-sharing reflections on what I've heard and am hearing, learned and am learning,
from voices in the Holy Land, the USA, and Rwanda-



Saturday, October 30, 2010

feeling the beat of the reformation

In Palestinian music, there is one drumming pattern that can carry just about any tune. 

boom boom, tak ka tak   boom, tak ka tak              
   boom boom, tak ka tak   boom, tak ka tak

Sounds simple, yeah?  Well, for the beginning tabla player (yuppers, just got one!) it is very difficult to get this beat to sound good, let alone get the correct beat down.  Have you ever seen a baby trying to walk?  You know how they get that look of determination in their eyes as they decide to trudge forward solo for few steps... then you know how they get that look of desperation in their eye as their feet either start leaving their body behind, or their body starts getting ahead of their waddling feet?  Well, my hands = baby's feet, and I'm pretty sure I also mimic baby facial expressions subconsciuosly when I'm practicing this uber unsophisticated yet unimaginably difficult beat.  ...Go ahead and ask my flatmate.

Sometimes, that same metaphor can be applied to life here and in general.  One minute, your in step with the ways of the world, marching to the beat of the communal drum.  ...the next minute, you're tripping up and stumbling over where the down beat falls.  Thankfully, I feel like after two months trying to mix a little of my own beat with that of life here, the two are coming together in some odd-ball symphonic declaration of "hear I stand!"

Yup--here I am... just down the hill from the birthplace of Christianity with only a few days left before the celebration of the Reformation.  What an interesting event to celebrate!  Luther took a look around one day and said, "Hey, something is not right here.  Something must be done.  Let me come up with 95 reasons why things must change, and nail them to the door of a church.  That'll do it!"  ...If only reformation was that simple!

It takes a lot of time and effort to reform a life, a system... a world-order.  I find myself every day trying to reform my own habits and lifestyle to be more productive, more vibrant, and more loving... or at least I find myself thinking about trying to reform my life everyday.  It's really not the easiest thing to do--reform, renew, revitalize yourself.  How easily we start to settle into routine.  Likewise, how easily we look at all that "is not right here" and begin to lose hope, forgetting that "something must be done."  Reformation is a practice and a way of life. 

Over the past three blogless weeks, this has been a big item on my mind.  How do we keep the big picture in mind when we get caught up in the everyday?  How do we reform our daily lives in order to begin to live in harmony with those around us?  How do remind ourselves that every decision we make has an effect on other?  How do we reform our world into one of peace? 

Nail up some ideas to a door, of course!  The idea of reformation seems as simple as the Palestinian drumbeat--boom boom ta ka ta     boom ta ka ta.  But how quickly we can lose the beat and forget the rhythym we were aiming for.  Reformation takes time.  Reformation takes practice.  Now-a-days, reformation takes learning, growing, sharing, discovering, caring, and loving.

As I continue through my time here, I plan on practicing reformation the same way I practice my drum: with enthusiasm, vigor, patience... and lots of prayer! Baby steps…

Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

what is this?

شوهدا؟                     
“šū hāda?” 

If there is one Arabic phrase that I can pick out of most all fast-paced conversations I attempt to listen in on, it is "šū hāda?" (pronounced "shoe hada"), or "What is this?"  When I hear this playful phrase used, I equivocate its meaning with something akin to any one of the following statements:*
"What's up with that!?" 
"Come on, seriously?"/"Really?"
"What were/are you thinking?"
"You can't be serious."
"What's going on here?"
"Yeah, right..."
or, the obvious, "What is this?"/"What is this supposed to be?"

*Make sure to imagine I'm saying all of these phrases with a joking and playful smirk on my face.  Realize that most of the time it's a fun, not judgemental, phrase!

