i sang this song in high school. at the time, i thought it was so "cheesy." this weekend, i was reminded of it as a friend from church and i were able to sing through it together. i instantly got chill bumps. today in one of my classes, we watched a movie. in the movie, i saw a child shot. it was a short event, but that did not alleviate the severity of the pain i felt at that moment. in my next class, we discussed how child poverty is likely the world's worst problem-- not just economically, but in a sense of humanity.
Can you hear the prayer of the childrenon bended knee, in the shadow of an unknown room?Empty eyes with no more tears to cryturning heavenward toward the light.Crying," Jesus, help meto see the morning light of one more day,but if I should die before I wake,I pray my soul to take."Can you feel the hearts of the childrenaching for home, for something of their very own.Reaching hands with nothing to hold ontobut hope for a better day, a better day.Crying," Jesus, help meto feel the love again in my own land,but if unknown roads lead away from home,give me loving arms, 'way from harm
Can you hear the voice of the children
softly pleading for silence in their shattered world?Angry guns preach a gospel full of hate,blood of the innocent on their hands.Crying," Jesus, help meto feel the sun again upon my face?For when darkness clears, I know you're near,bringing peace again."
Do something. Ask God to set your heart on fire, if it isn't already.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Grace's amazing hands are ugly, but they are soft as a featherbed.
ALL is well. God's grace covers all. Though i mourn my imperfections, I am astonished by grace. His grace is the only reason I have a chance in this world. I deserve nothing, but have everything I need and more. I am loved and adored. I am sought after and cared about. I am encouraged. By God AND the people He gave me. Wow.
I am the woman at the well, I am the harlot
I am the scattered seed that fell along the path
I am the son who ran away
I am the bitter son who stayed
My God, my God
Why hast thou accepted me
You took my sin and wrapped me in
Your robe and your ring
My God, my God
Why hast thou accepted me
Its a mystery of mercy
And the song I sing
I am the angry men who came to stone the lover
I am the woman there ashamed before the crowd
I am the leper who gave thanks
I am the nine who never came
My God, my God
Why hast thou accepted me
You took my sin and wrapped me in
Your robe and your ring
My God, my God
Why hast thou accepted me
Its a mystery of mercy
And the song I sing
You are the bringer of the moon and all the seasons
You are the singer of the tune that calls the stars
My God, my God
Why hast thou accepted me
You took my sin and wrapped me in
Your robe and your ring
My God, my God
Why hast thou accepted me
When all my love was vinegar
To a thirsty king
I am the woman at the well, I am the harlot
I am the scattered seed that fell along the path
I am the son who ran away
I am the bitter son who stayed
My God, my God
Why hast thou accepted me
You took my sin and wrapped me in
Your robe and your ring
My God, my God
Why hast thou accepted me
Its a mystery of mercy
And the song I sing
I am the angry men who came to stone the lover
I am the woman there ashamed before the crowd
I am the leper who gave thanks
I am the nine who never came
My God, my God
Why hast thou accepted me
You took my sin and wrapped me in
Your robe and your ring
My God, my God
Why hast thou accepted me
Its a mystery of mercy
And the song I sing
You are the bringer of the moon and all the seasons
You are the singer of the tune that calls the stars
My God, my God
Why hast thou accepted me
You took my sin and wrapped me in
Your robe and your ring
My God, my God
Why hast thou accepted me
When all my love was vinegar
To a thirsty king
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Updates from the couch...
i've spent more time one the couch in the past 3 weeks than i think i have in the entire time i've lived in montana. most of you know that i tore my ACL, MCL, and meniscus a few weeks ago. i had surgery last tuesday and have begun constant PT. i was fortunate enough to have mom come out for the week (nothing like your mother bathing you at age 20, huh?) she's pretty much the bomb. i am surrounded by awesome people here in missoula who were ready to drop anything to come help me out or give mom a rest. my servant-hearted boyfriend, jonny, and ever-faithful friend, holly, made the experience almost fun... almost.
from the day i fell on that soccer field, i've been dreading the weeks to come with this injury. i immediately had two problems. (1) i HATE not being active. hate it. i love to work out and i love to be outside and go on adventures. even when the e.r. told me it was a "sprain" (haha!!) i knew i wouldn't be back for a long time coming. i knew i would grow out of shape. after running my first half-marathon, that just made me shutter. (2) i knew i would be spending alot of time laying around, thinking. i knew i was going to have to face thoughts that i usually push to the side of my mind and don't allow time for. i knew God was going to make me talk to Him about them, too. sure enough, i'm out of shape and i've done alot of talking to the Father. but, as always, He's good. i didn't suffer through the thoughts, and He taught me so much. and it was sweet, like it always is.
so i'm STILL waiting for the rest of my haiti photos, but i have a few of my own and will go ahead and share a few things!
this is esther. let's just get to the point: she was my favorite person i met in haiti. i met her the first night i was there and told her i was ready to learn creole. so, we learned each other's names, then got started! you know why i love esther? she knows she was made for something big and she's just ready to do it. that first night, she pulled out her cell phone and says, "look what i did last week!" i wasn't expecting it, but she showed me pictures she had snapped (with her cell phone!!) while helping out with a heart surgery.... a heart surgery, people!!! she is uniquely gifted with children. on the days we had over 100 kids, she was able to capture their attention and they respected and loved her. as you can see, she is beautiful, but you should see the way she glows when she talks.
from the day i fell on that soccer field, i've been dreading the weeks to come with this injury. i immediately had two problems. (1) i HATE not being active. hate it. i love to work out and i love to be outside and go on adventures. even when the e.r. told me it was a "sprain" (haha!!) i knew i wouldn't be back for a long time coming. i knew i would grow out of shape. after running my first half-marathon, that just made me shutter. (2) i knew i would be spending alot of time laying around, thinking. i knew i was going to have to face thoughts that i usually push to the side of my mind and don't allow time for. i knew God was going to make me talk to Him about them, too. sure enough, i'm out of shape and i've done alot of talking to the Father. but, as always, He's good. i didn't suffer through the thoughts, and He taught me so much. and it was sweet, like it always is.
so i'm STILL waiting for the rest of my haiti photos, but i have a few of my own and will go ahead and share a few things!
this is esther. let's just get to the point: she was my favorite person i met in haiti. i met her the first night i was there and told her i was ready to learn creole. so, we learned each other's names, then got started! you know why i love esther? she knows she was made for something big and she's just ready to do it. that first night, she pulled out her cell phone and says, "look what i did last week!" i wasn't expecting it, but she showed me pictures she had snapped (with her cell phone!!) while helping out with a heart surgery.... a heart surgery, people!!! she is uniquely gifted with children. on the days we had over 100 kids, she was able to capture their attention and they respected and loved her. as you can see, she is beautiful, but you should see the way she glows when she talks.
