Summertime

I had 3 options for this summer:
1. Go Home and take summer classes and work. Then when my parents were ready to move, I'd be available to help.
2. Go to Bolivia (or some Spanish speaking country) to take some Spanish classes and finish up my minor. I liked the idea of Bolivia because there's an non-profit that was started by a Covenant family that does development work there.
3. Go to Uganda for either 4 or 10 weeks as part of "Covenant Connect," a program designed to mentor Covenant students who are interested in long-term missions.

Uganda was the least likely of the three, just because I wouldn't make any money or take any of the classes that I needed. I had actually decided that going home was the best option, but as soon as I made that decision, it seemed like everything was pointing me to Uganda. I remember eating lunch with my parents and discussing these 3 options. They looked at me and and said, "You're going to Africa this summer aren't you." I responded, "Well, yeah, I think I am." After that, more and more small things confirmed the decision. It's hard to say exactly why I felt like I was supposed to go and I'm still not entirely certain of the full purpose, but I know that God has a beautiful plan for this trip.

My team of 8 has been meeting every Sunday for the past 2.5 months. We've even had 2 3-hour sessions with Dr. K. I feel so much more prepared for this trip than when I went in 2007, though I know I'm far from fully understanding the culture and norms. Especially after reading chapter 7 of When Helping Hurts, I'm glad for the general structure of this trip and the preparation leading up to it. The purpose of the trip is for the long-term missionaries in Mbarara to mentor and disciple us, knowing that long-term missions may be something we are called to do vocationally. I'm excited to get to learn and be mentored by them, as well as the people I interact with daily.

People keep asking me if this trip will be safe. I don't have the answer to that. What I do know is that Christians were never called to be "safe" but rather, we were called into a more dangerous life-a life that guarantees persecution and sometimes death. It's funny how we think that America is so safe in the first place. We are bombarded with tv and consumerism and materialism-how does that size up?

My friend Lauranne is spending a few months in Gulu, Uganda. I found a picture with this quote on her trip blog, and I think it speaks volumes into my trip as well. "A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not why ships are built."

Of course I don't want to be stupid and reckless on this trip, but I understand that a Christian's life was never meant to be safe. I know that the Enemy does not want this trip to happen-in fact, we have already had so many obstacles in even getting there. I know that he will wear and tear on us, so please pray for strength and endurance for my teammates and I. Pray that we will be quick to listen and slow to speak; quick to forgive and slow to judge. Pray that we will love well-each other and those we encounter on a daily basis. Pray for patience and understanding as we enter into a culture entirely different from our own. Pray that we will not be arrogant, but humble and sensitive. There is so, so much more!

I'm excited to spend the summer sharing the love of Christ to children that have never known it. I'm excited to tell these disabled youth that they are made in the image of God and that they are beautiful. I'm excited to learn from them and build relationships with them. I'm excited to get to know my teammates even further. I'm excited to learn from the missionaries. I'm excited to embrace the beautiful country of Uganda and live out this beautiful story that is unfolding in my life.

God is good.

porcelain

This song is doing a lot for my soul as of late. It gets more and more beautiful each time I listen to it. I highly recommend Sleeping at Last. The whole album is phenomenal.

Oh, the irony.

The following is an e-mail sent to the entire student body from Covenant's Dean of Students/VP of Student Development.


Subject Line: Bare Feet

I hope everyone enjoyed a restful Easter break and is prepared for the final push to the end of the semester. It has been a few years since I needed to send this reminder, but with the appreciated advent of warm weather and a few conversations I have had in recent days, it appears time to do so again.

Please feel free to enjoy the sensation of the grass between your toes while outside, but you are expected to wear shoes while in the Great Hall, Chapel and your classrooms. The Great Hall should be obvious for safety and health code reasons. In the case of the chapel and classrooms, it is a matter of respect for the setting. Whether intended or not, coming in to these settings with bare feet can communicate a lack of respect.

I’m well aware that for many this is not an issue and you are in no way offended by bare feet nor intend offense. I simply ask that you respect others by wearing shoes in these particular settings. Blessings on the remainder of your semester – we are praying for you to finish well.