While used in said playful manner in everyday conversation among my Arabic speaking friends and colleagues, I think this simple phrase, with its many contextual meanings, can sum up a lot of my experiences and reflections over the last few weeks.  Here goes...
"What's up with that!?"  --This past weekend, our small YAGM contingent went on a small excursion to Ein Gedi Nature Preserve and the Dead Sea as a part of extended orientation.  We had a lovely morning hiking the cliffs surrounding the lowest place on earth, trying to make it above sea level before calling it quits.  After coming face-to-face with a few hyrex's and refreshing ourselves in one of the waterfalls in the park, we spent the afternoon mudding up and floating around in the Dead Sea.  Despite the heat, it was a beautiful and relaxing day in the sun--definitely something to experience!  Now, why is it that we, as foreigners, can freely enjoy these natural wonders of Palestine when our Palestinian neighbors cannot visit these places without special permits?  What's up with that? 
"Seriously?"/"Really?" --In the 11th grade English class that I help out in at school, the students were given an assignment.  The exercise, meant to help improve English skills through creative writing, included three questions of which the students selected one to answer.  The questions:  1) What needs do you have as a young Palestinian student?  2) What could you say to the world to show that Palestinian's are tolerant people and not terrorists?  3) What is special about your country Palestine?  Shocked by the blunt nature of, say, question #2?  I was, but these students are faced with the occupation everyday--even in their classrooms.  Even if #2 was not a question, the occupation would still make its way into their written prompts.  For instance, many of their answers to question #1 included that they, as students, need equal opportunities to use resources that they, as Palestinians, are denied.  Now, those who answered #2 suggested that if people only came to experience Palestine, they would quickly understand Palestinians are not only tolerant but extremely generous and hospitable.  If the world (especially the U.S.) could only see through the fog of media sources and into the hearts of the people, maybe we'd see things a little differently in the States (where we hold life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in the highest regard).  The answer to #3?  Yes, Palestine is special because of its religious value through the locational Holy sites, but the students made sure to focus on the rich culture steeped in tradition and community.  Yes, it is a land... but how quickly we forget about the people.  Really world?  Why can't we take a step back and see Palestine through the eyes of its youth?  What is this that these students even have these questions to answer let alone the fact that the world seldom listens to their response. Come on, seriously?

"What were/are you thinking?" --As you may have heard on the news, there was great unrest last week around Old City Jerusalem.  A Palestinian man was shot by an Israeli private security guard in the Silwan neighborhood just outside of Old City early in the morning.  At the man's funeral on the Temple Mount later that day at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, riots broke out and reports of Palestinians throwing stones at Israelis surfaced.  That is a very bare bones synopsis of the day's events.  Still, what were they thinking, those who threw stones?  Now--what are you thinking?  Yes, violence is not the answer--is NEVER the answer--but did you know that stones are thrown by Israelis AT Palestinians, too?  For instance, Israeli settlers have thrown stones at passing Palestinian children walking home from school in Hebron.  Not everything makes the news...  What a good time for a cliche-- "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."  ...Let's try and open our eyes.  What are you thinking, now?

"You can't be serious." --The settlement freeze just ended.  I definitely have to do more reading on this, but I do know that the ending of the moratorium on settlement construction only means that the settlements that have been in the process of building through the moratorium (yeah they were still building illegally) can now continuing building legally?  Or is it still illegal?  A lot still to learn on this topic.  All I can say right now is, "You can't be serious."

