CNN - Female Genital Cutting

Check out this CNN article on the pressure that still lingers in the US regarding female genital cutting:
edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/05/21/america.female.genital.cutting/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn

Crucify

It's been a while since I had a speaking engagement, but this morning I headed out to Carman (about 1 hour away from home). It was such a comfortable atmosphere as people sit around circular tables instead of on pews. As I prepared this week, I came across the definition of "crucify". The first definition was the obvious one: "to put to death by nailing to a cross". But it was the second definition that interested me: "to treat with gross injustice". Combining those 2 definitions shows us that Jesus experienced the ultimate injustice, dying on the cross as a perfect man while bearing my sins and the sins of the entire world throughout history. Truly that is the power of the cross and the message that Christ brings - He understands the injustice in our lives (no matter how big or small); He can relate.

sex, lies, and paratroop deployment

My brother posted a comment the other day and I want to direct you to it as well (plus, it's really long, so I didn't want to type it out, but I do think that it's well worth the read):
fromdecemberssnow.blogspot.com/2007/05/sex-lies-and-paratroop-deployment.html

My First Jolica Home Party

My friend Leanne graciously hosted my first Jolica home party tonight and I, for one, had a blast. It's always great to catch up with her kids - just the regular interrogation questions over supper like "Do you still live with your parents?" and "Are you married?" Hey, at least I look younger than their mom (ha, ha!)! And then my chance to share about Jolica and their fair trade products - so much fun. Of course, parties are really about getting together and eating great food! Leanne makes fantastic food and she shares her recipes on her blog (and yes, we did eat the Rice Krispie Caramel Squares featured today): leanneslifefaithfamilyfriendsandfood.blogspot.com

Levi - May 27

Wow, it's been almost a month since I've last blogged about Levi's progress. He is still in the ICU, but has continued to improve. There are less machines hooked up to him and tubes coming out of him. He did have a G-tube inserted for feeding (versus the one that was used up until that point down his nose). His 2 continuous concerns are breathing (he's still on a respirator and at too high a percentage to move into another care facility) and then the healing of his ulcers (one may take up to a year to heal, and that's a positive estimate). He is also scheduled for a CAT scan today because of some bleeding. Levi has been in the hospital for over 2 months now and he does become impatient with family and the staff at times, but if you know Levi, that's not really too surprising. On the other hand, it's also understandable, given that he has had so many ups and downs, and he would probably like to high tail it out of there, given the chance. Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers - please know that they worked in mighty ways through Levi and our family!

It's so Good to Hear Your Voice!

My friend Genevi and I shared the kitchen area between our rooms while in Kona throughout DTS. Though we didn't spend a lot of time together originally, we found out that we also shared a common disliking of beaches/sand (why are we in Hawaii again?!?) and slowly, we just started hanging out more and more. In Panama, she was 1 of my 15 roommates and we just clicked, which may be a bit unusual because of the fact that she is almost a decade younger than than I am. We did start the Track together and again she was one of my roommates, but this time there were only 4 of us in the room (and by Christmas, only 1 of the 4 of us remained). She left at the end of October, heading to India. We tried to Skype (she missed our Skype date because of flat tire on her bicycle) but were not able to connect until yesterday. Despite the pixelated video and the sound occasionally cutting in and out, it was just so wonderful to be able to catch again. We even talked about the fact, that even though there are hard experiences in life, it's the great people that you meet along the way that make it all worth while. So thanks for the Skype date Genevi - it was so good to hear your voice and (kind of) see you! Thank you for your continued friendship that goes beyond the miles!

Me to We - Part 3

I am sorry for the length of this final story from Me to We, but it is my very favorite and I hope that you get tears in your eyes/that lump in your throat feeling that I got the first time I read it!

“One of our most memorable encounters with the power of faith occurred during an unforgettable school-building trip to Nicaragua. As we set to work in a remote region of this small Central American country, we began to hear whispered stories from locals of a benevolent secret society. We learned that its members were tireless advocates of the poor and disenfranchised, dedicated to working on their behalf. While their exploits were the stuff of legend, their identities were shrouded in mystery: the word was that they could be recognized only by a plain black ring worn on the left forefinger.

Was this a troop of modern-day Robin Hoods? Of course, we were intrigued. Try as we might, we never saw that telltale ring, so we spoke with someone who knew where to locate one of the members of this secret society and we set up a meeting. Our high expectations weren’t disappointed.

