Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur

"You're going to be a bouncer, aren't you?"

2010-08-28T11:10:00.004-05:00

For some reason, listening to Sufjan Stevens's The BQE inspired me to blog. This cinematic/orchestral suite provides a sort of otherworldly soundtrack for the "pockmarked, serpentine, congested [Brooklyn-Queens Expressway]...one of Brooklyn's most notable icons of urban blight" [watch & listen to some of it here]. ANYWAY, that's not what I'm blogging about. There's just something about great music that inspires one's creativity.

While mindlessly surfing the web, I came across an ad for Bar Hunger, a campaign in which Snickers (Mars, Inc.) has partnered with the hunger relief organization, Feeding America. Here's how it works: when you buy a Snickers bar, the wrapper contains a code. You then enter the code at Snickers.com (or text it), and Mars will donate a meal through Feeding America.

Although I have yet to form any coherent opinions about this ad, I find it interesting for several reasons. The first is that rather than having customers enter codes for a (very small) chance to win prizes, the candy manufacturer has given chocolate lovers an opportunity to help someone in need with their purchase. I know that most people throw away wrappers that offer a chance of winning, so I wonder if more people will feel compelled to use that code to help somone. (And does it make you a bad person if you don't?)

I am also intrigued by idea of corporate social responsibility in this campaign. Is Mars a "good company" for making this switch? Or are they actually irresponsible for placing the impetus on the customer? Would it be better if they just donated a meal for every purchase (similar to the TOMS Shoes model)? Or are they actually to be praised for involving customers in the process by providing people with the opportunity to turn their candy purchase into charity?

And then there's the irony behind it: buy a chocolate bar in order to keep someone from starving.

Any thoughts?

"Our systems are good. Period."

2010-07-27T13:56:00.001-05:00

Since I returned from Africa nine months ago (hard to believe it's been that long), hardly a day passes that I don't think about the beautiful country and people of Swaziland. It is still difficult to believe that I had the amazing opportunity to live there for 2 1/2 months.

My good friends Brent and Michaele LaVigne recently returned to the USA from Swaziland, after spending over a year volunteering there as part of the Swaziland Partnership. In a recent blog post, they reflect on their experience:

Since being back in the US just over a month, we’ve been asked a lot of questions about Swaziland. Among the top 5 is – What’s the biggest thing you learned? Superlative questions are always the hardest, but this has been especially difficult to answer. I think we will continue to reap lessons from our time in Swaziland for years to come, but in this last month a few things have crystallized in our minds.

Read the rest of their blog entry here.

"The cup doesn't actually have a hole in the bottom that requires you to drink the coffee really fast before it falls out."

2010-06-19T23:40:00.000-05:00

If you are someone who at one point in time read this blog regularly, I apologize. After the return from Swaziland, my life became somewhat less eventful, at least in comparison. But you know what? I live far away from many of my friends, and a regularly updated blog has the potential to be much more informative than Facebook status updates.

Since the Reeds have been out of town on vacation, I will be filling in to teach the high school class tomorrow morning at church. I enjoy doing this, but considering that I only teach them once every few months, it is something of a challenge to come up with a single lesson that is both meaningful and appropriate. Although it would be a lot of work to come up with lessons for every week, I feel that it would be easier in many ways to have an ongoing theme, especially since teaching every Sunday would mean that I would get to know the group and its dynamics much better than I currently do.

I had worked out most of my original plan for Sunday school, when I felt that God wanted me to talk instead about Christians living out the faith that we claim. So I changed my plans, to something that was neither that nor my original idea. Yesterday I realized that I really do need to talk about living our faith, so I have spent the past couple of hours at Little City, researching and planning. I now have lots of ideas, but still no structured plan for tomorrow, so if you happen to read this before 9 am, say a little prayer that I will be coherent in delivering this message. I have the tendency to ramble through all of my ideas very quickly, so I will be trying hard not to do that tomorrow.

Next weekend I will be going to OKC for Man Night 5: M for Mandetta (which is the follow-up to Man Night 4: Live Free or Man Hard). Basically, it's an excuse for former Imelites and whoever else to hang out at Josh's place eating man food and watching manly movies. I feel like I should invest in an axe and grow a gnarly beard. Or at least write off a couple of business expenses.

"I turned into a pigeon, flew back there, and left you a present."

2009-12-05T07:21:00.001-06:00

So...

I'm back in the U.S.

