This will be my last blog post. I'm not done with my internship yet, but I only have 4 days left. During that time I have to finish my final written report, send out the final directory, and write a short paper for school. Today I gave the organization a final presentation of my findings and gave my personal 2 cents worth. It seemed to be received well, but I can only pray that God gives them wisdom to use that work the best way possible.
I have honestly learned way too much on my internship to make a list. Some things I'm still learning. All I can say is that I've grown a whole lot in so many different ways this summer and I'm thankful for that as a result of spending 12 weeks living and working in Miami. It's true that every year I've grown, I have found God bigger. After this summer, I don't think I could find God any bigger (but I'm sure I will).
The next chapter of my life is coming up so quickly: Senior year. I do not plan on pursuing more education after Covenant (I'm just not the studious type). I hope to find a job in community development or in ministry of some form. After being in Miami, I realized I could probably handle going internationally after the MASSIVE amount of cultural differences I observed here. Hopefully there will be an opening for financial literacy teachers in St. Louis.
I will leave you with one final all-encompassing thought: You remember that song from Prince of Egypt? The "Look at your life through heaven's eyes" one? Cheesy? yes. But at random points that song has popped in my head ALL SUMMER. During my time in Miami, I was overwhelmed with the amount of problems here. There is SO much poverty and injustice and it takes on such incredible forms. How the heck am I, a single (as in 1) white female supposed to effect these monstrous issues of the city? Even though I haven't seen a direct fruit of my labor this summer (and probably never will), I take peace in knowing that I'm just a thread in the tapestry of the Kingdom of God. My work may seem small and insignificant, but that's were the great power of my God steps in and takes my small mentoring directory and uses it to further his kingdom.
Thank you all for your support during the trials and tribulations of my summer.
Love Love Love,
Becky Joy Valkenburg
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
8 days a week.
yep. 8 days left. Not much has changed from that to-do list. I'm making some great progress on the directory and the final report. I was really feeling good about getting 90% of the work done before Sunday. Then, I was asked to go on the Children of Inmates bus trip tomorrow. I really wanted to say "no" because I'm on a roll getting work done, but I said "yes" because I know it's a unique opportunity (and they already got me clearance from the prison).
So, tomorrow is going to be a super long day because I have to get up early to pick up some of the inmates' family, be at the prison from 10-3, and then go bowling (or something like it) for 2 hours afterwards and take the family home. Then I plan on going home, having dinner, and heading out to Starbucks for the night to finish some work. Saturday will be similar. I plan on getting up early (for a Saturday, that is) and working on my papers some more. I plan on taking a 2 hour break to go to local thrift stores hunting for an espresso machine so I can make Cafe Cubano and Cafe Con Leche at school. and then writing some more.
It's been really great living with Yvonne the past couple of weeks. She knows SO much about community development and has worked on the legal and religious side of it. We have some great conversations together.
Ok. and here is the list we've all been waiting for...
THINGS I WILL MISS ABOUT MIAMI:
1. My co-workers. They are beyond awesome! They've been so wonderful to me.
2. The cultural diversity. yeah, it's pretty unique how many cultures are active here and it has stopped surprising me. It doesn't exist in Cape Coral or Chattanooga
3. Hearing spanglish all the time.
4. Crossbridge Church and my Tuesday night small group. They've been a huge encouragement to me and have really helped me adjust to Miami.
5. Drinking Cafe Cubano almost every day and being dared to try drinking a 2nd cup.
6. How easy it is for me to find time alone. Yes, I don't like being alone 24/7 hence the complaints earlier one. but i like being able to just go up to my room and be alone when needed. I love how many people are around at home and school, but it's REALLY hard to get away from everyone (especially at school).
7. Being surrounded by like-minded people. Seriously, working in a non-profit community developing organization has spoiled me. I've rarely had to explain my work or major and everything I've learned from school has come into play here.
So, tomorrow is going to be a super long day because I have to get up early to pick up some of the inmates' family, be at the prison from 10-3, and then go bowling (or something like it) for 2 hours afterwards and take the family home. Then I plan on going home, having dinner, and heading out to Starbucks for the night to finish some work. Saturday will be similar. I plan on getting up early (for a Saturday, that is) and working on my papers some more. I plan on taking a 2 hour break to go to local thrift stores hunting for an espresso machine so I can make Cafe Cubano and Cafe Con Leche at school. and then writing some more.
It's been really great living with Yvonne the past couple of weeks. She knows SO much about community development and has worked on the legal and religious side of it. We have some great conversations together.
