the calling

Its born through a revolution
A bravery like fire
Live alone or die together
The fight with a cause
For a passion that burns inside
And flows outwards
Alive
When will the world wake up
Wipe the ignorance off our eyes
The grenades of deception and division
We must advance with unity
Stand and realize who Love is
Because we can
Redeemed
Our captain

Night reveals more dark
Uncovering and bare
From the shadows one inquires our significance
We question
The merit of that which we rage against
Cycle of sleep and wandering
It will drown the light
Break free
Drums of routine echo and overtake
Some fall
Assault finds our backs
In the quiet
Because everyone is still sleeping

Arise and remember
March in agreement and hear the commands
The Rock trains hands for war and fingers for battle
Look to the high ground
Take position, there is a plan
A fortified wall of bronze
Don't lose heart
With faith there's joy
They will fight against you but will not overcome
Rescue and Light
Shining
The war has been won
But the battle has just begun

community

If there's anything I've learned over the past few months is the importance of community.

Whether working through the giftings or working through a tough situation in one's life, the emphasis should be on working together. In my stubbornness, I neglected people's offers for help. I didn't want to cast my burdens onto their already busy and heavy backs. But iron sharpens iron.

When I am at a prayer meeting, I can feel how much more power there is with people. If we were meant to do things on our own, God would have only created Adam. Yet, there lacked a completeness with just one individual. Communion between the people closest to me has been so incredibly important over the past few months. In the animal world, packs rely on each other to be fed, for protection, and direction.

We are the body of Christ, each uniquely working together. However, I am still trying to find the balance between too much dependence and a necessary/healthy supporting net of brothers and sisters. Because in the end, the most crucial communion is that with our Creator.

Nat'l Champs

A helicopter whirred overhead.

Firemen shuffled from foot to foot against the wind. Police quietly gathered on street corners.

Then the noise downtown began to grow, from the sporadic cheer to a steady, rising roar.

And when the buzzer blared 700 miles away, Franklin Street was buried by thousands of Carolina blue-clad fans, screaming, dancing and burning the clothes off their backs.

The crowd of more than 45,000 materialized in a matter of minutes after North Carolina’s 89-72 win against Michigan State to claim the 2009 NCAA title.

Fans poured from the doors of bars and restaurants. Waves of students sprinted downtown from their dorms and the Smith Center.

Together we became a tangled mass of bodies, hoisting each other onto their shoulders, spraying beer across the crowds, climbing street lights, hanging off trees and shouting into the mass below.

It was beautiful. Me, Paulina, the Suite Mates, Drew, Ryan, Kevin, Gregor, Burcu, Morgan, Kirmit, and thousands of our closest friends became an Ameba that took over Franklin, started fires, and shouted till 3 am when we were cleared from the streets.

Who knows, we may never see another mens basketball title during our time here at the Thrill. So, soak it all in. Why not, jump over a fire or two; crowd surf, climb a tree or telephone pole. Live. Even better, live it up with the people you love.

That's what the night was all about. Celebrating with you're closest friends...(and if you weren't close at the beginning of the night, after being smashed into each other in the mob, you will be closer by the end of the night) But just coming together, cheering, screaming, then sprinting to Franklin and talking about the night after is the memory that i will have. National title is sweet, but being with my family and closest friends was even sweeter.

a word

Come come to bring together my people who have lost focus come to bring together my people who have lost sight and have gone blind who are blinded by the deceiver of my love for them.

Now now is the time to be confident in your words and actions it begins

A time of healing time of rejuvenation and a final revival

Bestow the majesty and power of your captain

Align the church to be in agreement with my will

Discern pray resurrect

go. act. serve. love. shine.

God of Justice, Saviour to all
Came to rescue the weak and the poor
Chose to serve and not be served

Jesus, You have called us
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give

We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go

To act justly everyday
Loving mercy in everyway
Walking humbly before You God

You have shown us, what You require
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give


Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out Lord

scientific method vs Belief

In Psychology, we’ve been taught that the Scientific Method is The Way, the only way to know and obtain knowledge. In the scientific world it is accepted as the only true system of processes to explain a question or data. However, what is true? How do we know what is true, as the scientific method hasn’t always been around…

To know what truth is, one must first define truth. Truth manifests itself from sincerity, integrity, or faith, resulting to a fact or what one considers reality. There are an abundance of theories by philosophers who have their own take on the definition. Some state that truth is defined by society, or through historical power struggles, or logic that if one thing is true than a similar claim is also. Yet, it is among the endless list of theories, made by many of the world’s great thinkers, which lays a simple solution: that truth is just that, personal. There are countless ideas and limitless ways of knowing because every human is an individual and unique. No two lives are the same and no experience is exactly alike. Truth is based from logic, belief, or a combination of the two, and since everyone thinks in his or her own distinctive way thus produces diverse answers to the question of truth.

