Do the Foxtrot

I remember reading a Foxtrot comic strip several years ago in which one of the kids, I think Peter, designed a method to hide the fact that he was sleeping in class. He cut ping-pong balls in half and put black circles on them, placing one half over each closed eye to create the illusion that his eyes were wide open. I've often wished that this were possible, especially on days like this, the first day back at work after Thanksgiving.

I also used to think that if I took clear stick on earrings and put them in my eyes, people would think I was cool and had contacts. Well, now I am cool and have contacts, so I don't need to place small, pointy objects directly on my pupils.

Give Some Away

Sometimes I am so overwhelmed at all that God has blessed me with. I sleep in a big, warm bed every night. I never go hungry. I have a wonderful (and equally weird) family and group of friends. I have a job that not only meets my needs, I actually enjoy it!!!! I really could go on and on.

I don't want glorify myself, so please don't take this as that, but one of the things I love about being blessed with so much is that through all of it, God has enabled me to give some away to those in need. There are specific times in my life, like distributing groceries in post-Katrina New Orleans and giving money to missions when I really couldn't "afford" it, that I felt more so than ever before that I was in the center of God's will and closer to who He wants me to be . I'm not sure what steps I will need to take to achieve my dream of a career in international development, but I know that is where my heart is one hundred percent. Meeting the most devastating of physical and spiritual needs., while living a life that isn't defined by what I possess. It sounds idealistic, but that is at the center of my heart, and it will only be by God's grace that he helps me grow into that person.

Tonight Hillary, Bethany (my roommates) and I are going to deliver a Thanksgiving basket to a family in need, as part of a n outreach at my church. I'm praying that we'll have a chance to just show God's love and the recipients will see that love for what it is.

Finally, a challenge for anyone who is reading this (all two of you). Please consider donating some time or money to an organization that is meeting needs during this holiday season. Of course we all know that Convoy of Hope is my favorite, so I encourage you to visit their Web site, where you can make online donations. They have been responding to many of the recent domestic and international disasters. Their international director spoke briefly in chapel this morning and said they are making plans for Bangladesh, where the cyclone killed 3,000 people last week and left countless thousands homeless.
www.convoyofhope.org

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Baby Got Mac

I'm typing this on my new MacBook.

This is my first grown-up purchase and I am quite pleased (even though I still owe my parents $200). This little guy will accompany me to Thailand and I will use the built in camera to talk to friends and family on Skype. On the most superficial level, it seems much easier to do missions work now than a hundred years ago, when you left for India, assuming you would never return and praying God would give you their language as soon as you stepped onto foreign soil. I mean, I still expect to be fluent in Thai as soon as I land in Bangkok, but nowadays I can rest fairly assured that I'll see my loved ones again... at least via the Internet.

Hanging Out with the Boss

On my first day of work at headquarters, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Brother Wood (officially headquarters title). As you might have read in my previous blog, I really admire him a lot and I was really excited about hanging out in the inner sanctum for awhile.

We talked about me becoming a missionary associate to Thailand next year, but unfortunately he didn't offer to waive my budget or anything like that. Geeze.. what's the point of being friends with the power brokers if they can't move a few mountains for you.


However, he did inform me that they have excellent hospitals. My parents can rest well.

A Photo

Here I am spending some quality time with Women's Connection Asia, the first of many hours together. We make a decent looking pair.

Tonight we are having a prayer service for Southeast Asia. Several of us missionary associates will be sharing briefly what we will do next year and how God's brought us to that point. It will be my first time to speak about Thailand and the magazine to more than a couple people. I'm a little nervous, but it will be good practice in sharing my heart and goals. Let's hope my public speaking and interpersonal communication classes at Evangel were not in vain.

Sound the Shofar

At 5 p.m. today, I begin my exodus from Israel's Redemption.

Shalom and Goodbye.

Caught in the Buckle

A week from today, I will begin my new job as Assistant Editor in the Office of Public Relations at AG Headquarters. Who would have ever thought I'd be so excited to work there? For years I told myself it would be the one place I would never work, in the one city I would never call home. As I find myself looking forward to walking through the doors at 1445 N. Boonville and once again calling myself an AG employee, I have to laugh at the way my plans never seem to work out the way I once envisioned. But, at this point in time, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.


*One of the only reasons I can speak in such endearing terms of Springfield and all things related, is the full knowledge that a year from now I will be overseas. I'm like Abraham, knowing that this is not my permanent home (crosses fingers, knocks on wood, throws salt over shoulder, rubs rosary).