"What's going on here?"  --The West Bank is split into different zones to determine what authority is responsible for that land.  Thus, there is a portion of the land that is under complete Isreali rule.  Ironically, because one needs a permit (which are hard to come by) to build anything on these lands, Israel is helping to preserve the Palestinian landscape that is slowly dwindling away.  Benji Boyadgian, an architect and artist, who happens to be the son of my friends' landlords, currently has an exhibit of black and white water color paintings depicting the "Vanishing Landscapes" of Palestine.  I was able to make it to the opening of the exhibit in Bethlehem and my jaw dropped at how beautiful and simple such a landscape could be.  It's odd to look at what appear to be simple paintings while knowing how complex the actual painting process can be.  I encounter similar dichotomous thoughts when I walk down the streets here everyday.  Life appears (and is) normal, but there is such a complexity to it that I can't even fathom.  I can only continue to ask, "What's going on here?"
"Yeah, right..." --Despite all that is going on here, there is still much reason for celebration, so here's a funny little anecdote regarding what participating in a celebration may entail.  So I finally got in touch with members of the Scouts with whom I hoped to play my trumpet.  My timing was impeccable.  I inquired about playing with the Scouts on a Tuesday morning, was told to come to practice that evening, and was marching alongside the Scouts in a celebratory parade for Bishop Younan, the newly elected President of the Lutheran World Federation, the next afternoon.  I have to admit that when they told me that within 24 hours of practicing with them for the first time I would be marching through the streets of Beit Sahour with them, trumpet in hand, my first thought was--"yeah right!"  While I expected to "walk alongside my neighbor" through the model of accompaniment this year, I did not expect that to include marching, too!  Thank goodness for their welcoming and gracious spirit--loved every step of that small life journey.  From what I've been told, it appears this was the first of many events I'll be able to participate in with the Scouts.
"What is this?"/"What is this supposed to be?" --Still in the process of figuring this one out.  For now, this is learning.  This is discovering.  This is struggling.  This is loving.  What is this?  A place that never ceases to catch me off guard, continuously surprises me around every corner, and perpetually gives me a lot to think about at the end of the day.  So, what do you think?  What is this? 

“šū hāda?” --A girl trying to figure things out... time to turn the brain off, and let the heart do the learning.  Peace to you all! 

 "There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm." ~Willa Cather

Monday, September 13, 2010

an 11 hour lesson for life

Food. Family. Friends. This is the perfect combination for any social gathering, especially in Palestine. Every function I have been to has included these main components, and the joy and laughter that proceeds lasts for hours.

Just this past Sunday, there was food spread before me for approximately 11 hours straight. From the brunch celebration of the installation of Pastor Fred Strickert as the Pastor to Redeemer's English speaking congregation in Jerusalem, on to a family gathering taking place at our landlady's (Shadia's) home, and finally sharing in a small gathering over in Beit Jala with one of the English teachers, I enjoyed a day of non-stop visiting, eating, and chatting.

Now, there are a few things that I must note about such a food-filled day. Here is a sneakpeak (and possibly the only peak...) into "Eating for 11 hours?: Tips by Janelle."

Before we begin, it is imperative that you do not know that you may possibly... hmm, no... will be eating for such a period of time. If you have any inkling about the liklihood of such a smorgasbord, then just pretend you aren't aware of this possibility and proceed as directed.

1) Take small portions of everything. While normally this is in order to ensure that you don't take too much of something you won't like, I find it is beneficial just so you can make sure to fit some of everything on your plate. Now, eat slowly and savor each bite. Need something salty? Go for an olive--just make sure not to chomp down on the pit! Need something to mellow out the flavors and give a little sour zip? Yogurt is your answer--it is almost the ketchup of my Palestinian diet. You can put it on just about anything! For a sweet kick, check out the fresh fruits--especially pomegranate. D to the E to the Licious.

2) Most of the time you don't even have time to think about getting seconds before someone asks you if you'd like some more. Everyone is so giving and generous--take what you can eat if food is offered for you to grab, but it is also okay to politely mention that you might wait a little bit before diving in for more. You will eventually find yourself chomping away again soon enough! (Though I must make sure to say that no one is overbearing or pushy when they offer more food--the hospitality is simply such that people want to ensure you are feeling at home enough to grab more should you still happen to be hungry. They are looking out for each other (including you) all the time.)

3) Be trusting and bold--your hosts may chuckle and say, "Eat it first, then we'll tell you what it is," when bringing you a sample of food off of the grill, giving you and uneasy feeling of, "Oh my, what am I about to eat?" But of course they would never harm you! You can palate one bite (and maybe more!) of anything that at least looks like something you'd normally eat.

