yeah...we're kissin at you

yeah...we're kissin at you
Originally uploaded by amylawlor.

Just wanted to post some recent photos...so you don't forget what I look like. the story behind this one is that we were at a Women's Retreat. Someone sent make up and this poor tube of Mary Kay lipstick was being ignored. We decided to put it to good use. Are you scaredof us? Cause I kinda am.

No More Underwear

It was the catchy headline wasn't it...

I guess I should say NO MORE LONG UNDERWEAR!!!!  I left the house today (for the 1st time since November) with just jeans on...I didn't have to wear all my layers today!  

Rejoice with me people!  It's going to be above freezing all week!  Sunshine!  Warm Weather!  Rejoice!  

My walk to work today was GLORIOUS!  The sun...the warmth...i heard birds...it was super great.  I love Spring.  I can't wait for it to really be here.  

Hooray!

This week

Hey there all you fans...wanted to let you know I would be gone for the whole week and probably would not be posting while I am away.  I am going to a conference in Croatia and looking forward to some solitude and some good time with God.  Praying about some specific things and being taught some specific things lately.  Look forward to tell y'all about it next week.  Have a good one :)

Music that rocks my face off

Most of you know that I am a huge, obsessive, music lover.  I really just love hearing new stuff and being exposed to bands that maybe aren't mainstream but are doing cool things and have interesting things to say.  Thought I would do a little post about some stuff I am listening to currently that you may want to check out. I will list a band and a few songs that I think are tops pics from the CD.  check them out...you might like them.  Most of them aren't traditionally "Christian" but that doesn't make them any less amazing.  Enjoy.  

Iron and Wine (pretty mellow and "folky")
   -Naked as we came
   -Such Great Heights
   -Woman King

Sufjan Stevens (a little eclectic and quirky...but beautiful songs and really interesting instrumentation)
   -Chicago
   -Casimir Pulaski Day
   -7 Swans

Hem (hard to describe...)
   -The present
   -The Beaufiul Sea

Imogen Heap (electronic "ish"...she is the lead singer for Frou Frou if you are familar.  Had music on the Narnia soundtrack)
   -Clear the Area
   -Hide and Seek
   -The Moment I said it

The Weepies
   -This whole CD is INSANELY GOOD.  It's my favorite of any of the new stuff I am listening to

Jenny Lewis (kind of a edgy, darker Allison Krause sound.  It's almost country but with deep lyrics and cooler sounds)
   -Rise up with Fists!

Jose Gonzalez (super mellow guitar and vocal)
   -Heartbeats
   -Love Stain

The Perishers (just good jangly guitar rock)
   -Sway
   -Still here

Rosie Thomas (incredible vocals...mellow...good for rainy days)
   -Pretty Dress
   -Death came and got me
   -I play music


PS-I have to give my friend Dan Portnoy credit for introducing me to most of this music.  He's the reason I am going broke buying music :)
   

Thursday in SK

It snowed here all day.  Every day when I walk outside I think..."surely Spring will be here soon" but alas another day of snow makes the impending hope of Spring still seem far away.  Not that the snow isn't beautiful...it is.  Not that I am not thankful to live in a country with 4 really distinct, really beautiful seasons...I am.  But I'm gonna be needing some sunshine soon.  Some warmer temps.  To wear something a bit less than 37 layers of underwear.  I am so excited for sping and in a way it's really cool to have it come later and to really be excited and amazed to watch it slowly happen.  In atlanta we have about 3 days of spring where everything turns yellow from the pollen.  This is followed by 4 months of bursting
into flames as soon as you walk out of your front door.  

I actually didn't even leave the house today...the beautiful of being able to work from home when need be.  I had no intention of staying inside all day.  I mean I showered, put on real clothes...even a little makeup.  I just never managed to walk out the door.  

I am working on a large update letter to send out (I try to do that monthly) but find myself with writers block (or perhaps it's sheer laziness).  

I have meetings most of the day tomorrow. Our team is still trying to put together the most effective way to train youth leaders in SLovakia on how to create and execute a summer English camp.  We have some tough questions to answer and some difficult issues to think through.  If you are reading this...and you are one of the ones who prays for us here I would love to ask you to keep us in your minds.  OUr church here in Zilina as well as our training ministry.  Please pray that we would be focused on what God is doing and how he wants to use us.  thanks for that...really.  

unrequited

There are times where I am pretty darn excited to post on this thing.  If I feel like I have something funny or insightful or helpful to share and I wonder/hope that I may have entertained or spoken to someone or something like that.  Some people have a "counter" on their blog...and some even have systems that tell them who logged on to their blog, who is reading it, what country they are in, and other important info.  I don't have one of those...so I honestly have no idea if there are 5 people or 500 people cruising past this thing.  

