Happy 33rd Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary wishes go out to my parents today, with many more to come!

One of Those Weeks

Maybe you've had a week like I've had - one that just couldn't end soon enough!  Things didn't seem to work out for me.  I made arrangements to pick up things or meet people, and they never showed.  Of course, we also had the porcupine episode this week (though Sydney seems to have recovered and is back to her normal, hyper self).  I'm so thankful for the weekend and another chance to try it again next week!

The Road of Lost Innocence

I just finished reading "The Road of Lost Innocence" by Somaly Mam, Cambodian heroine.  I was only in about 3 chapters when my friend asked about the book and the only response I could come up with was, "Why was I born in Canada?"  That's really the difference between her life and mine - she was born into poverty in Cambodia and I was born into riches in Canada (not by our standards per say, but certainly by the world's).  I always end my speaking engagements by saying that I don't want people to feel guilty about our resources, but rather to do something with them.  We've - I've - been blessed beyond compare and can no longer stand by and wait for someone else to do something. . .change starts within each of us.

"I don't feel like I can change the world.  I don't even try.  I only want to change this small life that I see standing in front of me, which is suffering.  I want to change this small real thing that is the destiny of one little girl.  And then another, and another, because if I didn't, I wouldn't be able to live with myself or sleep at night." (p. 128 - 129)

The Adventures of Sydney the Dog

I'm thinking of writing a book called "The Adventures of Sydney the Dog".  I mean, I wouldn't have to worry about material at all because our dog Sydney supplies more of her fair share of adventure.  Today's chapter:  I went out to do some weed-eating and Sydney greeted me at the back door.  I looked at her, turned around, opened the inside door and yelled "I think Sydney met a porcupine today" to my parents.  Sure enough, the 4 quills (which looks liked pieces of straw or bits of wood from a distance) we could see at the surface around her face were just the beginning.  I held on to her while my dad started pulling the quills out with pliers.  She probably had around 30 all over her body and we're hoping that we got them all, as she has such thick fur.  Sydney has never sat quite so still for such a long time!  As we got rid of the quills I kept telling her that, although she wants everyone to be her friend, porcupines CANNOT be her friend!

What is God's Greatest Gift to You?

The speaker this past Sunday for the community worship service at the festival quoted part of a 1989 TIME interview with Mother Teresa.  She was asked the question, "What is God's greatest gift to you?"  Certainly our Western mentality might answer some of our abundant material blessings or perhaps our family and friends.  Of course, that was not Mother Teresa's answer.  Rather, she stated, "The poor people."  Then she was asked, "How are they a gift?"  To which she replied, "I have an opportunity to be with Jesus 24 hours a day."  The poor were not a burden to her or some project to win brownie points with God - they WERE Jesus.  To serve them was to serve Jesus himself.

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. . .Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."

~Jesus (Matthew 25:35, 36, 40b)

What is the Church?

Over the last few days I've had a number of interesting conversation about the church.  What exactly is the church?  Or maybe the better question is, WHO is the church?  When Jesus commissioned his followers to go and make disciples, he never mentioned Sunday mornings or stained glass windows.  We so easily get caught up in programs and forget that Jesus was in the business of people and their hearts.  I am learning that church is not a building, but rather broken people, hungry and searching after God.  The deeper we go, the rawer we get, the more vulnerable and naked we become, I believe the closer we get to what the church should be.  I grew up thinking that church was full of perfect people. . .except for me.  But the church is really only alive when we are honest in our pain and are willing to walk with one another just as Jesus did while he was here on earth.

Great Start to the Festivals

I had a great start to selling Threads of Hope and Little Travellers at the Manitoba Sunflower Festival in Altona this weekend.  Seventeen Little Travellers found new homes and 385 Threads went out (plus 79 that I gave to the kids this morning at the end of my children's feature in the Sunday worship service - that's me on the far right).  Thanks for your support Altona!  The next place you can find my table will be at the Winkler Harvest Festival from August 13 - 15.