this is andy and i with our friend (and translator) ludgee. "teaching" kids english was my favorite thing I did in croix-des-bouqet (just a few miles out of port-au-prince). first of all, andy and i were a great team, it was a blast to work with him! it didn't take us but a few minutes to realize that we weren't going to be teaching anyone any english that day! these children, who don't go to school, are SMART! so they showed us their english stuff, counting for us, singing our alphabet, telling us what colors we were wearing. then, they all laughed, and started teaching us french-creole. it was completely amazing, how a chaotic group of 30 boys all were so excited to teach us their language. it was the first time the language barrier dropped for me. i realized that laughter is a universal language; and so is love. we didn't need ludgee to translate, we just enjoyed her laughter with us and the kids. they weren't well-behaved (by our standards) but they LOVED us and longed to interact with us, get to know us, learn from us, and teach us.
when i was lying in my bed that night, writing these things in my journal, i wrote at the top of the page "today is the day i fell in love with haiti." but, after two months of being home, i realize it is easy to say something like that on a short trip, where our accommodations were still levels above what many haitians will ever know. in retrospect, i know that God really opened my eyes that day. i've always had this "we are the world" outlook, believing humanity is one race, created by one Maker, destined for one of two places. but that was the day that i realized how COOL that is. how FUN it is. how IMPORTANT it is that i continue and grow in that thought and let God develop it even more in my heart. i realized that my life is bigger than me and i have got to rearrange my priorities. i realized my worries can be downright pathetic.
i read "radical" by david platt, my pastor at brook hills in birmingham, on the plane ride to haiti. it literally took my about 90 minutes. i'm not even going to review it or tell you what i learned from it. just read it. if you think you can't read it cause you don't have the money to buy it, you're wrong. call me, and i'll send it to you.
i will post a few more pics and stories in the days to come..
i will post a few more pics and stories in the days to come..
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
How is June already over?!
Hi friends!
I am well aware that I have not yet posted a thing about Haiti. I am sorry to those of you whom I promised pictures and stories. I'm still awaiting photos from friends. The stories are so much more wonderful when you can see my friends' faces. Also, I am still working on journaling my trip. I did not do a spectacular job of that while I was there. My Haitian friends are the best, even though I only knew them for 2 weeks! So, you will be updated asap!
As for "what I'm up to these days": I am working part-time at a family law firm in town. I love it so far and I am hoping it will offer me direction for my next step in my educational career! What have I not enjoyed though? Yep, you guessed it. Mornings. Otherwise, Mom and Mimi have been here for 9 days which has, of course, been a blast and a blessing! I'm anxiously awaiting Daddio's visit, hopefully sometime in August. Holly, Katie, and I have acquired an obsession for Jillian Michaels tv shows, workouts, and cookbooks. I'm trying to stay open for new adventures in Montana, planning backpacking trips and taking short afternoon hikes. Oh! And I am LOVING my new house and my roommate, Jenny. Can't wait till August when Jessie gets back from DC and we get all of our furniture... then it will be complete!
My next big thing is running a half marathon. For those of you that know me well, this is shocking, isn't it? It has been a struggle mentally and spiritually more than physically. I really must say that it is among the hardest things I have ever done. Many of my past struggles have been highlighting in the past few months, but I have grown in my trust and confidence in the Lord through a silly little race. I am so excited about the next two weeks. Race day is in 12 days! Ah!
Last Friday, 4 of us ran the longest distance I have ever ran. (Given, all 3 of these guys have done MUCH more than I ever have!) I ran with a friend of mine, Brad, who was more than blessed with the gift of encouragement. Embarrassing as it was, he saw me shed tears and get so angry with myself I just didn't want to go on. But he recited scripture as I ran and gave me advice along the way, and we finished running slightly over 10 minute miles! I couldn't believe it! As we ran, he kept telling me that "We are more than conquerers." So I have read that passage in Romans 8 every day since Friday and will continue to until the race. I've kinda made it my mantra, if you will. I've found that the more I read it, the more I can apply it to every aspect of my life. I've tried a million things to "build my confidence" over the years, but over and over the only things that are effective are God's word and His people. So I just want to share this with you. It's something most of us have grown up reading... but let it sink into the holes in your heart and it will fill them so sweetly, just like it has done for me.
More Than Conquerors
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I am well aware that I have not yet posted a thing about Haiti. I am sorry to those of you whom I promised pictures and stories. I'm still awaiting photos from friends. The stories are so much more wonderful when you can see my friends' faces. Also, I am still working on journaling my trip. I did not do a spectacular job of that while I was there. My Haitian friends are the best, even though I only knew them for 2 weeks! So, you will be updated asap!
As for "what I'm up to these days": I am working part-time at a family law firm in town. I love it so far and I am hoping it will offer me direction for my next step in my educational career! What have I not enjoyed though? Yep, you guessed it. Mornings. Otherwise, Mom and Mimi have been here for 9 days which has, of course, been a blast and a blessing! I'm anxiously awaiting Daddio's visit, hopefully sometime in August. Holly, Katie, and I have acquired an obsession for Jillian Michaels tv shows, workouts, and cookbooks. I'm trying to stay open for new adventures in Montana, planning backpacking trips and taking short afternoon hikes. Oh! And I am LOVING my new house and my roommate, Jenny. Can't wait till August when Jessie gets back from DC and we get all of our furniture... then it will be complete!
My next big thing is running a half marathon. For those of you that know me well, this is shocking, isn't it? It has been a struggle mentally and spiritually more than physically. I really must say that it is among the hardest things I have ever done. Many of my past struggles have been highlighting in the past few months, but I have grown in my trust and confidence in the Lord through a silly little race. I am so excited about the next two weeks. Race day is in 12 days! Ah!
Last Friday, 4 of us ran the longest distance I have ever ran. (Given, all 3 of these guys have done MUCH more than I ever have!) I ran with a friend of mine, Brad, who was more than blessed with the gift of encouragement. Embarrassing as it was, he saw me shed tears and get so angry with myself I just didn't want to go on. But he recited scripture as I ran and gave me advice along the way, and we finished running slightly over 10 minute miles! I couldn't believe it! As we ran, he kept telling me that "We are more than conquerers." So I have read that passage in Romans 8 every day since Friday and will continue to until the race. I've kinda made it my mantra, if you will. I've found that the more I read it, the more I can apply it to every aspect of my life. I've tried a million things to "build my confidence" over the years, but over and over the only things that are effective are God's word and His people. So I just want to share this with you. It's something most of us have grown up reading... but let it sink into the holes in your heart and it will fill them so sweetly, just like it has done for me.
More Than Conquerors
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Monday, May 17, 2010
If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking.
Tonight's drive from Hamilton to Missoula landed itself on the "most perfect nights" list-- one that has been growing rapidly lately.
The moon, a small crescent, hung in the air. It looked as if someone had delicately hung it up there not long before. Any gust of wind could have quickly dismissed it from the sky. The silhouette of the mountains rolled along, at times exposing the moon's radiance, at other times masking it, but leaving a gentle, yet noticeable, glow. The peace was unable to be ignored, rest from my busy mind was unavoidable.
