Sojourn with Me

Hi there. You may have noticed I'm not posting regularly. That's because I am joining the Peace Corps and will shortly be relocating to Namibia, Africa. During that time, I won't be posting here at the slinky. Please visit me here to catch up on what I'm doing!

Photos from Muller

Nathan and I went to Muller a few weeks ago and Nathan took these photos. I like them, which is rare.

this is me

Because I need to host my photo somewhere, here I am :)

a brief history

Hi.

Did you miss me?

Hope so.

Life has been rather hectic this last month or so. It's been a blur of paperwork, activity, running from one place to another, taking a vacation, losing a beloved pet, near heart attacks caused by Peace Corps medical office and finally, a bit of relief.

I spent the first three weeks of August tutoring 3-4 times per week and running from one medical appointment to another. I finally got all medical paperwork sent off on the 22nd, just in time for my vacation the following week. After a great week of fishing and relaxing in my hammock, it was back for more paperwork for PC medical and tutoring. I also had to make the most difficult decision of my life on Monday, September 4. My kitty, Watson, wasn't doing so well and I decided it was time to put him down. I never want to make that decision again. There is nothing worse than feeling like you've killed your most faithful friend. There will be a Watson shaped hole in my heart forever.

To heap more on my already overflowing plate, the PC called on Monday, the 11th, leaving a message to call them. I called, 12 times over the next 4 days, until I finally reached the nurse on Friday. They needed a statement from me saying that the tumor I had removed in 1991 was non-cancerous since my dr's office failed to put that in the report. Thankfully a fax would suffice and I got it off right away. I now have medical clearance for PC service!!

So this week, I'm just waiting for my invite. As soon as I know where I'm going, I'll let you know. Pray it comes quickly, both to help me get things done and just for sanity. There is so much I can't do until I have that letter in hand. Like most of the rest of my life :) (or at least the next two and a half years of it!).

Well, that's me. Leave a comment and let me know what you've been doing lately.

the whirlwind of my life

At last, a free moment. A chance to post. Breath. Okay.

So, you all caught the part about me being nominated for Peace Corps service, right? Good. Glad to know you are reading. So I find out the following day that I need 40 more tutoring hours to fully qualify for the November position. I'm thinking "Yeah, no problem, I'll just get that pounded out in the next month despite the fact I have no one to tutor and I know the library program isn't worth my spit and so on, no problem at all." Thankfully, I have a strict "no panic" rule that I live by. It's been a lifesaver on more than one occasion.

So I said a little prayer that went something like, "Okay God, you got me into this, you shoved and I went scampering through this door. I'm willing to do the work but I need some divine help on getting someone to tutor." That was on a Friday.

By Monday morning, I had a student who not only wanted a tutor, but wants to meet several times per week! I'll have the hours done before I go on vacation at the end of August. I'm still pretty blown away by the whole thing and how it's working out. I guess when God is ready to move, He doesn't putz around!

I adore my student, Johana. She is the wife of a co-worker and they moved here from Guatemala just over 2 years ago. Her English is not bad at all, she just doesn't have the confidence to do things like shop on her own, or banking or talking to the doctors about her young daughter. And cooking. So I'm helping her with vocab and practicing conversation. Tonight, we met at her house because her husband is out of town and she couldn't find a baby-sitter. She knew we were going to be working on veggies, so she made stir-fry. Sadly, I had dinner before I went (not knowing she would be cooking), but I managed to eat some anyway. To not eat would have been rude.

So that's what I've been up to these days. It's been a great adventure. As soon as I get an invitation I'll create another blog just for updating while I'm away! Keep your eyes open.

priceless

I felt like a credit card commercial today.

New shirt for interview: $17.50
Gas of tank to drive to interview: $20.00
Parking: $6
Getting nominated for Peace Corps service: priceless

Yep, that's pretty much how I feel today :)

If all goes well with the medical clearance, I'll be leaving for Africa in November. Breath now, yes, I did say November!!!!!!!

Priceless, really.

baby steps

It's finally here (well, almost). I have an interview for Peace Corps tomorrow. 11 in the morning. I can't wait. It makes it seem so much more real to be getting official mail and phone calls from them now.

Say a little prayer for me. I'll let you know how it goes.

I am Rain

You Are Rain

You can be warm and sexy. Or cold and unwelcoming. Either way, you slowly bring out the beauty around you. You are best known for: your touch Your dominant state: changing

What Type of Weather Are You?

What Kind of Writer Should I Be?

I thought this was kinda fun, given I'm already a writer :)

You Should Be a Film Writer

You don't just create compelling stories, you see them as clearly as a movie in your mind. You have a knack for details and dialogue. You can really make a character come to life. Chances are, you enjoy creating all types of stories. The joy is in the storytelling.And nothing would please you more than millions of people seeing your story on the big screen!

What Type of Writer Should You Be?

I am Midnight

You Are Midnight

You are more than a little eccentric, and you're apt to keep very unusual habits. Whether you're a nightowl, living in a commune, or taking a vow of silence - you like to experiment with your lifestyle. Expressing your individuality is important to you, and you often lie awake in bed thinking about the world and your place in it.You enjoy staying home, but that doesn't mean you're a hermit. You also appreciate quality time with family and close friends.

What Time Of Day Are You?

end of the rope

I did it.

I turned in my application last week for Peace Corps!! Now it's time to wait, but at least the ball is going and is in the other court now. It's a great feeling.

My eye quit twitching. I'm pretty sure it's related to stress. Go figure. I mean, what sort of stress do I have? Just working two jobs (one in customer service, the other herding pastors, which is like herding cats!), and trying to do all my other live things like laundry and dishes and then this whole crazy "lifestyle" eating plan I'm doing. Don't get me wrong, I'm loving the work at church and I'm getting into shape, so I can't complain, but I am stressed. I'm trying a new product to see if it will help.