4) Wary of using your hands? Don't be. Make sure to follow suit with the people around of course, but normally picking away with your fingers is a-okay. The process of eating the food should be just as enjoyable as the process of tasting the food, and who wants to wrestle a chicken-wing with a fork before eating it? Save the forks for the salads. Dig in!

5) Know that you will almost always be offered tea and/or coffee whenever you visit with someone, no matter whether it's a quick visit or a long gathering. I cannot tell you the number of cups of tea or coffee you will drink in such an epic day. Just know that when enjoying a number of gatherings, you should be prepared to enjoy a caffeine surge, and a delicoius one at that!

6) Most important of all, know that as much as the food is a part of the day, it is simply a medium by which people come together. My biggest tip--make sure to enjoy and join in on conversations (especially when your rudimentary Arabic allows). It is the people that make the 11 hours great. The food, while delicious, is truly just icing on the cake. The jokes, stories, games, traditions, experiences, conversations, celebrations... these are the things that make a day "lived" rather than "survived." Food sustains the body, human relationships sustain the soul. (And, boy is a soul sustained after 11 hours). Make sure you hop into bed thankful for what you experienced because the truth of the matter is that, at the fundamental core, you experienced 11 solid hours of being loved and cared for. Now here's the trick--share that same spirit of love and care with the world for... I don't know... for forever? Yeah? Yeah.

Man, my guidebook makes that sound so easy, right? Well, a day like that definitely made me think about how I can share that same unending hospitality with others around me. Having been given so much, where and how am I now called to give? And the reflecting continues...

Before wrapping up this post (which only touches on a few experiences and reflections of the past week... no worries, more posts to come) I want to share a quick observation about the family bbq I attended with Shadia's family. Back home, it is usual that either my dad or my brother will man the grill on such an occasion. The pleasure (or burden?) of cooking all of the food is on their shoulders for the most part. Now, in the five hours that I spent sitting outside and enjoying the company of Shadia's extended family, I think I saw almost every member of the family mosey on over to the grill at one point or another to make sure things were running smoothly. Flip a kebab here, put some chicken on a plate there, sear a little fat for Janelle and Sarah to try... everyone took turns preparing parts of the meal. Though I couldn't understand most of what was being said, it didn't seem like people were being told to go and check on the grub. It just seemed so natural for the family to share in that task. Neato!

I'm sure there's something more to be said about what that means, or why I even happened to notice that dynamic, but I'll leave room for reflection...

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

the thing about time is...

Tomorrow marks two weeks in Israel/Palestine. With a week and a half of orientation under our belts, the other five YAGM and I began volunteering at our placement sites this past Monday.

As James Taylor sings, "the thing about time is that time isn't really real." These words seem quite true now-a-days. While it feels like we have been in the country for so long, it also still feels like we have just arrived. Already we are saying, "there is time...," yet realizing that regardless of the ten and a half months left, time is surely slipping by fast. Two weeks!? Can't be....

Inspired by that "facebook note" frenzy that I took part in two years ago, here are 25 random things about my time here so far... hopefully this will help to sum up all the joy and laughter as well as the reflection and contemplation that has made up these past two weeks.






1. Public Transportation? Not a problem. Just make sure you're getting in the right cab that's going to the right spot for the right price. Normally a shared taxi ride (in a yellow and black cab for 2 1/2 NIS per person) will be your best bet to get to the main centers of Beit Jala, Bethlehem, and Beit Sahour. But beware--sometimes you need to take one or two of these to get to the place you're going. The blue buses? They only go short distances, but paying 1 1/2 NIS to get up the hill to Manger Square from Beit Sahour is well worth it. Need to get some place further away in a hurry? ...Say, the Bethlehem check-point from Beit Sahour? Get ready to dish out 15-20 NIS for a private taxi. Sound a little steep? Not really--$1 = 4 NIS. Some Arabic helps, too!


