I've been struggleing for a while (and by a while, I mean a few days) about how to organise this post. This trip is unlike any other I've taken. For one, it's a bit longer- five weeks as compared to 2, and way more intense. It's five weeks of constant discipleship and ministry in a culture completely different from my own preparing me to be a missionary in my hometown. The other trips were either with my church and led by my father, or a "pep rally for Jesus" type thing.
I came to the conclusion that I should write this post in three parts, doing a general anylisis of each part and highlighting the areas that stuck out to me followed by a summary. Yes, I am OCD.
So here we go.
Part One- Training Camp:
Wow. Training camp was... Intense. There are lots of things I can't share with you, mainly because Royal Servants wants to keep a lot of things secret. Not secret as in a cultish- brainwashing way, but secret as in everything they do is done for a purpose and used in teachings and discipleship and they want students to expierience everything for themselves, because it means more that way. I'll just say that they do a very good job of preparing you for oversees.
We spent much of our time in either worship, quiet time, or teachings. We would also spend 3 hours a day doing what's called "skill groups", which are our tools for evangilism. There was Dance, Drama, and Puppets. Select teams also had other groups, such as my team, which had basketball since that was our main tool of ministry, and Costa Rica, which had Soccer, since that was their main form of ministry.
I have to say that Training Camp was the hardest and most intense part of the trip, but it was also fun because it brought me closer to my team and we were going through it together. I also spent a lot of the week bonding with my team and discipleship group, which was good and fun.
Part Two- Ministry:
This part was the longest part of my trip, and in reality, it all blended together. After almost 2 hours of quiet time, we would eat lunch, then either have a teaching or go out and survey people and share Christ that way. Sometimes we would go to the beach and do ministry there. In the evenings, we would play pick up basketball, or if it was a weekend, host a basketball tournament.
I think I'll just share my favourite experience that happened to me. It was our last tournament, and I had been praying for someone to talk to and really connect to. I was also praying that they would approach me, because I'm shy. So on Friday I was talking to one of our translators, and this little 9 year old girl named Marsha walks up to me and started talking to me. She asked me questions about our team, and told me about her family. She told me about her older sister who was 15, and it turns out we had a lot in common!
After our dance and drama performance, she introduced me to her sister (Alonya), and we really hit it off! The next two days we hung out the entire time, and each day she heard the message of Christ. She didn't accept Christ into her life that I know of, but it was great getting to know her. She taught me the Russian alphabet and drew a picture of me!
Part Three: Debriefing!
The last five days of the trip were dedicated to two things: 1)fun, and 2) Preparing us mentally to go home. Our time was spent in quiet time, teachings, and going to touristy spots. We spent the day on the black sea, went to a mid evil castle, and chilled in downtown Odessa. This part was fun and full of random dance parties, but it was also the most bittersweet. I was excited to go home, but I also didn't want to leave Ukraine. I was comfortable in the work God had for me and I had made so many friendships and I was sad to leave my friends.
I thank God for facebook and texting- I can still keep in touch with my Ukrainian family!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
The List: Officially!
The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).
Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.
Here's my list:
