Push & Pull

This morning I was longing to be back at my church in South Africa, just to experience it again. It was the first time in my life when, after just leaving church on a Sunday morning, I was already looking forward to the next Sunday at The Bay. I felt pulled back a few months (and many degrees Celsius!).

But at the same time, I felt the push to be here at home. Knowing that God has specific plans, right here. That this morning's sermon was one I was meant to hear. How, if we viewed every person as the creation that God has made them to be, our world would be different because they would no longer just be objects but the people that they are. And that way, life wouldn't be all about us - ME - because it's really not.

P.S. - And just when I think how I wish I could be in South Africa, and see how much I need to work on and change in my life, God just pours out His blessings upon my life to remind me of His unending love for me - a phone call from my South African family, Clint & Manuela!

Lee's Thoughts

As many of you may know, 2009 was a difficult year for my family (and, sorrowfully, it persists into 2010). I don't know if I've directed you to my brother Lee's blog or not, so I'm doing it now:
http://fromdecemberssnow.blogspot.com/. As I read his post today - "Thoughts" - I could hear his voice. He writes like I do - whatever is in our hearts. And so many times this last year, our hearts have been messy and retched and strained. One wonders just how much one heart can actually hold.

Heart & Stroke

Just a reminder that February (with only a few days left) is heart and stroke month (www.heartandstroke.ca). I want to remind you of this because my mom's brother (my uncle Tim) had a heart attack yesterday and he's only 46 years old. My mom's dad died at age 50 of a heart attack and many of the siblings in the family deal with blood pressure and cholesterol problems. My family and I appreciate your thoughts and prayers at this time (Tim is currently in the hospital), but more than that, I encourage you to maintain a healthy lifestyle of a nutritious diet and exercise because I want all you of in my life for a long, long time!

I Am Done

I am done with winter. It is time for it to end! I was fine up until today, but I've had enough of wearing 50 layers of clothing plus big snow boots. I can't stand the staticy hair (on myself and others) any more! My fingers are close to falling off and drying out because of the cold and dry weather. And it's not that I want to complain (since I did have a perpetual summer for most of last year), it's just that you get to a point, and I am now there! DONE.

Fair Trade Manitoba

Check out www.fairtrademanitoba.ca to find Manitoba retailers that offer fair trade options. Also consider being a part of the One Month Challenge 2010 (sorry, I just found out about it, though it actually started February 14). Basically it's a time to focus on buying and consuming fair trade products - specifically coffee, tea and chocolate.

The Obsession Continues

I think it was day 2 of the Olympics when I found myself humming the theme song from CTV's coverage of the games. Of course, I know the words and tune to "I Believe", considering that it is played on CTV with each gold medal Canada wins (and repeated a few times!). And though we won't win the largest number of medals, there is still the hope that we will win the most gold medals. But beyond the medals, I have enjoyed the TV coverage of the athletes' personal stories and the profiles of their blood, sweat and tears which have been put in over years of preparation.

Triumph & tragedy. Heartache & joy.

Schedule

Ok, I'll admit it - I love having a schedule. Routine. I'm just that kind of person. Since my schedule is all over the place, being inconsistent with substitute teaching as days are available, I just can't get into a grove. This morning I got up "early" to pick up my brother's vehicle (I use it when he's on the road), and I was treated to a Skype chat with my friend Allistair from South Africa, catching him at the end of his workday. Had I slept later, I would have totally missed out!

Addicted

Hello, my name is LaDawn and I'm an Olymp-oholic! It does not matter if it's the winter or the summer games, for 2 weeks every 2 years, I plant myself in front of the TV to watch more than great sports - I love to see the best of the human spirit as the world comes together. And I should note that I have not watched TV since returning home in December (why bother after surviving 9 months without it?), but the Olympics is an exception! I got a pedicure yesterday and asked the girl to paint a maple leaf to go with the red polish I picked out. I like to call it t-Oh Canada!

Gowns for Grad

While getting ready to head into Winnipeg this morning, I turned on the radio (a rarity) just in time to hear the news. Colleen Houde was on and one of the feature news stories was about a program in the city that collects old grad gowns and bridesmaid dresses for girls who can't afford a dress for their prom. I have so many dresses just hanging in my closest, waiting for who knows what. And so I added one more stop to my list - "drop off dresses at CHVN". I hope that there are 4 girls who feel beautiful for grad and just can't stop smiling, because I couldn't stop smiling today!

