Haiti...

Haiti... it's something that we're all thinking about. We've seen pictures all over the media. I've personally seen three different A&M student organizations looking to raise money, received four emails from ministries whose newsletters I email-subscribe to asking for donations, seen two different blog posts on people's desires to go serve there, read two missionaries' pleas for help, seen at least eight signs around campus saying "Pray for Haiti," and been invited to a worship/s'mores/pray for Haiti night.

I understand that something horrible happened in Haiti. I realize that there are people dead and that more are dying and even more are left homeless or orphaned. I understand. I care. I pray.

But what about the other atrocities that never make it to the headlines, the front page, the internet sidebars, and the breaking news RSS feed emails and popups? What about the people in South America dying from malnutrition? What about the over 1 million girls sold into sex slvery each year? What about AIDS that ravages the African continent? What about the orphans in Ecuador where my friends are serving at a babies' orphanage? What about the civil war veterans in Liberia and Sierra Leone that are left amputees? What about....?

Why?

Why these tragedies?

Why the devastation?

Why the chaos?

Why the sadness?

Why the death?

Why, God?

I've recently been reading "Captivating" (girls, it's a wonderful book, but the workbook really makes it hit home!) and came across these thoughts from the chapter entitled "A Special Hatred."

We ask why? Because Satan is wreaking destruction on the glory of God in the earth like a psychopath committed to destroying great works of art. Satan was a beautiful angel (Ez 28:12-15) but he fell because no longer wanted to be "best supporting actor;" he wanted the Oscar all to himself. Now he seeks revenge on all that is beautiful and good. As women, I believe that he targets us especially because we are the ones who give life, who nurture, who allure the world to God. History is full of such examples. And they cannot be explained away by inherent evil in man, greed, or the lust for power.

"For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms." Eph 6:12 NLT

The only way to fight that is to pray; at this point, all I can pray is "Come quickly, Lord Jesus!" (Rev 22:20)

Praying for and supporting Haiti is a good thing, don't get me wrong... but won't you step back and look at the big picture?

Spring semester

OK, classes start tomorrow and I'm so not ready for this...

I'm not sure I want to be here. Classes are tough, relationships and friendships are rewarding but often draining and confusing, sharing a dorm room (with a new roommate nonetheless) is hard, and campus food gets old quickly.

I like home! There people love me, food is wonderful, laundry magically appears, the house is nice and quiet about 9pm, and I always can find a furry kitty friend to sit on my lap and purr.

School is tough. Home is safe. God is good. Still.

Mercy's on its way...

This week I am at the Mercy Ships International Operations Center at the Introduction to Mercy Ships (IMS) program--figuring out what I signed up for this summer! :-)

***If you continue reading this blog you will no doubt become very sick of hearing about Africa! As I start raising support and sending out prayer letters as the time of departure approaches I will be blogging here ; until then, this blog is where all my excitement stays! ***

I am so impressed by the entire Mercy Ships organization and all the aspects of ship life! The staff during the IMS has been incredible to answer ANY question we've had and to answer ones we didn't even think of asking! I've learned about meal times, laundry days, opportunities to get off ship, living quarters (I'll either be in a 6, 10, or 12-berth cabin!), insurance to get bodily remains back home should the worst happen to me, malaria medications, the Starbucks cafe on board, setting up my crew bank account, how long the upper deck is (for those early morning runs/walks), raising support and getting tax receipts for donors, and a whole host of other random but useful tidbits of information!

The best part of the IMS was meeting a sweet girl named Abi who is actually from about an hour from me! She will be serving aboard during the same time as me and we might even fly there together! God is so awesome to provide me a friend already!

As it stands right now, I will be joining the ship in Lome, Togo on June 13th. I will be serving as a hostess in the Hospitality department. I will be working to make sure crew cabins are prepared for new arrivals, greeting crew members at the airport/as they walk up the gangway, giving tours to first-time crew, making beds, creating goodie bags, baking cookies for events, and whatever else is needed in Hospitality. It's a job. Nothing I haven't already done, but if my off hours after I pull a weekend on call I will be able to observe in the orthopedic area of the hospital.

The ship will wrap up around August 7th (my scheduled departure date) and then after a week to tie-down items and prepare for sailing, the ship will make for South Africa. There the ship will be fitted with new generators and crew will be able to complete any needed certifications and training. Depending on when the fall semester starts back at A&M, I might be able to extend my stay and sail to South Africa and fly home from there... I may end up regretting that decision if I find I'm prone to seasickness... :-)

One of the videos that has really touched me this week is below. Calvin Nowell, a small-name Nashville wrote this song specifically for Mercy Ships and this video is from one of Africa Mercy's recent field services in Liberia, I believe. While this is not the official recruiting video and was put together from crew footage, this song is what has impacted me the most!

That's it in a nutshell... now comes all the support raising, immunizations, and the wonderful wait during this entire next semester! :-)

stopped at the light...

(Waves explode over a seawall and into Galveston, Texas as Hurricane Ike approaches on September 12, 2008: picture from teentechguru)

I feel like I'm sitting at an intersection. The light was supposed to be green by the time I got here. Or even red. Or at least a cautionary yellow.

But no.

The light is out. And I look around to discover that I am the only car in the intersection. And about to be overcome by a huge tidal wave.

What now?

I want to go straight. Continue on the path that led me to this intersection. The poeple and events that propelled me this way encourage me to keep it "pedal to the metal." My heart is all to happy to follow along.

Are they right?

My parents, God, and the deeper heart says to turn. Take that short right turn. Pause at the line and turn. No need to stop, just a redirection of forward momentum.

How?

It's hard to even know which way to go. The light is supposed to tell me. That's why it's there! Make sure it's safe for all and keep things flowing in a smooth pattern.

Or does it?

Is that light-enforced pattern really the best? Is it really all that safe? Is it really what is best for each individual car--or for traffic as a whole?

Who cares?

Well, frankly traffic patterns mean nothing to me. I AM the only car. The wave IS coming. The light is STILL out.

What then?

When the Light isn't blinking out a clear message, when Water doesn't seem to bring life only chaos and destruction, when I find I'm in the Driver's seat...

The still small voice is still there. And I know which way to go.

But will I?