Having just returned from a four day Eid al-Adha vacation in Dahab, a small diving-central town on the Red Sea, the noise and business of Cairo has hit like a ton of bricks. There was a serious part of me that did not want to go to work today, especially after the 8.5 hour bus ride back and the pollution-induced headache that I currently have.

But I find myself sitting at work prepared to be useful, get things done and be productive with absolutely nothing to do. I find that this is something to learn from. Many businesses in other countries do not function the way they do in Western cultures. Some places take tea and coffee breaks (more oft, Nescafe) four or five times a day. Others hold only six or seven hour work days. There are time when the internet goes out, so everyone goes home since nothing can be done from the office. Sometimes, all of these things can apply. I am learning, though, that this is not always a bad thing. Taking six tea breaks in a day means that you are spending more time with the people around you, getting to know the people and the organization fully and deeply. People are not just there to work, they are there to invest their time and be committed to the organization. There are definitely things that come from a society focused on relationships that societies who prize individuality over all else could learn from. We need to take that prized idea of 'community' from college and apply it to our lives and relationships outside of that one setting. 

So I sit here, waiting for my boss to come back from a training he is leading. It can be frustrating, or I can find things to do. So I find myself praying more, writing to friends and my fellow SALTers more, and taking time to not be busy. Time to sit and listen. To reflect on the things I have seen. A week ago I was in Alexandria at a community center based in Ras el Soda, a slum. I saw children who had unexplicable joy in lives that were led sorting through trash, living on less than $2 a day and in two room cinder block houses. Then I spent the last week in a small slice of paradise, though not quite Puerto Viejo. How can you reconcile injustice and privilege? How do you take that privilege and use it to create positive change and not casually exploit it? And how to do I return to the States and find a job? Do I choose the job that will be focused on helping others and may be far out of my comfort zone, or do I set up camp somewhere more comfortable with a job that helps me get out of debt? 

These are all the SALTers, IVEPers, and YAMENers out in the world this year. Prayers for them would be great. Also, if you're interested in the positions open for 2013-2014, check this link out and ask me questions. 

on friendship

"Friendship is acting out of God's love for people in tangible ways. We were made to represent the love of God in each other's lives, so that each person we walk through life with has a more profound sense of God's love for them. Friendship is an opportunity to act on god's behalf in the lives of the people that we're close to, reminding each other who God is. When we do the hard, intimate work of friendship, we bring a little more of the divine into daily life. We get to remind one another about the bigger, more beautiful pictures that we can't always see from where we are."

 - cold tangerines by Shauna Niequist (pg. 49)

I have lately been reading this book, cold tangerines, where Shauna Niequist tells stories of faith and life from a perspective that is so incredibly relatable. I think it's exactly what I have been needing to hear lately. Being so far away from my closest friends has made me so thankful and regretful at the same time. I feel like I spent so much time getting to know a large number of people that I sometimes failed to be a good friend. Niequist is reminding me that it is okay to be an imperfect person. Instead, true friendship involves risks, fears and doubts. I have always wondered, if I really open up with someone, will they still love me and want to be my friend? This is a fear that so many people have and so many people share. Why not take a few minutes and think about those friends you want to know better and maybe challenge yourself to be more intentionally open and honest with them? Even if it's scary.

"True friendship is a sacred, important thing, and it happens when we drop down into that deeper level of who we are, when we cross over into the broken, fragile parts of ourselves. We have to give something up in order to get friendship like that. We have to give up our need to be perceived as perfect. We have to give up our ability to control what people think of us. We have to overcome the fear that when they see the depths of who we are, they'll leave. But what we give up is nothing in comparison to what this kind of friendship gives to us. Friendship is about risk. Love is about risk. If we can control and manage it and manufacture it, then its something else, but if it's really love, really friendship, it's a little scary around the edges." 

- cold tangerines by Shauna Niequist (pg. 50)

"Why does humanity feel an innate need to pay a debt?"

This is a question that a friend of mine, who is in Bolivia for the year, asked in a blog post that I just read. He asked this question after walking through a Cochabamba market where people were buying and giving sacrifices to Pachamama (mother earth). Thinking about it, at home, people have a tendency to try and never be in debt to one another, because they don't want to owe people anything. Perhaps this comes with the independence so valued in Western culture, but at the same time, is it something that could be applied to all cultures?

