we made it.
after 3 days of traveling.
Rwanda is beautiful. there are hills and trees and flowers everywhere!
i dont have much to say at the moment, which is probably good because i dont have much time on the computer.
we're staying in this beautiful compound
the people here are all so friendly and we played frisbee and soccer with some of the local kids here this morning
today we are just resting.
we went to the genocide memorial and we're not doing much else for the rest of the day
tomorrow we're going up to the school to get to know the kids and start painting.
the weather is wonderful, the people are wonderful, God is wonderful, im excited to see what happens over the next month.
ill probably have another chance to update over the next week or so
ill probably have more to talk about then.
pray for rest, we are all really tired and i especially am having trouble with jetlag lol
love you all! :)
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
wherever you are, there you will be.
its saturday.
ill be in rwanda on tuesday.
we leave for dallas tomorrow
fly out of dallas on monday morning
first stop, D.C.
second stop, Brussels.
third stop, Kigali, Rwanda.
i dont have any expectations
ive been spending money left and right on this and that to get ready for the trip.
oddly enough, spending money like this stresses me out.
ive yet to finish packing and clean out my car to drive to dallas
im excited to be in a different place
as usual, i could write many a paragraph on the last couple of days,
but instead ill make it short and sweet.
pray for our team
pray for safety
pray for patience
pray for unity
pray for understanding
pray for strength
pray for growth
pray for the gospel to excell
pray for discernment
pray for laughter
pray for obedience
pray for change
pray for encouragement
and pray for rest
we have a wonderful team going over there.
all 17 of us.
but even more importantly, we have a wonderful God that has been before us.
there will be times once or twice a week where we are able to get to a computer.
and im gunna try to update my blog a bit about whats going on.
so, if you are interested in knowing whats going on over there, stay tunned!
this summer will be good for all of us.
have a great month! :)
ill be in rwanda on tuesday.
we leave for dallas tomorrow
fly out of dallas on monday morning
first stop, D.C.
second stop, Brussels.
third stop, Kigali, Rwanda.
i dont have any expectations
ive been spending money left and right on this and that to get ready for the trip.
oddly enough, spending money like this stresses me out.
ive yet to finish packing and clean out my car to drive to dallas
im excited to be in a different place
as usual, i could write many a paragraph on the last couple of days,
but instead ill make it short and sweet.
pray for our team
pray for safety
pray for patience
pray for unity
pray for understanding
pray for strength
pray for growth
pray for the gospel to excell
pray for discernment
pray for laughter
pray for obedience
pray for change
pray for encouragement
and pray for rest
we have a wonderful team going over there.
all 17 of us.
but even more importantly, we have a wonderful God that has been before us.
there will be times once or twice a week where we are able to get to a computer.
and im gunna try to update my blog a bit about whats going on.
so, if you are interested in knowing whats going on over there, stay tunned!
this summer will be good for all of us.
have a great month! :)
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
5 more days.
tomorrow im driving to Hobbs, NM....again.
2nd time in about a week id say.
no, its been exactly a week.
i lost my shot record that i need to get into africa, so theyre gunna give me a new one.
i planned on going alone, but now i have some friendly company coming with. :)
this morning was perfect i felt like.
wow it felt so long ago.
ive been up for a while.
it was foggy and overcast and a bit chilly
and we went to meet kate for coffee and breakfast at j&b's.
love that place.
i listened to Death Cab on the way there and the song "Your New Twin Sized Bed" sounded so beautiful driving through the old houses with ivy growing down the sides of them that dot Tech Terrace on my way to coffee.
driving home from coffee, my dear roommate kat noticed a house that was redoing their windows.
we pulled over and they were just going to get rid of all these old rustic window panes,
so instead, we took these jewels of a find off of their hands.
we're going to arrange them on walls around our house next year. :)
Gabi signed my lease today,
which means i can officially live in the house on 16th with the great back yard and lots of windows and ivy.
its going to be positively perf.
we're going to have lots of tea parties and outdoor fancy dinners in our beautiful backyard when its warm outside.
and huddle around our fire pit and drink hot coccoa when it turns winter.
oh the memories the five of us will share.
sometimes i forget that ill have school.