Ok. and here is the list we've all been waiting for...
THINGS I WILL MISS ABOUT MIAMI:
1. My co-workers. They are beyond awesome! They've been so wonderful to me.
2. The cultural diversity. yeah, it's pretty unique how many cultures are active here and it has stopped surprising me. It doesn't exist in Cape Coral or Chattanooga
3. Hearing spanglish all the time.
4. Crossbridge Church and my Tuesday night small group. They've been a huge encouragement to me and have really helped me adjust to Miami.
5. Drinking Cafe Cubano almost every day and being dared to try drinking a 2nd cup.
6. How easy it is for me to find time alone. Yes, I don't like being alone 24/7 hence the complaints earlier one. but i like being able to just go up to my room and be alone when needed. I love how many people are around at home and school, but it's REALLY hard to get away from everyone (especially at school).
7. Being surrounded by like-minded people. Seriously, working in a non-profit community developing organization has spoiled me. I've rarely had to explain my work or major and everything I've learned from school has come into play here.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
DIEZ!!!
the proper pronunciation of the title requires you to throw your hands up in the air and yell. That is how my 2 year old niece says "Diez".
Welp. 10 days left. I'm jamming to some old school 90's hits (thanks Destiny's Child) to keep myself focused and working. I only made it till 3pm before taking a break.
Here's the updated to do list.
-finish rough draft of directory
- write short paper topic 2
- write book review for RA training
- write short paper topic 5
- write weekly log week 11
- write critique of research design
- write final report
-write freshman on the hall letters
- make final presentation
- write weekly log week 12
6 things. 10 days. well, at least that's a positive ratio. I think I'd die if it was the other way around. As I was scribbling things down on post it notes, checking my planner every 5 minutes to make changes to it, and drinking Diet Coke, I realized I had this feeling before. It's stress. but not cultural, socially depressing stress like it's normally been this summer. No, it's the "Finals week" stress! EEEKK!
Seriously, The drive for caffeine, the dark eyes, the millions of post-it notes stuck all over every visible surface of my work area; it's the finals week of the summer. But! the good thing about this is that I don't remember much from past finals week and they went by really fast! So, hopefully that will be the case, but that also requires me to make about a dozen trips to Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts to make it through.
Continue praying for:
- focus, energy and perseverance. These papers are heinous to write because they have to be a certain length and in my context, sometimes I don't have that much to say on the subject. Thus, I never look forward to writing one of them and they take me twice as long to write than I expect.
- Oh um focus- that I don't check out of here mentally before getting into my packed car and driving home.
- the other interns. 2 of them are finishing their internship this week, 3 of us are finished next week, and the rest keep trickling home. For some, there's a lot of hours to spend traveling airport to airport, others are spending some hours in a car to get home. Pray for safety and health for them and perseverance and energy as well. I'm sure they're all just as eager as I am to be done with all this work.
alright NSYNC, let's get back to work.
Welp. 10 days left. I'm jamming to some old school 90's hits (thanks Destiny's Child) to keep myself focused and working. I only made it till 3pm before taking a break.
Here's the updated to do list.
-
- write short paper topic 2
- write book review for RA training
-
- write critique of research design
- write final report
-
- write weekly log week 12
6 things. 10 days. well, at least that's a positive ratio. I think I'd die if it was the other way around. As I was scribbling things down on post it notes, checking my planner every 5 minutes to make changes to it, and drinking Diet Coke, I realized I had this feeling before. It's stress. but not cultural, socially depressing stress like it's normally been this summer. No, it's the "Finals week" stress! EEEKK!
Seriously, The drive for caffeine, the dark eyes, the millions of post-it notes stuck all over every visible surface of my work area; it's the finals week of the summer. But! the good thing about this is that I don't remember much from past finals week and they went by really fast! So, hopefully that will be the case, but that also requires me to make about a dozen trips to Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts to make it through.
Continue praying for:
- focus, energy and perseverance. These papers are heinous to write because they have to be a certain length and in my context, sometimes I don't have that much to say on the subject. Thus, I never look forward to writing one of them and they take me twice as long to write than I expect.
- Oh um focus- that I don't check out of here mentally before getting into my packed car and driving home.
- the other interns. 2 of them are finishing their internship this week, 3 of us are finished next week, and the rest keep trickling home. For some, there's a lot of hours to spend traveling airport to airport, others are spending some hours in a car to get home. Pray for safety and health for them and perseverance and energy as well. I'm sure they're all just as eager as I am to be done with all this work.
alright NSYNC, let's get back to work.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
cause when your..FIFTEEENNNN...
