Monday, August 27, 2012

Sabah

Hello from Sabah!

We arrived safely in Kota Kinabalu on Thursday night.  We have since then been staying at Sabah Theological Seminary.  The Internet there is rather spotty, but I have been journaling every day and am excited to share with you this beautiful place I will be calling home.


Until then, I wanted you to know that I am safe and sound and trying to get over the 4 am wake ups that go with jet lag :)


Thursday, August 23, 2012

Welcome to the Unknown

YAGM Malaysia Crew in April


Greeting from Seoul, South Korea's International Airport!  After a little over 13 long hours, the Young Adults in Global Mission Malaysia crew of 8, sit/lay scattered in an area as we wait for another flight to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.  We began today's journey at 7:30 am, from the Chicago O'Hare Airport.  Right now it is 3:28 am Chicago time, and 5:23 pm South Korea time.  I don't know what that means beyond that we have been in traveling mode and will not arrive to our destination until around Midnight, Malaysia time (I would guess that Malaysia time is the same as South Korea time?)

Movies kept me occupied for most of the flight, and the remainder of the time was spent trying to figure out how to sleep in a middle seat.  I don't think it's ever a not awkward place to be for sleeping.

Asiana airlines kept us well hydrated and fed, I was even offered octopus for our last meal on the plane, I decided to pass, and instead had chicken

Can I tell you how confused I was to be eating chicken at what my body thought to be 2:00 am Chicago time?

As we started to descend,  Tessa, a fellow Cobber and YAGM Malaysia Crew member, looked out the window and we were blown away by the mountains, and what appeared to be islands from where we were.  We realized that we both didn't really know what to expect when we looked out the window, and then Tessa said something that seemed profound to me, at least in this state of present being-- "I guess we are just going to get used to not knowing what to expect".

So-- Here's to having no clue about what lays ahead.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Reflections


  • A special note for this post--my "caps" isn't working correctly. so i apologize.



Thursday

Most people arrived at the airport with red eyes, weary after saying their goodbyes.

I haven't cried yet.

I'm not sure that this reality has really sunk in.

Part of me feels like i will see my family and friends in a few weeks at max.

My fellow Malaysia friend Tessa said that the worst is behind us.  saying goodbye is hard.

but being left behind could be even worse.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Friday

Today we talked about accompaniment. it's the model that the ELCA has adopted for mission related work.  thinking of myself as a missionary is odd, and actually i am a bit relieved that, due to the negative connotations that missionaries have from the past related to "converting" people, it is not a phrase that i will actually use to identify myself.

so-- lots of people asked what it was that i would actually be doing in Malaysia, after all-- "don't you read the news?"

Here i am to clear up some thoughts, and inform you of some new information to me!

1. This is not a trip.-- I'm not here to sit on a beach and have fun
2. This isn't even about me-- it's about how God is working through people and the church

Accompaniment means to walk alongside others. it's about mutuality and interdependence.  it's not about coming in and fixing, teaching, or changing, but more about observing and finding a need that you could fill.  This need comes in many shapes and no level of difficulty is below that of a servant.  in the Western culture we are "doers", we need to have a task and feel accomplishment.  The model of accompaniment challenges us to focus on "being" rather than "doing".  After all-- we were made for relationship, and if we are too busy trying to change someone or something into what we view as "right", we won't get the chance to "be" and appreciate who they are and the story they have to offer the world.

--so now for the NEW information--

1. Mail takes about a month to get to me
2. you take your shoes off before you enter a house
3. people swim with clothes on
4. all parts of the chicken are consumed--ALL of it
5. i am slightly worked up about eating the above mentioned items plus spicy food..more then slightly
6. people shower from 2-4 times a day due to heat and humidity
7.becoming scuba certified is supposed to be super cheap in Malaysia
8. there's a kfc in my town in case number 5 becomes too much to handle
9. i'm told we use "squatters" for toilets
10. you flush your toilet by dumping water down it..sometimes multiple pitchers of water
11. the toilets don't have toilet paper--bring your own!
12. God is great and wonderful and  i know that i will find myself challenged in ways i never thought possible.  but God goes before us to pave the way and prepare us for the journey ahead.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Orientation- Day One

Woke up at 4:30 am this morning to shower.

5:30 am- Packed two suitcases, a backpack, two sisters', one mom, and a niece into the vehicle.

6:00 am- Headed for Minneapolis.


--insert morning rush hour, My third time driving in the cities, and rain (lots of the fierce kind)--


9:00 am(ish)- MSP airport shenanigans

12:30 pm- arrived in Chicago

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The rest is a blur
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is this really happening?

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Friends

Last night I was blessed with the presence of my beautiful roommates and other college friends.  We celebrated a birthday, our accomplishments, and our futures.  Most of us met for one last chance to see each other's faces before we moved to other countries or another state.  The night was about perfect, except for my one missing roommate, with whom I have had the wonderful opportunity to live and grow with for the last four years.  Somehow I was able to keep from getting too emotional, but I couldn't help but think how much one year of knowing someone can completely change your life. 

Since my last post, I have spent quality time with wonderful friends.  One of them even brought me brownies, just to make sure I was able to cross them off my list of foods to eat before I go!  I have found that good friends are contagious.  The more time you spend with them, the more you want to be a good friend in return and the more time you want to spend with them.  Some friends you just can't get enough of!

I have been so privileged to meet such wonderful people, and we can only hope that when our paths part, that we have made someone life better.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Filled with JOY!

Since graduating from Concordia and working full time in Moorhead until Mid-July, I have moved home and spent my days unpacking and packing up my life, as well as enjoying time with family and friends. Four evenings were also filled with my church's Vacation Bible School, in which I helped my pastor and three young gentlemen lead games. We had a blast as we occasionally joined teams for dodgeball and other fun games-- I am always amazed by the energy and joy that kids have at anytime of day, as well as how many volunteers of all ages come together and join in the childlike wonder of VBS.
I made a list of people that I wanted to see and foods I wanted to eat before I left the states for a year. They were as follows:

People:
Grandmas
Grandpa
Niece- lots of cuddle time!
Sisters and their wonderful husbands
Brother!
Roommates
Best friends
Old friends
Wonderful and amazing support system

Foods:
Mom's cooking
Pizza
Burgers
Sweet Corn
Brownies

I have accomplished most of my lists and have been so blessed with the time that I have been given surrounded by the love and support of many wonderful people. I have also been blessed with phone conversations, ice cream outtings, movie nights, and evenings with friends watching the Olympics.    One week from tomorrow i head to Chicago--then the 22nd we depart to Malaysia!  I am so excited to see what the upcoming weeks bring as I adjust to life in Malaysia.  This journey thus far has been such a great reminder of the great cloud of witnesses that surrounds us all.  We are never alone.