Spring thinking

Hi folks! It's been a few days since I last touched base here on my blog. I don't even know where to start or how to start. I just spent the past week visiting Andrea at her school, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, in Daytona Beach. I can't believe my little baby is a senior!

Since I can't possibly write about everything. I'll list some "highlights" and "lowlights" of the trip:

Being with Andrea: We are definitely close sisters and friends. Sometimes I feel like we're the same person. We've spent so much time apart from each other over the past several years, but we somehow still have the same voices and even say most of the same things. Her friends kind of freaked out when they met me, because they thought we were so similar. But we're also different in just about as many ways. I'm always encouraged and amazed by her patience, humor, love for others, spunk, energy, brains, and athletic skills.

Andrea's track meet: Baby sister Andrea has honestly been having a rough track season, especially since her hip surgery last year. She has set school records at her university for triple jump and high jump, but has struggled this season to do what she really loves to do. I was blessed to see her compete in triple jump on Saturday, where she did her season's best. I just think of how God created such an energetic person, and how He must delight in watching her run and jump with such a joyful heart and huge smile.

Friends: I got to meet so many of her friends this past week; many of whom are international students and have recently become believers. Several of the new believers are from China, and I just about want to weep for joy when I hear their stories of coming to believe in the truth. They are always pretty enjoyable to hang out with!

Conversations: I enjoyed talking to a variety of people, and also loved talking to Andrea. It was good to step away from my grad school environment and refocus and recharge, spiritually, mentally, and physically. Now I feel a little bit more prepared to finish this semester, although I won't be able to without the Father's strength.

Beach time: What else is there to say? I enjoyed being warm and reading, walking, and splashing around at the beach.

Leaving: It was pretty difficult leaving Andrea, although I'll see her again soon for her graduation. I always feel like a part of me is missing when I leave her. She's always great at speaking truth into my life and helping me come face to face with my sin and then God's grace that covers my sin. It was also challenging waking up this morning at 4:30 a.m., driving 80 miles to Orlando, flying to Indianapolis, taking the long shuttle to Bloomington, and going to class until 7 p.m. I may collapse soon.

Prayer requests:

-I still feel a bit discouraged and disheartened by graduate school right now and feeling like it is all for naught.

-Andrea is going on staff with the campus ministry, Campus Outreach, at her campus next year. I witnessed amazing ministry opportunities there, especially with females at a predominately male school and with international students. Please lift up her support raising, and that other people will continue to grasp the vision God's placed on her heart and the heart of other Campus Outreach staff.

Thank you, Daytona folks, I felt very welcome.

Eating lunch with my sister and her friends on campus. Notice all the guys in the background. The school is 85% male.

Andrea's jumping skills in action.

A polaroid picture with Andrea and Foong Yi.

We had a picnic with some of Andrea's friends. This is a new Chinese brother and he was probably one of the funniest, most innocent Chinese boys I've met (and I've met a lot!) He couldn't walk--he only skipped or leaped everywhere, and would randomly do yoga poses during a normal conversation.

Watching the moon rise over the Halifax River.

I snapped this picture of Andrea on the beach. I think she'd make a pretty good model!

Hippie in training

Someday I will turn into a hippie. I hope I do. And the longer I live in Bloomington, the higher possibility there is for that to happen.

Here's why Bloomington stands out from other Midwestern cities:

-More people drive Honda Elements than pickup trucks.
-More people ride their bikes and walk than drive SUVs.
-Hummus is more popular than salsa.
-I frequently meet people who I'm not sure if they're a guy or girl.
-A guy working at city hall walks around in his socks.
-Females wear Merrill sandals or Birkenstocks more often than heels.
-You can walk down the street downtown and hear 10 different languages at once.
-You can see a woman with dreadlocks, and then turn and see a women in Muslim hijab.
-People bring mixed nuts as gifts to a party.
-My hair's shorter than a lot of guys'.
-Billowy, burlap sack-looking skirts are cooler than mini-skirts.
-You can see world-class opera (that's not really a hippie thing to do, but it's not typical of a small Midwestern city).

