Peace Corps volunteers have 3 goals. I won't go into it too much, but today I want to talk about the third goal. The third goal is teaching American's about our host country. While I was in Thailand I had many people that I wrote letters to and I had a blog that I sent to people's e-mail addresses instead of a public one like this. I also wrote letters to several classrooms and had classroom exchanges with some where the students were pen pals back and forth.
It was always so much fun to see my student's excitement when they got letters from their pen pals. My students couldn't read them on their own, so I would spend a class period with the students gathered at my feet to hear their letters read and we would translate them together as a class. THEY LOVED IT!!!!!!!
Apparently, so did the classes in America. Yesterday I had the chance to go and speak to a class near where I live that wrote back and forth to me. I dressed in my Northern Thai outfit and headed to the school. It was so much fun to be able to share my experience and to see their excitement as they looked and held things from Thailand and were able to ask me questions.
Last night I got in the car and drove 2 hours to Allegan to spend the night with my uncle. This morning I got up and headed to the school where he's the principle and had the opportunity to talk to two classes at the school. One of which had been pen pals with my fifth grade class. Both classes were such good listeners and had a lot of good questions.
I feel very fortunate to be able to talk to groups, especially students. I'm able to share with them that the children in Thailand are kids just like they are. I enjoy questions like do they have video games? Do they play? Do you eat bugs? I enjoy the surprised look on their faces when I talk about eating ice cream, oreos, that yes, Thailand does have McDonalds in the big cities and they also have KFC, Dairy Queen and Auntie Annes. Sure, there are differences, but kids are kids no matter where you are and what you do.
So, I welcome you to ask me questions about Thailand. I welcome any and all questions. Some people have said that my filter is broken... OOPS. Sit down with me, invite me to talk to a group. I would love to share my experiences and what God has taught me and done through me. I haven't gotten to this point on my own. It is only through the strength given me by my Father and the encouragement I have received from friends and family.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Saturday, May 18, 2013
The Princess Mows the Lawn
What girl doesn't think of themselves as a princess from time to time??? This girl definitely does. You know, as a daughter of the King of Kings I am a princess. However, when I went to Thailand I lived the life of a princess in a whole new way. Only when I came home did I realize how much I really was treated as a princess while I was there. I never had to think of when I would eat my next meal or where it would come from because it always showed up (oftentimes before I was really ready for a meal). If I wanted something all I had to do was ask. It was scary how many times I would think about something I wanted for a snack or for dinner and I wouldn't even tell anyone and within a day my host mom would have mysteriously read my mind and it would appear. Living with my host family I didn't have to do any house or yard work, it was all done for me. (The first year they cleaned my room every time I left until one time they moved EVERYTHING around and I told them not to go in my room anymore). I did do my own laundry and cleaned and maintained my bike. I sent my own letters and bought my own bus tickets. However, I really didn't ever have to worry about anything. About once a week one of my teachers would give me a present just because they saw something and wanted to buy it for me. When I bought ice cream at my school the students gave me extra because they loved me and the teacher had told them they could. They always looked out for me, if it was raining hard or if I was sick they had someone with a truck drive me and my bike home(thankfully that only happened 2 or 3 times). If my students saw me carrying a few bags they would run and take them from me and carry them to my house. There were constantly people wanting to spend time with me. I had students over each evening, after supper my mom and I sat on the porch and we talked until I went to my room at 8. I really became a princess without realizing it.
Lets just say this princess has had a few rude awakenings since being home. I think I mentioned once about how technology drives me crazy because people don't have time for each other and don't know how to have personal relationships anymore. No one fixes my every meal or anticipates when I'm hungry (Ok, that one is kind of nice because I can choose what I want to eat and even get to make some things!!!!!!!!!!).
Today though I had to laugh. I got some stuff done on the computer this morning, then I took a bath and washed my hair with my new apple shampoo I bought yesterday. I was so excited. I have always loved getting the apple shampoo because it reminds me of childhood and I like to use it a few times a week just to change things up and have a new scent. Then, this afternoon my parents said we needed to help get ready for Casey's open house. So, I went outside to help my brothers. They were digging up sod to put rocks in around the house. They were using both shovels and well that's not really my cup of tea. So, they suggested I mow the lawn. This princess has never set foot on the lawnmower in her 25 years living on this earth. So, Zach gives me a crash course and laughs at me as I can barely push the pedal to make it go backwards down. He shows me a few things and off I went. I did one of the side yards and then he set me to work on the other one, showing me the path I should start along.
As I was mowing I was laughing to myself how it would make a great children's book, The Princess Who Mowed the Lawn. Or something like that. In the book it would teach kids that while they may be the princess(or prince) some of the time there are other times where it's important to help the family get things done. I hate to admit it but it really wasn't that bad. I imagine if my dad doesn't look too closely and see all the places that I missed little strips as I was learning to turn the corners and fire me I could do it more throughout the summer to help them out. It probably won't become my favorite job, but its something that isn't intolerable and would really help out my dad. Sure, this princess didn't attempt the tricky spots and just stayed in the big areas but I would say its pretty good for my first attempt :) So, we'll see what other jobs they come up for this princess to do before Casey's big open house in 2 weeks. Who knows, this princess just might learn more new skills, or re-learn ones she had forgotten she had as she was playing the part of a Thai princess.