How do you reconcile a feeling of indebtedness to God since we will never not be indebted to Him? Should you even want to?

Real love, true peace

How do you really love other people? And what does true peace, God's peace, look like? Things to think about.



I'm now in Akron, PA with my fellow SALTers (Serving & Learning Together - young adults from the USA and Canada serving abroad) and IVEPers (International Volunteer Exchange Program - they have come from other countries to serve in the USA and Canada) participating in a week long orientation before we go out to our various sites for the next year.

Fun random facts:

• The USA's women's soccer team had a bit of redemption yesterday when they played the gold-medal match against Japan. Due to their incredible last-30 second win against Canada, all the Canadians (there are a lot of them) were watching the game with me and cheering for Japan. But the USA won. Hah. My small moment of pride for my country. 
• I ended up helping lead worship for devotions this morning. So last night our practice turned into many renditions of songs like "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele and "Lose Yourself" by Eminem. Also the song at the end of Shrek, "Bad to the Bone" (the beginning since we didn't know any other words) and "the Cell Block Tango" from Chicago. I'm excited for the talent show. 
• Small world connections. Yep, happening all the time.
• This campus is ridiculous. Pictures soon to come on nandaellen.tumblr.com

The most challenging thing presented to me this morning was in the form of a talk about MCC's Mission and Vision. As a part of this, we were asked questions like these:

• Who are you?
• What do you want the world to be?
• What is your overall purpose? 
• What are your priorities?

So I sat there in the ten minutes that I was given to answer these questions (and a few more) realizing how difficult it is to openly and honestly answer these questions. Everyone knows how to answer the questions in relation to circumstance, but how would your answers look if situation and context was stripped away? Part of me wonders if all the answers said today would have been the same if people were not in a room full of Christians (says the cynical side of me). As for myself, I think these will be questions to take some quality time to answer. If you want to ask me the answers of these questions that I got in the three minutes, let me know and I'll let you know.

Being the last one to leave is not something that most of my peers have experienced, but seems to have become somewhat of a norm for me these past four years. Each year, I have watched my parents pack up, and more often than not been the one to drive them to the airport to fly back to Guangzhou. Usually, it's the parents who say goodbye to their children each year as they leave home and head back to school. I can empathize with parents whose children go to school far enough away that they only come home periodically during the year; is that strange for someone my age?

The last few weeks have been filled with family and friends, adding a bit of a bittersweet end to the 'college experience.' My last two month long summer is ending next Wednesday as I head to orientation in Pennsylvania for a week and than Cairo on the 16th. With that comes this incredible mixture of emotions. Part of me is so excited to go and so impatient to sit here waiting. Part of me has been so thankful for the time with my parents and extended family. Part of me cannot believe that I managed to survive doing something with people every day (minus two) that I was in Spokane (not in a bad way - I am so incredibly thankful for the time that I had with friends).

It is very bittersweet leaving. I know that it would not be much different were I staying in Washington, unless I were in Spokane or Coeur d'Alene, but sometimes it scares me that I don't even have the opportunity to spend time with people during the year. Already, just leaving for the West side of the state, I have lost touch with quite a few people, including some that I really thought would keep in touch. This on top of being afraid of the ramifications of the revolution that happened in Cairo a year and a half ago have made me more than a little bit anxious about going.

Packing in an already empty house is hard. It makes you reflect a lot and think about things that are important. What do you keep, what do you throw away? Life after college is terrifying. And so exciting. Sometimes I feel more than a bit unsure of myself, but I know that I have been pointed directly to working with MCC in Cairo for the year. Yes, it may be dangerous and I may be threatened, but I am going to really need to learn to trust that God will take care of me in every situation.



Side and almost completely unrelated note: I have discovered that chick-flicks are NOT your friend in cases where you are flying off to some far-away country for the year. They make you wish that people would appear at your doorstep to see you off or spend the last few days with you. It is SO frustrating wishing that this would happen. 

Life, at its best and worst, can be boiled down to adventuring. What you do with the potential for adventure, though, is up to you.

