Thanksgiving Break

This is what I need to do. Keep Calm... and Ride on. I have 13 days left here. I might cry... actually I have teared up every time someone says how many days we have left. Ah, I cannot handle it. I love this place, I love these people, and I hate goodbyes more then anything. There is no easy way to say goodbye, at least none I have experienced. Its going to be rough... but we must all ride on.

On a lighter note my Mom and Sister came for thanksgiving. We had a ton of fun, laughed a lot, and annoyed each other as well. It was by no means a relaxing trip but was full of history and fun facts. Christina and my Mom saw the whole city of Washington pretty much. We traveled down to Williamsburg which was SO fun and extremely interesting. I thought I was on acid half of the time because of all the colonial people milling about the town so normally.We also had breakfast at a King's Tavern where colonial people served us food and played music from the 1700's (supposedly). Here are a few pictures from Williamsburg:

It was quite the adventure.

this little baby is coming to visit.
i am so excited... AHH. in five hours she will be in my glorious washington d.c. presence!

prayer

praying for meghan's family. in this time may the Lord give their family peace about nani being with the Lord, in His glorious presense.

praying for the belize team. may the Lord's love pour upon the people they interact with and build relationships with. may the Lord's light shine brightly. may they glorify the Lord with their actions that people know there is a beautiful and wonderful God.

I have been going through all of RI's pictures from field missions and deleting the blurry ones so I can burn them onto CD's for our files. It has been quite fun and sad seeing the pictures. Since most of the pictures are of refugees, UN goodies, and the country side, once I came across this one I seriously said (outloud) "Well, Bonjour Mr. Hot French solider" and laughed at myself for a few minutes. Hey, life can't be all serious... it is always important to laugh at ridiculous things such as this.

{2003, DRC}

GovTrack: S. 624: Text of Legislation, Introduced in Senate

GovTrack: S. 624: Text of Legislation, Introduced in Senate

yes yes yes. go to ONE campaign to sign.

craziness. that's the best way to describe this week.
research crazy. lots of contacts. a lot of people i have talked to in the last few weeks in DC- good thing some of them are in this lovely city.

world vision
food for the hungry
wells for africa
the water project
wine to water
institute of water management
population services international
----
trying to talk to:
ONE campaign
water advocates

hm. at the beginning of my project i was dreading it. i didn't see the value. now i am thankful because God has given me a passion for something that breaks His heart. although i have been typing away like a mad woman, i know its all for a purpose. learning, policy recommendations, and recommendations that will be shared with during a presentation with world vision. hopefully our research can advance their cause of partnerships and collaboration on the issue of water and sanitation (health). that would be nice.

today didn't consist of anything i didn't like (so disregard the sad face).

today consisted of a few things i did love.
-spiritual discussions about how prayer works with nina.
-researching about water and health issues- went a little crazy, not gonna lie.
-had an interview with someone who is from Brea and now works in DC with Food for the Hungry- loved -her California spirit.
-worked out in my tie dye shirt and turquoise necklace to feel more excited about it. it definitely worked.
-had a giggle sesh with megs.
-prayed with justine.

thanks jesus.

tranquility, come.

These people...

I miss dearly and love greatly.

Christina Blake. My sister and best friend. I miss this twits sass, her ability to understand me inside out, and her ridiculous jokes.

Meghan Marell. My side kick since Kindergarten. Miss this lady's love, our giggle attacks, and spontaneity.

Rachel McCord. My Biola love and bestie. Miss this crazy's artistic spirit, her silliness, and love for the simple things in life.

Christina Burke. My silly and loyal friend. Miss this girl's ability to understand all the silly things about me, her faith, and her counselor charisma.

Shannon Tierney. My lovely friend who has a similar heart for the world. Miss this woman's heart, her wonderful laugh, and her truthful words.

Melanie Dort. My good friend who is flourishing. Miss this woman's desire for growth, the silly things she does, and her crazy self.

Amy Armstrong. My"free spirited" friend. Miss this girls hugs, her love for nature&water, and love for the weirdest and craziness things in life.

Thanks for being a huge part of my life ladies.