Suddenly, one of my favorite songs I have ever heard came on in the car. "He Loves Us" by John Mark McMillan... I have never listened to this song and not been left with chill bumps and an overflow of gratitude and humility. I sat there, holding hands with one of God's most beautiful creations, looking at the mountains... just thankful. The phrase "the Lord is so good" has rung through my head all day. God's not just good.... He's like mega-uber-super-good... like, scary good. I love the verse "Taste and see that the Lord is good." As an avid, dedicated food enthusiast, these words really hit the spot. (No pun intended.) For example, Jonny and I hiked Mt. Sentinel Friday afternoon. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that it is over a 3,000 vertical foot hike, but I might be. Anyway, I hadn't eaten for a while before our hike. When we were done at 7:30pm, i was ready to devour a value meal at McDonalds, a size I'm usually incapable of eating... but was able to that day. It's kinda like that. Or hot pizza on a movie night in with the girls. Or a cold treat in the dead heat of summer. "Taste and see that the Lord is Big Dipper ice cream in the sweltering hot summer." Yeah, it's just like that. Your mouth waters and you can't think of anything else in the world... ahhh...
As I prepare to leave for Haiti on Wednesday, I am left numb. I am excited to go into this trip knowing so little, but expecting so much. It's not a reality yet. I have prayed that the Lord would send me into extreme poverty and pain since... well... forever. And now I'm GOING! I invite you to be in prayer with our team as we face an uncertain schedule and people with bruised and broken hearts. Pray the Lord will break ours first from our trivial stresses so that we have room in our hearts to take on the pains of our brothers and sisters and lead them to our gracious, peaceful, GOOD Lord!
Until June 4th... adios mis amigos americanos!
The moon, a small crescent, hung in the air. It looked as if someone had delicately hung it up there not long before. Any gust of wind could have quickly dismissed it from the sky. The silhouette of the mountains rolled along, at times exposing the moon's radiance, at other times masking it, but leaving a gentle, yet noticeable, glow. The peace was unable to be ignored, rest from my busy mind was unavoidable.
Suddenly, one of my favorite songs I have ever heard came on in the car. "He Loves Us" by John Mark McMillan... I have never listened to this song and not been left with chill bumps and an overflow of gratitude and humility. I sat there, holding hands with one of God's most beautiful creations, looking at the mountains... just thankful. The phrase "the Lord is so good" has rung through my head all day. God's not just good.... He's like mega-uber-super-good... like, scary good. I love the verse "Taste and see that the Lord is good." As an avid, dedicated food enthusiast, these words really hit the spot. (No pun intended.) For example, Jonny and I hiked Mt. Sentinel Friday afternoon. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that it is over a 3,000 vertical foot hike, but I might be. Anyway, I hadn't eaten for a while before our hike. When we were done at 7:30pm, i was ready to devour a value meal at McDonalds, a size I'm usually incapable of eating... but was able to that day. It's kinda like that. Or hot pizza on a movie night in with the girls. Or a cold treat in the dead heat of summer. "Taste and see that the Lord is Big Dipper ice cream in the sweltering hot summer." Yeah, it's just like that. Your mouth waters and you can't think of anything else in the world... ahhh...
As I prepare to leave for Haiti on Wednesday, I am left numb. I am excited to go into this trip knowing so little, but expecting so much. It's not a reality yet. I have prayed that the Lord would send me into extreme poverty and pain since... well... forever. And now I'm GOING! I invite you to be in prayer with our team as we face an uncertain schedule and people with bruised and broken hearts. Pray the Lord will break ours first from our trivial stresses so that we have room in our hearts to take on the pains of our brothers and sisters and lead them to our gracious, peaceful, GOOD Lord!
Until June 4th... adios mis amigos americanos!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
He is faithful.
so God does this thing where He is always right. (crazy, i know, right?) and He is especially good at saying "I told you so!" this time around, i'm actually waiting for the "i told you so, hollee. my timing is perfect" part.
today, my 2nd class was cancelled and as the day went on, appointment after appointment was cancelled. so i was left with all of this free time. though i have plenty of papers due in the next month i could have continued working on, i kept browsing through every job site this city has to offer. i have spent so much time on these websites, i can practically tell you what is posted on each and the exact reason why i am not qualified for which postings. every link to every position has turned purple from its original blue, a sign it has been visited before. after the same monotonous search continued for a few hours, i closed my computer and stared at my post-it note filled wall. "God, I'm available. I'm capable. I'm more than ready. Why is this not working out?!" i left for church, still clinging to my frustration and agitation with God, but covered it up for the time being.
now, flipping through the bible and reading other books while the preacher preaches isn't something new for me... i have an attention span of about 4 seconds and always find myself in levitical law or some genealogy or scrutinizing some map in the back. but for some reason, i became fixated on 2 john. this book isn't new to me, i didn't just discover it. in fact, i have a tattoo on my left foot from the 6th verse in that book. but i read it... over... and over... and over... then BOOM! one verse jumped right off the page, screamed my name, and slapped me in the face.
"...Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays with the teaching, stays faithful to both the Father and the Son.." -The Message
the NIV says anyone who "runs ahead" of the teaching of the Lord is in sin. Um, hello. THAT'S ME! all i can think about it everything else. everything else. money... a house for rent in my near future... grad school... full time job... law school. i fool myself into thinking i am present with the Lord, but how can i be when all i am thinking about is how i can orchestrate my future? i have a plan that i want to follow that would make me happy, would make my parents happy, would be manageable and practical. somewhere along the way i have forgotten that i was called here by HIM to complete a work HE has set forth for me. i have made everything 100% about me. but He always has something bigger. it's something that i can say to keep me hopeful, but the inherent truth of that is beyond awesome.
so... i got my "i told you so." this time, it's just before the fact.....
today, my 2nd class was cancelled and as the day went on, appointment after appointment was cancelled. so i was left with all of this free time. though i have plenty of papers due in the next month i could have continued working on, i kept browsing through every job site this city has to offer. i have spent so much time on these websites, i can practically tell you what is posted on each and the exact reason why i am not qualified for which postings. every link to every position has turned purple from its original blue, a sign it has been visited before. after the same monotonous search continued for a few hours, i closed my computer and stared at my post-it note filled wall. "God, I'm available. I'm capable. I'm more than ready. Why is this not working out?!" i left for church, still clinging to my frustration and agitation with God, but covered it up for the time being.
now, flipping through the bible and reading other books while the preacher preaches isn't something new for me... i have an attention span of about 4 seconds and always find myself in levitical law or some genealogy or scrutinizing some map in the back. but for some reason, i became fixated on 2 john. this book isn't new to me, i didn't just discover it. in fact, i have a tattoo on my left foot from the 6th verse in that book. but i read it... over... and over... and over... then BOOM! one verse jumped right off the page, screamed my name, and slapped me in the face.