Quite a lot has happened since I returned from Africa at the end of October. Here are the highlights: I spent a weekend in Oklahoma, presenting my findings to SNU leaders of international study programs, along with leaders from BFC. I began working as a full-time financial analyst at the MAC. And I'm getting an apartment here in Austin (move in next weekend).

And suddenly, Christmas time is upon is. It's always been my favorite time of year, but I feel like I'm not "there" yet. Something about spending 2 1/2 months on the other side of the world in a transition from winter to spring creates sort of a time lapse back here.

And it truly seems that life never stops in the U.S. When we are not working or running errands, we are watching TV or surfing the web. In Swaziland, I didn't have TV or Internet at home. Very few people do. So all those hours of "free time" were spent building relationships or quietly reflecting. I got to know my neighbors. I read a ton of books. I became a better cook. I made new friends. I found that this "simpler" life is also richer, and so I am trying to incorporate some of its elements into the completely incongruous, non-stop American lifestyle.

Care to join me?

"Open up a fresh box of Salticrax to get your mind off things."

2009-11-04T22:08:00.001-06:00

"Have no fear of robbers or murderers. Such dangers are without, and are but petty. We should fear ourselves. Prejudices are the real robbers; vices the real murderers. The great dangers are within us. What matters it what threatens our heads or our purses? Let us think only of what threatens our souls."

Spoken by M. Myriel in Les Misérables, by Victor Hugo

"Roode-bhuti-poort!"

2009-10-20T07:41:00.000-05:00

Once upon a time, nestled in the mountains of southern Africa was a small kingdom known as Swaziland. In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Nine, a young lad named Shane went on a journey to visit this faraway land. Upon arriving in Swaziland, he saw many unusual sights: beautiful mountains, women carrying giant parcels on their heads, strange animals, and even cars driving on the left side of the road!

Shane also learned of a dark shadow that was creeping into the kingdom--a deadly virus known as HIV. This virus, and the associated disease known as AIDS, had attacked a few small groups of people in Shane's homeland of America. However, in Swaziland, HIV had infected a larger percentage of the population than in any other country of the world--it seemed that nearly everybody knew somebody who had been affected by the disease.

The people of Swaziland could not agree on how to purge their land of the virus. The “traditional healers” made expensive medicines out of plants and prayed for instantaneous healing, but this did not work. The king told all of the young girls to wear a tassel, showing that they are pure, but that only led to ire and confusion. Rich people from foreign countries provided large amounts of money and condoms, but to no avail. Things became so bad that many people just decided to pretend that the disease did not exist, hoping that ignoring it would make it go away. Unfortunately, that made it exponentially worse.

While in Swaziland, Shane met some people who called themselves the HIV/AIDS Task Force. These people chose not to ignore the virus, but to face it head-on. The heroes of the Task Force, who called themselves care supporters, volunteered their own time to visit patients suffering from AIDS and other serious illnesses. They helped provide these clients with medicine and food, as well as with emotional and spiritual support. The care supporters also helped the patients and their families in learning to talk about the disease, in order to dispel the stigma surrounding it--a stigma that prevented people from protecting themselves against the virus, and even prevented those infected from seeking testing and treatment.

This process was very slow at times, requiring loads of diligence and patience. However, the Task Force knew that their labor was not in vain. They had heard the words of Jesus Christ: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” They followed his command to care for the “widows and orphans,” and emulated his example of serving the very lowest people in his society.

Shane formed strong friendships with the 2 ladies who directed the Task Force, working for several weeks in their office. He experienced firsthand their selfless ministry to the poor and downtrodden, learning what it truly means to serve God. He even met support groups of Task Force patients who had learned to “live positively” with the virus. Some of these groups had grown from a 10-15 people to over 40. By faithfully taking their medications, the group members had grown strong enough to work, and started large gardens in their communities--gardens where they could grow food to feed their families, then sell the surplus for profit.

After many difficult goodbyes, Shane departed Swaziland, returning to his homeland of America. Happy to see his friends and family once again (and to drive on the right side of the road), Shane was also eager to tell his fellow Americans about the Kingdom of Swaziland. He told them about its struggle with the deadly virus. He also told them about the noble work of the Task Force, and the ways in which their labor is bringing about positive change in individual lives and entire communities. He expressed his sincere gratitude to those who made it possible for him to travel to Swaziland, and pleaded with them to continue in prayer for the ministry that they had supported. Swaziland’s fight with HIV and AIDS is far from over, and it is therefore necessary that we continue to support those who are working to take back this beautiful country from the deadly virus.