Part of me constantly wants to take up the adventure but who wants to adventure alone? I keep having people tell me that I will make new friends and meet all kinds of new people, and I know that this is true - I just need a bit of time to process the friendships of the last four years. I feel like our culture is not one that is accepting of grief that oftentimes comes with change. People do not know how to help others when they are hurting, so they play it off by telling you of all the great things to come.

The last four years have taught me what it is to have friends who are incredibly firm in their faith; both through action and word. This has been one of the most incredible blessings along with the marks each friendship has left in my life. I don't have words to really describe the ups and downs of leaving and saying so many goodbyes. I try to hope for 'see you laters,' but how can you anticipate when the next time you see someone will be? This summer started with saying goodbye to Kyle and Kirsti. I still don't know when the next time I will see them is - and they're family!

The thought of people's lives changing without me being there to participate in those friendships is frightening to me. I realized today that I have probably been pushed so far away (and I have most definitely been pushed to Cairo) because I have invested too much of my self-worth in relationships with other people. I am afraid to be disappointed. That is the part of the adventure that I wish would never happen. As I have reflected on my time in Costa Rica, I realized that I was hurt by people who did not keep in touch that I had expected to do so. So I have lately been trying to wean myself of expectations but it hurts almost as much to not expect anyone to keep tabs on me and want our friendships to grow.

Adventure time. It's all the ups and downs. All the people who have graced your life with their presence. Memories to hold on to, but not desperately cling to. I think I will be living off of this list of 'emergency numbers' my friend Jo from HKIS posted on her blog for the next few months (and years).

This weekend has been incredible.

In church this morning, Ryan was preaching about blessings. So often people ask God to bless them, but for what? What do we do with the blessings bestowed on us? Look at Genesis 12 - Blessings are bestowed upon us so that we bless other people. Simple examples: you will be happier if you take your money or time and give it to others than hoard it to yourself.

This sermon came after a weekend full of time filled with some amazing friends. Sometimes it is hard knowing that I will not always have easy access to the people I am close to now. Even this summer, I have to drive to Cour d'Alene to see one of my better friends. An hour away, but far enough to be obnoxious when both of you work vastly different schedules.

Even with this new end coming closer and closer, I cannot help but be so grateful for the time I have had in Spokane and these friends. I know that friendships fizzle out, especially once the inconvenience of distance and time difference start, but sometimes it is so hard for me to accept that I may only hear from people once a month or less because of being so far 'out of sight and out of mind'. That is the one thing about moving to Cairo that scares me: not that I will be in danger because of violence or politics, but that I will be alone without people I consider close friends keeping tabs on me. It is kind of ironic that the point where I am leaving is the point where I for once really do not want to leave.

These friendships have been the most incredible blessing to me. And how have I acted in return? Quite selfishly, to be honest. I think that this weekend really reminded me of exactly who I am. I've been focused on how people see me; what their opinions are of me. I got to hang out with so many good friends, laughing about ridiculous things, talking about important things, doing things that I have always had so much fun doing and just haven't for the longest time and being able to take a bit of time to myself as well. Giving and receiving time is so important and really, in my estimation, can't be beat. I think I'm going to start shifting my focus because really, it's not about me; it's about others and about Christ.

Visit me on the west side? There until August! 

G.K. Chesterton and a new style of adventuring

A bit of reflection on these last three weeks post-graduation.

Firstly, I am so ridiculously happy that I ended up traveling. I learned so much and I have come out of it with an even stronger friendship with Laura than I had before.

The hostel wall in London had a bunch of quotes, this one has changed my perspective on traveling: "The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one's own country as a foreign land." - G.K. Chesterton. I want to start discovering what the United States has to offer: I want to go back to Alaska in the spring to watch the ice melt, finally visit the grand canyon, go hiking for a few days in the cascades, see the Palouse, go rafting. I'm excited about it.

Thus, these are my new additions to my bucket list:

1. fly on a prop plane over ice fields as they break up in the spring and summer.
2. go back to Ireland, rent a car and go to Doolin, Belfast, the Dingle Peninsula, Donegal and the Giant's Causeway. 
3. Visit Prague, Budapest, Moscow and St. Petersburg.