Lets just say this princess has had a few rude awakenings since being home. I think I mentioned once about how technology drives me crazy because people don't have time for each other and don't know how to have personal relationships anymore. No one fixes my every meal or anticipates when I'm hungry (Ok, that one is kind of nice because I can choose what I want to eat and even get to make some things!!!!!!!!!!).
Today though I had to laugh. I got some stuff done on the computer this morning, then I took a bath and washed my hair with my new apple shampoo I bought yesterday. I was so excited. I have always loved getting the apple shampoo because it reminds me of childhood and I like to use it a few times a week just to change things up and have a new scent. Then, this afternoon my parents said we needed to help get ready for Casey's open house. So, I went outside to help my brothers. They were digging up sod to put rocks in around the house. They were using both shovels and well that's not really my cup of tea. So, they suggested I mow the lawn. This princess has never set foot on the lawnmower in her 25 years living on this earth. So, Zach gives me a crash course and laughs at me as I can barely push the pedal to make it go backwards down. He shows me a few things and off I went. I did one of the side yards and then he set me to work on the other one, showing me the path I should start along.
As I was mowing I was laughing to myself how it would make a great children's book, The Princess Who Mowed the Lawn. Or something like that. In the book it would teach kids that while they may be the princess(or prince) some of the time there are other times where it's important to help the family get things done. I hate to admit it but it really wasn't that bad. I imagine if my dad doesn't look too closely and see all the places that I missed little strips as I was learning to turn the corners and fire me I could do it more throughout the summer to help them out. It probably won't become my favorite job, but its something that isn't intolerable and would really help out my dad. Sure, this princess didn't attempt the tricky spots and just stayed in the big areas but I would say its pretty good for my first attempt :) So, we'll see what other jobs they come up for this princess to do before Casey's big open house in 2 weeks. Who knows, this princess just might learn more new skills, or re-learn ones she had forgotten she had as she was playing the part of a Thai princess.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
An Afternoon at the Park
I've been wanting to go to the park since the weather started getting nice. However, it is frowned upon to go to the park and then start playing with other peoples children who are already there. So, I had a dilemma until I realized the perfect plan, BORROW CHILDREN to take to the park. Before I went to Thailand I had a little 3 year old who was my best friend and it was hard to say good-by to her and her family. However, while I was in Thailand the family wrote me cards almost monthly. I am super blessed to have them in my life, so I wanted to bless them a little bit. I messaged the mom a few days ago and asked if I could borrow their children and take them to the park. We decided I would take the 2 older children while the baby was taking a nap so the mom would have some time to herself and I would have some time to play at the park with the others.
Today was the day. I picked up the children and we got their car seats in my car. We went to three parks and then to get ice cream before I took them home. It was a wonderful afternoon. I have really missed spending time with children and it was so much fun to spend a day listening to and playing along with a child's creativity. I think sometimes we get so wrapped up into our own lives we forget to take time to play and imagine and create with childlike thinking. I truly was blessed to spend time with them this afternoon. I hope that in my life I will never get too busy to take time to spend an afternoon in a child's company once in awhile.
Today was the day. I picked up the children and we got their car seats in my car. We went to three parks and then to get ice cream before I took them home. It was a wonderful afternoon. I have really missed spending time with children and it was so much fun to spend a day listening to and playing along with a child's creativity. I think sometimes we get so wrapped up into our own lives we forget to take time to play and imagine and create with childlike thinking. I truly was blessed to spend time with them this afternoon. I hope that in my life I will never get too busy to take time to spend an afternoon in a child's company once in awhile.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Why is the church discontent with my singleness???
Dear church,
I love you to pieces and am so so so grateful for all of the support and love you've given me over the years. You raised me and watched me grow up, you sent me to college and welcomed me home summers and weekends. You've let me work with your children and youth. You prayed for me and sent cards and e-mails while I was in Thailand. However, through that all I have one question for you: Why are you discontent with my singleness???
I'll be the first to admit I never imagined myself at 25 and still single. However, this is what God has called me to at this time in my life. You tell me you are proud of me for what I'm doing and what I've done. I can only do what I'm doing at this point in my life because of my singleness. I don't have another person to worry about and another life to plan around, so I'm able to put that time and energy into things that God is calling me to do. However, that doesn't stop you from sending me names of eligible bachelors, or telling me of your sons, grandsons, co-workers, friends of friends, etc... that you are just certain will be THE ONE for me. I appreciate the help really, but let me give you a glimpse of my heart, the heart of other single people and what you are telling us when you are uncomfortable with our singleness.
I was talking to another single never been dated Christian just the other day and we agreed on so many points and had similar stories of things people in the church have said/done about our singleness. So, on behalf of the people like me that God has called to be single for a time to serve Him I'm writing this.
1. This is 2013, not 1950. In case you haven't noticed, times have changed. When you graduated at 18 it wasn't expected that you go to college and get a job to be able to support yourself before getting married like it is today. The average age that people get married at has gone up significantly over the years.
2. Have you looked at the divorce rates lately??? I haven't, but I know they are high both in and out of the church. Speaking for the divorce rate in the church could it be that high because the parents and grandparents are pushing their children to find THE ONE and get married by the time they are out of college. I can't tell you the number of times I have received comments such as such a pretty young Christian girl and still single, you would think someone would have snatched you up by now... Am I like a fish in the river waiting for an Eagle to come down and grab me and say "You're the one?"