{in no particular order... and these are people i haven't seen in a very long time... there are many whom i love}

Wine to Water

Yesterday Justine, Emily, and I had a phone interview with Doc Hendley from Wine to Water yesterday for our research on water availability in Africa. His organization is aimed at providing clean water to communities. Doc was once a bartender and had a love for the bar crowd. He dreamed of something bigger, someway he could make a difference in this world. He now is the President and Founder of Wine to Water. They host wine events to raise money for the wells and work they do around the world. As an organization that does not have government funding, they are able to avoid the red tape. They have the liberty to go to the places people will not go, make relations with the powerless, and do not mark their well with a flag. They come along side the community, use locals, and try to make their projects as sustainable as possible. I think its a beautiful thing. During our interview we heard some crazy stories such as Doc going to Peru a few weeks ago and putting in 30 wells for 1,000 dollars. Crazy! And did I mention, he dug some wells with his own hands? Ha. He also spoke of when he lived in Sudan in 2004 and 2005. He went to the places governmental organizations do not want to go, which is near the rebels. As he was driving in his truck bullets were being shot at him. He decided to go over near the rebels and talk to them. He went to them and talked to them about why he is there and told them that water is a basic right; it should not be a privilege. He fixed their wells and went on his way. If that is no BA then I don't know what is.
I want to get involved in this cause. I love the idea of hosting wine parties for a good cause and the money going towards wells, sanitation systems, and health/water education in different countries. Did you know that dirty water kills more people then HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis combined? I did not either.
More importantly, pray and act for this cause.
P.s. My part of the project is the health side of water... so beyond intriguing!

Check it out and vote for him as one of CNN's heroes for 2009.

Already Missing People

I am already missing people here in the program and it is not even over yet. How does this happen? I live with them and see them all the time. Some have asked “Is this semester truly your BEST semester,” considering that the American Studies Program is part of the Best Semester Programs (Haha, very funny). I don’t know if I have a favorite semester. My favorite semesters are always in the spring due to sunshine and no more rain, but this semester has been challenging, stretching, enlightening, fun, and a DELIGHT to be a part of. I love this place and I love the people I am with. I am the kind of person who can jump into a program, make new friends real fast, and not want to let go. Story of my life. Quick fact: according to Strengths Quest one of my strengths is “Adaptability,” which can really not be such a good thing at times because once I adapt to something that I love I do not want to leave. This last month I plan on continuing the friendships I have started, share fun and meaningful moments with others, embrace the time that I have left here, and realize that this is just a beginning to new friendships.
Cheesy? Yes. True? Definitely.

Silly Boys and the Bull. They were so pumped about the bull!

Kimi, Justine, and myself... frequent visitors of the boys room (even though its so dirty)!

Melanie, Emily, Myself, and Morgan on Halloween.

Kat, Ashley, Lauren, and Myself... 3 blind Mice Baby!

Adam, Justine, Seth, Jordan, Sarah, and myself in NYC!

Emily, Amanda, Jordan and myself on the Mall.. a little frisb with the boys. Ha.

First and only girls night out... Haha.

Little Baby Justine, the Panda, and myself over by Embassy Row.

Those are just a few of the many pictures I have of this semester... more to follow.

Thanksgiving Excitement

Thanksgiving is near... which means family is coming to town! My sister is coming next Saturday and my Mom is coming the Monday before thanksgiving. Needless to say, I am very excited!
I am excited to hug my sister, laugh with my mother, and go a little crazy. When the three of us are together... its a little out of control at times. I get to show them all around D.C., which can be exhausting, but I will do it with a joyful heart (haha, or try). It will be a lot of fun because we have a week to do it and don't have to rush anything. My favorite part about them coming is that we are going to drive down to Williamsburg, VA and staying HERE for two nights...



Um, Hello.... so pretty. My Mom scored big time with The Marriott Manor. For Thanksgiving dinner we are going to eat at one of the Historic Taverns that had the first thanksgiving dinner in 1619. I really hope we get to sit at a long table with a lot of strangers and they act out thanksgiving (I doubt it, but if they did it would be sweet). I love how my family seems to always do holidays different... and finds things like this amusing.

Ah yes.

Goal Number One

Christmas break goal number one:
Re-teach myself how to play the piano.

My heart feels as if it is going to burst with joy when my ears meet the beautiful harmony of a piano. My day is complete when I can sit and enjoy listening to someone play the piano. Whether it be at Nordstrom’s or in my living room, I love it. Growing up playing the piano and letting it go was not one of my finest choices. I need to get back to the place of where it is just me and the piano. Me and the music. Nothing else.

It is a beautiful thing when you can tune out all matters and focus on that moment, then, and there. Music flowing from your heart, to your fingers, can create an out pour of joy...

Hm, take me to this place goal number one. It’s been a good eight years.