Everyone Loves a Parade

The Sunflower Festival is similar to a big reunion.  You see people you haven't seen in years (sometimes on purpose!) and again realize how quickly another year has passed as you reminisce about what has happened since the last festival.  I missed the festival last year, so I was able to once again enjoy the sights and sounds it has to offer, starting with the parade.  Being the Sunflower festival, you can't forget to bring the sunflower seeds along with your lawnchairs.  You hear the bagpipes in the distance, see the flashing lights of the police car and sit back to see what the parade has in store.  My only question - how much do you get paid to be a giant tire (or other such mascot), especially on a day when the temperature reached +30?!?

Manitoba Sunflower Festival

Just a reminder to find my table in the park at the Manitoba Sunflower Festival in Altona this weekend.  I will be selling Threads of Hope ($1) and Little Travellers ($5 - $9).  Hope to see you there!

All that I Do. . .

"All that I do in civil rights I consider a part of my ministry, because I think the gospel in its essence ministers to the whole man.  It is not enough to be concerned about the soul of man, you've got to be concerned about the body and the environment conditions, which may scar the soul."  ~Martin Luther King Jr.

Slavery

Bubble Brain

I thought I would be dreaming of bubbles last night - our coding is coloring in bubble sheets all day long.  After the initial training yesterday, I was able to get through 13 bundles (10 assessments per bundle).  Today I marked 34 bundles.  I fill in my i.d. number (that 3 circles to shade in) and then we look at the same 9 questions (that's 9 more bubbles) for each booklet.  No wonder I have bubble brain. . .34 x 10 x 12 = 4080 bubbles just today!

The Last Decade

I am spending this week in Winnipeg doing some marking (well, scoring. . .no, they actually call it "coding"!) thanks to my friend Lisa putting in a good word for me (they desperately needed more math markers this week so they'll get through the 40,000 assessments).  Anyway, I arrive in the room this morning to get started only to realize that it's the exact ballroom where my university graduation dinner was held just over 10 years ago!  I'm sure I could never have predicted what the last decade would hold for me when I was celebrating my graduation so long ago.

Quality People

I like to believe that I surround myself with quality people.  You know those people that would actually tell you that you're dating a jerk because they care about you and know that, eventually, you'll get over it and realize that they said it for your benefit.  I mean, who wants people who won't look out for you (and vice versa)?!

Well, I love it when "my people" prove me right (and no, I'm not dating - a jerk or otherwise)!  I got an unexpected gift the other day from my friend Diane.  I had mentioned, in passing, some books I wanted to get about a Cambodian woman named Somaly Mam.  Gifts are wonderful, especially when they're unexpected, and even more so when someone gets you exactly what you want, without you even asking!  So whether it's an all-important thing like dating the right guy or the little things like getting a surprise just-because gift, it's really all about the quality person who's willing to journey life together with me.  For ALL my quality people out there, I just want to remind you, THAT YOU ROCK, and that my life would be so much less without you!!

A Hero in Haiti

Please take the time to view the following ListenUp TV clip:

www.listenuptv.com/listenup/video?video_id=206

True Evangelical Faith

Being a Mennonite has meant different things to me at different points in my life.  Growing up it probably had more to do with speaking Low German, eating Mennonite food, and being conservative.  Of course, your last name had to be Friesen or Wiebe or Thiessen (or Siemens!).  But then being a Mennonite became more about having a strong work ethic, being Anabaptist and pacifist.   In my travels and as I've been home for about 1/2 year now, I think that it has come full circle for me - not in my thoughts, but from the thoughts of Menno Simons.

"For true evangelical faith...cannot lay dormant; but manifests itself in all righteousness and works of love; it...clothes the naked; feeds the hungry; consoles the afflicted; shelters the miserable; aids and consoles all the oppressed; returns good for evil; serves those that injure it; prays for those that persecute it."