"...Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays with the teaching, stays faithful to both the Father and the Son.." -The Message
the NIV says anyone who "runs ahead" of the teaching of the Lord is in sin. Um, hello. THAT'S ME! all i can think about it everything else. everything else. money... a house for rent in my near future... grad school... full time job... law school. i fool myself into thinking i am present with the Lord, but how can i be when all i am thinking about is how i can orchestrate my future? i have a plan that i want to follow that would make me happy, would make my parents happy, would be manageable and practical. somewhere along the way i have forgotten that i was called here by HIM to complete a work HE has set forth for me. i have made everything 100% about me. but He always has something bigger. it's something that i can say to keep me hopeful, but the inherent truth of that is beyond awesome.
so... i got my "i told you so." this time, it's just before the fact.....
Saturday, April 10, 2010
It's April. It's 32 degrees outside.
OK, people. I have BIG, exciting news!
I'm going to HAITI May 22-June 5!!!! with Easthaven Baptist Church in Kalispell, Montana. The group from Kalispell will be joining others from across Montana for that week and we are going with IMBStudents. Since the quake in January, Haitians have been fleeing the major cities, namely Port-au-Prince due to chaotic aftermath, looting, etc. Temporary “cities” are rapidly being built on the border of Haiti and the DR by these refugees. Inevitably, there are an innumerable amount of children in this situation whose lives have been devastatingly confused. Our job will be to bring a “sense of normalcy” to these camps for the kids. Students are asked to provide recreation, art therapy, manual labor, and any other tasks that come up as well as keep a flexible state of mind. As far as I know, our group will be providing english tutoring and manual labor for the week, though i’m certain more things will pop up for us to accomplish. If nothing else, our job is just to be available... but aren't we always supposed to be, anyway?
How I have longed for this opportunity! The Lord has called me to Montana, and I love to be present here and see what He is doing. I'm still so interested in living here in Missoula and finding out my role and this chapter of my life. But so very often am I distracted by my desire to be outside this country's borders. (Sometimes I wonder in Mom and Dad realize I'm serious when I talk about my hut in Africa I can't wait to build.) There is NOTHING that gets me as jazzed as taking God's love to the children around the world who don't have a voice. I am trying to be patient with that desire. Patient enough to finish school and be open to God's plan for now. Also. patient to be present in every moment, not always dreaming about the future. (That's probably my deepest regret in life thus far. Think of how often we dream of the future and don't let the present just be what it is. Then we are continuously disappointed because nothing is ever fulfilled because our thoughts are too far ahead of us.) BUT... I had spent some time in prayer asking God, if it was His will, to give me an opportunity to go sometime this year or next before I started thinking too seriously about graduation and grad school. And HE DID!!
Kathleen has already started fundraising around town, and I'll be joining her now. I'm going to be writing support letters this week and sending them out. If you want to help or know someone who would, please contact us! None of us have the means to afford this trip, but we are all certain that the money will come through. When I went to Mexico in 2008, our last dollars literally came in the day before we left and equaled the EXACT amount due.
In other news, I got to spend Spring Break at home in Nashville!! I had (almost) all of my favorite people and just had a blast. I wish there had been more time to just lay around the house, but it is probably good that I didn't. Leaving home this time around was so much harder than saying goodbye in January. I have only cried twice with homesickness since I moved here (and let me tell you, that in itself is proof that God is in control!! haha!)-- once at the infamous two-week-mark and the monday night after I got back. The coolest thing in the world is that I never doubt my purpose in being in Missoula. I often question what I should be doing, but never spend my time in "what if" thinking.
Now, if I could just convince my parents to move out west.....
Monday, March 22, 2010
marchy march
in an effort to abandon responsibilities that i should be tending to on a somewhat free afternoon, i think i’d rather update my blog! as SBX approaches (spring break 2010, for those of you not familiar with hip collegiate lingo), i have a presentation and two exams staring me down... but my mind is already distracted and set on all things Rocky Top! if acing a couple tests is all that stand between me and tennessee... bring it on!
speaking of school, i am currently standing at a fork on my academic career’s path. the way things stand, as a result of too much paperwork, ridiculous deadlines, and other administrative woes, these are my options:
- continue to inundate myself with school work, taking a heavy load in the summer as well as fall and graduate in december.
pros: obviously, graduate in december
cons: miss out on montana in the summer, graduate with not a cent to my name other than what my parents provide me
- be a part time student in the summer, fall, and spring and land a sweet job
pros: enjoy my summer, only taking a class or two; havin money in da bank...; maintaining relationship that i have made with friends at school
cons: missoula’s job market is less than preferable... quite dreadful actually
so... all that to say, i’m gonna need some prayer! i’m leaning towards just holding off on graduating. this will keep me alot more open, and therefore focused on and receptive to God’s voice. I have always had a hard time letting Him take control of my plans, but everytime i take them into my own hands, EVERYTHING changes (e.g. moving to montana). plus, i really have no reason to rush. He has me here and, until i feel called elsewhere, i’m hangin’ around! so might as well go with the flow and not rush things. after all, if graduate this december, i will hardly be 21... out of college... searching for a job... applying for grad school. and that just seems silly, now that i think about it :-) mom and i were laughing about how i have always jumped the gun in life, so maybe it wouldn’t hurt to breathe and enjoy the scenery for a while! if i choose to stay longer, figuring out financial aid could get a bit difficult, as i’ve already established myself a full time student thru this december. i’m applying for some part-time “big girl jobs”; one in particular that i think would be awesome... fun now and beneficial for the future. God’ll do what He wants and it will be good!!
let’s see... these are other small things that have been on my mind:
- i’m pretty boss at snowboarding (for a Southerner at least) and let me assure you: water sports (i.e. skiing, wakeboarding, etc.) are no comparison to winter sports. i was silly to think that!
- i am training for a half marathon. i know, i hear those of you who know me laughing out loud. i’m gonna do it.... watch me....
- i am becoming increasingly more adventurous. hiking is becoming a familiar thing in my days. holly and i tried our hands at climbing (no pun intended) this weekend. i’ll just say we’re gonna have to keep up the work! also, weekly ab labs and glutes workouts from our instructor, Fabio, are keeping me rather disciplined!!
- i might start taking adult gymnastics. how sweet would it be to relive my childhood through that?! watch out olympics.
- i moved to montana for snow, and tennessee got all of it this year. yes. i’m bitter.
- i still dream of international ventures nearly every day. after watching a report on haiti last night and reading blogs of missionaries in the city in mexico where i’ve been, it’s hard not to. it’s in God’s timing, i know, but my heart beats with the orphans. we are all God’s heartbeat. their beauty is astounding, too. have you ever thought that maybe God created them to have that sparkle of genuine, pure beauty in their eyes? i always wonder about that... then thank Him for how perfectly He makes everything work.