But I want to extend the invitation to post comments.  Or even just shoot me an email if you have a comment and are reluctant to lose anonymity.  It's great to hear from people...even those who may disagree.  And if you read this and like it or feel like you have something to add I would be glad to hear it.  Or even if we haven't talked in a while and you want to say hi...that's ok too.  

otherwise I will be forced to add a counter to this thing and track my fan base which I am sure will be a huge encouragement.  

PS-I am going to have to ask if anyone is ok with Handkerchiefs anymore.  This is a country of runny noses and "sniffing" is a cultural no no so people are constantly blowing their noses.  And I see countless people honk some nastiness into a piece of cloth and then wad it up and shove it back into their pants.  HELLO!  GROSS!  Why is that ok???  Just thought I'd mention it.  

the point

Over the last few days I have found myself thinking, "What's the point?"...now hear my tone in that. it's not a defeated fatalistic kind of thing but rather a "seriously God...I want to know what the point is, and to make sure I don't miss it." And I realize I have posted similar thoughts to what I really feel I need to post here but this morning it overtook me in a way that doesn't happen very often. Most of us are dealing with this question regardless of our belief system, or if we work in ministry full time, or if we sit in an office all day marketing widgets. But seriously...ask yourself what is the point. Life, work, relationships, faith, love, all of it.

The disciples and even Paul once they realized that jesus was the messiah and that their lives, purposes, beliefs, futures were forever changed went out and talked about the Jesus they knew. They went to various communities (some of them stayed close to home and some of them traveled to the ends of the earth) and they said, "Hey! You guys...here in Corinth or Ephesus, or Jerusalem, or wherever. Here is how you maximize the person you were created as. Here is how you bring purpose to your life. Here is the point of this whole thing. It's Christ. End of story. The point is that Christ is #1 in all circumstances and in him you live free and forgiven and eternally. Now do it. Put him first in your life and watch the change that takes place. Live free, forgiven, powerful radical lives and you will change the world". They didn't tell them the types of programs to start or how to mobilize people or what ministries to promote or what desk jobs they should and shouldn't have. That wasn't the point. it was that Christ is LIFE CHANGING. Meeting Christ and really "getting it" knocks you off your horse, blinds you and realigns your path in RADICAL ways.

The point is that in living a life so radically changed and dramatically different that the people in your circle/community (wherever that may be) can't help but notice...and that the only answer you could give them would be Jesus. I feel like I (and you may agree in your life) am substituting good deeds and programs and plans for this radically changed life. The radicalness (i know that isn't a word but you get it) of our lives isn't so much a "go crazy! throw yourself off a cliff. stand on the street corners and rant and rave. move to zimbabwe and "convert" the natives". The radicalness is that you are so monstrously loving, kind, compassionate, forgiving, holy, Christ-honoring, righteous, humble (and so many other things that are pure human nature is INCAPABLE of without Christ doing it for us) that we would blow people's minds with it. That our lives would be so counter-cultural (in a character way...not a wow, that guy is a crazy religious freak way) that people would stop and say "how in the world could someone really be like that".

I am not living a life of radically changed heart, character, desire...so instead I substitute and believe that doing enough good things, or "christian" things will make up for it. But I can do the most amazing "christian" stuff in the world and if my life doesn't reflect Christ then it's WORTHLESS. I have not been knocked off my horse, blinded, and refocused on the singular goal of bringing glory to my God. And I know this, so I try to make up for it in other ways. People look at WHAT I DO and think it's great or that I must love God or have faith, but I would so much rather people look at WHO I AM and think those things.