Logical thinkers appeal to the sciences where answers are formulative and derived from a precise beginning and would prefer to stay within the black and white box. Those who base truth out of belief go off of emotion and are unable to label why a certain event led them to the answer. Naturally, belief and logic will cross over and affect each other. However, it is quite impossible to logic one in believing or vice versa. Complicated webs form and entangle thinkers and frustrate scholars who seek only to share their findings and better their academic community. This is probably why the scientific method was created. It’s the Esperanto, the common language for scientists. It’s a formula that anyone anywhere can understand and implement, but also it’s a way to place boundaries and define expansive ideas.

Overall, no, the scientific method is not the only technique for investigating occurrences and is not the only way of knowing. We individually have our own method in which we find truth, whether by your heart or your head.

life's just one big game slash party

i, caroline, have learned two things in the past few days.
1) games, are awesome.
2) laura's grandmother officially parties harder than i do.

okay, so at school i never play games. but here...its my life. i play croquet, volleyball, solitaire/carioca/canasta (card games), and the beacon of them all, compatability. so compatability is this game that isn't made anymore. every person gets this pile of cards with certain pictures on them. as you move around the board you draw cards with topics on them (future, for example), and you choose which pictures represent them (perhaps the baby, the married couple, the skyscraper). then you see if your partner picked the same ones, or you try to choose the ones your partner would choose. its a fantastic game because you really get to know the people you are playing with, how they perceive things, what they're about, etc. but its more than that...its really competitive. you have you know your partner better than the opposing team members know each other. you don't know if you should put down what you think or what you think your partner would think!

but i don't understand why i get so into games! i think maybe, thanks to school, i have this craving for mental stimulation. and maybe its not the exercise of schoolwork, maybe i am inherently wired for mental exercise, maybe we all are-- designed to think about things, to challenge ourselves and to learn things. there's like this insatiable craving for exploration and adventure.

and this element of life...the competitive nature...the adventurous spirit...can truly connect people across oceans and continents. last night laura and i visited some of her grandmother's friends, who are chilean. their kids were about our age, a little younger, and don't speak much english. and i don't speak spanish. so i'm thinking like...how is this going to work? and then we go into the girl's room and she has pictionary! and we seriously had the best time. it was the americans vs. the chileans of course...a showdown of epic proportions. team english and equipo espanol! i think game play reveals certain universal elements of humanity. there's the vigorous circling of what you've drawn when it makes perfect sense to you, its so obvious! and time's running out and your partner just can't make out what you're drawing and they're like why do you keep circling that i don't understand! and there's the emotional release of energy when time has run out and they tell you the thing they were drawing that was so obvious that you were supposed to get right away but missed! and then there's the uncontrollable spouts of laughter when you see how someone's pitiful attempt to communicate something that just failed..quite miserably. then there's the unfortunate pang of misery that comes with finding out you have to draw the picture with your eyes closed, or with your left hand...or worse, you have to draw two pictures in the same amount of time!

i just love it, essentially. i love the way i get so worked up and think that my personal value is actually at stake. i love the way that in the same few minutes you can totally resent someone for their success but then rejoice with them after they've won-- because we're really all just friends anyway. the time lapse of mere seconds reveals the transience of all the game-associated emotions.

okay number 2, laura's grandmother, tatita carmen, is seriously a party animal! on new years we all went out to eat at aleli, a restaurant with an insane view of the lake, so that we could also see the fireworks at midnight. we sat down at about 10:30 and i had reached delirium at about 11:30, because, as i'm learning, i'm really not much of a night owl. so the balloons that rained down on us at midnight naturally transformed into volleyballs- the left side of the table vs. the right side of the table. the background elevator music naturally turned into an insane heartsong of my dance-party minded being! the party hats became bird beaks...unicorn horns...horns in general. the issue of whether or not my hair still looked okay and if i was going to have to excuse myself to the restroom to go fix it...really didn't matter anymore. also there was this toddler named matheus sitting next to us who mistook laura's dad as his own father and he really enjoyed coming to visit us so that was absolutely hilarious. and, in the midst of all this , our eyes gazed to the entrance of the restaurant because this one waiter had just faceplanted into the glass door! this was at roughly 12:04 am. what a way to start the year off!

