He Needs a Name

Before you continue reading you need to be made aware that is going to be an interactive post. That means that you, the reader, are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to leave a comment. I know that most of you struggle with the whole leave a comment thing and would rather just lurk but I need your help.

Two weeks ago Michelle, my sister, was in town for the weekend. Before she headed home she came by my workplace to drop off an early birthday present for me. It was a fish that we had seen in a pet store earlier in the weekend. It was love at first sight. He is the most beautiful Betta (commonly known as a Siamese Fighting Fish) that I have ever seen. The pictures posted below really don't do him justice. In most light he looks purple and pink but in the pictures he looks more blue and red. The pictures weren't exactly easy to get either, I think the little guy is camera shy. At the pet store I jokingly told Michelle that she should get me the fish for my birthday. I then went on to comment that I couldn't have a fish because I will be leaving for India very shortly and won't be able to care for it. Apparently she decided that I needed to have the fish despite my travel plans.

When I transfered the fish from his travel baggy to his much more spacious fish bowl condo I made a discovery. My beautiful little Betta has only one eye! He has a left eyeball but no right eyeball. I'm not sure if he was born that way or if he suffered some kind of injury.

My birthday Betta pictured from his good side.

See what I mean, no right eye!

As I tried to think of a name for my little fish I decided that I didn't really want his name to be related to the fact that he is disfigured. The first name that I thought of was Phantom, for The Phantom of the Opera, but like I said I'm not so sure that I want his name to be derived from his disfigurement. So this is where you come in. I need help naming my pretty little one eyed fish. The poor little guy has been living with me now for two weeks and he's still nameless. Please leave a comment with your name ideas, consider it your birthday gift to me. Once a name has been decided on I'll post again letting you all know the little guy's new name and who gets the credit for thinking it up.

India Here WE Come

This was a busy weekend for me. I went to Regina on Friday night to take part in Ray and Ellen's India night. I got to eat some great Indian food and even wear some Indian clothes for a fashion show. I did a lot of visiting and it was an all around great night. One of the most exciting things about Friday night was that I found out that I'm not the only person going to India with Ray and Ellen in January. Raysha Perry is also coming. I think that it will be great to have someone else around to share the adventure and the workload. This is a picture of Raysha and I in our Indian finery.



I left Regina right after the India event came to an end. I drove to Weyburn with a mission, surprising one of most speacial ladies in the world, my Grandma Parry. I had spies working for me last week trying to inconspicuously discover whether or not she would be in town and what kind of plans she had for the weekend. Thanks Aunty Lorna and Aunty Jewel! My mission ended very successfully! When I arrived I called her on my cell phone and started chatting just like I would normally. Then I told her I had a little surprise for her and that she should buzz the appartment building door open because I was standing outside. Her response, "You're joking." "No Grandma, I'm not joking, it's snowing and it's cold out here, let me in!" I wish I could have seen the expression on her face but if it was half as good as the tone of her voice it was priceless! I don't think I've ever had so much fun surprising someone before. Part of my mission was not only to surprise Grandma but also to tell her that I am going to India. It wasn't something I wanted to do over the phone. I think she was surprised but I think she is excited for me as well. As per our usual visits we spent our time together looking at photos, playing double solitaire and Rubbykub. I couldn't think of a better way to spend my weekend!



I left Weyburn after lunch on Sunday (and one more game of solitaire for good measure) and headed back to Regina to meet with Ray, Ellen and Raysha. We covered a lot of details and I was pretty excited by the time I was climbing back into my car to head to Saskatoon. By the time I arrived in Saskatoon I already had itineraries in my inbox. Talk about fast! We leave January 9th and will be returning to Canada on June 19th. On the way there we will be spending the weekend in Hong Kong with Harmony, Ray and Ellen's daughter who is working there as a teacher. I've never been to Hong Kong, should be fun. :)

So now the countdown is on. I know that time is going to fly between now and January 9th. I have a lot to get done. Visas to apply for, immunizations to get, fund raising to do and normal everyday life and work to attend to. Please pray for me and also pray for my new partner in crime, I mean co-worker, Raysha, as we take care of details and prepare to go.

India Here I Come

It has been over a month since I have posted anything here. I've thought about it, I just haven't done it. Some things I've thought about writing about I'm just not ready to write yet. Those things will show up here eventually I am sure. The other obvious things I could post about like things I've been up to or my beautiful niece have just been put to the wayside. Lots has been going on. I've been busy with work and life in general.

Many of you who read this (Are there many people who actually read my blog??? I don't know.) know who Ray and Ellen McMillan are, others don't. For those of you who don't know them you are missing out. They are a wonderful couple who love the Lord and have followed His calling on their lives to minister to the people of Northeast India. They came to Saskatoon last month and gave a presentation on the work that they have been doing and the work that they will be doing in India. One of their goals while they are back in Canada was to find someone to return to India with them to tutor their two grandchildren, Autumn and Andrew. As I sat in my chair that Sunday morning it was as if God was sitting directly behind me with a big grin on His face, tapping me on the shoulder and whispering in my ear, "Pamela, guess what I want you to do?" I will admit that I listened closely to everything that Ray and Ellen had to share but the rest of the service was pretty much lost on me. I could barely sit still, my mind was going a mile a minute. I went and spoke to Ray immediately after the service was over. On my way to find Ellen I was stopped by another wonderful person, whom many of you know and many of you do not, Alicia Krogsgaard. Her first words to me were, "So when are you leaving for India?" It was as if she had actually seen God tapping me on the shoulder and overheard His whispering in my ear.

After visiting with Ray & Ellen and Autumn & Andrew and much prayer I have accepted their invitation to join them in Guwahati, India in January. My primary work will be to teach Autumn, grade 7 and Andrew grade 5. There will also be lots of opportunity for me to get involved in other areas such as English Bible studies like I have done with Let's Start Talking in the past.

Lot's of people have been asking me if my going to India means that I am no longer interested in Brazil. It makes me sad when people say that! Just because I go somewhere else doesn't mean that I will never go back to Brazil. My heart lives in Brazil. No matter where I go in the world that won't change. I believe that God has given me this opportunity and I plan to take advantage of what He has in store for me.

I would appreciate prayers as I make preparations for this work. There is a lot that needs to happen, immunizations, visa application, and fund raising to name a few. I'll definitely be posting more as the prep work continues and of course as my new adventure unfolds so come back often!