- I’M GOING TO BE HOME IN A WEEK!!!!!! i have never been so excited about a trip, i don’t think.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
rise up, oh you sleeper, awake! He makes all things new!
the snow has finally returned to missoula! and it is so beautiful! i can stay here now... i was about ready to move back home if i wasn't gonna get any good snow ;-) but, honestly, the spring weather has been completely awesome. jessie and her parents and i hiked mt helena on saturday afternoon. i know i say this every time i do something new in montana, but it really was the most beautiful things i've ever seen. of course, you could see for infinite miles, but in the distance was not a monotonous landscape. there were incredible, individually unique, snow-covered mountain tops. there was sunshine, wispy clouds, and an unending blue sky. it was like the land went on for ever. i have seen many beautiful things in my life, but i just cannot believe i live in this beauty.
sunday afternoon, i met with the girls (well, ladies!) at zootown for a few hours. we are all reading through Captivating right now (which i very much recommend to everyone- even to the guys! and you might as well just read Wild at Heart with it- yes, even you, girls!) we got off talking about how beauty is the essence of the Lord and His love for us and how nature completely embodies that unimaginable beauty. without sounding like a tree-hugging granola here, when you are hiking out here or simply breathing the mountain air, it is calming. it is comforting, it is inviting and nourishes your soul. it is life and provides life. it is resembles abiding in the love of the Lord; it is so sweet. the most amazing thing is this: the same way that He gazed upon the wonders He had created and declared them good, He does the same thing with us every day. every day He looks at us and claims His creation is good. as if that is not enough, He pursues us, desires to love and be loved by us! He chooses us, loves us, rejoices over our beauty. and He is the Creator of beauty; He is the God of the universe. i'm humbled.
19 days until i return to hendersonville!! huzzah!!!!!!
Peace and love
sunday afternoon, i met with the girls (well, ladies!) at zootown for a few hours. we are all reading through Captivating right now (which i very much recommend to everyone- even to the guys! and you might as well just read Wild at Heart with it- yes, even you, girls!) we got off talking about how beauty is the essence of the Lord and His love for us and how nature completely embodies that unimaginable beauty. without sounding like a tree-hugging granola here, when you are hiking out here or simply breathing the mountain air, it is calming. it is comforting, it is inviting and nourishes your soul. it is life and provides life. it is resembles abiding in the love of the Lord; it is so sweet. the most amazing thing is this: the same way that He gazed upon the wonders He had created and declared them good, He does the same thing with us every day. every day He looks at us and claims His creation is good. as if that is not enough, He pursues us, desires to love and be loved by us! He chooses us, loves us, rejoices over our beauty. and He is the Creator of beauty; He is the God of the universe. i'm humbled.
19 days until i return to hendersonville!! huzzah!!!!!!
Peace and love
Friday, March 5, 2010
being a weekender
so my favorite thing about living in montana: the weekends!!! every weekend i have done something so fun with great people-- from sledding to girls' movies to day trips to hamilton to griz bball games, my weekends are filled with laughter and relaxation.... a perfect interruption to my busy weeks! i'm headed out of town for a night or two with jessica-- a girl i've met at school. i get to explore more of mt this weekend, ski, work on papers (ew.), and get to knew her a little bit better; needless to say, i'm looking forward to it!
i have been a bit homesick this week... just really missing mom, dad, mimi, meghan, sophie, and general hendersonvilleness. i'll be there in 23 days! aside from missing tennessee life, the tease of spring weather forces me to be reminiscent of good ole samford u. no facebook wall posting can express to my friends how much i miss them and wish i was still a part of everything they do. this weekend, adpi kappa chapter is celebrating their centennial anniversary-- an event that i had been excited about since, well, rush 2007! i miss giggly nights at sonic, daily ice cream cones in ben brown, naps by the fountain and in the lib, late night tennis, walks on the trail across lakeshore, lunch at mama g's, the fierceness of spring intramurals, and the list goes on. with all that said, i NEED to get this out of my system:
highty tighty, gosh all mighty, who the heck am i?!
bam, bam, yes ma'am, i'm an ADPI!
kappa, kapp,a best since when?! kappa, kappa, 1910.
ADPi always true to the white and azure blue.
diamonds sparkle, always shine.
WE WERE FIRST YOU FELL IN LINE! ::insert: discreet finger pointing to chi omega ;-)::
Golden Lion, got that, too! ADPi we live for you.
A what? D what? Pi what? ADPI!
if you're wondering, i said every line as i typed it.
here's to another amazing weekend of reflecting on the prayers God has answered, the plan He has for me, and becoming prayerful about my future. can't wait to see all of you at home!
peace and love,
i have been a bit homesick this week... just really missing mom, dad, mimi, meghan, sophie, and general hendersonvilleness. i'll be there in 23 days! aside from missing tennessee life, the tease of spring weather forces me to be reminiscent of good ole samford u. no facebook wall posting can express to my friends how much i miss them and wish i was still a part of everything they do. this weekend, adpi kappa chapter is celebrating their centennial anniversary-- an event that i had been excited about since, well, rush 2007! i miss giggly nights at sonic, daily ice cream cones in ben brown, naps by the fountain and in the lib, late night tennis, walks on the trail across lakeshore, lunch at mama g's, the fierceness of spring intramurals, and the list goes on. with all that said, i NEED to get this out of my system:
highty tighty, gosh all mighty, who the heck am i?!
bam, bam, yes ma'am, i'm an ADPI!
kappa, kapp,a best since when?! kappa, kappa, 1910.
ADPi always true to the white and azure blue.
diamonds sparkle, always shine.
WE WERE FIRST YOU FELL IN LINE! ::insert: discreet finger pointing to chi omega ;-)::
Golden Lion, got that, too! ADPi we live for you.
A what? D what? Pi what? ADPI!
if you're wondering, i said every line as i typed it.
here's to another amazing weekend of reflecting on the prayers God has answered, the plan He has for me, and becoming prayerful about my future. can't wait to see all of you at home!
peace and love,
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
it's wednesday evening...
ok, i know this is going to transcend "cheesy", but I'm sitting here studying for my EU exam in the morning. As "The Luckiest" cues up on my iTunes, a little girl, no older than three, walks down the aisle of Break Espresso holding her daddy's hand just laughing and laughing. That was, bar none, the most precious moment of my week so far!!!
God has reminded me this week of how small I am in this world and how beautiful this is. Monday night, in a conversation about traditional religion over coffee, I felt content in my miniscule role in the world, but significant role in the Kingdom. Later that night, I was kept up by the moon's ridiculously brilliant gleam in my bedroom window. All I could do is smile. I still can't believe I'm in Montana. I can't believe I am loved by the Creator of the Universe and that I am called to be His servant! I can't believe I am found worthy to be a part of the Big Story. Yet, here I am... loving every single second of it all.
