Starting Gates

Today was Day#1 of my internship. For the first 3 days, we are doing orientation at the E. I. office in Anaheim, California. Then on Monday, we fly out to Kenya.

In all honesty, the reality of this trip has yet to hit me. Even though I am back in California, I see the charge for airplane tickets on my credit card, and I am meeting with my team, it still does not seem like I am going to Africa. It's kinda a weird feeling; like I am physically in the starting gates, but not mentally in the race. I am in awe of the close view of the action, but not fully realizing what I am being asked to do once the gates open.

Through the provision of finances, verbal affirmations, and constant peace, God has made it abundantly clear that I am to go on this trip. I am still short on my fundraising, but I am confident that God will provide the rest. It's odd; I am more worried about my luggage getting lost than I am about being able to raise the rest of my support. My prayer life would do well to stretch farther ;)

In many ways, I feel so ill prepared for this trip. I remember when I took shop class in Jr. High I would spend weeks planning my projects, sketching my designs, and measuring my wood before I would consider cutting. I would do everything possible to put off using the machines because I was scared of messing up. In this situation, where I don't really know what is being asked of me, I am scared of messing up and my response is to want to prepare until the cows come home. But in other ways, there is not much else we can do state-side. We are starting a business in Kenya. That involves being in Kenya to learn about the people, the area, and the needs of Kenya.

In general, other than feeling absolutely exhausted because I have met so many new people and been constantly running around, I am ready to go. But for now, we need to prepare as a team to work together and trust one another. This is the focus of our orientation. Today we talked about our Myers-Briggs personality types and so what we need to feel valued or what may hurt our feelings. This is good to know in how to approach each team member.

These next few days are just walking the track and getting to know the team. I just hope we can be as impressive and champion circle worthy as Seabiscuit... (sorry for the horse racing analogy...it just seemed appropriate at the time...)

The Lazy Days of Summer...

...never really happened.

Official summer vacation is only about a week and a half :(

Last Monday, I finished my online literature class from Bellevue College and I am pleased to report that I passed with a B-! Being unit #21, this class was a struggle for me. But it is over and I am done with my general education requirement for Biola.

Next on my list of things to do this summer is AFRICA! I go back to California on Tuesday to have orientation for my trip, then we leave on Monday, June 29th. After 2 days of flying (...yay...) we will arrive in Nairobi, Kenya.

So for that intermittent week between finishing Bellevue College and leaving for Africa, I have done who knows what...I am always amazed at how time passes. Since I am trying to rest, it seems as though there is not enough time to do so...rats. Things kept cropping up: errands to run, phone calls to make, installations to complete, episodes of JONAS to watch...these things are not are not big or tiring, but time consuming. I meant to read more this summer. I meant to spend more time with friends. I know that "summer" is not fully over (I will have a few weeks in August to chill before school), but it feels like it is coming to a close.

This leads me to think about life after school when work is a year round thing. No 3 month vacations, or even three day weeks (next fall I only have class Monday-Wednesday). Nope, only the two weeks of vacation to cram in all the necessary rest and "doing nothing" that anyone could want. Maybe I should become a teacher, just to preserve the concept of summer vacation...

Being an achiever, I feel like I need to accomplish something tangible. But the purpose of my summers is rest, which is not exactly tangible. So there are times when I feel that summers are entirely wasted because they were lazy. Yet, if I don't have restful, lazy days, I feel like summer is wasted as well...welcome to the paradox of my life :)

I guess what I am trying to say is, I wish I had more time to do nothing and yet I am glad for the chance to do something new...

Sisters

Crazy, huh?

Chronicles of Child Wrangling...

A.K.A. Babysitting...

This evening marks night # 3 of babysitting this summer. I have been babysitting this family since high school. They are probably my favorite kids (two boys - 6 and 3) to watch because they are so easy and fun. They even teach me new things...last year I learned the word "precarious" from the 6 years old...ya I felt dumb...haha.

As many of you know, I am partial to competition...that is I HATE to lose games. Well last week was a lesson in humility. I came over to babysit and the boys had set up Monopoly Jr.

