Refreshed.

First things first:
Typhoid? Check.
Malaria? Check.
Tetanus booster? Apparently, check. And ow.

Had my visit to the doctor, so all who may have been worried - thank you - and have no fear, I shouldn't be coming back with anything too severe or damaging to my health. But only time will tell, right? hmmm ...

Anyway, I have to tell you that God works, and that God does answer prayer. Yes, yes you've all heard that before, but I'm not joking. I have recently been more fired up and encouraged by students to create a opportunity of intellectual dicussion about social justice issues in the world. It's something that I wanted to do at the beginning of the year, but I didn't find students who were excited about it, and it's difficult to generate interest with something that has no initial interest. But hark! By random circumstances and happenstance I stumbled upon a group of people from the new church plant Resonate called Activate - doing exactly what I have been dreaming into existence yesterday evening. They were showing the film 'Ararat' and had a discussion to follow - nothing like a movie about the Armenian genocide in Turkey to get your blood flowing, and the passion for the people of the world to steam up once again.

Friends, I cannot tell you how refreshing it was to sit and watch this movie - don't get me wrong, it was pretty depressing, I mean it's genocide, and a nation that still won't admit it happened. But this is what I choose to do on my Friday nights. This is what I would prefer to do with just about ALL my Friday nights. Talk about the issues, discuss the atrocities that we as Americans have become ignorant about, be overcome with passion and compassion for the people of the world, discuss our responsibility as Christians and perhaps simply as Americans. To talk about this with college students, to dream big about intergenerational movement, empowerment to make a difference in this world that is still so full of turmoil, and yet so easily hidden from view here in Pullman. My heart ACHES for the apathetic and unknowing people of this campus, who choose to live in their own bubble of selfdom, conquered by the success mosquito that is sucking their money, time and purpose into an empty bottomless pit. If every single person chose to daily change the way they live in order to not live for themselves, to know about the world around them, and consider the way we can positively impact the lives of others, how would the world change?

Oh, and check out this sunset. Yes, Palouse, you have a part of my heart.

Hmmm...

Typhoid vaccination, Malaria Pills, and why does the word 'recommended' make me just want to put off a visit to the doctor? 2 weeks to go, perhaps I am becoming a little afraid for my health. Well, we do have the option of DEET and mosquito nets, so fingers crossed and prayers answered, all should go well. We only have two more Nicaragua meetings until take off! I feel slightly unprepared and curious about how this whole thing will work out, but overwhelmingly excited for this travel opportunity. I can't believe it's down to two weeks.

Speaking of weeks, I sure had a heck of one. I had the privilege of speaking at the INN on Tuesday - I get to do one talk a semester, so bingo, it came and went. I haven't had the chance to hear it yet, but feedback has been really encouraging. I think the best comment was that I sounded like myself, which is what I was hoping for. I like it when speakers seem like real people, and seem like the person you talk to face to face. I think that's one reason Rob Bell is so effective. But I feel like when I gave the talk, it didn't really flow naturally - a little nervous about making the good points that I'd prepared on paper, and not talking too fast. That one always gets me - to the point now that I'm paranoid about how fast I talk, and at the end of my talk I could've sworn it was only 5 minutes long and figured I should pray extra long to make up for not talking long enough, but it ended up being ~22 min so that's an improvement!!

I think I might be slightly addicted to caffeine ... the looming headache in the morning was the tip-off, as well as it's quick disappearance over coffee dates. Well, you win some you lose some. In this profession I feel it may be an unavoidable condition. Or I could be making excuses. One or the other. But conversations have been rich, I talked about all sorts of topics this week, phenomenal.

But one that seems to resurface again and again is the issue of church. 'I haven't found one I like' or 'There aren't any good ones' or 'nothing like my church back home'. It kind of gets on my nerves, because I think it leaks into this mentality saying, 'I should get what I expect out of church, I want it to be preached like this and to worship like that, and I will see God working in this way and this way only.' Well, maybe that's a little harsh, but it's not too far from the truth. I feel like sometimes people aren't willing to see how God is at work in a body or community with open arms, and get put off when it isn't familiar or 'powerful' enough for them ... honestly, you could probably grab something from any sermon you hear that is a personal call to your life if you really put your mind to it. And isn't church more than just sermons and worship anyway? A congregation of fellow believers dwelling together for one cause, Jesus. Where do we get the high and mighty opinion that things should always be 'my way'. Not that I don't share that mentality sometimes, I guess it just means that sometimes I and my generation make myself sick.