Yes, Taylor, that's right I am 15...15 days away from being done with my internship! Yowza!
I'm still trying to get those last 3 interviews in. You have no idea how many times I wish I was a Jedi Knight and could just wave my hand and say, "You will complete the interview"; instead, I'm begging and brown nosing these programs like crazy. Not as easy, or as much fun.
Besides that, I'm writing up my reports for the directory. It was hard at first, but I've gotten use to choppy, factual writing. I really have to be careful that none of my speculation or opinions of the programs get slipped into the directory and that I don't misrepresent their program. So, Yvonne has agreed to be my editor and once she checks them, I'm sending them out to the people I interviewed to make sure I got the facts straight.
Oh, and then the fun begins.
The schoolwork is kinda heavy for the end of the internship. I have 2 short papers to write, a critique of my research design, a written final report (which will be more of my general findings attached to the directory. That baby counts for something), an evaluation of the internship, and 2 more logs. it's like the finals week of summer (which, I believe, is an effect of the fall). The only difference is that 1. I have no kresge memorial library to go to and work in from the hours of 6pm-12:45am. 2. my other 11 classmates who are working on the papers and such are no where near me. There's something comforting about sitting next to someone who is working on the same project you are and you can just turn to them and a-complain "really? why, why?!" b- ask for help "Do you they want our personal opinion, or is this to be strictly quantitative?" and my personal favorite c-snap into insanity "If you really give a mouse a cookie, does he REALLY want a glass of milk? I heard rodents are lactose intolerant."
So it's really worse than finals week due to lack of familiarity and company, but it's better than finals week because it's only 1 class as opposed to 5.
PRAY:
- Again, patience with August 6th coming. It's only 16 days away, but it still feels like an eternity.
- Focus! Holy cow, it's easy for me to be distracted.
- Wisdom and sick awesome writing skills for this directory to be great.
- Worry and anxiety. Yep. there's a lot of it rooted in this directory because I could really hurt FCFC if I don't do it right. But it's also attached to my thoughts of reentry (even though I'm just 2.5 hour drive away) Miami is completely different from Cape Coral and Chatty, so it's going to be hard to go back to those places.
I'm still trying to get those last 3 interviews in. You have no idea how many times I wish I was a Jedi Knight and could just wave my hand and say, "You will complete the interview"; instead, I'm begging and brown nosing these programs like crazy. Not as easy, or as much fun.
Besides that, I'm writing up my reports for the directory. It was hard at first, but I've gotten use to choppy, factual writing. I really have to be careful that none of my speculation or opinions of the programs get slipped into the directory and that I don't misrepresent their program. So, Yvonne has agreed to be my editor and once she checks them, I'm sending them out to the people I interviewed to make sure I got the facts straight.
Oh, and then the fun begins.
The schoolwork is kinda heavy for the end of the internship. I have 2 short papers to write, a critique of my research design, a written final report (which will be more of my general findings attached to the directory. That baby counts for something), an evaluation of the internship, and 2 more logs. it's like the finals week of summer (which, I believe, is an effect of the fall). The only difference is that 1. I have no kresge memorial library to go to and work in from the hours of 6pm-12:45am. 2. my other 11 classmates who are working on the papers and such are no where near me. There's something comforting about sitting next to someone who is working on the same project you are and you can just turn to them and a-complain "really? why, why?!" b- ask for help "Do you they want our personal opinion, or is this to be strictly quantitative?" and my personal favorite c-snap into insanity "If you really give a mouse a cookie, does he REALLY want a glass of milk? I heard rodents are lactose intolerant."
So it's really worse than finals week due to lack of familiarity and company, but it's better than finals week because it's only 1 class as opposed to 5.
PRAY:
- Again, patience with August 6th coming. It's only 16 days away, but it still feels like an eternity.
- Focus! Holy cow, it's easy for me to be distracted.
- Wisdom and sick awesome writing skills for this directory to be great.
- Worry and anxiety. Yep. there's a lot of it rooted in this directory because I could really hurt FCFC if I don't do it right. But it's also attached to my thoughts of reentry (even though I'm just 2.5 hour drive away) Miami is completely different from Cape Coral and Chatty, so it's going to be hard to go back to those places.
Monday, July 19, 2010
I finally know the right answer!
..y es NO bueno.