- I know that you should always let the kids win, but unfortunately, my compassion does not reach that far. I once made a boy I was babysitting cry because I destroyed him in his James Bond video game...whoops. -

Anyway, I was feeling good about holding my own in Monopoly Jr. I mean come on, accounting major, 21 yr old. I have plenty of Monopoly experience on them. I've played with Steph Gaskins and Lorraina Armenta for crying out loud. I settled down to take an easy victory.

NOT TRUE

I was wiped out by the 3 year old...ouch. He left me with nothing. Absolutely nothing. Somehow, I'm still not sure how...he got a monopoly on half the board and I consequently landed on ALL his properties. I couldn't even hit the harmless in between "roll again" or "chance" space. Nope I landed on his stinkin' Roller Coaster every single time. His brother even managed to miss it, but not me. Needless to say: I lost in fine fashion.

To rub salt in a festering wound. The 6 year old boy proceeded to construct a comprehensive scoreboard of how the game ended. Not only did he tally how many houses we had on the board and how much money we had left, but he counted who had the most 1s, 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s (Monopoly Jr. remember). Each proclamation of "0" sank me deeper and deeper into a pit of shame.

But tonight, they took pity on me and we did art! We made puzzles. No we did not just put them together, but we CRAFTED them - it was all the boys' idea.

Step #1: Draw a picture: I must have missed my calling in life, because here is my masterpiece worthy of an art museum in Paris...
Step #2: Place masking tape on the back to make it more "sturdy"
Step #3: Make a puzzle box
Step #4: Draw puzzle pieces
Step #5: Cut out puzzle pieces
Step #6: Put piece in puzzle box
Step #7: Clean up puzzle pieces after 3 year decides to up-end said puzzle box...

After we made our individual puzzles, the boys wanted to plan out the making of a larger puzzle for my next visit. The 6 year old wanted to brainstorm (mind showers...) some ideas, so naturally, he made me the scribe :) I further shamed myself by trying seven times to write the word "piece". You'd think it wouldn't take so long because there are only so many places the 'i' can go, but no, I managed to try several options multiple times. The boys offered to used a separate piece of paper to cover up my scribbles because of course I used pen, banking on my superior spelling abilities...Once again....pit of shame here I come :)

To top the night off, the 3 year old bit me!! Yup that's right, I was assaulted via the incisors of a child. Wohoo! He was bored with the book we were reading and to get my attention...chomp chomp. As if I hadn't be punctured enough with all the shots I have recently had.

Despite that, I do truly love these boys. They are easy to watch and quite entertaining. However, they do push my physical touch boundaries with all their cuddling :) They are precious!

A Note About Fundraising

For Africa, I have to fundraise quite a bit of money. Now as a business major, fundraising can be fairly frustrating...

(here's a tongue twister for ya)

...fairly frustrating fundraising...

It is frustrating because I know that I have the skills and opportunities to be self-sufficient on the mission field by operating a business. However, through my current experience I am beginning to understand the purpose behind fundraising a little more.

By seeking out fundraising, you are submitting your plans to the body of Christ and subsequently to God. You are asking them to either affirm or negate what you think is God's will. Many missionaries go without being sent and their ministry is not as effective as it could be.

Now while I could pursue a self-funded approach, I am choosing to ask others to financially support me which would be a result of them evaluating my trip and determining if it is a valid pursuit of missions.

From the support and encouragement that I have received I am able to go to Africa with more confidence that I am following God's plan as well as with the knowledge that I have a large group of prayerful supporters behind me.

Since when...

Is it 90 degrees in Washington???

I know, I know, it is really nice weather. And people here don't get to experience it but once or maybe twice (if they are lucky) a year.

But hear me out - I just spent the past four months sweating my brains out just by walking to class. There are no hills, no long distances to cover, or rush to make it on time to class...so the heat was the only culprit (ok, maybe I regularly wore a jacket...or two...but seriously, it's hot in California).

I don't completely begrudge the sun. If it could tone it down 10 or 15 degrees, I think we could live very peacefully together. I would also appreciate a cloud or two...maybe shaped like a bunny...or shark...that would be nice :)

Otherwise, I may fashion a sling shot with all the spare time that I have to shoot the darn ball of fire out of the sky. Either that or build something...BIG...to get some coolness....a little fan, a little shade and just a hint of mist...I'll get back to you.

Well, it's beginning to look a lot like fort building day!