Going Forth.

Maria Atkinson — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 19:08:17 +0000

Hello all! I have started a new blog dedicated to my work and mission...

Check it out here.

Follow my adventures and travels!

Unwritten.

Maria Atkinson — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 23:07:02 +0000

It's been almost a month since my last blog post. One month, that has been filled with about as much excitement and unexpected twists and turns as an average six month period.

But that's how life in the field is. Always changing, always exciting, and most certainly never dull.

My month has been filled with everything from Haitian riots due to lack of goverment regulated electricity, the celebration of Carnaval (Haitian Mardi Gras), a short getaway to Santo Domingo, and the busy activities of visiting mission teams.

However, nothing prepared me for what my heart would experience and feel over the past several days.

I find that when you embark on a new journey or season of your life, you typically enter into that new phase with some sort of expectation, plan or idea of how things are going to turn out. The unknowns can be exhilirating, but deep down, we control-freak humans, still try to have some idea of 'what's next.'

Here's the thing. With God, we never truly know what is going to happen next. When we say 'yes' and follow Him, He leads us down a path, which turns out to be far better than anything we could discover while navigating on our own. The hard part of following God, is that it can sometimes feel like a game of blindman's bluff. Walking blindly, trusting that the Leader won't let us trip or fall off a cliff.

Things may get rocky, rough and risky, but one thing is for certain - He will never let us fall off of a cliff.

For the past three months since moving to Haiti, I think I've created a mental filter, which I've been sifting my experiences through. A filter that has kept everything logical, creating a blockade between my head and heart to prevent myself from feeling anything too deeply.

Three days ago the levy reached it's limit. The blockade was broken and three month's worth of supressed emotion came exploding to the surface.

I was taking a routine walk through the village with one of our boys, Thierry. Any time I venture out into the streets of Ouanaminthe, I always go with the intention of capturing the most authentic, raw and poignant photos of true, Haitian life. My version of National Geographic, if you will.

Well on this particular February afternoon, my world was on the verge of being turned upside down. As we walked the dirt roads, passed by homes intently listening to the radio broadcasts of the FC Barcelona/Manchester City game, and made a pit stop for a muffin from a local boulangerie (bakery), we came upon one of the largest landfills in the town.

This small plot of land is the basecamp for a large portion of the town's garbage, the burning of that garbage and frequent visitations by local pigs.

Yes, pigs.

I've passed this landfill several times before and barely gave it a second glance, but this day, I couldn't look away.

Among the forgotten, used and defecated items, a family of pigs fought to find a morsel of any kind to satisfy their hunger. Among the pigs were... children. Children anywhere from the age of 5 to 11, digging through the same trash as filthy animals.

Immediately, my instinct was to pull out my camera and begin to snap the most impactful photos imaginable. I shot a few, but then I found myself suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of disbelief. As I stood before two little boys who had nothing to give me but giant smiles, I knew I couldn't just walk away. I reached into my bag and pulled out the single muffin I had purchased only minutes before. Typically, when I take someone's photo, I thank them and continue on my way. This day I couldn't leave them empty handed, while I turned away with their permanently engrained in my memory.

Later that evening, I found myself crying bitter tears in my room asking God what His true purpose for bringing me to Haiti was. I'm what you would call an 'after-reactor'. I never have an intial response. It's always an after the fact meltdown, when I'm alone with my thoughts, and feel safe to truly allow all my deepest emotions to errupt into a wellspring of tears.

However, my week had only begun. If I thought my landfill experience would tug at my heartstrings, what happened next would rip my heart wide open.

The very next day, our visiting mission team began a working in our medical clinic seeing over a hundred patients each day. I was happy to begin my day photographing the picturesque faces of the eager patients waiting to be seen, and the lovely volunteers who had taken time out of their busy lives to come and serve in Haiti.

My day was going smoothly as I approached one of the triage stations where a woman was holding one of the most beautiful babies I had ever laid eyes upon. As I walked closer, I noticed that the woman wasn't seeking medical treatment for herself, but for the baby. How could such a perfect baby need care? It wasn't until I was merely inches away, when the nurse explained to me that this particular baby had been born without fingers or toes.

As the nurse explained our therapy program for children with disabilities, to the baby's aunt, I was enraptured by his innocent gaze. Joybensky, was a flawless creation who had become prey to the many birth defects and abnormalities Haitian children are susceptible to. Due to many mothers' lack of nourishment, vitamins and proper medical care during pregnancy, countless children are born with ailments that plague them for the rest of their lives.

Holding Joybensky's tiny body in my arms, the presence of God consumed me like a flood. Although his fingers are missing, he is still able to move his sockets, allowing him to have tinest grasp. I put my fingers into his precious hand and closed my eyes. For a fleeting moment, everything and everyone ceased to exist. I silently prayed that the Lord would intervene on behalf of this treasure of a child and thanked Him for allowing his aunt to find the courage and strength to bring him to Danita's Children.

Though my Tuesday and Wednesday were filled with cold doses of reality, nothing prepared me for what I encountered next.

As I began my day, happily capturing images of the bustling medical center, my attention diverted to a young girl holding a very weak and frail baby.

The baby was quickly diagnosed by mutiple doctors with acute malnutrition. Her case was so severe, it had caused her finger and toenails to begin to deteriorate, hair-loss and the swelling, discoloration and the flaking of her skin. This baby girl, only 7 months old, weighed a mere, 9 pounds - the weight of some newborns.

I stood in the hospital room, listening as our medical center staff hurriedly tried to piece together a solution for the little girl whose chance of survival was not to be taken lightly.

I've never felt more helpless in my life. I watched the medical professionals talk, communicate and pray with the young mother, who is only 18 years old, and explain the severity of her daughter's condition. I wanted to do something, anything, but all I had was my camera.

It's funny, because upon coming to Haiti, I felt as though I was fulfilling my life's call and dream. The dream to go to the ends of the earth, camera in one hand, pen and paper in the other, documenting the most raw situations of life and shedding light on the darkest of places. Yet, in the midst of the pain and suffering, here I was doing what I had been brought here to do, and I felt insignificant.

In short - the baby and mother will continue to be seen and monitored by our team of amazing medical professionals to ensure her road to recovery.

But as for me, where do I go from here?

If the past three months haven't completely altered my entire worldview, let alone shattered any type of plan or ideals I had set out to accomplish in my life, the past three days have most certainly achieved that task.

I know for a fact that the Lord opened the doors to bring me to Haiti.

But, why?

I came with one purpose, and now it seems that my focus is shifting.

I can hear the cries of His heart burning within me. I feel His spirit urging me to constantly go deeper and never, ever settle for ordinary, comfortable or familiar.

I know He has given me a voice, a voice to speak on His behalf. But sometimes that just doesn't feel like enough.

In my times alone with the Lord, I've been asking Him why? What it is that He is doing in my heart and what the outcome will be. I don't have many answers, but this I do know to be true.

Revelations 21:4-5 - "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.'"

God is doing a new thing. And with that requires the utmost of obedience, compliance and assertiveness to His guidence and leading. One day, there will be no more pain, tears, malnourished children digging through trash, but until that time we are the ambassadors of heaven. The treasures in jars of clay, being poured out upon this earth as advocates of love, justice, change and breakthrough.

I don't know what tomorrow is going to bring, I can't skip ahead in the chapters of the book of my life. But I do know I have a purpose, a heart that is willing and an ear that is listening.

I am so incredibly grateful for the amazing team of people at Danita's Children who are truly changing and saving lives every day. I am so excited to see what the Lord does through this ministry next. And I am very excited to see what God does in my life next.

Today is where the book begins. The rest is still unwritten.

When Haiti breaks your heart.

Maria Atkinson — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 03:47:11 +0000

This is Jocelyn.

These are her grandchildren.

Jocelyn is a single, elderly woman who is almost completely blind. She lives alone and is paid visits by her doting family.

Last Sunday, I was taking a walk with one of my girls, Namara, when I saw Nouvely, a little girl who attends our church with her mother and siblings, walking alone on the busy street with her cousin. She's 7-years-old, by the way... I felt compelled to walk her to the house and upon arriving, I knew my compelling, female instinct was on point.

We were greeted by a cheerful and warm woman, who introduced herself as Jocelyn. After realizing that this woman had probably lost about 90% of her sight, I noticed scars left behind by most likely severe burns, all her body. Empathy and compassion began to flood into my heart only seconds after our brief interaction.

Then she invited us into her home.

Just to give you a visual, Jocelyn's house is a tiny, one room, concrete box about the size of most garden sheds. Her kitchen is a collection of pots and pans she uses to cook over a fire in the dirt outside of the front door.

And this is her bed.

I watched as this frail woman lifted cement blocks and preceeded to build the bed where she and her little ones would sleep. Rice bags and plastic tarps would provide comfort, warmth and most importantly, a safe night's rest.

Standing in the midst of this overwhelming realization of the extreme poverty which surrounded me, I was overcome by emotion. My eyes filled with tears, my mind racing with potential solutions to ease Jocelyn's daily struggles. Every day I see people living in conditions similar to that of Jocelyn, but today, I could not shake the reality, which was penetrating into the deepest recesses of my soul.

I was, for lack of a better word, wrecked. My heart was breaking inside of my chest and all I could do was stand helplessly and photograph this woman and her every day life. Normally, I am overjoyed to document Haitian life, but this particular Sunday afternoon, it was not enough.

It wasn't enough for me to just take a picture, give her a hug and speak to her in very broken Kreyol.

Something had to be done.

The sun was setting and dusk was upon us, giving a cue to say our goodbyes. Namara and I left the house and walked back to the orphanage, which is pretty much the Taj Mahal of Ouanaminthe.

I asked Namara how seeing the way most people in Haiti lived affected her, to which she replied, "It makes me feel sad."

Danita's Children is an incredible organization. We take children out of potentially life-threatening situations, extreme poverty and potential danger and place them into a beautiful home with nourshing meals, clean drinking water, and house parents to love and care for them. They open presents on Christmas, receive gifts in the forms of new clothes, candy and other miscellaneous items from people around the world who sponsor them. They make lasting memories and develop brother/sister-like relationships.

Every day I wake up with a heart of abundant gratitude for not only God's incredible provision in my own life, but also for allowing me the ability to come and serve alongside of a ministry I fully support.

However, on this particular Sunday, I couldn't shake the image of Jocelyn. Am I not already doing something noble by moving my life to a Third World country, helping a ministry devoted to rescuing, loving and caring for impoverished children? Why should I even feel one ounce of guilt?

Maybe there is more to be done. Maybe living a life of service means never reaching a limit.

Namara and I walked and talked on our way back to the orphanage, debriefing about the past hour's occurances.

"She kept praising God," Namara told me. "She kept saying that God is so good, He heard her prayers and sent her someone to help her."

Someone to help her? Was I that someone? What could I possibly do?

I felt a surge of multiple emotions.

Sadness

Pain

Empathy

Compassion

Anger

Disgust

Motivation

But then, it all made sense. I didn't want to be a bystander, and I didn't have to.

For the time being, this is where I live. Haiti is my home and the inhabitants of the communities are my friends, my neighbors, my outreach, my ministry.

If I felt impressed in my spirit to help Jocelyn, then the greatest sin I could commit would be to ignore that urgency and leave her fate into the hands of someone else. Someone who may or may not come.

I adore telling the stories of these beautiful souls, but if my heart is breaking and I'm crying out to the Lord to take me deeper, then He might just be taking me seriously.

More will He ask of me and deeper I shall go.

My plan is to team up with my housemate and fellow missionary Sarah, offering aid to help not only Jocelyn, but her entire family. My first agenda item is providing her with a decent bed and pillow, currently comtemplating a super-awesome, extra comfy sleeping bag to optimize her mobility and options for sleep.

Jocelyn was praising God for sending the answers to her prayers, but I'm praising God for bringing Jocelyn to me. For breaking my heart and causing me to realize there is so much more to be done and all it takes is the willingness to say yes.

Happiness: It doesn't come with a price tag.

Maria Atkinson — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 01:50:39 +0000

The greatest aim of humankind is to achieve true happiness. In the developed First World, our happiness usually revolves around some type of success.

Love = happiness

Money = happiness

Fame = happiness

Beauty = happiness

Power = happiness

We spend thousands, if not millions of dollars each year, working to better our lives in, mostly material ways, to obtain the end goal of ultimate nirvana, supreme happiness. If we marry the most attractive and successful person, get that promotion, lose 10 pounds, had our dream _________ (insert object) and so on and so forth then we will finally be happy. Each of these ideas come with the promise of providing something we don't have, they will somehow and some way make our lives so much better.