okay so its like 1am and i haven't been to bed this late since i was studying for exams, and the meal is finishing up, and i'm like okay great, bed is near. au contraire. the escobar family was only just beginning! a dance party fell upon us! here i am, eyes drooping, leaning up against the wall and laura is salsa dancing with tatita, and the rest of our 9-person party. next thing you know is 2:30 am and i'm partying with 4 baby boomers and 2 retirees. so we got back to the house at 3am. 3 am people, i honestly don't think i've ever stayed out that late. so yes, we welcomed the new year with hearty celebration.

and we've all spent the past few days recovering...not. its january first and laura and i are settled in front of spiderman 2. its 11:15 and my eyes are drooping. meanwhile laura's grandparents are out at a party. role reversal i didn't even see coming! and last night we were visiting until 1:30 am. i just can't keep up! i'm like yawning my way through the end of pictionary and there's lively conversation in the other room!

right so, note to self, get out more.

Fuel

You don't have to understand it, just accept it. These words have rung so true in my (Laura's) cluttered brain. A person can accept the fact that food nourishes one body; one doesn't have to know exactly how food breaks down and little enzymes carry the vitamins to nourish us. Unless you are a food scientists, or just really like Wikipedia, one won't be able to easily comprehend the complicated and detailed journey food takes to ultimately be used as fuel for our bodies. The same for Christianity. I don't have to understand why Jesus loves me, just accept His love. Move past the details and focus on the outcome, the fact that He does and will love. We were created to only run on one thing; God. He's the only thing that will ever satisfy, and the only thing we need. We were designed only to be fueled by Him, He that is Love.

Kilometer 25

Bienvenidos a kilometer 25, Puerto Varas aka el sur del mundo. This is where Lala and I (being Carolina, yes emphasis on that last letter) are being kept for the next two weeks. ideally these posts started last week, when we actually arrived, but we were being adventurous piratas and didn't find time for it. anyways, we still love you a lot and want to let you know what we've been up to.

first week summary: eat, fish, eat, ride horses, eat, sleep, eat, explore the rainforest in the backyard, eat, go to the lago, learn how to say "i want a cookie" (yo quiero una galleta) in spanish, eat again, yes really we're just so hungry all the time, especially when its grown in the backyard!

then one day we woke up and decided we really wanted to go to easter island, which is this crazy volcanic island in the middle of the pacific ocean that was just beckoning a visit. apparently they heard about our crazy escapades in puerto varas. essentially, somewhere between 4th century AD and 17th century AD, a bunch of tribes (7) from either polynesia or present-day chile arrived in easter island and somehow managed to carve huge 10 meter statues (maois) from a rock quarry in the middle of the island and transport them to the coasts. these actions were the catalyst for easter island's thriving and only industry, tourism. they also provided plenty of opportunities for exciting pictures. the local language is rapa nui, but everyone speaks spanish. this is where my french came in handy.



right so, we toured around the sites of the various maois, and became friends with about 8 italians. what? it just so happened that in our tour group were four different italian couples who didn't know each other previously. they were really fun and outgoing and we sort of became a family after only two days together.

i think that lala and i were more impressed by the landscape than the actual maois. the juxtaposition of high and low elevation, volcanic rock protruding from the cool ocean water...it was really just ridiculous. there were three volcanoes that originally formed the island and all have since become craters. gradually these craters collected rainfall so they are essentially lakes, with vegetation growing in them. we'll post a picture of it for you. its one of the most unique and incredible things we've ever seen. so i think those sites alone were worth the trip.

the interesting thing is that easter island is actually in the same time zone as new york (and, by extension, raleigh) but it is so incredibly far away, and in a completely different season. (yes, i hereby admit that i got sunburned during my winter break. and lala's is actually peeling, for the first time in her life. i'm thoroughly enjoying the pseudo-snowflakes of skin that keep falling down on me)

now we're back in puerto varas again. which means fantastic food from the backyard! we were welcomed home with an asada (like a roast out) with lamb on a spicket. laura, being vegetarian, thoroughly enjoyed the meal. as did i. no really, that meal was out of control. the next day i decided we should take it easy so i went canopying in the morning and then laura and i embarked on a kayak journey on the lake. but here is the problem. you see, i was paddling and it was great and everything but then i decided that i just wasn't going fast enough. and i was a little confused until i remembered the golden rule of, well life, really: when in doubt, use physics! you get the max amount of force at 90 degrees right so i had to put the paddle in the water at a 90 degree angle! but then there was another problem. its called current. and we were being pushed all kinds of crazy ways so i pulled out that dandy r x f = T equation, and adjusted the radius arms of each side of the paddle so that i would end up going straight. it was really just glorious. the only thing not glorious was the friends that were swarming around my head and haunting my path the entire time...taliban.