sometimes i dream up too many wonderful ideas and forget to leave out the moments where i will have to lock myself in my room and do papers and tests and french homework
maybe that will be all i stress about this year.
school.
can i confess something extremely honest and vulnerable for a moment?
there has never been a time in the last 4 years where i have not had some potential relationship impending with a boy.
and please, in whatever way you take that, please understand that i am not bragging.
i am rejoicing, because for the first time i am not worried.
i am not concerned.
i am not anxious.
i am not in a hurry.
and i am not wanting more than God gives me each day.
although sometimes its easier to say that i live better in the reality of martha stuart and southern living magazines
where every day is lots of fruit and making a dinner for the backyard
where every evening is warm and relaxing and restful
where people stop by unexpectedly and want to have tea and talk with you
where there are always front or back porches to swing on
and plants stay green forever.
i may be at a high risk of sounding cliche, but those are the moments i live for.
when the weather is just right enough to go exploring in the forests behind my grandparents pennsylvania cottage.
when you walk outside and the sun hits your shoulders and you go get a snow cone because there 1 dollar and taste out of this world!
when its 20 degrees oustide and you bundle up and load friends, a blanket, and a thermus of hot chocolate into your car and go look at christmas lights.
God is a gracious God to give us these moments.
these moments of bure bliss where we can look around at each other and not even need to say anything and just know that we are blessed.
that we are the lucky ones.
that God has provided us with all the we need to get through anything.
and we have love.
love that we can give away and love the we can rest in.
love that will give you the strength you need to get out of bed in the morning when you literally feel like the most pathetic person in the world.
we are all enough.
we are wonderfully and perfectly made.
our quircks, our sense of humor, our insecurities, our slip ups, and our epic moments of pride
all our gifts and our all faults make us perfect.
because my definition of perfect is someone who knows that they dont have it all together and is content in letting the light shine more than the darkness.
dang. aint nothin like it. lol
(please someone reading this blog get this reference)
Goodnight. :)
2nd time in about a week id say.
no, its been exactly a week.
i lost my shot record that i need to get into africa, so theyre gunna give me a new one.
i planned on going alone, but now i have some friendly company coming with. :)
this morning was perfect i felt like.
wow it felt so long ago.
ive been up for a while.
it was foggy and overcast and a bit chilly
and we went to meet kate for coffee and breakfast at j&b's.
love that place.
i listened to Death Cab on the way there and the song "Your New Twin Sized Bed" sounded so beautiful driving through the old houses with ivy growing down the sides of them that dot Tech Terrace on my way to coffee.
driving home from coffee, my dear roommate kat noticed a house that was redoing their windows.
we pulled over and they were just going to get rid of all these old rustic window panes,
so instead, we took these jewels of a find off of their hands.
we're going to arrange them on walls around our house next year. :)
Gabi signed my lease today,
which means i can officially live in the house on 16th with the great back yard and lots of windows and ivy.
its going to be positively perf.
we're going to have lots of tea parties and outdoor fancy dinners in our beautiful backyard when its warm outside.
and huddle around our fire pit and drink hot coccoa when it turns winter.
oh the memories the five of us will share.
sometimes i forget that ill have school.
sometimes i dream up too many wonderful ideas and forget to leave out the moments where i will have to lock myself in my room and do papers and tests and french homework
maybe that will be all i stress about this year.
school.
can i confess something extremely honest and vulnerable for a moment?
there has never been a time in the last 4 years where i have not had some potential relationship impending with a boy.
and please, in whatever way you take that, please understand that i am not bragging.
i am rejoicing, because for the first time i am not worried.
i am not concerned.
i am not anxious.
i am not in a hurry.
and i am not wanting more than God gives me each day.
although sometimes its easier to say that i live better in the reality of martha stuart and southern living magazines
where every day is lots of fruit and making a dinner for the backyard
where every evening is warm and relaxing and restful
where people stop by unexpectedly and want to have tea and talk with you
where there are always front or back porches to swing on
and plants stay green forever.
i may be at a high risk of sounding cliche, but those are the moments i live for.
when the weather is just right enough to go exploring in the forests behind my grandparents pennsylvania cottage.
when you walk outside and the sun hits your shoulders and you go get a snow cone because there 1 dollar and taste out of this world!
when its 20 degrees oustide and you bundle up and load friends, a blanket, and a thermus of hot chocolate into your car and go look at christmas lights.