Yet even after we married Mr or Mrs Right, got that promotion, lost those pesky pounds and the approval for the loan to purchase said dream, house, car, yacht, etc... it's never enough. As soon as you buy a brand-new car, next year's model is about to be released. As soon as you get the hottest, most up-to-date software program or mobile device, the next generation is launched. It's a never-ending cycle of consumerism and indulgence. More. More. More.

But we have to have those things, because they/he/she/it will makes us happy.

Caught in a web, the genius minds behind advertising and marketing have so craft-fully woven for us, we put on blinders and cut ourselves off from reality. The reality that there's a whole, big world out there where people are living happy and content with about 95% less stuff.

When most people think of Third World countries, words like pain, suffering, poverty and corruption surface. While those accusations are true for many people living in developing nations, there is one assumption laced entirely with falsity.

Being poor does not mean you are miserably unhappy.

When a well is dug in a remote village in Uganda, giving the residents clean water for the first time in their lives, it provides not only the promise of a better future with less preventable deaths due to waterborne illnesses, but an overwhelming sense of joy, appreciation and bliss.

Why does something as simple as clean water cause an entire village to dance and sing late into the night?

Because they appreciate it.

I've always considered myself a socially conscious individual, but living in Haiti has opened my eyes to a whole new way of thinking. A whole new way of living. Every day, I see children running and playing on dirt roads. Many of them are unclothed and barefoot, using old coke bottles - miscellaneous items, most likely taken from trash heaps - as toys.

To us, the privileged elite, we look at the naked and dirty, children playing with items we consider rubbish, and pity them. We can't help but feel ashamed, that these children have to wear clothes with holes and shoes two sizes too small. So of course, our solution is things, if we brings them new clothes, Barbie dolls and Air Jordans, THEN these children will be happy!

The key factor we miss? These children are already happy.

When I walk down "these" roads and see "those" naked, dirty children playing, I am immediately greeted by gigantic smiles, followed by a trail of laughter. The adults are not much different. They smile and wave and never hesitate to give you a compliment. When invited into their home, you are given a seat, and possibly the only coconut, banana, avocado or whatever gift they have to offer because you are their guest and you should feel welcomed.

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, where an outrageous amount of children die from preventable illness and disease before reaching their fifth birthday. I by no means am trying to dim the light on an issue which most definitely needs to be exposed. These children should have opportunity to live a healthy life, attend school and pursue their dreams, breaking the cycle of poverty and hunger.

Yet despite their hardships, they have learned how to be happy.

I think the reason Haitians and so many of the countless individuals living in under similar circumstances have found happiness, is because they understand what it truly means to be happy. They know that the fancy homes, cars, clothing etc, make your life easier and nicer, but those items are not the source of true joy. They have learned to rejoice in a soccer ball, a piece of candy, a safe place to sleep. More importantly they appreciate living to see double digits or having parents to care for them.

Happiness is state of being. And it surely does not come with a price tag.

"I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition." - Martha Washington

The Greatest of These.

Maria Atkinson — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 00:04:29 +0000

When I imagined experiencing Christmas in Haiti, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Growing up in the U.S., Christmas is about one thing; what you get and how much you get. From a very early age you learn to make your lists, check them twice and be sure to send them to Santa before Thanksgiving. As I grew older, the thought occured to me to sponsor and Angel Tree child, or donate some time out of my holiday to a soup kitchen for the homeless, but I never truly pondered the meaning and gift that Christmas represents. It seems cliché today say the common Christian-y phrases such as "Keep Christ in Christmas", or "Remember the Reason for the Season!". Those bumper sticker-esque slogans are so overdone, it's easy to chock them up to simple seasonal traditions such as, driving to see Christmas lights, or giving some pity-pennies to the Santa Clause outside of Wal-Mart ringing the Salvation Army bell. I realized that over time, I had become desensitized and almost numb by the shopping madness, indulgence of consumerism and overload of materialism, to glory of the birth of my Savior. I dreded Christmas, it no longer was a joy, it was an obligation to society. Forcing myself to listen to repititive tunes about elves, snowmen and reindeer, eating an ungodly amount of sugar and carbs all in celebration of this "joyous season" caused me to begin to resent the very gift which gives me life.

This year, I experienced a Christmas unlike any other. I nearly forgot that December 25th was upon us with the sunny, 85 degree days here in Ouanaminthe, lack of holidays music and cheerful decor. I realized that this year, I wouldn't wake up to a stocking or presents with my name on them. I wouldn't run down the stairs in my pajamas with gleeful anticipation to see what Santa had brought to me. No, this year would not be about me in the slightest, yet it would be the best Christmas in my entire life.

My morning began early at 6:00am, to the squeals of little boys finding a stocking just for them, for the very first time. Spiderman action figures, toy cars and trucks were opened and played with as if they were gold, when only a year and half ago, many of these little boys living in this particular house, found themselves naked, scared and alone, having families who had quickly given them up in exchange for a few dollars, living in tents in a place which claimed to be an orphanage. My eyes filled with tears as they tasted their very first blueberry muffins and danced to the sounds of Jingle Bells. I don't think I can justfully express that amount of joy I felt in those few moments. Overwhelmed by hugs and "Thank you Maria! I love you!"'s and the most beautiful smiles in the world; at 25 years old, I realized I had never truly experienced what Christmas means until now.

The afternoon brought even more depth and meaning than I thought possible. My fellow missionary and friend Sarah, has been working with the children with disabilities as a recreational therapist. She has reached out to several families in the village and offered them love and care. A few have become particularly special to her such as Julie and her family. Julie and two out of her three young children suffer from severe cataracts, which translates to significant blindness. She is a single mother raising all three of her children on her own, but never hesistates to bring them to our church each week and therapy sessions with Sarah. As we entered the row of colorful shanties, we were greeted by warmth and excitement. Sarah brought Christmas to this beautiful family out of the deep and sincere love within her heart. There was no ulterior motive or promise of self-gratification, only the choice and desire to give.

The day after Christmas, I took a small getaway to the beautiful coast of Labadee. A true gem amidst Haiti, with powder white sand, crystal blue waters and simple, blissful islanders. I traveled with a former Danita's Children missionary, Brittany Hilker, who relocated to Port-au-Prince, in order to adopt her daughter Marie Joy, a little survivor of the devastating 2010 Haitian earthquake. Brittany has since founded her own organization called, Reimagine Haiti, which focuses on treating malnourished infants and children in remote villages of Haiti. I soaked in every bit of beauty found within my surroundings, and especially enjoyed my overnight stay in a hotel tucked away in a Fern Gully-esque rainforest, home to some of the most pleasant and content people I've ever encountered.

There's no place I feel more tranqulity and peace, then when I am close to a body of water. As I relaxed on the shores of the turquoise sea, I pondered all that had taken place not only regarding Christmas, but my entire time in Haiti thus far.

Why had Christmas lost it's significance? Why had it become about consumerism and indulgence, rather than glorifying the day which brought us the immeasurable gift of Christ? And most of all why did this Christmas impact my life with such intensity?

LOVE.

The answer is love.

Being in Haiti has completely changed my life. Before moving here, I thought I knew what it truly meant to love. I thought love was expressing an emotion to deep to describe in words, an emotion which gave you a feeling comparative to a high. Love is far greater and deeper than romantic expression or butterflies. The love I feel for the children surrounding me is almost too much to comprehend. It's a love that would cause me to sacrifice everything, including my life if it meant the safety, happiness and salvation of the precious lives entrusted into my care. A love that brings me more joy than any man, gift, or material item can compare to. A love that burns deep in your soul and gives you a reason to wake up each morning, with ambition of being a better man or woman than you were the day before. A love that is priceless, a love that gives you significance and a passion, which would provoke you to do anything, including giving your life away.

As I these revelations sank into my soul, it all clicked. The reason Christmas had lost it's glisten and wonder, is because I never understood the love that provided the reason behind it's meaning, the reason for my beliefs and the reason for my life itself. Christ loves His people with that indescribable exhortation. There's no price He wouldn't pay, which is why He came to this broken, ugly, dark and hopeless world. He gave us life, He gave us a reason to breathe and gave the gift of LOVE.

There truly is no greater gift than love and without it, you are truly nothing.

So as the year and holiday season comes to close, I reflect on the past 12 months which brought me to this point. 2013 was a year filled with much pain, brokenness and a long road to recovery, emotionally, spritually and even physically. Things happened which seemed unnecessary, unfair and completely shameful. There was a point when I wanted to change my name and even become an entirely different person, but in spite of the pain and trials I experienced, I became who I am today. My pain, my sorrow, my disheartening experiences, shaped me, changed me and prepared me for this day, this time, this calling. I cried bitter tears and questioned my very existence, but if the outcome was for me to come to Haiti, learning to love and discovering a sense of joy, significance and purpose than ever before, then I would do it all again, every tear, every moment of brokenheartedness, was all worth it.

My heart is filled with a love deeper and greater than anything I have ever known and I will give my life so others may know the same love.

Merry Christmas friends and Happy, happy New Year.

" Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13

Nothing to lose, everything to gain.

Maria Atkinson — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 00:26:05 +0000

Last night I spent a few hours having a much needed phone call with my best friend. We laughed about our shared love of food, her recent vacation, which was discovered to be a retirement home, and talked at length about my relocation to Haiti.

She shared how proud of me she is, and how she always knew I was destined for sacrificing my life for the greater good of mankind. It was then that I realized, being a missionary comes with all kinds of assumptions and stereotypes. From the outside looking in, moving to a third-world-country such as Haiti, is seen as a great sacrifice and challenge. A move that takes much deliberation and painful execution. As she spoke, my self-actualization revealed my true sentiments on my current dwellings.

Moving to and living in Haiti, does not feel like a sacrifice. Yes, there are most definitely aspects of my American home which I miss, i.e. lattes, my dog, going wherever I please without hesitation, but being in Haiti, answering this call brings me more peace and joy, than almost anything I've ever experienced in my life.

As I walked through the village of Ouanaminthe today, I drank in every ounce of my surroundings. The sounds, smells, colors and most of all, the beautiful faces.

I could feel God's love for these people exploding inside of my chest. An overwhelming sense of acceptance and adoption into His heart. Although my presence was quickly acknowledged by the community, being referenced as "blanco", meaning "white person", I didn't feel out of place. These are my neighbors, this is my home. This is what I have been designed and created for.

So many times in my life, especially as a quirky, creative high schooler, I never felt like I truly fit-in with my peers. When most girls were dreaming of going to college, meeting the man of their dreams, getting married and having babies, I was reading and fantasizing about the foreign lands and peoples, I so desperately wished to visit. Amongst the sea of chocolate-colored beauty, my light skin can be seen miles away. In the midst of the apparent obscurity of familiarity, immense poverty and pain, I find myself feeling more at home, than on the street I lived for 14 years.

My days are not without trial and error, frustation, and occasionally pain and sorrow, but I praise God for calling me for such a time as this. For giving me the ability to withstand the dirt, heat, language barriers, risk of illness, lack of modern conveniences and most of all lonliness. For opening my heart as a child to the love He has for His people of all races, creeds, colors and nationalities.

Haiti for now, is my home, my beautiful home for which I gave up very little, in order to gain more than I will possibly ever know.

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

Breaking the Stigma.

Maria Atkinson — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 23:51:28 +0000

Today is World AIDS Day. Since it's founding in 1988, millions of people across the globe, have come together in unity in the fight against the HIV/AIDS virus to bring awarness and prevention education of the realities of this monsterous disease. AIDS is one of the largest pandemics the world has ever known. Today nearly 34 million individuals are living HIV positive across the globe and since 1981, 25 million have lost the fight.

AIDS was first detected by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in 1981. Without treatment and the ability to distinguish proper tools for prevention, a dark and ominous cloud of hopelessness swept across nations. Not only did contracting AIDS provide a death sentence, but extreme discrimination and ostracization by society as well. For the first decade of AIDS awareness, the disease was believed to be contracted only by those engaging in homosexuality and needle exchange, which translates to drug abuse.

AIDS is found in nearly every country and has taken the largest toll in the developing world. Over the past thiry years, great strides have been made in the research and development of treatments to help prolong the lives of those living with the virus, but a cure has still yet to be discovered. World AIDS Day began to help raise funds and awareness for cures and to break the discriminating, stigma which has caused much brutality and pain to those plauged by this terminal illness.