Makings of a Wha ....

When snow DOES get turned off, it gets slushy and dark from street gravel and all splattery from cars as they drive down the street. I didn't think about this ahead of time, but I don't want the snow to be turned back on, I just don't want to be splashed by it when I walk to Starbucks. Tastes a little salty, I think.

The countdown is now less than 25 days ... Nicaragua! I've never really been to Central America before. I say 'really' because I've done Tijuana, Mexico - you're average house-building-teenage-mission trip, which gives you a spoonful of church community with a pinch of culture thrown in (I may or may not have just made a slight reference to Bride and Prejudice there, you decide). Either way, I'm pretty excited. I'd better make sure I've got all my shots in order. One of our students came back from visiting the doctor for that very reason, and I have never seen someone so stricken with a fear of needles - pale, on edge, doesn't want to move his arm for fear of feeling the medicine seep into his body, needed to take a time out on his rocking chair to gain some comfort. Goodness gracious. But otherness to look forward to is playing worship with one of our students! We're gonna practice weekly leading up to it, and that is just fantastic because there's nothing like playing music. NOTHING.

I'm feeling a little down/up at the moment in retrospect of the INN last night - it was a great INN. I did the announcements with one of our students - who's never done it before, yeah for integration! And there were many people, great conversations and just a good atmosphere. The thing is I didn't really make any one-on-one dates, but in an odd way felt okay about that. So I've got this balance of down/up syndrome (not to be confused with up/down syndrome, of the 'Winnie the Pooh' Variety) - down because there wasn't great individual contact, but kind of 'up' because it makes me think about what my goal is as being an intern. Yes, there is the definite need and blessing of being in relationships with students (don't get me wrong, I'm meeting with students this week, I just didn't force my calendar on anyone last night), but also the fact that I'm only here for a year is coming into focus a little more. I'm connecting them to the ministry, not just myself. I'm connecting them to each other, not just to me. That has to be a HUGE part of why I do what I do - these students are here for 4(+) years, and are often searching for community and a good social scene. I can give them a friendship that will last ... a year. I mean, some will last longer than this year for sure, but really they need to be connected to something that is consistent, and offers a solid something for their time in college, not MY time at WSU. And perhaps this is also helping me (and them?) gain a broader perspective on connecting to Jesus, that people come and go, that experiences last for a few years and then change. But God is everywhere. He is consistent. He is everlasting. And although I may change, He will not. Although I may become distant, He will not (it might seem like it's Him at times, but it's probably me). It makes me feel like 'intern' should have the label 'connector' or 'novice networker' because really, we're always trying to connect them to something bigger than themselves, whether that be community or a relationship with Jesus. So even though I feel a little bummed that I'm not trekking to Starbucks 3x later this week, or camping out at the bookie, I'm okay with the fact that students know students, and students know Jesus. It was cool to wander through the chatting groups of people last night seeing who now knows who. But anyway, back to my job, anyone want to go grab some coffee?

P.S. I made another video for our ski trip this weekend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl2yP9p_54s

Perhaps this pic is an accurate down/up representation?

You Can't Stop the Beat

I love music. I love dancing. So naturally I love musicals. Thus the quote from 'Hairspray'. Winter Retreat fulfilled quite a bit of those areas, in that the worship music was fantastic, and we had a dance party on Saturday night. I mean the rest of the retreat was amazing as well, but as I have found that I'm pretty influenced by music in my life, it was simply fabulous in that respect. But really, what a great weekend. It was an experience for sure - a melding of my current ministry and past ministry - a weird spot to be in because I want to connect with old friends but also make it a memorable experience for current students from WSU. It was overall fantastic, being able to introduce my students to friends from UW, and see the cross cultural interaction. Alright alright, not in your average cross cultural experience, but it really is if you think about it.It's also weird coming back from a retreat - technically I worked all weekend, but does it feel like work? Not so much. But perhaps that's because I'm doing something I love - I mean I'm going to want to enjoy my job no matter what I do. Is that a high expectation to have? It seems to fit so far. I just have to make sure I separate life from work sometimes - which is extra hard here because even having fun outside of normal work is still hanging out with students, they just also happen to be my friends. Does this sound complicated? Moving on ...

