I have cried three times since I've been here, all in the last thirty days. Normally I can go for months, so I'm going to blame on circumstances. Or lack of. For example, I made it through saying dear goodbyes back in the States without melting down, ditto for a month of intense language school here (in a totally random, slavic language, fyi). Hard but surviveable.

However, when I was told I couldn't have a video camera till later, if at all, I lost it. Cried my eyes out for half an hour, then survived into my sixth or seventh week and was rewarded with a love of a camera. Two, three weeks of happiness... and then my grandfather passed away. That, at least, is a good excuse to cry, mourning the loss of someone who was had such a loving impact on life.

And tonight, I lost it again. But this time, it was not in the privacy of my room, and not for family or work reasons. Out on the evening street, snow falling and mixing with the tears, walking the last bit home so I wouldn't climb on the tram all red-eyed. Or maybe just so they wouldn't think I was drunk, since I was definitely crying and definitely *laughing* out loud.

I found volleyball. Right up the road.

You probably don't want all the details, and unless you're one of a rare few, you likely think that, if a camera's a bad excuse to cry, volleyball's a worse one. But there were guys playing- good ones- and they invited me to come back next week and play. There are womens' volleyball and basketball teams too, but I'm not sure if they're college or club.

Point being, there is nothing on earth like telling God you'll trust Him for friendships and activities in a new culture, working with what you're given, and then suddenly having Him drop something like this in your lap. Amazingness. Even if it does involve tears.

3/2/08

This is home. Ergo, I'm gone.
Up before you, out the door
You left unlocked once more - it sees
A new adventure every day
And anyway, I have my keys

I wipe m feet and come in quiet
Not for me your friendly riot
People grouping, hula hooping
I'll be back some time, no hurry
Out again or in, don't worry.

This my home turf you've adopted
I pick up right where I dropped it
Fancy that- I'm fancy free
Staying here where there you see
Much delighted, less surprised
I'm home
I hope you've realised....

Walking home one day this week, I was thinking about some story I read when I was 11 or 12. A friend accuses an artist of being cold-blooded, throws out the statement, "If someone you loved died, the first thing you'd do would be start sculpting." She doesn't reply. A month or so later, one of her close friends- maybe boyfriend- dies. "I'm sorry," she whispers, and starts sculpting....

So I'm thinking about this story, realising that I'd probably do the same thing. Start looking at old photos, at videos, writing poetry and memories down. My grandfather's been in poor health for a long while, but we've had some last great memories this past year and a half in the States, between my old home in west europe and my new-as-of-january home in east europe.

Really God-timing, because I just got a call from my mom- today he went home, to Heaven. And I know he walked (or flew, or whatever spirits do) up to God with the hugest smile on his face and said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith!!!" And God said, "Well, done, good and faithful servant, enter into your Master's joy."

I've never known anyone as consistently faithful. I've met some awesome guys on fire for God, and that was definitely an attraction for me, because I've seen firsthand what it looks like to grow old in that. To share Jesus with total strangers, whether it's a friendly conversation or just a kind word. To interupt and accidentally (or on purpose!) annoy your wife while she's cooking Thanksgiving dinner for sixty three relatives- and then humbly apologise before she can even say anything. To still love that wife enough to pull her aside for a kiss or brag on her after fifty years of marriage. To have time to tease and talk seriously with each grandkid, no matter if they're 22 or 1. To wave your kids off on the plane for overseas, time and time again. To travel overseas to see those kids and your grandkids, and not complain about traveling expenses or annoyances but be honestly excited for them. To help as you can in the community, write letters to the governors and president about political issues you feel strongly about. To be a patriot, and believe in your country, and yet study issues and act in them.

And there's so much more my grandfather was. And I'm not there with my family- all of it- to *celebrate* his life and what we've gained from knowing him, but he knows I loved him, and he was proud of me for coming overseas on my own path. Which is the better for having seen him walk his.

So what do you do when you roll over in bed on a beautiful sunny morning, look out the window on your adopted city, and the first thought that drifts through the glass is, "This is too big for me. What am I *doing* here?"

And what's a wee bit unnerving is that this is happening to me more frequently (not the sunshine, mind you, the question). I hoped that longer I was here and the more I got to know my city, the more ready I'd be to answer that. Because I know I'm here for a reason. It just happens to be Father-sized, and while it's abstractly comforting to know it's not about me, a lot more faith is required. A whole lot. *Reckless faith.* I've started writing that on my wrist (without the period, b/c there are rarely periods after faith) to remind me what's going on. Or at least what should be going on.