I want my heart and character to be transformed by Christ into the image of Christ so that if I am in Slovakia, or Africa, or in a cube pushing papers around, or sitting at the dinner table with my parents that something about me is OBVIOUS and BEAUTIFUL in the same way that Jesus was. And that when people ask "why" I am the way I am, my answer is sincere and it points in the only direction that matters.

staring out the window

a couple of things...
first of all since I announced the directive to blog about something funny i feel like I am going to let you down.  as much as I have been trying to come up with something funny...I am drawing a blank.  Not that my life is so mediocre or depressing that there is nothing lighthearted in my world.  but as for laugh out loud "that would make a great story" I am at a loss.  And as most of you know, when you go looking for something it becomes all elusive and we can't find what we are looking for.  or maybe it's just me.  so...if you are looking for a laugh out loud moment with me here I am sorry!  maybe next time

secondly I find myself staring out the window a lot.  the kitchen window which looks out at another grey aparment building or the living room window which looks out at my street.  I just stare.  sometimes I think or pray or blank out or whatever.  for a few weeks there was an old woman (it actually took me a few days to figure out it was a woman) who would come outside super early in the morning with a snow shovel and some sort of metal ice chopping hoe/shovel deal.  she would be outside for several hours chopping at the ice on the sidewalk in front of her building.  Clank, Clank,Clank...trying to work through the 4 inch thick layer of ice that is on all the sidewalks.  So she'd spend hours doing this.  And have to do it again the next day.  

I watch the snow.  I watch the people falling down because the sidewalks are covered in ice.  I watch the people who think no one sees them let their dog poop on the sidewalk.  But mostly I am just looking at nothing.  I suppose I could have some philosophical take on this, or use it as some sort of spiritual metaphor.  but honestly I just wanted to tell you about staring out the window.  

I am sure you are hoping my next post will be about watching paint dry...and it might be but probably not.  

Life in SK

It's still cold here.  I am really looking forward to warmer temperatures and sunny skies.  with tomorrow being the 1st day of March I expect we will have warmer weather soon.  

As for me...I have been trying to work and work and work.  My new job responsibilites are still exciting but with each meeting I realize how much I have to do, how little I know, and how many things are still undefined.  I want to do this job well.  i don't want to fail or be uncertain or let people down so I keep praying for God to guide the process and show me what to do next.  We are planning camps for the current year and we are also developing a new process and strategy for future camps.  There are still many unanswered questions and many decisions to make about the best options and next steps for us.  

On a personal note...I am trying to think of something entertaining or clever or some story and I am totally drawing a blank.  That will be my goal for the week though...a funny story or embarassing international incident.  

We have been watching the olympics a lot here.  Slovakia won it's first winter olympic medal this year which was great.  They got a silver medal in Snowboarding.  We had to endure Slovakia losing to Czech Republic in hockey...it's kind of like Florida and Tennessee a few years ago...no matter how good Tennessee was Florida always psyched them out.  

On my way now to track down a little lunch and then will be back to work.
 

Happy Anniversary to Me!

Today is my one year anniversary in Slovakia. I cannot believe it's been a year. I want to take some time this week and get away to think about what the last year has taught me. To think about the things that are different and the things that are the same. I may be surprised at both. I can tell you I don't regret being here for one moment. Never, at any point in the last 365 days have I thought that being in Slovakia was a bad decision. Well, actually there was my 1st night in my new apartment all by myself that I had a bit of a meltdown...but other than that one night there have been no regrets. I think back to how utterly terrified I was to leave my familiar world. Looking back it seems a little silly now that i was that apprehensive but it's good for me to remember that fear. It helps me remember how sovereign God is, and how He keeps his promises, and how he provides for our needs (even when we aren't sure what we need). I am going to include at the bottom here a journal entry from February 2005...I re-read it this morning and smiled at myself. I kinda wished I could go back in time to tell myself..."chill out. it's really going to be ok". But that's part of the trust thing with God. And now when God urges me to do something that is scary or out of my comfort zone that requires me to just trust my God...I have an unbelievable example of a time when I trusted in Him and He blew my mind. Enjoy the below post...remember it's from a year ago!

February 9, 2005
4 days…there is such this fluctuation of wanting to leave and wanting to
stay. Mostly it is wanting to stay but it feels a lot like the day I
started college at Furman and I bawled in the back of my dads Buick for an
hour. I don’t like leaving…healthy or unhealthy…better for me or not better
for me…God’s will or not God’s will staying put seems safer and
controllable. My friend Sarah compared it to a roller coaster the other
night and as I thought about that analogy it made more and more sense.