2. My love of falafels will only continue to grow throughout the year. I will never be sick of them. What's the saying? A falafel a day keeps the doctor away?

3. We have been flipped (denied entrance) at check-points into Jerusalem twice when driving in for programming. While we've never had a problem walking through a check-point (once even with just a photo-copy of a passport), we have witnessed a Palestinian being flipped despite the fact that all his paperwork was in hand. Security?


4. We have successfully navigated through and out of Old City Jerusalem and on to the 21 bus (6 1/2 NIS) to get back into Bethlehem.


5. I've "chewed" icecream. Some ice-cream here has Arabic gum in it (an edible gum) that makes it kinda gummy. Imagine that! Gum making something gummy...

6. On an ICAHD tour (Israeli Coalition Against Housing Demolition), we learned about, witnessed, and reflected upon the conflict that divides Israel and Palestine. The situation must improve. Inshallah, one day soon it will begin to do just that. (...now how do we join hands and help? This is a question I'm sure to ponder for more than just this year.)


7. My confidence in speaking Spanish has improved. I forgot what it was like to learn an entirely new language. Our lessons in Arabic are fun, but it is a difficult language to catch on to. Still, one day I hope to know enough to converse casually with my landlady's mother (who reminds me a lot of my mom's mom, Baba). For now, I find solace in the fact that I have in fact studied and somewhat retained another language already. It gives me hope for this coming year of Arabic! Thank you 6 years of Spanish! This is the most you've ever done for me...


8. I've discovered the beauty of Nescafe instant coffee. It ties me over in the morning until I arrive at school where I am able to grab a small (smaller than a tea-cup!) sized Arabic coffee during the short recess after 3rd period.


9. My landlady's (Shadia's) mom has graciously read my coffee grounds for me (which settle to the bottom of any/all cups of Arabic coffee), combining my admiration for her and my newly-found love of Arabic coffee. Oh, and my fortune is looking good for now!

10. I learned how to make a snack (out of a roasted egg (like a hard-boiled egg), smushed on sesame bread, and topped with Za'atar (a Palestinian spice)) at midnight with Shadia's extended family last Friday night... I may or may not have eaten three of these assembled delicacies. Delicious.


11. I've rekindled my appreciation for journaling. While I still practically have to force myself to sit down and start writing, I find that I could reflect for days on what is going on around me here. Life goes on as normal. But there is a wall. Where does peace and justice fit into this world?

12. I've learned the answer to that question isn't as clear cut as we all hope it would be...


13. "Love your neighbor" is the only answer I have right now.


14. I realize I agree with some parts of the wall--I mean, I agree with some of the graffiti messages found on parts of the wall. For instance, I agree with whoever wrote, "I think God hates this wall."


15. Community is at the core of life here. Having spent an evening with Shadia's extended family (including participating in one of the most intense pick-up soccer game of my life--Shadia and her sisters' sons and me vs. all of the brothers' children in a 5v5 show-down), I now know how important a simple gathering can be. What joy, what life, what vibrancy that family shares with each other by simply being together! So glad Sarah (my flatmate) and I were invited to join!


16. Proximity: While I expected that the 16 inch personal bubble I'm used to enjoying at all times in the United States might be disrupted by people I met here (which I don't mind at all), I failed to understand that that idea of this bubble of safe proximity might be disrupted by other things... like cars. Let me rephrase. I'm used to cars giving plenty of space when passing, sneaking through, maneuvering around anything. This is not the case here. With confidence, drivers pass by, through, and around people, parked/moving cars, buildings, walls, and the occasional cliff coming within an inch or so of what I would consider shear doom. Still, I have yet to see anyone even scrape another car. How do they do it? Magic. Must be.