... And the list goes on. I actually just bought some hummus, so I think I'm overdue for a snack. Happy March!

Rejected, but not dejected

Perfectionist Laura who always wants to be the best, is learning how to deal with rejection; mainly from the federal government. Like a diligent master's student, I have applied to many internships this summer. And one by one, I'm receiving kind emails of rejection. I'm starting to get used to it. Each time they say how competitive it is, blah blah blah. One department, which had maybe 100 openings, had 11,000 applicants. Yes, you read correctly. 11,000. So I certainly don't feel badly about that particular one...

I should continue to hear from other departments in March and April. I'm trying not to feel dejected. I'm sure if they met me in person, they'd really want to hire me. :)

In other related news, I have the opportunity to return to China this summer with the organization I spent the last 2 years with. I would be a team leader of 8 to 10 American college students, who will be teaching middle or high school students in China. I could have gone to Hong Kong or something, but I volunteered to lead a team to mainland China, and hopefully a remote, Muslim area like Ningxia.

There are a lot of reasons why I want to return to China this summer, and I think it would be very challenging. I'd have to be a leader, mentor, mother, and travel guide 24 hours a day. I'd also be the liaison with the host school, observe my team members teaching, and all that sort of stuff. If I go, I will have to raise some support again.

So the bottom line is that I have to commit one way or another to team leading in China by March 10th, which is probably before I'll hear from several other internship opportunities. Will you please keep me in your thoughts about this? I don't think it is an extremely big deal, but I want to honor the Father in my decision on how to spend my summer.

Good poems

My grandma was a poet. Not professionally, but more recreationally. She had a haiku published in a poetry book at probably the age of 80. I just remember that she had managed to find a fancy word that rhymed with "orange."

For some reason I've thought a lot about her lately. Maybe because my roommate next year is from Nashville. Maybe because Valentine's Day came and went, and she was one of the my most beloved friends. Maybe because I wonder if she saw me today, if she'd be proud of me. Maybe because, over 2 years after she passed away, I still wish I had been able to say goodbye to her and hadn't been on the other side of the world. Maybe because I need some encouragement right now, and she was the most encouraging person I've ever known. Maybe because I need her to keep pointing me to the arms of Christ.

As I'm feeling overwhelmed by school and life, I'm reminded how she was always assured of the goodness and faithfulness of the Father. I've delighted in His goodness and faithfulness this past week as I've taken long walks, ice-skated with my friend and a million teenagers, seen the beautiful blue sky, and gazed at the stars. I hope you're also reminded of His goodness and faithfulness, even if your world is crumbling. Even if your world seems perfect. Even if you're lost and all alone. Even if you're surrounded by tons of friends. Even if you're being pelted with rain. Even if you're basking in the warmth of sunshine. Even if you're grief-stricken. Even if you're bursting with joy. Even if you're feeling completely inadequate. Even if you're feeling strong and healthy...

And He delights in us. Isn't that incredible? He delighted in my grandma's poetry. He delights in us as we use our lives to bring glory to Him. Maybe He even delights in me as I struggle through grad school, wondering how I'll make it.

Spring Fever

I'm wrapping up my 6th week of this spring semester (yes, I do count). It's finally reaching the crazy level. I felt like the crazy level was reached a lot earlier last semester, so I'm alright. Next week comes the first round of exams and big projects that are due.

It's been difficult to concentrate lately, especially because of the gorgeous weather of late. I've even been able to walk the 30 minute walk back from campus. If I had done that 2 weeks ago, I would have frozen in ice after 3 minutes. Temperatures will drop again next week, but for this week we all have enjoyed the 60ish degree weather. It sounds like a good portion of the country is experiencing it.

I also still have that feeling that what I'm doing here doesn't really matter. Maybe He is preparing me for something, but I don't know what yet. I read the news about the current Middle Eastern revolutions, think about my dear friends in China, and contemplate all the unreached people groups in the world...

