For one of my classes we visited Urban Light, which is a npo that works with boys that sell their bodies for money. They have a center where the boys can go instead of having to roam the streets. They are offered counseling, a place to stay, and any other help they might need in a friendly supportive environment where they can just be kids instead of having to please foreigners needs.
As I walked through the doors and talked with them about their organization, my heart completely melted and I fell in love with the work they are doing. They were doing everything that is apart of my dream job. They have a place where teens struggling with life can come and receive the assistance and love they need. It was just beautiful. Too many times teens are just thrown away to the waste side, because they are seen as helpless causes. Which is nowhere near the truth and I won't go into all of that cause I could write for days. If you really want more info on that I'll send you my senior project.
I can't help but get excited for what Jesus has planned for me in the future.
That is all.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Adventures Continued
If you haven't have heard, I've made it to Thailand! I've actually been here a week now, craziness.
All is going well and the transitions are going rather smoothly, thank you Jesus. Granted its not the easiest thing ever, since I'm in a complete different time zone, poverty is evident, I'm surrounded by completely new people, and i'm the foreigner (a stinking rich foreigner at that). I however just can't get caught up in the little details about change and not embrace this wonderful new culture I'm surrounded with. That would be dumb.
Somethings I've done on this adventure: I rode an elephant on Monday and ate a meal that was prepared in bamboo so that was pretty cool (I was actually pretty skeptical of it at first, cause you know of diseases, but I pulled up my pants and the meal was really good). I've had my heart stolen my the lil Lahu children that are on the campus of the Lahu school (which is where I'm staying at), even tho we have no idea what we are saying to each other. I've eaten wonderful dishes. I've discovered I love Thai iced tea. I got an hour long Thai massage, which was heavenly. And attempted to learn something in my classes. Yup.
Speaking of which, my classes are going good, I've just got a ton of reading. Our classes are split up into 5 week courses so there's quite a bit of reading. There interesting though so I won't suffer through them.
All is going well and I can't wait to see what Jesus has in store for me next. Well I kinda can, cause Jesus has got some big powerful things up His sleeve, which can be a little intimidating. But at the same time amazing knowing that Jesus is gonna blow up my world while I'm here (positively of course).
Somethings I've done on this adventure: I rode an elephant on Monday and ate a meal that was prepared in bamboo so that was pretty cool (I was actually pretty skeptical of it at first, cause you know of diseases, but I pulled up my pants and the meal was really good). I've had my heart stolen my the lil Lahu children that are on the campus of the Lahu school (which is where I'm staying at), even tho we have no idea what we are saying to each other. I've eaten wonderful dishes. I've discovered I love Thai iced tea. I got an hour long Thai massage, which was heavenly. And attempted to learn something in my classes. Yup.
Speaking of which, my classes are going good, I've just got a ton of reading. Our classes are split up into 5 week courses so there's quite a bit of reading. There interesting though so I won't suffer through them.
All is going well and I can't wait to see what Jesus has in store for me next. Well I kinda can, cause Jesus has got some big powerful things up His sleeve, which can be a little intimidating. But at the same time amazing knowing that Jesus is gonna blow up my world while I'm here (positively of course).
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Continual Lessons
This summer I thought I would get a sneak peak of God's to do list for tricia, yet that didn't happen. Instead I was taught to do lists are not what Jesus has for me. Life isn't about doing this, this and then that and we are going to be good. Its about daily, even hourly, seeking out opportunities to show God's love to a broken and hurting world. To be in a constant praise of our Heavenly father that gave everything, while we still turned away.
I look toward the future and what it holds for me and I just make a guess when people ask me what I'm going to do. I have a few ideas, but in all honesty all I see is God's love and grace ahead of me, nothing else. I know God has a plan, I just need to wait on Him and see what He has in store. While in this waiting stage though, I can't just set on my butt and be like la de da and just wait for Jesus to show up. I still need to be a willing vessel for God's spirit to flow through me everyday. Willing to give up my wants, desires and comforts and to make a daily turn toward my savior. Willing to be willing. So many times I'm like ok I need to do this, but I am never willing to go through with it. Or if I do, it's not with the greatest attitude, so my efforts I'm barely doing our pointless.
Good Intentions. A Joyful Heart. Genuine Love. Sacrifices. Vulnerability. These are a few things that I've learned this summer. And by learned, I mean things I've seen the beauty of and need to continue to learn. Learning about love one week doesn't mean I've mastered it, because I am no where close to willing to give my life in order to save a broken world.
