Wednesday, September 24, 2008
holiness
"Holy is the way God is. To be holy He does not conform to a standard. He IS that standard." ~A.W. Tozer
passport? check!
the man at the counter eyed me over his dark-rimmed spectacles as i leaned over his counter at the post office, alert and ready to shove my birth certificate and already completed passport paperwork at him. when requested, the papers flew to his hands as if they had a life of their own, and i was ready! ready to give him my hundred dollars and even let him keep my drivers license if he needed it. all to have my freedom... freedom in the form of that little booklet called a "UNITED STATES PASSPORT".
::queue the hallelujah chorus, please::
yep, he had all the paperwork, my money, and everything he needed. as he eyed me with an amused "i wonder where she's going" expression, he glanced from my face down to the paperwork with a little chuckle.
he didn't even need to ask. i volunteered the information in an excited rush of words. "africa. i'm going to africa. kitale, actually. my parents bought my ticket and now i'm going to see my friend daniel who started a nonprofit over there. i'm excited."
he looked at me like i was a nutcase. i didn't blame him. poor guy... he was the only person within earshot for me to talk to. oooh.. unless i took off around the corner and into the post office packing area to regale a helpless postworker grandmother with my excited squeals about how i would have the freedom to travel the world once i received that beautiful little book with blank and stampable pages for recording every place i will go...
sigh. no... i wasn't in the mood for a strip search and night in jail when they cuffed me for crossing the painted yellow line and jeopardizing the privacy of united states citizens and their private mail. Lord only knows what i would've seen. oh well. the poor passport guy would have to suffer through my exuberance all on his own. after the first squeal of joy when i signed the papers with him as my witness, the following four or five didnt really phase him.
as a matter of fact, i believe he was genuinely excited for me and my adventure, and shared that he has an aunt in kenya. ha! i invited him to come. heh heh.
when i walked outside i saw the world in a whole new light... it was mine. mine for the taking!! the world was my oyster! i squealed as the door shut behind me, and i could've sworn i heard the passport worker chuckle as i walked away.
::queue the hallelujah chorus, please::
yep, he had all the paperwork, my money, and everything he needed. as he eyed me with an amused "i wonder where she's going" expression, he glanced from my face down to the paperwork with a little chuckle.
he didn't even need to ask. i volunteered the information in an excited rush of words. "africa. i'm going to africa. kitale, actually. my parents bought my ticket and now i'm going to see my friend daniel who started a nonprofit over there. i'm excited."
he looked at me like i was a nutcase. i didn't blame him. poor guy... he was the only person within earshot for me to talk to. oooh.. unless i took off around the corner and into the post office packing area to regale a helpless postworker grandmother with my excited squeals about how i would have the freedom to travel the world once i received that beautiful little book with blank and stampable pages for recording every place i will go...
sigh. no... i wasn't in the mood for a strip search and night in jail when they cuffed me for crossing the painted yellow line and jeopardizing the privacy of united states citizens and their private mail. Lord only knows what i would've seen. oh well. the poor passport guy would have to suffer through my exuberance all on his own. after the first squeal of joy when i signed the papers with him as my witness, the following four or five didnt really phase him.
as a matter of fact, i believe he was genuinely excited for me and my adventure, and shared that he has an aunt in kenya. ha! i invited him to come. heh heh.
when i walked outside i saw the world in a whole new light... it was mine. mine for the taking!! the world was my oyster! i squealed as the door shut behind me, and i could've sworn i heard the passport worker chuckle as i walked away.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
a successful project
ever since i've lived with my roommates, we've needed furniture. we're getting it from my roommate's parents when they get their storage truck over to our house, but there have been some time delays, so i've laughed alot at the state of our living room and dining room. i decided that i would purchase a dining room table because that was not on the list of things we'll possibly be receiving from the elusive storage truck.
after stalking craigslist for a month, i found a table i wanted. it was pub style, cheap, and God just gave me a peace about purchasing it. once i got it into the house and the roommate's boyfriend and i put it together (it was in pieces when i bought it), i realized the silver just didnt match anything else in the house. i just had to do something about that.