God is a gracious God to give us these moments.
these moments of bure bliss where we can look around at each other and not even need to say anything and just know that we are blessed.
that we are the lucky ones.
that God has provided us with all the we need to get through anything.
and we have love.
love that we can give away and love the we can rest in.
love that will give you the strength you need to get out of bed in the morning when you literally feel like the most pathetic person in the world.
we are all enough.
we are wonderfully and perfectly made.
our quircks, our sense of humor, our insecurities, our slip ups, and our epic moments of pride
all our gifts and our all faults make us perfect.
because my definition of perfect is someone who knows that they dont have it all together and is content in letting the light shine more than the darkness.
dang. aint nothin like it. lol
(please someone reading this blog get this reference)
Goodnight. :)
Monday, May 4, 2009
Genesis
i leave for rwanda in a week
i have 3 empty jars on my desk that i cant figure out what to fill with.
i am welcome to ideas.
i feel like im living right now.
i mean duh, im living right now.
but i just feel like a lot is happening right now.
it was a wonderful day today for a bunch of people.
me and Kate had a moment in the car this afternoon on the way home from dinner i think it was.
we were reflecting on the year and where things had taken us,
and where we were right then.
and it became very clear to me that we had started all over again.
from the beginning.
we were exactly where we were at the beginning of the school year.
it was a funny feeling.
i was a clean slate.
everything that was for both of us had come and gone.
our lives had their own seasons that peaked and fell and then leveled off.
im glad for a lot of things
im changing so much
maybe you wont have the same problem that i will
i think that it is not a competition
i am not less okay because we are not in the same spot
i think where i am and how i feel are incredibly appropriate.
and like wise for you.
worrying is like telling God that he can't handle the future.
i have 3 empty jars on my desk that i cant figure out what to fill with.
i am welcome to ideas.
i feel like im living right now.
i mean duh, im living right now.
but i just feel like a lot is happening right now.
it was a wonderful day today for a bunch of people.
me and Kate had a moment in the car this afternoon on the way home from dinner i think it was.
we were reflecting on the year and where things had taken us,
and where we were right then.
and it became very clear to me that we had started all over again.
from the beginning.
we were exactly where we were at the beginning of the school year.
it was a funny feeling.
i was a clean slate.
everything that was for both of us had come and gone.
our lives had their own seasons that peaked and fell and then leveled off.
im glad for a lot of things
im changing so much
maybe you wont have the same problem that i will
i think that it is not a competition
i am not less okay because we are not in the same spot
i think where i am and how i feel are incredibly appropriate.
and like wise for you.
worrying is like telling God that he can't handle the future.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
TODAY!
how can i be expected to study in the state i am in.
there should be a rule where i can pull the "dreaming" card.
how can i be expected to worry about silly physical anthropology!!!!
let me give you a glimpse of my situation (forgive me if its "scatter-ish"):
the day is overcast and im sitting at j&b's with some of the besties.
they are all "studying" too.
im listening to Cloud Cult and dreaming of ways God could want to use me.
im a social work major and 20 and completely unsure of where ill be in 2 or 3 years.
im studying for my social work final and im reading about settlement houses.
and all i can think about is the community called the Simple Way that Shane Claiborn writes about in Irresistable Revolution and how badly i want to fall into play with that in the quickest way possible.
i want to intern there.
i want to be in community and love Jesus with those people.
i want to be a part of what Jesus is doing there.
gah its so great!
go to http://www.thesimpleway.org/
its so real and organic and natural and refreshing the way these people live to love and to serve.
could this be what you want for me Jesus?
one day last year i walked into a book store looking for something to read and that was the first one that caught my eye
i read it and it changed my love for Jesus in such a real way
was this your plan Jesus?
You have changed my heart so greatly since then.
is it silly to think i may believe that picking up that book last year was Gods first bit of revealing His plan for me?
no. i do not think it is. lol
i want to play under fire hydrants with inner city children!
and help them with their homework!
and plant a huge garden!
and use re-usable resources!
and think of new and creative ideas to raise awareness for, and practice social justice in my life and the lifes of others!!!