I look toward the future and what it holds for me and I just make a guess when people ask me what I'm going to do. I have a few ideas, but in all honesty all I see is God's love and grace ahead of me, nothing else. I know God has a plan, I just need to wait on Him and see what He has in store. While in this waiting stage though, I can't just set on my butt and be like la de da and just wait for Jesus to show up. I still need to be a willing vessel for God's spirit to flow through me everyday. Willing to give up my wants, desires and comforts and to make a daily turn toward my savior. Willing to be willing. So many times I'm like ok I need to do this, but I am never willing to go through with it. Or if I do, it's not with the greatest attitude, so my efforts I'm barely doing our pointless.
Good Intentions. A Joyful Heart. Genuine Love. Sacrifices. Vulnerability. These are a few things that I've learned this summer. And by learned, I mean things I've seen the beauty of and need to continue to learn. Learning about love one week doesn't mean I've mastered it, because I am no where close to willing to give my life in order to save a broken world.
Friday, July 29, 2011
grace, love and the metro.
Things here in Virginia have been going wonderful. I can honestly say that I am well adjusted and am enjoying my internship (I have been for a while, this is just a late message). This past week has flown by I can't believe I only have one and a half weeks left here.
The metro is probably the place where I have done the most thinking this summer. The place where I have realized how stinking blessed I am. I have a place to live, food to eat, clothes to wear, friends and family that love me to pieces and a God that offers me never ending grace. Coming here has made me realize how much support I have back home; I have wonderful friends, families and neighbors. If I would have stayed at home for my practicum credit this summer I would have never realized how much I am loved. While also being here, I've seen how awesome Jesus really is and how much love and grace He has poured onto my life. A love so great that shouldn't be kept all to myself, but one that should be shared. Shared in the states and across the world; like Thailand. Which I'm excited about, super excited, but I'm trying to focus on finishing up my internship first.
Along with blessings, I've realized how broken and powerless I really am. That I was worthless, yet God still gave up His son for me. Seeing how powerless I am this summer, helped me see how powerful my Jesus really is and how wonderful it is that He is able to work through me if I allow Him. Oh man, it overwhelms me how awesome Jesus is, while at the same time makes my heart smile.
Along with blessings, I've realized how broken and powerless I really am. That I was worthless, yet God still gave up His son for me. Seeing how powerless I am this summer, helped me see how powerful my Jesus really is and how wonderful it is that He is able to work through me if I allow Him. Oh man, it overwhelms me how awesome Jesus is, while at the same time makes my heart smile.
Monday, July 25, 2011
work, but no cheezburgers.
I feel like I never tell you guys about what I'm actually doing with my internship. That is mostly because nothing too exciting happens while I am work. I'm not bored to death or anything, but no fascinating stories to share with the world. Well the other day as I was drinking my chai I almost died from choking on it, but that's about all my excitement here. Speaking of chai no where around here sells chocolate chai; only good ol Olney,IL has it apparently. Anyways...
I'm still updating/formatting CV's and starting to work on setting up LEAD's email update (which you should all join). Last week wasn't too busy, but it was productive. We were all able to stay at the office all week and attack our to do lists and pwn them. Which has been nice, because the last few weeks things have been crazy and we didn't have much time to just set and do our work. I feel like this coming week will also be a laid back week, but watch me eat my words on Wednesday. So yes, just fun office work for me to do, it's actually not that bad, just something I wouldn't want to do for the rest of my life. For this summer though this work has been entertaining. Even though its not as fun as finger painting, taking naps, and having picnics with my bff 3-5 year olds, a lot of growth has occurred. Growth this old bird needed to partake in.
I'm still updating/formatting CV's and starting to work on setting up LEAD's email update (which you should all join). Last week wasn't too busy, but it was productive. We were all able to stay at the office all week and attack our to do lists and pwn them. Which has been nice, because the last few weeks things have been crazy and we didn't have much time to just set and do our work. I feel like this coming week will also be a laid back week, but watch me eat my words on Wednesday. So yes, just fun office work for me to do, it's actually not that bad, just something I wouldn't want to do for the rest of my life. For this summer though this work has been entertaining. Even though its not as fun as finger painting, taking naps, and having picnics with my bff 3-5 year olds, a lot of growth has occurred. Growth this old bird needed to partake in.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Half Way Suckers!
The beginning of this week marked the halfway point for my internship. Woah dang! It went faster than what I thought. I remember the first week thinking, what did I get myself into, this is going to take forever and a day.
Yet I'm half way through thinking I survived and there is little time left. Ha sometimes I am a drama queen.
Being half way through this journey God has blessed me with (yes blessed), I can't help but be thankful for what Jesus has done for this poor soul. I'm not going to lie the first couple weeks were slightly miserable (remember dramatic). Jesus was stretching me and I was being a complete grumpy pants with Him. However, that stretching process was what I needed. I needed to be thrown out in the deep end and have absolutely no control, to where all I could do was hold on to Jesus and trust Him with my life. With the stretch I was able to learn and see that I actually have no control what so ever, that I am completely powerless; that I just need to trust Him and everything will be ok. Granted I haven't mastered this and will have to work on it my entire life, and God's wonderful sense of humor will always reminds me of that. I've also learned that I'm going to have to make a conscious choice every day to turn and follow Jesus. My whole life is going to be a stretching process. It might not be the most enjoy thing, but will be the most beneficial.
