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Graduation and Flying to New Delhi

C.Joyner — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:26:00 GMT

I can't believe that we're actually on this plane. We've traveled nearly 200km from Nellore to Chennai to battle traffic jams and a flat tire that left us stranded on the side of the highway for over 1.5 hours. But we made it, like God said we would. We made it by the skin of our teeth. We flew through the parking lot, through security to get on the last Indigo Airlines bus to the plane. Right after we boarded a general announcement was made that all have boarded the plane. So we will finally be ale to eat again, after a long and hot day. The 2.5 horus of peace should do me some good. Our day was pretty light except for all the time we spent rushing. We were able to sleeping a bit before going to the graduation ceremony. What a joy that was! About 65 graduates, including Pastor Kumar's eldest daughter. Many were there thrilled we were there, let alone that they were graduating. Many asked for photos with us and we were more than happy to do so. I thought I would be a spectator at this event and sit in the back, but to my surprise I was fully involved in the graduation, including turning the tassels of the graduates' caps and placing the hoods on those who received doctorates. It was fun and I felt honored to be included. I wore a purple robe and matching cap. To say it was hot is an understatement. But it was fun. My parents and Ms. Naomi Walker received honorary doctorates I accepted her degree...and the 5 lbs. of floral garland that hung on my neck on her behalf.I have to make sure I send her the photo. We had no time after the ceremony to sit and enjoy or relax. Pastor Kumar's eldest daughter had a Henna tattoo on her hand that I admired. She said she would do place one on my hand, but I had to leave with the group to get to the airport. We packed up from the hotel and headed East.

We're on the plane now and i"m a bit thirsty. On the drive to the airport I called Tyler's dad to check on my baby boy, but he didn't answer. I will try to call Agatha, my neighbor, once we land to check on the house. I trust that all is well.This will be a long night. It's nearly 9pm and the 2.5 hour flight to Delhi will put us there at about 11:30pm or later. I hope to get some rest on this flight but i'm stuck in the middle seat again. Auntie is to my left and my mom to my right. The gum I've been chewing is old and stale and I'm ready to throw it out and eat a real meal. Did I mention that I plan to sponsor a couple of children for private school education? I'm thinking about doing 4 at $120/student per year. I've been asking God about what I can can do here to help and this is all I see that I can readily address. So I'll run with it. Maybe it can turn into a scholarship program. We'll see. I'll change over $500 to rupees and give to Uncle. I think he will be overjoyed.

Arriving in Nellore

C.Joyner — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:02:00 GMT

We made it to Nellore. The train trip was another amazing sight. We traveled pass a small village of thatch-roofed huts, some of the most adverse poverty that I've ever seen. If I could have snapped photos I would, but the double-paned, yellow-tinted and scratched windows haven't worked well for photography. We passed more farms, salt harvesting farms, tobacco, corn, and rice patty fields. The wear of this trip is showing in my semi-swollen right ankle. I know I have to drink more water and stay off my feet when possible.

We had to run off the train when reaching the Nellore station since the train stops for only 1 minute at this station. We were greeted by our Nellore delegation of 5 men. Pastor Kumar is the head of the church. We were sent by van to our Nellore hotel, Hotel Venkatesh. It's not as good as the last hotel. We have a shower but once the staff again the staff had to heat our water for showers. We ate at a really nice multi-cultural restaurant in downtown Nellore. Nellore is a busy town. Reminds you of a small metropolis. Busy streets, plenty of shops and billboards and neon signs line the streets. It is very similar to Hyderabad, but with beautiful lighted fountains throughout the city. I like it here. But we will only be here for less than 24-hours. By 9am we will be up and out for breakfast. The graduation is in the morning and we have an afternoon flight to New Delhi. Pastor Kumar invited us to his home after we ate chipatti, chicken and gravy, and chicken fried rice. His family was as hospitable as all the other people we've encountered. His wife prepared an expensive fish for us that we, of course, were obligated to eat...even though we just finished a complete meal. The couple has 2 daughters, one who is married at the age of 18. Pastor Kumar also showed us video of his children's ministry, reaching nearly 450 children. His home was mall with narrow stairs that go to an upstairs area. The married daughter lives around the corner from her parents. The younger daughter is about 8 or 9. We came back to the hotel and are prepared for bed. I'm tired and mom wants to talk but the power has gone out 3 times tonight. The one thing you can not count on in India is reliable power. I'm going to bed. It should be about noon back home. I wonder how my friends are doing.

