June 26, 2007

LIFE IN POCATELLO

Well, I'm in Pocatello visiting my sis and having a great time. It is very strange being back here. Seeing old haunts has stirred up memories which I never knew existed! The funniest so far has been the raspberry farm where I had my first job....worked right beside the delinquents and down the road is the stop sign my Dad and I argued endlessly over. Being a very studious rule follower I would always stop at the stop sign, then at the white line, then edge up to where I could see better, then go. That is what my driver's ed teacher told me to do. Dad was sure that someone ran into me after I had stopped the eighth time at one stop sign!

Great epiphanies? It has been amazing to spend time with my sister! We have stumbled upon an interesting research project while in town which we have spent a portion of our time discussing and coming up with various postulates. In a mere 24 hours, I have been honked at, winked at, cat calls, claimed to have been an acquaintance from a party, and in have had attempted various conversations started with me. This at a greater rate than I have ever experienced in Boise. So far we have a few theories.
(1) We look like city girls and men have certain assumptions about city girls.
(2) I must bear a striking resemblance to some local woman with loose morals.
(3) Men here are more bold and not as fearful of rejection

We will keep you posted if we come to any conclusions. Frankly I feel we have a more likely chance of solving nuclear fusion than solving this conundrum.

Don't worry. God DAILY humbles me...so I'm consider this more of a strange circumstance than a tribute beauty! I'm thankful for a God who is willing to humble me in all circumstances and reminds me that he is in control. All I have to do is read about the prophets who SAW God...they wept and were ashamed...and they were much more than I. I look forward to the day God calls me home.... but have a healthy fear of seeing a God so powerful for the first time.

June 22, 2007

Not that this is terribly interesting, but I needed a break from grading papers! We did personality tests in class...and mine came out as an INFJ. Originally that had me pegged as an extavert vs. introvert, but after discussing with the parents, we decided that I was an introvert that had learned to become rather extraverted in order to survive moving a lot!

Here a few websites that describe my personality. You can go through and try to guess yours...which is fascinating. In order to get the "official" results you have to take an MBTI test which is only done through a certified tester... which my professor happens to be! For those of you who always thought I was a little strange....Congrats! You were right as my personality type is the rarest.

http://www.infj.org/public/infjcharacter.html
http://www.murraystate.edu/secsv/fye/INFJ.htm

It's been a lot of fun to learn about the different personality types. It has also been fun to get to know grad students and even their significant others. We hung out after the last class (me with my diet coke) and I had the joy of my life questioning to my hearts content Mike, the prof's hubby about his three degrees, Russia, and the political world at large! It has been so fun hanged out with people who have such diverse experiences!

June 19, 2007

Wow! It has been a very long time since I've blogged! I must apologize. The last few weeks of May were crazy with report cards and K graduation and the first few weeks of summer I feel like I've been playing catch up. I'm amazed at how busy I'm staying when not working! Of course, much of the time is spent in devotions, running, reading, and working on my internships. I still haven't done my official ritual of the start of summer....watching Lord of the Rings...so let me know if anyone wants to join the ritual and prepare for a one or two nights of nothing but LotR!

God has been doing some AMAZING things in my life lately. The first big news is I'm going to school full time! (YEAH!) I can't believe that this time next year I'll probably be taking my last class with my diploma by August. Getting my masters has always been such a dream and I can't believe that I'm finally going to have it. I've been wanting to go full time, but had been praying that God would give me one final push because I wasn't sure I could do it finacially. In his infinite wisdom...I didn't get a push but a gift. Last month I received a scholarship for my tuition and books and then a few weeks ago I received another scholarship that will cover some of my housing cost. I am always amazed at how God cares for me... and ashamed about how I often complain.

This weekend I was amazed as I got to spend time in his creation (hence the backpacking pic) and reflect on the things he has been teaching me. I've been reading a book about a missionary who was imprisoned in a Japanese internment camp during WWII. It has truly reminded me and help me fully to understand to "rejoice in tribulation." As I read this book and reflected on my own life it became so clear how during tribulation God has the opportunity to show himself on a level that we can never reach in our comfort. In the good times we have little need for prayer. In tribulation, the spiritual battle often becomes clear and we take our post as soldiers. God reveals himself, his love, and his protection in ways that you can never see we life is easy.

Lately the tribulations of Christians in other parts of the world has struck deep within me. I've found myself praying for the Christian women in an islamic world who fears for her life and can't leave her house because her culture dictates it. It has been my prayer that God turn all of this conflict in the Middle East to turn the people's heart towards him. For in tribulation, we see God.

These thoughts have circulated my mind: The harvest is plenty. The workers are few. If they will persecute me they will persecute you. How long will we cling to our wasteful lives to change them for hardship....and a chance to reach those who live in darkness? A chance to see God work in ways we will never see if we do not suffer. This is not a question for others, but for myself.