Brad Voyles

The irony? Tomorrow is TOMS Day Without Shoes, which much of the student body knows about.

I also think this hysterical just because its very nature. Covenant is full of people who walk around barefoot, and I love that. (Just yesterday I met with Covenant's Mission Administrator and the RUF Campus Minister--both without wearing shoes.) I think it's funny that of all the problems we could have as a campus, not wearing shoes is one that the Dean feels is a top priority to tackle. Generally speaking, we don't have issues with theft, drugs, drinking, or violence, but by golly we have issues with students not wearing shoes. How many other places can say that?

Covenant is beautiful, especially now that it's Spring. I love sitting next to my open window while I do homework, or walking across campus and seeing people scattered all over the lawns reading, playing frisbee, lying in hammocks, sleeping, playing music, etc. And I love that most of the time they're doing it barefoot.

The mad ones

Mad Hatter: "Have I gone mad?"
Alice: "I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret; all the best people are... The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars..."

Thank you Jack Kerouac for being fabulous.

I've seen this quote on a number of blogs and I've of course seen Alice in Wonderland multiple times. Sure, a lot of people think it's overrated and over quoted, but I just love it.

So thank you Kayla for sending this quote my way and reminding of it.

We have lots of owies

This literally makes me sick. I announced the 300 missing Congolese to our IC club a while back. I knew it was one of the largest abductions in LRA history. It unsettled us because we generally focus on Uganda and don't realize the havoc they are wreaking everywhere else.

But to know for certain that 321, possibly more, were brutally murdered and 250 abducted...

BBC, NY Times, CBS. This is the exposure we've wanted, but why does it take 3 months and 320 bodies to get people to start talking? As if the 24 years and millions affected wasn't enough to talk about? How much longer will we let the death toll increase until something is finally done?

I'm thankful for the work being done by IC, Resolve and a host of other organizations. I'm thankful for the progress the bill has made in just a year. But a few organizations and a signature on a bill can't do everything. It's gonna take an army of dedicated people who refuse to cease fighting until everyone has gone home and peace has been restored to all the nations affected.

I'll end with the prayer of my Community Development professor's daughter:
"Dear Jesus, please come back soon, because we have lots owies, and they hurt."

Holdin' Out

I'm sleeping on the floor tonight.

I know a guy, John, who got to go to the OKC Hold Out and was inspired by the people willing to sacrifice comfort to ensure that the bill progressed through Senate. After 11 days on the streets, Coburn lifted his hold. The bill passed through Senate the next day.

But why stop there?

John created a facebook group to encourage people to sacrifice something big until this bill passes the House. Most people are giving up the comfort of their beds, so I am joining them.

At first I thought this was crazy. I said to myself, "Ok, I'll give up soda" but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that if I truly care about this bill's passage as much as I say I do, then why not give up my bed? One of the biggest things I kick myself over is my complete ignorance of the Rescue event which took place one year ago next month. I always tell myself that I'll be ready for the next big thing, and that I will sleep outside in the cold and in the rain for 7 days if that's what it takes. But I won't sleep on the floor in my room, with my blankets and pillows and bathroom nearby and roof over my head and running water and electricity? I tell my club the importance of this bill, but I'm not willing to get dirty for it? Yeah, I think it's a bit hypocritical too.

50% of my roommates think I'm crazy, 25% thinks it's something I should do, but probably won't join, and the last 25% (whose reading this now) will probably end up on the floor with me.

One of my roommates didn't see the point. (But the irony is she's coming to the Sleep Out to End Malaria with Kayla and I in Nashville.) What's the difference really? Sure, one has hundreds, if not thousands, of other people, music, speakers and a jumbotron, but they both require sacrifice, but one quite possibly requires more.

Sometimes it's easy to forget to act. If I'm not in a meeting with senators or reps or hosting a national call-in day or getting people to write letters (all of which are pretty rare occurrences), then I'm really not doing much else regarding this bill. Abandoning the comfort of my bed will force me to remember each morning why this bill is important and what I can do that day to help see it's passage.

People will ask questions and call me crazy. I'm okay with questions and I'm okay with crazy, but I am not okay with slacktivism.

So here goes night 1.

"Become the Story"

This video is beautiful.