An eloquent speaker of at least five languages, Father Carlos, a Catholic priest, remains to this day one of the most interesting individuals we have ever had the pleasure to meet. Originally from Brazil, he was groomed for leadership in the Church at a very young age. After completing his education at the Vatican, he returned to his native country to assume an important role in the church hierarchy. However, when we saw that the church’s extensive landholdings could be better used to help the poor, he rallied supporters and organized a group to take possession of the unused lands in accordance with Brazilian law.

Instead of elevating their native son to the position of power for which he had been groomed, his superiors promptly shipped him and his group of renegade priests to Nicaragua, then the site of a fierce civil war between the Sandinistas and the contras. It would have been difficult to find a more violent place. Although this posting had been intended as a punishment, it was, in fact, a blessing for Father Carlos and his followers. It gave them the opportunity to do what their faith had compelled them to do in Brazil: serve the poor.

The priests soon entered communities to offer medical training, education, and religious support. They declared that their side was with the poor, no matter who controlled their village. Unfortunately, this position was highly unpopular with both warring factions. As Father Carlos explained it, the contras believed his group supported the Sandinistas, and the Sandinistas believed they supported the contras. The priests quickly became targets of violence.

With the traditional black robe and simple white collar now the subject of unwelcome attention, Father Carlos decided that he and his followers needed to adopt a new habit. They shed their usual clothing and began to dress as peasants. Now their only distinguishing feature was a simple ring carved from a black Brazilian rain forest nut, worn as a symbol of their marriage to the poor. Today, anyone wearing this ring is said to continue their mission of service to the poor. According to tradition, the rings cannot be bought, only given.

Our initial meeting with Father Carlos was to be the beginning of a deep and lasting friendship. With his extensive knowledge of the area, he and a number of other priests guided us throughout our work in Nicaragua. Spending time with this extraordinary man, we gained tremendous respect for his work as well as for his faith. He and his followers found themselves at odds with their church, yet they remained committed to their religious beliefs, expressing their devotion by serving the poor.

When it finally came time for us to leave the country, we were treated to a humbling surprise. Taking a small wooden box out of the drawer of his desk, Father Carlos opened it to reveal a bundle of purple cloth. Slowly and carefully, he removed two black rings and placed them in our hands. Honored and somewhat embarrassed, we tried them on; they fit perfectly. We hoped we would be able to prove ourselves worthy of such a generous gift.”

Me to We - Part 2

Yesterday I highlighted the idea of working with poor people, expecting them to be sad because of their circumstances and finding that they were happy instead. Their focus was not 'me' (predominantly western thought), but rather 'we' (non-west) as community plays such an important role in their lives. What stops us from making this change?

“If Me to We is so wonderful, why hasn’t everyone already embraced this new approach to life? Research tells us that the answer is both incredibly complex and astonishingly simple: fear. The fact is we’re afraid. A lot of us have grown up with the belief that if we don’t look out for ourselves, no one else will. We worry that notions of community are idealistic tales from the past, irrelevant in our cutthroat, mile-a-minute world. We’re concerned that if we think in terms of We, then Me will suffer. The good news is that nothing could be farther from the truth.”

If you are anything like me than this fear also includes failure. The task is too big and if I mess up, how many people will I disappoint? What's happens if I totally lose myself in trying to help everyone else? I don't want to be the biggest hypocrite around! Thankfully, I am learning that these are utterly irrational fears and have no place in my life or the work that I do. I have never heard of one person, going out to help other people, that didn't also help themselves. Giving is contagious and when we pay it forward, it never comes back empty. And yes, the task is HUGE. OVERWHELMING. DAUNTING. And I am only one person. . .

“I am only one, but still I am one;
I cannot do everything, but still I can do something;
and because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”
~Helen Keller

Me to We - Part 1

I don't know if you've scrolled all the way down my blog, but I'm keeping a running list of the books I'm reading/have read this year. Sometimes I comment on the books I read, and Me to We (www.metowe.com) is definitely blog worthy. As a very quick and dirty background, the Me to We movement was started out of Free the Children (www.freethechildren.com) - a global organization started by a Canadian 12-year old boy (around 1995). Craig, along with his older brother Marc, have traveled the world, meeting dignitaries and heads of state including people like Mother Teresa. They have also met some of the world's poorest, unknown people. I believe that they provide solid advice based on their own experiences to prove that one person can truly make a difference, no matter their age. Here's a sample:

"What initially surprised us most in our travels to many poor countries of the developing world was not the misery or the extensive poverty but the happiness and the hope that survived despite it. We saw not only scenes of hunger and suffering but also moments of community, compassion, trust, and laughter. We saw people coming together to protect one another, sharing what little they had, celebrating with a smile, music, or dance the small pleasures of the world.”

