Today is an exciting and important day for your Sagely One.... drumroll please!
Today I am making bread, for the very first time. I've made practically every other type of pastry or baked item imaginable. (Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating... but I do have quite a bit of experience with baked goods.) I've wanted to make bread for a long time.
So, today since it was only a measly 100 degrees outside (and in), we decided that it'd be a good day for baking. Yeah, sounds just as crazy as when we came up with the idea.
But, sitting atop the oven rising, is my masterpiece! Rosemary French Bread! I have no idea what the final product will be, but so far so good.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
84%
I currently am at 84% of my financial support needed to return to Venezuela. We are praying that I will be able to return to Caracas around September 10th.
I'm spending Labor Day weekend with my brother and his wife in northern California (Grass Valley, Nevada City area to be exact). I am really excited to be able to spend time with family, for the heat (although it may be a bit much), and to spend a few days having what might be referred to as, VACATION, before I head out (though I will be working on support while I'm here as well).
I guess for now I don't have much more to share... It is hot! I went to school with my brother and sister-in-law who are high school teachers at a very creative Charter school. It is neat to see them in their normal world. My brother is a real live adult! He has a wife, house, job... he even has a dog!
Please pray that God would work quickly to bring in the rest of the finances that I need. I'm eager to get back to Venezuela, and definitely want to arrive before classes begin. If you would like to help financially in some way please visit this page: https://give.ccci.org/give/0598804 . All gifts are tax-deductible.
I'm spending Labor Day weekend with my brother and his wife in northern California (Grass Valley, Nevada City area to be exact). I am really excited to be able to spend time with family, for the heat (although it may be a bit much), and to spend a few days having what might be referred to as, VACATION, before I head out (though I will be working on support while I'm here as well).
I guess for now I don't have much more to share... It is hot! I went to school with my brother and sister-in-law who are high school teachers at a very creative Charter school. It is neat to see them in their normal world. My brother is a real live adult! He has a wife, house, job... he even has a dog!
Please pray that God would work quickly to bring in the rest of the finances that I need. I'm eager to get back to Venezuela, and definitely want to arrive before classes begin. If you would like to help financially in some way please visit this page: https://give.ccci.org/give/0598804 . All gifts are tax-deductible.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Collision
Several of my worlds collided this morning. I'm still trying to get my bearings and figure out "where and when" I am.
I'm currently in Spokane, Washington, where I attended college. Being here in itself seems a bit out of place and odd, since I am no longer studying or working hear.
Add breakfast with a Venezuelan student and Ivan, my co-team leader from our time in Venezuela this year, and boy was I confused. I definitely had never expected my Spokane world and my Venezuela world to combine!
But wait, that's too simple and boring for me! My life seems to be always full of excitement or drama of sorts...
So, after a collision of breakfast with my Venezuelan world, I headed off for a visit with my Mexico world. For those who are unfamiliar with this part of my past, I spent a month on a mission trip with Whitworth College living and working with a missionary family in Tonalá, Mexico about 4 years ago.
One of my good friends from that time in Mexico has now been living in the US, in Spokane for the last year. I was able to see her for the first time in 4 years, meet her 2 year old and new baby, and enjoy speaking Spanish for a bit.
I left however just feeling out of place and a little unsure of my surroundings. My worlds tend to be very separate. I have my Spain friends, my Spokane friends, my Auburn friends and family, etc. I guess God likes to overlap them from time to time though, maybe just to keep me on my toes!
I'm currently in Spokane, Washington, where I attended college. Being here in itself seems a bit out of place and odd, since I am no longer studying or working hear.
Add breakfast with a Venezuelan student and Ivan, my co-team leader from our time in Venezuela this year, and boy was I confused. I definitely had never expected my Spokane world and my Venezuela world to combine!
But wait, that's too simple and boring for me! My life seems to be always full of excitement or drama of sorts...
So, after a collision of breakfast with my Venezuelan world, I headed off for a visit with my Mexico world. For those who are unfamiliar with this part of my past, I spent a month on a mission trip with Whitworth College living and working with a missionary family in Tonalá, Mexico about 4 years ago.
One of my good friends from that time in Mexico has now been living in the US, in Spokane for the last year. I was able to see her for the first time in 4 years, meet her 2 year old and new baby, and enjoy speaking Spanish for a bit.
I left however just feeling out of place and a little unsure of my surroundings. My worlds tend to be very separate. I have my Spain friends, my Spokane friends, my Auburn friends and family, etc. I guess God likes to overlap them from time to time though, maybe just to keep me on my toes!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
August 2008
A quick update...
I have spent the last two months at my parents' home in Auburn, Washington. I have been resting and recovering from bouts with insomnia and parasites, among other things from this last year. I have also been seeing many friends and attempting to catch-up with as many people as possible.
I am very excited this week to be back in Spokane, Washington, where I attended college (Whitworth College). I will be visiting friends, former professors, supporters, and even a good friend of my grandmother's of over 60 years! It is great to be back in this place where I spent several important years.
Though my departure date has yet to be specifically determined, it looks like I will be heading back to Venezuela very soon! Probably in around two weeks.
I currently have 78% of the finances that I need for this next year of ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ in Caracas, Venezuela. Please pray with me that God will quickly cover the rest of this need so I can get to Venezuela!
