The Things We Do

When I was 18 I jumped out of a plane. It was my graduation present from my mom. (Way to go, Mom!) I have discovered that this was in the Goodland, Kansas newspaper. Here is the link:

http://www.nwkansas.com/gldwebpages/pdf%20pages-all/gdn%20pages%2Fpdfs%201999/gdn%20pages%2F06%20Jun/Week%203/%20%20Monday/front%2006-14.pdf

I am quoted and sound like an idiot and everything. Apparently I was so high up I could barely see the ground!!! Is that even possible? And here I thought I was only published recently . . .

Beauty

I can't get over how beautiful it is to know God . . .

I have been asking him a lot of questions lately and he keeps pointing me back and saying Trust. Those who trust in me are like Mount Zion, they will not be shaken. I sometimes get frusturated that he doesn't answer my question, but then I look at the beauty he has placed all around us and realize I have my answers. I have this amazing God that does not give up on me. I have a love that no other love will ever rival. "I have tasted of a love so wide that it stops all my time. I have tasted of a love so deep that it blows my mind." Thank you Shawn McDonald. It is so true. I need nothing. I need fear nothing. I need worry over no thing. For the Lord watches out for me, protects me, and is there as the lover of my soul always and forever. He is sweet. All I keep looking for is the different facets of his personality that purify my vision and draw me in again. May my eyes roam to nothing less glorious than that which God wants me to see . . .

The Long and Short of It

I am asking for some accountability from the readers of this blog.

If I EVER say I want short hair again, I ask you to do whatever it takes to talk me out of it. This is the one and only time I give you permission to burst the bubble I live in. Say things like: Remember that last time, how much you didn't like it, and, it is so much easier and practical to have longer hair, Darcie . . . etc.

Top 10 Travel Essentials

When a person travels a lot, there comes a point where specific items become "essential" to making the trip comfortable. There is a certain learning curve with long journey's that cannnot be taught, just realized through experience and acceptance of one's own boundaries. As I prepare to leave Monday, I am gathering, charging and organizing my essentials:

1. Gum - 2 packs in the carry-on because my seat neighbors won't like how many times I will want to get up to brush my teeth.

2. An organized carry-on - I hate looking like an idiot at the check in counter or searching through my bags on the plane.

3. iPOD - charged, synced with the best and newest and easily accessible.

4. Passport - okay that should have been number one . . .

5. Book/Journal/Pens - These aren't always used, but they are like a security blanket to me. If I don't have them I feel like I have missed something. It would be as bad as forgetting to put on pants.

6. Wrinkle free attire - I immensely dislike looking like I rolled straight out of bed when I am travelling. Sure way to get tagged as an American while travelling internationally is to wear sweats and tennis shoes and carry a pillow with you.

7. Hygenic items of various uses - teeny tiny toothpaste so it doesn't get taken at security, teeny tiny hand sanitizer, toothbrush, baby wipes, and basic make-up so I look awake at some point.

8. All liquids already packed in a zip lock bag in the well organized carry-on that can be pulled out and shown at security. (Admittedly with the partial goal of looking like you know what you are doing instead of confused and irritated that the NSA wants to hijack your deoderant)

9. Easily removable shoes that serve two purposes: not holding up the line when you have to take them off so they can be checked for bombs and also not falling off when/if running is required for any reason.

10. Cup-o-soup - because airlines just don't feed you like they used to.

Last Harrah

Marie leaves tomorrow for the land of gnomes (Sweden) so this is our last take of coffee and muffins at Hassan's. [enter sad face here]

I have nothing more to say about this, it is too sad.

:(

Rules to live by

A million reasons to heed this warning




Always a good idea . . . always






People with hats and smiles please look right . . .

Please do not greet penguins

Brilliant Idea

Marie and I have had some brilliant ideas over the last five months, including the highlighted photo shoot with the lightbulb.

This end of the world is full of bright ideas, too. Check out this article:

BRAND HIV-POSITIVE PEOPLE ON THE BUTTOCKS, SAYS MP

Ezulwini, Swaziland: A proposal by a Swaziland member of parliment that HIV-positive people be branded on the buttocks has been met with outrage.
This week Swaziland MP and leader of the gospel group Ncandweni Christ Ambassadors, Timothy Myeni, told a leadership workshop for fellow MPs that Swaziland needed a mandatory law for testing people for HIV.
"Before having sex with anyone, people will have to check their partners' buttocks before proceeding," Myeni told the workshp.
Swaziland Aids Support Organization spokeman Vusi Matsebula said: "His utterances represent the views of someone who is still sleeping around. Maybe the branding will help him know what kind of a person he is about to sleep with." African Eye News Service

Oh my goodness. What is this world coming to?