These are random things I wrote down about my trip:

• I have been blessed by people over the last four years, how can I even doubt that there will not be more blessings and people who will be coming in and out of my life? 
• The Irish flag represents the Catholics (green) and Protestants (orange) and the white in the middle of the flag represents peace between the two groups.
• Rainy and cold seems to be a valid description for Irish weather; unless it is one of those times when it is ridiculously sunny and 80 degrees as the majority of our trip was. 
• When I get somewhere new, I have a tendency to freak out, therefore, I need to always travel with someone who tells me (kindly) to get over it and get me out of my hostel so that I am oriented to my surroundings. 
• You can buy extravagently priced peanuts from the United States in the Rejkjavik airport. You might also meet very kind Icelandic people at airline information desks who upgrade you to first class because the airline overbooked your flight.
• When traveling, you will have the most incredibly random connections with people that lead to small world moments. I met someone who studied last semester in Sweden with a friend of mine and another girl who went to Georgetown with a girl I played rugby with. 
• Apparently, after 10 hours of traveling, I look like I am too young to travel on my own. At least that's the vibe I got off of the disbelief of the US Immigration officer in Seattle when I said I was traveling alone. 

Deep thoughts: I have realized that I have this expectation for myself to do amazing things, affect many people and be needed/not forgotten by people. As I look at this, I have realized that I consistently try to figure everything out on my own. Trusting God and other people to help me and not just disappear seems to be one of the hardest thing for me to do. I guess that is reflected in my need and desire to have everything planned so that I know that I have enough money and security in knowing where I am going next and what I am doing. It is a trait so central to who I am and is reflected in a lot of different areas in my life. Moving to Egypt is, in a sense, going to be the first real test in my ability to trust God to take care of me in a very uncertain situation with a lot of unknowns. I do not know why he is sending me there, but I know that it is where I need to be next year and when I find myself becoming fearful or anxious about what I will do the year afterwards, I find myself able to stop and breath, remembering that I will be taken care of, no matter what. 

top ten songs

Top ten songs of graduation/traveling!

1. The Fear - Ben Howard
2. Radioactive - Imagine Dragons
3. One Voice - the Wailin' Jenny's
4. Howlin' for You - the Black Keys
5. Wolves - Down Like Silver
6. Heaven When We're Home - Wailin' Jenny's
7. Breath of Life - Florence + the Machine
8. Lights - Ellie Goulding
9. If I Die Young - The Band Perry
10. On Top of the World - Imagine Dragons

Pictures of a Post-Graduation adventure

Here are some pictures for you:

First of all, check it out! I graduated! (props to Tom Hamming for the picture)

London town!

Dublin

Galway

Aran Islands

Rock Cashel, Cork, Limerick (Spokane's sister city!)

London!

Today I have decided that it is time for an update! I am currently hanging out at a hostel in Dublin, Ireland. A bit of preface to this trip - about a year ago, I had a thought about traveling after graduation. I have always wanted to go to Ireland, and somewhat on a whim, called up my roommate Laura from junior year and asked if she would be interested in going with me. After much 'are we really going to do this??' moments, we bought our tickets to London (Laura flying out of Dublin). Once I got back from Costa Rica, we started to really plan things out. If you know me, you know how I like to have details planned out. So this trip is me trying not to have everything planned out and leave a bit up to chance. We know where we'll be, but not sure on how we're going to get there. That's what tomorrow is for. I new a bit of a break after London. We've been running around doing things like crazy. I got there about 12 hours before Laura and ended up sitting in the hostel room being exhausted and overwhelmed by leaving behind a lot of people. I got to see a couple of people the day I left Seattle that I'm probably not going to see this summer, so not until next July or August, and I'm not going to lie - it was not something that felt too great. So when Laura got in, she found a semi-broken down Nanda. Needless to say, once we were up and moving around the next day, and I our hostel by Hyde Park, things were better. We went to the natural history museum, the V&A, saw Albert memorial and discovered the joys of Harrods. The next couple of days involved us ending up walking 8 miles to find the Harry potter bridge, primark, parliament, trafalger square, buckingham palace, Hyde park, Kensington palace and gardens, Oxford street, St. Paul's cathedral, and the national gallery. One day we also ended up doing the big bus tour around London. Of the three buses we went on, two of the guides were fantastic and so entertaining. Full of fun facts and things about London and British culture. It was also a pretty convenient way to get around and avoid walking since we were both pretty exhausted. Of course I forgot sunscreen, so I was rosy and pink by the end of the day. Other highlights - coffee in various locations, the play 39 Steps at the Criterion Theater (which was absolutely fantastic) and figuring out what happened to our flights today! Last February, we reserved flights from London to Dublin on continental. Which later merged with delta. So we were flying on bmi airlines which is operated by British airways. So it was just a bit of a mess. But it was all figured out and now we are at our hostel in Dublin! With a ridiculous number of Germans, I might add. And a guy at the front desk tht is josh klute's doppelgänger. Not sure what tomorrow involves, but I think it ought to be a bit more laid back and enjoyable :) just need to stop worrying about money!