You pay your money, you want to get on, you know it’s going to be a thrill,
people tell you how unforgettable and amazing it will be, and as your turn
approaches your stomach drops lower and lower. You have thoughts like
“maybe I could duck out of line now”, or “am I really sure I want to do
this”. But you stay in line. You are going to be on the next train and
your heart is now in your throat. You try to make light of it…joke a
bit…look around at how unafraid and excited everyone else is and think “I
can do this. People do this sort of thing all the time. Don’t be
ridiculous about it”. So you get in the silly little car. You strap in.
And you think, “what in the world am I doing. This may be a bad idea” But
you certainly can’t hop off now and you tell yourself to calm down. The
train starts…click, click, click, click up an incline you can’t see over the
edge of. You find yourself higher and higher in the air, at a more
ridiculous angle than you anticipated. Sweaty palmed you hang on for dear
life, pray for it to end soon, and think about faking a seizure or something
just so they’ll let you off. Click, click, click…how high are we going to
go anyway? Hang on…tell yourself everything is going to be ok and swear to
God you’ll never ride another one of these %$#@ things again.

That is where I am right now. I am click, click, clicking my way to the top
of a very scary, very unfamiliar roller coaster. I have no idea what is
going to happen when I plunge over that edge in 4 days. There are some
major differences though between the roller coaster experience above and the
situation in which I now find myself. The main difference being that I can
be completely confident in the designer, creator, owner, and operator of my
particular ride. Instead of a terrifying “carnie” who hasn’t seen a
toothbrush in weeks, the operator of all these switches and levers is
totally trustworthy, loves me beyond measure and has promised me that he has
my best interests at heart (For I know the plans I have for you, plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11).

I may have no idea where this ride will go, but my God, who designed it,
built it, runs it, and strapped me securely into my seat knows perfectly.
Because He is good and trustworthy I have nothing to fear…and because my
desire is that the purpose of my life will be to make His name Famous I will
stay on this crazy train.

it's freaking freezing here

I just gotta tell y'all. It's freaking freezing here! I am talking when I walked home last night it was 1 degree out. 1 degree!!! C'mon people that's cold.

Pretty low key around here these days. Just been working and trying to get my apartment increasingly livable. I keep reminding myself that each day that passes I am one day closer to Spring. The snow is beautiful especially since I have never really lived in a cold weather climate. It's so cool so walk around the city all bundled up (I look like that kid from A Christmas Story that can't put his arms down because of his snow suit) and watch the snow fall and hear it crunching under my feet.

I have been working on things for the camps this summer and trying to figure out exactly what I am supposed to be doing in this new job :) I continue to pray for wisdom and grace as we all work through our new roles and figure out the important things for our various projects. Thankful for my team and for the wise people around me.

We are all praying for the status of things within our new church community. We have had some "upheaval" as of late and with this comes confusion, hurt feelings, and uncertainty about the future. God's doing some significant things in this city and the enemy isn't interested in seeing those things happen. If you think about it, please pray for our church and the leadership. We all want to make God famous in this city and pray that He would show us the best way to do that.

Me and Santa

Me and Santa
Originally uploaded by amylawlor.

For those of you concerned with my "sin nature" here you go. Now I realize Santa and I are from different backgrounds and there is a wide age gap...but who are you to judge! He's totally into me..can't you see it in his eyes? I think we make a lovely couple. And he's pretty much a hottie.

Slovak Girls!

Slovak Girls!
Originally uploaded by amylawlor.

These are the 10 Slovak girls that came to the states this January for Passion. We had such a great time and it was pretty funny being the "native" for once. We forced them to eat huge portions of high fat foods and drove everywhere in large vehicles. It was so American. PS-free refils should be a national mandate

SK friends

SK friends
Originally uploaded by amylawlor.

I really just wanted to put some recent pictures up. This is from my recent trip to the states. Lee Ann, Melanie, Zuzka and me! We had 10 Slovak girls come to the States to attend the Passion 06 conference. it was stinking incredible and God blew our doors off with his provision and so many cool things that happened.

I worry

there...I've said it. I worry. I layed awake last night and worried. About various things. I worry about money. I worry about being "poor" for the rest of my life. I worry about my checking account. I worry about the fact that in the nearly 7 years since i graduated from college I have had 8 jobs with 5 different companies and lived at 9 different addresses. I worry that I will never be "settled". I worry that if I ever do get "settled" I will be bored. I worry that I will never get married. I worry that I will. I worry that my friends will forget about me. i worry that I will forget about them. I worry that I don't pray enough. I worry that I am missing something critical in my spiritual life. I worry about my sin issues. I worry about my self-absorption. i worry about my job. I worry about my parents. I worry about letting people down. Last night was just an exceptionally vivid night of worry. I couldn't stop. My mind turned over and over and over on a million things. I tried to read. I tried to pray. I tried to sleep. But I just flipped over and over in my bed.