3. I've had to work hard to find contentment in being single. Do you really think this is something I chose for myself??? One of my greatest desires is to get married and have a family. Anyone who really knows me will know this. So, do you think it comes easy to be content with the assignment of singleness for a few years to serve God? This is the result of HOURS and HOURS of praying and submission to my Father. I don't understand it anymore than you do. However, I do know that God asked me to be content being single till I'm 30 and to use this time for Him to serve His children here and overseas. Does that mean I'll be single till I'm 30? Maybe, maybe not. However, I have a promise to God to be content until then. As I said, this contentedness doesn't come easy, it is a daily struggle that is only made worse when good meaning people ask about it or try to set me up with someone.
4. Young single people have so much more time to serve God than people who are dating or married. When you are dating or married, you have a commitment to that other person to spend time with them, to do things with them, and then once you have children your time to give to others is even further diminished. I'm able to take that extra time and invest it in people. When I was in college I was able to invest my time in His House, on the welcome team, and leading lifegroups and spending time with people. Then, I was able to give 27 months to the Peace Corps and loving on the kids in my village. Now, I'm able to take 6 months off to refresh myself and volunteer doing different things for the church, and spend time with different people investing in their lives. Then, come September I'll move back to Thailand and teach at a Christian school and invest in the lives of refugees and children in poverty. Being single for a few more years seems like a small price to pay for the time and energy I'm able to put into investing in others. Can you be happy for me that I have the opportunity to do these things??? Imagine, the impact we could have on the community and world if we encouraged our young people to spend a few years single serving God before tying the knot. I think it would be incredible and the world wouldn't know what hit them.
5. Someone else pointed this one out to me. Look at Jesus, Paul and Mother Teresa. If I thought of it I could come up with more to add to the list, but what do they all have in common??? Yup, they were single and were able to use their lives to serve others and put others first for God. I hope that it doesn't become a lifelong thing for me, but if it does, those are great people to follow after.
6. Who do you want to be role models for your children??? Someone who is honoring God through singleness or someone who changes their significant other more often than they change the oil in their car??? I know what I would choose, but I guess that ones up to you.
I could keep going, I have many many more points I could share, but I think you understand by now. Your discontentedness with singles being in the church doesn't really make sense. Do you want to set the youth of the church up for failure or success in relationships??? I know these extra years I've had to be single have taught me so much about myself and the world around me. I'm a different person and I'm looking for a different type of man to marry now than I was when I was 18. I've grown up and my relationship with God has only become stronger in this time because I've had to depend on Him more and more as I've gone through and experienced the things I have over the years. I wouldn't give up any of it because I know I'm following His path and that He has plans for my life.
If you want to know what you can do for myself and other single members of the church here is a life of suggestions:
I love you to pieces and am so so so grateful for all of the support and love you've given me over the years. You raised me and watched me grow up, you sent me to college and welcomed me home summers and weekends. You've let me work with your children and youth. You prayed for me and sent cards and e-mails while I was in Thailand. However, through that all I have one question for you: Why are you discontent with my singleness???
I'll be the first to admit I never imagined myself at 25 and still single. However, this is what God has called me to at this time in my life. You tell me you are proud of me for what I'm doing and what I've done. I can only do what I'm doing at this point in my life because of my singleness. I don't have another person to worry about and another life to plan around, so I'm able to put that time and energy into things that God is calling me to do. However, that doesn't stop you from sending me names of eligible bachelors, or telling me of your sons, grandsons, co-workers, friends of friends, etc... that you are just certain will be THE ONE for me. I appreciate the help really, but let me give you a glimpse of my heart, the heart of other single people and what you are telling us when you are uncomfortable with our singleness.
I was talking to another single never been dated Christian just the other day and we agreed on so many points and had similar stories of things people in the church have said/done about our singleness. So, on behalf of the people like me that God has called to be single for a time to serve Him I'm writing this.
1. This is 2013, not 1950. In case you haven't noticed, times have changed. When you graduated at 18 it wasn't expected that you go to college and get a job to be able to support yourself before getting married like it is today. The average age that people get married at has gone up significantly over the years.
2. Have you looked at the divorce rates lately??? I haven't, but I know they are high both in and out of the church. Speaking for the divorce rate in the church could it be that high because the parents and grandparents are pushing their children to find THE ONE and get married by the time they are out of college. I can't tell you the number of times I have received comments such as such a pretty young Christian girl and still single, you would think someone would have snatched you up by now... Am I like a fish in the river waiting for an Eagle to come down and grab me and say "You're the one?"
3. I've had to work hard to find contentment in being single. Do you really think this is something I chose for myself??? One of my greatest desires is to get married and have a family. Anyone who really knows me will know this. So, do you think it comes easy to be content with the assignment of singleness for a few years to serve God? This is the result of HOURS and HOURS of praying and submission to my Father. I don't understand it anymore than you do. However, I do know that God asked me to be content being single till I'm 30 and to use this time for Him to serve His children here and overseas. Does that mean I'll be single till I'm 30? Maybe, maybe not. However, I have a promise to God to be content until then. As I said, this contentedness doesn't come easy, it is a daily struggle that is only made worse when good meaning people ask about it or try to set me up with someone.
