some of my favorite clips!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Out of Africa
who's seen "Out of Africa?" great movie, totally recommend it! (especially for all the ladies out there, Robert Redford is a STUD!!! Meryl Streep (karen) is pretty great too!) Anyways, for those that have seen it...you know how Karen goes to this exotic place and has adventure upon adventure. And while she's galavanting through the country breaks all social norms of what a woman should and ought to do (a woman after my own heart-you know, the Jane Eyres, Anne Shirley's, and the Elizabeth Bennet's!) AND while she's doing this she finds the love of her life, who not only happens to be one of the best looking men on the planet, but has the heart of a lion!
WELL my time in Africa has been nothing like that! haha! It has been more like madagascar 2 (which we just watched the other night) where theres a lot of chaos and confusion...a lot of hilarity and a lot of animals! haha!
BUT, there are pieces of my trip that are similar to Out of Africa in the sense that, I, like Karen, will return home after a long journey in an unfamiliar place...but not empty handed and not less in spirit. I have not had an sultry, steamy affair, but i have fallen in love with parts of African culture and my heart has expanded to embrace parts of myself that i hadn't discovered until coming here.
And im not sure if thats Africa's doing, or if thats just what happens when you decide to let go of control in your life and hop on a plane to a strange land. Either way im glad i came...struggles, rashes, bug bites, obesity and all! it has continued to teach me that not only are there other ways of life out there, but their is beauty and value in those differences!
Im not sure what it means to bring parts of Africa home with me...and i dont necessarily think it will always be noticeable or tangible (i may not wear african garb or eat ugali on a regular basis, i may not get rid of my TV or live in a mud hut) but i am thankful for the perspective, the broadening of my horizons, the pictures engrained in my brain that remind me I AM BLESSED! i am thankful for a deeper sense of who God is as i meet and see more of his people.
So while im kinda jealous that meryl streep gets to MACK with Robert Redford..."Out of Africa" doesn't got anything on my story here...its been one for the books!
WELL my time in Africa has been nothing like that! haha! It has been more like madagascar 2 (which we just watched the other night) where theres a lot of chaos and confusion...a lot of hilarity and a lot of animals! haha!
BUT, there are pieces of my trip that are similar to Out of Africa in the sense that, I, like Karen, will return home after a long journey in an unfamiliar place...but not empty handed and not less in spirit. I have not had an sultry, steamy affair, but i have fallen in love with parts of African culture and my heart has expanded to embrace parts of myself that i hadn't discovered until coming here.
And im not sure if thats Africa's doing, or if thats just what happens when you decide to let go of control in your life and hop on a plane to a strange land. Either way im glad i came...struggles, rashes, bug bites, obesity and all! it has continued to teach me that not only are there other ways of life out there, but their is beauty and value in those differences!
Im not sure what it means to bring parts of Africa home with me...and i dont necessarily think it will always be noticeable or tangible (i may not wear african garb or eat ugali on a regular basis, i may not get rid of my TV or live in a mud hut) but i am thankful for the perspective, the broadening of my horizons, the pictures engrained in my brain that remind me I AM BLESSED! i am thankful for a deeper sense of who God is as i meet and see more of his people.
So while im kinda jealous that meryl streep gets to MACK with Robert Redford..."Out of Africa" doesn't got anything on my story here...its been one for the books!
Sunday, August 5, 2012
chick-fil-a
the world is SO small!!!
last night our team got into a good conversation about whats been going on in the news with
chick-fil-a! and what do you know...i wake up and go to church with one of the staff here
and Dan Cathy, chick-fil-a presidente is giving the sermon! haha
for those of you who dont know...chick-fil-a is a christian company (amongst its many policies, its stores close on sundays) and early last week Dan apparently made a statement about his beliefs on marriage and how it affects the hiring process for his chains. Im not writing to discuss his beliefs...thats a whole nother story, but i am constantly surprised at who God uses to spread his word.
After reading and hearing some stuff on Dans beliefs i feel that i kinda dismissed him altogether (although i do believe his restaurants are super tasty and also serve a great purpose and have been a model to a lot of people of the love of christ) BUT, like i said,i initially wrote him off. and then was forced to listen to what he had to say today at church which sucked because i was set on hearing something i hated so that i could further criticize him and feel justified in my opinions of him...but he was actually quite good! Not only was he amazingly articulate, his message was convicting and full of hope!
It reminded me that God does not use perfect people...he does not call the equipped, he equips the called! Dan is not perfect (nor am i) but his words reached the hearts of many and to me that is a stronger testament to Gods ability to redeem people and situations than anything else. (however my changed perspective may be biased because Dan did give me a coupon for a free burger after the service, haha!)
last night our team got into a good conversation about whats been going on in the news with
chick-fil-a! and what do you know...i wake up and go to church with one of the staff here
and Dan Cathy, chick-fil-a presidente is giving the sermon! haha
for those of you who dont know...chick-fil-a is a christian company (amongst its many policies, its stores close on sundays) and early last week Dan apparently made a statement about his beliefs on marriage and how it affects the hiring process for his chains. Im not writing to discuss his beliefs...thats a whole nother story, but i am constantly surprised at who God uses to spread his word.
After reading and hearing some stuff on Dans beliefs i feel that i kinda dismissed him altogether (although i do believe his restaurants are super tasty and also serve a great purpose and have been a model to a lot of people of the love of christ) BUT, like i said,i initially wrote him off. and then was forced to listen to what he had to say today at church which sucked because i was set on hearing something i hated so that i could further criticize him and feel justified in my opinions of him...but he was actually quite good! Not only was he amazingly articulate, his message was convicting and full of hope!
It reminded me that God does not use perfect people...he does not call the equipped, he equips the called! Dan is not perfect (nor am i) but his words reached the hearts of many and to me that is a stronger testament to Gods ability to redeem people and situations than anything else. (however my changed perspective may be biased because Dan did give me a coupon for a free burger after the service, haha!)
Saturday, August 4, 2012
kibera
well its been awhile now since i went to the Kibera slums...thought it might be time to put up some pictures and do some explaining!
I thought it would have been easier to see Kibera since we had already been to the Mathare slums. i guess i thought the shock factor would have dissipated and i wouldn't have had such a strong reaction to the sights, smells and circumstances.
But, as usual, i was wrong. In fact if anything i felt more repulsed by the situation there.
Two years ago i read something while i was in Jackson that changed my life. (for those who have heard me say it over and over again, i apologize) but this circumstance requires me to quote the incredible Mrs. Flannery O'Connor once more, who wrote:
"those who see by the light of their christian faith will have the sharpest eye for the grotesque, for the perverse and for the unacceptable."
and as i see more and more of the world, and specifically, as i walked through Kibera, i saw all that is wrong in the world. it is simply unacceptable! the only problem is that i dont have the answers to know how to fix it....so what do i do?!?
is it enough to just see it (which i believe holds great value...but is it enough?) is it enough to write about it and tell others about it? is it enough to send checks? is it enough to experience it? when is it enough? when will i fulfill the requirement, when will i meet a need?
questions i may never have an answer to...but am grateful to have seen and experienced it, and as it has seared an impression into my heart and mind, i pray an equally deep impression is made on how i should respond! so pray for clarity and peace,pray for Kenya, pray for Kibera...pray for our world!
I thought it would have been easier to see Kibera since we had already been to the Mathare slums. i guess i thought the shock factor would have dissipated and i wouldn't have had such a strong reaction to the sights, smells and circumstances.
But, as usual, i was wrong. In fact if anything i felt more repulsed by the situation there.
Two years ago i read something while i was in Jackson that changed my life. (for those who have heard me say it over and over again, i apologize) but this circumstance requires me to quote the incredible Mrs. Flannery O'Connor once more, who wrote:
"those who see by the light of their christian faith will have the sharpest eye for the grotesque, for the perverse and for the unacceptable."
and as i see more and more of the world, and specifically, as i walked through Kibera, i saw all that is wrong in the world. it is simply unacceptable! the only problem is that i dont have the answers to know how to fix it....so what do i do?!?
is it enough to just see it (which i believe holds great value...but is it enough?) is it enough to write about it and tell others about it? is it enough to send checks? is it enough to experience it? when is it enough? when will i fulfill the requirement, when will i meet a need?
questions i may never have an answer to...but am grateful to have seen and experienced it, and as it has seared an impression into my heart and mind, i pray an equally deep impression is made on how i should respond! so pray for clarity and peace,pray for Kenya, pray for Kibera...pray for our world!
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