from lovetrains
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Fistula in Ethiopia
This video pretty clearly explains about VVF, the "Hospital by the River" in Adis Ababa, Ethiopia that is dedicated to providing free surgeries for these women, and shows a bit of what I want to do after grad school.
Check out 4:05 for pictures of the physical therapy available for VVF patients, and 5:14 for a glimpse of "Dester Menda", the village I would like to build one similar to.
Check out 4:05 for pictures of the physical therapy available for VVF patients, and 5:14 for a glimpse of "Dester Menda", the village I would like to build one similar to.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Switching to Africa
I'm back in Africa... yes, I'm spending Spring Break '11 in Africa. :)
So, check out katiefarr-africa.blogspot.com for updates/pictures/anything else I feel like posting in the next week!
So, check out katiefarr-africa.blogspot.com for updates/pictures/anything else I feel like posting in the next week!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
REPOST: "stopped at the light..."
I wrote this over a year ago... and I find myself at the same intersection again facing the same traffic light and the same wave. Except this time the light's starting to flicker back on again, and I'm afraid to look and see what color it is...
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 people 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?
One song...
from musicandlyrics via lovetrains
What's your "one song?" Some of mine are:
"Caroline" by Seventh Day Slumber
"Into the West" from the Lord of the Rings Soundtrack
"Bad Day" by Daniel Powter
"You're Beautiful" by James Blunt
"Courage" by Superchic[k]
"While I'm Waiting" by John Waller
"So Yesterday" by Hilary Duff
"Flora's Secret" by Enya
"Tongue Tied" by Stereo Skyline
"Fall For You" by Secondhand Serenade
"Healed" by Shane & Shane
"Gentle Savior" by David Phelps
"Banquet" by Bloc Party
"Come On Get Higher" by Matt Nathanson
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Graduation pictures...
Sunday afternoon a friend volunteered to take some pictures for me for a scholarship I've been nominated for and also for graduation announcements. Hehehe, it was tons of fun! When Lauren edits the rest, I'll post them up... but here ya go for now.
(the largest Aggie Ring ever!)
(gotta love how the lighting came out in this pic :) )
Monday, March 7, 2011
"A Deeper Story"
I came across a new blog thanks to a friend reposting this on her own blog:
“You hold no more value because you are running around like a chicken with your head cut off. Your days are numbered, fill them with eternal things rather than a chasing of the wind. Everyone is tired…get off Twitter and GO TO BED. Being a “perfectionist” makes you flawed, not perfect. Being overly busy can deter people from investing in you, and will most certainly lessen your ability to invest in others. You feel more important when you are busy, when you are harried and undone, when you are exhausted at day’s end. Unplug. Put the phone on “silent”. Live life slowly. Sleep in. See if the world keeps spinning. It will. Without your help. Without your accomplishment. Without your control. Without your to-do list. Without your bossy-pants self. Without your hurry. Oh…and lay off the caffeine.” (from http://deeperstory.com/im-exhausted-are-you-great/)
"A Deeper Story" is a forum where Christian women with "creative minds–writers and artists–[can] engage their craft in a way that collides forcefully with both faith and culture." They post about the tough issues of life, wrestle with world issues, and seek to glorify Christ through it all. I'm intrigued by their passion.
And as always, take my recommendations with a grain of salt.
“You hold no more value because you are running around like a chicken with your head cut off. Your days are numbered, fill them with eternal things rather than a chasing of the wind. Everyone is tired…get off Twitter and GO TO BED. Being a “perfectionist” makes you flawed, not perfect. Being overly busy can deter people from investing in you, and will most certainly lessen your ability to invest in others. You feel more important when you are busy, when you are harried and undone, when you are exhausted at day’s end. Unplug. Put the phone on “silent”. Live life slowly. Sleep in. See if the world keeps spinning. It will. Without your help. Without your accomplishment. Without your control. Without your to-do list. Without your bossy-pants self. Without your hurry. Oh…and lay off the caffeine.” (from http://deeperstory.com/im-exhausted-are-you-great/)
"A Deeper Story" is a forum where Christian women with "creative minds–writers and artists–[can] engage their craft in a way that collides forcefully with both faith and culture." They post about the tough issues of life, wrestle with world issues, and seek to glorify Christ through it all. I'm intrigued by their passion.
And as always, take my recommendations with a grain of salt.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Before I Met You...
Road trips are great. Road trips listening to 90s pop music is even better. Thank God for Pandora and a car full of girls who either sang along or fell asleep to Jump5, Hilary Duff, and the Backstreet Boys!
And then this lovely song:
As I continued singing in the shower that night, I couldn't help but think of Proverbs 31:12
And then this lovely song:
As I continued singing in the shower that night, I couldn't help but think of Proverbs 31:12
"She does him good and not evil all the days of her life."
We always think about loving our husbands after we marry them... but if the Proverbs 31 woman loved her man all the days of her life, she must have loved him before she knew him...
and I'm on the quest to find out what that means.
Renewal 2011
This past weekend I was at the Collegiate Navigators South Central Regional Renewal Conference... it was so wonderful!
Saturday afternoon I was completely worn out and instead of going to a second breakout session I took a nap and then sat by the lake and watched the waves... Sunday morning we had two hours to spend alone with the Lord; time to reflect over what we'd learned that weekend, what God wanted us to do about that, and hear from Him. That was probably my favorite part of the weekend.
Alas, I didn't bring my camera, so pardon the cell phone pics of my Sunday morning spot:
It was good to see Peter again and hang out some with other Navigators from both A&M and other schools in our region.
Every campus helped in some aspect of the conference; this was A&M's contribution!
Saturday afternoon I was completely worn out and instead of going to a second breakout session I took a nap and then sat by the lake and watched the waves... Sunday morning we had two hours to spend alone with the Lord; time to reflect over what we'd learned that weekend, what God wanted us to do about that, and hear from Him. That was probably my favorite part of the weekend.
Alas, I didn't bring my camera, so pardon the cell phone pics of my Sunday morning spot:
(and a pic that a friend snapped of me, courtesy of Daniel Miller)
It was good to see Peter again and hang out some with other Navigators from both A&M and other schools in our region.
(Peter, Me, Susanna-another Bstud leader, Michaela-who was in my Bstud last year, and Lauren, courtesy of Daniel Miller)
(the whole A&M group, courtesy of Daniel Miller)