after debating for a couple days, i ran to walmart and bought some textured spray paint to see if i'd like the way it looked. i tested it on an extra piece of metal from one of the chairs, and loved it! it took me 3 hours to tape around the seat cushions with duck tape and plastic, protecting them from the 10 bottles of spray paint i would eventually end up using, and then another 3 hours of spraypainting and 2 more waiting for it to dry. i couldn't believe how fun it was, this little project of mine! i totally owned that table.
every time i walk in my house now and see it, i think of how proud my friend jenn would be of me. she's a crafty lil momma and has a new project every week it seems. i am so in love with my table now, and love that i can say i kinda created it. :)
before:
after:
after stalking craigslist for a month, i found a table i wanted. it was pub style, cheap, and God just gave me a peace about purchasing it. once i got it into the house and the roommate's boyfriend and i put it together (it was in pieces when i bought it), i realized the silver just didnt match anything else in the house. i just had to do something about that.
after debating for a couple days, i ran to walmart and bought some textured spray paint to see if i'd like the way it looked. i tested it on an extra piece of metal from one of the chairs, and loved it! it took me 3 hours to tape around the seat cushions with duck tape and plastic, protecting them from the 10 bottles of spray paint i would eventually end up using, and then another 3 hours of spraypainting and 2 more waiting for it to dry. i couldn't believe how fun it was, this little project of mine! i totally owned that table.
every time i walk in my house now and see it, i think of how proud my friend jenn would be of me. she's a crafty lil momma and has a new project every week it seems. i am so in love with my table now, and love that i can say i kinda created it. :)
before:
after:
happy family
autumn's birthday was yesterday. it was so special to get to spend the day with her.
faith hosted a little part of sorts at her house, and after some time hanging out eating and laughing we decided we needed to go do something together. it's cool hanging out, but sometimes you just gotta go on an adventure together.
our adventure took us to the wild island family adventure park's miniature golf course. i wouldn't be able to explain half of the craziness that happened that night, but suffice to say there was laughter... lots of doubled over, pain-in-your-side, i'm-laughing-so-hard-i-can't-breathe, kind of laughter.
miniature golf with the hepners? now that is a sight!
here are some pictures from our night:
faith hosted a little part of sorts at her house, and after some time hanging out eating and laughing we decided we needed to go do something together. it's cool hanging out, but sometimes you just gotta go on an adventure together.
our adventure took us to the wild island family adventure park's miniature golf course. i wouldn't be able to explain half of the craziness that happened that night, but suffice to say there was laughter... lots of doubled over, pain-in-your-side, i'm-laughing-so-hard-i-can't-breathe, kind of laughter.
miniature golf with the hepners? now that is a sight!
here are some pictures from our night:
Friday, August 29, 2008
the ball keeps rollin...
Holy crap, I'm freakin excited!
You’d think that would be enough of an amazing testimony about how he’s providing, wouldn’t you? Nope… his plans and purposes FAR exceed anything I could hope for. My friend Rebecca Shaevitz was telling her roommate and coworker, Michele (who is in her last year at seminary), about what God was doing with my trip to Africa, and the Holy Spirit impressed on Michele that she was to go as well. She didn’t know how she would get a plane ticket as they go up in price more and more every day, and she didn’t have the money to purchase one. Well, God had a plan for that as well – he always does, doesn’t he? She asked her boss for the month of January off, and her boss said something like “Absolutely… and I would like to buy your plane ticket. Would you allow me to do that?” I think at this point Michele actually said “Uh… yes?” as if it was even a question?!?! Yet again… God prepares the way before us.
Michele purchased her flight yesterday, and God provided a great price for the exact flights I booked my ticket on - with seats right next to mine. He has brought us together on this trip, and we are in suspense waiting for how next he will continue to guide our paths on this amazing adventure!