Many churches will not support organizations devoted to aiding those infected, or scientfic research due to the fact that they believe it is in support of homosexuality and drug addiction. FIRST of all, ANYONE of ANY RACE, GENDER, and SEXUAL ORIENTATION can contract the HIV/AIDS virus while engaging in unprotected sex with anyone who is knowingly or unknowingly infected. If someone who has been diagnosed with such disease faces not only the mental and emotional trauma of a hopeless fate, why would the church not be driven to reach out to such individual despite the cause of his/her misfortune?

My introduction to AIDS came at a very young age. It was right before my sixth birthday, when my parents informed me my cousin Joey would be coming to live with us. As an only child, the recent birth of my younger brother and now the news of my cousin joining the household came as joy and excitement. Obviously, as an elementary aged child, it's difficult to wrap your head around something as horrifically tragic as contracting AIDS, but my parents did their best to explain it in the most understandable of terms. Joey came to live with my family and for the next nine months as my aunt, who had contracted the virus, was unable to properly care for him. On December 26th, 1994, my aunt, Dachuma Vera, went to be with the Lord as her body was unable to contiune the fight. My aunt was a beautiful, life loving woman who adored her family and was filled with warmth and joy. Did she deserve to contract such a disease or to be denied the support and comfort of her surrounding community? Absolutely not. For the past 19 years, it has been my silent battle to fight against discrimination and break the stigma surrounding this artrocious plague.

Today, as I type from my laptop in Haiti, I think about how AIDS affects the precious children I have the pleasure of sharing life with. Many of them were orphaned, just like my cousin, by parents plagued and unable to care for them. Thanks to Danita's Children, not only are these innocent children taken out of situations where they could fall privy to contracting the virus themselves, but facing risks of human trafficking, being forced into slave labor. One of the precious souls in our care, who was directly impacted by this tragedy was my dear Junette. Junette was only 9-years-old when her mother lost her battle with AIDS. Junette's mother had made a previous connection to Danita's Children, and after she passed, Junette found a home within the safety and security of our loving enviroment.

Junette is 17-years-old today and has aspirations to go to college to become a doctor. She is one of the sweetest, most loving people you will ever come into contact with and is happily living free of HIV/AIDS. AIDS just like cancer, or any other terminal illness does not discriminate. It invades a healthy host and slowly claims its prey cell by cell. AIDS/HIV deserves and its victims needs love, support and care as with any human being.

In ancient Israel, leprosy was the plague which caused victims to be exiled into infected communes and treated as outcasts of society. Throughout the gospels, Jesus went to lepers, showing them love and bringing healing to their bodies. I believe today He would do the very same for those cursed with HIV/AIDS.

Love is our greatest weapon against any form of darkness. Together we can break the stigma and provide hope and light for those facing a dismal fate.

¹²While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy.^[a] And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” ¹³And Jesus^[b]stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.”And immediately the leprosy left him. - Luke 5:12-13

Junette and I.

Answering the Call

Maria Atkinson — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 20:00:43 +0000

The past week has been quite the whirlwind. It's amusing to think that only last Friday, I was dressed to the nines with my hair and makeup professionally done, celebrating 15 years of rescuing, loving and caring for orphans with the ministry I now call home. Today, I'm sitting with my makeup melted off my face from running and playing soccer with the little boys living on our campus in Haiti.

It's truly hard to verbalize the overwhelming sense of peace, gratitude and joy I feel to have been given this amazing opportunity. Upon walking through the Hope for Haiti Children's Center doors on Tuesday afternoon, I immediately felt myself exhale a deep sigh of relief and a feeling of tranqulity rushed over me, knowing I was home. I was greeted by colorful, welcome home signs hanging throughout my room and the biggest, brightest most beautiful smiles. Being on the Danita's Children campus causes you to nearly forget the immense poverty found only a few feet outside of the gate.

In Haiti, nearly 80% of the country's population lives in rural poverty, with very little access to clean water, medical care and daily meals. Less than half of the population is literate, with only about 1 out of every 5 children of secondary-school age actually attending secondary school. With such an overwhelming amount of the Haitian population living under these extreme circumstances, countless children born into these conditions are orphaned, left to survive alone. For the past 15 years, Danita's Children has been working to break this cycle of poverty by educating nearly 300 children from grades pre-K through 12th, providing 18,000 nutritious meals a month and most recently serving the community with Danita's Children Medical Center.

Danita's Chidlren is an incredible organization of which I have the humbling honor of serving. Education, feeding programs and the medical center are the establishments in which we provide love and service to the orphans and impoverished children in our care, but each child is individually poured into by the outstanding missionaries and staff who have all given their lives to follow the mission and call found throughout the message of Christ;

Proverbs 31:8-9

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁸Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
ensure justice for those being crushed.
⁹Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,
and see that they get justice.

I know that I have only entered the threshold of everything my service with Danita's Children will bring into my path. In only a few days, I have found so much satisfaction walking through the dirt roads laced with trash and people filled with hearts of hopelessness. This is exactly where the Lord would have me be at this time and I am more than grateful I said yes to the call.

If you would like to support my mission in Haiti, please visit www.gofundme.com/livingandlovinginhaiti, make sure to visit www.danitaschildren.org to see how you can support our ministry and to learn more about exactly what we do.

Photo taken at the Citadelle Laferriére.

Why Disney Princess movies have ruined women.

Maria Atkinson — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 23:01:01 +0000

Belle, Ariel, Cinderella, whichever "Princess" has stolen the number one seat in your Disney rankings, the story typically always follows the same series of events.

Meet the girl. She's pretty, has great qualities, but somehow she is just not fulfilled in her life. There's something missing, and inside of her there's an insatiable desire to find that something which will make her complete.

Enter evil villain. This villain’s primary goal is to make our heroine's life a complete travesty. Deceived, mocked, lied to and flat out unappreciated and mistreated is the fate of our innocent, sweet, harmless, animal-loving, singing damsel.

Enter Prince Charming. Here he is. The missing link. The tall, handsome, not to mention, rich answer to every problem our poor protagonist has fallen prey to. He will save her, he will provide all of the answers and best yet, he will give her an entire kingdom, and allow for all of her dreams to come true. They will ride off into the sunset destined to live those timeless, classic, infamous words, happily, ever after.

Since the 1950s, girls across America have been raised on idealistic images of true love from nearly birth. True love is instantaneous; it's perfect and most of all, it happens before you turn the godforsaken age of 30. Your perfect Prince Charming will be the best thing that has ever happened to you and provide the answer and ticket to bringing you absolute happiness and satisfaction in your life.

I'm pretty sure I watched Cinderella five times a day from the ages of 3 to 4, and once Beauty and the Beast came out, it was all over. On top of having nearly every line to these movies memorized since early adolescence, I grew up going to church, where marriage began being emphasized at puberty.

"Pray for your husband!"

"Are you waiting for THE ONE?"

"Do you have the qualities of a Proverbs 31 woman?"

"Are you ready to serve your husband?"

"Are you capable of being a good, godly wife?"

"Are you marriage material?"

"Are you making yourself available to eligible, potential husbands?"

These ideas and questions were the topic of many youth services, church camps and bible studies since my pre-teen years. How DO we know if we've met our God-ordained match? How CAN we be that perfect, godly, Proverbs 31 wife by the age of 22, because we all know the REAL reason why women go to college...

All of these questions just left me more and more desperate to find my missing half.

When I was 16 years old, the iconic, quintessential cinematic romance, The Notebook, was released. If Disney Princess movies didn't ruin the hope for girls ever having a realistic view on love and marriage, this movie most certainly did. As most of you have read or watched, The Notebook is the story of two young adults who meet, fall madly in love and are tragically split a part. After years of separation, un-read letters, an engagement and one cold, lonely man, (who can single-handedly renovate an amazing old house), later, the two reunite passionately, more in love than ever. They of course marry and grow old together, and (SPOILER ALERT) even DIE together. What a magical ending, and it's not even an animated film! Once again, this idea that somewhere out there your true love, your most perfect match and soul mate is anxiously searching for you and if you just wait, he will find you and rescue you from all your despair, is portrayed as absolute truth.

Cue post-college, cold dose of reality me. I'm one failed engagement, fairy tale crushed, and seemingly hopeless 24-year-old. Everything Disney, rom-coms and Cosmo taught me failed, and I'm just left broken-hearted and worst of all, SINGLE. I've obviously missed my "true love" and will never find, "the one", because those things only come around once, right?

So here's what I've learned over the past year...

1. What about YOUR dreams? - While we women are so caught up in finding our perfect match, we tend to lose sight of whom we are and what we have been created to do. Although being a wife and a mother are incredible roles, there is a lot more to life. What DOES happen to Belle, Cinderella, Ariel, etc, after the credits role? Do they teach English to kids in a foreign country? Do they start an Etsy store? Do they learn how to sew or garden? Do they start their own non-profit? What is your dream? What defines you? Figure out what that is, and chase after it with all of your might, because I promise you, ain't nothin' more attractive than a girl with goals and dreams. We may have watched princess movies, but we also played with career Barbies too, yes?

2. Prince Charming does not exist. - Yes, sadly enough, I have had to come to terms with the fact that Desmond from LOST is never going to waltz into my life and sweep me off my feet. He's a fictional character and DOES NOT EXIST. While we are learning all about waiting for our true loves, and preparing for marriage, we also make our perfect man list. The 78 things our man HAS to have and if he doesn't have every single one of those qualities, he's not good enough. Although I fully support having standards and bulleting what your deal-breakers are, sometimes you just need to realize that it's really not that important for your future hubby to have seen every single Wes Anderson film, be able to sing Belle & Sebastian lyrics and know what the difference between a French Press and a pourover is.

3. Stop listening to break-up ballads. (Love can happen two, or three, or four times.) - I'm pretty sure there were several years in Kelly Clarkson's career, in which every song she released was about a break up. Here's a fact for you. At some point in your life, your heart is going to get broken. You are going to cry yourself to sleep, wonder what you did wrong, how you could have done things differently and why you can't seem to get that one, true love back. Here's some better news, just because you fall head over heels in love, doesn't mean you're going to be with that person forever. You are most likely going to love someone before you get married, and guess what, it's going to be an awesome experience. Yes, it will be incredibly painful when it's over and it may take a long time to move on, but at the end, when you're on the other side, you will realize that, that experience taught you more than you could ever learn from a book, marriage seminar or classroom. Break-ups have the potential to be some of the best things that ever happen to you, they force you to face hard truths and determine your standards and convictions. If you allow yourself to look in the mirror, examine what went wrong and use the information to become a wiser, more mature individual, you not only become a better, more evolved version of yourself, but also far more prepared for the next relationship. Sappy break-up songs keep you trapped in the mindset of hopelessness, that you've missed your only chance of happiness and that is a flat out lie. Turn off Lana Del Rey and start listening to Beyoncé.

4. Treat yo'self. - Here's my Oprah moment, I'm pretty excited, here we go...

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.

YOU ARE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE.

You have a lot to offer, but until you realize what's inside of you, you will continue to hold onto the false hope that someone is going to be your super hero, solve all of your problems and be the source of your happiness. You have to be a healthy, whole individual before you can have a healthy, whole relationship. We all have baggage, we all have issues, but the difference between a broken and whole person, is someone who has allowed themselves to feel the pain, learn from the pain, forgive whoever it is that has caused the pain and begin to move forward, letting go of that pain. Until you truly see your beauty, value and worth, NO ONE, I mean NO ONE is going to give you the time, dedication, respect and honor you deserve. Have dates with yourself, take a yoga class; learn something you've always wanted to, make time for the friendships which matter and glean from the wiser women around you. If you truly want to be a wife someday, it isn't going to happen overnight, prepare by allowing growth and maturity in your life and discovering what makes you, you. Treat yo'self every once in a while.

and 5.... Love is not instantaneous. - Ask any successfully married couple and they will tell you, a good marriage and a deep love takes a lot of time, patience, compromise and devotion. I know that we all know someone who met the love of their life at 12, got married at 18 and have been happily married for the past 45 years, but for the rest of us, that isn't real life. Most solid relationships take a lot of time to grow and develop. You may not feel weak at the knees the first, second, third or sixteenth time you look into the eyes of the man who will eventually become your husband, but that doesn't mean you won't fall deeply in love with him. My mom could not STAND my dad for the first year they knew each other. She had been wounded by failed relationships, and had finally come to a place in her life where she was secure and happy on her own. My dad was smitten and continued to prayerfully and cautiously pursue her. After some late night talks at Denny's and devout perseverance, my dad won her heart. They were married 7 months later and recently celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary. Love comes in all shapes, sizes and colors and the most beautiful thing is that your love story is uniquely yours! No one else in history will have a story to tell quite like you. Through the ups and downs, trials and joys, what you experience will be amazing, special and completely your own.