If you would like to become part of our team, helping Venezuelan university students begin to lead Christ-centered lives, visit this page: https://give.ccci.org/give/0598804 . All gifts are tax deductible. Or leave me a comment for more information.
I have spent the last two months at my parents' home in Auburn, Washington. I have been resting and recovering from bouts with insomnia and parasites, among other things from this last year. I have also been seeing many friends and attempting to catch-up with as many people as possible.
I am very excited this week to be back in Spokane, Washington, where I attended college (Whitworth College). I will be visiting friends, former professors, supporters, and even a good friend of my grandmother's of over 60 years! It is great to be back in this place where I spent several important years.
Though my departure date has yet to be specifically determined, it looks like I will be heading back to Venezuela very soon! Probably in around two weeks.
I currently have 78% of the finances that I need for this next year of ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ in Caracas, Venezuela. Please pray with me that God will quickly cover the rest of this need so I can get to Venezuela!
If you would like to become part of our team, helping Venezuelan university students begin to lead Christ-centered lives, visit this page: https://give.ccci.org/give/0598804 . All gifts are tax deductible. Or leave me a comment for more information.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Sealed, Stamped and Sent
While I had planned and hoped to write about something meaningful, perhaps actually having to do with ministry for once, I must instead share the deep insights into my possible future that have recently come to mind.
Last week I reached an important conclusion. The post office is the perfect job location for me. Mail is so satisfying on so many levels. It is exciting to receive mail. It is exciting to send mail.
Honestly, as I write letters and thank you notes to friends, family and supporters, I find myself eagerly coming up with any excuse to seal an envelope, place a stamp in the corner and write my return address. I even get excited about paying bills if involves these precious steps and the illusion that something with my mark on it will soon be travelling around the country of its own accord.
Really though, I think the most satisfying thing about mail is the sense of completion that so many other parts of life seem to lack. When else can you seal something up, mark it, put it in a box and feel complete closure?
There are many other reasons why I would enjoy working in a post office. For one thing, even though my own room is usually a total disaster, I love to organize and sort things. I could spend hours with the preschool activities of sorting colors and sizes if given the chance. And of course my nomadic nature causes me to wonder and daydream about places all-over the world. The destinations of letters and packages that pass through my hands could definitely provide kindling for that fire.
So beware. You may walk into your neighborhood branch of the USPS one of these days to find me behind the counter ready to smack a big fat stamp on your package. Or perhaps you will hear my giggles of delight from the back room as I am given yet another stack of letters to be sorted.
Last week I reached an important conclusion. The post office is the perfect job location for me. Mail is so satisfying on so many levels. It is exciting to receive mail. It is exciting to send mail.
Honestly, as I write letters and thank you notes to friends, family and supporters, I find myself eagerly coming up with any excuse to seal an envelope, place a stamp in the corner and write my return address. I even get excited about paying bills if involves these precious steps and the illusion that something with my mark on it will soon be travelling around the country of its own accord.
Really though, I think the most satisfying thing about mail is the sense of completion that so many other parts of life seem to lack. When else can you seal something up, mark it, put it in a box and feel complete closure?
There are many other reasons why I would enjoy working in a post office. For one thing, even though my own room is usually a total disaster, I love to organize and sort things. I could spend hours with the preschool activities of sorting colors and sizes if given the chance. And of course my nomadic nature causes me to wonder and daydream about places all-over the world. The destinations of letters and packages that pass through my hands could definitely provide kindling for that fire.
So beware. You may walk into your neighborhood branch of the USPS one of these days to find me behind the counter ready to smack a big fat stamp on your package. Or perhaps you will hear my giggles of delight from the back room as I am given yet another stack of letters to be sorted.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Platano...
Yes, this is my third entry about platanos... as I said, they rate approximately a 13 on my scale of 1 to 10 of Venezuelan foods that I have tried. This entry however is just to show what platanos look like and a few of the many ways to prepare them.
Mondongo
Shortly after arriving in Venezuela I "accidentally" tried a soup that I probably would have avoided, had I known better what it involved. When given the option of ordering the soup, we asked Venezuelan Claudia, what ingredients it involved. She said she couldn't remember, but that it was good. As we began eating our soup, the real story came out... "It is cow stomach!"
Claudia exclaimed. The broth and the veggies were good, so I ate around the stomach. I tried one piece, but just couldn't stomach the texture of the stomach... So I made a mental note to avoid mondongo int the future.
Until yesterday I was successful in my attempts (it actually has been quite easy to avoid... I don't think I've even had opportunity to say no, or to choose otherwise). Yesterday however, we had lunch in the university cafeteria, where your option is whatever they happen to put on your metal tray, or nothing. Guess what?! Mondongo!
I tried to stomach it, I really did. For those of you who don't know, I am generally someone who will eat pretty much anything that is served to me, whether or not it lands high on my list of preferred foods. This time however, the flavor, smell and texture of the stomach was unavoidable. I finally had to call it quits, about a quarter of the way into the soup.
So... on the list of Venezuelan foods that I recommend... on a scale of 1 to 10, where I've already placed Platano at 13, I believe I would place mondongo at a 2 or 3. (Believe me, it could be worse... much, much worse!)
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