Excited for another weekly service at e3 in about 30 minutes!
peace and love,
God has reminded me this week of how small I am in this world and how beautiful this is. Monday night, in a conversation about traditional religion over coffee, I felt content in my miniscule role in the world, but significant role in the Kingdom. Later that night, I was kept up by the moon's ridiculously brilliant gleam in my bedroom window. All I could do is smile. I still can't believe I'm in Montana. I can't believe I am loved by the Creator of the Universe and that I am called to be His servant! I can't believe I am found worthy to be a part of the Big Story. Yet, here I am... loving every single second of it all.
Excited for another weekly service at e3 in about 30 minutes!
peace and love,
Thursday, February 18, 2010
a month later...
ok, i promise i will sit here and not get up until i have posted a full message!
To say the least, missoula is treating me SO well! everyday that i am here i am more excited, more comfortable, and more eager about God's work here. Even after a month, I walk out of the Liberal Arts building everyday and look straight on to Mt. Sentinel and think "Oh my gosh! Look! The mountains!" Every time it snows, I squeal like a little kid. I'm told I will tire of it, but I have a very hard time believing that. I can see the stars nearly every night. By the time I have driven up on the hill to the house, I am above the fog and can see perfectly clearly. Almost every morning, I look out my window and can only see mountains sitting on top of a thick sheet of clouds; then I drive down the hill underneath those clouds to the city. The little girl from Tennessee just can't get enough. Every sunset is unique and worth paying attention to. About 3 weeks ago, we drove 2 hours to Fairmont Hot Springs for a college retreat. It was just a little drive on a Friday afternoon, but there were audible oos and ahs all the way there. I wish that ride had lasted days, just so I could take it all in. Photographs will never be able to do the beauty and the majesty of Montana any justice.
In less beautiful news, I spend the majority of my time just reading textbooks. Chapter after chapter.... after chapter... after chapter! I am enjoying school, though. My classes are all very interesting and pertinent to my interests. Graduation in December is still looking very probable!!!! It is difficult to meet new friends in class, but I have been able to do that through my internship (which I'll explain later.) I must say, my favorite class is Montana Politics. It's an evening class that meets once a week. The professor was a former gubernatorial candidate, and has years of state legislature experience under his belt. The first class, I learned the entire history of MT. Let's just say: I have no idea how MT got the reputation of being a boring place! Every week we have different politicians from the state come in-- one democrat and one republican-- to give us advice, tell stories of their terms, and give their opinions on current issues. Montana is so neat in that the government is actually close to the people they represent. In one month, I have met more politicians face-to-face than most people will meet in their lifetime. And every one of them has been genuine in their speech, not just seeking good publicity, but intentionally addressing our questions and desiring to be a part of our learning experience.
I've taken on an internship with MontPIRG- Montana Public Interest Research Group. It's a student-led grassroots organization that conducts research, organizes support, and hires advocates to work with us from our campus to DC for issues that have been expressed by students at the U. There are more than 120 PIRGs across the nation in 26 states. Currently, we're pushing a massive petition drive to gain funding on campus to make our efforts more effective. Other things we're focusing on is bringing attention to the lack of government funding for higher education (MT ranks 44th in the country), the Clean Water Restoration Act (following up on the Clean Water Act from the 70s), and bringing the Amtrak line through southern MT (it currently only runs thru the northern part of the state; flying out of Missoula is painfully expensive, so it will provide more affordable travel). It has been an AWESOME place to meet people... people from different parts of the country who hold different interests-- majors from wildlife preservation to political science to communications are represented. Tuesday night, we had the mayor, a state representative, and vp of the U come meet with us. I've already been challenged, but along with that comes a ton of fun and rewarding work.
The remainder of my time is spent hanging out with the college group at the Woodards, hanging in coffee shops, or sleeping! I have a feeling the Woodards will never ever know just how much they mean to all of us. We meet at their house for our college community group on Monday nights, but their doors are open to us every other night (and day) of the week. I know it cracks Katie up when we say this, but their house is a place of sanity and rest for all of us. And their children are SO much fun!! The college group is small, but close-knit. My time with my friends here is filled with relaxed laughter. We are starting a program called Life's Healing Choices in 2 weeks. We'll be going through it as a church and also community groups. The church has spent alot of time in prayer because we feel this is an awesome way to (a) grow together in the faith and (b) attract others with something that is relevant to everyone's life. Rick Warren wrote the curriculum... and we just sent 9 people from e3 to a conference at his home church, Saddleback, in Cali for a week. We're super excited to get the ball rolling! Pray the God will ultimately lead the program and that we would be good stewards of His love and His word. Pray that the core group of our church will be strengthened and that we would be open and waiting for others to join in the journey with us.
Peace and love,
Holl
To say the least, missoula is treating me SO well! everyday that i am here i am more excited, more comfortable, and more eager about God's work here. Even after a month, I walk out of the Liberal Arts building everyday and look straight on to Mt. Sentinel and think "Oh my gosh! Look! The mountains!" Every time it snows, I squeal like a little kid. I'm told I will tire of it, but I have a very hard time believing that. I can see the stars nearly every night. By the time I have driven up on the hill to the house, I am above the fog and can see perfectly clearly. Almost every morning, I look out my window and can only see mountains sitting on top of a thick sheet of clouds; then I drive down the hill underneath those clouds to the city. The little girl from Tennessee just can't get enough. Every sunset is unique and worth paying attention to. About 3 weeks ago, we drove 2 hours to Fairmont Hot Springs for a college retreat. It was just a little drive on a Friday afternoon, but there were audible oos and ahs all the way there. I wish that ride had lasted days, just so I could take it all in. Photographs will never be able to do the beauty and the majesty of Montana any justice.
In less beautiful news, I spend the majority of my time just reading textbooks. Chapter after chapter.... after chapter... after chapter! I am enjoying school, though. My classes are all very interesting and pertinent to my interests. Graduation in December is still looking very probable!!!! It is difficult to meet new friends in class, but I have been able to do that through my internship (which I'll explain later.) I must say, my favorite class is Montana Politics. It's an evening class that meets once a week. The professor was a former gubernatorial candidate, and has years of state legislature experience under his belt. The first class, I learned the entire history of MT. Let's just say: I have no idea how MT got the reputation of being a boring place! Every week we have different politicians from the state come in-- one democrat and one republican-- to give us advice, tell stories of their terms, and give their opinions on current issues. Montana is so neat in that the government is actually close to the people they represent. In one month, I have met more politicians face-to-face than most people will meet in their lifetime. And every one of them has been genuine in their speech, not just seeking good publicity, but intentionally addressing our questions and desiring to be a part of our learning experience.