If there's nothing else I could share with young women everywhere, it's this. There is a man who loves you more than you could ever imagine, He has a plan, a future and a destiny for you, which will truly blow your mind. He will protect you, provide for you and bring you more happiness or significance than you could ever imagine. His name is Jesus and He is enthralled by your beauty. Marriage is a beautiful step in this journey in life, but it is hardly the destination. Enjoy the ride and all the stops along the way.

Psalm 45:11

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;
honor him, for he is your lord.

And the adventure begins!

Maria Atkinson — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 23:51:19 +0000

It's been two weeks since I left Oklahoma to begin my journey with Danita's Children. Although I lived in Florida for a short while as a child, experiecing it as an adult presents an entire newly sense of beauty and appreciation.

Each morning, I drive a little over an hour, to my beautiful Orlando office. Consistently, I have been blessed with the spectacular view of Floridian sunrises as my eye lids slowly gain the strength to open and face the brilliance every day has to offer. I work with two of the most genuine and delightful women, who happen to be my age, between singing Katy Perry and a selection from Broadway, and our joint passions for our mission in Haiti, you would think I have found my career soulmates.

Despite the fact that I have left everyone I love behind, being in Florida has brought nothing but pure joy and peace as I embark on the journey set before me. The Lord has been so faithful in even the smallest ways, providing me with the rekindling of childhood friendships, and a Whole Foods, twenty minutes from the office.

There is such an incredible sense of security when you know you are pursuing what you were created to do. I may not know every single detail, but I know I'm exactly where God wants me at this time. The unknown is exhilirating and exciting and the best part is, I haven't even made it to Haiti yet! I cannot wait to see what all this adventure has in store, but I know it will be more than I could ask or imagine.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me thus far, and I know the Lord is going to continue to provide for my every need. The other day I learned our ministry mission statement, and I could not choose anything more fitting.

Proverbs 31:8-9

New Living Translation (NLT)

8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
    ensure justice for those being crushed.
9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,
    and see that they get justice.
 
 

The time has come.

Maria Atkinson — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 22:55:59 +0000

It's so hard to believe that in a little less than two weeks, I will be boarding a one-way flight to Orlando, Florida to begin my journey which will lead me to a life of serving, loving and rescuing orphans in Ouanaminthe, Haiti.

For those of you who think this move is sudden and out of nowhere, let me provide you with some back story.

When I was 9-years-old, a husband and wife missionary team, who had given up everything to start a ministry in Ghana, West Africa, came and spoke at my church. I can vividly remember, walking into the foyer and observing their table decorated with bright and colorful, handmade African goods. I knew at that moment, some day, one day, I would be a missionary.

Eight years later, I took my first missions trip to Matamoros, Mexico. I was with a team of people I had never met in my life, using a bucket of water as a shower and sleeping in an old chicken coop on a wooden slat, I experienced a peace and joy in my heart unlike anything I had before. After two weeks of building a home for a family living in an extremely impoverished Mexican slum, my 9-year-old revelation of a future as a missionary, was reignited.

As I entered college, my dream seemed further and further out of reach. The noise of exams, essays, new friend groups, first-time experiences, boyfriends and part-time jobs, drowned out the quiet message of my soul, which reminded me of my destiny. I sought out other avenues to becoming a "missionary", avenues such as the Peace Corps and the like. I thought maybe if I chose a non-religious, humanitarian organization, which promised me financial provision and job security, it would be my one way ticket to making my dreams a reality. Towards the end of my senior year of college, I had been accepted into the priliminary stages of the Peace Corps application process. Once my medical information had been documented, I would receive my assignment which would take me to Asia to work in youth and community development the following summer. At a time which should have been filled with excitement and anticipation, I found myself caught in a whirlwind of fear, doubt and anxiety. How could something I wanted for so long, be wrong for me? Something that for all intents and purposes, seemed like the right thing to do. After much deliberation, I decided against the Peace Corps and declined my invitation to go and serve.

My decision against the Peace Corps affected me deeper than I knew. Inside I was a wreck, feeling as though I had lost my only opportunity to travel to the four corners of the world, serving those facing the greatest needs. After graduation, I launched into a phase of self-examination and discovery. I traveled to places to see if they were calling me home, worked jobs I would not have otherwise, and learned things I would take with me for the rest of my life. I found love in unusual and romantic places and rediscovered a Savior who had never left or forgotten me.

Two years later, after heartbreak, confusion, frustration and failure, I traveled to Lesotho and South Africa. Because of my work with the Beautiful Dream Society, I was connected to Danita's Children, the door I had been searching for, for so long. Danita Estrella, singlehandedly founded the Hope for Haiti Children's Center in Ouanaminthe, Haiti completely alone in January of 1999. She was no longer satisfied with the status quo and knew that this little village and it's beautiful children, desperately needed the love she had been called to give. Since the founding of Danita's Children, the orphanage has grown to house over 100 children, provide schooling for 350 children each year and in October, a fully-functional pediatric hospital will open on the grounds to provide medical care to all residents of Haiti.

From the moment I heard of the opportunity to give my life to work and serve alongside of Danita, I knew this was it. The reason why all the doors had closed, to open the one which would lead me down the perfect road. The road I had seen as a young, 9-year-old girl a road full of passion, joy and fire which had lay dormant inside of me and was now ready to go forth with vengence.

So though it seems sudden for me to pack my life in two suitcases and move to the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, I've been waiting for this train to come and take me away, for most of my life.

Many of you have asked me if I'm scared or nervous, the answer is yes and no. Here are the things which scare me the most.

1. I'm afraid I'll discover how truly selfish and prideful I am - I will be communially living with around 10 people. People who will see me on my best days, and worst. People who will see me laugh, cry, grow angry, hungry, tired, etc. I'm afraid that living with constant mirrors around me will reveal the ugliest things inside of me, the things I try hardest to ignore.

2. I'm afraid I'll realize I'm materialistic. - I'm truly afraid the things I'll miss the most are first world conveniences. My lattes, my manicures, my girls nights out, Target shopping splurges or the Apple store. Though those things may seem "normal" to miss, I'd like to think I have something more inside of me than superficial things I enjoy spending money on.

and most of all...

3. I'm afraid of failure. - I'm afraid I can't do this. I'm afraid I won't be able to accomplish the tasks set before me or acheive the expectations placed on me.

The beautiful thing about all of my fears is this. I am selfish, I am prideful, I am materialistic and I will fail without the guidence, grace, mercy and provision of the Holy Spirit. Above all He is the one who has so graciously opened this door for me, and I need Him every single day, in order to succeed.

Your prayers and encouragement are so, so greatly needed, encouraged and accepted. I will be a long way from home, in need of reminders that I've made the right decision and I'm folllowing the right path. In addition to prayers and encouragement, I am also in need of some financial support. I have been asked to raise $2,400.00 for my living expenses for the year, a small number yes, but for a girl who paid her education with government loans and recent medical bills from my unfortunate bicycle accident, any added cost is overwhelming.I have created an online donation page here for those led to support me financially. Anything you give helps, seriously.

Thank you for loving me, for believing in me and taking the time to read my words and listen to my heart. I leave October 11th and would love to spend time with those dear to me before I depart.

I will continue to post and write about my life and adventures in this new, exciting season.

God bless.

Esther 4:14 - "Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

Be impossible to ignore.

Maria Atkinson — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 18:31:31 +0000

Today is the launch of the month-long campaign for End Sex Trafficking Day. For the past year, sex trafficking and human trafficking have created quite the buzz. Before two years ago, hardly anyone in North America even truly understood what those words meant. Now, it seems as though anti-trafficking efforts have become almost trendy. If you have posted on your Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or the sort about something speaking out against modern day slavery, than you just aren't on the cutting edge of social activism.

Human trafficking is a monster far bigger than even Facebook can fight. Although, "liking" an anti-trafficking groups tweets or fan page is a nice gesture, if this dragon is truly going to be slayed, then we have to sign up for a battle not a one of us can fight alone.

Trafficking has infiltrated nearly every city in the world and has now taken on many different faces. Trafficking goes beyond labor bondage and prostituion, it enslaves children and pollutes every ounce of their innocence. One of the more hidden faces of trafficking has recently been highlighted by major news sources. Child brides are gaining popularity throughout the Middle East and Asia as a way for impoverished families to earn money by convincing themselves they are giving their little girl a better life. However, being a child bride is far from ideal. A girl as young as 6 or 7 years old, is sold into marriage to a man at least 30 years her senior. She is forced to tend to every one of his needs physical, sexual and manual. A time when any young girl should be learning to read and playing outside with her friends, these little girls are literally being raped every single day by men who give reason to this atrocity by taking ownership as their "husbands." Please tell me what elementary aged girl is ready for marriage? I'm 25 and hardly ready myself!

Several weeks ago in Yemen, a young, 8-year-old girl was wed to a 40-year-old man. On their wedding night, this little girl suffered sexual trauma and severe injuries and her life was taken as a result. How can we stay silent when young girls and women all across the world are being treated as nothing better than livestock, forced into marriages, prostitution and labor all for the gain of their diluted and demented captors?

"It is reported that over a quarter of Yemen's young girls are married before the age of 15. Not only do they lose access to health and education, these child brides are commonly subjected to physical, emotional and sexual violence in their forced marriages."

"According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), between 2011 and 2020, more than 140 million girls will become child brides. Furthermore, of the 140 million girls who will marry before the age of 18, 50 million will be under the age of 15."

How can this be O.K.? The answer is, it's not O.K., it's not alright and this isn't something that only happens "in other countries."

Remember the funny YouTube videos from several months ago, about the man Charles Ramsey, who put his Big Mac down to save a girl he heard screaming next door? It was Cleveland, Ohio, and not one, not two, but three young girls had been kidnapped and forced to live and have sex with their captor for nearly 10 years. Because of Ramsey's bravery, the girls, teenagers when kidnapped, now women were set free from the horrific life they had been forced to live for nearly a decade.

Kidnapping, rape, human trafficking, forced child marriages, and the explotation of women and children is not something we can turn a blind eye to any longer. We must not remain silent, we must be impossible to ignore.

So the question remains, how can I take part in this movement to bring an end to these atrocious realities? Though many of you are not in a position to open a safe house or shelter, or devote weeks and months to the aftercare of victims around the world, there is still so much you can do. Erin Giles, the mastermind behind End Sex Trafficking Day, has created this campaign to not only raise awareness and a social media buzz, but also $25,000 which will be donated to 5 anti-human trafficking organizations across the United States.

You too can play an active part in ending modern day slavery. by taking the time to watch, listen and share the truth about human trafficking. Start a prayer group, research different anti-trafficking organizations and create a fundraiser for them. Most importantly, be a voice, stand up for those who have no voice and be impossible to ignore.

"If slavery isn't wrong, then nothing is wrong." - Abraham Lincoln

For more information about End Sex Trafficking Day and to watch the video please visit here.

I am a key to freedom.

Maria Atkinson — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 17:52:52 +0000

Several weeks ago, my friend Deirdre Flynn, asked me to join her as an ambassador blogger for the End Sex Trafficking Day campaign. I wasn't sure quite what that would look like. For the past 6 months, I have been working alongside the Beautiful Dream Society to educate not only myself, but others on the horrible realities of human trafficking and what we as passionate individuals can do to fight against the largest slavery trade in all of history.

I couldn’t believe it when I heard it, and you will probably react the same way. Today, in 2013 over 27 million people are enslaved. That’s more than in any other time in history and it’s a problem that knows no borders. And you know what?! It almost made me feel guilty. How could I not know? Here many of us are with the privilege of building an amazingly free life for ourselves and almost 30 million people are trapped.

The guilt quickly vanished when I realized I could be a part to change that. You, me…we are the keys to freedom. And Erin Giles created End Sex Trafficking Day so that we could do more together as a movement than as individuals and stand up for freedom.

I’m proud to be a part of that movement, and I hope you’ll join me.

Erin is setting out to raise $25,000 for 5 non profits that are hitting the ground everyday fighting for the enslaved. She’s chosen non profits that are making impact in every area of ending sex trafficking; awareness, prevention, rescue and recovery and big change will take place with the work that these non profits will be able to do with their $5,000.