Upside Down

I was challenged in reading a devotional from "Our Journey":

"While the early church turned their world upside down, it seems today that the world is turning the church upside down. . .It seems like our culture is affecting us more than we are affecting our culture. The world needs to see a genuine man or woman of God living the Christian life. They needs to see the real thing. In short, they need to see you. . .You can turn your world upside down."

"Lord, I have been too timid in living for You. Help me to see the opportunities You bring into my life and to have the courage to live in a way that affects my community profoundly. Amen."

Food Freedom Day

I didn't blog about Food Freedom Day in Canada (Feb. 12) due to all my Valentine gift ideas last week. In an email I received from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank they said, "Food Freedom Day is the day when the average Canadian will have earned enough money to pay for his or her own groceries for the full year. How privileged we are to live in a country where people have so much disposable income! It's a good day also for us to reflect on the many people in our world who don't share this freedom." I think this is also a great thought to "chew on" as we head into the season of lent and Easter, truly considering just how blessed we are in Canada.

Half the Sky

I mentioned the book "Half the Sky" (www.halftheskymovement.org) yesterday, which is such a great read. On March 4, in honor of International Women's Day 2010, select theaters across Canada will be showing "Half the Sky Live" (see the trailer at care.ca/main/index.php?Half_the_sky_live&PHPSESSID=281de1166457b4a247d43047526c14d2). I just want to share a few of the most important quotes I got from this book:

"Although volume upon volume is written to prove slavery a very good thing, we never hear of the man who wishes to take the good of it, by being a slave himself." Abraham Lincoln

"You educate a boy, and you're educating an individual. You educate a girl, and you're educating an entire village." African proverb

"Decades from now, people will look back and wonder how societies could have acquiesced in a sex slave trade in the twenty-first century that, as we've seen, is bigger than the transatlantic slave trade was in the nineteenth." p. 237

"Before long, we will consider sex slavery, honor killings and acid attacks as unfathomable as foot-binding. The question is how long that transformation will take and how many girls will be kidnapped into brothels before it is complete - and whether each of us will be part of that historical movement, or a bystander." p. 250

Micro-loans

I have just finished reading "Half the Sky - Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide" and one of their suggestions to make a real difference in the lives of women is to invest in micro-loans. The idea is that by providing small business loans, people living in poverty are given a chance not only to survive, but to thrive. It is not a hand-out, but rather an opportunity to give these people a place to start where otherwise there would be none. I contacted MCC and though they do a few micro-loans, they don't have many set up and so they directed me to MEDA (Mennonite Development Economic Associates).

Within MEDA Trust (www.medatrust.org), you can decide how much money you would like to loan and to what type of business. They work within Afghanistan and Nicaragua, and currently there is an extra bonus! The Afghanistan Challenge (www.afghanistanchallenge.ca) is currently partnering a number of organizations, including MEDA, and with every dollar you donate towards a micro-loan through MEDA, the Canadian government is matching dollar for dollar. But that's not even the best part! - within an 18 month time period, your donation may be loaned out numerous times. You may feel that $50 is not much, but if it's used twice then it's really $100 and if it's used three times then it's really $150! When the loan that you are sponsoring is paid off, you can then direct your money to another loan - talk about multiplication!

I want to challenge you to make a lasting difference, especially in the lives of women living in poverty in Afghanistan and Nicaragua - each dollar, now multiplied, can go so very far in truly changing their lives and the circumstances they live in. I urge you - take a risk - step out and do it. . .do it now!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Did you know that Valentine's Day did not start out as a romantic celebration? It's origins are actually based on a friendship of letter-writing with one of the people having the name Valentine and signing his letters "Your Valentine". I hope my week of gift ideas has inspired you as you celebrate today, whether it's with your sweetheart or just a friend in your life that you appreciate.

And I want you to know, as is the case with everything on my blog, I don't talk about stuff or endorse products because I just think that they're nice or great causes. If I talk about something here, it means that I've stepped out first. Every item that was featured is something that I've purchased. When I talk about things like sponsoring a child (or donating to a micro-loan - see tomorrow's blog!), it means that I participate in those things myself. I challenge you because I first challenge myself. . .and I really hope that it inspires you to do likewise within your circle of people.