Blue Jewel

A deep jewel within a cavern waits. She is a deep sea blue, as loyal as the waves are to the ocean. She sits there untouched. She sits there for perhaps a day, a week, a month, or so. She sits there, dust covers her, cracks start to grow, as she waits to be discovered. Only time can tell when she will be found, when her dust can be uncovered.

Discovered she does not necessarily find freedom, but brokenness. Before she can feel completely free, dust removed, she must go forth in a cleaning process. Layers of dust, hard as rock, being cleaned day after day.

This is the visual God has given me in my time of brokenness and healing with accepting my Dad’s new marriage.

For the Lord “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).

it would be sweet if Jesus came back sometime soon.


real SWEET.

adorable Davy Crockett.
picture by Allison V. Smith.

This little baby is coming to visit...

I am so excited! Em, get ready for a weekend full of tourist adventure.

This weekend will include:

-Site seeing: Capitol tourt by my friend Adam, Arlington Cemetery, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the White House

-Food and fun places: Georgetown, Ben's Chilil Bowl, maybe some Sushi in Dupont, Eastern Market

-And of course... lots of laughter and love!

True that.

Passion & Numbness

Passion does not come overnight; it is something that has been cultivated by different experiences that have deeply touched your heart. It may sound cheesy but it is true.
When I think of my passions, I think of things that I deeply love: family, missions, people, nature, travel, world issues, and culture.

I walked into my internship full of passion and ready to do anything I was asked for the sake of advancing any kind of initiative that would help refugees have a voice.
I have not strayed from this passion, but I have become a bit numb to it. I have been trying to reconcile between the fact that I feel numb to what I am doing and actually not caring.

As a human, being exposed to something too much, you can become numb. Day after day I read articles, heart break stories, go to conferences on Refugees, conferences on sexual violence/rape, and much more. All of these things had my attention in the beginning, but now I feel as if my heart and my mind are no longer digesting the information.

As a human being, whose mind cannot fully take everything in, I feel it is okay to feel this way for a short while. God is the only one who can take in ALL the information, knows it inside out, and knows what’s up. He has been and will always continue to be passionate about what is going on in this world.

Luckily I feel assured that even though I do not feel entirely passionate about what I am doing at the moment, I know this “numbness” is not forever.

Californian: Born and Raised.

True confession: If you were to ask me last year about America's culture, I would say "Ah, What Culture?" Or I may have responded by saying "Get me out of here!"

That has changed.

I am coming to realize how rich and diverse this lovely country is. Being born and raised in both Southern California andNorthern California, I have seen the West Coast side of things. I breathe it and live it.

I dream about swimming in the ocean, making peace with others, smelling the trees of the forest, going on drives on windy roads leading up to the diamonds in the sky, listening to my friends play the guitar while I soak it all in, going on hikes and enjoying life with friends, and roaming the streets of San Francisco on a sunny day.

Being in this program has made me realize how different people are... right here in my homeland, the Untied States. We have people from the West Coast, the Mid-West, the South, and a few from the East Coast. All so different. Everyone has a different story, a different background, and something different to contribute to the group. It is a beautiful thing.

It has made me realize that I have been in my "west-coast bubble" for far too long. I have explored ten different countries... yet have not explored the whole Untied States.

My new goal should be to see all 50 states... but I am not going to commit to that goal quite yet.
The states I already have down:
California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Texas (still need more of it), Florida, Washington D.C. (not a state), New York, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Stopped in New Mexico on a plane (does not really count... but I don't have much a desire to go there), Georgia (Atlanta just for a day), Hawaii, and hmm thats about it.
So 37 more to go. Woah... I have the west coast vibe down... I think I need to explore the places that are unfamiliar to me. I really need to explore Colorado during the summer, I know that. Possibly the South? Maybe the Mid-West? We shall see where this desire leads me.

Due to a friend being mugged outside of our apartment on Saturday I have been pondering a few things.

It is wrong to want security? To not have to worry about walking outside alone? Or to even suspect a girl would mug you? Is it wrong to want strong men around you all the time?

I do not think so!

A transition from the mugging situation...

I am starting to feel a bit trapped living in a city without a car and without access to hiking.

Right about now I would like to live in a town with rolling hills, a nice piece of land, and a place that is quiet. A place where I can get to the city... but a place where I am out of the city.

A place where you can see the STARS!

Hmm... yes. That is what I would like.

Hopefully Jesus will come back soon. Because heaven will so much sweeter then anything I can dream up.