"They probably stopped to have a tea."

2009-10-07T07:55:00.000-05:00

Confession: The reason that I have not blogged recently is not that I have done nothing interesting. Rather, it is because I have not taken any good pictures to prove it.

Yeah, lame excuse. Especially coming from someone who rarely carries a camera at the right times, anyway.

On Saturday, I attended the first graduation of the Nazarene Higher Education Consortium (NAHEC). This consortium is formed by the combination of the Nazarene Nursing College, the Nazarene College of Education, and the Nazarene College of Theology. These 3 schools in Swaziland are combining in order to form a Southern Africa Nazarene University. I was fortunate enough to have a friend at the Nazarene Nursing College who gave me an invitation to this invitation-only event, and even had the pleasure of meeting the guest speaker, Dr. Lebron Fairbanks. Dr. Fairbanks is the commissioner for the Church of the Nazarene's International Board of Education, which means that he oversees all Nazarene colleges and universities in the world. He has worked at European Nazarene University, Korea Nazarene University, and even Southern Nazarene University. Dr. Fairbanks also served as president at Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

On Sunday morning I attended Sharpe Memorial Church of the Nazarene. This was an interesting experience because the services there are almost entirely in siSwati. Fortunately, Rev. Themba sprinkled his sermon with just enough English phrases in order for me to understand the gist of the message. His energetic style of preaching (which included walking around the sanctuary and jumping up and down) made it a very interesting sermon, even though I couldn't understand. Since the historical building naturally amplifies sound, the music was also very enjoyable. I tried singing in siSwati, which was much easier when I already knew the English translations of some songs.

It is hard to believe that I will be back in the USA in just 2 weeks. These last couple months have changed my life, and I wouldn't trade them for the world. However, I am already having fun making plans with friends and family when I come home. Next Thursday I will say goodbye to Swaziland for a vacation weekend in South Africa, and the following Monday it's adiós Africa. (Or should I say, "sala kahle.")

“But it’s so cold in Mbabane!”

2009-09-25T07:09:00.003-05:00

As I sit here in my living room writing this, I have come to a unique realization. On most of the evenings that I have spent on my own, there usually come waves of acute homesickness, where I can’t wait to return to the United States. However, tonight I am filled with this sense of peace, in which I feel “at home.”

Although it will be great to return home in less than a month and see all the people who I have sincerely missed during the last 7 weeks, I am seeing now that it will be very difficult to say goodbye to Swaziland. This country and the people I that I met here have changed my life. I am indescribably grateful for the opportunity to experience life here.

Now that I have gotten through that mushy stuff, this week has been very productive. On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to visit Mbabane, the capital city of Swaziland. It is a bit more cosmopolitan than Manzini, and even has a KFC where you can enjoy Daft Punk and American hip-hop videos with your fried chicken. I met with the national coordinator for SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise), who connected me with the SIFE program at the Nazarene Teacher Training College here in Manzini.

Located just down the road from where I live, the college has a very impressive SIFE program. Their teams have won national competitions on multiple occasions, advancing to the SIFE World Cup in locations such as Singapore and New York City, to compete against teams from 40 other countries. Their projects often involve microenterprise, training people in poor communities to manufacture and market products in order to generate income for themselves and their families.

As I met today with the SIFE faculty advisors and the SIFE president at the Teacher Training College, I explained the work that the HIV/AIDS Task Force is doing through the community gardens and support groups, and gave a basic outline of the Morningstar Internship. As I was describing these things, the student’s face lit up, and the advisors expressed how excited they were about the work being done. And I realized: this is why I felt called to work in development. I felt that same level of excitement when I first read about Muhammad Yunus’s experiments with microcredit in Bangladesh. The same jolt of electricity shot through my mind when I first learned that there are ways for people trapped in poverty to bring themselves to a higher quality of life through simple ingenuity and creativity.

Meeting with these representatives from the college’s SIFE program, I was reminded of why I am doing this work. Proverbs 31 says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Jesus is a living example of this, as he spends his time with the poor, the downcast, and the broken. He says in Matthew 5, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

At times, this sort of work can get very frustrating, full of what seem like dead ends, but today I was fortunate to have new life breathed into it.

"How do you spell 'carers'?"

2009-09-11T05:58:00.002-05:00

Any trip to Africa would be incomplete without some adventures, so I made an effort to fill that requirement this past weekend.