YEA YEA YEA!!!
there should be a rule where i can pull the "dreaming" card.
how can i be expected to worry about silly physical anthropology!!!!
let me give you a glimpse of my situation (forgive me if its "scatter-ish"):
the day is overcast and im sitting at j&b's with some of the besties.
they are all "studying" too.
im listening to Cloud Cult and dreaming of ways God could want to use me.
im a social work major and 20 and completely unsure of where ill be in 2 or 3 years.
im studying for my social work final and im reading about settlement houses.
and all i can think about is the community called the Simple Way that Shane Claiborn writes about in Irresistable Revolution and how badly i want to fall into play with that in the quickest way possible.
i want to intern there.
i want to be in community and love Jesus with those people.
i want to be a part of what Jesus is doing there.
gah its so great!
go to http://www.thesimpleway.org/
its so real and organic and natural and refreshing the way these people live to love and to serve.
could this be what you want for me Jesus?
one day last year i walked into a book store looking for something to read and that was the first one that caught my eye
i read it and it changed my love for Jesus in such a real way
was this your plan Jesus?
You have changed my heart so greatly since then.
is it silly to think i may believe that picking up that book last year was Gods first bit of revealing His plan for me?
no. i do not think it is. lol
i want to play under fire hydrants with inner city children!
and help them with their homework!
and plant a huge garden!
and use re-usable resources!
and think of new and creative ideas to raise awareness for, and practice social justice in my life and the lifes of others!!!
YEA YEA YEA!!!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
the answers are really quite simple.
im 20.
but im still an immature child sometimes
i still giggle at farts and laugh at the word butthole and play silly pranks on people.
and thats okay with me.
sometimes i like to feel like im so mature
sometimes i want people to feel like im so mature
but the fact of the matter is mostly im not a lot
and mostly, i think im proud of that.
if i can stay blissful and joyful like a child
and have tea parties in backyards
and hang upside down from swingsets
and build sandcastles at the beach
and play dress up in front of the mirror
and climb trees
and laugh at the occassional toot,
then i think im doing alright.
i think sometimes the answer to our problems is to take ourselves a lot less seriously.
and if that doesnt work...go buy a slip and slide, some lemonade, some G. Love, and a baby pool and throw a party in your backyard.
but im still an immature child sometimes
i still giggle at farts and laugh at the word butthole and play silly pranks on people.
and thats okay with me.
sometimes i like to feel like im so mature
sometimes i want people to feel like im so mature
but the fact of the matter is mostly im not a lot
and mostly, i think im proud of that.
if i can stay blissful and joyful like a child
and have tea parties in backyards
and hang upside down from swingsets
and build sandcastles at the beach
and play dress up in front of the mirror
and climb trees
and laugh at the occassional toot,
then i think im doing alright.
i think sometimes the answer to our problems is to take ourselves a lot less seriously.
and if that doesnt work...go buy a slip and slide, some lemonade, some G. Love, and a baby pool and throw a party in your backyard.
startin the mornin off riiiggghhtt.
i want G. Love to write a song about me
my baby got sauce
your baby aint sweet like mine
alright?
today was brill :)
2 months.
is that silly?
things that help:
1. my strong and loving savior named Jesus.
2. night times on balconies with friends
3. sarcasm
4. new music
5. free clothes from lindsays closet
6. the house on 16th street
-ivy
-honneysuckle
-sharing an alley with kate and lindsay
-potential grandparents next door with an indoor pool
-a fire place that promises warm nights with warm people
7. those people
8. not having you around.
9. Gods provision and getting 300 dollars for rwanda today!!
10. having no potential interest in anyone
-really this helps a great deal.
-not caring=not worrying=not hurting.
11. my mom loving me
12. people listening to me
13. art projects
14. sabrina ward harrisson
15. reading about other people being in love
16. summer trips and summer friends
17. lots of fruit
18. new dresses
it feels so much like summer
i feel normal most of the time
i feel emo sometimes
i feel like im getting old faster
ive stopped dressing up when i know youre going to be somewhere
a lot of my plans have changed
i am waiting on God for my next move
i still miss my best friend
but i know you're not around anymore
ive accepted a lot
im gunna be here an extra year
ryan adams is making my life.
i feel like i could write a book of poems
or just make a bunch of lists
but i dont want to be annoying
or over dramatic
but sometimes i feel like im ready for someone new to romance me
but then im immediately reminded of how unfair that would be to put someone else in that situation
and how unhappy that would make me.
eeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhh doesnt matter.
what does matter?