Penguin Whisperer

Recipe for a great day:

Take 1 old friend, 1 Marie, and 1 new friend, add an old Audi and bake in the Cape Town Sun . . .

After baking, play frisbee on the sunset beach with an old surfer and leave the sand on your feet.

Packing 101

This is how to pack according to me:

Step 1: Throw everything you own on your bed.

Step 2: Pack the essentials and what you really, really want.

Step 3: Give away everything else.

(photo is of step one)

Warning: using this packing method will cause you to have a very limited wardrobe, a deep understanding of your own priorities and should not be tried by those with a sentimental heart condition unless accompanied by moral support.

Oh Sunny Day!

As the weather turns much more fall/winter then summer here in Cape Town, I am relishing the occasional burst of sunshine we get. This weeks highlight was the perfect day amidst rainy/cloudy/thunderstorms.

One thing you should know about living in Cape Town: there is no central heating here. So if the weather is cold, so is your house. You can't come in and warm up. Actually, more than once we have come in and put on even more layers, curled up under blankets and tried to warm our core. A few weeks ago I sat at my desk in my sleeping bag because I just couldn't get warm enough. (My goal of "continuous summer" has been unmet) Thankfully, with only 9 days left in the Cape, the weather has been graciously extending warm fingers just when we needed it most.

The Winner

The winner of the 2009 "Sugar is the new protein powder" candy giveaway is . . . . wait for it . . . . ANDREW!!! Congrats, Andrew. Your very own, one of a kind African candy bar is on its way. (It is not really one of a kind as candy bars are generally mass produced). Oh, you also win dinner with me at your home with your whole family where I share embarrassing stories and teach your kids words in other languages that may or may not be appropriate because you won't be able to understand them anyway! (make sure you read this whole blog entry with an announcer voice, preferably outloud where everyone else in the office can hear you.)

Monday??!?

I got confused today and forgot that it was Monday, so I didn't do any work. I treated it like a Sunday and hardly did anything. Oops. I need to unpack my calendar before I get myself in trouble.

Freelancing has nothing to do with sword fighting, however, it has a lot to do with fighting for things of honor. I have come face to face with the necessity to explain what I do lately. As the time here in Cape Town comes to a close, I am meeting with people, following up on things and having to give a rundown of what my time has looked like. I think we have given people the impression that we don't do much by not really talking about our work, but the truth is, I feel like we have accomplished a lot. No, I have not set an alarm in the last 8 weeks, but I have developed a connection with my computer that I didn't expect. I can also map out the places in the house where the wireless is the best and worked every core muscle needed to stay perfectly still while using the internet so I didn't lose it.

With the things that have been published and the great connections we have made, a lot of possibilities and open doors have come our way. Now we are just exploring what it will take to accomplish some of the vision that has been planted. I think being home will be the key for my processing, but there is a lot to get done in the next two weeks.

I am craving/obsessed with/longing for Ireland like . . . like nothing I can compare it to. Erin go Braugh.

Random Thoughts

I blame sugar for all my problems. Sugar is why I have poor circulation and constantly have cold hands and feet. Sugar is why I woke up at 4 o'clock in the morning and couldn't fall back asleep. Sugar is why I told Marie at 5 o'clock in the morning that we should just go ahead and work out since we couldn't sleep. Sugar is why I don't understand Heroes, still. Sugar is why I am so darn funny. Sugar is what keeps me from going insane. Sugar causes my moments of insanity. Sugar is why I am addicted to Hassan's Organic Muffins. Sugar is what my friends call me. Sugar is why I just lied about what my friends call me. Sugar is awesome.

[Hopefully there won't be much more blogging during my sleep deprived delirium]

So, of the five of you that read this, which one will be the first to comment? I will send you a candy bar so you can enjoy this sugar-filled life with me. Marie, you don't count because you are sitting next to me and I already buy you candy.