yes there are actually terrorists in chile. they are these huge horsefly-like beasts of an animal who come out for 21 days in the summer and wreak havoc on all that is good and right and just in the world. they are immune to all forms of bug spray and really seem to want to be bffls (best friends for life) with lala and me. some people call them 'talbanos' but i think this underestimates the sheer ferocity of their existence and the extent to which they have jeopardized our great american freedoms. but, as you all know, la la and i are both americans, which means...we win. every time. the key is not being intimidated, or ignorant of their ways. you have to understand the enemy before you can defeat him. his language "bzzzz," his mannerisms, his religion and way of life. for some, such understanding might actually lead to peace, but the taliban are just so evil and so opposed to our lifestyles that...they must die. so the first day, i admit, i was intimidated. but then laura schooled me in their ways. they are really slow, especially the old ones (what else is new). so you let them land on you, then you think about every cruel thing they've ever done to you as your hand comes flying down upon them in a gigantic BAM of a slap as they fall to the ground. but the story does not end here. see in every form of darkness there is always a light to be found. yes, we have found something good, even in this definition of all that is evil. you simply tear their heads off, squeeze out their bellies from what remains of their body, and enjoy the sweetest honey snack that has ever, ever, ever, been created! so i no longer see the taliban as my enemy, but as a tasty snack! you know how sometimes during a fight people will say "bite me" or "i could eat you for breakfast"? yes, i actually mean these things. so essentially laura and i have been victorious. and we eat the enemy rather than succumb to his illusive power. by the way i have never in my life even attempted to touch a bug. and now i am snacking on them. its so disgusting yet incredibly awesome all at the same time and i only wish we could all expand our limited horizons a little bit.

The Aleatorios

This is my Costa Rican Family. From left to right: Burcu, Morgan, Nate, Drew, and me.

We’ve lived together, prayed, laughed, cried, told life stories and shared faiths. We come from different places, and are at different places in our own individual lives. We each are unique, having personal quarks and isms, having different tastes and ideas. None the less, our random lives have brought us together. Our random personalities merge too perfectly. Our random struggles, dreams, fears, and hopes bind us strongly and wonderfully. We all take life as it comes; all trusting and praising God.

Our little random family has a last name; we are The Aleatorios or The Randoms. We embrace our eccentricity and distinctiveness. We will continue to love and pray for each other even as the miles between us grow. God brought us together for a reason, and although we’re not sure what that is at the moment, we’re forever grateful that He did. These four, my best friends, will always be a blessing in my life.

pura vida

On a very rare day off, the family (Morgan, Burcu, and Drew) and I were laying on the beach peacefully reading our books when a large group plopped several yards away from us. We immediately knew they were Americans, yes there were blonde’s in the group, and yes they spoke English and were loud, but it was the manner in which they carried their primed selves. Each came individually carrying chairs, coolers, speakers, abundances of towels, and all their worldly baggage and materialism. This is one thing we do not miss about the States and admire about the Costa Ricans, the contentment in simplicity.

The people here don’t worry about what they have or don’t because, as I too have learned when I tried to cross the river with arms full of stuff, the more junk you have only further complicates life. The Ticos take one day at a time, rather one hour at a time. No worries for the future, because the future doesn’t exist yet. So why waste energy fretting on a non-existent idea. No worries, Pura Vida. As I have been told, work with what you’re given as opposed to fighting it. It’s about the reaction. Watching surfers, they move with the wave and literally roll with the punches, as unexpected as it can be. When you don’t worry about what’s to come, one is able to appreciate the small things occurring in the present. You never know what you may pass up when appreciation lies too far ahead of you. Life is what happens, when you’re waiting for it to begin. Live life now, not worrying about what to bring along.

sin fronteras

A religion, I feel, has been diverted into an organization that has rules and boundaries created out of fear of chaos. We instill laws because we have no trust, which by any means is legitimized when mass murders and other awful, human caused events occur. We create institutions like marriage, religions, rules, and borders in attempt to grasp security and control. These structures are in effort to a sense of security where there isn’t any. Only God is able to provide true security in our lives. Life is about a circle of relationship, not a hierarchy of power.

