The JOY(s) of my life

One of the classes I teach. Currently teaching twelve different St. Paul High School classes 3rd/5th/7th/9th Standards (Gospel, English, Math)

It has been a while since I updated so please do forgive me for keeping all of you out of the loop. It was not because I was extremely busy, but I guess rather a mix of laziness and work. Anyway, here I am updating, so you cannot give me crap. HAH! suckers. 

Two Month Marker!

I cannot believe it has already been two months since I have arrived in India. Interestingly enough, it feels as though it has been two months. Time does not seem to fly by, nor does it seem to be slowing down; it just moves along. Regardless, it has been a great two months so far - with its share of ups and downs, of course - which I have so far enjoyed. 


As St. Paul School has now begun, I am currently teaching Seventh and Ninth standards (grade). It is wonderful because last year I taught Sixth standard so I get to see all my students again. When I first walked in to the Seventh standard classes all my students gasped and shouted "AH! Teacher Eddie!" I did not tear up, but my heart.. oh man.. it felt good. HAHAH!

an excerpt from "edward"

"...searching my wallet, only to find bigger bills, I had over 100 rupees. Only to find him walking towards the corner snack shop. Turning around abruptly, Timothy questions us to find out if he should buy in bulk. The gang answers with a 'no thanks.' But finding our feet incapable of remaining planted, we approach the glass counter filled with cheap packaged and unpackaged goods. Timothy points out, as a young child in a candy shop eagerly anticipating the magical joy overwhelmed by the taste of sweets, and says he wants ten of those chikkos or whatever they are called.
'And that.. ten rupees,' he adds while gesturing with his hands. 'And that!' he continued in that dense Korean fob accent of his.
As they are nonchalantly tasting the fifty pisas masala chips, of which the name escapes me, a young boy approaches the shop with his father to use the adjacent telephone. Moderately dressed with a blue shirt and dusty pants, as if he had spent all day playing in the dirt, the boy was just like any other boy; not poor, not wealthy, just an average boy. While conversing with Joseph, Timothy purchases one more masala chip, breaks it in half, approaches the boy and inserts one half of the chip into the boy's open mouth. Giving the other half to the boy to eat later, Timothy continues to feed the boy.
It was at that specific moment I was able to see who Timothy was and his heart. I was truly blessed to see Timothy not as the young working slave in the office, but as the compassionate, humble, and loving child of God. My view and respect for Timothy has completely changed, not necessarily meaning none existed before, but now, I have even more. It was an amazing sight indeed, one which could be easily overlooked and forgotten, yet it painted such a vivid picture of Timothy's character. May God continue to be glorified through the heart and deeds of Timothy."


-an excerpt from my journal entry (6/8/2010: Tuesday)

So it begins..

It’s been a while since my last post so forgive me for not keeping you updated.. but then again.. o well! HAH so here goes another one of them funny/cool/amazing/brilliant blog entries that have attained 32 followers. HA!

A game of cricket with the AECS scholarship students.. they seemed surprised that I was a good batter (watching the many Indians play outside Leavey Library @USC has it's benefits) haha

Lately, I haven’t been doing much translating because they have me running around taking care of other issues such as going to K.R. Market (Bangalore’s wholesale distributor district) to find prices for submersible and centrifugal water pumps for the buildings @ Veracai (read previous entry for background) and the teacher quarters where I live. After intense research, my job was to go get various quotes from different distributors. Since I usually get what I want (I credit it to my confidence and charisma… haha! I’m in need of a beating with the humility stick) I managed to find some extremely good prices from quality dealers. God gave me the gift of bargaining! aka.. being cheap.. HA!

one of the more honest distributors: ended up bargaining with him for about 30-45 minutes.. ended up giving me the best price among the other distributors for the same water pump.. my charm works wonders. HA!

I left in the middle of the conversation to take this picture. Store owner was like WTF?! hahah! Upon returning to the sales desk, I just said.. your final price is too high and left.. then he cut the price by an additional 20% HAH! sucker

I ran from about 50m away after seeing this sign because I was thinking.. "OH SHOOT! MEXICAN FOOD!!" then I arrived to Bell: Mobile Accessories. HAH!! you teasing bastards! They know how to toy with my heart. haha and my appetite

The translucent window covers I cut and adhered. Felt SOOOOO good to hold an xacto in my hand. goodbye korean-english translating websites.. hello familiar hands-on work

Banner #1

Banner #2.. the M's were amazed at the banners.. I guess they didn't know how talented I was.. haha!

Besides running a lot of errands, this past week was the first All-Missionaries Meeting. This is a meeting where all the missionaries meet together and bring their monthly offering. What I find amazing is about this meeting is that besides giving such a large amount of their money to church, they also give anywhere from 40%-80% (sometimes 90%) of their annual income at this meeting. It’s quite humbling to witness the work of their faith in Christ through their offerings. How often do I (we) find myself (ourselves) seconding guessing even offering or giving? I am in awe of their trust in the Lord’s provisions. The pure joy they have when giving their money to me is the sign of complete submission and trust to the leading of Christ. I am blessed every time thinking about their dedication to God’s kingdom work. Not to make you guys feel out of the loop with what I’m doing with your supporters money, I am currently giving about 60%-70% at these mettings (not to boast in my giving, but for you to know where majority of your money is being used; I am living off about 20%-30%; and the rest for emergency)

AND, finally St. Paul High School is officially IN SESSION! After much prayer and even working on the banners for the school opening, it’s finally here! The time for me to make these lost children pee in their pants as I proclaim Hell’s misery! HAH! Just kidding. But I am excited to be teaching the students about not only the bible, but about God, creation, man, sin, Christ, atonement, sanctification, justification, total depravity, Trinity, and so much more. I am even more excited because I’m teaching 7th standard(grade) and 9th standard which means I will be seeing my students from last year! It also makes me happy because all the girls in the classes thought I was good looking so more compliments for me, more gospel for them! WIN-WIN situation! God is good. HAHA! Jk. But shoot, the guys thought I was funny and buff.. just wait till I show them my toned, hard, lean, muscular body. HAH!

only half of the students showed up today (800-1000 children) HALF! that's alot of stankin kids! yummy. HAHA

haha this little sucker was looking at the camera and the teacher got mad at him. HAH! how I find pleasure in that.. questionable.. funny thing: the kid looking at me, didn't get punished. HA! An early lesson that life isn't fair HAHAH!!

my favorite picture from all of India so far: There is something about this girl's joy and innocence that goes beyond simply words. My favorite picture so far.

Joking aside, please pray for:

1. The students @ St. Paul High School to be exposed to the gospel message of Jesus Christ from the beginning of the school year;

2. The teachers to be great/mighty instruments for the work of God;

3. Me to deliver effectively and wholly the gospel message to all my students.

NEXT UPDATE: The relationships with locals that God is creating/building/establishing and their implications.. just a few of the many people I converse with. Will try to upload all the photos of the specific locals I see on a regular basis.

Mr. Joseph who I talk to everyday about any and everything (food, family, Christ, business, economy, etc)

Little Kenneth who doesn't know he's wearing Beer Bottle glasses.. he just knows they're green HAH!