Today, I trained a new gal on our team. I don't think I like being a trainer. She has to write 50 perfect emails before I can release her and she got one today, barely. She's not bad, and has more potential than I first would have thought, but it's going to be a long week at this rate.

Alright, that's the news for now. I'm off to search for songs about healing for next weeks service :)

HI Emily!!!!!!!!

where have all the flowers gone?

Unplug your ears, I have no intention of breaking into song.

Thank you.

I'm just wondering where the time has gone. It's already past mid-June. I'm running around like a headless chicken, banging into every little thing. One of these days I'll drop dead just to get some rest. Until then, carry on.

I set June 30 as my date to turn in my Peace Corps application. It's mostly done, I just need to fill in a few phone numbers and names. Tonight I pounded out my first attempt for the essays. I really liked my first one, then I realized it didn't really answer the question. The English major in me balked and made me rewrite it. The second one is good, I can't complain, but it will always be second in my mind. Then, after two attempts at the first question, I tackled the second. It's too long, but that's what I have friends for. I helped Dara whittle hers down, I know she'll help me. And I have two of my needed three references on board!!

My insides are all a jumble. There is relief that I'm finally getting my application turned in, trepidation that I could actually be called up for service before the end of the year (no Christmas at home!) and excitement that this is really happening! God has opened so many doors and provided for this in every way that it's hard not to get a bit giddy about the whole thing.

Ready, change subjects.

This morning, during church, I got a twitch in my left eye. It's been going almost non-stop all day. The only time it stopped is when I took a few minutes to relax outside while talking to Dara, and when I actually came down to write my essays. It didn't even cut out when I took a nap today. It's annoying more than anything, hope it leaves soon.

Alrighty then, that's about all I have for you today. Happy day!

midnight dreary

I didn't sleep well last night. This is not a new occurrence, I don't sleep well often, but last night was bad.

For the first half of the night, I felt like I was going to hurl the contents of my tummy. For the second, I was too hot or too cold or just couldn't get comfey.

Part of the problem, I'm sure, is that I have a sticky situation that I have to respond to. I hate these. It's the one aspect of leadership that I dread. Sure, it is easy to lead when things are flowing along and everyone loves you. It's when you have to point out short comings and faults and explain them that it stinks.

I should have gotten up last night and just replied to the problem email, but that would have been bad, so I'm glad I didn't. I'm sure I would have said something without thinking and said it all badly. Still, it would have been nice to sleep.

Oh well. Hope your night was better than mine.

smack

There is rarely a day when I don't have the urge to smack someone.

Now, before you rush into a tizzy about violent tendencies, read on.

I work with people, lots of people. I work in customer service, for a lack of better term. And I have learned that while people as individuals can be great, as a large collective, humanity isn't doing so great. I know that we can do great, wonderful things. Like rushing to give blood after 9/11, and helping hurricane victims and sending aid to other countries when needed. We have our high points. But I maintain that for every high is an equal low. Due to the nature of my job, I get to deal with more of the lows than the highs.

Recently, we've been cleaning house on our correspondents. These are people that have agreed to write a child when the sponsor is unable or unwilling to do so.

You would think that these people would be a wonderful group of people, giving of their time to write to a child half way across the world. We do have some wonderful correspondents. But then, we have some that are just terrible. We are now sorting through the good and bad. Of course, I only get to see the bad ones that require action.

Today, one guy on my list hadn't written to his child in the 5+ years he had been the correspondent! Five years! The little girl is 10. Imagine, she's had a sponsor (kids don't know the difference between correspondents and sponsors) for half her life and she's never heard a word from him. If the guy had been standing at my cube I would have decked him.

Twice.

Since he hadn't written in the last year I thankfully didn't have to contact him. Rather, I marched myself over to the desk where correspondents are assigned and unassigned. I asked the gal to pretty please right away cancel the bad man and give the child to me. I just couldn't stand the thought of putting her on a waiting list (we have close to 100 kids now who need new correspondents because we are purging the bad ones) and not know if she would get a good writer or not.

Do I have the time and energy to take on a new child? I already have my Karen and two correspondent kids (Lonali and Habiba, both in Africa) and I write to dad's six kids.

I asked myself if I was crazy.

Then I looked at little Lesly's photo. There stood a beautiful little girl who seemed older than her 10 years. A shy smile, sparkling eyes and confidence despite her situation. That's when I remembered that it doesn't matter if I have time- I can make it. It takes maybe 10 minutes to write a letter. Even writing once a month, that's not much of anything. But to Lesly, it could mean the world.

I wrote my first letter to her and turned it in before leaving work. She got a letter that told her how excited I am to get to know her and that we both like to read. It tells her that Jesus loves her very much and made her special. It tells her that I am praying for her.

Yes, she is worth it and I'm crazy. Crazy about making a difference. It's an incredible feeling to know that somewhere, on the other side of the globe, there is a person who has a changed life because of something I did. I've seen it with my Sandra... that little shy girl who I sponsored for 7 years. Today she is a confident young woman who knows she is worth something. Her community is the better for it, her country, the world. All because someone took the time to say, "You are important, you are worth something and I love you."

Okay, I feel better now. I just needed to get that out. There's my verbal smack to people who don't realize that they are destroying the hope of a child. That they are disobeying their call to care for the poor and needy, widows and orphans. If you aren't up to the call, don't answer. Or at least make an effort.

Deep breath now.

If there are any of you out there who want to make a difference, who have 10 minutes a month to change the world for a child, please let me know. Like I said, we have kids waiting. Lots of kids waiting. Post a comment with your email address (if I don't have it already) and say "Yes" to making an impact in a child's life today.

End infomercial here.

Thanks!