There is no better time than right now, to protect something we take for granted yet are so proud to have…our freedom. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter,” and this obviously matters, it’s something you can’t unknow once you know the statistic, it just sticks with you.

So I’m inviting you to join me, because it won’t be successful without you. Head here (insert link) to watch the powerful video and learn more about the change that will take place, share the movement and give.

I’m standing up for freedom, will you?

- See more here.

As End Sex Trafficking Day approaches, I will be posting more about what you and I can do to take part in the fight against modern day slavery!

Hope, always.

Maria Atkinson — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 15:25:47 +0000

Sunday evening I arrived in Santiago, Dominican Republic. My last stop before crossing the border into Ouanaminthe, Haiti. My trip was coordinated in order for me to be able to come and experience the campus and ministry of Danita's Children, a non-profit organization founded in 1999 to rescue, love, and serve the orphans and impoverished children of Haiti. My journey from the United States to finally crossing the border into Ouanaminthe, was far from simple and routine.

Four weeks ago, the front tire of my bicycle got stuck in a large storm drain, sending me barrelling over the handlebars, breaking my fall with the left side of my face and arm. I was found unconcious, completely unaware of how and what exactly had taken place. The irony of this accident, was my original flight to Haiti had been scheduled for the very next morning. Lying on the stretcher in the ambulance, with blood covering half of my face, a split open lip and three of my front teeth knocked to the back of my mouth, my only concern was when and how I would be able to get to Haiti. I didn't cry from the pain or trauma, I cried from a place of absolute helplessness, how could this happen to me in the wake of something magnificent which was about to take place?

Every doctor told me it would be six weeks before I would be able to travel anywhere or do anything active and strenuous. Even in the emergency room, hooked up to an IV pumping heavy doses of morphine into my veins, I knew it would not be crippled by my misfortune, I told the doctors it would be two or three weeks before I was back to normal. Thankfully my hardheaded and stubbornness paid off this time, within two weeks I was able to go back to work and within three weeks, I was cycling again.

I truly feared that I had lost my opportunity to go to Haiti, but God in all of His grace and love for His children, kept the door open for me. On September 1st, I flew out to spend a week at the beautiful Hope for Haiti Children's Center.

I have only been here for a few days, but everything and everyone has felt so familiar and comfortable. Danita Estrella-Watts, the founder and president of the Children's Center and organization, is truly an amazing individual. She singlehandedly opened an orphanage to feed, clothe, house and care for 100 orphans in January of 1999. Shortly after the orphanage was founded, a school came into play to provide the children with an excellent education. During the months of October to June, not only do the orphans living in the center attend the classes, but the school has expanded to welcome and educate the neighboring village children as well. Danita now has 350 children learning and growing through the educational programs she developed. On top of all the amazing staff and missionaries who have devoted their lives to caring for these children, a state-of-the-art medical and dental center has been built to provide top knotch pediatric care to the children in the center and surrounding areas as wel. After three long years of prayer, planning and construction, the medical center will have it's soft opening at the end of this month.

This has been a truly amazing experience to come and live amongst some of the most incredible individuals I have ever had the pleasure of encountering, watching as they live out Christ's command to love and serve those facing greatest need. It's not only an incredible ministry, but such a unique time as much change is taking place and they begin to embark on entirely new journey and season within the organization.

I am so overwhelmingly grateful to the goodness of the Lord in my life. For providing the opportunity and answering my prayers, blessing me with a speedy recovery and health to be able to be sitting in Ouanaminthe, Haiti today, writing this post. I cannot wait to see what He will unfold in the days and weeks to come.

James 1:27

New Living Translation (NLT)

27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

A Better Story.

Maria Atkinson — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 21:36:46 +0000

A few weeks ago, I started and for the first time in my life, finished a book checked out from the library before its due date. The book was by the popular author, Donald Miller, best known for his book, Blue Like Jazz, which I have also read and loved. This particular book was one of his more recent publications, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: Things I learned while editing my life. The book was a narrative about what Miller learned when he was approached to begin production on the screenplay of a movie based on Blue Like Jazz.

The premise of the book is about how to "live a better story." Miller discusses different life events, such as meeting a father he hadn't seen in thirty years, hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and cycling across the United States. Each of these events, challenged and forced him to break out of his shell of comfort, that had been holding him back from truly experiencing life to the fullest, most of his life.

The book made a lasting impression on the way I think about whom I am and my life. What type of story am I living? What or who am I looking to, to define my happiness, meaning and self-worth? Am I sitting on the sidelines, watching everyone else live life, wishing I was out there, or am I in the thick of it, on the frontlines?

How do we live a better story? In the book, Miller defines story as, "a character is someone who wants something, and overcomes obstacles to achieve it." There are several elements involved in breaking that down. We'll start with character.

Character is defined as one's main or essential nature. The glue, which brings together everything that defines and identifies what type of person you are. Character is also something fluid, which can be changed. The first step is living a better story, is being a better character. By identifying your weaknesses allowing them to mold into strengths. Facing your fears and tapping into a wellspring of courage, but most importantly, pinpointing the lies you've believed for years and overcoming them with truth. This how you become a better character.

The second step in living a better story is identifying what it is that we want. As most of you know, last week I was in a bicycle accident that resulted in my hospitalization. I was riding my bicycle last Tuesday afternoon, on my way home after my morning shift at work. Over the past month, I have been using my cycle as a primary mode of transportation due to an unfortunate car accident, which took my vehicle out of commission, needless to say, I was used to commuting by bike.

On my ride, I decided to trek through a neighborhood close to my job, the neighborhood has large, iron storm drains at the entrance and due to my speed and momentum, my tire got stuck in the drain and sent me launching forward with the left side of my face and arm catching my fall. The impact knocked me unconscious and trapped under my bike. Thankfully within minutes of the crash, two gentlemen pulling out of their home, and saw me lying lifeless and came to my rescue. I still cannot completely remember the exact events, which took place, but I know that my life was miraculously spared. I walked away with minor injuries, scraps and bruises and a fully functioning brain and limbs.

The ironic and worst part of this misfortune was I had a scheduled flight to Haiti the very next morning. I was being flown out for a job interview with an orphanage in Northeast Haiti. As soon as I regained consciousness and began to comprehend what had taken place, my sole concern was getting to Haiti.

As I look back on my accident, it ties so well into the idea of storyline and what type of role my character was going to play. I was a character who had fallen into a serious and traumatic situation that had potentially jeopardized my near future and physical capabilities. I was faced with two options, allow my circumstance to defeat and weaken me, or stay positive and fight to regain my health and strength to get back on my feet again. With the help of many prayers, the love and support of family and friends, and the sheer grace of God, today, one week later I feel 100% better. My wounds are healing rapidly and my strength is returning. I am completely off of my medication and have not had to deal with severe aches and pain.

To top everything off, I spoke with the woman in charge of the orphanage in Haiti, and to my delight, my flight will be rescheduled within the next several weeks. It’s amazing how attitude changes everything, when you seek optimism and positivity; it literally crushes depression, fear and doubt. The Lord has everything under control and He has never left me alone. Even when I was lying helpless in the middle of a busy street, He was watching over and protecting me every step of the way.

Because of this accident, I have an even better story to tell; a story of victory, grace, love and healing.

1 Peter 2:34 - "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed."

24 turns 25

Maria Atkinson — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 22:13:55 +0000

When I was a young girl, I loved to daydream about what my life would look like in the future. Would I be tall? Would l be thin? Would I be beautiful? How old would I be when I fell in love, got married and had children? Most importantly, would I see the world?

When I would see maps or globes in the stores, I would always stop and dream about the distant lands I so desperately wished to adventure to. Although having the maternal things such as a home and a family were high on my priority list, I never wanted to grow old, without experiencing foreign cultures and societies.

24 was in many ways, the most difficult, yet most wonderful year of my life. Up until October of 2012, the only country I had visited outside of the U.S., was Mexico. At 24, I finally fulfilled my lifelong dream of traveling to not only Europe, but a city I had fantisized about since childhood, Paris.

It was a magical journey, filled with extravagant rendezvous, and experiences one can only dream of. I had fallen in love in the most romantic and beautiful city in the world and felt as though I was living a real-life fairy tale.

Like most fairy tales, they typically end with happily ever after. Mid-way through my 24th year, I thought I was headed towards my happily ever after, hand-in-hand with, "the love of my life", on a journey which would allow me the title of Parisian housewife and weekends exploring all the wonders Europe had to offer. It all seemed so perfect, so right, but eventually one has to come down from Cloud Nine and face reality. The dream I thought was my reality, was truly not a dream after all. After several months of so-called-bliss, my eyes were opened to the truth. This fantasy I had been chasing after was no where near in alignment with the passions and desires which resided deep in my heart since I could remember.

After three months of engagement, I had to let go and say goodbye to the only person I had truly ever loved. It was the most painful decision of my entire life, but through the sorrow, tears and feelings of utter despair, I heard a Voice reminding me that, He loved me more than any man on this earth ever could.

The past six months have been quite a roller-coaster. I have literally felt as the popular rap song sings, "Started from the bottom, now we're here..." I found a lifeboat in the Beautiful Dream Society during the storm it seemed my life was drowning in. I can now say I am not the girl I was six months ago, and I could not be more proud of that fact.

As I enter my 25th year, there is still much uncertainty as to where my journey will lead me next, but all I have to do is take it one day at a time. 24 began with romance and European excitement, and ended with sharing love with woman rescued from horrific situations and a trip to the most breathtakingly beautiful city in the world (as far as I'm concerned), providing me with majestic views of crashing waves and mountain sunrises. I know now that no one can ever satisfy me like my Maker and King. I don't have to prove my worth to anyone because it is found in the Most High. My identity lies in Christ and His love has restored every broken crevice of my heart.

The little girl who dreamt of traveling to the ends of the earth, will see her dreams become a reality. She will be proud to know that 25-year-old Maria is following God and chasing her dreams, wherever they may lead.

I encourage you today to follow your heart. The dreams and desires deep inside of you were placed there for a reason, not in vain. Stop listening to lies, doubt and excuses. You have one life to live, live it well.

I welcome you 25, in all your splendor and glory. May this be the best year yet!

From Cape Town to America: Reflections

Maria Atkinson — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 22:24:57 +0000

It has now been a little over a week and a half since my return home from the beautiful country of South Africa. It has been difficult to readjust myself to the normal, daily routines of life in Oklahoma, after being in such a thriving, lush environment. I will attempt to re-cap my last few days in South Africa, which were spent in paradise, a.k.a Cape Town.

My Beautiful Dream Society teammate Emily and I, had the most wonderful fortune of the opportunity to visit Cape Town to join with fellow Oklahomans who had traveled across the ocean to host a camp for children living in the township of Masiphumelele. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by the crashing waves and vibrant rainbows of the Western Cape.

Kalk Bay

Muizenberg Beach

As soon as we set foot on land, I felt an overwhelming presence of God and His love for not only this beautiful country, but for me. Most of our first few hours were spent getting lost and happening upon the most quaint and perfect shops and cafés, such as, Alive Creative Hub. Peace and tranquility abundantly flowed from the ambiance of this unique centre for artisan coffee, organic juices and creativity. Never could I have imagined stumbling across a more perfect place. Our journey continued and eventually we made it to the town of Kommetije, our home for the duration of our stay.

Our chalet, shared by the Norman Community, All Nations, missionaries, overlooked the gorgeous Kommetije Beach. It seemed surreally cinematic to wake up to the sounds of waves and the sun, rising over mountain surrounded by crystal blue waters.

We were welcomed alongside the Norman team, into the home of Mike and Kalyn Arndt, a couple who felt the call to pack their belongings and move across the world 6 years ago to join with All Nations, planting churches and discipling believers within Cape Town. Even amongst people I had just met, I felt entirely at home and rest within this gospel community. Emily and I's weekend consisted of a visit to the oldest winery in South Africa, penguin sightings, strolls through local markets, and a hike up to the top of Table Mountain, which provided the most breathtaking, and spectacular views of my entire life.

Chapman's Peak

Hout Bay

Groot Constantia Winery

Boulders Beach

Top of Table Mountain

Platteklip Gorge

Camps Bay

Never before had I experienced the glory of the Lord displayed through creation so strong and magnificently. As my time in Cape Town drew to a close, Emily and I were invited to a house church meeting in the Masiphumelele township. The rain poured down upon the tiny, tin-roofed shack, and nearly twenty adults packed into a small, but cozy room to dissect the passage John 15, the True Vine.