The Train Ride to Nellore

C.Joyner — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:52:00 GMT

We were up early, around 5am, to catch our first of 2 trains to Nellore. I was able to get my first window seat on the train and view the Indian countryside. Massive hills in the distance and sugar cane, grape, and rice patty fields along the track. Simple living, yet hard living. People digging through trash heaps, farming the land, washing clothes in muddy water and laying them out along the land to dry. As beautiful as it is to view and admire (the simplicity of life) I don't think I would want to live it. There is a trade-offin the difference in lifestyle. Maybe it's the hardness, the struggle, of the poverty side of Indian life that gives the people such a hunger for religion. Seems that most people belong to one religious group or another. Everyone searching for an answer.

Our first train dropped us off in Vijayawada so we can go East to Nellore. I think of home and check my watch to get an idea where everyone may be. This time next week I will be back in the States and back into my routine. I pray Tyler is well. I wonder how much this trip will ultimately impact me. It's nice to see and live within the culture, but what will I take away from the experience. I am still seeking to follow the will of God in my life and to hear a word from Him. We have another 2.5 hours on this train ride. I'm going to get some sleep.

Anakapalli

C.Joyner — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:27:00 GMT

Anakapalli is not nearly as poor as Rajamundry seemed. It was evident a the train station and riding along the streets to the hotel. Compared to the other hotels, the hotel here seemed upscale, with a large lobby, elevator, European toilets and showers with hot water. The sheets and bedding looked clean as well. The upgrade was noticeable in the $8/day charge. Our train was late so we arrived at meeting later than expected. My dad preached for 1 hour and then ordained the Pastor. The church people were so sweet, honoring the Pastor with many floral garlands and seeking blessing from him by kneeling at his feet. The women were all so interested in my camera and asked that I take their picture. They were eager to shake my hand and speak. As has become customary, we had lunch at the a church member's home. An upset stomach stopped me from eating what looked and smelled like an incredible lunch. A few pieces of chipatti and Sprite was all I could handle. The Pastor's family also lived in a nice home. It seems that the families of the Pastor's do well financially compared to the surroundings. We went back to church and my father did a second 2-hour sermon. Afterwards, many came up again and asked for prayer. Elder Blunt, my mom, and dad prayed and I captured it on film. Again, the intrigue of my camera captured those near me. They wanted prints of the photos, so I think I will get them printed and sent to Uncle. I'm thinking of putting together a package of various things, including hard candy and the photo prints.

We went back to the room to rest before dinner. We took another rickshaw to the Pastor's home. dinner, luckily, was a repeat of lunch and now that my stomach settled I was able to enjoy the food. Chicken and chippati and fruit for dinner. To our great surprise and enjoyment, little Jessica who I met at church, and her brother and cousin gave their lives to Christ. What a joy! I hugged her afterward. It's amazing how the entire family lives under one roof. The brother in Malaysia lived upstairs. The sister (Jessica's family) lives in the bottom left side of the house. Pastor and his son (Pastor is widowed) live in the bottom right. Sisters and brothers and their families all living together. We prayed together in each home, for each family that lived there. It was a great time. Afterward we returned to the hotel and will getup at 5am to catch the train to Nellore. There we will be a part of the Bible College graduation. We will be in Chennai Thursday in order to fly to New Delhi. There I will convert about $500 to pay the schooling fees for 4 students to attend private school...my bit of good that I want to initiate while in country.

I spoke to Uncle on the train to Anakapalli. He further explained the lack of proper education at the public schools and the need for private education. I shared with him the ministry God has given me and my desire to help those in need. Tonight at the Pastor's home, we were able to get on the internet and show the church's website and the Graceblog. Uncle saw great interest as well as one of the wives. I gave Jessica my email and the Graceblog website. I hope to hear from her very soon. We have an early day tomorrow. Off to sleep.

