December 2006

It’s a sad sad day today. I wanted to spend some time this break learning about the conflicts in Darfur and the Congo and figure out what I can do to help. I’ve been reading a lot online, watching videos, and looking at pictures… and my heart simply breaks. Boiling up inside me is anger and despair. I want to yell at our government to do something, I want to go hurt the Janjaweed for the injustice they are causing… and I want to cry. I want to go there and just hold and love the hurting people. I want to give people their homes back. I want to give people food and clean water. And I want you to know what is happening. So, please, go to www.savedarfur.org and learn what is going on and how you can help. I really really care about this great injustice, and I want you to care too.

The world is NOT SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THIS…. and we need to work to make it right.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” -Rev 21:3-4

I cannot wait… I cannot wait

right now i’m at college library…. and it’s december 26th

if you are reading this and you went to University of Wisconsin- Madison, the words “college library” probably bring mixed emotions. on one hand, i walk into this library and remember all the long horrible hours i spent here- the saturday nights, leaving at 3am or being one of the first ones to arrive in the morning. I remember how hard it was to find a place to study here during finals, the stress of finals and midterms felt while studying here, and the 14+ hour days I would spend here sometimes.

I also remember sitting around at the big tables with my friends, trying to make each other laugh. I remember a night with cheese curds flying through the air, or chipolte & starbucks runs, or falling asleep face-down on a table. I remember staring out at the lake, or leaving the quiet room to answer my cell, or waiting for friends to arrive and save me from studying boredom.

It’s funny, because there are probably a lot more hard times here at college library then there are good, but when I enter into this former hell-hole, I actually miss it. I don’t miss the studying or the big tables or even the beautiful panoramic view of the lake, but I do miss my friends and the long hours we would spend here together studying. Somehow those memories of spending countless hours with friends erases all the stress and work and boredom.

but today I don’t have to study, and i’m definitely not stressed. I’m just visiting college library with Mike. He’s using their computers to design a website for his work, while I get to sit around and read. We’re visiting Madison for a few days between now and New Years, before we have to return to Chicago.

I used to be so excited for the day I would graduate from UW-Madison, and now all I want to do is come back.

Read the article here, or listen to the NPR report: click
This is a big paradigm shift in how we think of the poor and something you should think about if you live in the suburbs. There may be as many needs in your neighborhood as mine.

so i created a fake ministry for a final project… it was a pretty extensive project but a lot of fun! i created it on a wordpress blog but it’s set up to be used like a website. anyways, i wanted to share it with you all

http://journeycoffeehouse.wordpress.com/

(for all you madisonians- yes, i stole the name and idea of the Journey coffeehouse, and the name “revolution” from blackhawk jr. high student leadership team, but the rest is my own ministry)

let me know what you think of it- but PLEASE don’t comment on the ministry blog (my profs are still grading it) instead, feel free to post comments on this blog

Just a heads up… my blog will be on hold for a little while.

Two weekends ago Mike and I went on a retreat with the church I work for. I worked with the middle school girls and Mike with the middle school guys.

We came back for Monday and then left early Tuesday morning for LA. We spent thanksgiving with Dave and Krissy and I got to tour Fuller! (and I got to see Bekah… and if you know Bekah you know that seeing her was awesome ) We went to the beach in Malibu, saw a taping of the Tonight Show, and got In and Out burgers! (Yum) But really I just enjoyed spending time with friends and Mike on vacation. (More about Fuller to come… exciting stuff.)

We came back late Sunday night from LA. Now I’m bogged down working on final projects and youth ministry stuff. Next week is my last week of class. And then finals and then I’m done.

Badgers in LA!