An Overview...

Winter clothing is quite excessive, I must admit... leggings, socks, pants, long sleeve shirt, fleece jacket, winter jacket, gloves, scarf, hat and boots. The end.

Going outside is an entire ordeal. I have to prepare myself to spend 10 minutes getting ready to walk out the door, making sure I am properly attired. And no, this doesn't involve a preoccupation with fashion; it's a survival mechanism. I used to consider myself an outdoors kind of person and now I'm beginning to reconsider.

Could it really be that I was enjoying tropical sun only two weeks ago? Have classes really been going on for almost two weeks? Ah, humans… creatures of habit. I’ve fallen into habits and routines that pertain to life here at U of Illinois. Class, friends, food, sleep, church, friends, class and when it’s convenient… sleep.

This post will mostly be an overview of my life and what I should be doing this semester.

ACADEMICS

I’m excited for what this semester holds. True to my nerdy self, I love all of my classes this semester. Below is the list of my classes:

- Arabic

- Portuguese

- Comparative politics of developing nations

- Civil society, NGOs and international social movements

- Comparative world literature: cross-cultural examination of love and death

- Modern Dance II

Yes, I am taking a dance class. And yes, I’m pretty bad at it. But it’s fun… I have to remember to just relax and laugh it off.

Everything else is quite fabulous, though… I’ve met some Colombians in my Portuguese class. It’s amusing to try and speak Portuguese with a Spanish accent. More than anything, though, I’ve really enjoyed meeting people who speak Spanish fluently. It’s refreshing.

SPIRITUAL

I’ve begun going to TCBC’s (my church) youth group. I believe I’ll be helping out as a middle school girls’ small group leader. I’m looking forward to the opportunities to speak into the lives of younger girls and encouraging them to run after God with all that they are.

At the end of last semester I began to feel disenchanted with Cru (Campus Crusade). For a variety of reasons, I decided to try out other Christian groups on campus this semester. I went to Navigators last week and will probably go for a couple more weeks. After that I’ll try out InterVarsity or Axiom (Campus Christian Ministries). I’m looking for a group where I truly feel the community of Christ and where I feel I can use my gifts best to serve others.

SERVICE

I’m thinking about joining a coed community service fraternity this semester. I miss doing service projects and I figured that I should start being intentional about finding those opportunities. I’m hoping to join this semester so that I can learn of the service opportunities in the area

'Tis the Season

Colombia.

Ah, I never knew I loved it so much-- until I left it... I left it eight months ago.

And now I'm back... have been back for nearly a month now. Three and a half weeks gone and one week left. Just one week.

When I arrived in Bogota on December 17, I instantly felt the exhilarating rush of being in Colombia. I remember feeling like my pores couldn't quite soak in enough of Colombia. My senses were going crazy just trying to capture it all... capture it and store it-- treasure it. Everything screamed, "YOU'RE HOME," and I made no attempt to try and figure out exactly what "home" meant. My shampoo, my bed, my Colombian food... ahhh. I even found amusement in typical latin men whistling and yelling to grab my attention. Hahaha. There's nothing like home sweet home.

And yet, this home sweet home has the incredible capability of ripping my heart out and at the same time, intoxicating me with the overwhelming desire to stay here forever.

My last five months in college towns had made me wonder if the homeless existed in America. Yes, I know they do, but their simple lack of existence-- or at least, very rare appearance-- started wearing on my mind. After two days in Colombia, I re-realized that I was going to run out of money quite quickly if I intended to buy lunches for everyone I saw on the streets. And if buying them lunches would fix their problems, then I'd go broke in a heartbeat. But its more than hunger-- its depravity. And its not just one, its hundreds.

Within a week, I'd visited several ministries and slowly felt my soul recharged in ways I can't exactly explain. There's something beautiful about holding poor, dirty kids. There's something incomparable about running around and playing tag with these same kids. How do you explain the joy in their faces when opening up Christmas presents and getting... socks? Why is it that suddenly the fear of leaving without them feeling love and affection takes precedence over the fear of getting lice?

After two weeks of traveling the roads winding through the Andes Mountains, I felt relieved to remember that the world is more than cornfields in central Illinois. The mountains continually reminded me of Christ's majesty, the lush, green hills of his life and grace and the vast sky of his immeasurable power. I found my body unwinding and relaxing as I quickly adjusted to third world schedules-- or Colombian time. I loved it... I didn't mind the long waits or down time simply waiting for things to happen. I savored this culture that valued people above appointments.

And now?

Now, I'm facing the dread of leaving... of leaving this country, this culture, these people. I missed my family more than I felt comfortable admitting. I long to bring my friends back to Illinois with me... the rare treasures I've found in their depth, passion, love and godliness.

Yet, I know God's calling me back... there is a season for everything, and this just so happens to be my season of training. Oh, and how I dislike training... I rather be sitting on the streets talking to the homeless, hugging their children, feeding their families. But to those who have been given much, much will be expected. He's given me the privilege of being trained, so that I can most glorify him. Oh Father, give me your strength to be grateful for every season of life.