Rajamundry

C.Joyner — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:10:00 GMT

We spent the day in Rajamundry. The town seemed a lot poorer than Hyderabad and the contrast was very noticeable. No large buildings. No "metropolis" feeling to it. After arriving at about 6am by overnight train, we went to an inconspicuous hotel in the heart of the city. The staff was very hospitable, answering the call button within seconds. As I've seen throughout this trip, the people have gone out of their way for us. There is no hot water or shower in the rooms so we're washing the old fashioned way...with a bucket. So, for the Americans, the hotel staff heated buckets of hot water for us in order to wash more comfortably. We put in our request nearly an hour in advance. Amazing...they actually heated water for us. I felt a bit of discomfort in asking, though I desperately wanted some sense of comfort. But sometimes it's appropriate to look at things in perspective.

My father taught all day at the Bible college on "the Gateways to the Soul." One woman who sat in front of us spoke to my mother and me in English and seemed sweet. She asked for my email address. I never got her name. The Pastor's family fed us rotundi and chicken and potatoes. Fresh papaya for dessert. The strong sense of hospitality continued as the Pastor opened his home to us while in Rajamundry. As is the custom, the church/bible college is on the roof of the Pastor's home. I've noticed that the people have a real desire to know and seek the Lord. The room for the classes had over 40-50 people in the middle of the day. We spent the night at the hotel, in what was truly a roach infested building. But for whatever reason, it didn't bother me at all. Our breakfast was spent at a local restaurant. I quickly learned that wasting food is a sign of disrespect. It is best to not order/accept food than to not eat it or put it back. We went shopping there that evening with Uncle and the local Pastor. We were able to get a 10% discount with their help. We got up around 6am to eat breakfast again (this time I ate everything) and got back on the train to head to Anakapalli for another church service (meeting) and the ordination of a Pastor.

The Train Ride to Rajamundry

C.Joyner — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 03:25:00 GMT

We're on a train headed to Rajamundry. The four of us, and Pastor Joshi (Uncle) are on air-conditioned sleeper car and will be traveling for 9 hours. My dad is scheduled to teach at the Bible college in the morning. We had church this morning and it was such a blessing. The Reddy's added a second floor to their home to accommodate the extra space for the church. Sunday school children were downstairs and taught by Deborah, a 19-year-old college Indian student at an Australian university. Adults were upstairs. We were honored again with lilly and rose garlands. The are such sweet people. Auntie asked if I would like to take pictures of the children and teach them an American song. I taught "Shake the Devil Off." I was also given an opportunity to give a testimony. I spoke of how God healed me of cancer. Though they didn't know much English, and Deborah translated in Hindi, "Cancer" seemed to be a universal term. It was noticeable when mouths dropped open. Deborah explained that most people don't understand that cancer is curable. The kids seemed to genuinely like me and warmed up to me after a while. After church they were all smiles and wanted to be in photos. They also taught me a song in Hindi. Being in India has taught me a lot about differences in culture. After meeting a pregnant woman on the train and asking about the sex of the child, Uncle told me it is illegal to know the sex before birth and the doctor will be penalized. Dinner was a challenge. Auntie kept our plates full of food, but tempered down the curry to our satisfaction. Not eating or not eating more was not an option. I like being here. The people stare and stare hard. Sometimes a smile breaks the ice and sometimes it doesn't . I think I won over the kids at the Sunday School class. But I realize they act just like Americans who see a foreigner. We all pre-judge. I often wonder what their perception is of us as Americans....we're all rich?...meticulous about our health?...disloyal to family by not caring for elderly parents? I like it here. The rest of the sleeper car is going to bed, so I guess I will too. The births (beds) are crammed and stacked 3 high on each side with 2 additional births on the opposing wall. I am on the second tier. It is 11:50 am back home. There is a train attendant who doesn't seem to like me. Oh well. Let him keep staring.