4. Young single people have so much more time to serve God than people who are dating or married. When you are dating or married, you have a commitment to that other person to spend time with them, to do things with them, and then once you have children your time to give to others is even further diminished. I'm able to take that extra time and invest it in people. When I was in college I was able to invest my time in His House, on the welcome team, and leading lifegroups and spending time with people. Then, I was able to give 27 months to the Peace Corps and loving on the kids in my village. Now, I'm able to take 6 months off to refresh myself and volunteer doing different things for the church, and spend time with different people investing in their lives. Then, come September I'll move back to Thailand and teach at a Christian school and invest in the lives of refugees and children in poverty. Being single for a few more years seems like a small price to pay for the time and energy I'm able to put into investing in others. Can you be happy for me that I have the opportunity to do these things??? Imagine, the impact we could have on the community and world if we encouraged our young people to spend a few years single serving God before tying the knot. I think it would be incredible and the world wouldn't know what hit them.
5. Someone else pointed this one out to me. Look at Jesus, Paul and Mother Teresa. If I thought of it I could come up with more to add to the list, but what do they all have in common??? Yup, they were single and were able to use their lives to serve others and put others first for God. I hope that it doesn't become a lifelong thing for me, but if it does, those are great people to follow after.
6. Who do you want to be role models for your children??? Someone who is honoring God through singleness or someone who changes their significant other more often than they change the oil in their car??? I know what I would choose, but I guess that ones up to you.
I could keep going, I have many many more points I could share, but I think you understand by now. Your discontentedness with singles being in the church doesn't really make sense. Do you want to set the youth of the church up for failure or success in relationships??? I know these extra years I've had to be single have taught me so much about myself and the world around me. I'm a different person and I'm looking for a different type of man to marry now than I was when I was 18. I've grown up and my relationship with God has only become stronger in this time because I've had to depend on Him more and more as I've gone through and experienced the things I have over the years. I wouldn't give up any of it because I know I'm following His path and that He has plans for my life.
If you want to know what you can do for myself and other single members of the church here is a life of suggestions:
- pray for us and our someday spouses as we are using this time to serve God until we meet
- encourage us
- ask us to do things, we have lots of time that we can use to bless others
- singleness isn't contagious, don't treat us like it is
- don't try to set us up with every single person of the opposite sex you know, allow God to do the matchmaking in His timing
- love us for who we are where we are
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Where are your eyes?
Yesterday I went to Ludington State Park to have orientation for being a lighthouse keeper in August.
I had to wake up and be on the road by 6 and drive over there, arriving before 8:30. The morning was full of learning about the organization, procedures, a little CPR/First Aid training, and then question and answer time.
They provided lunch, and then we car pooled back to the Big Sable Lighthouse. We were able to tour the keepers quarters, shop in the giftshop and climb to the top of the lighthouse. As I was let in to climb the tower there was a girl who works for the organization. The guy who let me in said she was afraid of heights and I should help her. So, just meeting for the first time I encouraged her that she could do it. As we began the climb it became obvious that she had a severe fear of heights and kept wanting to look down. I looked and right above the handrail was a painted black line the whole way up where it was separating 2 colors of paint. I told her to keep her eye on the black line and she wouldn't be as tempted to look down. We made it to the half way point and she was excited. I reminded her to keep her eyes on teh black line. We climbed another flight and she declared it was the farthest she had ever made it at that lighthouse. She was a little scared, but I reminded her to keep her eyes on the black line. Another flight or two later and we were on a level that had a solid bottom and not the grate that you can see through. She was able to look down and see solid ground below her and with a little more encouragement from me and the others around us she climbed the last flight of steps and made it to the top of Big Sable for the first time ever. I went out and walked around the top of the light while she moved opposite the door to outside and literally clung to the wall. Another woman found stickers that said I climbed to the top of Big Sable and started handing them out. A man who also had a fear of heights and knew the work it took for the girl to make it to the top and what an accomplishment it was told the lady to give the girl one with the back still on it for a scrapbook or just to keep. On the way back down, she turned around and went down backwards with her eyes to the top. Slowly but surely she made it to the bottom. As we came out into the giftshop the guy who told me to help her asked if she made it to the top. With a proud smile on her face she said she had and that she couldn't have done it without me and the reminders to keep her eyes on the black line.
After climbing the tower they split up into groups based on which of the 4 lights the people would be working at. I stayed at Big Sable because that is where I'm assigned to volunteer. We got a more in depth tour and watched a video we will show and were told some more of what we would be expected to do. They drove us back out to our cars and I headed home.
I had taken my sticker off and put it on the steering wheel of my car. As I was driving it caught my eye and I thought about the girl I had helped climb to the top of the lighthouse. The only way she was able to make it to the top was by keeping her eyes up and watching the line. Had she looked down she would have gotten scared and quit like she had all the other times she had tried to climb it. I think that is similar to my life as a Christian. As long as I keep my eyes on Jesus and have people in my life to remind me and encourage me in my walk with him, I'm fine. However, when I forget He is there to help me and has brought me this far, I look down it gets scary. Like most children growing up I had a plan, even into high school and college I thought I knew where my life was going. You know, go to college, meet a boy, graduate, get a job, get married, teach a few years, have kids stay home and raise them, then go back to work when the baby goes to school. That is a good plan, and it is one that many people will live out(or something similar to that). However, it wasn't the plan that God has for my life. Instead, he has me on this incredible journey. I went to college and graduated debt free because he provided. I joined the Peace Corps and had a successful 2 years of service in Thailand. I loved it so much that I'm planning to go back in September. I have been given 6 months to be home. I didn't think I would get a job while I'm home, and yet he provided one out of the blue that for right now I'm working 40 hours a week. Since I've been home I've had constant reminders of people who have been praying for me and I'm so blessed to have them in my life encouraging me on this path I never thought I would be on.