Ode to Marie

Top ten things you should know about my roommate, Marie:

My roommate, Marie, looked me right in the face today and said, "You are full of comedies," then she called me on skype while I was sitting just next to her.

My roommate, Marie, is from Sweden and says things like "Mess down," instead of, "mess up."

My roommate, Marie, introduced me to the hilarity that is Eurovision Song Contest - check it out on youtube.

My roommate, Marie, makes me coffee in the morning and doesn't have to ask how I want it anymore.

My roommate, Marie, has no problem laughing at me when I do something silly or stupid or just plain ridiculous. (she also laughs when I hurt myself, like good friends should)

My roommate, Marie, quotes me on her blog.

My roommate, Marie, frequantly quotes Scrubs and I totally understand it.

My roommate, Marie, does funny aerobics with Gilad in the mornings. (okay, I do, too, but this isn't about me)

My roommate, Marie, took a test that said her old lady name was Ethel. So now we go by Ethel and Winifred.

My roommate, Marie, punched a whale in the face just yesterday, but still wants to see, "a shark eating flying bird."

A Bit Embarrassing

Don't want to meet us in a dark alley!

Ha! We are zoo animals!

Hero of Confusion

I stayed away from it for years, fearing the addiction, but this week Marie and I did the unthinkable. We started watching HEROES. Great.

We didn't have season one, so we have gone through the episodes of season two at an astonishing pace. Not because we love it so much we don't want to watch anything else, but because it is frusturating. We keep hoping that in one more episode something will click. It is like the runaway puzzle pieces that destroy the pretty picture - I don't understand it. Remember my rant about South African politics? I feel the same about heros. I just keep saying over and over through the 42 minutes of "entertainment", "What the H is happening?" and "Who is good and who is bad?" and "Crap, even I saw that one coming!" and "What does this Japanese guy have to do with anything?" (Okay, in last nights episode that connection was made, but for the previous 8 episodes I just didn't know)

Does anyone have season one? I think I missed something. . .

"To Grow"

One of the projects I am working on right now is a Sub-Saharan Youth Devotional. This Bible study is printed every year for teens between the ages of 13 and 16 with Scripture Union. Various writers are assigned weeks of the year and specific scripture to cover during that time frame, keeping the focus on youth and making it fun and lively.

This is the hardest project I have worked on. Why? Here are my reasons:

1. The Pressure: I want so badly for the youth of Africa to experience the truth of God and I am totally comfortable sharing my own revelations to help them get there. The pressure to figure out how to say it right, what to focus on and what examples to use is sometimes too great. I just shut down.

2. The Intimidation: I am responsible for the first three days of the year and a week in March 2010 where we cover some chapters in James. If you don't understand the intimidation of covering the first three days of the year, I don't know how to explain it to you. It is like make or break. Will they keep reading? Will their parents even buy the book based on what I write? Will they be inspired to seek God? Geesh.

3. The Possibility: Say I do a great job. The Possibilities are endless. Future leaders, teachers, pastors, moms and dads will be reading this. God could show up and give them deep revelation of the things of His heart. I pray my words do not hinder the spirit, but allow him free reign.

4. The Love: I love youth. I love the opportunities in front of them and they way God uses them so beautifully. They inherently carry the potential to turn the world upside down (or right side up) with their words and courage and purity. I want them to know that, but to not be able to sit with them and say it is hard.

So, through this project of trying to help the youth of Africa grow, I am growing in my trust and understanding of who God is. It is a great opportunity and if I didn't believe in the cause so much, I wouldn't walk through the pressure and intimidation and aching of hope for this generation.

Inspired!

There is a little patio behind our fav bakery/cappuccino orgainic shop that is full of inspiration. Everytime we sit there the world is at our fingertips and issues of the day are solved. We came up with our plan for field assignment there. We sit and put together blog ideas there. We planned an international non-profit magazine there (that will be very successful, we are sure). We have ideas we didn't follow through on, too, like doing our whole promo video by playdough claymation.
What makes our patio so inspirational? In short: the caffeine, the muffins, the organic feel, the chess board, the fact that you have to walk through the bakery to get there, the V.I.P. atmosphere because there are only two tables and our great Australian/British French-speaking Muslim Host - Hassan and his pet pigeon, Francesca (or Francesco because we don't know the sex), the sun, the homemade furniture, and the company.