God of my Relationships

Can you say completely bipolar emotions? That is this week. The most recurring?

• Excitement to see my family.
• Fear of not being able to say goodbye.
• Trying to figure out how to tell some of my good friends that I am afraid that I won't be as important to them in three months as I am now without sounding completely ridiculous.
• Is it okay to be excited about new adventures on two different continents even when you are leaving people behind?

At hosanna tonight, a friend of mine prayed for a small group of us to allow God to be in control over our relationships. Another prayed for God to help us know who we should focus on spending time with, to show us who to really pursue those relationships with especially as so many people are leaving and will physically be far apart. Talk about getting at a point that absolutely hits home. I would be the first to say that I put probably too much stake into my friendships, which is probably why I tend to have a hard time trusting people quickly. Though I find that it is the people I can immediately open up to that I end up trusting the most?

The concept of having to say goodbye to so many friends is overwhelming and, to just be a bit more dramatic putting words to my feelings, more than a little bit heartbreaking. It's almost as though you know it is coming, but when it hits, you don't even know how to properly say goodbye. And you just can't say 'until later' to everyone, because you really probably will not see most people again. You just try to reach out grasping at the strings , holding people as close to you as you can without letting them slip away.  

Today I watched the sun set, just took the time to sit on a ridge and watch it set behind the hills. I was listening to the song "Heaven When We're Home" by the Wailin' Jenny's.

The question "where is home" no longer exasperates me. Where is home? Home is happening in 11 days when my entire family is together. Granted, it doesn't happen often, and thus must be cherished every time it does, and I am so, so incredibly excited for everyone to be together, even though it is only for three days. And then we all head off to our separate continents to be connected by emails and skype. Much more than my mom used to have, so I am thankful.

Watch this video if you have time. It is pretty powerful, especially when you hit the question around 7.30

none of it ever lasts.
                                      I am unhappy with this phrase.




In 24 days I will be in London.

In 3 months and 15 days I will be going to Pennsylvania for training with the Mennonite Central Committee and a week later, moving to Cairo, Egypt.

Life is moving fast. A bit too fast for my taste. Someone slow it down? ¿Por favor?

Trayvon Martin

For those of you who don't know what has happened recently with the killing of Trayvon Martin, I would strongly suggest you look into it. This killing, because someone on neighborhood watch thought a black kid with a hood up looked suspicious, has gone unpunished. I understand the need to be able to act if you feel threatened, but in this situation and what I've read about it, I'm pretty sure that this young man was not threatening anyway in a way which warranted being shot.

This has brought up incredible response from people sick of being profiled because of their skin color and stereotypes. Though this had to start through the death of a 17 year old, people are speaking out and saying very important things.

It is NOT JUST STUDENTS who are speaking out. Please read this article and watch the video. It makes me mad that more people have not seen it. Democratic Representative Bobby Rush was kicked off the floor in a morning session because he broke the dress code. What makes me SO upset is that the speaker of the house did not care to listen to the importance of what Rush was saying, instead he asked a clerk to escort Rush off the floor because hoodies were not allowed in the dress code.