If I take my eyes off Jesus and look down life could get scary. I'm 25, single, working a part-time job until I go to work in Thailand where I will earn a Thai volunteer size income. However, if I keep my eyes on Him I realize all that I have, an amazing support system, the opportunity of a lifetime to love on children who may never have never experienced love before. I'm debt free and have money in the bank "just in case." I can afford to be generous with my time and money and invest in people's lives. I know God has a plan for my life even though I'm not sure what it is right now. If I look down I'll realize that I'm a long ways from where I was expecting to be at this time in my life. However, I'm a lot closer to Him and if I keep my eyes on Him maybe, just maybe someday I'll reach the place He has planned for me and it will be thousands of times better than where I was headed on my own.
Today I ask you, Where are your eyes? Are they looking up or down? Are you going to make it to where he has planned for you or are you going to settle for your own plans? I hope that you aim for His plans, that you will feel the joy and accomplishment of following Him like the girl who made it to the top of the lighthouse yesterday.
I had to wake up and be on the road by 6 and drive over there, arriving before 8:30. The morning was full of learning about the organization, procedures, a little CPR/First Aid training, and then question and answer time.
They provided lunch, and then we car pooled back to the Big Sable Lighthouse. We were able to tour the keepers quarters, shop in the giftshop and climb to the top of the lighthouse. As I was let in to climb the tower there was a girl who works for the organization. The guy who let me in said she was afraid of heights and I should help her. So, just meeting for the first time I encouraged her that she could do it. As we began the climb it became obvious that she had a severe fear of heights and kept wanting to look down. I looked and right above the handrail was a painted black line the whole way up where it was separating 2 colors of paint. I told her to keep her eye on the black line and she wouldn't be as tempted to look down. We made it to the half way point and she was excited. I reminded her to keep her eyes on teh black line. We climbed another flight and she declared it was the farthest she had ever made it at that lighthouse. She was a little scared, but I reminded her to keep her eyes on the black line. Another flight or two later and we were on a level that had a solid bottom and not the grate that you can see through. She was able to look down and see solid ground below her and with a little more encouragement from me and the others around us she climbed the last flight of steps and made it to the top of Big Sable for the first time ever. I went out and walked around the top of the light while she moved opposite the door to outside and literally clung to the wall. Another woman found stickers that said I climbed to the top of Big Sable and started handing them out. A man who also had a fear of heights and knew the work it took for the girl to make it to the top and what an accomplishment it was told the lady to give the girl one with the back still on it for a scrapbook or just to keep. On the way back down, she turned around and went down backwards with her eyes to the top. Slowly but surely she made it to the bottom. As we came out into the giftshop the guy who told me to help her asked if she made it to the top. With a proud smile on her face she said she had and that she couldn't have done it without me and the reminders to keep her eyes on the black line.
After climbing the tower they split up into groups based on which of the 4 lights the people would be working at. I stayed at Big Sable because that is where I'm assigned to volunteer. We got a more in depth tour and watched a video we will show and were told some more of what we would be expected to do. They drove us back out to our cars and I headed home.
I had taken my sticker off and put it on the steering wheel of my car. As I was driving it caught my eye and I thought about the girl I had helped climb to the top of the lighthouse. The only way she was able to make it to the top was by keeping her eyes up and watching the line. Had she looked down she would have gotten scared and quit like she had all the other times she had tried to climb it. I think that is similar to my life as a Christian. As long as I keep my eyes on Jesus and have people in my life to remind me and encourage me in my walk with him, I'm fine. However, when I forget He is there to help me and has brought me this far, I look down it gets scary. Like most children growing up I had a plan, even into high school and college I thought I knew where my life was going. You know, go to college, meet a boy, graduate, get a job, get married, teach a few years, have kids stay home and raise them, then go back to work when the baby goes to school. That is a good plan, and it is one that many people will live out(or something similar to that). However, it wasn't the plan that God has for my life. Instead, he has me on this incredible journey. I went to college and graduated debt free because he provided. I joined the Peace Corps and had a successful 2 years of service in Thailand. I loved it so much that I'm planning to go back in September. I have been given 6 months to be home. I didn't think I would get a job while I'm home, and yet he provided one out of the blue that for right now I'm working 40 hours a week. Since I've been home I've had constant reminders of people who have been praying for me and I'm so blessed to have them in my life encouraging me on this path I never thought I would be on.
If I take my eyes off Jesus and look down life could get scary. I'm 25, single, working a part-time job until I go to work in Thailand where I will earn a Thai volunteer size income. However, if I keep my eyes on Him I realize all that I have, an amazing support system, the opportunity of a lifetime to love on children who may never have never experienced love before. I'm debt free and have money in the bank "just in case." I can afford to be generous with my time and money and invest in people's lives. I know God has a plan for my life even though I'm not sure what it is right now. If I look down I'll realize that I'm a long ways from where I was expecting to be at this time in my life. However, I'm a lot closer to Him and if I keep my eyes on Him maybe, just maybe someday I'll reach the place He has planned for me and it will be thousands of times better than where I was headed on my own.
Today I ask you, Where are your eyes? Are they looking up or down? Are you going to make it to where he has planned for you or are you going to settle for your own plans? I hope that you aim for His plans, that you will feel the joy and accomplishment of following Him like the girl who made it to the top of the lighthouse yesterday.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
It's Time
I've been home for three and a half weeks now. I kept telling myself I need to start a blog. However, I was busy spending time with family and friends. Then, I sat down today and tried to start one and apparently I had this one from before already. I haven't been able to find and read the previous posts, maybe if I play with it I can find them and delete them.
I feel like that has been one of the themes of my life since I've been home.
TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY
Technology has caused my biggest challenges and has given me the most cases of culture shock since I've been back in the states.
When I left I did have a cell phone, but we didn't have texting. Sure, other people texted but I didn't send my first text until I was in Thailand. Even there I might send a few text messages a week.
When I got home EVERYONE in texting ALL THE TIME. I've had nights sitting in my living room with my family and EVERYONE is on a different electronic device texting or messaging.
To my heart that just got back from Thailand that says: We would rather spend time messaging others who aren't here than talk to people who are in the same room with us.
When I left there may have been the first or second Ipad, and kindles were just coming out. Other tablets weren't heard of in my life.
When I got home they are everywhere. Some people have a computer, tablet and ereader. It's crazy. I met with a friend who pulled an ipad out of her purse to show me videos. I babysat and the kids EACH had an ipad. I opened my bedroom door the first night I got home and I had a tablet(I admit I was going to buy one for myself as a reward for finishing the Peace Corps and then my parents got it for me for Christmas instead).
That tablet has been one of my biggest frustrations. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE IT. Things that should be simple like downloading or transferring books are hard for me and take hours (literally). Sure, it's nice to be able to check facebook or e-mail on it quickly and to read books once they are on it, but getting them there is difficult for me.
When I left I don't know that I had ever used a touch screen really. There were a few out there that I encountered from time to time, self check out, etc... However, none that caused me much difficulty.
Now that I'm home, touch screens baffle me. I can't tell you the number of times I pressed the wrong thing on the tablet, sometimes going to the wrong screen, sometimes having to try to press a button multiple times before it finally goes, sometimes adding people I didn't mean to add (and sometimes don't know or don't know well). Then, there are the things that need to be slid to unlock, held to answer the phone, typing things on a tablet,etc...You are probably laughing by this point, but it is super difficult for me.
I keep having to remind myself that touch screens are the new technology and I have to get used to them. It may sound funny, but I put a sudoku game on my tablet(yes, it took over an hour to get it on there). I have been practicing using touch screens with it. You have to choose the space and the number that goes there, so it is all about accuracy of where you touch. So, my tablet touch screen ability is improving. However, the phone my dad just gave me to use I'm still hopeless at. So, when you get my number and try to call me, if I struggle answering the phone and miss your call I'll call you right back. Unfortunately it's already happened several times in the few days I've had the phone and will probably continue to be a problem for me until I get used to it.
There are several more things I could include about technology, the changes I notice, and the ways it has given me culture shock. However, for now I think I'll stop and try to see if I can figure out how to post this blog. I'm bracing myself for another struggle. I'm hoping it will go smoothly. but we'll have to wait and see how it goes. If you are able to read this, it means I have figured out how to post it so you should congratulate me :)
I will try to work on my blogging abilities and post more often now. I have lots of things I've been thinking about and want to share. But it all depends on how easy(or difficult) I find blogging to be.
Have an amazing day
Lindsey
I feel like that has been one of the themes of my life since I've been home.
TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY
Technology has caused my biggest challenges and has given me the most cases of culture shock since I've been back in the states.
When I left I did have a cell phone, but we didn't have texting. Sure, other people texted but I didn't send my first text until I was in Thailand. Even there I might send a few text messages a week.
When I got home EVERYONE in texting ALL THE TIME. I've had nights sitting in my living room with my family and EVERYONE is on a different electronic device texting or messaging.
To my heart that just got back from Thailand that says: We would rather spend time messaging others who aren't here than talk to people who are in the same room with us.
When I left there may have been the first or second Ipad, and kindles were just coming out. Other tablets weren't heard of in my life.
When I got home they are everywhere. Some people have a computer, tablet and ereader. It's crazy. I met with a friend who pulled an ipad out of her purse to show me videos. I babysat and the kids EACH had an ipad. I opened my bedroom door the first night I got home and I had a tablet(I admit I was going to buy one for myself as a reward for finishing the Peace Corps and then my parents got it for me for Christmas instead).
That tablet has been one of my biggest frustrations. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE IT. Things that should be simple like downloading or transferring books are hard for me and take hours (literally). Sure, it's nice to be able to check facebook or e-mail on it quickly and to read books once they are on it, but getting them there is difficult for me.
When I left I don't know that I had ever used a touch screen really. There were a few out there that I encountered from time to time, self check out, etc... However, none that caused me much difficulty.
Now that I'm home, touch screens baffle me. I can't tell you the number of times I pressed the wrong thing on the tablet, sometimes going to the wrong screen, sometimes having to try to press a button multiple times before it finally goes, sometimes adding people I didn't mean to add (and sometimes don't know or don't know well). Then, there are the things that need to be slid to unlock, held to answer the phone, typing things on a tablet,etc...You are probably laughing by this point, but it is super difficult for me.
I keep having to remind myself that touch screens are the new technology and I have to get used to them. It may sound funny, but I put a sudoku game on my tablet(yes, it took over an hour to get it on there). I have been practicing using touch screens with it. You have to choose the space and the number that goes there, so it is all about accuracy of where you touch. So, my tablet touch screen ability is improving. However, the phone my dad just gave me to use I'm still hopeless at. So, when you get my number and try to call me, if I struggle answering the phone and miss your call I'll call you right back. Unfortunately it's already happened several times in the few days I've had the phone and will probably continue to be a problem for me until I get used to it.
There are several more things I could include about technology, the changes I notice, and the ways it has given me culture shock. However, for now I think I'll stop and try to see if I can figure out how to post this blog. I'm bracing myself for another struggle. I'm hoping it will go smoothly. but we'll have to wait and see how it goes. If you are able to read this, it means I have figured out how to post it so you should congratulate me :)
I will try to work on my blogging abilities and post more often now. I have lots of things I've been thinking about and want to share. But it all depends on how easy(or difficult) I find blogging to be.
Have an amazing day
Lindsey
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Peace Corps Update
So I fail at posting on here, hopefully I'll get better as time goes on and I get more information :)
Here is an update of what has been happening with the Peace Corps since I made the first post :) God has been doing some amazing things, so hopefully I'll be able to express those accurately, if my human words fail, just know that God is awesome and has been blessing me through this entire process and I can't wait to see what he continues to do through it!!!!!!
About a week after the last post I received my medical packet in the mail. There were a ton of forms that needed to be filled out by a dentist, eye doctor, and physician. To look at all of them, it was overwhelming, so I decided to tackle them one appointment at a time. I decided to tackle the dentist first because it can take a long time to get in there.
This is one point where God was super awesome!!!!!! I was reading the packet and it said there are some dentists who have agreed to provide the dental appointment for free to people volunteering to go into the Peace Corps. I looked them up online and it just so happened that their was a dentist in Midland that would do this, and at the time I was working at SVSU, so it would be a 15 minute drive to go to the office. So I decided to give them a call. I called on a Thursday and they gave me an appointment the next Tuesday. Definitely a better timeframe than what I was expecting!!!! So I went there for my appointment and they did the panoramic, 4 bitewings, and filled out the paperwork for free, and I was in the office for less than 45 minutes total. They were so efficient and so nice, I walked out of the office blessed by how kind they were and what they did for me. I'm not sure exactly how much it would have been, but they told me that each bitewing is normally $50, so that part alone would have been $200 let alone the panoramic x-ray and the exam to fill out the paper work. God was so awesome to provide Dr. Mead and his office and their extreme generosity!!!!!!
I decided to tackle the eye appointment next, putting off the medical exam that was 6+ pages. One day I decided to check out a bunch of eye places as I hadn't had a new pair of glasses for 9ish years and now needed to get two pairs. I went to 5 places in one day and got price estimates from each place. At one place, it was going to be around $450 for two pairs, at another place it was going to be $350-$500 for two pairs, etc... I was getting pretty disappointed and was wondering what I was going to do because I couldn't afford to pay that much at the time. Then I was driving and saw this place that said glasses and contacts, so I decide to get an estimate from them. I went in and they gave me an estimate of $215 for two pairs. This was about half of what the other places were going to charge me and my dad's insurance would cover about half of it. I talked it over with my dad that night and we decided that I should go with America's Best. I made the appointment on a Monday and they got me in on Thursday. It was so amazing to be gotten in so quickly once again. The tricky part was that while I was getting estimates from all of these places I tried glasses on at each place. I never noticed this before, but apparently my eyes are really close to my nose because when I put adult glasses on my face, my eyes are in the corner and the glasses stick about an inch off each side of my face. So I went in to the appointment dreading to have to choose two pairs of glasses. They were really nice though and we ended up finding two pairs of kids glasses that looked alright, one of them happened to be High School Musical though... My only fear was that my students would have the same glasses as me, which would either make me cool in their eyes, or they would wonder why their teacher shops in the kids section... Anyways I ordered them on a Thursday with the promise of 7-10 business days, knowing that the last planned day for me to be in Saginaw was the following Friday, 6 business days away. Don't worry, God is awesome and at approximately 3:00 on my last day of working at SVSU my phone rang and it was America's best saying my glasses were in, I immediately went and picked them up and have been wearing them ever since. I will admit, I'm still not used to seeing myself in them, I think the combination of new haircut and new glasses for the first time in 8 years is a little too much, and this is after having them for over two weeks.
The final appointment was the one that I was dreading the most, the physical exam. Lets just say that I wasn't a big fan of the idea of them checking every part of my body twice, plus getting shots and bloodwork and who knows what else. I finally decided that I really just needed to get it done before too much time had passed and student teaching started. My mom was really nice and made me an appointment at the clinic that she works at for the day before I started going into meetings for student teaching. The day of the appointment came and I went in and lets just say an hour and a half later I came out with completed paperwork, 3 shots, a TB test, and two holes where they tried to draw blood before they realized they didn't have the right vials and I needed to go to the hospital to get my blood drawn. I left the clinic and went straight to the hospital and got my bloodwork done so I wouldn't have to worry about anything except getting the test results back from everything. By Friday of that week, all of the test results were in and I was able to pick them up and make one final check that my name and social security number was on every single page I was submitting and that all of the boxes were checked and lines were filled out. When I was interviewed, they said the main reason that people's departure is delayed is because their medical paperwork has to be sent back or more has to be requested several times because they didn't check it thoroughly before sending it in. I'm really hoping that I got everything checked over and that it will go through the first time.
I sent it in this week, and they said it takes up to a month to process everything, so we'll see how long it really takes. Everytime they have given me a date for something so far they have met it in about half the time... I'll try to take time to write another post soon updating my student teaching and how that is going, as well as what I find out from the Peace Corps after they receive my paperwork :)
Sorry this is so long, a lot has happened in the almost two months since I last posted, hopefully I'll get more consistent so their will be more shorter posts and less books disguised as blog entried :)
Here is an update of what has been happening with the Peace Corps since I made the first post :) God has been doing some amazing things, so hopefully I'll be able to express those accurately, if my human words fail, just know that God is awesome and has been blessing me through this entire process and I can't wait to see what he continues to do through it!!!!!!
About a week after the last post I received my medical packet in the mail. There were a ton of forms that needed to be filled out by a dentist, eye doctor, and physician. To look at all of them, it was overwhelming, so I decided to tackle them one appointment at a time. I decided to tackle the dentist first because it can take a long time to get in there.
This is one point where God was super awesome!!!!!! I was reading the packet and it said there are some dentists who have agreed to provide the dental appointment for free to people volunteering to go into the Peace Corps. I looked them up online and it just so happened that their was a dentist in Midland that would do this, and at the time I was working at SVSU, so it would be a 15 minute drive to go to the office. So I decided to give them a call. I called on a Thursday and they gave me an appointment the next Tuesday. Definitely a better timeframe than what I was expecting!!!! So I went there for my appointment and they did the panoramic, 4 bitewings, and filled out the paperwork for free, and I was in the office for less than 45 minutes total. They were so efficient and so nice, I walked out of the office blessed by how kind they were and what they did for me. I'm not sure exactly how much it would have been, but they told me that each bitewing is normally $50, so that part alone would have been $200 let alone the panoramic x-ray and the exam to fill out the paper work. God was so awesome to provide Dr. Mead and his office and their extreme generosity!!!!!!
I decided to tackle the eye appointment next, putting off the medical exam that was 6+ pages. One day I decided to check out a bunch of eye places as I hadn't had a new pair of glasses for 9ish years and now needed to get two pairs. I went to 5 places in one day and got price estimates from each place. At one place, it was going to be around $450 for two pairs, at another place it was going to be $350-$500 for two pairs, etc... I was getting pretty disappointed and was wondering what I was going to do because I couldn't afford to pay that much at the time. Then I was driving and saw this place that said glasses and contacts, so I decide to get an estimate from them. I went in and they gave me an estimate of $215 for two pairs. This was about half of what the other places were going to charge me and my dad's insurance would cover about half of it. I talked it over with my dad that night and we decided that I should go with America's Best. I made the appointment on a Monday and they got me in on Thursday. It was so amazing to be gotten in so quickly once again. The tricky part was that while I was getting estimates from all of these places I tried glasses on at each place. I never noticed this before, but apparently my eyes are really close to my nose because when I put adult glasses on my face, my eyes are in the corner and the glasses stick about an inch off each side of my face. So I went in to the appointment dreading to have to choose two pairs of glasses. They were really nice though and we ended up finding two pairs of kids glasses that looked alright, one of them happened to be High School Musical though... My only fear was that my students would have the same glasses as me, which would either make me cool in their eyes, or they would wonder why their teacher shops in the kids section... Anyways I ordered them on a Thursday with the promise of 7-10 business days, knowing that the last planned day for me to be in Saginaw was the following Friday, 6 business days away. Don't worry, God is awesome and at approximately 3:00 on my last day of working at SVSU my phone rang and it was America's best saying my glasses were in, I immediately went and picked them up and have been wearing them ever since. I will admit, I'm still not used to seeing myself in them, I think the combination of new haircut and new glasses for the first time in 8 years is a little too much, and this is after having them for over two weeks.
The final appointment was the one that I was dreading the most, the physical exam. Lets just say that I wasn't a big fan of the idea of them checking every part of my body twice, plus getting shots and bloodwork and who knows what else. I finally decided that I really just needed to get it done before too much time had passed and student teaching started. My mom was really nice and made me an appointment at the clinic that she works at for the day before I started going into meetings for student teaching. The day of the appointment came and I went in and lets just say an hour and a half later I came out with completed paperwork, 3 shots, a TB test, and two holes where they tried to draw blood before they realized they didn't have the right vials and I needed to go to the hospital to get my blood drawn. I left the clinic and went straight to the hospital and got my bloodwork done so I wouldn't have to worry about anything except getting the test results back from everything. By Friday of that week, all of the test results were in and I was able to pick them up and make one final check that my name and social security number was on every single page I was submitting and that all of the boxes were checked and lines were filled out. When I was interviewed, they said the main reason that people's departure is delayed is because their medical paperwork has to be sent back or more has to be requested several times because they didn't check it thoroughly before sending it in. I'm really hoping that I got everything checked over and that it will go through the first time.
I sent it in this week, and they said it takes up to a month to process everything, so we'll see how long it really takes. Everytime they have given me a date for something so far they have met it in about half the time... I'll try to take time to write another post soon updating my student teaching and how that is going, as well as what I find out from the Peace Corps after they receive my paperwork :)
Sorry this is so long, a lot has happened in the almost two months since I last posted, hopefully I'll get more consistent so their will be more shorter posts and less books disguised as blog entried :)
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