Lots of tidbits to share with you today, but I’ll start with a story…
Back in 1998, I believed God was sending me into full-time mission work. I was trained and processed and did all the things you do to prepare to leave your home country and serve abroad. Two significant events reminded me of my calling anytime I doubted that God was working.
First, I argued. I reminded God that I had a cat, and my cat was terrified of everyone but me. I said I would go, but not until my cat, who was perfectly healthy, eventually passed away. Well, my cat was sick within a week and died within the month. Oooph.
Then I had to raise the funds to cover one year’s salary. Blech. As you all are well-aware by now, I hate fundraising! I just can’t get away from it! LOL But I hit up all my friends and family for pledges and pretty quickly raised half of what was needed. Then nothing. Two weeks went by. Three weeks. Literally nothing. I believed God was leading me to fast over it, so I did. I ate no food, but I did drink juicy water. About a week into it, I was sitting at my desk at work (I was the hotel manager for Baylor Dallas) trying to sign my name, and my hand was shaking because I was hungry. I got irritated and decided, “This is stupid. Did God really tell me to fast? I’m gonna eat.” But as quickly as I’d decided to give in, my irritation turned to downright stubbornness, and I shot back at God, “NO! YOU told me to fast, and I’m not eating again until this money is raised.” I kid you not… at that very moment the phone rang. It was my boss at Baylor saying, “Julie, you raised half of what you need? We have a fund that is going to give you the other half.” I was stunned and started shouting all sorts of shocked and joyful replies that I’m sure had her completely confused, but it was definite confirmation I was meant to go overseas.
So I went. I sold everything I had – my car, my furniture, all my belongings except 2 boxes I stored in my sister’s garage – and moved to India. As a single woman of 29, I’d been advised by many not to do it, but I knew I’d been called and I knew I had to go. I really thought it was where God would have me spend the majority of my life… but it turned out I was there for not quite 1 year.
What an awful place it was. I would stand in the entrance to the slums that went on as far as the eye could see and simply be in awe that for some reason I was born in America and could leave anytime I wanted, but 1000s of people in front of me were stuck in filth and desperation and poverty, looking for sticks they could sell as firewood so they could buy dinner for their family.
I roomed with another single gal — an older missionary doctor about to retire. We got a call in the middle of the night from another missionary who lived in the slums. He’d been bitten on his toe in his sleep by a rat. Of course, the rats were a huge problem in the slums, but no one was allowed to eradicate the rats. After all, a rat could be your ancestor reincarnated.
Another time, a missionary accidentally hit a cow with his vehicle. Cows roam the villages randomly because, like the rats, they could be a reincarnation of your family. The man (another doctor) got out of his car to try to help, but the crowds formed to stone him to death, so he had to race away to save his life.
I visited the Ganges River when my mom came to India to visit me. Dead bodies floated by among tons of rubbish.. all while I watched people bathing and even brushing their teeth in the same river. The river is holy to them, so why not?
The filth of the river was nothing compared to the city where I lived. They say breathing in Delhi with the car exhaust was equivalent to smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day. And how can I describe the huge piles of rotten trash? People would just throw it on the corner lot. Kids and pigs would dig through it for treasures. The smell… oh, the smell.
I happened to be in India for Y2k, and so a friend and I went to a beachy area for a short vacay to celebrate. We were excited because this area had more Catholics, and we could eat beef! What a treat! Except on the beach the Indian men assume every American woman is straight out of Baywatch. They chased after me. I fell in the sand and sprained my ankle but managed to get away by throwing sand in their faces. Happy New Year.
It wasn’t the only time men treated me poorly in India. They are used to women being defenseless and quiet. I remember one time, on a crowded bus with standing room only, a man was rubbing himself up against me. I didn’t take it lightly, and I assure you he will never be messing with an American woman again. ‘Nuff said.
I did some good things in India. I worked in the slums, yes, but I also started a youth group in a local church. My teens came alive with the idea that faith can be vibrant — though because of the government they could not express their joy outside our little classroom. That would be dangerous. That’s why I’ll never forget their reaction to a song I introduced them to:
Well I feel like dancing in the streets ’cause Jesus is alive.
And all creation shouts aloud ’cause Jesus is alive.
Now surely we can all be changed ’cause Jesus is alive.
And everybody here can know that Jesus is alive.
And I will live for all my days to raise the banner of Truth and Light
And I’ll sing about my Savior’s love
‘Cause the best thing that happened was the day I met You!
And then they would shout at the top of their lungs:
I FOUND JESUS!
And their faces were just radiant.
But then summer came and all the other missionaries went on furlough to escape the heat …and I realized I was done. I told the agency I was coming home.
When I got home, I recall standing in Barnes & Noble looking at magazines when an Indian man came and stood uncomfortably close to me. It took every ounce of self-control in me to not scream at him, “THIS IS AMERICA. THIS IS MY COUNTRY. AND I HAVE RIGHTS! YOU BETTER STAY THE $#@% AWAY FROM ME.” Yes, in my thoughts this missionary was cussing at him.
Why am I sharing all this? Because something new about that time in my life occurred to me just today.
