Protected Royalty

Every night I go to devotions with the children and it goes until it is dark. As I walk home alone I start to feel afraid. Not of the dark, but what might be in it. And just as I think I'm going to run for the house, someone comes to walk beside me. He is kind in every way and tells me not to be afriad, he will walk me home every night from now on. So we walk and talk and I am no longer afraid.
When I first arrived here, I had nightmares every night. Every night I prayed I wouldn't. Then one night as I was half asleep, I heard some one knocking on my front door. I didn't awnser because I wasn't sure if I had dreamt it or not. Then I was half aware of a man standing over my bed. I wasn't afraid of him, and my night mares went away. I dont think this man was the same who walks me home. I hope I know my savior when I see him.
Jesus can be hard to regonise sometimes. But we can know him if we make ourselves familiar with him. The sheep know their shepards voice. When you hear it often, you wont be able to mistake it for anyone elses.

Hotel Rwanda

About eightteen years ago, Rwanda was split apart, by a genocide that happened here. Most of you have probally seen Hotel Rwanda. Well today I got to see the Hotel that movie is based on. If you where to look at this country now, you would not know that such an awful thing happened here. You would not see the hatred that filled the hearts of so many. All you would see, is the beauty. Of both the country and the people. What was here is now gone, replaced by love for life and pride for who they are. That is really why I named this blog the Blue Dot Blog. Because the Genocide is Rwanda's blue dot. Its all most people see when they think of Rwanda. But just like everything and everyone that has a blue dot, it is so much more.

What can you do?

I have finished my first week in Rwanda. It is amazing to be so in love with a country. The children are so happy. The best part is, they love God with every fiber of their being. During devotion, they have awnsers that many adults wouldn't think of. When asked why they love God, they all say because he saved them. And it's true. If not for Rafiki Foundation, these children would be in bad homes or on the streets. But then, there are thousands of others still out there. Not everyone was called over sea's. And thats ok. But everyone can do a part. So the question we need to ask ourselves is, what can we do?

Jesus Freak

I have not been able to keep up with my blog, and for that I apologize. But, now that I am back on I will tell you about my newest adventure. I said goodbye to Ethiopia and made my way to Rwanda. I didn't expect it, but I fell in love with this new place. The lush green hills, the red dirt roads, and the people who wave from the street. it is all so beuatiful. It does not make me forget my homesickness or the loneliness when I'm alone in my house. I have been trying to find a good way to describe it. Katie Davis put it perfectly in her book, Kisses from Katie.
"The Contradiction comes when I realize all these experiences and emotions are real. The happiness that gives me chill bumps is as deep as my loneliness. My sense of certainty about being exactly where God wants me is solid, but just as firm as the fact that I wonder at times what on Earth I'm doing here. The frustraton that threatens to take over on some occasions is just as deep and true as the unbound joy I feel at other times. I love my new life; I truely love it. But compared to the life I had been living, it is hard."
When I read that, I felt very encoraged. Because, even though I am only here temporarily, it is my new life. I cant go back to the way I was before I came here. Nor do I want to. I have grown in ways, I don't think I could have had I stayed and gone to college like American society believes your supposed to. I don't want to be the "Average American". I want to be a crazy, out of her mind, Jesus Freak.

Week 1

Week one went by, and it was wonderful! When I first arrived I was given the day to rest and get settled, so I slept. The next day I got to meet the kids. They are so happy and cheerful. My house mate and I hit it off right away. Her name is Jill. The kids are on break this week and last. We spent the week coloring gifts with for the kids sponsors. After I would do crafts with them and Jill would play sports. The food here is good, though very spicy. The mammas and kids think its so funny when our eyes water. Coffee is a huge part of the culture here. Every day after lunch they serve some in tiny cup, because its so strong. I'm usually not a coffee drinker but I like Selom's, shes the cook. They even have a special coffee ceremony, where they roast the coffee beans first then gind them and make them into coffee. I havent seen that yet but its a holiday on thursday and I think they are having one then. The holidayis called Meskal. Its for "the true cross".  The stories goes that an Ethiopian woman found the cross of Jesus. So they build a big bonfire a put a cross in the middle. Which ever way the cross falls is the way to the true cross. Its only religiously important to the orthodox. To everyone else its just apart of culture. Unlike most countries the traditional colors here are white. Inside the village is nice and beautiful, but outside is very sad. Kids sitting on the side of the road, trash in the streets. Saterday a school came to do community service. That day was easy because all Jill and I had to do was supervise. We went to church sunday with the Mammas and the kids. We couldnt understand a single word because the pastor spoke Amharic. But we could feel the meaning. After service a man walked up to us and stood before Jill clicked his heels, saluted and bowed, then turned to me and did the same. The mammas where laughing too so we new it wasnt the traditional way to greet some one. Well that was the first week. I'm looking forward to the next!

rain drops

It's a strange feeling, having so many people cry for you. Its not exactly good, because you feel bad about being the source of their sadness. But it also feels wonderful. Because if they are crying for you, then that means they love you. And to be loved by so many people is the greatest honor I've ever had.

adventure is out there!