17. Want a fig snack? Pick it fresh off the tree from my neighbors yard. Just make sure it's a little brown--means it's ripe. In other yards you can find pomegranates, olives, limes, and lemons. Sadly we missed apples :(


18. Pita, pita everywhere. Brilliant, really. Parents don't have to worry about cutting off crusts! (Not that mine ever did... ;)


19. Word association time: My thought process when put on the spot to sing a song for a couple members of Shadia's family--song, sing in shower, shower at home, home in Beit Sahour, Beit Sahour near Bethlehem, Christmas, winter, snow, uh... "jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way..."


20. Considering water to the West Bank is delivered from Israel (I believe once a month?), and everyone stores their water in water tanks/cisterns on top of their houses, the car game "water tower" (where the first person to spot water tower in the distance gets a point) has taken on new meaning.


21. Pick a clear day, walk up the Mount of Olives, and look to the east. The Dead Sea and the Jordanian mountains are right before your eyes.


22. Handala, a cartoon sketch of a Palestinian boy, is everywhere. Though life goes on as normal, Handala is a constant reminder of a land in conflict.


23. Regardless of how much English they know or don't know, most everyone makes sure to let us know we are "Welcome!"


24. "Simon Says" surpasses language barriers... for the most part. As does jump-rope.


25. While the Holy Land doesn't seem all that Holy sometimes, God is in this place. May God's peace be with us all. May we find that peace with one another. May we find that peace within ourselves. Inshallah, one day we'll all walk humbly with God.

Friday, September 3, 2010

two months, one post

Camp flew by. After I returned to Caroline Furnace from my week off, I took off running on many adventures of all sorts. From carp and bald-eagle filled canoe trips to coordinating a week of camp at Hungry Mother Lutheran Camp, to tenting on camp with younger campers and backpacking up Duncan's Knob with older campers, I was happy and content but utterly worn out by the end of the summer. Despite the exhaustion, I would not have changed the summer for anything. While camp always provides certain challenges to overcome, camp also provides a support network of true friends who will pick you up when you're down. Shout out to my Caroline Furnace people. You all are why camp was/is such a special place.

Camp being donzo, I trekked back to MD in the early hours of August 14th to spend a day at Hershey Park, PA with my mom, brother, and nephew. One quick highlight from this laughter-filled day: We all decided to ride the Howler together, five-year-old nephew included. The Howler is like the favorite board-walk ride "tea-cups" to the max. You can spin yourself as fast as you'd like while the ride spins you up and down in the air with your feet dangling. My nephew jumped into a harnessed seat with no fear and stated, "I'm going to "moo" the entire ride!" Sure enough, as my mom screamed, I howled, and my brother laughed, my nephew "moo-ed" the whole time. Priceless.

For the next three days, I was shopping, packing, and hanging out with family before departing for Chicago to start my year volunteering with a week of orientation. (Let me pause here to thank my family and friends for all of their support those hectic three days of transition from camp to YAGM. You made me laugh when I needed it, helped me focus when I had to, and gave me confidence to go into the unknown of this year with an open heart and mind!)

Orientation in Chicago:
Held at the Lutheran School of Theology in Hyde Park, Chicago, orientation served as a week of devotion and reflection while providing tons of information to help us through the year. From discussions of inward reflection and spirituality to issues of religious pluralism followed by navigating public transportation in an unknown city, orientation helped prepare us for the broader concepts of what it means to be a missionary serving through the model of accompaniment. Essentially, orientation provided us the means by which we could depart being fully prepared for more country/placement intensive orientation. In one week, we grew close as we shared our faiths with each other, struggled with concepts of "being" and letting go of our expectations and control, and joined together in the knowledge that the next time we all met together, we would find ourselves changed. At 11:30am on August 25th, the five other Jerusalem/West Bank volunteers and I loaded up our bags, and departed for O'Hare to start our epic journey of faith and accompaniment.