Now...I know I am not SUPPOSED to worry. I kept telling myself that God is bigger than my small worries that he has promised to take care of me and all my needs. And at some level I believe that...or at least i think i do. Why is it so hard to get that kind of information from your head to your heart to your soul? Ask me if I believe that God is bigger than my worries and I will say "absolutely" then I lay awake all night and worry. There are so many truths like that...that I KNOW at an intellectual level but that haven't filtered down into my heart. and maybe it was just a bad night...I don't normally stay awake and worry. But it made me think about how there are so many things I know but don't really KNOW. How do you get there? really?

home is a fluid concept

I should probably say something here about the fact that i haven't updated this blog in forever. But such is life, y'all know I get lazy or bored or distracted or kidnaped my aliens or whatever the latest excuse is. I was pleasantly surprised while I was home to hear how many of you are reading this blog. i really thought no one was paying attention...so I pouted and stopped writing. But now that i know I have a few of you I will be more motivated.

Being back in the states was really good. I had so much fun seeing friends and family and eating foods I love and driving a car again. I didn't think much about life here in Slovakia or what it would be like when I returned. I was just enjoying my time in the good old US of A. I did see that "home" is a fluid concept. We all think of different things when we hear that word. Home is where your heart is...you can't go home again...this is my home away from home etc. Some people define home as where their stuff is, or where someone they love is. For some people it's anywhere mom or dad is. some people never feel "home". Some of us believer that this earth is definitely not our home, and that we will only really be HOME when this whole thing ends and we are reunited with the Father who made us and prepared an eternal home for us. When I am in Slovakia there are things I miss about my American home...and vice versa. My friend Paige calls it "a permanent homesickness" which makes sense. i think that no matter where I am from here on out I will always be missing some place or some people. Thinking that I will never be without this sense of "missing" is kind of depressing. But in a way it reminds me that I really am living in a temporary home right now...in the Old Testament it's referred to as a tent. Right now I live in a tent and I can dress it up and buy lots of cool stuff from IKEA and hang photos on the wall but so matter where it is...it isn't REALLY home. See, home is where my creator lives. Home is where the Lord is. And at some point I get to leave the tent and head for the mansion God has prepared for me. I don't really get that or understand how it works of what it looks like exactly. But to know that at some point the homesickness will leave permanently. What a concept.

the same...only different

It's funny...but some things don't really change. In Atlanta I complained about spending 2 hours in the car every day. In Slovakia I complain about walking 2 hours a day in the snow. In Atlanta during Christmas I was irritated and depressed about being rushed and having to deal with all the holiday busyness. In Slovakia I am irritated and depressed that it doesn't feel like Christmas and my busyness has nothing to do with the holiday season. What I am trying to say here is that there are times where I know my attitude about things hasn't changed in the slightest in my year here. That whole "be thankful in everything" is hard to do sitting in traffic every single day on my way to work and it's hard to do walking half an hour in the snow every single day on my way to work. It's hard when I am so overwhelmed with all the people around me, and when I am so lonely I feel like I am the only one in the world. Which really is kind of the point in a lot of this...being able to be thankful regardless of circumstances. There are always circumstances that aren't fun, or aren't what we want or what we expect but it's how we respond during those circumstances that tell us who we really are.

so anyway, just some thoughts on this random wednesday night. I had kind of a crummy day...one of those where if something could go wrong it did (couldn't get the printer to work in the office...took the wrong bus and wasted an hour etc. etc.). and I am really missing home this holiday season. it's the first time in a really long time that I am homesick which makes me cranky.

more to come I am sure

Come closer

prague
Originally uploaded by amylawlor.

I was traveling this week and took this photo from the Charles Bridge in Prague. I thought it was beautiful and tragic all at the same time. So often I forget about this image. Forget the sacrifice, forget the blood shed and the reasons why, forget the necessity of it all, forget the intensity and power of the Cross of Christ. I pursue a life of "Christless leisure" which to be honest, is just easier sometimes.

I am hesitant to post one more entry about letting the busyness of life crowd out the truly important things. And embrassed to be in that place yet again. Embarassed to have to confess again that my prayers are shallow, my flesh weak, and my spirit drained. My mind has been set on wordly things, things that pass away as opposed to things that are eternal. And where my mind goes so goes my heart.

