Monday, October 19
Icicle anyone?
I have a very fun, very simple story for you guys. This morning at around 7:30 AM, I left the apartment, not knowing that it was raining to go along with the freezing temperatures. Of course, I cannot judge temperature at all.. I have been freezing for the past week and it has only been in the 50s. So I walked outside, fighting the wind and rain. With my hood on, my longjohns on under my skirt, and my boots, I'm scared to even think about what I looked like. I was walking to the bus stop to go to school and had the random thought that maybe I should send a text to one of my friends and tell them "I'm an icicle." Well, almost as soon as I thought it, the rain changed to sleet just long enough to cover my jacket in droplets of ice, and then it promptly changed back into rain. :) I laughed the whole way to school (forgetting to ever even send the text). If anyone doubts that our Father has a sense of humor, think again. Haha.. it still makes me smile...
Monday, October 12
New Faces, New Heart
I started back to class today. I dropped down to the class below the one I was taking, and it's taken so much stress off of me. :) Buh-bye headaches. It's pretty much the same things.. even the same books.. just a lot slower-paced. So I'm hoping I'll catch more as well. I was invited to sit beside a girl named Ann (short for Anna). I find that interesting on two accounts: first, the fact that Ann is my middle name and second, that she is the second girl I've become friends with recently here that is named Anna. Hmm.. maybe I'm supposed to name a future child Anna. :)
So on a more serious and a little less day-dreamy note, part of my team just left for a trip to Cambodia and a rather large clinic there. It's a really exciting experience for them. They were all so excited to go. It's fun to see the Father putting that same desire to "Go." into their hearts that led me to this country. Also, this weekend, I'm sharing with a group of teenage foreign girls. I have an idea of what I want to say, but allowing Him to lead my tongue will be more beneficial than preparing a lifetime.
Temperatures are dropping and coats and layers are being put into use. I can't wait for the first snow!!
So on a more serious and a little less day-dreamy note, part of my team just left for a trip to Cambodia and a rather large clinic there. It's a really exciting experience for them. They were all so excited to go. It's fun to see the Father putting that same desire to "Go." into their hearts that led me to this country. Also, this weekend, I'm sharing with a group of teenage foreign girls. I have an idea of what I want to say, but allowing Him to lead my tongue will be more beneficial than preparing a lifetime.
Temperatures are dropping and coats and layers are being put into use. I can't wait for the first snow!!
Wednesday, October 7
A speedbump in the midst of a blur..
So today has been amazing, but doesn't even compare to yesterday. :) Yesterday was more than an adventure. It was a day where friendships are bonded together with memories that last more than a lifetime. But alas, I have decided not to blog about that tonight. I'll give an overview and then on to a more thought-evoking idea.
Yesterday was filled with laughter and fun. A couple of new friends and I set out with one and only one idea in mind: to purposefully get lost. :) I've gotten lost more than my share of times here, but I've discovered there's no better way to learn your way around and have fun while doing so. So... we left on a random bus, singing Disney songs, hoping it would take us out of the city, watched some of a mahjong game where a Chinese guy decided to set me up with his friend (they didn't know I understood them. haha), hopped another bus, ending almost where we started unfortunately (and dropped one of my friends off), explored a park, found a Starbucks to have a snack in, got haircuts telling the guys to "do whatever," and had supper asking our waiter to bring us whatever he liked. It ended in some much-needed discussions on both sides, and lots of listening. :) Very blessed day, very incredible.
Today, I want to leave this as the main thought though. It gripped me when I first heard it, and I love to share it now with anyone who is willing to read it. It's entitled A Different Kind of Pr.
Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and was rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few few precious moments with her children.
Help us remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-yr-old college student, balancing an apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.
Remind us that the scary-looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.
Help us remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress is savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they get to go shopping together.
Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love and tolerance. It is not enough to share the love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not just to those who are close to us, but to all humanity.
Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive.
Bless us with patience, empathy, love... and tolerance.
A**n.
If only we could all take time out of our day (myself included), out of the time we spend rehashing the list of things to do today, or what our amazing plans are for this weekend (that we absolutely can't wait to get started!), and instead of seeing a frustrating blur of people and busyness, see faces, see people, and see what might be behind the actions of those we so easily frown upon, see the Father (or lack of) in their hearts, and come to the rescue. That could mean something as simple as a smile and quick "hello" versus a scowl or words under our breath.
We went to the park this week and my niece found a guy in a wheelchair to quickly become friends with. She didn't know his name, didn't see someone who "might be better left alone", but discovered a heart in need of just what she could give, priceless and unreserved love. In the midst of shaking hands and holding up precious little arms to be picked up, she wrung a smile straight from his heart. Would that we could all do that in the week to come.
Yesterday was filled with laughter and fun. A couple of new friends and I set out with one and only one idea in mind: to purposefully get lost. :) I've gotten lost more than my share of times here, but I've discovered there's no better way to learn your way around and have fun while doing so. So... we left on a random bus, singing Disney songs, hoping it would take us out of the city, watched some of a mahjong game where a Chinese guy decided to set me up with his friend (they didn't know I understood them. haha), hopped another bus, ending almost where we started unfortunately (and dropped one of my friends off), explored a park, found a Starbucks to have a snack in, got haircuts telling the guys to "do whatever," and had supper asking our waiter to bring us whatever he liked. It ended in some much-needed discussions on both sides, and lots of listening. :) Very blessed day, very incredible.
Today, I want to leave this as the main thought though. It gripped me when I first heard it, and I love to share it now with anyone who is willing to read it. It's entitled A Different Kind of Pr.
Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and was rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few few precious moments with her children.
Help us remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-yr-old college student, balancing an apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.
Remind us that the scary-looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.
Help us remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress is savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they get to go shopping together.
Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love and tolerance. It is not enough to share the love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not just to those who are close to us, but to all humanity.
Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive.
Bless us with patience, empathy, love... and tolerance.
A**n.
If only we could all take time out of our day (myself included), out of the time we spend rehashing the list of things to do today, or what our amazing plans are for this weekend (that we absolutely can't wait to get started!), and instead of seeing a frustrating blur of people and busyness, see faces, see people, and see what might be behind the actions of those we so easily frown upon, see the Father (or lack of) in their hearts, and come to the rescue. That could mean something as simple as a smile and quick "hello" versus a scowl or words under our breath.
We went to the park this week and my niece found a guy in a wheelchair to quickly become friends with. She didn't know his name, didn't see someone who "might be better left alone", but discovered a heart in need of just what she could give, priceless and unreserved love. In the midst of shaking hands and holding up precious little arms to be picked up, she wrung a smile straight from his heart. Would that we could all do that in the week to come.
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