On Thursday night, the LaVignes asked if I was interested in going to Mozambique with a friend over the weekend. Of course I was. On Friday night I learned that we would be leaving at 7:15 the next morning, so I threw some stuff into a suitcase and caught a few hours of sleep.

Fortunately, I packed a swimsuit, since our destination was Ponta d’Ouro, located on the coast at the country’s southeastern tip. I forgot my passport twice, causing us to turn around, but everything was OK, since we stopped in the happy little town of Matata (as in Hakuna Matata) and had some of the only espresso to be found in Swaziland. The drive through the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa was breathtaking, and was punctuated with a stop at the American classic--KFC.

Upon arriving at the Mozambican border, the road ended. Well, that’s not completely accurate...rather, the pavement ended. At the border, the road turned into a spider web of sand roads crisscrossing over the dunes, with a handful of signs to suggest which direction to take. Our 4x4 vehicle got stuck in the sand within 5 seconds, the first of about 6 times over the weekend. Fortunately, there were usually people around who were glad to help us push in exchange for a few rand.

When we finally reached the town, my first glimpse of the Indian Ocean was breathtaking. The white sand, blue water, and relaxed atmosphere of Ponta d’Ouro combined to create an amazing weekend. We spent an entire day at the beach, and on Monday morning we went for a boat ride where we snorkeled in the open water, saw some dolphins, and watched a humpback whale jumping out of the water at close range. We also experienced some incredible seafood and Portuguese coffee. All of this made up for the facts that we had limited cash, there was not one ATM in the entire town, we got stuck in the sand on multiple occasions, and almost lost our vehicle (ask me about that story sometime).

All in all, it was an incredible weekend. I made some new friends, and got to know existing friends much better. I also learned that even when a situation seems hopeless, God can always bring you through.

"Did you say she was shattered?"

2009-09-08T06:11:00.001-05:00

NOTE: I finally had the opportunity to upload the rest of the pictures to my GO Team post.

Believe it or not (I tend to lean toward the latter), I have spent a month now in Swaziland. These four weeks have been filled with service, learning, worship, and quiet times, as well as some confusion and frustration. There is still quite a bit that I need to accomplish, and I am not sure how to find answers to some of the questions that must be answered before Morningstar Institute can send interns to this place. But God is merciful, and has established unexpected connections with some people who either hold the answers to my questions, or know those who can help.

For two Sundays, I have attended Living Waters Church of the Nazarene with the LaVignes. As I understand it, this is the only English-speaking Nazarene church in Manzini (Sharpe Memorial Church, here at the mission station, is in siSwati), and as such, it reminds me in some ways of a church that might be found in the United States, yet is still very much African. On my first day there, I was asked to stand and introduce myself to the congregation. As embarrassing as this was, I soon learned that the people at Living Waters are very kind and welcoming, and I was eager to return the following week.

The people of Swaziland are truly unique. As a country united under a monarchy, the Swazis are a peaceful nation that has never been to war. They have no political parties, and therefore stand together in many affairs. This mentality is reflected in the people who live here, as many Swazis tend to be polite and humble. I am very thankful to have crossed paths with so many good people—both Swazi and otherwise—who have been kind and helpful as I seek to accomplish my tasks for the Morningstar project.

Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to visit the community garden at Luve (pronounced LOO-vay). The support group that tends the garden was preparing it for planting, and trenches were being dug as part of a water project in conjunction with Bethany First Church of the Nazarene. As I understand it, Coca-Cola donated money for water distribution systems to be installed in various rural areas of Swaziland, and one of them is centered around the Luve garden. It was exciting to see these things taking place, and I was impressed by the size of the garden, which is really more like a small farm. It is surrounded by a large protective fence, and there is lots of potential there for successful food production.

I apologize for the long entries, but there is a lot to write about, and my Internet usage sessions tend to be few and far between. I hope to share more pictures at some point, but I realize that it may not be until I return home in several weeks.

"It was between the Vita Snacks and the Salticrax."

2009-08-27T13:38:00.002-05:00

I woke this morning to the crow of a rooster from a couple houses down. Reluctant to leave the warmth of my bed on this cold winter day, I took a moment to reflect before getting up to put on the coffee.

I reflected on my current situation. Just months ago, I would not have dreamed that the first place I lived “on my own” would be in Africa. Granted, few people really live “on their own” in Africa, but I do have my own house for these 2 ½ months. Each morning, I have left my house around 8:15 to walk the dirt road to the Manzini Nazarene High School, where the HIV/AIDS Task Force is holding a training for Home Based Care volunteers from north and south Swaziland. On my walk I pass chickens, ducks, and several people who seem surprised to see a white person in this neck of the woods.

