Indifference

I lay in bed last night disgusted with my self absorbed ways. I live in a world starving for hope and afflicted with despair and I spend my time worrying about what I will wear and what my next opportunity for entertainment will be. I live in a society where it is acceptable and the norm to consume on a daily basis. We pay $5 for a coffee with steamed milk, fancy flavored sugar, and foam. We check our email and facebook accounts on our apple computers and concern ourselves with what the rich and famous are doing each day. We don’t think twice about the millions who cannot afford to eat or who don’t have a pillow or safe place to spend the night. Most of us will never understand what it is like to be sold into slavery, or considered to be an “untouchable”, or have to flee our home for safety only to realize that we may not survive the journey across the border. I heard a sermon last week on the sin of sloth which is not necessarily laziness but the sin of being indifferent. I live a life of indifference on a fairly regular basis and I live in a culture that is indifferent. Indifferent and numb to the lives of others, indifferent to a hurting world, and indifferent to trying to make a change.

One of my friends is going overseas in the next few days. She will spend some time working with the Dalit Freedom network in India. The Dalit are the “untouchables” of the caste system in India. They have spent their lives being told that they are worthless. If a Dalit shadow touches a member of an upper caste system that person has been polluted according to the caste rules. http://www.dalitnetwork.org/go?/dfn/index

Here is a video describing the refugee situation in Athens.

These are a desperate people without hope, without freedom, and without God.

We are living in a time when we cannot afford to be indifferent. I know that I desire to no longer be indifferent. I have consistently prayed that God will not allow me to apathetic in the way I live my life and in my relationship to Him. I know that God has called me to go to Athens and work with refugees who currently have no hope. I continue to move towards that goal. Thank you for walking with me each step of the way

I am only one, but still, I am one. I cannot do everything but I can do something. And, because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do what I can. Edward Everett Hale

"Love does not look away. And it does not walk away. It involves itself. It inconveniences itself. It indebts itself."

-Ken Gie

Cows Tongue and fake $5 bills

Apparently it's been a couple months since I added any updates. I guess it's true that time seems to fly by. I have now been in Fort Collins for three months. In December I started working for Walmart as a cashier and feel extremely blessed to have a perfect part time job in our current economy that allows me time to work on my classes and fundraising. This also comes with finding fake $5 bills and selling cow's tongue. Never a dull day at work:)



I continue to plug away at the last set of classes I need to complete before I head overseas. I have about 12 assignments to finish including a book to go through with a mentor. God has blessed me with a wonderful mentor who is a source of encouragement and inspiration as a I grow and learn during this time. I continue to feel that this time and period in my life is lonely at times but I know that I am being prepared for what is ahead. I am starting to really focus on finishing my support raising which is in what I like to call "phase 2". God has promised to be faithful and take care of me but this also means that I need to give 100% in following Him and also in seeking funding for my new ministry. I continue to seek new contacts and churches in the Fort Collins area. Each day I strive to remain focused on my goal and productive and wise in how I spend my time.

I am feeling a little more settled in Fort Collins. Thursday mornings I have started to volunteer at Everyday Joe's a local coffee shop run by a church. I am enjoying learning about coffee and meeting new people. www.everydayjoes.org. I have also found a church which has been such a blessing. I had a chance to sit down and have coffee with the pastor a few weeks ago and love his vision for the church and the approach to ministry the church is taking. http://www.theroadfc.org

A New Home...

I have officially been living in Fort Collins for three weeks now. It is a true blessing to be able to stay with my friend Amy who has been so gracious and encouraging to me through my transition. The house had needed a bit of work and is still in process. My friend JJ and I were able to help out by installing a new counter top and kitchen sink. I got the chance to learn all about plumbing, jigsaws, and silicone. It was fun and I was happy to be able to contribute to the house:)





I continue to look for jobs in Fort Collins. I have had several interviews but nothing has come through at this point. I have a few more leads and another interview lined up for this week. I also have one more online class to take for International Teams and have started my projects for this. I am currently looking for a mentor to go through one of the assigned books with me. Please join me in praying that I will find someone to fill this role and that God will also provide me with a job.

It has been a true joy to be living closer to my sister Rosemary these past few weeks. Earlier this month we celebrated her birthday with some of her friends. She has also been such a source of encouragement and support during my continued transitions.


Mom and Dad will be coming home Dec. 1st for about a month for the holidays. I am looking forward to spending time with them and once again being in the same country again:) Being back from Chicago things have moved a little slower than I anticipated but I continue to trust God's timing and plan in everything. At times I feel as though I am on a treadmill and Athens seems so far away. I continue to be thankful and blessed by God's provision and care. Thank you so much for the part that you play in this journey and ministry to Refugees who are hurting and desiring a sense of hope.

" But as for me I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not is measure. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone." Psalm 71:14-16

The Real World!!

I sat on the plane back to Denver surrounded by the excited high school hockey team listening to their ipod's and watching their movies, the ladies next to me returning from running the Chicago marathon. I sat reflecting on the last five weeks and trying to figure out what I needed to complete to be ready to leave fro Greece in 6 months.

I has felt like I was back in college the last few weeks. Classes all day, late nights with roommates, group dinners. Getting locked out of my apartment and scaling the latice to get back in. It has been a blessing to build relationships with others sharing the same vision for ministry as I do.

MIT's (Missionaries in Training) the first week


We were in class generally 8-5 each day. The first week was spent learning about International Teams (IT). Talking about the core values and the vision of IT. We also learned about
cultural differences, culture shock, and finances.

The next two weeks were spent learning about Islam, Hinduism, Catholicism. We visited a mosque, a Hindu temple, and an inner city church which has a ministry of racial reconciliation though IT. We also
talked about our spiritual gifts, working in teams, and fund raising.

The last two weeks were spent taking SLA (Second Language Acquisition) to help in learning new languages. This was the most challenging lots of homework and learning about phonetics. By this point there were only four of us left at training so the class was very small and at times intense.

One of our projects for SLA was to learn some Korean to practice working with a tutor and practice techniques that were helpful. We chose to learn how to go to the market and buy items to make Bulgogi (Korean Barbecue). We learned directions, food names, and basic greetings.

I also had a chance to spend some time in Chicago enjoying the city:):)

What can I say I love Tea on a cold day:)

The Bean

My roommate Gina and I in the bean Chiacgo from the top of the Hancock building


It's officially fall since the pumpkins are out!

I have been back in Colorado for about a week. My sister and her roomate have graciously let me stay on the air mattress with them until my place in Fort Collins is ready to move into. My friend has offered me a place to stay with her but the house is being remodeled and the bathroom is not yet in working condition. I am currently looking for a job and continuing to raise support. Being back in Colorado and getting resettled has been a slower process than I had anticipated. I would like to be in Athens this coming April but need to complete my support raising before then and have a lot to do between now and then.