I’ve often wondered what in the world that was all about. I knew without a doubt God sent me to India. I expected it to be for life. It wasn’t. So what was the point? Greater love for my homeland? Yes. A chance to see how blessed I am? For sure. Education on how politics affects prosperity? 100%.
But now I see India being imported into my neighborhood at alarming rates. I’ve watched the hidden cameras that recorded foreigners dumping their trash and their celebratory idols into our waterways. I saw the clip of a man literally pausing on the sidewalk to spurt out his diarrhea and then walk on like it was completely normal. I’ve seen the cows being led into houses to bless them.
These things happening in North Texas probably shock you, and rightfully so. But I assure you, until you have seen the culmination of years of this sort of behavior… until you have had to be de-wormed because you were walking on the street when rains came and the feces swirled at your sandaled feet… until you have had to assert your rights as a woman against men who see no value in you at all… until you have been told by your pastor, “Don’t call me. The lines are tapped.”… and yes, until you have been forced to go a year without beef!… you will not fully grasp what America is on the precipice of.
We must be diligent. I know there are lots of things to fight back against. All of them are important. This one just made it clear to me why God sent me to such a horrible land. I had no idea when I started Grapevine Tea Party in 2009 that my experiences in India would be relevant, but wow — talk about a motivation!
In the next couple weeks we will open registration for our Aug 1 DFW Year of the Patriot Conference. Islamization will be one of our topics… as will be a call to stand for the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a key to success. Stay tuned.
Runoff Election
37% of voters are undecided on the Texas Railroad Commissioner runoff election between incumbent Jim Wright and challenger Bo French. If you’re part of that 37%, make sure to watch our podcast interview, which is provided further down this email. You can also find our full list of recommendations at truetexasproject.com/elections. Early voting is May 18-22, and election day is May 26.
Input Wanted
One of our activists is researching and writing about the impact of H1b visas on the American workforce, and she’s looking for your input. Can you help?
Unemployment has been a nationwide problem for a long time now. In response to this I am writing an article about the job market crisis here in Texas to draw awareness about how bad things have gotten. Would you be willing to take an anonymous survey? Your feedback will ensure I have all the facts and data. I will put the real facts out there for everyone to see so that hopefully change can come from this. Please click here to participate.
Businesses Supporting TTP
Our newest Patriot-Owned Business sponsor is Ricochet Roofing. Any roofing job you send to him and say you were referred to by True Texas Project, he will donate 10% of the bill back to us! He covers all of Texas and is an adjuster and an appraiser as well. But he’s got some competition because we’ve also got two other roofing sponsors, Kingdom Roofing and Tomahawk Roofing, both of which are in the DFW region. Take your pick! You’re in good hands. All of our business sponsors can be found at truetexasproject.com/pob.
Fundraising Update
I’m pretty sure everyone is aware of our push to finalize our fundraising goals. And if you’re not, well, I know the media is! They are twisting it, right on cue, to look like it’s a shocker that a nonprofit would need to raise funds. Isn’t that what I said they’d do? LOL – you can practically write their script for them! But what’s funnier is that the same day a hit piece came out, our numbers soared. See, they think the people hate us, but they don’t. After 17 years, we’ve been consistent with calling out the bad and being proven right, and there’s respect which comes with that. When the media alerted people to our need trying to make us look weak or something, they responded by donating! So check out how far we jumped in one week.
Over halfway to the goal! Can you donate? There are two great options.
Give a one-time donation. Any amount. We’ll take it!
Begin a recurring donation. The average is $35/month – and we will do the math to update the thermometer based on 8 months left in the year. For example, if you donate $50/month, that will raise the thermometer by $400!
As promised, I will keep you advised how we’re doing in each Sunday’s newsletter.
This week at a glance…
Click the links below for full details.
Monday, 5/11
Monthly meeting: Tarrant County, Andrew Yeager – Your Local School Board. Plus stay for dinner after!
Monthly meeting: Hill Country, James Wesolek – Republicans Against “TLR”. Plus join us for dinner after!
TTP@Home meeting in Forney
Tuesday, 5/12
Monthly meeting: Rio Grande Valley, Sen. Adam Hinojosa
Monthly meeting: Brazos Valley, Destin Sensky – Predatory Gambling
Monthly meeting: Williamson County, James Wesolek – Republicans Against “TLR”
Line Dancing in Tarrant County
Thursday, 5/14
Monthly meeting: Bexar County, James Wesolek – Republicans Against “TLR”
Monthly meeting: Dallas County, Andrew McVeigh – The Burden of the Texas Taxpayer
Monthly meeting: Lubbock County, Vanessa Sivadge – Blowing the Whistle on Gender Medicine
Monthly meeting: Collin County, Will Campbell – Making Texas Affordable Again
Announcements: Watch our monthly meeting announcement video by clicking the image above to stay updated on our activities and upcoming tasks.
The May video is finally up!
On the 1st Friday of every month (and sometimes more!), we bring you action items, legislative and election updates, and an interview with one of our speakers. Our May episode features important interviews with two of the statewide runoff candidates for the May 26 election.
Well I feel like dancing in the streets ’cause Jesus is alive.
