Yes, it's true...take a deep breath to get over the shock of it all and read on. ;-)
I have thought about this blog many times in the last year and a half...the last time that I actually successfully wrote anything on here. But there is a lot going on and I want to keep you all up to date on my life and what is happening...
It would take far too long to go back and start from the beginning of 2007 to catch you up, so I will give you the highlights and the upcoming stuff...
February 2007...travel to China
March-June 2007...staff for the Discipleship Training School (DTS) in Monroe, NC
June-August 2007...travel to Thailand and Scotland
September-December 2007...staff for another DTS
January-February 2008...travel to Cambodia
March-September 2008...short term missions trips in the states...and preparing for all that is to come
What is the preparation for? For my return to Cambodia! I am going to moving there for 6 months, leaving on September 4 and coming back to the States the first week of March 2009. I, and my one teammate, Brittany, are going to work at the same church we were with earlier this year.
There are so many details that I could include here, but in an attempt to not overwhelm anyone reading this, I will do it in small doses. Please keep checking in because I will be updating this with stories and pictures of Cambodia and other fun stuff, and I hope with quite a bit of regularity while I am gone.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Monday, January 22, 2007
Coming to an end...
It's hard to believe that our time is almost over here in India. We have one more day left and then we start our travels to China. Here are some things I will miss:
~~seeing cows freely roaming the streets (an odd sight to get used to)
~~riding in the auto rickshaw (an open taxi with three wheels) around town, wondering if this will be the time that we will hit one of the pot holes hard enough to actually get thrown from the side
~~the heat (ok, I am just kidding on that one, but it is going to be freezing in China)
~~the food...believe it or not, I am enjoying most of the dishes we have had
~~the other team from Montana that we have been working with
~~the traffic...it is bit scary at first, certain that you we be involved in an accident, but you learn to walk safely across the street and not gasp too loudly as the cars dodge each other
~~the wonderfully friendly people of Manipal
Even though some of these things sound a bit sketchy and not all together "safe", it is part of the culture and the environment here and it all works together to make India what it is. And I know China will hold so many things for me and I am excited to see what is going to happen there. Two countries in two months...I am a very blessed girl.
~~seeing cows freely roaming the streets (an odd sight to get used to)
~~riding in the auto rickshaw (an open taxi with three wheels) around town, wondering if this will be the time that we will hit one of the pot holes hard enough to actually get thrown from the side
~~the heat (ok, I am just kidding on that one, but it is going to be freezing in China)
~~the food...believe it or not, I am enjoying most of the dishes we have had
~~the other team from Montana that we have been working with
~~the traffic...it is bit scary at first, certain that you we be involved in an accident, but you learn to walk safely across the street and not gasp too loudly as the cars dodge each other
~~the wonderfully friendly people of Manipal
Even though some of these things sound a bit sketchy and not all together "safe", it is part of the culture and the environment here and it all works together to make India what it is. And I know China will hold so many things for me and I am excited to see what is going to happen there. Two countries in two months...I am a very blessed girl.
Friday, January 19, 2007
19 days since I've had a warm shower...
I have been in India for 19 days and it has been that many days since I took a hot shower...but it has been worth it. To tell you the truth, it's almost too hot most of the time and the cool water is welcomed.
I had heard so many stories about this country before coming, but I really didn't know what to expect...and this experience has been so much more. Unfortunately I can't post pictures from this computer so it has to wait for another month.
I am learning a lot...and still getting confused at times...by the Indian culture. One of the biggest ones is that I still have to guess when people are saying yes or no by the way they shake their heads. In the states, we nod our head up and down which means yes and turn is side to side to say no. Well, here, they don't nod...the bob their head from side to side and it looks an awful lot like no...but it's yes. So we ask questions and they bob their heads, and it takes a minute to try to discern whether the answer is yes or no.
Almost every day, we walk from our house down to the college campus and the surrounding area to meet with people, talk to them about their culture and tell them about our culture and beliefs. We have made a number of friends that we meet for coffee and build up that relationship. It's been interesting to learn from them, but also to have the chance to share our beliefs. Challenging, but great all the same.
We have joined another team for the time being. Within that team, they have a number of very talented musicians and were able to perform a free concert for the town. We had about 650 people show up, which was a pretty good turn out. Combining teams is not always easy, but this has been a wonderful experience and the two groups work very well together.
We only have a few days left here in India (where the weather is always HOT...somewhere between 95-100 everyday and humid), and then I will be wishing for a heat wave in China. The team is sad about leaving here, but also very excited about something new and getting to do a few different things.