I was just informes today that I would be going to not one country, but two. Ethiopia and Rwanda. It got me thinking about the movie Up and how the main phrase is "adventure is out there." And so it is. This trip is my adventure, but that doesn't mean you have to go to a different continent to find an adventure.there is more than enough work to be done here in the States. We need missionaries just as much if not more than other countries. Because they know what they need. We don't.ours is a battle of the mind. Which is the hardest battle to fight. Adventure IS out there. Or here.

too soon to go

I have been hearing a lot recently about people who have passed on. These deaths were too sudden and unexpected. It makes you think about your own loved ones. A phrase that we say all the time is "I'll tell you later." But what if you don't get to tell them later? I'm sure their families and friends had things they wanted to say to them. Life is too precious to wait until later. Take my advice friends, don't wait until later. If you have something important to tell someone, or, if there is bad blood between you and someone, don't wait to fix it. Tell them befoore the day ends.

patients is a virtue

I have realized something in my short eighteen years of life. Don't pray for patient because then you get put in a situation were you have to be patient. Like right now I am in that in between stage were I'm done with one stage of my life and waiting for the next. It is not the most frustrating time of my life, but very close. Everyone says that patients is a virtue, but why does it have to be so hard to get a hold of? Its like a wave. It come to you on its own. If you try to grab it, it pulls away. Luckily, it always seems to meet you when you absolutely need it. At least its friendly.

Finally done

So graduation is over. I am officially an adult and feel no different than I did as a highshool student. My graduation party was about two weeks ago and I was completely overwhelmed. Just by the love that was showed to me. It truely brought me to tears. You go through life knowing that you have friends but it doesn't occur to you that they love you until something like this happens. So now I just want you all to know that I love you so much and that I am so grateful to have you in my life. I cant express in words how much you all mean to me.

No Shoes, No Service

Today was Toms "Day Without Shoes" and yours truely participated. I walked from my house to the mishawaka Library which are about two miles apart. It was very intresting, walking without shoes. When people see you, without shoes, they avoid your eyes like they hope you wont look at them. Every now and then they meet your eyes, and when they do their eyes are filled with pity. I went into two antique stores and they paid me no mind. But when I got to the library, I couldn't stay because I didn't have shoes. On my way home, a couple stopped in their car and asked if I was ok and if I needed help. This No shoes, No service rule is one of Americas worst. I understand restraunts, but a library? For all they know, the reason I didn't have shoes was because I really had none. There are people, even in the states, who don't have shoes.They cant go into a public library, a place that should be open to everyone, because they don't have shoes. Shoes. Such an easy thing, and something we have in abundance. Now, I'm not saying everyone should walk around without shoes, because it hurts. And I'm definatly not wanting you to feel guilty when you buy a gorgeous pair of shoes. I like new shoes just as much as the next person. I'm just saying to keep it in mind next time you do buy shoes. What if, one day, everyone in america just didn't wear shoes? What kind of impression would that make on our No shoes no service society. The store owners would have to let people in or they would have no buisness. We could do so much, if we just acted like the country we were always suposed to be. One country, under God.

Together Forever

I was at the park today, trying to focus on some books I had to read, and a saw two little ducks. One male, one female, just swimming around, having a fantastic time together. It got me thinking. Did you know ducks mate for life? Isn't that incredible? So, once they find their mate, they will never leave them. Even if their mate dies, they will never find another mate. I don't know, I just thought that was so amazing.

Changing the World, One Neighborhood at a Time.

I just got back yesterday from southern Indiana where a nasty torndo hit not to long ago. The mess was awful. House blown right off their foundations, trees uprooted and random things caught in trees. We spent the morning at a cemetary. The grave yard its self was untouched, but the forrest round it was destroyed. You should know that pulling metal barn siding out of fallen tree branches is not as easy as it sounds. I recieved a very nice, very deep souvenir from one such peice. In the afternoon, we went to a house that belonged to an older lady named Sandy. Her barn was completly gone and her house was damaged but still standing. We helped her go through her saved things and decide what would still be useful to her. One of the men with us is named Trevor. He became our brother in Christ saterday and was babtised in the creek. It was an amazing day and everyone was overjoyed to welcome him into our family. This weekend was one small step towards changing the world.

Florida

I got back from my training last week and, it was amazing! I suppose to most it would be boring. Because they simply talked to us for the day. But it was the things they talked about that kept me wanting to hear more. They talked about the history of Rafiki and how a woman by the name of Rosemary, her husband and their two year daughter lived in africa for about eight years before coming up with the idea of this foundation. She is 82 years old and still moving around like an 18 year old. It was amazing and i decided to be like her when I reach 82. They talked about why we should and should not go on these trips. Reason number one why not to go, it is not a vacation. Apparently some people go on these trips with the impression that it is a vacation. But it is work that has to be done, and that is why we go. I'll write more as more happens.

Hunger Games

My Sister and I have been very excited about the new Hunger games movie and were talking about it when she made a comment I found intresting. She said that blood was gross. I thought about it and decided that I dont agree. Blood is not gross, but sad. When there is blood, it means there's an injury or death. Both of which, are quite sad. On the other hand, blood is also good to. It is one of the things that helps keep us alive and saves lives. So you see, it is not gross, but sad and good.

The most terrifying thing I have ever done is coming very rapidly and there is no way to stop it, or slow it down. It is coming whether I, or others like me, want it or not. As you all have probally guessed, this unknown and unmarked territory is also known as..........Graduation. Yes, I'm afriad it's true. One semester left, and we seniors will offically be entering adult society. We will be going forth to influence our world in any way we can. Yes........I'm scared too.