I've taken on an internship with MontPIRG- Montana Public Interest Research Group. It's a student-led grassroots organization that conducts research, organizes support, and hires advocates to work with us from our campus to DC for issues that have been expressed by students at the U. There are more than 120 PIRGs across the nation in 26 states. Currently, we're pushing a massive petition drive to gain funding on campus to make our efforts more effective. Other things we're focusing on is bringing attention to the lack of government funding for higher education (MT ranks 44th in the country), the Clean Water Restoration Act (following up on the Clean Water Act from the 70s), and bringing the Amtrak line through southern MT (it currently only runs thru the northern part of the state; flying out of Missoula is painfully expensive, so it will provide more affordable travel). It has been an AWESOME place to meet people... people from different parts of the country who hold different interests-- majors from wildlife preservation to political science to communications are represented. Tuesday night, we had the mayor, a state representative, and vp of the U come meet with us. I've already been challenged, but along with that comes a ton of fun and rewarding work.
The remainder of my time is spent hanging out with the college group at the Woodards, hanging in coffee shops, or sleeping! I have a feeling the Woodards will never ever know just how much they mean to all of us. We meet at their house for our college community group on Monday nights, but their doors are open to us every other night (and day) of the week. I know it cracks Katie up when we say this, but their house is a place of sanity and rest for all of us. And their children are SO much fun!! The college group is small, but close-knit. My time with my friends here is filled with relaxed laughter. We are starting a program called Life's Healing Choices in 2 weeks. We'll be going through it as a church and also community groups. The church has spent alot of time in prayer because we feel this is an awesome way to (a) grow together in the faith and (b) attract others with something that is relevant to everyone's life. Rick Warren wrote the curriculum... and we just sent 9 people from e3 to a conference at his home church, Saddleback, in Cali for a week. We're super excited to get the ball rolling! Pray the God will ultimately lead the program and that we would be good stewards of His love and His word. Pray that the core group of our church will be strengthened and that we would be open and waiting for others to join in the journey with us.
Peace and love,
Holl
Monday, January 18, 2010
so i haven't really updated this blog, honestly, because i haven't wanted to. i knew missoulians were laid back and the city had such a presence of relaxation, but it has kind of taken me over... and i like it. i have been 100% hollee, making lists and getting things done. for those of you who know me, you know it is difficult for me to sleep at night if i feel i haven't accomplished much during the day. but i have done it all at a slow pace. with breaks in between. stopping to breathe and enjoy the scenery. i have laid in bed and read for hours... and the view from my room is so beautiful i don't even feel guilty for sitting in here all day long!
yesterday i went to lolo pass. it is at the montana/idaho state line. once we parked, we hike up a little trail to the most beautiful snow-covered area. we built a fire in the snow (yeah... in the snow...), ate lunch, sledded, tubed, and hooked random things up to the snowmobile and held on tight! but i have really never laid eyes on such a beautiful place. i could've stayed forever, in fact i plan on going back soon. i'd try to describe it in words... but i won't. i'll just let you look at these:
i have no idea what i'll do until school starts. continue working out and striking up conversation with people (who probably aren't interested in talking) like i have the past three days is an option. i'll probably just lay here and read more. go find a job (i could use some prayer on this one... i'm finding it will be difficult to do here at this time of year). and continue to enjoy the sounds of mariokart and overuse of the word "dude" around the house (i honestly love living here).
peace and love
peace and love
Thursday, January 14, 2010
01.14.10
where to begin?!
let's begin with my host home. i couldn't have hand-picked it better. i'm living with sheila, the administrative assistant at e3 (i think lol) and her 3 sons. she is completely fantastic! just as sweet and humble as everyone has described her to me. she's originally from atl, so she gets the whole "south" thing. and she has lived here in missoula for about 30 years, so she knows the ins and outs of the town. her sons are really easy to get along with. the best part: they miiiiight be as picky of eaters as i am. i walked in today and the oldest was cooking macaroni and cheese. walked in tonight and they were eating pizza. hallelujah! i'm grateful for how welcoming the boys were to me. i could easily see three teenage boys having someone take over a room in their house be a difficult situation. it may be interesting for me, the only child, to adjust to the (self-proclaimed!) loud boys in the house, but hey! God is good and He knows what He's doing. so i'm not too worried.
the view from my bedroom window is to die for. i tried to take a picture to post, but i need my panoramic camera to get it all in, which i didn't have with me. i'll get to that asap. but i can see the entire city and the mountains that border it. the house is set on a hill, and right below us is a church. so i see the steeple with the city behind it. i'll probably just stare out my window most of the time i'm here.
it was pretty exciting to see people from home last night at e3. of course the beautiful woodard family was beyond welcoming. i can't wait to spend time with those children!! then there was zach williams and david lloyd, of course. and i was excited to meet a few more of their friends i had heard about along the way. i'm anxious to see jordan and jenny, too, once everything calms down a little bit! i am so grateful to already have a few connections here... i know it will make all the difference.
the 'rents and i went to campus today and got everything straightened out for the semester. the most important thing is that i now have a mailbox so that everyone can send me things:)
Hollee Harris
91 Campus Drive
PMB# 2818
Missoula, MT 59801
ya know, my life would be so much easier if i ha just chosen political science 3 majors ago. i am so very excited about starting classes... i wish i didn't have to wait 10 more days to get going! also, everyone on campus today was so incredibly nice. and i mean everyone! it was almost uncomfortable at times... ha! i'm really excited about all things U of M and am more confident than ever in my decision to transfer there... go griz!
i suppose i will spend the next few days breathing deep, organizing, and driving in circles until i'm more familiar with the city. it has been a little more of a change than i had expected, but i'm more than ready to learn how to do it.
all things montana aside, my heart is breaking for haiti. it hurts me to know i just moved 2,000 miles in the other direction, and, a part of me wishes i could've gone their way instead. i'm most sad that it took such an earthquake to grab our attention, break our hearts, and give ourselves to a country that was devastated long before this week. i border hypocrisy with the following statements, but i'm willing to take the risk. sure, let's pray for haiti. let's pray long, hard, and intentionally. but then (and i'm preaching to myself!) let's figure out what we're going to do about it. and by "it" i don't mean simply disaster relief. sure, their immediate needs are huge and important. but what can be done about it that will be lasting? that will extend beyond getting them to merely stand up on their feet again. how is God going to be glorified not just this week, but in all time to come? in a few weeks, the press will be gone and society's attention turned elsewhere. it's a sad cycle, but it's what we've subjected ourselves to. don't let haiti's pain and depravity that existed before this week extend after this week. i feel useless all the way out here in montana, but i'd love to hear anyone's suggestions on how i can help. send them my way, please!! "Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy!"
peace and love
let's begin with my host home. i couldn't have hand-picked it better. i'm living with sheila, the administrative assistant at e3 (i think lol) and her 3 sons. she is completely fantastic! just as sweet and humble as everyone has described her to me. she's originally from atl, so she gets the whole "south" thing. and she has lived here in missoula for about 30 years, so she knows the ins and outs of the town. her sons are really easy to get along with. the best part: they miiiiight be as picky of eaters as i am. i walked in today and the oldest was cooking macaroni and cheese. walked in tonight and they were eating pizza. hallelujah! i'm grateful for how welcoming the boys were to me. i could easily see three teenage boys having someone take over a room in their house be a difficult situation. it may be interesting for me, the only child, to adjust to the (self-proclaimed!) loud boys in the house, but hey! God is good and He knows what He's doing. so i'm not too worried.