—Menno Simons, Why I Do Not Cease Teaching and Writing, 1539

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Where's a WIDE angle lens when you need one?!?  We could see both ends of this rainbow but by the time I backed up enough, parts of the rainbow (and at times a double rainbow) were gone.

(I'm guessing that the wide angle lens is. . .somewhere over the rainbow!)

Dr. Seuss, I request a title change. . .

. . .forget "The Cat Came Back" and change it to the "The Dog Came Back" because we have the real thing!  Sydney disappeared on us again last week and "we thought she was a goner" since she was away for almost a week's time.  But alas, she came back to us again "'cause she just couldn't stay away"!  Oh, the adventures she would tell (I'm sure far more exciting than that cat!!).

Just One

In some of my photography training last year, I heard of 1 photographer who considered themself successful if they could capture 1 great picture per month. . .just one.  My friends took a huge leap of faith (I'm not great with people pictures yet) and asked me to take some family pictures for them last Saturday.  I prayed for cloud cover (ideal for outdoor pictures), which we got long enough to get some pretty good pictures, both outside and in.  I say that I'm not great with people pictures partly because I love to capture people in the moment, not posed.  If I could be invisible and take pictures so people don't run away from the camera or suck in their stomach or look fake, I would be happy.  My favorite picture of the day was in between all of those posed ones (which I know we need too!) and I don't want to say anymore, because I think this picture of these 2 little sisters speaks for itself. . .just one!

And the Winner is. . .South Africa!!

The beauty of South Africa's people has been on display for the last month, thanks to and yet far beyond the FIFA World Cup.  Having lived in South Africa from September to December of last year, I had a bit of an inside track on the activities.  Things kicked off just before I left the country and it has been so exciting to connect with my South African friends throughout this month to get their views.  I was told about the vibe and unity throughout the country, and shared in their triumph of England's defeat (far more important it seemed, than South Africa's team continuing on).  I am 1 of the millions of people who watched the final match today.  The outcome of the game did not matter to me because the real winner has already been claimed. . .SOUTH AFRICA!!

Stoning - Continued

Check out the news on the Iranian stoning story today:  www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/woman-wont-be-stoned-for-adultery-iran-says-98159144.html

Stoning

Check out the following CNN article - Son urges Iranian courts to stop mother's death by stoning:
edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/07/07/iran.stoning/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn&fbid=HNw8fpoZAhx

Specialty Travellers

I am trying to get everything ready for the summer festivals where I'll be setting up a table to sell Threads of Hope and Little Travellers (more info on the sidebar).  Along with the regular Little Travellers I will also have some of the Specialty Travellers (www.littletravellers.net/specialty-travellers).  The Specialty Travellers cost a little more, but are totally worth it because they are just SO cute.  If you have a Specialty Traveller in mind and want to reserve one, let me know.  I don't have the Mama & Baby (which I was really hoping to get for myself!), but I have some that are not even featured on the webpage:  Skirts (perfect for the little ballerina in your life), Sassy Girls, Handbags (yep, they have they own LT purse!), Woman's Hard Life, Gold Hair, Makoti and Warriors.

The World Cup Footballers are flying off the shelves here in southern Manitoba (again, thanks Greg for the article in the newspaper - it really helped!).  Let me know if you are interested in having your own piece of the World Cup and supporting South Africans living with HIV/AIDS.

Missing You. . .

Today was one of those days where I was thinking about where I was a year ago.  Did I really travel to all those places and do all those things?!?  I definitely don't miss the hot weather, sleeping arrangements, bathroom facilities or food.  BUT, I so miss the people who changed my life significantly through rather insignificant ways.  Whether we met in a slum for 1/2 hour, road the river together, had tea or just talked the day away, that's what I miss the most.  I'm sorry that I probably don't maintain contact as much as I should but I think it's partly because mail or phone or the internet don't provide the best setting for those up-close and personal chats.  Just know that I am missing you. . .

Mushrooms

It has been a really long time since I didn't know what to blog about, but today I was stumped.  So I thought I would share a recent picture with you.  With all the rainfall, mushrooms are growing in unexpected places!