The First Day

C.Joyner — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 18:35:00 GMT

It's currently 1:35pm EST and we're in our hotel getting ready for bed. It's just after midnight on Sunday, February 14th and this is actually our first time going "to bed" since we arrived. Our flight out of Mumbai went without issues despite the heavy security, triple-screenings, and guards with AK-47's. We landed, late, in Hyderabad at about 5am Saturday morning. After checking into the hotel, we decided to get back out around 9am for breakfast. After drive time from the airport, that was only 3 hours. We freshened up and headed back out. Our initial drive in the city didn't show the true magnitude of poverty that I've seen today. Hyderabad is a cramped city of concrete buildings and a lot of people. Lots of abandoned buildings, heavy pedestrian traffic, and its fair share of homeless/beggars. The one thing that surprised me was the high level of security in the country. You can't even walk in the airport without a reservation. Even the KFC has a metal detector (airport style) with a security guard. Jewelry stores have guards with AK-47's. That seems to be the gun of choice here. I started to wonder how these people move forward with such a heightened sense of security. Then after a while I stopped noticing it, I guess just like they did. We had a vegetarian style breakfast. Let's just say I was still hungry when I left the table. I knew then for sure that I would lose weight. We did a bit of shopping and I just about bought the store. I bought a pair of gold earrings for $160. I received 2 ankle bracelets of pure silver from Auntie. She is such a sweetheart!! I absolutely love them and the jingle when I walk. We visited a museum of Indian art collections. I bought 2 saree's and some other clothes as well...boy I am jet lagged and TIRED. I'm completely on Indian time and exhausted when it should be the middle of the day. After a day of shopping we went to a church service and it was incredible! They gave s fresh flower garlands of lilies and roses as a way to honor us. The people are friendly, smiled, and seemed to genuinely want us there. We were fed food and Indian coffee (yum). We snapped photos and went out for a light dinner. I like Hyderabad. It took a solid day to get use to it. It's a city of 8 million people. Tomorrow is church and a train trip to Rajamundry, more shopping, and an ordination service.

The Ride to Get There

C.Joyner — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:13:00 GMT

Getting on this plane was more of a challenge than I thought it would be. My connecting flight to Charlotte was fine, it was getting out of Charlotte...with my bags, that was the issue. My original flight to Newark was delayed twice and by 2:30, the newly scheduled 4:10pm flight didn't look feasible. Thinking ahead, I mentioned to the US Airways agent that I had an international flight leaving at 8pm out of Newark. She suggested going to the Continental counter and checking in for my international flight. Doing so prompted Continental o suggest taking their 3pm flight to Newark. Doing so nearly guaranteed that my luggage would not follow me. It was either no luggage or no trip to India. So I risked it, and landed in Newark at 4:35pm. I soon found out my original US Airways flight did leave Charlotte...with my bag headed to Newark. The logistical nightmare was about to end, after waiting for the US Airways fight to land, retrieving my bag from baggage claim, rechecking it for Mumbai, getting through Newark security, and finding my family. It was a long day and by 7pm, I was at the gate and ready to go for the 8:20pm departure.

The flight here, all 15 hours of it, has been pretty smooth. Our flight path takes us North from the New England states, over Quebec, eastward toward Greenland. Around there my mom decided to do some duty-free shopping. Below Iceland I was revisited by my airline dinner. Lovely. My stomach hasn't been right since getting on the plane. I really think that the hight 33,000 ft. altitude may have something to do with it. I slept our way across the Atlantic, over Norway, Germany, passing over Moscow, and Afghanistan. We're currently over Pakistan at 39,005 ft., going 590 mph (ground speed). We should be in Mumbai/Bombay in 1.45 hours. From there we will board an Air India plane to Hyderabad. It's 9:40am EST on Feb. 12th. It's 8:13pm at our destination and I'm hoping he nausea goes away when we land.

Reflections from the Night Before

C.Joyner — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 05:04:00 GMT

It's the night before my departure and I'm having problems getting settled. It's midnight and I'm still up and alert. I was able to finish my work at the office and get Tyler to his father. I will miss him. I've already prepared his room for his return, with fresh sheets and neatly made bed. On my way back home, I thought about the church I went to on Sunday and decided to go by to see if anyone was there. It was 10pm and I could hear the congregation responding to the preacher from up the street. I sat in the back and listened to what sounded like the tail end of a prosperity sermon. I gave an offering and left. It just felt good to sit in a church. As I walked back to the car, I looked at the shot-gun houses that lined the narrow street. I looked at homes that we consider to be poor: tin roofs, houses set on concrete blocks, run-down wood siding. It's a clear night tonight and you can see the stars so clearly. I realize tonight that I am blessed, blessed more than I realize at this point in time. I'm sitting in my king-sized bed with my laptop, typical for any given night. I know there is nothing wrong with having this life. But I've allowed myself to become ignorant of a larger reality. My reality is the exception and not the rule compared to the rest of the world. And tomorrow, I will begin a journey to see just how different my reality is. I will immerse myself in the Indian culture. I'm thankful for the experience and will begin journaling my experiences by pen....See you in 12 days.