I totally agree with this observation, especially when I met Ngoie in South Africa (search my blog for more posts on her and her story). She talked about "paying it forward" and I couldn't figure out what she had to pay forward. In the west, it's all about things and the stuff we have. When you start to travel, you see community and relationships. In the west we have watches, but in so many other cultures, they have time - time to really sit and talk and listen and not hurry to the next thing in one's busy schedule. Life is not just about Me - there is something greater when We contribute to the common good of each other.

“Travel has a way of stretching the mind.
The stretch comes not from travel’s immediate rewards,
the inevitable myriad new sights, smells and sounds,
but with experiencing firsthand how others do differently
what we believed to be the right and only way.”
~Ralph Crawshaw

Beautiful

Beautiful performed by MercyMe (The Generous Mr. Lovewell)

Days will come when you don’t have the strength. When all you hear is, you’re not worth anything. Wondering if you ever could be loved. And if they truly saw your heart, they’d see too much.

You’re beautiful. You’re beautiful. You are made for so much more than all of this. You’re beautiful. You’re beautiful. You are treasured. You are sacred. You are His. You’re beautiful.

Pray that you have the heart to fight. ‘Cause you are more than what is hurting you tonight. For all the lies you’ve held inside so long. They are nothing in the shadow of the cross.

You’re beautiful. You’re beautiful. You are made for so much more than all of this. You’re beautiful. You’re beautiful. You are treasured. You are sacred. You are His. You’re beautiful.

Before you ever took a breath. Long before the world began. Of all the wonders He possessed, there was one more precious. Of all the earth and skies above, you’re the one He madly loves enough to die.

You’re beautiful. You’re beautiful. In His eyes.

You're beautiful. You were made for so much more than all of this. You're beautiful. You are treasured. You are sacred. You are His. You're beautiful. You're beautiful. You were made for so much more than all of this. You're beautiful. You're beautiful. You are treasured. You are sacred.

You are His.

Safe and Sound

It was some time on Wednesday that my dad mentioned that our dog Sydney had not been around that morning to eat. If there's one thing that Sydney looks forward to each day (more than chasing the cats around, that is!), it is eating. Actually, she doesn't eat the food, it's more like she inhales it without chewing. Anyway, when my dad mentioned that, we both realized that the yard had been a lot quieter and there was much less excitement since some time on Tuesday. Yesterday we were starting to worry as there have been a number of dog abuse incidents happening around our area in the past few weeks. Much to our relief, Sydney reappeared Thursday evening. We don't have a clue where she disappeared to and what adventures she partook of, but we are thankful to have her back again! She returned a bit calmer (though that may change in a few days!) and with muddy front legs, but otherwise, it looks like we've got Sydney back again, safe and sound.

Invictus

The movie Invictus was in theaters just before I left South Africa and in the busyness of my return home, plus Christmas, I didn't get a chance to see it until now (yeah for DVD's!). #1 - it made me miss South Africa SO much! It was so great to hear the accent again. And for those of you who have traveled to any part of Africa, you understand that its countries and its people just have a way of staying with you. We lived close to a township and I especially loved the scene in the movie when the rugby team went to visit a township. #2 - it helped me understand, in better context, some of the issues that South Africans face each and every day. What a daunting task Nelson Mandela had in front of him with the apartheid behind and a new South Africa ahead.

Invictus
(Latin for "unconquered")
by: William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Little Travellers

Please check out www.littletravellers.net to find out more about Little Travellers - HIV/AIDS Initiative. I am proud to say that this fundraising idea all started in Manitoba, so there are many stores in Winnipeg where you can find these little pins (though not living in Manitoba is no excuse, thanks to the World Wide Web and PayPal!). I am even prouder to say that Little Travellers are made in South Africa!