Update on Levi

I haven't blogged about Levi in a while, so I thought I should bring you up to speed. He was transferred to the HSC last weekend, which is a positive step. They will be attempting to wean him off the ventilator. He does have another infection in his hip, though it's not quite clear if this is the same one he had previously or if it's a new one.

Long Walk to Freedom

From Nelson Mandela's Autobiography "Long Walk to Freedom":

Apartheid - "It literally means 'apartness' and it represented the codification in one oppressive system of all the laws and regulations that had kept Africans in an inferior position to whites for centuries." (p. 97)

"The policy of apartheid created a deep and lasting wound in my country and my people.  All of us will spend many years, if not generations, recovering from that profound hurt. . .Perhaps it requires such depth of oppression to create such heights of character.  My country is rich in the minerals and gems that lie beneath its soil, but I have always known that its greatest wealth is its people, finer and truer than the purest diamonds." (p. 542)

"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion.  People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."  (p. 542)

"I was not born with a hunger to be free.  I was born free - free in every way that I could know. . .It was only when I began to learn that my boyhood freedom was an illusion, when I discovered as a young man that my freedom had already been taken from me, that I began to hunger for it. . .But then I slowly saw that not only was I not free, but my brothers and sisters were not free. . .Freedom is indivisible; the chains on any one of my people were the chains on all of them, the chains of all of my people were the chains on me.  It was during those long and lonely years that my hunger for the freedom of my own people became a hunger for the freedom of all people, white and black." (p. 543 - 544)

"Never, never, and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of on by another. . .The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement.  Let freedom reign.  God bless Africa!"  (p. 541 from his inauguration speech)

Scars

Maybe you are one of those people who has a cool scar with a cool story to go along with it.  Most of my scars would just have stupid stories or, even worse, painful ones.  And some scars are easily hidden (physical or otherwise) so when they do come up, they seem to hurt even more.

I have been learning to embrace the scars of my life, realizing that though they may have been painful experiences, they make me me.  It's so weird that people want to lead happy, peaceful lives and somehow we imagine that that means easy and comfortable.  But it's the opposite - it's the hard experiences that build our character and help us realize what we have, that we so easily overlook most days.  If you haven't already, check out the 1000 Awesome Things blog - I have linked my favorite one (on scars, of course!):
1000awesomethings.com/2010/02/04/576-appreciating-the-beauty-of-all-your-bodys-scars-and-scratches

Just before I left Panama last summer, a new pastor shared at the church where we were living.  He talked about a lady battling cancer, having to have surgery and the fact that she was left with a visible scar.  That scar was not only a reminder of her cancer, but just how far she had come since.  Pain sucks - there's no doubt about it.  And I know that it's hard to see beyond that pain and suffering when you're right inside of it.  Words means to much to me and I wish I was better at expressing myself but when I asked my friend what I could do to help her, and her reply was to make the pain go away, all I could get out were tears.  I'm not living her life; the best I can do is walk beside her.  It would be heartless to say that the pain will be worth it at some point, but I really believe that it will be, though now is not the time to say that.  I want to reassure her that there will come a point, maybe a week from now or a month from now or a year from now, where she will be able to look back and see just how far she has come.  And I have no doubt that the struggles she is facing today will make her stronger - it's just hard to look at the scar right now and see anything else.

The Cry - A Song for Canada

sung by BevAcqua

Lord hear our cry, hear our prayers
We’re calling You to come and heal our nation
We lift one voice today, come fill our hearts again
With the prayers of Jesus Christ, the Righteous One

Oh Canada
We stand on God for Thee
With true Christian love
At the Holy Son’s command
Oh Canada
With glowing hearts we pray
With the power of the Spirit
In the name of Jesus Christ

We need Your heart, we need Your vision Lord
So Your Righteousness would come and fill our nation
We humbly bow beneath Your hand
We’re trusting in You God, in You Jesus

To hear the song, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=A83cfs0gWCo