So… Michele will be going with me and earning credit for her Union Degree, studying the structure and ministries if TI; I will be going to learn the ins and outs of the ministry as well, seeing up close and personal the ministry I help support with my time here in the states. It’s this weird thing though that I’m going through right now - I hesitate to make any predictions on what my time there will be like. There is a stirring of Spirit in me that makes me think He has much more planned for my time there than I could ever imagine or expect.
I covet your prayers - and advice - for my trip. Even with four months until liftoff, I get more excited every day!!
You’d think that would be enough of an amazing testimony about how he’s providing, wouldn’t you? Nope… his plans and purposes FAR exceed anything I could hope for. My friend Rebecca Shaevitz was telling her roommate and coworker, Michele (who is in her last year at seminary), about what God was doing with my trip to Africa, and the Holy Spirit impressed on Michele that she was to go as well. She didn’t know how she would get a plane ticket as they go up in price more and more every day, and she didn’t have the money to purchase one. Well, God had a plan for that as well – he always does, doesn’t he? She asked her boss for the month of January off, and her boss said something like “Absolutely… and I would like to buy your plane ticket. Would you allow me to do that?” I think at this point Michele actually said “Uh… yes?” as if it was even a question?!?! Yet again… God prepares the way before us.
Michele purchased her flight yesterday, and God provided a great price for the exact flights I booked my ticket on - with seats right next to mine. He has brought us together on this trip, and we are in suspense waiting for how next he will continue to guide our paths on this amazing adventure!
So… Michele will be going with me and earning credit for her Union Degree, studying the structure and ministries if TI; I will be going to learn the ins and outs of the ministry as well, seeing up close and personal the ministry I help support with my time here in the states. It’s this weird thing though that I’m going through right now - I hesitate to make any predictions on what my time there will be like. There is a stirring of Spirit in me that makes me think He has much more planned for my time there than I could ever imagine or expect.
I covet your prayers - and advice - for my trip. Even with four months until liftoff, I get more excited every day!!
Monday, August 18, 2008
africa or bust
on january 2, 2009 i will be leaving for my first trip abroad. i will be departing from san franciso, ca and arriving 10 hours later in london for a layover before my next flight to nairobi airport where daniel lipparelli (from transformed international) will meet me for the 8 hr matatu ride to kitale, kenya.
"well that's a fast decision" you might say, but oh no my friends... that's GOD. he laid it on the hearts of my parents to provide me with money for a plane ticket to africa when i hadn't even planned on going! then he opened doors for me to be able to leave work for the month of january as well... and seriously, when do bosses say "how awesome! when are you going?!" yeah... mine did. totally a God thing. :)
when i try to explain what's going on in my head and how excited i am, it just comes out as "EEEEEEEE!!" in a squeal of glee. haha
i have four months to prepare and watch what God does as he opens even more doors for me to board that plane to africa, and i've just given the whole trip over to him. He has already started the ball rolling on a friend of mine named michele, heading to kenya with me, and i'm excited to see who else he brings. who knows what he's up to - but it's always GREAT THINGS!!
as always, i covet your prayer support as i get ready to leave in the next few months, and i'll keep you all posted on my plans and adventures.
love ya!
(depositing the check for my plane ticket)
"well that's a fast decision" you might say, but oh no my friends... that's GOD. he laid it on the hearts of my parents to provide me with money for a plane ticket to africa when i hadn't even planned on going! then he opened doors for me to be able to leave work for the month of january as well... and seriously, when do bosses say "how awesome! when are you going?!" yeah... mine did. totally a God thing. :)
when i try to explain what's going on in my head and how excited i am, it just comes out as "EEEEEEEE!!" in a squeal of glee. haha
i have four months to prepare and watch what God does as he opens even more doors for me to board that plane to africa, and i've just given the whole trip over to him. He has already started the ball rolling on a friend of mine named michele, heading to kenya with me, and i'm excited to see who else he brings. who knows what he's up to - but it's always GREAT THINGS!!
as always, i covet your prayer support as i get ready to leave in the next few months, and i'll keep you all posted on my plans and adventures.
love ya!
(depositing the check for my plane ticket)
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
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