More than 100 beaders take part in the Little Travellers project which means that more than 100 families are being supported just by making these dolls. 100% of the money raised through the sale of Little Travellers is used to support people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in South Africa (approximately 1/2 goes to providing an income for the crafters, and the rest goes towards the Hillcrest AIDS Centre's home-based care and respite programs). The HIV prevalence for all of South Africa is estimated to be between 15-20%. In the province of KwaZulu-Natal, however, 35-40% of all adults are estimated to be infected with HIV. A recent study has suggested that in the Valley of a Thousand Hills, more than 50% of women are infected with HIV. In contrast, the prevalence of HIV infection in Canada is less than 0.2%. Your $5 to buy a Little Traveller just might travel farther than you could ever imagine!

el hueco

Many of you know the story of my friend Bleu, down in Costa Rica. I love to share how she inspires me to continue on because she is an example of how one person can really make a difference. We only had 1/2 an hour to speak when I met her and we were not allowed to take pictures because the people she works with are so exploited. Recently she sent me a video that was made this past Christmas and I am so excited to be able to share it with you! Not only can you see her and hear some of her heart, but you also see some of the kids and adults that she works with. I don't know that I've ever seen more beautiful people in my life and I pray that they touch your heart like they have touched mine!

www.gnarlybayproductions.com/Gnarly_Bay_Productions/bleu/donate.html

Scared of Umpires

We are well into baseball season, though probably not as far as my brother Lee would like to be (he lives and breathes baseball). But this story is not about baseball. . .I was visiting my friend Brenda the other day. Her husband, Keith, joined us after trying to put their almost 4-year old daughter, Piper, to bed (she'd had a nap that afternoon and was still buzzing away!). He mentioned to me that he had to get rid of the umpires for her. Umpires, why is she scared of umpires? A bad experience at home plate? Brenda pipes up, "Vampires - she calls vampires umpires." I love kids - there would be a lot less laughter in our world without them!

supplied photo. . .guess who's in front of the umpire?. . .yep, it's Lee!

Happy 79th Birthday!

Today was an exciting day for our family. The day started with my cousin, Caleb, sharing his testimony and getting baptized. Then we spent the rest of the day celebrating with him and his friends, as well as celebrating my Grandma's 79th birthday and a belated Mother's Day.

I asked my Grandma what the best changes were over the last 79 years. . .electricity. . .running water. After I got her started with those examples her reply was that schools were better. She loved school and wanted to continue, but around Easter, just before she turned 14, she had to leave to work at home. Being 1 of 16 children, plus one of the oldest, there was always work in the garden or hoeing beets in the field or animals to care for. Happy 79th birthday Grandma, with many more to come! Thank you for the gift of education and reminding me just how important it is!

Air Conditioning

Since I've been walking down memory lane for the last few days, at least in regards to school, here is one of my favorite stories. It happened to a colleague of mine - oh how I wish I could claim the story as my own! He, like me, is a math teacher and on this particular day, one of his female students (maybe a little blonde in the hair) got VERY excited. Excitement doesn't seem to happen a lot in math class, so he went over to find out what had stirred her interest so. "My calculator has air conditioning!" He looked at her, confused as ever, not quite sure how to respond - air conditioning? "Yeah, it's got an a/c button!"

Substitute Teaching

I have been much busier substitute teaching this month than from January to April combined. I went back to my old elementary school the other day and recognized some of the students from when I subbed here a few years ago. Some remembered me, some didn't and others had their memory stirred. . .

It was nearing the end of the day and the grade 5's were supposed to be silent reading. One fellow decided to lie on the floor, with his feet up on a chair. I approached him and said that his teacher would probably not allow that, to which I added, "Am I right, or am I right?" He did agree with the latter! I talked to his teacher a few days later, relaying the story. She mentioned speaking to another student in the class who had not remembered me , that is, until my line, "Am I right, or am I right?" Here's to leaving a good impression?!?

High School

My friend Kim was playing piano for a high school choir last week and she invited me to come and hear them perform. The band also played and the concert took me back in time (well over a decade ago!). I thoroughly enjoyed listening to both the band and choir, and I missed being able to sing and play the flute myself. You know, back in high school, before reality and responsibility hit us; before there were bills to pay and life was easy. But I didn't just miss making music - I also realized how much I missed being a part of a high school. Other than my travels last year, I've basically been in a high school (as either a student or a teacher) since 1992 - no wonder I feel a little lost right now. A high school is this living organism - it has its own beat and yet it's what holds a community together. I think my favorite part about a high school, or rather, the students in it, is that it is a place filled with potential. It oozes with potential and some students soar while others fall flat on their face. But whether they utilize it or not, each teenager possesses this bundle of potential and it's so exciting to work alongside them and to see them grow.