Thanks for all your prayers.
I had heard so many stories about this country before coming, but I really didn't know what to expect...and this experience has been so much more. Unfortunately I can't post pictures from this computer so it has to wait for another month.
I am learning a lot...and still getting confused at times...by the Indian culture. One of the biggest ones is that I still have to guess when people are saying yes or no by the way they shake their heads. In the states, we nod our head up and down which means yes and turn is side to side to say no. Well, here, they don't nod...the bob their head from side to side and it looks an awful lot like no...but it's yes. So we ask questions and they bob their heads, and it takes a minute to try to discern whether the answer is yes or no.
Almost every day, we walk from our house down to the college campus and the surrounding area to meet with people, talk to them about their culture and tell them about our culture and beliefs. We have made a number of friends that we meet for coffee and build up that relationship. It's been interesting to learn from them, but also to have the chance to share our beliefs. Challenging, but great all the same.
We have joined another team for the time being. Within that team, they have a number of very talented musicians and were able to perform a free concert for the town. We had about 650 people show up, which was a pretty good turn out. Combining teams is not always easy, but this has been a wonderful experience and the two groups work very well together.
We only have a few days left here in India (where the weather is always HOT...somewhere between 95-100 everyday and humid), and then I will be wishing for a heat wave in China. The team is sad about leaving here, but also very excited about something new and getting to do a few different things.
Thanks for all your prayers.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
I'm in India!
I realize that good intentions do not get this blog updated...and i apologize...again! I am back from Miami...it was a good trip, for those that were not stuck in a bed sick all week (that would be me!)
I have now left on another trip, this was a bit further than Florida...I am writing from Manipal India. I only have a few minutes at the internet cafe before having to head back to the house with the team, but I wanted to let everyone know that I arrive safe and sound. It is definitely a different world. It took us 4 days of traveling to arrive, but it was worth every minute, and it has only been one day. Still 3 weeks to go.
I will write as often as I can, but I can not make any guarantees...not that anyone actually expects me to update all THAT often, but i will make the effort.
Thanks for your prayers. I love you guys!
I have now left on another trip, this was a bit further than Florida...I am writing from Manipal India. I only have a few minutes at the internet cafe before having to head back to the house with the team, but I wanted to let everyone know that I arrive safe and sound. It is definitely a different world. It took us 4 days of traveling to arrive, but it was worth every minute, and it has only been one day. Still 3 weeks to go.
I will write as often as I can, but I can not make any guarantees...not that anyone actually expects me to update all THAT often, but i will make the effort.
Thanks for your prayers. I love you guys!
Monday, December 04, 2006
Vamanos a Miami
Early early tomorrow morning, I have to get up and get in the van to drive down to Miami. We are going for a week to work with a campus ministry.
Unfortunately I am getting sick so the 13 or so hour drive down will not exactly be the most exciting thing for me, but I am looking forward to being in Florida for a week.
After we get back, there will only be 2 weeks left until we leave for India...crazy!We leave on December 30.
Unfortunately I am getting sick so the 13 or so hour drive down will not exactly be the most exciting thing for me, but I am looking forward to being in Florida for a week.
After we get back, there will only be 2 weeks left until we leave for India...crazy!We leave on December 30.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
No DC for me
Just found out today that I will not be going to DC for the visas. I was kinda looking forward to just having a day away and doing something completely different. But there are lectures I have to attend so I don't get to go along.
It has been a really good day...it started off doing a service project for a local ministry. They have a lot of stuff donated to them to pass on to the homeless and we went and sorted through everything and organized it in order for it to be set out for Christmas. There was SO much stuff to go through and I was so glad to be able to help...there was no way this family that runs the ministry would have been able to get it all done.
This evening, I got to go hang out with some friends from LA. One of the them, Britany, is from this area so I went with some other LA alums to have dinner with her family. Good food, great people, wonderful night!
It has been a really good day...it started off doing a service project for a local ministry. They have a lot of stuff donated to them to pass on to the homeless and we went and sorted through everything and organized it in order for it to be set out for Christmas. There was SO much stuff to go through and I was so glad to be able to help...there was no way this family that runs the ministry would have been able to get it all done.
This evening, I got to go hang out with some friends from LA. One of the them, Britany, is from this area so I went with some other LA alums to have dinner with her family. Good food, great people, wonderful night!
Friday, November 24, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving!