What was he trying to say? This:

"Just because someone wears a hoodie does not make them a hoodlum. The Bible teaches us, Mr. Speaker, to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” [emphasis added] A quote from the book of Micah 6:8 in the BIBLE. Remember, Jesus tells us to accept everyone, right? In the book of John, he explicitely shows through the healing of the centurion's son and his conversation with the Samaritan woman (something unthinkable during that time period - talking to a woman and especially a Samaritan on top of that) that he comes to save everyone. He even says this through both discourses about hte Good Shepherd and Bread of Life : "For my Father's will is that everyone who loks to the Son and believes him shall have eternal life" John 6:40

If we were to shoot everyone who looked suspicious, what would happen? Mass panic and a lot of dead people. I think Rep. Rush took matters into his own hands and yes, had to use some theatrics to get his point out, but made a VERY necessary one. And what happens? Instead of listening to the depth and importance of what he is saying, various people from the security forces or who have commented on this action to various newspapers highlight his past as a black panther. They do not highlight that in 1999, Rep. Rush's son was killed in the streets. He is not immune to the racism that still exists in the United States. For instance, in class yesterday, a professor mentioned statistics from five years ago saying that in a nation where African Americans make up 14% of the population, they represent 74% of the people in jail for drug related crimes. When African American boys see their relatives in prison or dead by the time they are 19, how is that even giving them the desire to succeed when they only see failure? Let's change our education systems. Maybe that means middle class and wealthy neighborhoods giving a little bit in order for others to have more opportunities. Lets create interaction and conversation between people of different races, backgrounds and culture on an equal playing field where real change will happen. 

When American politics have come down to 'what is best for my part' versus 'what is best for my country and the people', there is something lost. How can I want to even participate in voting when all I see going on is name calling? I, and a lot of other voters, would like to see some decency in American politics. I will  be placing my vote by what I see of the character of presidential candidates and the people they surround themselves with. I am tired of knowing that so many people I know or am related to vote because of party and based on how 'Christian' a candidate seems. God can work through anyone to fulfill his desires. I have seen plenty of presidents make declarations that have led to wars that have taken thousands of civilian and military lives who claim to be Christians. I have the feeling that I will not be voting based on Christian-ness this November, because to me, it is only even talked about in order to gain the votes from certain people groups. Christianity in the United States is so often complacent, something of habit that has been instilled by the historical culture of our people. Why is it so against the normal to shed this apathy and try and create change. Isn't that we are called to do? We can make change; radical change. You can lobby with your senators and your congressmen/women, we can be a voice waiting to be heard. You can go to the neighborhood a few blocks away, maybe go into the nearest city and build some relationships. If you are a white Christian, maybe go to an African American church for a few Sundays, or a Korean church. Get to know people who are different from you. Experience a type of worship that you might be uncomfortable with. Stop trashing other people, and start reviewing your life and the way you look at the world. If you are going to call yourself a Christian, at least let it mean something, not simply be lost in the hypocrisy of American cultural Christianity.

note - I say many of these things to myself as well as the general readership.  Trying to make a change can seem overwhelming, but if you don't start somewhere, nothing will change and people's lives will never be affected. Better to change one life, and your own, than do nothing. 

travel

Be adventurous.

Hyderabad, India

Be free.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Don't forget your sense of humor.

Donald Duck Bay, Similan Islands, Thailand

Plan your hostels, but leave room for things to change.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Don't forget your passport.

Town on the Nakasendo Highway, Japan

Rediscover your creativity.

Matagalpa, Nicaragua

Stop wishing, start doing.

León, Nicaragua

Learn a new kind of art. Crochet, anyone?

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Create new lists of things to do.

Inverness, Scotland

A friend once told me: "You will learn not to worry because 

you are so useless that God has everything ready for you anyways" 

Hyde Park, London, England

Make a new wish list. (Mine includes a polaroid camera, film and a study bible)

Whitby, England

Live in the moment, not two months from now.

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Stop worrying about what other people think.

Beijing, China

Note: all pictures are credit to Nanda Navis (myself) and will be for sale as fundraising to go to Egypt for $3 each. Let me know if you want any copies (11x17)

food for thought

I have recently been assailed by reminders to trust God. A friend wrote me a thank you card, today I reread it when I found it in my backpack. His last words: TRUST GOD. I'm reading Simply Jesus by N.T. Wright and have been profoundly challenged in where the basis of my faith comes from and how hard it is to the simplest things God asks me to do.

I'm interviewing for a position that would take me to Egypt this week. The other two I was looking at fell through. How do I know that it was God making them fall through? How do I know if I am supposed to say yes? Wait until after the interview, I guess.

if You are willing...

I don't know where to begin seeing as I am in mid-thought at the moment, so we shall see.