It is challenging and frustrating not to have a car, especially in this city, which can be dangerous for an unaccompanied American. I have been humbled in losing my car—the protective cage that many Americans take for granted—and have had my eyes opened to what is outside that “bubble.” Fortunately, I have found great friends in Brent and Michaele, the on-site coordinators for the Swaziland Partnership. They also happen to be Americans, but they have lived here for several months now, so they know their way around. I am also thankful that they have a car, and have offered transportation to places such as the supermarket.

The two women who oversee the Task Force have graciously allowed me to attend the 2 ½ week training. Although the lectures are all in siSwati, I have learned quite a bit just from being there. Home Based Care is a uniquely African ministry, and is a vital component of the community-centric response to AIDS that many experts credit as the primary reason for the significant decline in the HIV rate of countries such as Uganda, which once had the world’s highest incidence of the virus. It is exciting to see this taking off in Swaziland, as this country now has the world’s highest infection rate. There have been about 50 people in attendance, volunteers who have given up 2 ½ weeks out of their schedules in order to learn how to lead their communities in responding to a disease that puts the entire country at risk. According to Mary Magagula, director of the Task Force, these people are willing to volunteer because “the rewards are so great.”

Out of the Home Based Care ministry grew the Task Force’s community gardens project (pun intended). They have started gardens in various rural areas of Swaziland, to be tended by support groups composed of HBC patients who have become well enough to perform the work of gardening. My job here is to coordinate details for Morningstar Institute to send student interns who will work with the Task Force, study the gardens, and determine whether they are on track to become self-sustaining, as well as what type of impact they are making on their support groups and communities. Since the gardens are at various stages, the interns will have opportunity to measure their progress and success, while also contributing to the goals of the Task Force.

This past weekend, I went with Brent and Michaele to Mlilwane Game Sanctuary, a wildlife reserve in Swaziland where we had the chance to see hippos, warthogs, kudus, impalas, and ostriches up close (as close as 2-3 feet away). Admission was under $3, and we ate a late lunch on a deck overlooking a lake where hippos and herons bathed.

Perhaps this isn’t what I expected to do after graduating from college, but I’m glad to be doing it.

"They probably thought I was Spider-Man."

2009-08-22T12:04:00.002-05:00

Greetings from Manzini, Swaziland!

So much has happened since I arrived here, I honestly don’t know where to begin.

Last week was GO Team Week. As you probably know, I traveled to Africa with a team of 60 volunteers from Oklahoma and Canada, as part of the Swaziland Partnership. We split up into various teams for construction, education, compassionate ministry, and art, and I was a member of the Compassion Team.

My team was the most varied in its tasks, which included painting a church in Bhalekane,

leading two days of Vacation Bible School at a Nazarene primary school,

and volunteering at the New Hope Centre orphanage.

The Construction team renovated a clinic in Bhalekane, the Medical Team held several free clinics and worked with the staff at Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital, and various other team members participated in ministries around the country.

My team also spent a day with the HIV/AIDS Task Force. This organization is staffed by the most extraordinary people I have ever met. Volunteer members of the Home Based Care Task Force spend several days a week visiting the homes of sick people who cannot afford full time health care. They assist these people in administering medications, talk with them, pray with them, and provide hope to many who might otherwise have none. My group had the opportunity to accompany two of the Task Force women in visiting seven homes. We brought each home a bucket of basic food items, and spent some time talking, singing, and praying with the patients. This day proved to be the most emotionally challenging of the week: we visited people who had very little, and saw their faces light up with joy--not because of our measly gifts, but because of the selfless ministry of the Task Force volunteers. As we sat on straw mats outside a tiny house in rural Siteki, laughing along with an older couple that was raising their two young grandchildren, I gained a humbling new understanding of what it means to sincerely serve God.

The week ended appropriately with a visit to Kruger National Park, the largest wildlife reserve in South Africa. We spent Saturday driving through the park, and saw some incredible animals. Although my amateur photography skills don’t do the day justice, here are a few pictures of what we saw…

Oh yes, and I was the only member of the entire team to take part in traditional Swazi dance!