Today was a very good day! Before having our own thanksgiving feast, a team of us went to serve food to the homeless. There is a program that we work with that takes over the local Wendy's restaurant. The people come in, we seat them and bring them a very tasty meal. We had such a good time being able to serve them and bless them in this way.
We are still working on preparing for our international outreach. There is going to have to be a trip to Washington D.C. next week in order to get our visas and I may be one of the two heading up there for the day! Fun Fun!
Hope you all had a great day with your families, or whoever you spent Thanksgiving Day with! God Bless!
We are still working on preparing for our international outreach. There is going to have to be a trip to Washington D.C. next week in order to get our visas and I may be one of the two heading up there for the day! Fun Fun!
Hope you all had a great day with your families, or whoever you spent Thanksgiving Day with! God Bless!
Sunday, November 05, 2006
3 in one day...and some big news!
This is the third update I have posted just today...trying very meagerly to make up for the fact that I neglected it for almost 2 months.
So on to the big news! I am going to be heading out on an international trip at the very end of December and will be gone for 2 months. One of the most exciting things about this is the fact that it will not just be one country, but two:
India and China!
We will be in India for all of January, in a small city called Manipal. And in China, for the month of February, in Tianjin. It will prove a packing challenge since India will be 100 degrees and humid and China will be below zero and snowing! I am a little worried about the freezing part of it, but know that it will be good all in all. Just have to buy some clothes fit for that kind of weather.
I don't really have too many details about what we will be doing exactly in either place, but I will post it all on here as soon as I have more information.
So on to the big news! I am going to be heading out on an international trip at the very end of December and will be gone for 2 months. One of the most exciting things about this is the fact that it will not just be one country, but two:
India and China!
We will be in India for all of January, in a small city called Manipal. And in China, for the month of February, in Tianjin. It will prove a packing challenge since India will be 100 degrees and humid and China will be below zero and snowing! I am a little worried about the freezing part of it, but know that it will be good all in all. Just have to buy some clothes fit for that kind of weather.
I don't really have too many details about what we will be doing exactly in either place, but I will post it all on here as soon as I have more information.
What's wrong with this picture?
Yes, if you look closely, that resembles the center console of a car..and it happens to belong to me. So someone thought it would be a hoot to break into my car and steal my poor little radio. They didn't do it very nicely either because they ripped apart the plastic and bent pieces of metal and broke off more than just the radio portion. Not a very good thief. Needless to say, though, that I was not terribly pleased and have to go through the headache of getting it fixed and all that nonsense. Luckily, I have a zero deductible so I don't have to come up with any money out of pocket to fix it and buy a new radio. I would have rather just given them the $50 though...less hassle.
It finally happened!
No need to check your pulses...you are still alive and there is finally a new blog posted here! Amazing, I know.
I could offer excuse after excuse as to why it has taken me so long to update (I hang my head in shame)...I will say one thing and then subject dropped and I will update better. Things have been so busy for me and I don't really have much access to the internet like I used to. I no longer work at a desk and I don't get internet in my bedroom, so at night, when I have a few minutes, walking downstairs to the office does not appeal to me at all. Ok, that's all.
A lot has been going on in the last couple months. I am still in North Carolina, currently doing a training school and on staff at the same time. And for those of you that don't know what my responsibility is here at the base...I am one of two kitchen managers! I realize some of you could be laughing since that is so far from my experience, but it has not been too bad. Things are more routine now so that helps and I have a good team to work with. I just never pictured myself doing anything of that nature and I am definitely learning a great deal!
I have thought about this blog (and have been bugged about it by a number of friends!) and knew there were things to write about, but never got around to it. But I will do better. Bear with me though. Love ya!
I could offer excuse after excuse as to why it has taken me so long to update (I hang my head in shame)...I will say one thing and then subject dropped and I will update better. Things have been so busy for me and I don't really have much access to the internet like I used to. I no longer work at a desk and I don't get internet in my bedroom, so at night, when I have a few minutes, walking downstairs to the office does not appeal to me at all. Ok, that's all.
A lot has been going on in the last couple months. I am still in North Carolina, currently doing a training school and on staff at the same time. And for those of you that don't know what my responsibility is here at the base...I am one of two kitchen managers! I realize some of you could be laughing since that is so far from my experience, but it has not been too bad. Things are more routine now so that helps and I have a good team to work with. I just never pictured myself doing anything of that nature and I am definitely learning a great deal!
I have thought about this blog (and have been bugged about it by a number of friends!) and knew there were things to write about, but never got around to it. But I will do better. Bear with me though. Love ya!
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