and what happened when he gave her to Esther. It was emotional to say the least. It's amazing to see people that look like her. Everytime I look at Augustine, I see my sister. There are 5 other sisters that we have laughed with, cooked with and spent time with. I will never forget their kindness and hospitality.

The rest of my family is coming tomorrow. I'm excited to share this experience with them. Next week we will travel about 3 hrs away to 2 small villages. One is where Leslie's father lives and the other is the place of our first home when we were given to Esther, the Bungalow.

We plan to spend 2 full days searching for something of my biological past next week. I'm still believing for something! Thank you for hoping and praying with me.

I love you and miss you dearly.
Ami

Biblical Justice and "Jewish" Dance Parties

Last night, I unintentionally had a pretty cool adventure.

After cleaning, throwing the football around and hanging out with my dad yesterday, I set out to attend the Knight girl's (pictured to the left) house warming party.

I met these girls rather uniquely, at least one. The girl in the middle, Adrielle and I met while watching a meteor shower here in Colorado. The thing is, it was pitch black that night. We talked for hours waiting for the meteors to show and never saw each other's face. I didn't know what she looked like for two weeks until I saw her in the light for the first time.

I saw a facebook invitation for their house warming party and decided to go. My friend Sarah, who had also met this girl under meteors , came along with me.

We could not find the house. We roamed through some shady parts in downtown Colorado Springs with out any success in finding it. Finally we pulled out Sarah's laptop and looked up the house address on Facebook.

The party wasn't until next week.

Even so, we determined in our hearts that we wouldn't leave until we found the house. Turns out, I had parked right in front of the house entrance--the perfect spot. The house was very hidden, but we found it and laughed about how close we were.

Even feeling pretty dumb about screwing up the dates, we knocked on the door. Two girls, both I really didn't know, opened the doors and laughed while we told them our situation. Amy Knight invited us into her house while Laura served us Jasmine tea and homemade-sugar-free-caramel-popcorn (this was Sarah's first time seeing any of the Knights in the light).

We all got to know each other and it was turning out to be a great night. Amy Knight and I got into a conversation of the differences between Biblical justice and modern justice. For example, in the Bible, if someone got something stolen, it was restored by the thief seven fold. Currently, if something is stolen, that person goes to jail and the victim gets nothing (unless the victim has insurance and the stolen items are covered). In jail, many people learn how to become better criminals. The amount of money we spend on bigger and better prison facilities could be spent on the root of the problems of depravity and focus on redeeming lives, instead of confining them.

All that was great conversation, but it got cut short.

Adrielle invited me to go to a "Jewish" party. This party took place way out in nowhere land. Turns out it was a Christian Italian Dance party. It was really strange, though I got to connect with some really cool people.

One guy, James, shared with me how he questioned everything about Christianity. As an Anthropology major, he mentioned, it was hard to accept the validity of the Bible and the stories of man concerning Christianity. I shared my thoughts on all this stuff and he seemed to buy in. As Ravi Zacharias says about critiquing religions, I advised him to always judge something based on the perfect source, not the imperfections. So, if you are going to judge Christianity, don't judge it by all the messed up Christians you see. Judge Jesus and see if what He teaches and proclaims in credible. Study the founder of Islam. Study the founder of Buddhism. As we study the sources of these different organizations, I told him, I believe you will discover new truths about all of them.

It was a good night. Thanks Knights for taking me in!

-Pradeepan