That’s one neat thing about Beach Community Church, where we worship- I would call it a hut. And what’s neat about our bungalow is the fact that it has no walls. We worship “Sin Fronteras” (Without Borders). There’s no limit to who can attend, to our love, to the hands and feet of the church which extend across the world. There is nothing to hold us back.

We were created to share life and build relationships, not place boundaries on love. Submission to God and those in our lives isn’t out of obedience either, simply out of respect. If we are submissive to one another, equally and in the same manner out of genuine love, there’s no need for authority in relationships. God wants us to join them in their circle of relationship. One thing I’ve learned is that God doesn’t want to be number one on our daily to-do lists, rather the center of our lives. We should be revolving around him, not placing him first. With ranking comes a sense of power, which is not how relationships were intended to be lived out.

Equality in pure love brings true contentment, but first we must be willing to give up our independence. Learn to rely on God, to trust that He is good. It’s hard to rescue someone that lives by fear and has no trust.

a lesson from the ocean

I was humbled the other day by the crazy, rippin’, Costa Rican waters. While sharing life with our youth group, we got together for our weekly football game; which takes place on an island moated by the river on one side and the ocean on the other. This
one day, however, the waters were extremely rough, ready to sweep anyone away into the ocean.

Our youth leader, Kevin, headed out first into what we thought was the shallowest section. It soon became apparent that even this big guy was no match for the waters. He turned around waving and warning us away that the current was too strong, and the rocks were to slippery. My stubborn self and I decided that I could handle it. I ignored the warning and began a slippery and unstable truck to the sacred playing grounds. Half way across, I realized something; I was stuck. The group was either on the safe grounds back on shore, or already carried away several yards down… I was alone. Yet, I believed I could succeed unaccompanied, single handedly. I was wrong. With my beloved and world traveling Chaco’s and Kleen Kanteen in hand, sadly, I was more worried about losing them than busting a knee. I lifted up a foot to start heading back to shore, when I was caught off balance and stumbled into the slippery rocks. My friends on shore saw that I was struggling and Drew began to wade out to my rescue. Nope, I thought, I don’t need help, I don’t need anyone. A few feet a away from Drew, I took a hard fall and scraped my knees up… but I still had my Chaco’s! Drew asked if he could help carry my stuff so wouldn’t be thrown off balance and weighted down as much. Again I denied. I can carry my own crap load. It’s mine to carry. One more hard fall, a pleading glare from Drew, and I handed over some of what had been taxing my effort to cross back to safety. With his help I made it to shore in one piece.

I was a bit disappointed in myself in the fact that I couldn’t do it alone. But later, I realized my faults. It took me yelling, “No I can do it by myself,” and hard falls to conclude that in fact I can’t. Who knew? We are supposed to share each other’s burdens, help carry each other’s loads to make the life journey a bit easier. These burdens, I’ve found, could be tangible like Jesus’ cross. Or it could be struggles, sorrows, and pains locked up and kept secret. If dammed up, this poison will continue to fester and eat away at our insides until eventually, we explode. Facing this toxicity only cuts away at its looming presence. Sharing it evens out the troubles as more people unite to fight it.

The independence in us, tells us that we don’t need God. We have the belief that we can handle life on our own, even though we truly don’t know what’s best for our own lives. We demand independence, but complain when God loves us enough to give it us-especially when things don’t go our way. Why couldn’t God have prevented this? How could God have let this happen? I’ve learned that God gave us free will, our individualism to make decisions. Sometimes these choices lead to bad things which affect our lives and we immediately look for someone to blame, usually out Abba in Heaven. We need to give up that independence, and trust in God. Trust that He is good, and whatever we do – because it’s in and through Him- it’s also good. True faith is giving over the control to Christ. My independent attitude has only gotten me stuck, literally. Sharing and trusting helped lead me out of the mess, my choices had tossed me into. Rely fully on God. I’m learning to trust; to comprehend that Jesus already carried the sins and burdens of the world.

I was scared standing alone in the middle of the river, unsteady, untrusting. It would have been a heck of a lot easier if I obeyed the warnings, and placed my hand trustingly in those who want to help.

shining star

The most eager minds I’ve encountered are those of the Tico kids in Tamarindo. We’ve been teaching English and art classes for the past 2 weeks, at CEPIA, to open minded and enthusiastic 11-year olds. We have the kids participate in art projects such as writing their names and drawing five things that represent them around it and write those objects in English, and making a pop-up card with a note to someone they care about in Spanish and English. However, our all time favorite art project was the day Morgan ‘shone’ her light and love on these kids, literally.