God has provided some amazing friendships and opportunities here, but I still feel like an alien. But I guess I'll never feel completely at home anywhere until I'm in heaven. We aren't citizens of this world, so I'll keep my gaze fixed heavenward, while still loving those He has called me to love here on earth. Even if that piece of earth is in the middle of southern Indiana. Hopefully in the future, that piece of earth will once again be China, or maybe in the midst of those troubled Mid-Eastern countries.

Have a blessed, beautiful weekend!

Ides of February

I realized I'm long overdue for a blog post! It has been an interesting past few days, to say the least...

Classes are going well and I finally feel like I'm getting into the swing of things. Our massive group projects are progressing and I secretly enjoy them. I even bring brownies to different group meetings, and I think it helps break the ice. And it's wonderful that my classmates are so experienced and skilled, so I don't feel like I'm doing all the work like in undergrad.

Work is also pretty good, especially since there are a lot of big upcoming events I'm working on. On Saturday, I got to go to a fancy dinner with people from my department, because the city sponsored a women's sports award banquet or something. The speaker was Dominique Dawes, the 3 time Olympics gymnast from the 90s. I remember watching her on TV, so it was a great experience.

Socially, I feel quite busy, but am loving it. I'm still hanging out a lot with a close-knit group of fellow grad school/ministry friends. On Sunday evening, I invited several of them to my little studio apartment for Balderdash. They all brought a bunch of good treats, and we played Balderdash for hours and hours. I have really clever, encouraging friends and am very thankful for them!

Spiritually, I have felt quite close to God lately, especially when life is confusing. I have been reminded to keep looking up and not forward...

Sorry that this post is all over the place. I haven't had time to write anything and I have to get to class soon, so this is all for now. Hope the weather is getting warmer where you are, and that you're focused on God, the greatest love of all!

At the banquet with my friends, Kathy and Jess, who are also my fellow classmates and coworkers.

Dominique Dawes!

Balderdashing friends, Jess, Cindy, Chad, and John

Family picture and Cindy's winning Balderdash score. (Cindy will be my roommate next year!)

Contentment

As I write this, the familiar sound of a plow rumbling down the street accompanies me. All I seem to think about or dream about or see is snow, ice, snow, and more ice. I woke up this morning to a fresh blanket of snow. Why wasn't I surprised? We had gone a whole 4 days without any snow, so we were overdue. :) My self-centered side was mostly sad because I had wanted to wear a cute skirt to the opera tonight. Now I have to wear my rugged mountain-man clothes instead, like usual. Sigh...rough life.

This afternoon was somewhat productive with reading for my classes, but then I just reached a wall and couldn't read another word about public program evaluation. I tried to go on a walk, but the blowing snow in my face made me turn around in about 7 seconds.

So I ended up spending a good portion of my afternoon in the Word, looking up nearly ever verse cited in the book I'm reading called, "Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free." If you're female, I highly recommend it!

One of the struggles I've had lately is contentment. I think that's been a struggle and a sin for me my whole life. I've always suspected that, and it's come out more lately in readings and conversation. For example, thoughts have crossed my mind frequently to forget this whole MPA business.

Life is comfortable here. Classes are grueling and American culture doesn't make much sense, but I have shelter, friends, food, and health. Most importantly, I have God. But Philippians 4:11-12 really convicted me today: "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or want."

Have I learned this? To be content in every circumstance and season of life? Whether I'm in the middle of America or the middle of Asia; whether I'm a student or a teacher; whether I'm young or old; whether I'm single or married--I want to be content in Him.

My heart literally aches for China and the close-knit community there. I want to go to the nations to tell others about Him. Meanwhile, I sometimes forget that He has sent the nations here to the IU campus! I am literally surrounded by thousands of students who have never heard of Him, and they will someday return to their countries to be the next leaders.

Ultimately, "I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the Gospel of God's grace." (Acts 20:24). I have to be mindful that I have the amazing opportunity to tell others about Him, and for now that opportunity is in Indiana. Hopefully I'll be able to return to China someday, but until then I will remember: "wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." (Psalm 27:14)

Alright, folks. Time to get into my mountain-man clothes with contentment in my heart! Happy Saturday!