This was a summer for the books, as I'm sure this year will be. With our intensive in-country orientation almost complete--and now that I am all settled into my flat in Beit Sahour--be on the lookout for my reflections and anecdotes as I dive into the life and culture of Palestine by walking alongside my neighbors.

Now for the real blog to begin...

Monday, June 28, 2010

life is old there, older than the trees

Whew. First week of camp is finished! Thirty-seven miles down the Shenandoah later I find myself with a strange PFD tan and a few bruises from jumping in and out of the canoes, but also with a smile on my face and lots of canned meat in my belly. All-in-all, a fantastic four day adventure floating from site to site camping alongside the river having packed everything we needed. "Country Road" is probably still resonating throughout the valley, having sung it multiple times a day for the past week. What better way to learn about "Keeping the Earth" (our summer curriculum) than to experience it 24/7 without the niceties of AC and bathing!

I'm currently sitting at my house in Maryland feverishly working on paperwork/fundraising for next year. To-do list in hand, I intend on tackling a good bit of it today. Wish me luck. I just received a packing list from the main Global Mission office as well--how exciting! Next years adventures are becoming more and more real. Now I just have to get all of my stuff together (hence the week off from camp). Thoughts and prayers are appreciated as I begin to transition around my time at Caroline Furnace.

A big thank you to family and friends who have been a great help and support throughout the past few months! Love you all. Congratulations again to Joel and Danielle--your wedding was a highlight of my summer for many reasons. I look forward to seeing family and friends here and there throughout the summer! For now, it's back to the grindstone of organization and getting things done! Peace to you all.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

what was, and is, and is to come

Graduation wasn't just a dream? That's right--college is over. Hard to believe I won't be heading back to Williamsburg in August, but excited to see where life is taking me next. Well, I guess I know where that'll be for the next year...

First, camp for the summer! Who can resist another 3 months in the cell-phoneless land of Fort Valley, VA, where a night on the town consists of a meal at the local family restaurant "Seven Bends" and a jaunt on over to scout out rollbacks at the Walmart. ...and that's not sarcasm--if you've experienced a summer at Caroline Furnace, you'd understand how special it is to spend the summer in Shenandoah. Looking forward to monthly firehouse BINGO nights, trips to the "$5 all-you-can-grab-bag" at the thrift store in Luray, and gallivanting around Harrisonburg when we really feel like getting out and about... and that's just on the weekends! Camp itself will surely be an adventure--spending overnights on the river, camping out on the top of mountains, and trekking around camp itself. Not to mention witnessing so many campers grow in faith in the midst of God's creation! I can practically smell the sunscreen already...

After camp, (and the main reason to keep this blog up-to-date!) I'm off to Israel-Palestine for a year, participating as a Young Adult in Global Mission (YAGM, "yag-um") through Lutheran Global Missions for the year. Though I'm not certain of my exact placement quite yet, I will be serving in either Ramallah, Jerusalem, or Bethlehem. There will be 5 other YAGMs heading over to Israel-Palestine as well. We join all 43 YAGMs in Chicago on August 18th for a week of orientation before shipping out. Right now it seems so far away, but I'm sure time will fly until then!

I'm in the beginning phases of organizing myself for the year--taking care of documents and papers, getting doctors and dentists appointments figured out, and working to raise the money necessary to support my year of service (If you're interested in learning how to help support me in this process, please email me for details)! This blog will serve as a way to keep everyone state-side up-to-date with all I'm up to throughout the summer in preparation and then throughout the year. So, keep on checking-in for what's sure to be an interesting read! I appreciate all thoughts and prayers as I prepare for the summer and the year--God's peace to you all!

"The new day dawns, and I am practicing my purpose once again. It is fresh and it is fruitful if I win, but if I lose--oh, I don't know. I'll be tired but I will turn and I will go--only guessing 'til I get there then I'll know--oh, I will know." -All Will be Well by the Gabe Dixon Band