I could write an entire book about the events and emotions of the week. After spending an entire week here, I know that every team member gained valuable new perspective about serving God, and connected deeply with his people here in Swaziland. It is still hard to believe that it was real. But the week ended, the team went home, and I have now moved into my house here. The next update will include more details about that, as well as the additional time that I have spent with the Task Force this week.

"I bless the rains down in Africa."

2009-08-13T13:09:00.000-05:00

I am in Swaziland! Almost out of Internet time, so I will provide a much more detailed update later, when I have had time to write. GO Team has been busy all week, so I will have lots to say about these last few days.

"I will say I'm allergic to mud."

2009-08-05T18:25:00.001-05:00

Ready or not, my African adventure begins tomorrow! My bags are (mostly) packed and the plane will be leaving at 11:45 am.

Thanks again to everyone who has provided prayers and support for this trip. I feel blessed and inspired to know that I have the best friends and family that I could ever hope for--they have made it possible for me to take this trip and follow God's call to serve in Swaziland.

Of course, everything up until now has been preparation. The adventure is just beginning, so please continue in prayer for the successful outcome of the project!

I don't know how often I will have Internet access in Swaziland, but will do my best to post updates and photos on this blog. Also, check my Facebook profile and the Morningstar Institute's website for occasional updates from Africa.

P.S. If you have Skype, look me up! If you don't have Skype, download the free version.

"I kind of miss the drama."

2009-08-01T21:47:00.000-05:00

It is difficult to express how I feel right now.

In less than a week, I will be in Africa. I depart Austin this Thursday and arrive in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Friday evening. I will be in Swaziland next Saturday.

Although I have spent months preparing for this trip, and have spent all summer thinking about it and sharing the details with people, it is hard to believe that my two-and-a-half-month African adventure is about to begin.

Scary, even. The past few days have been filled with preparations, including a LOT of shopping for various items that I need for the trip. As this part tends to get quite expensive, I was very worried about how much money I would be spending before I even left for Africa.

Yet two or three times during the last week, people have unexpectedly handed me money to help with my expenses. These people may not realize it, but each of them has been an incredible blessing. These occurrences have just served as assurance that this project is meant to happen, and that God truly is overseeing its various aspects. I have felt an overwhelming sense of peace in the midst of what should be a very stressful week.

And I am thankful.

"So you don't need to do sit-ups anymore?"

2009-07-27T21:24:00.003-05:00

Today marks the end of my nearly-week-long whirlwind trip to Oklahoma City and Kansas City.

A brief recap:

Went up to OKC on Tuesday and stayed at Josh's place. It was nice. I had the chance to hang out with most of my friends who are living there this summer, and saw Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It was excellent, as far as movie versions of books go.

I drove up to Kansas City on Thursday, and had dinner with the Adams family--the awesome people with whom I lived last summer. As I had not seen the five kids in nearly a year, they had all grown quite a bit! It was fun catching up, and even getting my butt kicked in Wii Sports.

My one day of sleeping in was Friday, and after waking up I had lunch with my awesome friends from the publishing house. They even had some cool gifts...like a giant magnetic head of Mike Speck (OK, maybe not all of them were "cool")!

Friday afternoon and all day Saturday were filled with Cross-Cultural Orientation--the main reason for my entire trip. This consisted of hours and hours of information, games, devotions, and activities meant to prepare me for spending 2 1/2 months in Swaziland. Definitely information overload, but it was reassuring to learn that I have done a pretty good job of preparing for my trip. Not to mention the fact that I met some really great people who are preparing to serve internationally, or else exploring that possibility.

However, on Friday I started having trouble starting my car. The starter would turn and turn for several seconds, but the engine would not start until the second or third try. SO I woke up before 6 on Saturday morning to get a new battery. This did not help, so on my late-night drive to OKC, I worried at each stop that I might not make it the entire way.

Fortunately, I made it to OKC at about 1 am on Sunday. Went to church at Lakeview Park, where we had a special time of prayer for my trip. I felt an overwhelming sense of peace about the whole thing, and extremely blessed to have so many people supporting and praying for me. Lunch was with Dr. Herskowitz (director of the Morningstar Institute), and we talked about Swaziland, travel, and microfinance. He has had some incredible experiences--I only wish that I had gotten to know him better while I was still attending SNU.

I brought my car in this morning to have it worked on some more, and it is finally starting when I turn the key. (However, the mechanic mentioned that the fuel system may still need some work.) So through construction, traffic, and a closed highway due to a suicide attempt, I finally made it home this evening.

10 days left until take-off!

"Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there lies your vocation."