The Final 3 Days

C.Joyner — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:11:00 GMT

I'm not sure that I can capture my thoughts about the trip to India. We leave in 3 days and I'm finalizing my preparation. I have no idea what to expect. My dad mentioned that he's bringing a bag of toys, presumably the children at the orphanage that my father's church supports. I did budget to take money for pure giving. I'm praying that the Lord will show me a need that I can address and fulfill. I know that the need there is great and to do one small thing isn't a drop in a bucket. But I can't dismiss the overwhelming urge I have to help. I'm praying that my efforts will be guided. I did pick up a journal that I'm taking with me. I plan to do a lot of writing and transcribe my thoughts to the blog when I return. A good friend bought me the digital camera that I wanted, so I'll be taking some great photos (and possibly videos) of the trip from beginning to end. I'll do my best to get another entry in before I take my first flight Thursday morning. I counted and now realize I will have 10 flights over the 13 day trip. Please pray for us. Pray for our safety and that the we will hear from the Lord.

The Encounter with the Prophet

C.Joyner — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:39:00 GMT

I had an extraordinary experience at church yesterday. A friend invited me to come to a church that he found and I agreed to go. I thought it a bit odd that he invited me to go...he never invited me in the past and has not yet decided on a home church. He explained that the Pastor is a prophet and that the church service is a bit different from what I'm use to. When we arrived, you could hear the singing all the way up the street. It's a small church with an energetic congregation. To say that I was "lost" when I walked in was an understatement. I told my friend I couldn't understand the words to the song they were singing. Needless to say, it took me a solid 30 minutes to understand all of what was going on and follow the service.

See, we Baptist are pretty simple people. There's a script called a "program" that we follow and then we go home. Here, there was no "program" and it didn't appear that anyone was trying to go home. The preacher, a short, bald-headed man, was sweating profusely and there were a few people laying out in the aisle. I was trying my hardest to not look or act like a fish out of water. The mere fact that everyone was standing up and I wasn't seemed to make me stick out. Yet, I couldn't understand why everyone was standing....remember, we Baptist are a bit more scripted. I'm not saying that in a derogatory way. But if you arrive late at your Baptist church...say 20 minutes late, you will know exactly where they are in the service. Why? Because each service follows the same order. I digress.

Well, my friend told me before we arrived that he believed that the Lord had a word for me and that I should go. With this in mind and having never encountered having a "Prophet" speak directly into my life, I can admit that I was nervous. The service progressed without incident. He prophesied to some people in the row in front of me...and boy did my stomach end up in my throat. Why the nerves? It's like getting a phone call and knowing that it's God on the other end. How would you feel? Wouldn't there be some level of anticipation of what He might say??

It was offering time. The Pastor asked for those giving an offering to come up. I walked in front of my friend, walking around the woman in the aisle who was "laid out in the spirit." I split 5 singles with my friend and went to drop my $3 in the offering bucket when I hear, "Woman of God, Woman of God..."

I won't repeat what he said to me. But I know without doubt that he hears directly from the Lord. There were things he mentioned the he could not have known. He spoke into my future, telling me what God has planned for me. He told me specific things that I need to accomplish and timeframes. And I believe him. He gave me a word that I felt that I could run with. When we left shortly afterward, I felt that I had an extra push, an extra motivation to move forward. I have a bit more hope than I did before. I believe that was divinely ordered that I go to that church on the Sunday before leaving for India. I don't know exactly why. But meeting this prophet wasn't by chance. One of the last things he said to me was to remember him, and he spelled his name.... L.E. Cohen.

