Another week almost done!
All of us trainees are defiitely settling in, getting a better feel for what we'll be given every day (lots of information, eye openers, and promises) and what's expected of us (learning, communication, and godly living.) Formal sessions include taxes, language, and cross-cultural witness; informal learning covers everything from practicing testimonies to sharing personal stories...

It's been good, but not that challenging so far. There's some pressure in the deadlines and following this schedule, but it's not generally till the after-class hours that life really begins. That's when friendships solidify, when the session hightlights are seriously talked through, when the books are read. (I know I'm partial to books, but a lot of the session hours could have been condensed into reading material!)

Anyway. Overall, it's been really good. Overachieving to the point that a lot of my homework is already done (or half-done) and spending some quality time with other learners. That's pretty much what my life's going to be for the next six weeks.... :)

The Night Before the Party Begins.

Tomorrow I'll be back in the Bronze Valley again. Quietly, crazily, excited. "One of these days, maybe," I thought. Left the Valley last winter, thinking it'd be months or a few years before I saw the place again. "We want to see you back," said Professor El, when I said I was moving to a different state, different job, different life. "Of course you'll see me back," I smiled, "even if it's just for a visit one of these years." "No, as in, back for the eight weeks." In other words, for training. I just shrugged.

And tomorrow I start that training. In a deliciously unstressed state of mind, because I've 'gone through' four trainings, as it were, already, just by working there and hanging out with the trainees. Yes, it's going to be challenging. Yes, there'll be tons of surprises. But I'm a high need-to-know person when it comes to work and study, and knowing ahead of time what I'm getting into is a huge blessing. The more I know, the better I can prepare, right? I sound like such a stick-in-the-mud... should probably add that, "the more I know, the more fun I can have". And I'm not gonna add any more along that line, because, see, some people just aren't a fan of mischief. Alas for them.

And I don't intend to distress anyone or harm property, but let me say this - me and my 'mates are going to rock out training. Ace the papers. Throw ourselves into the learning. Rock out the volleyball courts and other sport times. Give God that "white hot worship" that He deserves. That was a John Piper reference, by the way - I'm almost done with my first book report (overachieverrrrr) which means I get to hand it in early, do the second one, and then not stress about those writings when there's homework to be done, cookies to bake, or adventures to have....

2008/06/04

Many people got the opportunity to see Jesus Revolution in action when concert team Central came to Wisla in Poland, with it's 11 000 inhabitants and hotels with space for 26 000 tourists. The team started the day by visiting the high school in the city.... They performed dances and invited the students to the concert that same night. As many as 145 youth found their way to the city’s cinema, where the concert was located. "I came because I saw the school visit", says Pawel, a 14 years old student. "I pray to God every night, because I know that He is there, but today I understood that Jesus loves me," he added when the concert was finished.

-http://www.jesusrevolution.com/jesusrevolution/?pid=News&id=176

Getting closer to overseas again. More info from my boss... good stuff on what to expect. Drafted back the beginning of an email, which I'll fill in with more questions as I come up with them... "Thanks for taking the time to answer all these questions- I'm a huge information person, so the more I can find out ahead of hitting the field ... the happier I'll be :) "

So, language. Culture and city study. I've already done some, and now I need more.

She had a pink hibiscus on her shoulder by her ear
It caught my glance because tattoos aren't common around here
I asked her why she had it
And she grinned without surprise
Then rubbed half off with a blue-nailed finger
And laughed with green-rimmed eyes

Why not take a chance, she asked?
What else are colours for?
If they're not used to paint your life
What do you save them for?




-random jotting from today

Old Town

Spent yesterday wandering the old town... honestly, I'd have enjoyed it more if I wasn't *living* here. And if there had been more people around- anywhere in the world, there would have been more people out enjoying the sunshine and breeze. Even on a Sunday afternoon. Especially on a Sunday afternoon.

Why does it still surprise me to hear people speaking English?

Subconsciously I still expect to hear the neighbors talking in Dutch across the fence. Schoolkids walking by should be speaking German. Shopkeepers should be arguing politely in Arabic. And I should *especially* not understand anything going on around me in airports. That I do is a little unsettling. It's been almost a year... two more weeks? And the time between hearing a voice and having those tones translate into Anglicised words is still... odd.

The only excuse I have for the delay is that hardly anyone in the southern United States speaks proper English anyway.

Travel Snapshots

No language homework today... yet. Might still happen, might not. I've been pretty good about it, especially considering there's no one to make me or even really care. Which is encouraging when I wonder how I'll do when I get overseas. To be sure, I could be travelling so much I won't be sent to language school, but I'd still want to do well whatever country I lived in,and I absolutely hate being an obvious foreigner. In Holland, I didn't care if I stood out, as long as it was for the right reasons- height, sports passion, multilingualness.... And some accent was okay, especially when they said I sounded more British or Canadian than American :P But not to stand out as an awkward, 'visibly unassimilated' outsider. And I don't really see that changing. Which means extra study here and now. *shrugs*

I'm a little curious as to whether some of the recent tax law changes in europe and friends leaving are going to mean any changes in leadership or timing... is there *any* chance I could make my way over before next year? I realised today, while out on a run, that I've still got a footlocker or two in storage over there, wondering how I'm going to get it out. Or if, you know, I even really need it anytime soon. Was reading about Rebekah at the well (Genesis 24) yesterday- I never caught the speed of the story before. She saw the situation as God's hand on her, and left her home for the future in about 24 hrs. I've read that story several times before, and yet I'm at an age and place where God could very easily send me out as well. And would I be as graceful about it? For the adventure, definitely! In full trust in God and His timing in the surprise invitation- that would be harder. And could I make ready and be gone in 24 hours? She probably had servants, lol, but it's still a good challenge. Should we ever be to the point where we couldn't leave everything behind in 24 hours to follow God's call?

"Does He not say that where two or three are met in His name, there He is in the midst of them?"

"Yes."

"Then thus far I will justify myself to you, that, if I do not go to what you call *church*, I yet often make one of a company met in His name."

"He does not limit the company to two or three."

"Assuredly not. But if I find I get more help and strength with a certain few, why should I go with a multitude to get less? Will you draw a line other than the Master's? Why should it be more sacred to worship with five hundred or five thousand than with three? If He is in the midest of them, they cannot be wrongly gathered!"


-George MacDonald, 'The Elect Lady'

Still working on overseas opportunities for next year...

And, yeah, I'll admit I'm frustrated it won't be sooner. At least I'm getting to the stage where I think I can see the hand of God in that, and not just wondering why He won't do the 'logical' thing and send me over sooner. I know how good this time for me here is. And I'm grateful for the discussions that are going on even now that might give me a job over there that I'd really love, and maybe have long-term. I was so ready to go in February- I would have happily gotten on a plane within six hours and been at the training, and then on across the sea. Which would have been crazy fun on one hand, but I think this will be better, long-term.

I'm just not very good with long-term. And considering that it affects life so much, long-term is probably something God's working with me nowadays.

new favourite place. and new half-way point, eminently visitable. a library just blocks down from our church. with wifi. and hidden corners near windows, where i can sit, access internet, and watch squirrels outside. a small downside is that the web system blocks xanga, so i'll have to upload certain jottings later. but blogger.com is fine, so i'll def be more motivated to keep that up.

"You have to hang up your travelling shoes and stop wandering sooner or later, don't you?"
"So I've been told. Personally, I just keep on wandering."
- Dr. Who

Found this while working on campus... hardly thought one day I'd be applying it to heading out from there myself.


"God does not ask us to do the things that are easy to us naturally. He only aks us to do the things that we are perfectly fitted to do by His grace." - Oswald Chambers

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain

"You've both escaped from somewhere, haven't you?"
"Frequently."

- Dr. Who

Nice new photo database I found... http://www.dropshots.com/

What affects men sharply about a foreign nation is not so much finding or not finding familiar things; it is rather not finding them in the familiar place.
G.K. Chesterton

"When you remember me, it means that you have carried something of who I am with you, that I have left some mark of who I am on who you are. It means that you can summon me back to your mind even though countless years and miles may stand between us. It means that if we meet again, you will know me. It means that even after I die, you can still see my face and hear my voice and speak to me in your heart.

For as long as you remember me, I am never entirely lost. When I'm feeling most ghost-like, it is your remembering me that helps remind me that I actually exist. When I'm feeling sad, it's my consolation. When I'm feeling happy, it's part of why I feel that way.

If you forget me, one of the ways I remember who I am will be gone. If you forget, part of who I am will be gone. "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." the good thief said from his cross (Luke 23:42). There are perhaps no more human words in all of Scripture, no prayer we can pray so well."
-Frederick Buechner