The set up: ok, so, when I've been introduced to someone here in Miami
them: Oh, so are you from Miami
me: no, I'm originally from Cape Coral
them: oh, what year are you?
me: I'll be a senior in August
them: what are you majoring in?
me: community development
them: ......hmm.....and, uh, what are you planning on doing after graduation?
Now, my typical answer to this last question is something about how ideally I'd want to work in St. Louis
but, my experience today has changed that answer to this
me: I plan on seeing a whole lot of screwed up relationships and being told heart breaking stories like they're the weather forecast and cry a lot because I know that I can not make any of that magically disappear.
Today, Yvonne and I took her mentee and her mentee's best friend to church with us (oh, I moved back in with the Sawyer's for at least the next 2 weeks). When we got to church, Jessica (mentee) and Amaryllis (bf) got black coffee before we sat down. These girls are just starting middle school, and they drink black coffee. I didn't start my coffee addiction till junior year of high school and I refused to drink it black. I labeled it as something cultural, since both of them are Hispanic (Jessica is Puerto Rican and Amaryllis is Dominican).
After church, we brought them back to the Sawyers' and had lunch with them. We started talking with them ; Half way through our conversation, I started to realize the weight of what these girls were saying about their realities. Amaryllis was telling Yvonne about her dad. He's a drug addict and is in Orlando
Yvonne told the girls that the reality in life is that some people will say "I love you" but if their actions don't show it, it's not really love. She steered away from the drug-addict dad example, "like if you have a boyfriend that says he loves you but than hits you, he doesn't really love you." I was relieved thinking that now we're in the land of make believe- talking about situations that were hypothetical, not reality, for these girls.
wrong.
"Like my friend! She's only in 6th grade and she was dating this guy..." Jessica's story continued about her friends' abusive relationship and how it ended with the boy being beat by all the girls' friends.
These 2 girls aren't even at the 1/2 point of their lives. When I was their age, my biggest concern was if this week's episode of Lizzie McGuire was going to be a rerun or not. In most of my interviews this summer, the interviewee mentioned some Cinderella story of a kid in their program to give a personal story of success. These weren't stories I asked for and they're not making it into the final report, but they still came up. After 23 stories of "They had no chance...look where they are now!", I guess my heart became dull to it.
And that made me worry a bit. I realized that I picked a major that exists because of the vast amount and various kinds of poverty that exists. Have you ever heard a "good" story of poverty? one that doesn't make you want to punch a wall, nor sit against one crying? one that sparks hope for mankind? Well, these girls' stories did NOT make me feel better about life. How in the world am I supposed to be facing things like this every day post graduation? How in the world am I supposed to change the realities of young girls like Jessica and Amaryllis? How in the world am I supposed to get up out of my bed to face a world full of problems knowing that I CAN'T FIX THESE PROBLEMS?!
And then I see Dr. Fikkert, standing in front of my Theory of Community Development class yelling, "All you can do is drop to your knees everyday and PRAY for a MIRACLE to happen."
Followed by one of most powerful scriptures I've read this summer.
"When the poor and needy seek water,
and there is none,
and their tongue is parched with thirst,
I the LORD will answer them;
I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys,
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
and the dry land springs of water.
I will put in the wilderness the ceder, the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.
I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together.
That they may see and know,
may consider and understand together,
that the hand of the LORD has done this,
the Holy One of Israel has created it."
Isaiah 41:17-20
The prayer requests:
- focus, patience and perseverance. I have 18 days left in Miami and a lot to do.
- Super specific, but one of my school papers requires me to interview 5 recipients of the programs, but that's really difficult for me to do because of the program I'm working for. So pray that something works out for this.
- continued health and safety.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
una ciudad alterna
Man, I'm a bloggin' beast this week!
Again, I really couldn't wait to write about this topic because it pertains to something near and dear to my heart: Covenant College (No, I'm not sucking up because I'm an RA).
Last night I had my amazing small group meeting. After this weeks meeting I'm pretty convince that Tim Keller has read my soul. The title of this week's session was "An Alternate City" and was based on Acts 2:42-47:
"And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.\
We were asked to describe how this Christian community had fellowship together. One of the girls in the group said that they lived close together, they ate together, they worshiped together, probably opened their houses literally (had the door open). I was imagining this community in my head and here was the image. A long narrow hall way with rooms side by side, doors partially or fully opened, girls wandering from room to room, someone yelling "Nom Nom!" and everyone filing down to dinner.