1. i have an exam tomorrow
2 i leave for rwanda in a week and 3 days
3. God is faithful to me and deserves more of my time
4. im getting over tonsillitis far quicker than i could have predicted
5. im sleeping much better
6. i got 2 dresses, a skirt, a shirt, a bra, and one stellar headband for free today!
7. the more and more i fall deeper into the one who loves my soul beyond compare, the less i worry about the man who will be my second.
8. i still dont know what i want to do with my life (although, i suppose that isnt quite that important)
why worry?
life will happen
ill get overwhelmed and upset
and go over to kates apartment and throw oranges off the balcony and rip pages out from phone books
ill purposefully put on sad music and lay in my bed and cry
ill be unnecissarilly pathetic sometimes
but honestly, this too, along with everything else shall pass.
be sad.
be pissed off
be angry
be confused
but dont worry
lifes gunna happen whether you like it or not
we are children of the Lord :)
2 months.
is that silly?
things that help:
1. my strong and loving savior named Jesus.
2. night times on balconies with friends
3. sarcasm
4. new music
5. free clothes from lindsays closet
6. the house on 16th street
-ivy
-honneysuckle
-sharing an alley with kate and lindsay
-potential grandparents next door with an indoor pool
-a fire place that promises warm nights with warm people
7. those people
8. not having you around.
9. Gods provision and getting 300 dollars for rwanda today!!
10. having no potential interest in anyone
-really this helps a great deal.
-not caring=not worrying=not hurting.
11. my mom loving me
12. people listening to me
13. art projects
14. sabrina ward harrisson
15. reading about other people being in love
16. summer trips and summer friends
17. lots of fruit
18. new dresses
it feels so much like summer
i feel normal most of the time
i feel emo sometimes
i feel like im getting old faster
ive stopped dressing up when i know youre going to be somewhere
a lot of my plans have changed
i am waiting on God for my next move
i still miss my best friend
but i know you're not around anymore
ive accepted a lot
im gunna be here an extra year
ryan adams is making my life.
i feel like i could write a book of poems
or just make a bunch of lists
but i dont want to be annoying
or over dramatic
but sometimes i feel like im ready for someone new to romance me
but then im immediately reminded of how unfair that would be to put someone else in that situation
and how unhappy that would make me.
eeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhh doesnt matter.
what does matter?
1. i have an exam tomorrow
2 i leave for rwanda in a week and 3 days
3. God is faithful to me and deserves more of my time
4. im getting over tonsillitis far quicker than i could have predicted
5. im sleeping much better
6. i got 2 dresses, a skirt, a shirt, a bra, and one stellar headband for free today!
7. the more and more i fall deeper into the one who loves my soul beyond compare, the less i worry about the man who will be my second.
8. i still dont know what i want to do with my life (although, i suppose that isnt quite that important)
why worry?
life will happen
ill get overwhelmed and upset
and go over to kates apartment and throw oranges off the balcony and rip pages out from phone books
ill purposefully put on sad music and lay in my bed and cry
ill be unnecissarilly pathetic sometimes
but honestly, this too, along with everything else shall pass.
be sad.
be pissed off
be angry
be confused
but dont worry
lifes gunna happen whether you like it or not
we are children of the Lord :)
Friday, May 1, 2009
this is what i see.
next year:
a pallet of blankets in front of the fireplace, roasting marsh mellows, sufjan stevens on vinyl, lots of friends, and lots of laughing late into the night.
this will be in my near future.
thank God for the house on 16th street.
a pallet of blankets in front of the fireplace, roasting marsh mellows, sufjan stevens on vinyl, lots of friends, and lots of laughing late into the night.
this will be in my near future.
thank God for the house on 16th street.
Hi, my name is emo, but you can call me Rachel.
these memories are the closest thing i have to black and white photos of people who used to be around.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