2009-07-17T12:21:00.005-05:00

So far, I have been somewhat vague in my posts about Africa. This upcoming trip to Swaziland is the last in a series of travel opportunities that have fallen through, and so I have been wary about putting much information "out there" in a public setting such as this.

However, the big pieces have fallen into place, and I am going to Swaziland.

Swaziland is located in Southern Africa, between South Africa and Mozambique. It is the smallest country in the Southern Hemisphere, roughly comparable in size to New Jersey. Swaziland currently has the world's highest HIV/AIDS infection rate, accounting for about 33% of its 1.1 million inhabitants.

Bethany First Church of the Nazarene has partnered with several organizations, including Southern Nazarene University, Sister to Sister, and the HIV/AIDS Task Force, to establish community gardens in Swaziland. In these gardens, women with AIDS are each allotted an area to grow food for their families. The additional food grown can be sold to provide additional income.

It is the hope of SNU's Morningstar Institute to establish an intern base in Manzini, Swaziland, where students of international economic development can spend several months studying the community gardens. They would evaluate the sustainability, financial viability, and impact of the gardens, also working to advance the developmental goals of the organization.

This is where I come in. For my first week in Swaziland, I will be working with the August GO Team from BFC, as a member of the Compassion Team. We will volunteer with the HIV/AIDS Task Force, as well as with local clinics and churches. After this first week, the team will depart, and I will remain in Manzini until October, researching logistics and serving as an on-site coordinator in developing the Morningstar internship for SNU.

Throughout the project, I hope to post updates and photos on this blog. Of course, this depends on the availability of Internet access, which may be sporadic. In the meantime, I am continuing with preparations for my departure in August.

You can read more about the project at http://www.morningstarinstitute.org/swaziland. To learn more about community garden projects in Swaziland, visit http://www.sis2sis.org/luve.php, which includes photos of the LUVE Garden Project and its participants. At Servant Forge, you can read about Catherine Vilakazi, a woman whose incredible story is credited to the support of the Zombotze Garden Project and the Home Care Task Force of Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.

I can't express my appreciation for the support of all who have helped make this project possible. It is incredibly humbling to see God piece together the various parts of something that would otherwise seem impossible

"Then I think I'll go lounge on that freshly poured asphalt."

2009-07-15T19:50:00.001-05:00

An update with some final info. about Swaziland is coming soon.

In the meantime, I have to show off my "new" bike. This was a birthday gift in May, but I have yet to show any pictures, so here it is.

Since these pics were taken, I have added a water bottle cage and a bike lock for which I have already lost the combination.

"Stand over here, walk over there."

2009-06-25T22:10:00.000-05:00

Today I got my shot for Hepatitis A, and got my other arm pricked to test for Tuberculosis.

The shot arm is still really sore!

"We need to be in a ditch somewhere."

2009-06-13T22:50:00.001-05:00

This is like my fourth(ish) consecutive post where I have written about graduation, but I guess that's what's on my brain these days.

The day after graduation, I decided to update the ol' Facebook profile. I added the word "Alum" after Southen Nazarene University. I changed my address. I updated the work information.

AND I changed the "Activities." You see, I always filled that field with my school activities: band, choir, tutoring, Mortar Board, and so on. But as these things no longer filled my time, I found myself at a loss for activities to fill this space on my profile.

This may sound silly, but I think that we need "activities" in our lives. It made me think: what are my passions? How to I spend my time? OR, how do I want to spend the time that is no longer taken up by those college activities?

Since moving back to Austin, I have begun taking part in youth group activities as a "sponsor." It's basically an excuse to have fun with a cool group of teenagers, while taking part in what we like to call "ministry." I also like to ride my bike occasionally, although the scenery in my small neighborhood tends to get a little old. I like to hang out with the handful of friends who live in Austin, and just exploring Austin to find cool new (or old) places.

But I also thought of some activities that I would like to incorporate into my life:

I would like to cook more. I love cooking, and have done it a bit in the past, but I want to learn some new techniques and have some recipes to call my own.
I want to start my mornings with some stretching and maybe a little mini-workout.
I would like to start investing a little of my income. Nothing major (stocks are a little too risky for me), but just a save a little.
I want to blog more, about something interesting, rather than just whatever strikes my fancy once or twice a month.
I want to volunteer. Volunteer work is an awesome way to serve God, to serve the community, and to feel good about yourself. And I don't do it enough. Anyone want to join me in coming up with some good ways to serve?