We’re still not sure how it began, but a lil Tico girl grabbed glitter paint and began slathering it on Morgan’s arms, then legs, and eventually the impossibly fun matter was everywhere. It was such an unforgettable day, we ate up every moment with the kids who continue to smile despite their hardships, and find joy in everything. The kids continue to remember Morgan as the crazy gringa who let them sparkle her and turn her into their shining star.

They’ve picked up English so incredibly quickly! We’ve been repetitively gone over phrases such as “How are you?” “My name is…” “I am from Costa Rica” and basics such as colors, numbers, months, body parts, and random objects. One class we gave them the choice of Arts & Crafts, a game, or learning English, and to no surprise they chose English. They’re just sponges who soak up whatever we can give them; knowledge, time, love. On Friday, we have pieces of wood prepared for the kids to paint encouraging words like “esperanza” (hope) or, “drive carefully” to be nailed to trees along the roads. The kids are learning English, friendship, being conscience of the environment, and helping each other and their neighbors.

With them, a smile means instant friendship and an organic love that extends beyond language and combines cultures. Glitter always helps making the process a little more fun too.

la pura vida - costa rica

After one week in Costa Rica, I’m in love. The people, places, and surroundings are beautiful. Only on the second day I began to see God shine through smiles, stories, and nature. In the Café we work at, our boss Mirna, told me of how although her and her 2 daughters live in a one bedroom apartment, her ex-husband doesn’t support her, she has numerous medical problems, along with tragic family issues, she gives thanks to God that she’s alive. It never ceases to amaze me when I come across stories like this – how thankful people are even in tough situaitons.

We work in an awesomely cute coffee shop nextdoor to where we live Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 8-4. We volunteer Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at CEPIA teaching english/art classes to a 4th grade class. This organization helps empower impovrished local (Tico) kids in the area, teaching them everything from envronmentaly friendly practices to computer classes to swim classes. Its organizations like these that we really feel like we’re making a difference in the kids lives.

During the nights we’re also busy. Mondays we go see our friend play guitar at a local restarunt, Tuesdays we lead a Tico VBS, Wednesdays we have youthgroup with the local gringos, Thursdays we head out for more live music, Fridays we have a Tico spanish youth group. We’re are incredibly busy, and our days are packed, but we love every minute of it!

One thing we’ve definetly learned, like in Jamaica is to be flexible and take things as they come. Plans usually don’t work out exatlcy the way you want them to, buses never come on time (or at all), and usually we get caught in a downpour walking home. It’s these moments where we have to be patient, laugh, and move on. There’s never room for frusteration.

One thing that I love here is that we have friends! The locals are so welcoming towards us fresh meat interns. After youth group one night we piled 11 people into a 5 seater car and drove down the road for ice crem. It’s moments that those that we’ll remember because of the purity in fellowship we felt with people from completely different backgrounds. I can’t wait to continue to learn and grow more over the next few weeks!

Here are a few pictures!
The Outside of CAFE CAFE

Our Cabina


The Group

like the ants

Sometimes I am so intent on understanding the big picture that I forget to slow down and analyze the small, crucial things. This small realization occurred one evening on a bench as I bent over to tie my shoe. I scanned the patterned brick below me, admired it for a brief second, then went back to lacing. But at a second glance, I focused in on one area and noticed small ants jiving and zigzagging carrying leaves and ducking between spaces in the bricks. As an Animal Planet/Discovery Channel fanatic, I found this way cool. Applying this to my everyday life, I discovered that if I never take time to direct my attention towards where I'm needed I'd miss out on a lot more 'way cool' things. Take time, slow down, appreciate and concentrate on the small things; because this will help in piecing together the ever-confusing, big picture.

pictures

Picture Links!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2022568&l=d7dab&id=1398690197

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2022570&l=24529&id=1398690197

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2022572&l=abb17&id=1398690197

what we did in jamaica

To go through day to day and list what we did would be a) boring b) difficult c) lengthy

So! If you would like to know details about Jamaica and our day to day happenings, PLUS other mission trips Grace Community Church is taking, check out http://www.gymsoxsummermissions.blogspot.com (Read the titles to make sure its about JAMAICA, not to be confused with Brooklyn or Mexico)

But! Every night, in our room, the girls would get together and we'd compile happy memories from the day. Feel free to scan through our inside jokes, behind the scene stories and true feelings, and what you won't find in the Grace blog. Here is what we came up with, we call it:

THE JAMAICA HAPPY BOOK:
-Meeting the Street Family – Margaritaville - Kerry sliding down the slide - Eric being outside while we talked about him - Warming ourselves with towels in the airport - Emily crossing the bouncy thing - Hillary's Celine performance - Emily's Grease performance - Raff leading worship - Group having a "cool vibe" (Kerry)- "Bookworm" - Capturing the lizard - Other "Book" innuendos - Taking beautiful pictures - Beautiful view from cloisters - Meeting 3 women & kids - Juice at dinner - Being able to flush toilet paper/drink water - Good brunch on Sunday - Tamborines/jammin' hymns - Meeting the Streets - Beach & pool time - Taking jumping pictures at the pool - Bra & panty parties/B&P status - Playing water polo with Jamaicans - Kirby graduating - Girls' pics on the pool deck - Sketchy black spots in the ocean - "Hot" tub - Awesome concert at Hoolebury - Little Eric dancing - Hillary & Colleen dancing with Jamaican women - Conversations with David & Leroy - Ice cream at concert - Hanging out with the Streets, Kerene, & Celine - Little girl (Tory) who said "come, come" to Amy over and over while dragging her to the car - Amy & Colleen's showers came back on! - Would You Rather/The Book of Questions - Singing every song from every genre/the 90s - Riddles/"In My World..." - THRUST! - Richie with a machete - Eating fresh mangoes - Beautiful view from roof of fellowship hall - "You two have a thing." - Jamaican girl - Gin Rummy - Doug making up an "In My World..." - What women want conversations with Hunter - Girls all ordering the same thing (Tequila Shrimp) - Cute puppies at Street house - Tracy got Mountain Dew - Emily realizing she likes wearing no underwear - Being hyper & eating candy - Taking fun pictures in ocean at dinner - Blueberry muffins - Tuna sandwiches at the church - Hillary making PB&J sandwiches with Goober - "Super uncool." – Kerry - Part of the group going to the beach - Dancing to songs at group time - Salad Fingers - Caitlin got a shoutout from Judson - Guava jelly - View at dinner - Caitiln's headache medicine - BOBBY! - PB&J high fives at the Streets - Getting a lot done at the Street house - Pouring the roof more efficiently - BEN GLENN - Going to the beach - Hop saving the puppy (Marley) - Brooke's laugh - Gas station stops for candy & ice cream - Hearing about Brooklyn - Children squealing at Jesus at Ben Glenn - Pump trucks at the church - "That just happened." - Sleeping in on Friday! - Getting pranked - Boys eating first - Brad mooned the Jamaican police - Dunn's River Falls - "Congratulations! You have completed the climb of the World Famous Dunn's River Falls!" - Duck shoes - Ocho Rios market - Inviting people to Ben Glenn - Name bracelets from David Gayle - Amazing chalk drawings - "Hips Don't Lie" during serious group time – CRYING - Amy & Colleen's awkward chin/collarbone bump hug - "Is it Frank?" - Pastor at Ocho Rios - "Roses are red, violets are blue. Reverend Chris Sasser & his group, I will always love you!" – Kerene - David M.: "Kerry, did you fill out the form?" Kerry: "No, I picked my butt." - Being punchdrunk - Sad pictures on the porch - Danny making it on the plane - "This is the trip that never ends..." - "The only other person here is the floor sweeper!" - Cheering for the zamboni - Frisbee in the D.C. airport - Kirbs Irish Dancing - Elevator music - British accents - True Life: We're Stuck in An Airport - Where is Dulles? - Wheelchairs/Smarte carts
- Amazing beds at the Sheraton – Being Home –Telling others about our amazing trip!!!!

hope

The moment we open the door, they’re always smiling and have welcoming arms for good Jamaican hugs.

On my mission trip to Jamaica, I finally got a chance to meet with the Street Family. Eight members of the humble family pack into a small cinderblock ‘house,’ way below anything they truly deserve. I was fortunate enough to be able to help dig and pour a foundation, and begin with columns, on an extension to their bare dwelling.
Her name is Hope. She’s stunning. She’s 26, with a 6 year old son named Eric, and her goofy wit will have you hooked the moment she smiles.

Hope and her two brothers, David and Leroy ate, stayed, worked, and went everywhere with us throughout the week. It was awesome, seriously; the time spent with that amazing family will stick with me forever.

As the week progressed, Hope and I began talking more and more. She’d tell me of her cute Spanish boyfriend, view on religions, and how thankful she was for everything. She reminded me that when you have nothing, your everything, is Christ. When darkness beings to takeover, Abba will shine his light for you. And even when all seems lost there’s hope, Jesus.