It Hit Today

It hit me today that I am about to leave South Africa. It hit as I sat in my favorite coffee shop, with my favorite Swedish roommate, drinking my favorite cappuccino and enjoying the sun. I have been thinking about leaving - packing, sending stuff home, giving things away, physically touching my passport over and over again to make sure it wasn't misplaced, but today it clicked inside. Nineteen days and I am on another flight to another country and another stamp in my passport. Nineteen isn't very much. Now that I am under three weeks it feels like I could blink and it would be over.

To call the time here a "personal success" would be an understatment. More then I imagined has happened in the last five African months. I learned more, was challenged more, loved it more and met more amazing people then I expected. I really like South Africa and I really like the time I have spent here. It has been a quick five months for me. Really quick.

iTunes Identity

I decided that you can tell a lot about me from my iTunes. I would even venture to say you can tell most things that have to do with my goals and passions from my iTunes. I use it like the local library. Something I want to know? I search iTunes for a podcast. Something I like to listen to? iTunes. Favorite TV shows? Yep, download a season or two. A region of the world that I venture to become more familiar with or a language I want to brush up on? A quick search on iTunes returns audiobooks, teaching seminars, university lectures, music from the region and several (free!) lessons of the local dialect complete with pdf's of the written characters for practice. Once I even found a teaching on how to Tibetan Throat Sing. (My sister got a bit fed up with my brother-in-law and I practicing Tibetan Throat Singing, but it was fun while it lasted and I feel very cultural just for trying)

I have over 400 podcasts. From IHOP prayer sessions to the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast, from Biblical Hebrew to Fit TV - you can pray in Hebrew while doing aerobics to a Celtic Flute if you wanted to play them all at the same time. You can learn four languages with my iTunes Library - Arabic, Hebrew, French and German. When finished with languages for the day, settle in a chose an Audiobook. Chronicles of Narnia as read by Patrick Stewert, Velvet Elvis or Twilight more your style?

I have teachings from Spurgeon, Tozer, Nee, Murray, Peterson as well as my local church, and churches I have just heard of and like to listen to.

I should have credits for attending courses with Stanford, University of Michigan, University of Utah and Southen Illinois U.

I know not everyone uses iTunes as much as I do. But, I am a collector of information and to have it all in one, mobile place is like genius. (Speaking of, I love the genius sidebar on iTunes) I have a dream to live somewhere with a beautiful library full of information and insight, but for now, I will carry it with me digitally.

What does my roommate think of my collective taste? In her own words, "Oh, dear, Darcie, what is this????"

Way too Serious

This blog has been way too serious lately, so here is a funny picture to lighten the mood.

Hmmmmm. If I had super powers, what would they be???????

Courage to Love

What makes it so hard to love?

I have been thinking a lot lately about the idea of love and how far we let our hearts wander into the wilderness of the unknown. There is so much promise there, but there is also an unknowing that can bring fear and hesitation. So what is the right response?

I seem to have this strange expectation that controls different aspects of my worldview. I expect things to just "click" into place, so when they do I tend to put a lot of stock into it immediately and when they don't, when it requires a little more work, I tend to doubt and wonder. This is a difficult thing to reconcile with what I know about love. I expect love to be both exciting and challenging. I don't think love is always roses and sunshine, but the thorns and the rain, too, even hurricanes. (and all the better because of it)

So when it is love that isn't clicking into place, I begin to war and wrestle with that. I am already fearing I am being too vulnerable for an online blog, but since I know of about 5 people who read this, I would venture to say I would have this conversation with any one of you, so I will keep going.

I want to have the courage to step out in love no matter what the outcome appears to be. Whether I am loved back or rejected, I want to be free. I saw a quote yesterday that said, "God didn't save us to tame us." I don't want to be tame in the way I love people. I want it to be extravagant and world changing.

On the other side of this coin, I don't want to be hurt and bleeding by the end of my life because I have been slashed through too many times by my indiscriminate feelings.

So when it comes down to it, all I know right now is that love isn't always safe. It isn't safe with our friends or family. It isn't safe with our significant others. It just isn't always safe and comfortable. Loving IS stepping out of the comfort zone. Loving IS being vulnerable and willing. Loving IS opening up when your not sure what that will bring. Loving IS seasoned by the responses you get and how you deal with it. I am just barely starting to let my heart out of its cage. Who knows where it will go.

Maybe I will have more answers when I am done reading The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis.