Spring Break

I can't believe that spring term is here already! I only have two more months of school left which is crazy! Spring break was last week, and while it was not very restful, it was super fun. I helped lead a group of 12 college students to Seattle to do a week of service in the city. A friend and I, the blurry one pictured above spent the last several months planning the trip, finding places for us to volunteer. We were gone from March 21-28 and accomplished so much in that week. We spent one morning walking around downtown handing out sack lunches and fresh socks to homeless people, worked with the Salvation Army and their after school tutoring program (so fun!), worked at two different food banks breaking bulk and packaging food, and did several different things with a great organization called the Lifelong AIDS Alliance.

Just a few highlights....one afternoon a group of 6 of us packed over 12,000 pounds of pears in just 3 hours; another morning, we scoured the downtown area of Renton, the suburb we stayed in, offering "random acts of kindness" to area businesses. We washed windows, cleaned bathrooms, swept sidewalks, and tried to spread cheer; we ate dinner at several different ethnic restaurants over the week including Indian food, Vietnamese Pho, Ethiaopian, and Greek food. Yummy!

I think my favorite part of the trip was working with Lifelong AIDS Alliance. They are not a Christian organization, but that was part of why it was my favorite. This group of people work so hard to make sure AIDS patients, especially homebound ones, recieve nutritious meals every day along with groceries and counciling support. They have a large food warehouse, along with a kitchen that makes AMAZING food, and a thrift store to help financially support their work. The people there were so awesome, really committed to what they do. The awesome thing was they said churches don't often volunteer with them, and they were really suprised with our willingness to do whatever they asked of us, including packaging condoms to hand out at high schools, and how hardworking we were. Hopefully God used us in some small way to open doors in these people's hearts, and maybe help to start repairing the giant rift between the church and the gay community.

I also really enjoyed the people on the trip. There were 12 of us, and we got along really well and just had fun together. I love how trips like that can form great friendships really quickly since you are together so much, and working alongside these people. What a great group! All in all, it was a great spring break, even if it wasn't very relaxing. I still feel re-energized for this new term of school and ready to get back into the routine of life.

Living a Life Blessed

Today has been a gorgeous, sunny day in Corvallis. How is it so much easier to be happy and feel fulfilled when the sun is out? I am sitting with the windows open in my apartment (still have a blanket on, but the windows are open!) just reflecting on all the amazing blessing I have gotten to experience in my life in the last 12 months. So I thought, being the list maker that I am, I would make a list! :) So here it goes, things I am so thankful are a part of my life right now:

• Skype - how else does one talk to their best friend who lives across an ocean in China?
• School of Ministry - what a great year spent with precious people learning the word of God. Today we talked about Revelation (which usually is pretty intimidating to me) and I was absolutly riveted by the sheer power and lovingkindness of God. And where else do you get to wear Bible costumes, or "smiting" costumes (never did find a reference in the Bible to a time where God strikes someone down with lightning, but it is so dramatic in a costume...see above photo), or do puppet shows based on Habakkuk?
• Parents who clean my house - in an outpouring of graciousness, my amazing parents came to Corvallis and cleaned my messy house when I was sick for the second time in two weeks.
• Aforementioned house - I love my apartment, and I love living alone (no offense former roommates!). This year has been great for me to learn some independance and for me to truly be alone with God and accept his love for me in a way I have never felt before.
• Food Stamps - thank you government for helping me afford fresh produce! I attribute part of my health to you!
• A brother - in town to help me hang pictures, kill bugs, help me with computer problems, bring me gatorade and saltines when I am sick, and generally let me pester him about anything and everything
  
• Brazil friends - from all three trips, both Brazilian and American. There is nothing like having "heart friends" who understand a part of you that no one else really can.
• Master's Degree - yep, it is proudly displayed on my bookshelf in the living room. Thank you God for getting me through those two years!
• Best friends and best cousins getting married - what a good excuse to be girly!
• Deep conversations - even if sometimes they are hard, or make my cry, I have had some of the best conversations recently. I love how God can teach me through other people.
• Sunny weather - I know it's not flip flop time yet, but it is just around the corner! My toes are so excited to be free from socks!!
• Holidays - the best one is coming up next week...St. Patricks Day! Love that holiday, must have something to do with being a Sheldon Fighting Irish :)
• A loving Heavenly Father who sees fit to lavish such blessing on me, when I am so undeserving! "What love you lavish on me.... my heart is overflowing!"