As part of my job this past weekend, we did a broomball event. Yes, again, I love my job. But here's the kicker - we had about 20 people show up to be a part of this! Took me by surprise. Here's why. I decided to make it an event on Monday, advertised it at the INN Tuesday, and it took place Saturday. Seemingly short notice. I always have people asking me 'who's going to be there' or saying 'I don't know I might be busy' but there was just something about Broomball that I just had to make it happen. I mean, I've really only played this sport with Jr. Highers before, what oh what would it be like with adults?! (or almost adults ... and it's really just the same as playing with Jr. Highers, only probably hurts more ... ). So I'm basically overwhelmed with happiness that so many people picked up on it and came out for Broomball! Perhaps I set my expectations a little low on this one, but it does leave me feeling pretty good in the end, so low expectations here I come! A couple bruises, broken toenail and solid hour of fun on the rink later, what a great time. Just having fun. Hanging out. Hitting some people in the shins. What could be better?
And please, can someone turn the snow off? It's really making things difficult.

So THAT's What They Mean When They Say 'Walking in a Winter Wonderland"

In the bleak midwinter, frost winds made moan
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow
In the bleak midwinter, long ago ...

(Paul Coleman Trio does my favorite version)

Back in Pullman! Sorry it's been a while since I posted last, but things get pretty busy! We've had a great start to the semester at the INN, as well as a good Student Leadership mid-year summit. I also had the opportunity to try my hand at making a video to promote the Winter Retreat (next weekend!), take a look and see what you think ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH_NFs4YiT0

We have also been pretty excited about sign-ups for Nicaragua - I think we are near 17 students! Our goal is 21, so we'll see if that works out. I'm pretty excited about the trip - I'm not too certain how it's going to go, but from what we have worked out of what the week will look like, I'm pretty stoked. So far it sounds like helping to build a bakery, run a sports camp, and really immerse ourselves in the community of Sandino, just outside Managua. Only a little over a month until take off!

As for personal excitement, I have had some fun over the past weeks. I realized that being in Pullman shouldn't completely revolve around my job, that I should find something to be a part of that isn't work related. So I joined the WSU Gospel Choir - God's Harmony. They are fantastic, and so much fun! You don't have to be a student, and they were so willing to have me join, I'm so excited to see how this semester is with them. I've already practiced with them a couple times, and I simply LOVE gospel music.

This weekend was actually pretty fantastic. One of my students boards a hoarse between Moscow and Pullman and offered to take me for a ride on Friday - and so I went! Along with my friend Jesse, who had never been on a horse before, and that was hilarious to watch. My friend Kari came and visited from Whitworth this weekend, and we had some fun! We saw 'Across The Universe' on Friday for free in Todd Auditorium on campus (weird but AWEsome movie) with some friends, and had dinner at pizza hut. We also spent about 3 hours at the Daily Grind (local coffee shop, also AWEsome) playing Scrabble - well actually that involved reorganizing the word tiles from 5 separate games because Kari was able to play the word 'Buzz' in the first game, which shouldn't actually be possible.


5 boards, 467 word tiles, and 1 cookie shaped like a word tile later, we were done. I may be a nerd, but I sure have fun being one. Later that night after watching the Hunchback of Notre Dame (it's been a while! Disney did a good job with that one) we found out the toilet in my basement flooded.

Grrreeat. Here is where I'd like to have a picture, but we were ankle deep in some places scooping out buckets of water. It was rather hilarious - I felt like we were on a sinking ship trying to get the water out in order to save the boat. So I also felt like we should have sung some sort of seafaring songs whilst swabbing the deck. Unfortunately for us Kari only knew one and it was in Latin, so we refrained from any sailor songs.

So, eventful weekends make for good stories. I'm glad it's a 3-day weekend, and I hopin' to do some crafts and watch musicals. Nothing like it. Winter Retreat is coming up - nothing like a 6 hour road trip to Olympia.