Along with being halfway, leadership roles of Wycliffe staff are passed down to the interns. So my leadership position is for being the leader of the leadership development team. The leadership development team has to conduct a Thursday class to help the interns become leaders. So part of my task is making sure the class goes good and everything gets done; fun times for me. It's really not that bad, I just need to get off my lazy butt and do it.
Yet I'm half way through thinking I survived and there is little time left. Ha sometimes I am a drama queen.
Being half way through this journey God has blessed me with (yes blessed), I can't help but be thankful for what Jesus has done for this poor soul. I'm not going to lie the first couple weeks were slightly miserable (remember dramatic). Jesus was stretching me and I was being a complete grumpy pants with Him. However, that stretching process was what I needed. I needed to be thrown out in the deep end and have absolutely no control, to where all I could do was hold on to Jesus and trust Him with my life. With the stretch I was able to learn and see that I actually have no control what so ever, that I am completely powerless; that I just need to trust Him and everything will be ok. Granted I haven't mastered this and will have to work on it my entire life, and God's wonderful sense of humor will always reminds me of that. I've also learned that I'm going to have to make a conscious choice every day to turn and follow Jesus. My whole life is going to be a stretching process. It might not be the most enjoy thing, but will be the most beneficial.
Along with being halfway, leadership roles of Wycliffe staff are passed down to the interns. So my leadership position is for being the leader of the leadership development team. The leadership development team has to conduct a Thursday class to help the interns become leaders. So part of my task is making sure the class goes good and everything gets done; fun times for me. It's really not that bad, I just need to get off my lazy butt and do it.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
paths.
"I think God is teaching you how to be still" is the quote from my mentor this week. ummm Jesus why do you always have to be correct.
So this week, I have realized some amazing things. At first with this internship, I was wondering what on earth I was doing here, but this week I remembered that the main reason for this internship was to see what I wanted to do with my life. With talking to numerous people about life and what I should do, my brain kept coming back to social work. People were like so how does Wycliffe fit in with CRJ...umm it doesn't is usually what I would answer. Then I would talk about how I would probably end up doing social work or working with people.
So this week I went to a home group/bible study, but before it the lady picking me up, was actually a social worker and knew I was thinking about doing social work with my life. So, being a good social worker she gave me encouragement to be one and tried to recruit me to her field. Then we talked about our strengths in our leadership class and when thinking about my new ones and how I use them; all my responses were all like I wan't to help mend broken people or help build up people and such. These were all little nudges from Jesus.
During all this happening in my life, I still had forgot that my plan for this internship was to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Then out of the blue, I remembered and was like oh yeah, Jesus thanks for reminding me. So, even though I won't be working with Wycliffe for my life, I know I will be working in the social work field. Which is really broad and I'm not for sure where in this field I'll be working, but I know Jesus has a plan. I'm excited about this plan though, I love helping people and that is what is in store for my future. I guess people helping was something I was always going to do, but never accepted the thought. I didn't think I would be cut out for it, but Jesus has equipped me with the tools and now I know a small detail of my future plans.
So this week, I have realized some amazing things. At first with this internship, I was wondering what on earth I was doing here, but this week I remembered that the main reason for this internship was to see what I wanted to do with my life. With talking to numerous people about life and what I should do, my brain kept coming back to social work. People were like so how does Wycliffe fit in with CRJ...umm it doesn't is usually what I would answer. Then I would talk about how I would probably end up doing social work or working with people.
So this week I went to a home group/bible study, but before it the lady picking me up, was actually a social worker and knew I was thinking about doing social work with my life. So, being a good social worker she gave me encouragement to be one and tried to recruit me to her field. Then we talked about our strengths in our leadership class and when thinking about my new ones and how I use them; all my responses were all like I wan't to help mend broken people or help build up people and such. These were all little nudges from Jesus.
During all this happening in my life, I still had forgot that my plan for this internship was to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Then out of the blue, I remembered and was like oh yeah, Jesus thanks for reminding me. So, even though I won't be working with Wycliffe for my life, I know I will be working in the social work field. Which is really broad and I'm not for sure where in this field I'll be working, but I know Jesus has a plan. I'm excited about this plan though, I love helping people and that is what is in store for my future. I guess people helping was something I was always going to do, but never accepted the thought. I didn't think I would be cut out for it, but Jesus has equipped me with the tools and now I know a small detail of my future plans.
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