A. Elohim, and the resulting changes

C.Joyner — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 02:37:00 GMT

I have a little less than 2 weeks until I leave for India and I'm doing my best to prepare for it. Truth is I feel that my world has been changing bits at a time but cumulatively I've moved leaps and bounds. I just don't feel like the typical "Christie" that I'm use to. I know that my life is evolving and my dedication to following the path that God has given me is giving me a new norm. My best way of explaining it is to say that the things that use to preoccupy my mind and spark my interest are no longer remotely important to me. The business that I'm starting is picking up steam. I've actually filled out all the paperwork I need to be a viable business and I'm just waiting to get back from India to push forward. The business is called "A. Elohim." A. Elohim is what I envision God's signature to be if He were to sign His name....He'd write, " love always, A. Elohim." His full name is Adonai Elohim, Hebrew for The Lord God. Yes, I named my business The Lord God. Why would I name a business after myself when it doesn't belong to me. It is a Christ-centered business, so it should at least bear God's name. The web address is www.aelohim.com. A lot of my time has been taken making sure everything is set up properly...fictitious name filing, occupational license, Federal EIN, sales tax certificate, domain registration, opening business account. There is still much more to do but everything is coming together. I know that God gave me this business to run and I know that He will bless it. The deeper I get into making this business a reality, the more I am drawn to the Lord, the more time I want to spend with Him, the more I find myself needing to be near Him. There are times that I know that NOTHING else will satisfy me other than to be near the Lord. This is one of those nights. No visitors. No TV. No phone. I just want to be near my God. I want to hear from Him. I want Him to be pleased with this business and I pray that lives are enriched and people come to know Christ as their Savior because the business exists. I'm not sure how going to India will play a part in my overall progression, but I know that I won't be the same after returning. So as I peel off these layers of the person formerly known as "Christie" and move forward, I wait with great anticipation of what is to come. I am not the same. And God willing, I will never be the same.

3 Weeks and Counting

C.Joyner — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 02:36:00 GMT

In exactly 3 weeks I will be leaving for India. I'm not sure what to expect. I spoke with my mom earlier and she mentioned that I may draw a lot of stares due to my short hair. She said the last time she was there, people would crowd around them and stare. She assumed they haven't seen many Black people before. I'm not sure why skin tone alone would create such a reaction, when there are many Indian people who have a darker complexion than us. She also mentioned the sacredness of the cow. She said they roam the streets freely, poop where they want, and there is nothing you can do about it other than avoid it. They must think we Americans are just horrible with the way we consume beef. I want to take some time this weekend to take inventory on what I have, decide what I need, and buy the difference. I'm hoping to avoid spending as much as possible while away....not sure how successful I'll be. The lack of job security has me very conscious nowadays.

Got My VISA!!

C.Joyner — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 03:08:00 GMT

I received my Visa from the Indian Consulate today. Extremely excited! The reality of this trip is setting in. I was able to stabilize arrangements for Tyler and it appears that everything is in place. I still need to go through my list of required items and begin the packing process. I'm still having a hard time believing that I'm actually going to India. I've been out of the country before, Mexico and Canada, but to go to the other side of the world and live within a different culture that is so different from my own seems unreal. I've received instructions on what to pack as far as clothing is concerned: No sleeveless shirts, no shorts, nothing remotely showing cleavage, no dresses above the calf...I'm realizing I may need a new wardrobe for this trip. So I'll take inventory and see what I will need....What I KNOW I need is suggestions on what to do during a 17 hour flight. There is only so much sleeping, reading, and movie watching that one can do. I also need to purchase a good camera. I want to make sure this trip is well documented and is captured in written and visual forms. I leave in 24 days.

The Results Are In...

C.Joyner — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 04:31:00 GMT

Well...

I'm cancer free.

Completely cancer free.

No pre-cancer.

No stage CIN-1.

No carcinoma in-situa.

My tests results are completely normal.

I broke down in tears and cried for half the day after talking to my doctor's office. I asked the nurse to repeat the results because I couldn't believe it. I'm in disbelief.

I'm healthy. I'm completely healthy. I'm not sick. I'm not in pain. I'm not toxic. I'm healthy. I'M CANCER FREE!

THANK YOU JESUS!!

Peace

C.Joyner — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 01:02:00 GMT

*long sigh

I'm amazed at how God has orchestrated the things and people in my life. I don't think that I could make situations and events come together if I tried. I lost the Nanny, yet people are making themselves available to help me wherever they can. I'm getting the business off the ground and making progress towards my start date. I had a major deadline today and called a friend regarding my anxiety over not being able to finish on time. All I can say is that he took the time to pray....and boy did he! I was driving back to the office at the time and I felt the stress and anxiety leave and a blanket of peace fall over me. I walked in the building without a care, knowing that I had a lot of work to do, and only 3 hours to finish. Less than an hour after I walked in the building, I was finished. I can't adequately express how AMAZING this situation is to me. I went from having a $38M issue to everything working out within an hour...that's after working on it for 4 days. it was the kind of situation that made you think..."there is something about this man...and the God he serves." I've had such a peace in my life since deciding to yield to God's purpose. The issues at work haven't gone away, but my reaction and response to what goes on has altered. I'm at peace....whether its the job or my pending medical test results. I'm going to be ok.