How Merciful? Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

The second booklet in THE [ACTIVATE] SERIES came out this year and is entitled "How Merciful? Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide". There's no tip-toeing around the issues with EFC! The booklet looks at what's happening in other countries in the hope that Canada will not make the same mistakes. In Belgium, "the practice was legalized primarily in an effort to try to stop or decrease the number of acts of euthanasia because several thousand people were being illegally euthanized each year. Abuses continue to occur with atrocities such as one labelled the 'weekend cleanup' at one Belgian hospital where elderly and seriously ill patients are routinely administered legal drugs at the request of family members burdened with their care." www.evangelicalfellowship.ca/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=734&nccsm=21&__nccssubcid=26&__nccsct=Euthanasia+and+Assisted+Suicide&__nccspID=962

Not so Ancient: Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery

I blogged about THE [ACTIVATE] SERIES a while ago, but didn't have time to go into specifics. It is a resource booklet put together by The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The first one came out last year and is entitled "Not so Ancient: Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery". I just wanted to highlight one page from the booklet for you. When I speak about human trafficking, I talk about the basic economics of it: Supply & Demand - as the demand for child labor, prostitution and pornography increases, the supply increases, putting more pressure to traffick humans. The booklet talks about Push & Pull Factors. "There are many causes which lead to the vulnerability of people towards human trafficking." Some examples of push factors: "extreme poverty, unemployment, lack of education and opportunity". Some examples of pull factors: "a globalized, free market economy that has increased the demand for cheap labour. . .technologies like the Internet allow for trafficking to operate beyond national boundaries in an instantaneous and worldwide reaching fashion." www.evangelicalfellowship.ca/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=734&nccsm=21&__nccspID=938

So Much More Than a Little Bracelet

It's been a busy few days, so I'm a little delayed in letting you know about my latest mention in our local newspaper (this is the 3rd time - need I say more?). The high school Amnesty group invited me to sell Threads of Hope bracelets and they invited a reporter to get the scoop: www.altonaecho.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2567470

The Hardest Job in the World

This story is used with permission (Diane's at least!) and it goes out to all of you Mom's out there. I figured you could probably relate with your own story and maybe get a chuckle out of it. You truly have the hardest job in the world. . .this one's for you!

My friend Diane woke up with the flu one morning and her husband Danny decided he needed to head out and so he left her with their 2 girls, Jessica (6) and Leigha (2). Diane fell asleep on the couch and woke up a little later to find Leigha standing in front of her - covered in blue paint! The girls had decided that painting would be fun and the kitchen was covered in blue paint. Diane put Leigha in the tub and had Jessica watch her while she attempted to clean up the blue mess in the kitchen. As Diane was finishing in the kitchen, Jessica yelled from the bathroom, "Mom, Leigha just pooped in the tub!" And if that were not enough, Jessica added, "Never mind - she threw it on the floor!" Before Diane could get to the tub, Jessica called out, "Mom, she pooped again!" By the time Diane got to the bathroom - well, you can just imagine - there was poop everywhere! Trying to keep her own stomach together, Diane got Leigha out of the bath, cleaned her up and sent the girls to the living room while she cleaned the bathroom, asking Jessica to put the TV on for Leigha. When Diane finished with the bathroom, she came to check on the girls. Yep, the TV was on as instructed and Leigha was standing in front of it - juicebox in hand, spraying the TV! When Danny got home, he asked Diane how the girls were. She recounted the events of the day, to which he replied, "Well, you probably shouldn't have fallen asleep."

Stop Human Trafficking Walk

Today was the day where the rubber met the road - time to put my words into action - a chance to stand up and give a voice to those who are victims of human trafficking. It started at the Manitoba Legislature with a few short speeches and then we walked for about 1/2 an hour. But the most important part for me was after the walk was complete. Four women briefly shared about being a victim of human trafficking. They were overwhelmed to see hundreds of people show up in support of them. For me, an issue really hits home when I have a face to go with it and so I now carry these women in my heart.

World Fair Trade Day

Tomorrow is World Fair Trade Day and for more information please go to the Ten Thousand Villages website (www.tenthousandvillages.ca/cgi-bin/category.cgi?type=store&item=pageZAAAC69&template=fullpage-en). Here is their list of 10 Reasons to Support Fair Trade.

Fair Trade. . .

• is trade that people can count on.
• empowers women.
• protects the environment.
• means fair pay & safe working conditions.
• connects with other cultures.
• builds sustainable local economies.
• supports capacity building.
• supports community development.
• means high quality goods.
• gives you a choice & a voice.

My Jolica Kit

I received my Jolica kit today and I thought I was excited about selling their fair trade products before, but I'm even more excited now, having seen the products! Even the packaging for the jewelry, handbags and scarves provide work opportunities for those that otherwise might not have a steady income (it's hand made paper from Nepal). Thanks goes out to those of you who have expressed an interest through ordering this weekend (it's still open, plus a bonus 10% off) or booking a party. This is especially great timing because Saturday is World Fair Trade Day, so check out my website if you're interested at www.jolica.com/ladawn.siemens.

Waiting for Us

I went to the Michael W. Smith concert tonight and really enjoyed the evening. Well, I enjoyed most of the evening - after a year like last year, it's hard to sit through a concert, knowing that my $35 ticket could go so much farther in another country. But God still had a message for me - Michael talked about the story of the Prodigal's Son (Luke 15). Actually, he changed the name of the story to "The Extravagant Father", who knew that his son was lost and so his only choice was to let his son go.

Just before I left South Africa, I spoke at a pastor's meeting and they had this version on the wall: "This is the story of the prodigal son - it should be called the running Father - who waited every day for his son to return. The son who had rejected him so badly, and finally when he saw him from a long way off - his Father ran to him and hugged him."

At the beginning of my time in South Africa, I read an article by Bishop T. D. Jakes which said, "The greatest reason for searching for God is that when we find Him we find ourselves. We find the answer to the question: Who am I really (because how will I know if I am successful if I don't know what I was created to be)?
"The Bible doesn't talk about the prodigal son finding God; it says he came to himself. Isn't that the real journey, to come to yourself? To wake up and discover why you had to go through what you had to go through to get where you are today?"

It doesn't make sense, does it? God who created us, loves us so much that He gave us total free will. That's a huge risk because it means that we could reject Him, as so many do. Knowing that we are lost, He lets us go, all the while waiting for us to return to Him. Waiting for Us. . .though we've turned our own way. And it doesn't matter how long He has to wait, His arms are always open and ready when we finally realize that we are nothing without Him. That we finally figure out who we are when we look to the One who stitched us together and breathed dreams into us. The God of the universe longs for an intimate relationship with each one of us. . .and I am overwhelmed by His love for me.

Breathing a Sigh of Relief

For about a year now, my family has been holding our collective breath. When we thought things could not get any worse, they did. All the things we never expected to happen, happened. Hearts were broken, dreams crushed. And today, a glimmer of hope! We breath a collective sigh of relief today as my brother was sentenced to "absolute discharge with no conditions".

Levi - May 3

Levi has been up a bit - sitting in a chair. Sleep still seems hard to come by and so there is talk of moving him to a different room at the end of the hall so that it's a bit quieter for him. Gradually, there has been less reliance on the ventilator, which is positive. There is still some concern with one of his ulcers and how its healing. Thank you again for your continued thoughts and prayers!

The Long Road Back to Fisher Branch

I spent this weekend in Fisher Branch - the community where I was living and teaching before I left for YWAM. My 6 hours of driving this weekend were kind of boring - how in the world did I drive back and forth almost every weekend when I was teaching there (and in the winter with bad roads, no less)?!? My friends and former colleagues had many plans for me - canoeing, horseback riding, plus, the whole point of the weekend, sharing at the church this morning. Alas, the rainy, windy weather stroked canoeing and horseback riding off the list. Joanne (my guitar teacher, who wanted to take me canoeing) instead took me for a walk and we went bird watching. Actually, we started by listening - the American bittern makes this crazy gulping sound and we followed it to the marsh. She was able to see it first and then, when he finally made sang his song by putting his entire body into it, I was able to spot him through his movements yet too. I also ate pickerel fish wings today (no typo- these fish have wings!). Despite the weather, I would say that I still had quite the adventure in Fisher Branch!

Mall Display

Altona is a really great town! I came back home at Christmas with the idea that I'm going to ask, ask, ask and the worst that can happen is that I get a 'no' - but hey, at least I tried! I have received a 'yes' to basically everything I've asked of different organizations, businesses and people throughout the community. And if people are tired of me asking, they have not mentioned it! People have been so supportive of both my speaking engagements and the photography/injustice class I taught. The FRAMED Photography Exhibit is now on display for the entire month of May in the mall (oh, and did I mention that most things I ask for are for free - even bigger bonus!). Check it out, and, as with our official exhibit, please bring a food donation for the food bank.