Fall is here...

Well, I'm back to the blog. School has started again and I'm back to sharing my random thoughts. Here is one that I don't know the answer to... I consider myself a modern-day abolitionist. What does that mean exactly, what does it look like. For all the heart and passion I place in that title I have acted very little. I am vocal about human trafficking and try to stay educated and up to date in the topic, but that's not enough. So what's the next step for me? I'm not sure...

almost the end of April...

It's near the end of April and I have not posted- in an effort to continuing my goal for more consistent communication this year I must! I rake my brain to consider anything deeply profound, but I've come up empty. I'm not sure if I was overcome with fighting the grey and rain of April or the insanity of work and school...but May is nearly here the flowers and trees are blooming and I'm now sneezing. I am always amazed how much the sunshine affects me- I love the sun!

If you have not heard Jon Foreman's solo project- a must listen!!!
(you can sample it on his myspace music)

Thankful for sunshine and good music!

Loving the Least of These in Rwanda

So often you hear stories of need. Those stories usually end with little hope of tangible response. Tonight was different! I had the privileged of listening to a Pastor from Gisenyi, Rawanda. Pastor Simon shared about his church and their response to the needs of their community during the genocide, the aftermath, and the continuing battle with HIV/AIDS and orphans. His church of about 200 people ministers to/ cares for 624 orphans. They know each child by name and their situation. Many, many in the church offer their homes, families, and ultimately love to these orphans. Love, God's love and the people that extend it are what keep these orphans coming back to this church.

Pastor Simon's story captured me on so many levels. The thing that resonated in me so deeply was recognizing God's Kingdom. It may sound strange and I'm not sure that I have the words to explain. But, I saw it, I heard it... the reality of a present and tangible God moving among and through His people. A people that are open to His movement and living it, even in moments of great sacrifice and uncomfort. Even as Pastor Simon spoke Bill Hyble's words range in my heart, "the local church is the hope of the world." That's what I saw tonight in one man's story, in his church, in his part of the world. The least of these where being loved and through that the "up there" of God's kingdom was being brought "down here." I can't think of anything that excites me more!

Easter Jet-lag

Yesterday was Easter and what a great day it was! I love celebrating Jesus' resurrection and am striving to do that in the everyday life this year. During this Holy Week I was reminded how much we focus on the cross, yet the true miracle and life came in Jesus' resurrection. I'm not sure why with all the great things from the last week that I find myself so tired. It reminds me of jet-lag! That strange feeling that comes after traveling. You've done nothing and yet you are so tired.

If you've traveled by plane, train, or automobile I'm sure you know what I mean...
I'm too jet-lagged to say anything more. Look for something more deeply profound in April :-)

~for now the jet-lagged bloger

New thoughts for vacation...

With snow and ice all around my mind is thinking of warm places and vacation. I was reading one of my favorite blogs, when I heard for the first time about Faceless International (facelessinterantional.com). It is an organization that helps raise awareness on social issues throughout the global community. They have recently opened a trip to Guatemala to learn more about and experience some of the issues surrounding Fair Trade. They have taken trips to India focusing on Human Trafficking. From the itineraries and pictures that I have seen Faceless looks like they are great at learning about the reality of the focus issue and doing something tangible in the places that they go. Just one different way that you could spend vacation time.


A business that I purchase from TOMS shoes (tomsshoes.com) also opens their "shoe drops" for the general public to apply to attend. Last November they went to Africa and placed 50,000 pairs of shoes on kids feet. Pretty Cool! Someday I would love to be part of such a tangible act as fitting a child on the other side of the world with a pair of shoes.

These are just two examples of hundreds of organizations and ways to do something a little more purposed with your vacation time in the years to come. Well, back to work and snow.
~the dreaming "vacationer"

New Years Resolutions...

Ah, the New Years resolution. The small things I plan to do that fall through about the time the clock hits twelve. This year I didn't make a resolution, but if I had it would be to stay in better touch with friends. Thus the blog. All of this nothingness to say, I will be posting a blog a least once a month. If you have any brilliant ideas on what to blog about I'm open. Otherwise I'll just refer you to my favorite blogs. Speaking of favorites- I love this background, it was used at 7//22 check-out more 722.org

~the reluctant blogger