Progress...yes...PROGRESS!

C.Joyner — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:12:00 GMT

The past week has been something incredible. I'm so use to people quoting scriptures that in the past have meant very little to me. Meaning, the scriptures weren't real, I didn't know them as being true. But over time, many scriptures are becoming "alive" to me. The one that comes to mind is the scripture that "all things work together for the good that love God and are called according to His purpose". What would have been a stressful month-end/year-end process of working late nights without a Nanny (who as of Monday, my first day of late nights, informed me that she took another job and would not be available) has been seamless. God has put people in place to help me with Tyler and I am so, so thankful. I've saved a bunch of money by not paying her....but I know that I will need to find a long-term solution for as long as I'm still working at this job. That reminds my new business that is currently under construction....

Every day that has gone by I've done something to work in the direction of getting the business off the ground. I have filed for the fictitious name with the state, bought the business's web domain name, and will hopefully have a bank account by the end of the week. I'm trying to do all my leg work before my trip to India and then to come back ready to hit the ground running. I spoke to Tyler's dad tonight and he may have someone available to help with the development of the e-commerce website. I spoke with my good, and very talented graphics designer friend who will be working on the company logo. In the midst of all of this, I've been helping another friend with the concepts and planning of his new business and he wants me to come on-board as a consultant. I'm so thrilled about how everything is coming together effortlessly. I really believe that this is the path that the Lord wants me to be on. I'm excited! I'm thrilled! I can't wait to get this business moving! GOD IS SOOO GOOD!

Working Me Like Crazy is Fueling My Fire!

C.Joyner — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:28:00 GMT

The momentum from last night has carried over to today. Maybe its working past 7:30 every night this week that is fueling my fire. I found myself awake at 3am this morning brainstorming my new business. My excitement kept me up until 5am. I was itching for lunch time to come so that I could do SOMETHING to move closer to getting the business off the ground. So, I called the local paper to will run the required advertisement to file my fictitious. Once the ad runs I can formally file with the state. From there I can open a bank account and begin conducting business....yeah, I know. I haven't said exactly what it is. But since I have to work straight through the weekend into next week, I'll have more than enough motivation to get the business moving. I'm thrilled about the possibilities.

My Motivation to Move Forward

C.Joyner — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:21:00 GMT

The past few days back to work have been eye-opening. After taking a week off, it's hard to jump back into work life with any level of enthusiasm. But I've come down another bug (chills, body aches, runny nose, you get the idea) and I'm forced to work every day, including the upcoming weekend. I went to lunch with a good friend today and we talked about following the desire that God has given us to pursue other paths in life. I spent a lot of time over my vacation thinking about similar ideas and kind of backed away from it as time went on. Our conversation re-ignited my desire to get a new business off the ground. It's a desire and idea that I know that God gave me and if I don't do it, I'm sure God will find someone to do it...and they will reap the rewards. So I want to make sure that everyday that goes by, I do something to move forward. Working from 8:30 - 8:45pm when you're sick and the Nanny quits at the last minute is more than enough motivation to move forward. I've spent a lot of time away from Tyler over the past few months and it bothers me A LOT. Perhaps my uncomfortable work situation and dissatisfaction is part of God's plan to push me in this direction. Well, it worked.

Happy New Year

C.Joyner — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:48:00 GMT

It's the end of a year, and what a year it has been. I've taken some time to review my earlier blog entries and realize how much of my thoughts have been consumed with being tired and how tired I was of being tired. I guess I spent a good part of my year insane...doing the same things and expecting a different result. I'm sure a large portion of America is making resolutions tonight. I'm not about to make any. But I want to commit to change. I want to commit to doing something different from what I did last year. I don't want to talk about it. I want the thoughts, the dreams, the ideas that are in my mind to come alive. I don't want to admire anyone else or what they do. I want to admire my life. I have to set boundaries for myself and stick to them...like no working past 9pm. I want to commit to taking care of me. That doesn't mean I will diet, exercise, quit any habit, or set strict rules for myself. It means that I am my top priority.

I'm praying for a joyous, prosperous, and God-filled year for myself and all those who read my blog. My prayer is that the changes that God has started in me will continue into 2010. Tyler and I will be in church tonight as we welcome the new year. I pray that everyone will be safe this evening.

God Bless you all.