"I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he is it that bears much fruit, for apart from me, you can do nothing."

John 15:5

I sat in that room, drinking my German apple tea, reflecting on the past three and half weeks of my life. We read the passage multiple times, in several different translations, and each time it become more clear, apart from Christ, I truly cannot accomplish what I have set out to do. He is the master gardener, the vinedresser who cuts away at the dead leaves that prevent the vine from blossoming and blooming to it's full potential. Pruning is always a difficult and painful process, when things you have attached yourself to, or grown accustomed to, are removed, the branch is left bare and exposed. However, at this time you are in a position where the most growth can take place. Sometimes things, people and positions are taken away from us, and it seems cruel or unfair, but if you step back and take a better look, you'll see the vinedresser is making way for stronger, more delicious, more beautiful fruit to bloom. We closed our session with a word of prayer and as I prepared to leave, one of the young men, native to Masiphumelele, pulled me aside and said the Lord had given him the word, "arise" for me along with the scripture Isaiah 60:1. I went home to investigate what message was trying to be communicated to me. What I found left me overjoyed, encouraged, renewed and refreshed with a new sense of purpose and trust in the unfailing love and promises of God.

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you. And His glory will be seen upon you, and nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see, they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you."

Isaiah 60:1-5

Nothing the Lord does in in vain. South Africa renewed my spirit and reminded me that the desires, passions of my heart were placed there for a reason. I have been called to proclaim freedom and victory in Christ. To go to the nations and bring light into the darkest of places. I find in difficult to be back in America, doing mundane, daily rituals, but this too is for a purpose. My heart may be in distant places, but for this moment, right here, right now there are lost souls that need to know there's a God in heaven who loves them more than they could ever imagine. There is a hope and opportunity for new life. I'm not sure where I'll end up next, but obdience in the journey is more important than the destination.

I'll see you again some day, Cape Town. Until we meet again, you will forever be in my heart.

Fathers

Maria Atkinson — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 20:48:51 +0000

It's strange to think my time here in Lesotho is nearly halfway over. Within days I will be boarding a plane home, when it seems like just yesterday I was boarding the plane here. It's difficult to put all of my experiences and emotions into words, I'm not sure I have finished completely processing all of it anyway.

Last night changed the entire course of my expectations for being here and for my life in general. I was given the opportunity to join a team of people from a church in South Africa, who have spent past 7 years building a street ministry. The sole purpose of the ministry is to build relationships with girls who work the streets of the city where each of these members live and work, to eventually provide them a haven of rescue and an opportunity to start a new life with Jesus. It was the scariest/most amazing thing I have ever done in probably all of my life. As we prepared to go out, I truly did not know what to expect, walking into the jaws of darkness. The team are native South Africans, meaning their first language is Afrikaans, a derivitive of Dutch. I found myself with a group of people I had never met before, all speaking to each other in a language I had only heard once or twice in my life, yet I felt so connected to them and I know that was only made possible through the Holy Spirit uniting His body.

As we went out, the fear and apprehension I had been experiencing, melted away. After about an hour of trial and error, we met Nicole*, a girl willing to listen to what we had to say. Nicole was so young, so far away from her family, with so much pain in her eyes, desperately crying for help, in search of love and significance. Throughout our conversation, "Johns" would drive up in an attempt to take advantage of Nicole's services, but her eyes would not devert from our group. We began to pray for her and as my team leader was praying in Afrikaans, the most supernatural thing I have ever experienced occured. I began to understand what she was saying, without an interpreter or ever studying the language, in my heart I knew the words which were being spoken over sweet Nicole. It took everything in me to fight back the salty tears which were building up in my eyes, it was such a sacred, beautiful moment. The team leaders exchanged numbers with Nicole and she was extremely excited to hear that they would come and take her to church on Sunday.

In the midst of the filth, the perversion and utter depths of despair, I have never felt closer to my Savior and King and a body of Believers. How could I ever be the same from an experience like that? How could I walk the streets where weeks earlier a young girl was strangled to death by a client, and not be evoked to take action? Jesus is on those streets, inviting His children to come and work to help bring these lost souls back from the claws of complete darkness.

As we approach Father's day, I can't help but think about the home lives most of the girls come from. Few have been extracted from tender, loving environments. Most of them have found comfort in the arms of evil because they had nothing to go home to. What would their life be like if they had a Daddy to love them, to tell them they are beautiful and bring the flowers on their birthdays? A Daddy to cheer at dance recitals and tell them, "That boy wasn't good enough for you in the first place," after a heartbreak? Maybe their lives would have taken a different route if there was a Father to guide them and lead them into greatness.

I am extremely blessed to literally have the most amazing Dad in the entire world. A Dad who has taught me the true meaning of love and sacrifice and given me the greatest example of a man of God.

My Dad is the reason I have any desire to leave my comfort zone and go out into the world to help the lost, broken, hungry and dying. For the past 13 years he has been employed with the non-profit, Feed the Children as their international writer/producer. He has traveled to over 20 countries, bringing food, water and supplies to some of the most remote, dangerous and uncivilized villages of the world. He has seen everything from Sudanese refugee camps, families calling cemeteries homes in the Phillippines, to starving children in the shanty towns of the Appalacian Mountains. Without his tenacity, and utter devotion to serve the call of the Lord despite any odds, I would not be the woman I am today. I am so grateful for all of the knowledge and wisdom I have gained from such an incredible person, father and friend.

I know that so many women have not had the opportunity to experience and earthly father's love as I have, but the love of a Father in heaven who created the universe, is deeper and greater than any love I have ever encountered. On days I have felt most empty, broken and alone, only the love of my Jesus has been able to comfort my heart. He is the reason that girls like Nicole are able to have a second chance at life through His undying, unconditional, redeeming love.

I love you daddy, on earth and in heaven.

Be blessed today, fathers and daughters everywhere.

*Name has been changed for protection, privacy and liability.

Maria in Africa!

Maria Atkinson — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 20:19:35 +0000

Well I made it y'all. On June 2nd I arrived to the Kingdom of Lesotho. After one 7 hour flight to London, followed by a 12 hour layover, which was awesome by the way, and then finally the long 10 hour flight to Johannesburg, only to be picked up and get right back into another moving vehicle for a 5 hour drive, I made it to mountain kingdom.

A very long, and tiring journey, yet so very worth it.

I'll start with my layover in London. As some of your know, my first trip to London back in October was brought to an abrupt halt. After my compadre was detained at passport control before even getting a chance to enter the U.K., my grandoise plans for the weekend went down the drain. So my 12 hour layover in a city I got jipped in, felt like a small blessing in disguise. I spent my Saturday wandering around the city, with strolls in beautiful parks, a quick stop at Buckingham Palace, a walk across Abbey Road before finally finding myself perusing the beautiful streets of Notting Hill. It was the first time I was in a foreign country completely on my own, and I couldn't have been happier.

Portobello Street, Notting Hill

Green Park

Buckingham Palace

My first week in Lesotho is about 3/4ths complete. It's hard to believe the days are going by so quickly. It's also difficult to process everything. Being in a completely different culture, unlike anything I have ever experienced, a world away from home, can be quite overwhelming. The first two days were a blur, in between trying to readjust my body to the time change and absorbing my surroundings, it was hard to feel like I was doing much of anything. I find myself still in complete shock that I'm actually here.

Today was the best day I've had so far. Aside from getting the opportunity to cook not one, but two meals for my team, (if you don't know, cooking is something I've grown to absolutely love!) I experienced my first day of true work in the shelter with the girls. I'm starting to become familiar with them after being here for a few days, but today I realized how much your presence can impact. If there's something women who've experienced trauma can see, it's straight to the heart of a person. As I began my day talking with the girls and getting ready to sit through devotional time, one of the girls decided it was time to give me a Sesotho name. Sesotho (pronounced: Se-Soo-Too) is the native language of Lesotho. The name bestowed upon me was, "Lerato", Sesotho for love, because "I just have that love." It was truly the highlight of my time here so far. I was beginning to feel confused as to why God would bring me here. Even though international missions and fighting human trafficking are two of my biggest passions, it's still unclear to me exactly what direction this is going to take me in. After receiving my name and realizing how I had been welcomed with nothing but open arms to women who have experienced horrific abuse, it all made sense.

I've been called to serve. I've been called to give. I've been called to love.

During one of my personal quiet times with the Lord, I came across a passage in Deuteronomy.

"If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be."

Deuteronomy 15:7-8

Being here isn't about me at all. It isn't about my comfort, pleasure, popularity, success or gain. It's about me serving my Lord through tending His flock of broken hearted women and in serving Him and these women, developing and even closer, more intimate relationship with my Creator. I imagine there will be times of stuggle, pain and maybe even anger, but God has called me for such a time as this and He will supply all that I need.

I am overjoyed at this opportunity to learn and grow and experience life with these beautiful women and my amazing team members. My journey has only just begun, and I'm not quite sure where it will end up, but I've always been prone to adventure.

Maseru, Lesotho - Capital City

Together we'll be OK.

Maria Atkinson — Mon, 27 May 2013 22:28:02 +0000

One week ago today, a 2-mile wide, F-5 tornado swept across south Oklahoma City. The torrential winds and ferocious speed of the funnel demolished hundreds, if not thousands of homes and claimed the lives of 24 individuals.

The entire state of Oklahoma was a gasp, disaster had struck in our very own backyard. Weeks earlier, 14 years ago, a very similar storm swept through the town on Moore, Oklahoma on May 3rd, 1999, destryoing neighborhoods and leaving behind several fatalities. But this particular storm was recorded the worst history has ever known, in regards to tornadic activity. As citizens we helplessly watched as our neighbors, family, co-workers and friends, crawled out from under what once was their homes, but had now become an unreognizable pile of lost memories and brokenness.

The day before the tornado hit, one of my best friend's called me to say that her mother had gone home to be with Jesus after a 10-year battle with stage four cancer. Two months prior to that, Steve Clifton, the loveable owner of the Red Rooster Bar and Grill, which held many fond memories for my friends and I, passed away alone in his home. I was beginning to think that 2013 was just the year of death and destruction.

Within hours of the May 20th tornado, first responders were on the scene, helping people find safety, shelter, medical attention and peace of mind. I watched the entire state of Oklahoma band together and take the stance that, "together, we'll be OK." From the American Red Cross to the smallest of local churches, people wanted to take action and help their fellow man who was facing such a great need. I couldn't stand on the sidelines and watch all of this take place, so this past Sunday, I went with Feed the Children to deliver food and supplies to victims.

A little boy, who was a third grade student at Plaza Towers, the elementary school which caved in on students and teachers, taking the lives of 10 young children. This particular boy was paying his respects to the friends and classmates he lost by hanging stuffed animals on the chainlink fence which baricaded outsiders from the destruction area.

The day started with a food drop at Platt College in Moore. Cars would drive up, tell the volunteers what they needed and we would proceed to fill their trunks with boxes of food, diapers, trash bags, clothing and hygiene products. After several hours of being a do-gooder, my dad asked me if I wanted to join his team as they went into the heart of the damage to get more footage. I readily accepted and hopped into the car, ready for adventure. Adventure was the furthest thing from what I experienced. As we crossed over I-35, I began to see what had taken place. The 7-Eleven which was now completely non-existant, the tarps which were now roofs of homes, and the fallen power lines which lined the sides of the streets. We moved deeper and turned into a neighborhood which took one of the hardest hits. We passed multiple tents giving out free water and supplies and Red Cross disaster relief trucks. It warmed my heart to see so many people coming together to make sense of such senselessness. We found a parking spot and began to survey the damage, I took my camera and went off to explore, what I found left my flabbergasted and absolutely speechless. Within seconds of arriving to the scene, someone pointed out the Plaza Towers, the elementary school that faced some of the greatest destruction.

My heart was so heavy as I walked through the broken streets. It was insanely surreal, I felt like I was on the set of an apocalyptic movie. The gravity of this devastation was too much to comprehend. Soldiers drove slowly with signs on military Jeeps for free water, gatorade, sunscreen and other miscellaneous items. A particular home caught my attention so I walked up on to what was the driveway and slowly took in the scene. It was hard to tell what used to stand in the place I was now standing, I began to imagine who lived there and what part of life was lived in the house that once was. I looked to my right and saw a chair standing alone in the middle of all of the debris. This was where someone or someones, used to sleep every night. Where they cooked breakfast, laughed, cried, fought, open Christmas presents, shared hopes and dreams, threw birthday parties and most of all, the place they called HOME. Now it finds itself a pile of rubble without shape or form.