I want to draw closer to God, to His heart, to His Spirit, to His will. But I think first I have to draw close to the Cross. "He who knows me knows the Father"

Lessons Learned

Often people ask me, "What's it like to live over there?" or "Man, that must be a neat experience" or "why the #$%& would you want to move so far away?" and other such things. A lot of time my response is something lame, and unthought out like "it's been a really great opportunity" or "I am learning so much" and I leave it at that. Occasionally people ask what I am learning. It's a good question...and i have these experiences and say to myself "well, that is a lesson learned". So in the interest of reminding myself and telling all my adoring fans here is a brief run down of lessons learned...some serious, some funny, some that will apply only to me, some that you may disagree with...but all lessons learned (some have to be learned multiple times unfortunately).

1) I am a big fan of personal space...not getting it makes me really cranky
2) On a related note...it is possible to be touching/to be being touched by at least 6 different people on the bus at one time.
3) The train station in Poprad DOES NOT tell you what track number your train will be on if it is track 1 or 2, so pay attention
4) Letters and packages from home are really special
5) I have really great people in my life
6) Coffee is addictive
7) God is very real
8) The bottom line: Love God, Love Other People. End of story.
9) If the milk smells bad, it probably is
10) I hate cabbage
11) If a student teaches you a new Slovak word, then tells you to go say it to someone else, it's probably crude
12) I am completely self-absorbed
13) Suffering is not a bad thing...you learn more in times of hardship than ever in your life
14) A prayerful life is cultivated when you run out of options, patience is learned from situations that try your patience, and humility is learned through humiliation...be careful what you pray for.
15) If you nod and smile people will think you understand what they are saying.
16) When in doubt you can respond with the words probably or maybe.
17) Plants die if you don't water them
18) Love
19) It is possible to not share DNA with people but to still consider then family
20) Life is really really really short...every moment is an opportunity.

What to blog

Hello out there faithful blog checkers. So it's Sunday...I am still in my pjamas and it's 2:15. I am seriously considering making another pot of coffee. So far today I have been working/reading/cleaning/catching up on current events. Had a busy week and will cover some of the highlights...think I will make coffee first. And just a warning...I am feeling very stream of consciousness today so in all likelihood this post may be really long and may not make sense.

Highlights of the weeks:
I played squash again (I have my very own raquet now). I am liking this sport. A lot.

There is a girl named Maja that I have been meeting with at the cafe for several months. She doesn't speak much English at all so we always try to communicate and it's sometimes really awkward and frustrating. She is really cute and sweet and I have just been so frustrated that we can't really talk. This week we met at the cafe. And we talked for about an hour and a half...ALL IN STINKING SLOVAK!!!!!!!!! it was huge. I understood a lot (not all) of what she said and I think I was making myself understood too (which is an even bigger struggle for me). I had a long coversation with someone in Slovak! It amazed me and gave me hope for the future and an even bigger desire to learn Slovak well. I have to admit that my side of the conversation sounded like this..."I was really bad, and sad and not nice. I was very depressed and sad but I not know why. My friend talk to me about God. I went to new kind of church. I told God yes. Now my life is better." but hey, it's a start!

My small group started meeting! There are 4 Slovak girls, me, and my roommate Lee Ann in the group. We are working now to figure out what we will study. The Slovak girls are all believers, students at the University in Presov, and involved in ministry in the city. My hope is that this group will encourage them and help them feel like they can lead a small group of their own soon with high school age girls. I am really excited about this group and about pouring into the girls during this time.

Our follow up to KECY summer, called KECY Klub started last night. We will meet monthly to continue conversations, get students thinking and have fun. The party last night was fun and it was really cool to see some of the students I had not seen since camp. We are tying to start a "small group" thing within KECY Klub. I am trying to figure out what that looks like and how to really express how important it is to live life with other people.

These were just a few of the cool things I got to do this week. So many days I am walking through this city thinking "I cannot believe I get to live this life. I am so blessed by God to do what I do." Not that everyday is some cake walk and I could probably write another blog entry about the lowlights of the week as well. But I don't really want to. Some days life is hard here, but it's hard wherever you are too...life is just like that.

My calendar is quickly filling up for this next week too, language lessons, my first day teaching Conversational English in a high school here, meetings with students, etc. Looking forward to whatever comes my way in the coming days!