"We could call it...Taverne and Shirley's."

2009-06-13T15:22:00.001-05:00

It's that time of year, lots of graduations have just taken place, and lots of graduates are wondering what comes next. We get lots of cards, speeches, and books with lofty advice about reaching for the stars and succeeding in all that we do, but those things are kind of hard to grasp.

In his typical, sarcastic and slightly snarky fashion, Statesman columnist John Kelso provides some insights of his own for this year's grads.

Here are some of my favorites:

Beware of con artists. If a guy wearing a Super Fly hat who calls himself Diddley tells you he's the CEO of a major corporation, he's probably lying.
Remember that getting a tattoo is like a rattlesnake: it's a lot easier to get it on you than it is to get it off you.
Never stay at a motel that has a sign out front bragging about the air conditioning and free HBO.

"Oh yeah you're that college guy, my bad."

2009-06-04T19:44:00.002-05:00

"Some of my friends are gothic."

2009-05-12T09:52:00.000-05:00

Four years ago, I would not have thought that Oklahoma would feel like home. Not in my wildest dreams. I grew up in Austin. In TEXAS. (If you haven't caught on, that's the best place in the world.)

But of course, now that I have to leave OKC, I am realizing that it truly feels like home.

Do I love Austin? Absolutely. But did I cry for the first two hours of the six-and-a-half-hour drive yesterday? Yup. I already miss my friends and the college lifestyle.

So in case you have not heard, I graduated from college last Saturday. B.S. in Music Business and Business Administration. Pink tassel and all. It was a blast. After a whirlwind weekend of eating, being with family, packing, cleaning, moving, saying goodbyes, and driving, I am at my parents' house, wondering what is next.

Plans for summer: I am working at the MAC again, living with the 'rents so that I can try to save up money for...Africa! I don't update this very often, so here's a summary: Honduras internship plans fell through, but at the same time I learned of an opportunity for volunteer missions in Swaziland. SO I am working on plans to spend August-October in Swaziland as part of Mission Corps and the BFC Swaziland Initiative. Money and exact plans have not been finalized, so please keep those in your prayers.

"I was buttering crackers like nobody's business."

2009-05-03T23:58:00.000-05:00

Danielle says I don't blog much anymore. Which is true.

Yesterday I was reading some of my older blog posts, and realized that over the past couple of years, their quality has decreased. I'm not sure if this means that my writing quality has gotten worse, or if I just have not had good stuff to write about.

Anyway, being in the nostalgic mood that I was, I came across this post from the end of freshman year. In it, I wrote about some of the lessons that I had learned about myself, and also mentioned some of the things that I would miss about college.

And I learned quite a bit during that year. So, needless to say, looking back at my entire four years of college, it only seems appropriate that I would have a similar, much longer list.

But I don't.

Does this mean that I have not learned anything important since freshman year? Absolutely not. But I think that the lessons are not quite as momentous or profound as those learned during that first year away from home. They consist of more practical things such as how to budget, or how to cook good food for myself.

I guess that's part of "growing up."

"I sound like a man."

2009-04-06T21:36:00.001-05:00

On Friday night I had the opportunity to hear the OKC Philharmonic perform "The Planets" by Gustav Holst, as well as Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3. It was fantastic.

And for some reason, it took me back. Back to some of my life's greatest musical experiences.

I remembered elementary school, when my class took a field trip to see the Austin Symphony for the first time in my life. It was magical. And the most incredible part (at least in my 7-year-old mind) was at the beginning, when the orchestra tuned. Not exactly sure why, but an orchestra tuning up has always been one of my favorite sounds.

Friday night's performance also took me back to Music Memory. If you don't know what that is, it's an Austin thing. 3rd-5th graders at Austin public schools learned about 10 classical works each year, and the students who scored highest on standardized tests participated on their school's team, competing against other elementary schools in a citywide contest. I was on the Williams Elementary Music Memory Team for 2 years, and the contests at Bass Concert Hall changed my life, as a live orchestra played the music that we had spent an entire school year learning by heart.

I was reminded of Honor Band of America and Honor Orchestra of America, my junior and senior years of high school (respectively), when I had the opportunities to participate in incredible ensembles with some of the nation's most outstanding high school musicians. Nothing will ever compare to our performance of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" in 2005.

The purpose of all this reminiscense? Nothing, really. But looking back, it is incredible to see how specific moments become milestones of your life. I couldn't have known at those moments that these experiences would forever remain prominent in my memory.