The word hope has meant a lot to me over the past few years. Hope for the future, hope for healing, hope to grow and love. When I think of Hope, I do think hope. She’s strong, faithful, and happy. Hope, along with the rest of the family, is accepting. She knew nothing of what I’d done, of who I was, and yet she was willing to be my friend-stay up late giggling, hold my hand as we talked with Ben Glen, and loving me for me.

Hope is there waiting, smiling and ready to embrace all who come knocking.

... as yourself

The time is almost here! Soon, (on the 14th), I’ll be heading to the unfamiliar Island of Jamaica where hard work with construction, white beaches, and God’s people (with awesome accents, mon) await. But what have I discovered about myself during the time leading up to this trip? Have I been still enough to hear God; to retain a concept from Him that I'm supposed to carry with me to Jamaica? The message that seems to keep streaming in is to:
1) place my cares and worries in the hands of God
2) be comfortable with myself, and to be myself

“So be content with yourself, God’s strong hand is on you: he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; for he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:6

The most malleable of things don’t wear a hard covering, nor carry any extra baggage or weight. I’m learning to trust more and accept that God loves, no matter what. God wants to love all that you are, spirit, body, and mind. Likewise, we are to do the same. The medium by which we love and worship God varies, but for me, it’s through service.


The verse, “Love your neighbor as yourself” takes on new meaning with me. Be true when you love. Don’t pretend or hide behind a façade of things you busy yourself with. Be yourself. Love purely…

SparkNote version:(Be open, trusting, be grateful, be yourself, place worries on Christ, accept love, accept yourself)

go

This awesome guy I know, Jeff Cash or J-Money, made this video to further illustrate our Call… to GO! It fits beautifully as a theme for me this summer. I’m off to be Christ’s ambassador to all I cross paths with; even if “its your next door neighbor Jack”.



I've been thinking and praying a lot about the people we'll meet. God puts people in our lives for a reason, and I've been meditating on how to be receptive and amenable. Then a lightbulb went off one night: This is how I have been hearing God... through people. Through their pain, smiles, stories, laughter, and hearing bits and pieces about their lives. I've experienced this at South Wilmington Men's Shelter, church, and at home. What God wants me to hear is often said by people I'd least expect it from.

Tied with the theme of 'Go' is, I feel, a sense of urgency. We don't know what tomorrow will hold. My goal was this summer was to not sit back and watch, but take action in what I belive is a just cause. This being teaching about sustainability, peace, and God's word in Costa Rica, and sharing hope and loving on the Jamaicans.

Like J$ says,

"People need hope, and when Jesus spoke, he said go, go, go...."

focus

In Jamaica and Costa Rica, we will be encountering people who have different ideas and experiences than us, who have so much less than we do, and who will ask us about our faith. In the past, it’s been important for me to prepare myself spiritually for a time devoted entirely to Christ. 1 Peter 3:15 asks us,

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an
answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you
have.
But do this with gentleness and respect.”

I’ve been priming my heart through quiet times, devotionals, and thus learning to be still. I need to become more receptive to what the Lord has to say and continue to focus on following Jesus’ example of loving everyone. No matter who we come across, we are told that when we are in Christ we are a family, we are one.

Like Jeff says, we need to reconnect to our first love. This, I believe, will facilitate in leading me to the answer when asked for ‘the reason for the hope that I have.’ Over the next two weeks I’ll concentrate on getting my eyes of the problems, questions, and past, and instead focus on embracing the future. I have no doubt in the plans ahead for us, because that’s what a Christian is called to do – follow and walk with obedience regardless of the possible outcome.

Joy has nothing to do with circumstances; it comes from Him who has my heart and focus.

With peace and love,
laura

and it begins...

Hola and Peace and to everyone!
This summer, some very exciting opportunites have been presented to me and a few of my friends. June 14th-21st: I'll be headed to Jamaica with 25 fellow seniors with my church, Grace Community. July 1st-Aug. 3rd: I'm headed to Tamarindo, Costa Rica with 3 of my close friends.
In Jamaica:
-construction
-VBS for the local kids
-spreading God's word
In Costa Rica:
-working with Tamarindo Community Church
-helping start an orphanage
-plan youth groups for local kids
-work in Cafe Cafe (used as outreach tool through the church)

The Lord has been slowly, and in his own special way, been working in my heart and life to help me accept love from others and myself. I'm excited to be able to share my hope to those who feel abandoned as I too grow in Christ.

With Peace and Love,
laura