the view from my bedroom window is to die for. i tried to take a picture to post, but i need my panoramic camera to get it all in, which i didn't have with me. i'll get to that asap. but i can see the entire city and the mountains that border it. the house is set on a hill, and right below us is a church. so i see the steeple with the city behind it. i'll probably just stare out my window most of the time i'm here.
it was pretty exciting to see people from home last night at e3. of course the beautiful woodard family was beyond welcoming. i can't wait to spend time with those children!! then there was zach williams and david lloyd, of course. and i was excited to meet a few more of their friends i had heard about along the way. i'm anxious to see jordan and jenny, too, once everything calms down a little bit! i am so grateful to already have a few connections here... i know it will make all the difference.
the 'rents and i went to campus today and got everything straightened out for the semester. the most important thing is that i now have a mailbox so that everyone can send me things:)
Hollee Harris
91 Campus Drive
PMB# 2818
Missoula, MT 59801
ya know, my life would be so much easier if i ha just chosen political science 3 majors ago. i am so very excited about starting classes... i wish i didn't have to wait 10 more days to get going! also, everyone on campus today was so incredibly nice. and i mean everyone! it was almost uncomfortable at times... ha! i'm really excited about all things U of M and am more confident than ever in my decision to transfer there... go griz!
i suppose i will spend the next few days breathing deep, organizing, and driving in circles until i'm more familiar with the city. it has been a little more of a change than i had expected, but i'm more than ready to learn how to do it.
all things montana aside, my heart is breaking for haiti. it hurts me to know i just moved 2,000 miles in the other direction, and, a part of me wishes i could've gone their way instead. i'm most sad that it took such an earthquake to grab our attention, break our hearts, and give ourselves to a country that was devastated long before this week. i border hypocrisy with the following statements, but i'm willing to take the risk. sure, let's pray for haiti. let's pray long, hard, and intentionally. but then (and i'm preaching to myself!) let's figure out what we're going to do about it. and by "it" i don't mean simply disaster relief. sure, their immediate needs are huge and important. but what can be done about it that will be lasting? that will extend beyond getting them to merely stand up on their feet again. how is God going to be glorified not just this week, but in all time to come? in a few weeks, the press will be gone and society's attention turned elsewhere. it's a sad cycle, but it's what we've subjected ourselves to. don't let haiti's pain and depravity that existed before this week extend after this week. i feel useless all the way out here in montana, but i'd love to hear anyone's suggestions on how i can help. send them my way, please!! "Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy!"
peace and love
Sunday, January 10, 2010
you can find mehhh in st. lou-ehhhh.
and so the traveling has begun. so far, i'm still sane. i have justin's gracious gift of noise-reducing headphones to thank for that. also, watching my parents struggle through the world of the iPod in the front seat has provided priceless entertainment.
my weekend has been incredibly humbling. friday night's party at the stumm's was genuinely one of the best nights of my life. everyone who showed up was special to me, and it was a beautiful feeling to rest in those friendships for a night... and embarrass myself playing just dance. this morning, i was commissioned at the church i grew up in. my friend ("youth minister" just doesn't cut it), chad, led family and friends in prayer over me, and this evening aarron did the same at restoration... talk about humbling! i can't even begin to express how much both faith families mean to me and the power that i felt in their words and intentional encouragement to me. my last moments at home were spent worshipping with the most important people in my life and proclaiming how beautiful our God is. i'm so excited to be exiting on that note!
so to all of you, thanks. i hope i let everyone i hugged this weekend know the ways you have affected me. if i did not, i sincerely apologize. why can't i just take everyone with me?!
as for holiday inn express in shiloh, illinois: the shampoo/conditioner smells like cinnamon apples and the bath water like cake batter. i am completely serious. i don't know what their getting at, but i like it. here's to a complimentary hot breakfast! tomorrow--> destination: denver.
peace and love
as for holiday inn express in shiloh, illinois: the shampoo/conditioner smells like cinnamon apples and the bath water like cake batter. i am completely serious. i don't know what their getting at, but i like it. here's to a complimentary hot breakfast! tomorrow--> destination: denver.
peace and love
Saturday, January 9, 2010
t-1 day.
"...permit me a reminder, friends, and this is not a new commandment but simply a repetition of our original and basic charter: that we love each other. Love means following his commandments, and his unifying commandment is that you conduct your lives in love. This is the first thing you heard, and nothing has changed."
2 John 1:6; The Message
I find this message beautiful. John does us a favor here by reminding what it is all about. Reminding us that the stresses of evaluation, judgement, analysis can be reconciled by this simple commandment. Love. Because of their gnostic mindset, John's audience was well acquainted with the search for knowledge-- for finding the right answers, forming the correct opinion, searching for black and white answers. Love isn't black or white, nor is it satisfied by objective definitions. Though it is the latest buzzword in the world, it is truly the one thing that resolves everything. It all flows from love. Without love, nothing else can exist.
I feel like I could speak of God's love from now until the moment I die. How I feel it, what it gives me, what I do with it, how I see it in others, and on and on and on and on and on. And on. But I'd prefer to not convey it merely through speech. See, God has done this silly little thing. He has given me a talent: writing. He has given me one topic that is so difficult for me to record in written form: Himself. I have slowly come to find this to be a blessing and a commission to go out into the world and discuss it with my hands, my feet, my voice, my intellect, every part of me.
In about 40 hours, I will be in my Jeep heading out to begin satisfying this commission in a place away from "home." Tonight, a group of my family and friends came together just so I could spend time with them and be reminded of the incredible, unthinkable preparation God has provided me with to follow His call. Thanks guys! I am on my knees in humility tonight because of the people that have expressed excitement and care for me. I am going to try to keep this blog updated frequently from now on... not because I want to let you guys know every detail of my days, but because I wish that all of my friends were moving with me, experiencing the things I am about to, seeing new landscapes, meeting new people, and drinking lots of good coffee! I am in love with Missoula. If I have told you to come visit the city.... I mean it. I have spent a total of 13 days there, but it nestled its way right into my heart. In those days, Missoulians showed me what it means to be passionate. Not just to love something, but be devoted to and excited about it. Many people I met were living life on purpose... with purpose. I want people everywhere to be able to experience Missoula with me. I hope my experience stretches beyond myself, beyond Missoula, Montana, the West, the States. If I affect one person, but never am aware of it, my heart will be deeply pleased.
All this to say, you should probably keep up with my blog (a) because I want you to go here with me, even if just virtually and (b) because I deserve a gold medal for getting my attention span to a place where I can handle writing a blog. ;-)
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