I walked back to Plaza Towers to take a few more photos of memorial set up for families and friends to honor the little ones lost. As I was shooting, a man asked where he would be able to see the photos I was taking. We began to talk and shared with me that he was the uncle of Nicholas McCabe, one of the little boys whose life was taken by the tornado. Nicholas was days away from his 9th birthday and so very excited to spend Memorial Weekend out of the boat with his uncle. Hearing the grief in this man's voice as he talked about his sweet, little nephew was almost too much to bear. Times like this make it so difficult to understand the Lord and why He chooses to give and take the way He does. I prayed with the man and went back to meet up with my team. I got in my car and headed back into the city, it was incredible to see the contrast between the reality for so many facing sorrow and just over the river people were running, laughing, and walking through the streets of art festivals with mimosas in hand. So funny, this life.

"How God, how can you take the life of elementary students, while evil people roam the earth? How can the elderly couple who have worked their entire life to have the humble home they do, lose everything, while the selfish, materialistic, individuals squander their wealth? What is the purpose in such destruction?"

As I questioned the Lord, I was reminded of a passage in James which I had recently heard at the memorial service for the mother of my close friend.

"yet, you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appers for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." - James 4:14-15

Nothing in this life is guaranteed. We breathe and live life, we breathe again and that is the last breath we ever take. Death is not a punishment, yet another part of the earthly life. Life is such a precious gift and as I watched the individuals across the nation reach out to my friends and neighbors in need it did bring comfort and hope knowing that there are people choosing life even in the face of death. Choosing to use disaster to bring out the best and bring life, unity and love. I will probably never know the answer why Nicholas and his fellow classmates and friends had to leave this life so early, but maybe they are the lucky ones. Never again will Nicholas have to suffer through illness, pain, heartache or loss. He is dancing with His creator and we get to celebrate his life by helping one another and truly living out what it means to be the hands and feet of Christ. We all have the opportunity to be hero during trials, to find the strength to persevere in overwhelming obstacles.

This has been one of the saddest weeks for my state, but never have I been prouder to call myself and Oklahoman. Together, we'll be OK.

God bless Oklahoma.

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

Maria Atkinson — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:20:33 +0000

I recently saw this really cliché typography photo with the phrase:

"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone."

Immediately I laughed at how "hipster" the photo was, but then I started to really process what the words actually meant.

How many opportunities do we hold ourselves back from because we are too, fill in the blank...

scared

worried

insecure

doubtful

hopeless

ignorant

blind

comfortable

I think the number one reason we miss out on that amazing things life has to offer is due to our comfortability. We place limitations on our abilities because we convince ourselves that what we have already achieved is enough, enough to keep us satisfied, content and safe. Mankind's greatest fear is of the unknown. Why does every ounce of our being instinctively fight death? Is it the loss of life, or the fear of the greatest loss of control?

The things we can control are usually the things that cause us the most stress and pain. What if we just let go? What if we stepped out of what is safe, comfortable and familiar and reached for something more? What would happen then?

What if we said yes to everything everyone else said no to? (This does not include substance abuse. Those things still need a no, haha) Think about the history's greatest legends. Each one of them staired fear, death and opposition in the eyes and kept going. They didn't allow danger or threat to keep them from changing the course of history as they knew it.

I have to battle my own thoughts and fears daily. With the trip to Lesotho coming so quickly, I began to grow weary and anxious about raising all of the funds for my nearly $2000 plane ticket. How could I really pull this off with the amount of income I have been taking in and no wealthy relatives to leave me a large inheritance? This past week I was getting ready to face the reality that this trip just may not be possible at this point in time. I was beginning to get depressed and discouraged as it seemed another thing in my life was going to fail, and for the record, failure is my biggest fear. Something inside of me just couldn't let go. Since becoming involved with the Beautiful Dream Society, I have felt a knowing in the depths of my soul that this is exactly where I am supposed to be, and what I have been designed to do since the inception of my existence. As my dreams started to once again drift away from me, the Light inside of me encouraged me to just hold on a little longer.

"if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

And the Lord will guide your continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong;

and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."

Isaiah 58:10-11

If going to Lesotho was truly something that God designed me to do, then why was I worrying? I spoke with Sonya, (the director of BDS) about my fear of the lack of finances and she provided motivation and encouragement to reach for my goal. Asking for help is my biggest weakness. I am extremely independent and want to prove that I can do everything on my own, but sometimes that just isn't possible. I am weak, I am poor and I need help just to make it through the day, all of the time. Admitting my weaknesses and vunerabilities is something I have never been comfortable with. I like to build these walls to create an illusion of strength when inside I'm falling apart. I knew that if this trip was going to be a reality, I needed to swallow my pride, get out of my comfort zone and ask for help.

I reactivated my facebook page, texted friends and now I can proudly say I am only $300 short of my goal, which I know is nothing for my Heavenly Father. Sometimes we have to face our fears, humble ourselves and stare those giants right in the eyes and say, "No, you will not overtake me."

My ticket has yet to be purchased, but I know without a doubt that I will be boarding a plane to Maseru, Lesotho on May 29th and will return June 25th. Prayers are much appreciated and if you would like to donate to help me reach the final amount for my goal, please visit my donation site here.

Get out of your comfort zone and be amazed at what God will do.

Go fund me!

Maria Atkinson — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:01:46 +0000

In a desperate attempt to come up with remaining amount of money needed to purchase my ticket to Lesotho, South Africa, I created a page on gofundme.com to tell my story of involvement with the Beautiful Dream Society and to have a tool for donation purposes.

Read my profile on gofundme, and see if you would like to take part!

http://www.gofundme.com/helpmechasethedream

Run Girl, Run.

Maria Atkinson — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:57:16 +0000

Yesterday I ran my second half marathon with the 2013 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. It's amazing how running the exact same race usually provides for two very different experiences.

Last year, my first half marathon was extremely challenging. After reaching the halfway mark, I wanted to stop. My body was telling me it was finished and could not run one more step. I pushed through my mental blockades, and finished my very first half marathon with a time of 2 hours and 10 minutes.

My close friend, Trisha and I at the end of the race last April 2012.

This year my experience was completely different. As most of you know, two weeks prior to the OKC marathon, the Boston marathon bombings occured. With a tragedy so similar and familiar to one we experienced not so long ago, Oklahoma City rallied together in support of Boston and chose to keep our marathon going strong. I had multiple people approach me, asking if I was still planning on running and my response was a plain and simple, "of course!" I refused to allow fear to ruin an exhilarating, moving experience which meant so much to the city I've learned to call home. My thoughts on the entire ordeal even got a "retweet" on the memorial marathon twitter.

OKCMemorialMarathon ‏@OKCMarathon

15 Apr

“@mariadru: Proud of my city standing strong,moving forward w/@OKCMarathon. We run now & forever 2 remember lives lost from terrorism” #R2R

So I was in for the long haul, refusing to allow terrorism to control my life with fear and hold me back from greatness. The week of the race brought many interesting situations my way. Everything that could possibly happen to distract me emotionally and mentally, happened. By the time Saturday night rolled around, I was drained to the point of exhaustion, but my excitement for the next morning kept me from getting a night of sound sleep. When my alarm clock went off at 4:45 a.m., I surprisingly awoke immediately ready to go. This was my dad's very first time to run a half marathon so he was twice as jittery and excitable as I was. We arrived at the start line minutes before the race began, but in enough time to observe the 168 minutes of silence.

Despite my lack of sleep and emotional exhaustion, this was probably the best race I have ever run, thus far. I do think that my impecable running playlist had a little something to do with keeping me in high spirits and motivated the whole way. Here is a list of the top 5 best songs to run to, in my most honest opinion, in order of how they played during the race.

1. "All These Things That I've Done" - The Killers - This was the very first song that played after I crossed the starting line. It's motivational and helps remind you that you aren't completely insane for voluntarily running 13 miles.

2. "Don't Stop Believing" - Journey - This iconic 80s hit played around the 10K/halfway mark. If you're looking to feel invincible, like you can conqueror the world, this song is usually the go-to, so yeah it makes a pretty great running song.

3. "Girl on Fire" - Alicia Keys - I've decided that this is my new theme song. Every single word of this song reminded me of the fire inside of my heart and to always let it burn no matter how much the darkness of the world tries to put it out.

4. "Sweet Nothing" - Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch - This song is absolutely AMAZING. Ever since I very first heard it about a month ago, I haven't been able to stop listening to it. It's basically been my eqivalent to an Adele/Kelly Clarkson break up song, but instead of sitting around crying, I just feel like a total badass. It helps me push through the rough parts of my runs and keep heading towards the goal.

5. "Sleeping Lessons" - The Shins - This song got me through home stretch and finally the finish line. Just listen to it. You'll understand why.

I have never run so far, so fast, without stopping in my entire life. Not once did I feel like I was in pain or needed to rest, I just kept running with my eyes fixed on the finish line. I managed to meet my goal of under two hours with a finish time of 1:57:33 putting me at the top 12% of runners. As I crossed the finish, I felt engergized and electrified. The worries and stresses of the previous days melted away until all that remained was a happy, content, proud, peaceful soul.

Running is a lot like life. Difficult, painful, unpredictable and extremely rewarding. Running can provide some of the worst and best moments of your life.

Hebrews 12:1 - "12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."

Every day brings new opportunities, some to test and some to bless. This life is truly like a race, a race we have to keep running, no matter what obstacles come our way. Giving up only keeps us from winning the prize that has been set aside for us. Giving up let's someone take what we rightfully deserve and destroy our hope and pride. We have to keep running, we have to keep fighting, pressing forward towards the goal. Don't stop believing and never stop running.

My dad and I at the finish.

Total domination!

Shine a light.

Maria Atkinson — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 21:09:53 +0000

This past Tuesday was "Shine a Light on Slavery" day. Today thousands upon thousands of individuals, with the backing of the End It Movement, are standing together to say NO, to this horrible reality 27 million men, women and children face every day worldwide.

It's amazing how quickly the course of your life can change. In one instance you are walking down a path you truly believe in your God-created destiny, and in a matter of minutes your life is unrecognizable. It's hard to believe that just three short months ago, I was completely uninvolved with the now passion that has consumed my life. Today there is a big, bright red "X" on my hand in honor of the millions enslaved worldwide, and my heart and soul is enighted with a passion to change the course of history and the world as we know it.

Last week I spent five days in Washington D.C. Together with the lovely women of the Beautiful Dream Society (BDS); Director, Sonya Martinez, Assistant Director, Whitney Anderson and Executive Assistant, Kaytlyn Johnson. After arriving in our nation's capital, our days were spent catching taxis and manuerving our way around the bustling city to make some very important and poignant meetings.

Our first two meetings were with the U.S. Department of Justice and Office of Monitoring and Combating Trafficking in Persons. These meetings were probably the most life-altering for me. I mentioned in my previous post, that upon connecting with BDS and finding my firery passion for anti-human trafficking, all the pieces of the puzzle of my life began to come together and create the map of the destiny I had agressively been pursuing to discover. These meetings continued to connect the dots for me, reaffirming that I have finally found the path and journey I am supposed to be on.

We met several women, including the former U.S. Ambassador to Lesotho, South Africa where our first BDS shelter was founded, who are passionately pursuing the combating of human trafficking and are working together with NGO's such as ours to see and end to modern day slavery. We spent several hours at each office receving statistical updates, grant information and giving reports of the work and success we have had over the past two years. It was incredibly inspiring and motivating to see women with ages ranging from 28 to 60, working together for this noble cause within our government that has ravished my heart. After our meeting we were able to tour the city and see some of the national landmarks.

On Friday, the Global Prayer Gathering (GPG) with the Internation Justice Mission took place. It would be the understatement of the year to say that this event was eye opening. The GPG completely changed my life. The weekend opened with worship led by my most favorite worship duo, All Sons & Daughters. The Spirit was so strong throughout the room; it united the hundreds of strangers who came together as one functioning body, worshipping our Lord and pleading for freedom on behalf of the silenced, opressed voices.

Saturday was the intense day of prayer. We were each assigned to Africa, Latin America, South Asia (India) and Southeast Asia prayer rooms, at alternating times. My first room was Africa. I was immediately overwhelmed by the connection I felt with this continent, it was if I was reunited with a long-lost friend. I could feel the need for love, freedom and justice deep down to my innermost being. I began to pray over each region IJM works in, and opened my bible, only to read the following passage:

2 Samuel 22:31-50 -

31 “God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true.

