My Favorite Things

During October of 2011, I posted a picture of my favorite thing from each day on Facebook.  I miss it.  I learned to slow down, to appreciate the little things more and I was always thankful to know that at least one good thing happened each day.  Just for your enjoyment (well, actually entirely for my own enjoyment) I decided to bring it back for the whole year of 2012.  This is quite the commitment for the entirely commitment-phobic-barely-blogging person that I am.  Even though I have the hardest time with change out of anyone I know, I am oddly optimistic that 2012 is going to be a great year.  Cheers to growth!   Happy New Year!

My favorite thing about January 1, 2012:

Today was the day I learned how to be a kid again and take risks like I have nothing to lose.  I've grown comfortable and predictable in my ripe old age of 27. (although my sweet Uncle wrote that "like wine, I only improve with age" in my birthday card).  Anything out of my "normal" routine of running non stop from morning to night gives me anxiety.  In my constant effort to accomplish more than humanly possible in a day, I've given up on being spontaneous and doing all the silly things that amuse me-- you know, rollerblading, block walking, drives to Seattle or the coast at obscene hours and staying up until 2 a.m. learning Michael Jackson dances.  So I decided to go sledding.

I have not done this in years.  It was amazing to me how much fear I had AND how easy it was to let go of it all. It was a great way to celebrate a new year, new beginnings and change. ...And of course, build deeper relationships with two girls I already love so dearly.

Grace

Meet Grace.  A beautiful Ugandan woman who has given her life to care for precious children at Adventure Village in Seeta, Uganda.  During our "celebration" day she gave her testimony of what God has done in her life.

Amy & Grace

At the age of 16 or 17 (not many really know their real age in Uganda) she was married off to an older man because her parents could no longer afford to take care of her.  Being educated was her only dream, and being married off so young only squandered it.  Her husband was not a man of good character and in her words she "never had a good time in the marriage."  She had five children with this man and he never supported them.  Since she is uneducated it was really hard for her to find work, so she had to find odd jobs to support her children by herself.  She worked so hard and became so thin and diseased-like because she gave all the food she could grow and buy to her children.  She heard about Christian Life Ministries and went to apply to be a "mum".  She told us that if it weren't for Jackson Senyonga answering God's call her children wouldn't have the opportunity to go to school and she wouldn't have ever been able to go to the Ridar hotel (the place where we stay while we are in country). She said, "I never thought I would go to a place like that."

By most American standards the Ridar Hotel is nothing special (personally, I think it's a really nice hotel), but it meant so much to her that she was able to go. Because of her job at the orphanage she can pay her children's school fees, and when she visits her family they tell her she is so fat (which means you are healthy) and ask her how she is living so well.

I was so touched by her testimony because it reminded me of how fortunate I am.  I get to choose if and to whom I marry.  I had the opportunity to go to school, and had loving parents and family to support me.  I never thought I took all that for granted, but at times I do.  It sort of reminded me of my mom.  She may not have been encouraged to do well in school or pursue higher education, but she always encouraged us kids, always loved us through everything.  Going to college was non-negotiable in her eyes, and like Grace did for her kids, she did all that she could to equip us for that journey.

It's women like Grace that remind me to be thankful in all circumstances.

everything You do is just and true

This morning at church I was struck by the words in this song by Brenton Brown. "Everything You do is just and true."  I never realized how powerful these words are or that I would actually be at a place where I was questioning them. My aunt died from colon cancer a few days ago, right on the heels of my return from Uganda, and I feel like I have been inundated with suffering.

The deep pain I feel for my uncle and my dear cousins is unreal. I have no idea what it feels like to lose a mother, a spouse, a brother, a son.. or all four for that matter. I know my friends in Uganda have experienced pain like this too. It's truly tragic. I want to scream that life is unfair, that God made some horrible decisions, but I know deep down I don't believe that.  Oddly enough, I was reminded of a sermon I heard a few months back while visiting a Solid Rock Church in Portland.  They were going through the bible studying 2 Corinthians and the message was titled "Why God allows suffering to happen".  I had my notes from that sermon in my hand today and didn't even know it.

These were the reasons God allows suffering to happen:
1. To comfort others
2. To help a watching world see God in your coping
3. Because of the coming judgment (purges you from sin)
4. We know God best in times of suffering

Life is so precious and so unbelievably short.  In no way am I trying to minimize the pain of death, but I have found joy in the little things this weekend; spending time with my beautiful pregnant cousin, a phone call from my little brother, running in the rain, having Saturday morning breakfast with my mom, her sister, my cousin and her family, and loving on my sweet little nephew at church.

I am not a poet

I made it a week.
My haikus still need some work.
I'm not a poet.

Haiku-a-day 1

I'm so ready to for spring!  To get through these last few months before better days, I've decided to write a Haiku-a-day.   Hooray for (potentially) improving my writing skills.

Here's attempt number one:

Water falling down
Cloudy grey sky, thunder claps
A burst of light shines

Resources Related to Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

This was passed along to me and is a great resource list of how to get involved in Oregon. There's also a few nationwide ideas as well.

Resources Related to Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

Book titles

Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide - written by Nicholas D. Kristof and

Sheryl WuDunn

Renting Lacy: A Story of America’s Prostituted Children - written by Linda Smith with Cindy Coloma

The Road of Lost innocence: The Story of a Cambodian Heroine – written by Somaly Mam

Prostitution, Trafficking and Traumatic Stress - written by Melissa Farley

Films

Very Young Girls – documentary based on the work of the GEMS program. Available at Netflix

Dan Rather Reports’ Dan Rather Reports, Season 5 – Pornland, Oregon. Available on ITunes

Taken (2008) - Available at Netflix

National Resources

GEMS (Girls Educational & Mentoring Services) www.gems-girls.org

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children – www.missingkids.com

OATH (Oregonians Against Trafficking Humans) www.oregonoath.org

Polaris Project – a world without slavery www.Polarisproject.org

Shared Hope International – www.sharedhope.org

Support local efforts

SARC (Sexual Assault Resource Center) providing advocacy and support through programs

specially designed for sexually exploited youth. Volunteer or make a donation. For more information

contact the volunteer manager at 503-626-9100 or volunteer@sarcoregon.org or visit their website at

www.SARCoregon.org

Janus Youth Programs (JYP) contracts with the City of Portland to provide shelter beds for

CSEC victims at its emergency shelter facility. JYP is responsible for the community-wide collaborative

process to develop a comprehensive system of care for victims of child sex trafficking. To make a donation or

learn more go to http://www.jyp.org/, or call 503-233-6090.

Lifeworks NW supporting people who are working towards a better life, through recognized, culturally

responsive prevention, mental health and addiction services and delivering high quality individual and group

treatment. Contact us at 503-710-1513 to get help for yourself or a friend, you may also visit their website at

www.lifeworksnw.org for more information or to make a donation.

More information and training - visit our website at http://web.multco.us/dcj-juvenile/csec

If you or someone you know needs or wants support please contact:

National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-3737-888 for help 24 hours a day in six languages

SARC hotline 1-800-640-5311 for emergency support 24 hours a day

Lifeworks NW 503-710-1513 for counseling and long term support

This project is supported by Grant #2009-MC-CX-K057 awarded by OJJDP

Steps citizens can take to end Human Trafficking:

•Work to eliminate backpage and similar websites that promote CSEC.

•Support federal and state laws to combat Human Trafficking – contact your representatives

•Support the re-authorization of the TVPA (trafficking victims protection act) in 2011

•Support state laws that address the age mistake defense and those that create safe harbors for victims of CSEC.

•Work to end pimp glorification and the sexualization of children – contact the company responsible for this type of advertising when you see it and share your feelings.

•Challenge inappropriate language on the topic of sexual exploitation.

•Support efforts to cease the practice of arresting youth and women who are prostituted.

•Supports aggressive prosecution and stiffer penalties for people who buy and exploit others sexually.

•Develop creative ways to post the NHTRC hotline (national human trafficking resource center) stickers in your community.

•Financially support programs on the local and national level that support victims of sexual exploitation. Every little bit helps. Everyday staff at Lifeworks NW, Janus youth Programs and SARC (Sexual Assault Resource Center) work to support victims of CSEC. Donations of gift cards to stores or fast food vendors are deeply appreciated. Call these programs directly to find out what additional support they need.

An Uncomfortable Truth

"'Fifteen thousand Africans are dying each day of preventable, treatable diseases--AIDS, malaria, TB--for lack of drugs that we take for granted.

This statistic alone makes a fool of the idea many of us hold on to very tightly: the idea of equality. What is happening to Africa mocks our pieties, doubts our concern and questions our commitment to the whole concept. Because if we're honest, there's no way we could conclude that such mass death day after day would ever be allowed to happen anywhere else. Certainly not North America or Europe, or Japan. An entire continent bursting into flames? Deep down, if we really accept that their lives--African lives--are equal to ours, we would all be doing more to put the fire out. It's an uncomfortable truth.'"

I'm not sure that I have ever felt more challenged\gulity\angry all at once. I love Bono's boldness in this quote, and I've read it before, but when I came across it in a book I was reading tonight it struck me differently. The sentence that strikes me the most was "Deep down, if we really accept that their lives--African lives-- are equal to ours, we would all be doing more to put the fire out." This is so much bigger than even the continent of Africa.

How do we view our neighbors? How do we determine who we want to befriend? Why do we choose to show love to only some people? I think we fail to find value in the lives of people who are outcasts of our society and people who seem to be far removed from our self-centered world views. I think this reigns true of how we view people living in extreme poverty or even as simple as people we proudly consider ourselves more intelligent than. How are we effectively using all that we have been given?

I don't have any solutions or answers, but I feel called/challenged with passion to make a difference. I'm not sure what this will look like, but I'm making it a point to seek out ways I can value people in a completely different way.

I want to live life differently and learn what it means to truly, completely love people. I think in this we find our greatest challenge and our greatest opportunity to change or remedy the atrocities of this world. I don't think God intended for there to be poverty, inequalities, or an ever widening gap between the richest and the poorest of the world, but in these things we are able to live out His love and have an impact.

A little nudge...

Lately, I've had a really bad attitude. I'm just not feeling with it or feeling like what I do matters. I constantly toy with the idea of leaving youth ministry. Not that I would ever really be able to leave because relationships would still be there, but just leave the commitment aspect behind. I think about this a lot especially when I'm feeling really drained and overwhelmed, and without fail, God allows something to happen that makes me realize why I hang with these kids.

Today I was really feeling that way. I like to sit and contemplate and talk circles, but often times I don't have the chance to do so at least with other people. So while I was at the church today I talked with someone about what I've been feeling about my involvement with student ministries and just had rounds with them. It made me feel better, but still doubting.

Shortly after, I met with a young lady who had questions about baptism and her relationship with God, and I was so humbled by this conversation. I was able to help her workout her issues and she's decided to get baptized next month. I'm really excited for her and am touched that God would use me in this way. It's these little nudges from him that make me remember why I started getting involved and why these relationships are so important to me.

(Lack of) Food for Thought

"Propaganda, stereotypes, and myth govern our thinking about poverty and poor relief much more than the facts do. By current, official measures, for example, more than one-third of poor Americans are children under eighteen years old, more than 10 percent are over age sixty-five, and nearly 40 percent of the adult poor are disabled-- that is, most poor people are 'deserving' or 'involuntarily' poor due to old age, youth, or infirmity."

A lot of us hold the view that poor people are there because they did something wrong. Because we are capable it's hard to find others as not. This is where we first gained our "common" view of those who live in poverty.

"According to the United Nations, slum dwellers were 30 percent of the world's urban population in 2005. By a slum we tend to mean deeply poor and often squalid cityscapes, and while we may overestimate how many poor Americans live in the city, in 2000 there were nonetheless 2,510 neighborhoods in the United States in which 40 percent or more of the populations was poor; 8 million lived in modern ghettoes. Since the 1970s, the number of Americans in areas of concentrated urban poverty had doubled."

What is the true definition of "poor"? How does this compare to the rest of the world and is the American citizen's definition of poor the same as those worldwide?

"'What is to be said of the character of people who, having the power to end all this, permit it to continue?'"

I challenge you to answer that question for yourself. What, if anything, are you doing to help?

"'Everybody knows that money, fame, and success don't necessarily bring happiness. But the other side of that equation is also true: poverty, obscurity, and failure don't necessarily bring unhappiness.'"

I will no where, no how compare myself to those in poverty, but from recent endeavors and finding myself jobless, I've learned more about what is really important to me. I can have fun and find joy without much discretionary income.

"'A very dear friend of mine and I were talking about work and she remarked to me that her husband was angry when she got home at 12 midnight the day before from work. I asked why she worked so late and she to me, "'Janie, don't you know that just before the first of the month we work late upping the prices. . . . this is the time business is good, when the welfare checks come out and food stamps are most used.'"'"

This quote was from 1967. I wonder if the same still applies today? I want to do a study of the cost of the "basic necessities" over a few months time. Maybe I will write one and conduct the research myself. I foresee a lot of challenges such as defining "basic necessities," determining which grocery stores to evaluate, and so forth. I am open to suggestions.


quotes from A People's History of Poverty in America by Stephen Pimpare.

Goodbye to The West Wing

Last Sunday I finished watching The West Wing. The seven seasons filled my evenings for nearly six months. This is freeing, yet slightly depressing. My evenings will no longer be filled with political drama that coincides with present day happenings, but, hey, I might feel the need to leave my house more, and my friends will appreciate my being able to talk about something besides The West Wing.

To fill my void I've developed a week long reading schedule to keep me busy. It's as follows:

Mondays: Philosophy night

Tuesdays: Public Policy Issue night

Wednesdays: Whatever book most interests me at the moment

Thursdays: Theatrical/Great Author nights

Fridays: Biography night

Saturdays/Sundays: Study nights (languages, GRE, etc.)

Embracing My Nerdiness

Who, when faced with a question about the 25th Amendment, runs to his or her room to pull from his or hers cluttered bookshelf a copy of the Constitution?

Me.

I do it. I mean, I would do it. I did it.

Last night on The West Wing (well really it was the last episode of season 4) the President was enacting the 25th Amendment. Tiffany and I were trying to remember what exactly the 25th Amendment said, so what did I do? I paused the DVD, ran back to my room and pulled out my very own copy of the United States' Constitution. It's complete with various editions of the Constitution, The Articles of Confederation, the Declaration of Independence and various court cases leading to extremely important changes to the US. Apparently this isn't a pretty normal thing to have on your bookshelf... But I have it.

Everyone has a little nerdiness in them, right? Some people love video games, others computer games. Many people geek out over Star Wars, technology or even the latest fashion and boots. I fall for nearly all things political-- and I like it. I don't let this out to just anyone. I mean if you know me well you know I have an opinion and I usually share it carelessly, but if you don't know me well I tend to stay quiet until an invite is secured. You have to really want it otherwise I won't waste a sentence on a conversation that will die quickly. I may not be good at organizing or rallying, but I can read, think and speak. When done properly, those three things are dangerous. I think I'm going to embrace this.