That's right, I'm pretty sure that scripture passage is a fairly accurate description of my experience of hall life at Covenant. I smiled at the thought of this, but I also wanted to cry because of how much I've missed it.
We continued our conversation. "Is it possible to have Christian fellowship everyday? why or why not?" The group kind of scoffed at this question, most of the girls said no. one of the girls asked, "has anyone had constant Christian fellowship everyday?"
yep.
I have.
For the past 3 academic years.
I realized how blessed I was to almost effortlessly accomplish Christian fellowship daily at Covenant.
So, Thank you Covenant, for giving me a vivid example of una ciudad alterna. I pray that I'll have the intentionality to continue that kind of fellowship in whatever community I live in post graduation.
Again, I really couldn't wait to write about this topic because it pertains to something near and dear to my heart: Covenant College (No, I'm not sucking up because I'm an RA).
Last night I had my amazing small group meeting. After this weeks meeting I'm pretty convince that Tim Keller has read my soul. The title of this week's session was "An Alternate City" and was based on Acts 2:42-47:
"And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.\
We were asked to describe how this Christian community had fellowship together. One of the girls in the group said that they lived close together, they ate together, they worshiped together, probably opened their houses literally (had the door open). I was imagining this community in my head and here was the image. A long narrow hall way with rooms side by side, doors partially or fully opened, girls wandering from room to room, someone yelling "Nom Nom!" and everyone filing down to dinner.
That's right, I'm pretty sure that scripture passage is a fairly accurate description of my experience of hall life at Covenant. I smiled at the thought of this, but I also wanted to cry because of how much I've missed it.
We continued our conversation. "Is it possible to have Christian fellowship everyday? why or why not?" The group kind of scoffed at this question, most of the girls said no. one of the girls asked, "has anyone had constant Christian fellowship everyday?"
yep.
I have.
For the past 3 academic years.
I realized how blessed I was to almost effortlessly accomplish Christian fellowship daily at Covenant.
So, Thank you Covenant, for giving me a vivid example of una ciudad alterna. I pray that I'll have the intentionality to continue that kind of fellowship in whatever community I live in post graduation.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Las razones para amar esta semana
I realize I just posted 2 days ago, but I need to let you all know about the abundant blessings I've already encountered this week.
Saturday night: I got to talk with Emily and Anna, 2 other interns who are working in Knoxville. It was so wonderful to hear their voices and their experiences and encouraging to know that they're just as ready to go home as I am. I forget that I have a phone that makes it possible to call someone up. Ridiculous, I know, but remember, I'm used to seeing these people 24/7 at school and have rarely called them just to talk.
I realized that I could actually leave Miami Friday Aug 6th as a opposed to waiting until Sunday. The reason is because I'm working with an organization that works normal office hours, so I have no choice but to be done with my work for them on Friday, if not earlier. So I'm planning on leaving 5pm on Friday for home. I know 2 days doesn't sound like a lot, especially when I've been timing things by the week, but it gives me another day to rest/ make hall decorations/ hang out with family and friends.
Sunday: The church I'm going to, Cross Bridge, is preaching through the book of James in the context of community (hola!). This week we looked at James 3:13-4:2 which talks about earthly wisdom vs. Godly wisdom. Pastor Philipe put this in the context of community and how our earthly wisdom stands in the way of community. We have envy and selfishness that hinders synergy between each other. He talked about how we need peace in order to create a community and we have to be the humble, serving peacemakers in order for that to happen (CDV majors: yes, he actually used the word "shalom"). It was great reminder for me that my calling is not to obligate a community to come together and to fix their problems, but I'm supposed to promote the work of God's Kingdom and his peace.
After church, I went to Coral Gables (kind of a more upscale down town Chattanooga) and walked around there and found myself in Barnes and Noble for a couple of hours reading "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix".
And SPAIN WON THE WORLD CUP! even though I'm Dutch, I HAD to cheer for Spain. I would have been run out of town if I didn't. Seriously, I passed a Thai restaurant that was all decked out in Spain gear.
Sunday night: I got to talk with some of my dearest friends from Covenant, also known as my past roommates. I was on the phone with them for 45 minutes and I got to yell and laugh with them. I miss sitting around and just laughing with my friends. It just doesn't happen as often here. Dear Covenant friends, I wish I could honestly predict my reaction to seeing you for the first time since May, but I'm either going to tackle you to the ground, or I'm just going to stand there and cry at the sight of your face. be prepared.