I feel incredibly selfish. I am taking a semester chalk-full of incredible classes: sociology of education, European myths of identity, contemporary sociology, TAing for modern global lit and the Gospel of John. I am so excited about them, but at the same time am ridiculously overwhelmed by trying to balance them, their workloads (already), trying to exercise, remembering to eat, worrying about what being gluten and lactose free is doing to my body in the sense of probably lacking things like iron and calcium, wishing I talked to my family more and trying to find time to spend by myself and with friends. The conundrum of all college students.

You would think living off campus would make you more on top of getting homework done.

So what do I do? I want to pray, requesting peace or the ability to focus more than I think I can. Coming back to take five 250-430 level classes is a shock when you haven't taken more than one class at once since last May.

In chapel yesterday, Mindy was talking about prayer from Mark 1:40 "A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean.'" How do I accept that maybe a prayer won't be answered? Being perfectly honest, my prayer right now is "Lord, if you are willing, please let me stop having to say goodbye to people." One that I wish I didn't have to preface with 'if you are willing'. 

joy is...

...an unplanned coffee date with a good friend
...6 hours later pretty much finishing my job application for the CRC
...london fog latté
...the cold with snow on the horizon (pleaaaase)
...gluten free cupcakes
...finding out that my student account will let me drop $2500 in loans this semester.

transitions of 2011

Today I find myself with a bit of time alone (mostly because I am home sick instead of at work). I have had the most wonderful and slightly overwhelming past few days. Managing to surprise multiple people and get picked up and spun around more than once as a greeting is actually incredibly fun. My desire to get on campus and get to see multiple people has really conflicted with wanting to stay home and rest. Also going from a semester surrounded by basically 10 different people into hundreds is a bit overwhelming. 

I'm going to copy a bit from my friend David's blog and put up a few pictures from 2011. But with more pictures than him. And inevitably more words, since I am a wordy person.

2011 started off with a bang for me. I was in Abu Dhabi with my parents and Kyle and Kirsti for the winter holidays with the Self's. Talk about a Christmas vacation.

A few days later (the 3rd or 4th?), I found myself on a plane heading west to the London Heathrow international airport. I met up with my class, led by the incredibly knowledgeable Keith Beebe, and traveled through London, Oxford, York, Durham, Whitby, Edinburgh and Inverness (I might have missed a few). On this trip, I learned so much about the history of the UK and the church. I also had the joy of meeting some of the most incredible people, some of whom I am living with right now!

 Big Ben, London

 the tower bridge, London

 York                                             Whitby Village

The end of January brought me back to the motherland: Spokane. I finished the school year off as a Resident Assistant and solidifying some good friendships.

 These three people are such great friends :)

 Spring break in Gig Harbor!

 Whitworth LARPing

One of my favorite team bonding moments :) What is better than throwing paint at each other?

This summer I stayed in Spokane, working with some WONDERFUL men and women in the facilities services office at school (I was very excited to get back to work this spring), shutting back and forth to Lynden to spend time with Kyle and Kirsti while they were visiting and then mom and dad before they went back to Guangzhou.

Family picture taken on Mt. Baker June 26th

September came rolling around and I found myself packing up and heading to Monte de la Cruz, Costa Rica. I don't think I can pick just a few pictures from that semester, but I will try. I was challenged to lengths I did not expect and made some really good friends.

 One of the oldest cathedrals in Central America: León, Nicaragua

                                  Manzanillo, Costa Rica                                 Hannia (aka Kuki), my host mom

 Playa Blanca, Costa Rica - Pacific coasts

Crocodile tour. Wonderful people. German tourists!

Early December and I find myself boarding more planes: back to the US for 30 hours and onward, to Hong Kong and Guangzhou!

                                     obligatory family Christmas photo                                  I love me some HK.

And finally, just in time for New Years, I board my last plane of the year to Vancouver on December 31st. Land on the 30th and am picked up by the most wonderful family: the Roorda's. And that is my adventure! The first of the year found me back in Spokane, settling in to my house. I have no idea where the rest of this year is going to take me (minus Ireland - bought those tickets over Christmas). Job ideas? Let me know! :)

As it is said: Congratulations graduate! Welcome to unemployment!