I have my job, and I love it, but in some puzzling way it's giving me more questions than it's answering. The more I have permission to bounce in my fun bubble of warm apartment, hilarious roommates, video editing on my computer, and friends at gym and fellowship... the more I look out my window and say, "Today's not going to be enough if I stay in that safety."

Ever heard the song "I AM" by Ginny Owens? "How can I understand/This thing You're gonna do?"/"That's not your problem," God replied/"There's a bigger picture/ And you don't have to change the world /I'm your creator, I am working out my plan
And through you, I will show them ... I AM"

And I think faith is just going to have to be enough, even on sunny days.

Both promised imperfect neighbors. Both boasted emphatic leadership, zealous disciples, and hearty opposition. It wasn't a question of faith or no faith. It was a decision to put his faith in God or man."

- "Echoes", Heitzmann

"She had challenged his whole life plan-- to find God's will and do it-- said he was fixated on finding the one thing God had intended for him, when every moment was an opportunity.
What if she was right?
Could one choice be God's will, and another as well?
It might not be about finding the one right answer as much as knowing the heart of God and choosing from the possibilities."


- "Secrets", Kristen Heitzmann

Just had a definite craving for the UAE.

I miss the plumeria tree booming over the gate, my grubby-curled, favourite 1yrold charge and his creative family, our camping nights under the Arabian stars surrounded by sand dunes and curious lizards, and South African braai- barbecues. I miss my rough-blackwood bunk and bringing baby Petite up there with me to coo as I proofread documents on my computer. I miss sleeping with the windows open and deliberately not turning the aircon on, and walkking down dust-thick roads to the pool. I miss palm trees.

I miss being somewhere and aching for what I left behind. Here and now, I miss what I left behind, but I won't go back for a year or two and that doesn't hurt me. I didn't belong there anyway, and the belonging that there was, was in preparation for *this*.

I know I'll miss this, but right now I miss three years ago.

Rags and Sequins


This last week was interesting. Still stressed about lack of camera (i.e., lack of work/freedom/fun/usefulness) on Monday, I headed to language school on another (unsurprisingly) grey day. I'd spent the night before alternating between depression and trying to regain perspective. 'Be careful what you wish for,' right? Sitting down on the tram, still consoling myself with "Just be patient", "Just give the whole thing over to God and don't be so dependent," and "It's just a camera, other people have real problems." And then I hear a voice, and saw a man walking pleadingly down the tram aisle.

"Does the lady have any change? Does the gentleman have any change?"

I'd wondered the other day why, unlike other cities, I hadn't seen people asking for money on public transport. Pretty interesting timing. I gave him some change, and a smile. And he moved on.

A few hours later, out of language class, I headed back home the same way. No panhandler (is there a politer word, btw?) but was still struck by the irony of city life and economics. Off at the tram stop, you walk through the sub-zero weather past old, bundled up women at little 30 cent pretzel stands into a heated mall. Down the escalator to the subway, you walk past stores like Dolce&Gabbana where the cheapest handbag might be $100 on a good day. Going over a bridge, you see self-important city trains headed off to Milan, Paris, Prague... and tucked under a corner of a bridge there's a pile of blankets where some homeless person made a bed. Once in my neighborhood, you're passed by gleaming silver Nissans as you walk past a dumpster with a withered shabby gentleman pulling out a half-eaten pizza.

All that. And days when I've got my iPod playing, studying language lists, or looking at train tickets for media work, I blank out the rags as well as the sequins. Which is- full circle- why I want a camera. So I- and you- can really see what I see.




(Good post on the subject from another city blogger -"Gentlemen, you give me hope!"

no wifi for us
you see you see
it's gone
and we're home
without even tv
are we sad?
do we care?
no, we just hit the road
there's way to much out of doors to explode


(hence the lack of updates. no wifi. apologies and we hope to soon return to our regularly scheduled sporadic updates. have a nice day.)

Not going to lie today....

Not that I normally lie, but I don't always tell all the truth. Generally because all the truth involves good and bad, and I'd rather just tell the good, because that's much more fun and there seem to be abundant people who like to just tell the bad.

And there's been so much good here. I've loved language class, and according to my teacher have done really well. Since all I have to go by is whether I understand a little more each day, I'm more focused on whether I can finish our workbook by the end of the next two weeks, which will finish off language class for me.

Adjusting to the culture here... total non-issue so far. It's Europe, where I grew up. Ergo, it's home. Obviously, there are small blips of surprise, like the evening I found liquid milk in small plastic *bags* in the grocery store. Or the time I went to apply for residency and found out passport photos are taken left-profile, not straight on. For the most part, though, it's been an easy transition and a fun one.

This weekend was hard, though. Exhausted from a long week of class, applying for residency, life in general, and getting one roommate fully moved in and another safely packed off for a week. Told the leaving Ragazza that hopefully I'd be getting my new video camera for work this week and could follow her down and catch some of the work on film...

Which leads to the whole 'not lying' issue. If this weekend was 'hard', tonight topped it. My supervisor, having talked with our other supervisor, told me that I'm probably going to have to wait till the beginning of February and our work meeting to figure out my work details. Like my camera, or lack of. And from the beginning I'd been told (and nicely accepting of) the fact that my job this first month was just to focus on language, adjusting, and getting a feel for what's needed.

But it's been three weeks, and tonight I can't handle it. Language is fine, people are fine, and I *need* my media. I am not okay with not having my job for the next two weeks. I know there's stuff I can do around the edges. I know there are good reasons. I know I obviously need to learn patience. And - even worse- I know there are people all around with way more important problems and bigger problems, which makes me feel like a total jerk for being upset about this, thanks. And explaining, "Separation from media and communication is slow *death* for me..." is not going to change the situation.

Two more weeks. I can deal with that. Especially if there are no more weekends like this.

another beautiful day!!

well, beautiful being a relative term... it started cloudy and stayed cold, but the sun came out, language school went great (my teacher and i have pushed and laughed our way through most of seven lessons by now!) and then there was this ('there was a, there was a') ladies get-together at a wee cosy cafe... and then, having had dessert/hot chocolate, me and two of my people made polite goodbyes and headed away from femininity and promptly found a doner shop.

walking down ancient cobbled streets, surrounded by graceful buildings and slavic sounds... mouths/forks buried in shwaerma meat and sla and sauce and burbling away about life and language study. sweeeeeetness. then back to the apt to work on language. this is my life these days, in between periods of depressed boredom and excited exploration.... it's so good.

Will it last? Will it be here after you're gone?



Just take your candle and go light your world....

A week and a half in so far... language challenging but good... good times with friends and adjusting!

Questions.

Why are all the light switches on the outsides of the bathroom? Oh, the mischief.
Why can wifi only work on three computers per system? So limiting.
How can there be so many styles of hats for such a basic need?
Why did I never get a month-pass for transport before? Nonstop exploration fun!
What does it mean when the snow starts melting and someone shows up in *capris*?
How many levels of bureaucracy need worked through to get a room painted, much less important stuff?
How do you make banana juice? Because obviously it's for sale... try some?
Did you *look* at the sunrise this morning? Gor-geous. God sends smiles here too :)

Once we get wifi in our apartment, I'll probably blog more, but till then I've been back to journaling, curled up beside the radiator in the kitchen or my room. My big fat IKEA pillow has a new oriental red/orange/black case, so that will only add to the fun. My room is definitely a mix of travelly stuff, duffels blocking windchill from my balcony, maps on the walls, carabiners hanging from the closets.

And on that note... I'm going to be really honest and very vulnerable. I want to travel and do media, *came* here to travel and do media. I do. not. want. to stay and work in the city. I'm going to be in language school this month, for which I'm grateful, but I need to be on the move. Please be lifting me up, that I'll communicate well with supervisors who aren't pushing the whole travel thing. Technically, you can ask that I'll adjust well, but I love it here and it feels so much like home... only the streets and language really changed when I moved borders, apparently :P


Peace and grace out!

First of all, I'm *home*.

From the very beginning of this adventure, I decided I'd make the best of and try to enjoy whatever place I found myself in... didn't know that would be so EASY.

For one thing, I've spent most of my life in Europe. For another thing, people here have been really welcoming, and I have two of the best roomies in the world. And for a third thing, I had high expectations of myself, but deliberately low expectations of what I'd find. And what I've found has been great - recognisable signs, public transport, and warm welcomes. And an *adorable* wee apartment to make into a home and actually settle down in.... God is GOOD! He would still be good whether I loved or hated it here, but He's definitely worked this all out, and added in sweet small details like a creek and bridge about 5 mins walk from my apartment... like roommates who I 'click' with... like hints of basketball and volleyball possibilities... Just so many "God-winks", as my one friend says....

And I know, definitely well, that there's a 'honeymoon' stage in the psychological view of cultural adjustment, that there will be days when I wake up and hate it here. I just don't think there will be that many of them, because this is pretty much all I've wanted for a long time. And I have language school, hours a day, for the next few weeks, so that may well 'kick my tail'. But I'm already understanding a lot of what's going on, so it'll just be the amp'd up intensity and brain drain... yis.

Anyway! Three days in, cloudy and cold as it is, I'm loving it here. Very content.

blast the music,
pack the bags,
steal away the time that lags

see you later
see you soon
dodge the sun and skirt the moon

catch a vision
catch a plane
let's go together to insane

together crazy
twice the fun
make this journey
worth the run

1. Tell us briefly what you are going to be doing over the next few years

I'm going to be working in Europe as a photojournalist with missions teams and tour groups, essentially. There'll also be some travelling, language, and volunteer work with NGO's - non government organisations.

2. Why is this important to us?
I'll get to tell stories about the various cities and what God's doing with the nationals and groups, using photos and videos and websites. God's doing so much in Europe! in america, we tend to think of Him doing amazing things in africa or china or south america, the *needy * places. and they are needy- physically and spiritually- but Europe isn't saved by any means. And people need to know that they can pray, and give, and go to make a difference there!

3. What would you like us to know about serving in a cross-cultural mission project?
It's challenging. You go for a few days, for a few weeks or months, and you come back changed. You're suddenly looking at your life in the States and saying, 'Wow, I have so much and they have so little!' or whether you come back and say, "I *needed* God when i was gone- and I need Him with me still! Sitting in church once a week (or month?) is not enough for me- I need to wake up and make Him big in my life!" Going on a cross cultural mission project opens your eyes, to what God's doing in other peoples' lives, to what He wants to do in your life.

4. How can we pray for you?
That i won't lose track of the bigger picture when I'm studying language and working. I love media, but I need to love God more. Please pray that I'll take the time to keep up good networking with people here and overseas, because those connections are too valuable to lose.

5. What would you say to those who say that they cannot join in a mission program because of school and work needs?
I met a girl two months ago who's moving as a missionary to the jungles of Peru. She's got a student loan. She thought about working it off and then going overseas, but realised she couldn't wait, that the people there couldn't wait to hear about God. So she gave her family power of attorney, and is sending most of her paycheck every month to that student loan for the next two years. By the time she leaves the jungle, her loan won't be gone but it'll be smaller, and she'll have been faithful.
As far as school and work needs, another thing is that God can use- wants to use- the skills you have. We hear about medical personnel and the great work they do overseas, but there's so much more. I'm a media person, so that's what I'll be doing, and I love sports, so I'll be volunteering in sports ministries. I personally know businessmen, english teachers, musicians and artists, athletes, and tour guides who have just transplanted their lives overseas and are serving God daily. Some of them go over independently, or with Shell Oil or Nike, and they just live transparent lives as committed believers. And some go overseas with a sending agency, which is pretty cool. The Lottie Moon Christmas offering? Also very cool. That's what supports workers around the world so they can focus their time on the lost, before they focus on anything else. FBC is such a deliberate acts 1:8 church, right? "Go into all the nations..." How and where we go makes a difference, but the most important thing is that we're following God obediently.

6. What would you say to those who say that they cannot join in a mission program because they would miss their family?
For one thing, you can miss your family anywhere you go. I know I miss mine whether I'm working three states or three countries away! This is, by the way, where skype and emails and facebook come in handy - i'll be able to wave at my parents and hear their voices via videocamera!
For another thing, in separation, the people overseas and your teammates become your family. My little brothers had six or seven women who considered themselves surrogate grandmothers! Sometimes families and friends visit - and you get to show them firsthand what you're doing.

And sometimes you just have to say, "I'm sorry, but God has called me to go to a certain place. and I can't turn back. I love you dearly, but this is where i need to be. "

What is done has been done for the best
Though the mist in my eyes might suggest
Just a little confusion about what I'll lose
But if I started over I know I would choose
The same joy the same sadness each step of the way
That fought me and tought me that friends never say
Never say goodbye...

- Road To El Dorado

We grow great by dreams. All big men are dreamers. They see things in the soft haze of a spring day or in the red fire of a long winter's evening. Some of us let these great dreams die, but others nourish and protect them; nurse them through bad days till they bring them to the sunshine and light which comes always to those who sincerely hope that their dreams will come true.

- Woodrow Wilson