Monday: I started working on my final report!!!! ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! Once that baby's done, I'm done! no mas research! holy cow!
I also got to talk with my sister who told me a humorous story. Her and her husband and daughter where driving back from Kansas and they passed through Chattanooga. She pointed out Lookout Mountain to Ruthee (my 2 1/2 year old niece) and said, "That's where Becky goes to college" Ruthee asked "Is she there now?" Beth said, "No, she's in Miami." Ruthee replies, "No, mama, she's in HER-ami."
totally made my day.
On top of ALL that joy within the past 2 days, one of my old roommates told me that she and I have 2 free tickets to DISNEY WORLD! We did the whole, give a day, get a day thing and are going to be there sometime during fall break.
The whole point of me posting this is just to keep me smiling throughout this week. It's my last week in the door house and then I'm moving back in with the Sawyers. I'm looking forward to some bonding time with Yvonne, since it will just be me and her in the house for 2 weeks.
PRAY:
- perseverance, especially when I have down time.
- things to do, I'm quickly running out of ways to keep me busy
- patience as I wait for my end date to come.
- That I can make the most of my little time left here in HER ami.
Saturday night: I got to talk with Emily and Anna, 2 other interns who are working in Knoxville. It was so wonderful to hear their voices and their experiences and encouraging to know that they're just as ready to go home as I am. I forget that I have a phone that makes it possible to call someone up. Ridiculous, I know, but remember, I'm used to seeing these people 24/7 at school and have rarely called them just to talk.
I realized that I could actually leave Miami Friday Aug 6th as a opposed to waiting until Sunday. The reason is because I'm working with an organization that works normal office hours, so I have no choice but to be done with my work for them on Friday, if not earlier. So I'm planning on leaving 5pm on Friday for home. I know 2 days doesn't sound like a lot, especially when I've been timing things by the week, but it gives me another day to rest/ make hall decorations/ hang out with family and friends.
Sunday: The church I'm going to, Cross Bridge, is preaching through the book of James in the context of community (hola!). This week we looked at James 3:13-4:2 which talks about earthly wisdom vs. Godly wisdom. Pastor Philipe put this in the context of community and how our earthly wisdom stands in the way of community. We have envy and selfishness that hinders synergy between each other. He talked about how we need peace in order to create a community and we have to be the humble, serving peacemakers in order for that to happen (CDV majors: yes, he actually used the word "shalom"). It was great reminder for me that my calling is not to obligate a community to come together and to fix their problems, but I'm supposed to promote the work of God's Kingdom and his peace.
After church, I went to Coral Gables (kind of a more upscale down town Chattanooga) and walked around there and found myself in Barnes and Noble for a couple of hours reading "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix".
And SPAIN WON THE WORLD CUP! even though I'm Dutch, I HAD to cheer for Spain. I would have been run out of town if I didn't. Seriously, I passed a Thai restaurant that was all decked out in Spain gear.
Sunday night: I got to talk with some of my dearest friends from Covenant, also known as my past roommates. I was on the phone with them for 45 minutes and I got to yell and laugh with them. I miss sitting around and just laughing with my friends. It just doesn't happen as often here. Dear Covenant friends, I wish I could honestly predict my reaction to seeing you for the first time since May, but I'm either going to tackle you to the ground, or I'm just going to stand there and cry at the sight of your face. be prepared.
Monday: I started working on my final report!!!! ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! Once that baby's done, I'm done! no mas research! holy cow!
I also got to talk with my sister who told me a humorous story. Her and her husband and daughter where driving back from Kansas and they passed through Chattanooga. She pointed out Lookout Mountain to Ruthee (my 2 1/2 year old niece) and said, "That's where Becky goes to college" Ruthee asked "Is she there now?" Beth said, "No, she's in Miami." Ruthee replies, "No, mama, she's in HER-ami."
totally made my day.
On top of ALL that joy within the past 2 days, one of my old roommates told me that she and I have 2 free tickets to DISNEY WORLD! We did the whole, give a day, get a day thing and are going to be there sometime during fall break.
The whole point of me posting this is just to keep me smiling throughout this week. It's my last week in the door house and then I'm moving back in with the Sawyers. I'm looking forward to some bonding time with Yvonne, since it will just be me and her in the house for 2 weeks.
PRAY:
- perseverance, especially when I have down time.
- things to do, I'm quickly running out of ways to keep me busy
- patience as I wait for my end date to come.
- That I can make the most of my little time left here in HER ami.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)