He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

For who is God except the Lord?
Who but our God is a solid rock?

God is my strong fortress,
and he makes my way perfect.

He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
enabling me to stand on mountain heights.

He trains my hands for battle;
he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.

You have given me your shield of victory;
your help has made me great.

You have made a wide path for my feet
to keep them from slipping.

“I chased my enemies and destroyed them;
I did not stop until they were conquered.

I consumed them;
I struck them down so they did not get up;
they fell beneath my feet.

You have armed me with strength for the battle;
you have subdued my enemies under my feet.

You placed my foot on their necks.
I have destroyed all who hated me.

They looked for help, but no one came to their rescue.
They even cried to the Lord, but he refused to answer.

I ground them as fine as the dust of the earth;
I trampled them in the gutter like dirt.

“You gave me victory over my accusers.
You preserved me as the ruler over nations;
people I don’t even know now serve me.

Foreign nations cringe before me;
as soon as they hear of me, they submit.

They all lose their courage
and come trembling from their strongholds.

“The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock!
May God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted!

He is the God who pays back those who harm me;
he brings down the nations under me

and delivers me from my enemies.
You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies;
you save me from violent opponents.

For this, O Lord, I will praise you among the nations;

I will sing praises to your name."

God was speaking so clearly to me. Confirming promises of long ago. The Lord is bringing freedom to the nation of Africa and He is calling me higher. With each prayer room, my passion, motivation, inspiration and realization that seeking justice and speaking on behalf of the enslaved is what I have been called to my entire life. After six hours of crying out the Lord on behalf of these enslaved peoples, it was time for the evening worship session. The message was given by the IJM Vice-President of Aftercare, Kathy Stout-Labauve. Her message was simple but went straight into my heart. She spoke on how the Lord uses our brokenness to bring restoration, freedom and healing to others. The things we have experienced in our lives which have caused us the most pain, are usually what is used for the greatest glory.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 - "16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

My heart was overjoyed and danced in freedom. I knew what God was calling me to and I was finally on the path to enter into the glory of working to further His kingdom.

In June, I will be traveling to the Beautiful Dream Society shelter in Lesotho, South Africa along with my Director, Sonya Martinez. There I will experience firsthand the work being done by BDS and see the Spirit move in the hearts and minds of the clients. I will share the stories of our victorious survivors and proclaim the good news of a life with Christ. I am asking for support in the form of prayers, encouragement and finances in order to make this trip a reality. I trust that as each of you read this, the Lord will show you how you can be apart of this movement in supporting a fellow sister, co-worker and friend. If you would like more information on how you can offer support, please feel free to email me at: mariadru [at] gmail [dot] com

Blessings to you.

All for His glory.

Psalm 72: 12-14 -

For he delivers the needy when he calls,

the poor and him who has no helper.

He has pity on the weak and the needy,

and saves the lives of the needy.

From oppression and violence he redeems their life,

and precious is their blood in his sight.

Never stop running, just change your direction.

Maria Atkinson — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 20:55:25 +0000

Over the past six months, I have discovered quite a lot about myself. Not only can I be a gigantic procrastinator, I can also live in the land of good intentions. I have intended on blogging, and doing all these cool posts and whatnot about my exciting life and travels, but then for whatever reason, I always seemed to lose motivation or forgetfulness would set in. So here's a re-cap and an update on where my life is (most likely) headed.

Yes it's true, I spent three really awesome weeks traveling around Europe. I had the amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit Paris, London, Barcelona, Amsterdam and Bruges.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Grote Markt - Bruges, Belgium

Montmartre - Paris, France

Barcelona, Spain

Piccadilly Circus - London, England

So what have I been doing since returning home in November? Great question. Life has been a bumpy, yet exciting road to travel on. After several MAJOR life changes, the possibility of moving out of state and even abroad, somehow my journey led me back to Oklahoma City in none other than the home I grew up in. If there is one thing I have learned over the past several months, it's that sometimes you have to go backward in order to move forward. Let's rewind a bit, shall we?

in May of 2011, I graduated college. At that point in time I had just recently turned down my acceptance into the Peace Corps because something just did not feel right about signing my life away to a government organization for 2 1/2 years. I took a summer internship in New York City with a photographer to see if maybe life in the Big Apple was for me. I quickly realized, although the bustling streets of Manhattan were glamorous, I needed a backyard and an apartment I didn't have to share with five people in order to afford the rent. So I came back to Oklahoma City where I began my employment as a public relations coordinator and freelance photographer in the Plaza District, my favorite arts district of OKC.

I gained great career knowledge and connections through my position in the Plaza District, but something was still missing, my thirst for travel and adventure had yet to be quenched. Early last summer I reconnected with a friend who presented the opportunity for me to be able to acheive my dream of traveling to Europe. Thus began the exciting plans to make my dream trip a reality. London and Paris to-do lists began to fill my journals and Skype conversations about all the wonderous adventures we were to embark on grew to something deeper. Of course any time you bring an attractive boy and girl together with common life goals and interests, a romance usually blossoms.

My European romance was exciting and daunting, like something out of a movie, but real life is not a movie. After several months, responsibility stresses and reality hit me like a ton of bricks. My aspirations for moving over seas and becoming a Parisian housewife quickly came to an end. At this point, (which was about two months ago) I was extremely frustrated with my life and my decisions. Here I am, a 24-year-old college graduate who is now single AND living in her parent's house. I kept thinking to myself, "how did I end up here?"

It's so funny because it seems like every time we get to that point in life of, "What the heck is going on?!" is when our Father is looking down on us from Heaven smiling, saying, "Oh my child, if you would just surrender to me, your worry, questions and frustrations from trying to control everything will finally cease."

I decided to stop running. Running away from the God who loved me so deeply, who created me and had amazing plans for me. I surrendered my life to Him and this is what happened...

Isaiah 61: 1 ESV - "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me up to bind the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound."

The missing pieces of the puzzle began to come together. The passions and desires of my heart I thought had long since been forgotten, began to be awakened after a long sleep. In mid-January a close friend of mine invited me to a community group with Frontline Church. I agreed to go and within seconds of arriving, I knew I found my new home. A place to love God, love people and push back darkness.

Days later I cried out to the Lord. I told Him how tired of running I was, how tired of crying I was and how I wanted so badly to be in the center of His will, doing the work He had created me to do. That was on a Thursday.

Sunday morning another friend of mine invited me to attend Marked OKC 2013, an event which brings together Okahoma organizations working together to end the opression of women worldwide. As I meandered around the fair, I noticed a table for an organization I had familiarity with, the Beautiful Dream Society (BDS).

I was eating some delicious Ethiopian food (with my hands) which had been catered by a great, local Oklahoma restaurant, when a woman addressed me as a I apporached the BDS table.

Woman: "Oh, you've lived in Africa!"

Me: "Um, what?"

Woman: "You've lived in Africa, haven't you? I've never seen anyone who hasn't lived in Africa who knows how to eat that

way."

Me: (flabbergasted) "Oh, ha uh, no I just guess I know how to eat this food."

Woman: "Well, you must be a natural."

After being completely perplexed by the prophetic boldness of this tall, beautiful Latina woman, I was drawn into conversation with her about BDS and their work in Maseru, Lesotho, South Africa and learned of the action BDS is taking right here in Oklahoma. The woman's name was Sonya Martinez, and within minutes of meeting her, I knew our encounter was simply divine.

Since our meeting nearly a month ago, I have joined the BDS Oklahoma team. All of my education, experience and training in the multiple disciplines of journalism, PR and communications go hand in hand with the vision and needs of the Beautiful Dream Society. I have now become and abolitionist, taking a stand against modern day slavery, particularly with the trafficking of humans for sexual abuse and everything that has happened in my life has suddenly started to make sense.

When I was 6-years-old, I became obsessed with the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln and the abolition of slavery. I asked for "Addy" the runaway slave doll from the American Girl collection for Christmas and read every book I could on that particular time in history. I have always been outspoken, and taken a stand against injustice even when it meant possibly losing popularity amongst peers. I am far from being equipped or ready for this journey I am about to embark on, but all of the painful experiences I have gone through, including my most recent loss, has all been for a higher, eternal purpose.

God's plan is greater, so much greater than our plan. Sometimes the things that we love the most, that we have the tightest grip on, are taken away so we can see the beautiful path that has been right in front of our face this entire time. In the world you will have trouble, but I give you this peace, that where I AM there you will also be. The promises of the Lord never fail. Hold on to hope, and stop running from the magnificent destiny He has designed for you. You were born for victory.

I Peter 5:6-11 NLT - "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."

The Best Part of Waking Up is Elemental Coffee in Your Cup.

Maria Atkinson — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 23:22:41 +0000

There are two places in Oklahoma City (other than my physical address) where I feel most at home. The first is the home my parents have lived in since 1999, the house I bascially grew up in, and the second is Elemental Coffee.

Micah Metheny, Coffee Roaster Extraordinaire.

I had my first experience with Elemental Coffee at a LIVE on the Plaza event in 2009. The smooth, fuity, large bodied expresso was magic on my tongue, too amazing to for words to express. In May of 2011, on the corner of Hudson and 8th Avenue in Midtown Oklahoma City, Elemental opened a full service cafe.

It was love at first walk-in. From the moment I set foot onto the premise, I knew no coffeeshop could ever compare. Elemental is devoted to providing the the finest coffee with exotic flavors and extreme perfection. Their consistency is unmatchable and the service is out of this world. Every single bean is roasted in house with precision and perfection.

Hannah Layton, Master Barista.

Elemental has become so engrained in my daily routine, I have developed a relationship with nearly every employee. It's hard to say who my favorite is, but Hannah has definitely won a special place in my heart. Each of them bring such a beautiful uniqueness to the cafe and make it feel even more relaxed and homey. They all brighten even the worst of my days and never cease to make me feel like more than just a customer. I even have a few of them counting down to my trip to Europe with me!

I highly, highly reccomend Elemental to the most mature of coffee connossiuers to the earliest of beginners. Drinking a cup of Elemental is an authentic, pure coffee experience you most certainly will not be disappointed by.

Be sure to "like" Elemental on their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter.

*Stop by H & 8th tonight to say hi to the super cute and SINGLE Jake and Mikey. What's up laaaaaadies.

Song of the day: "One More Cup of Coffee" by The White Stripes.

Afternoons in the park and Nick Drake.

Maria Atkinson — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 22:15:25 +0000

The Myriad Gardens may be my favorite place in Oklahoma City. For me the gardens represent tranquil beauty amidst the business of the working class. It's peaceful, beautiful and a small oasis in the heart of a land-locked city.

For the past month, Oklahoma has been plagued by 100+ degree days, making being outdoors a punishment rather than a pleasure. Being a girl who finds much harmony and communion with nature, days like mid-to-late-July Oklahoma heat, are rather dreadful and nearly unbearable.

Today was so pleasantly perfect. A mere 80 something degrees made for a lovely lunch, whilst lounging in the soft, green grass of the gardens, barefoot. There is no better place to clear your head and take time away from the noise of life, than a quiet garden.

So next time you have a free moment, grab some lunch, kick off your shoes and enjoy some you time in the gardens.

The song of the day is two-fold. The first is a cover of Nick Drake's "Cello Song" by The Books and José González , and the second is the original version.

Enjoy!

Welcome to my Blog!

James Harber — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 04:09:21 +0000

Hello friends! Today launches the new super classy, awesome, beautiful blog designed by the one and only James Harber of Studio FJ.

I live a super glamourous, Audrey Hepburn life. Not really. I live with my dog Penny in a historical neighborhood in Oklahoma City, so it’s reasonable to pretend to be Audrey Hepburn, right? I have an extreme case of wanderlust and consistently dream of the big and beautiful world we live in.

I am a photographer. Yes, I know, not another girl with a camera. I studied and earned my bachelor’s in photography after four years at the University of Central Oklahoma and have found my niche within 35mm and medium format film.

Currently, I make my rent and buy groceries as a Public Relations Coordinator for MIDWESTMEDIA located in the Plaza District of OKC.

Presently, I am planning my very first trip to Europe and I AM SO INCREDIBLY EXCITED! Learning French is not easy, but having a really cute and nerdy tutor helps. Most of my posts will be a countdown until my departure.

My favorite color is turquoise and I’m weirdly obsessed with the number 8, essential oils and 90s music.

My most recent collection is titled “La Beauté de L’innocence” which is currently on display at The Beatnix Cafe on NW 13th St and Robinson Ave.

Join me as I blog my way through my life and adventures!