1. Dye my hair purple.
2. Go hang- gliding.
3. Learn to Drink Tea without a ton a sugar.
4. Go to a Broncos/ Redskins game with Arielle
5. Go on another Royal Servants trip
6. Get a bookshelf big enough to fit all my books on it
7. Catalog my “library” (bookshelf… only one…)
8. Read the Circle trilogy by Ted Dekker
9. Go to London
10. Go to Purple Door
11. Blog every day for a month
12. Finish a book I started
13. Sing a Solo
14. Keep my room clean for a month
15. Read the entire Harry Potter series in 7 days
16. Read one book a day for a month.
17. Scrapbook- and actually finish the book myself.
18. Reread my American Girl books
19. Go on a road trip with my best friends
20. Get a pedicure
21. Go six months without soda
22. Go a week without caffeine.
23. Learn to play guitar.
24. Have a “Spa Day”
25. Become a full vegetarian for either lent or one month
26. Make distinguished honour roll.
27. Learn British spelling.
28. Learn another language.
29. Get another piercing.
30. Go on a media fast for a week
31. Keep in touch with friends who don’t live near me.
32. Write a poem that’s actually good.
33. Go water skiing
34. take the SATS
35. Get my license. (Permit first)
36. finish health class
37. use my library card for something other than online research
38. get a belt from Hot Topic
39. Journal
40. Read the entire Bible
41. Reread my favourite childhood books.
42. Finish a colouring book.
43. Do my summer reading at the beginning of the summer.
44. Figure out what I want to be when I grow up
45. Take voice lessons
46. Go to Scotland
47. Apply for College
48. Find a college I want to go to.
49. Relearn Piano
50. Relive family memories. (e.g. go to places we went to a lot when I was younger)
51. Complete at least one item on my bucket list.
52. Fly in a Hot Air balloon
53. Get a henna tattoo.
54. Eat healthy for a week
55. Do a 30 hour famine
56. Have a lead role in a musical.
57. Watch all the superman and batman movies
58. See Titanic
59. Drink an entire cup of black coffee.
60. Go Whitewater rafting
61. Have a Disney cartoon movie marathon
62. Get my teeth whitened.
63. Watch a sport event live at the Olympics.
64. Memorise my mom’s chocolate chip cookie recipe.
65. Read 50 books in a year.
66. Play with a parachute like you did in kindergarten.
67. Take pictures in a photo booth with either my best friends or a boyfriend. (If I even have one in the next 3 years)
68. Do 50 sit ups a day for a month
69. Mail a secret to Post Secret
70. Do a random act of kindness; preferably anonymously.
71. Visit the museum of natural history in NYC
72. Go to wal-mart and do a bunch of random things with my friends and film it. (such as the ones from the “Random things to do in Wal-Mart facebook group)
73. Run a mile everyday for a week
74. Lead a bible study/small group
75. Buy the actual CD of all the borrowed music on my ipod.
76. Keep my locker clean for three consecutive months.
77. Find a cause I’m passionate about.
78. Buy an Abort 73 shirt
79. Buy a To Write Love on Her Arms shirt.
80. Improve my spelling
81. Improve my grammar.
82. Be less hypocritical.
83. Go two weeks without adding salt to food. (meaning putting it on top of food)
84. Go to a coffee shop and get coffee and not a mocha or frozen coffee drink.
85. Drink caffeine and not get addicted.
86. Floss my teeth everyday for a month.
87. Give up chocolate for 10 days
88. Go to IKEA and buy something.
89. Plant a garden and take care of it.
90. Participate in “Secret Santa’s”
91. Become a less picky eater: Try five new food items. (0/5)
92. Reread and finish 2 manga series. (0/2)
93. Take one picture a day for a year. 0/365)
94. Give presents to my family and friends just because.
95. Go to Mall of America.
96. Make a duct tape bag.
97. Go to the great lakes.
98. Visit the west coast.
99. Fix my bottom teeth
100. Find something I’m passionate about.
101. Complete this list!
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).
Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.
Here's my list:
1. Dye my hair purple.
2. Go hang- gliding.
3. Learn to Drink Tea without a ton a sugar.
4. Go to a Broncos/ Redskins game with Arielle
5. Go on another Royal Servants trip
6. Get a bookshelf big enough to fit all my books on it
7. Catalog my “library” (bookshelf… only one…)
8. Read the Circle trilogy by Ted Dekker
9. Go to London
10. Go to Purple Door
11. Blog every day for a month
12. Finish a book I started
13. Sing a Solo
14. Keep my room clean for a month
15. Read the entire Harry Potter series in 7 days
16. Read one book a day for a month.
17. Scrapbook- and actually finish the book myself.
18. Reread my American Girl books
19. Go on a road trip with my best friends
20. Get a pedicure
21. Go six months without soda
22. Go a week without caffeine.
23. Learn to play guitar.
24. Have a “Spa Day”
25. Become a full vegetarian for either lent or one month
26. Make distinguished honour roll.
27. Learn British spelling.
28. Learn another language.
29. Get another piercing.
30. Go on a media fast for a week
31. Keep in touch with friends who don’t live near me.
32. Write a poem that’s actually good.
33. Go water skiing
34. take the SATS
35. Get my license. (Permit first)
36. finish health class
37. use my library card for something other than online research
38. get a belt from Hot Topic
39. Journal
40. Read the entire Bible
41. Reread my favourite childhood books.
42. Finish a colouring book.
43. Do my summer reading at the beginning of the summer.
44. Figure out what I want to be when I grow up
45. Take voice lessons
46. Go to Scotland
47. Apply for College
48. Find a college I want to go to.
49. Relearn Piano
50. Relive family memories. (e.g. go to places we went to a lot when I was younger)
51. Complete at least one item on my bucket list.
52. Fly in a Hot Air balloon
53. Get a henna tattoo.
54. Eat healthy for a week
55. Do a 30 hour famine
56. Have a lead role in a musical.
57. Watch all the superman and batman movies
58. See Titanic
59. Drink an entire cup of black coffee.
60. Go Whitewater rafting
61. Have a Disney cartoon movie marathon
62. Get my teeth whitened.
63. Watch a sport event live at the Olympics.
64. Memorise my mom’s chocolate chip cookie recipe.
65. Read 50 books in a year.
66. Play with a parachute like you did in kindergarten.
67. Take pictures in a photo booth with either my best friends or a boyfriend. (If I even have one in the next 3 years)
68. Do 50 sit ups a day for a month
69. Mail a secret to Post Secret
70. Do a random act of kindness; preferably anonymously.
71. Visit the museum of natural history in NYC
72. Go to wal-mart and do a bunch of random things with my friends and film it. (such as the ones from the “Random things to do in Wal-Mart facebook group)
73. Run a mile everyday for a week
74. Lead a bible study/small group
75. Buy the actual CD of all the borrowed music on my ipod.
76. Keep my locker clean for three consecutive months.
77. Find a cause I’m passionate about.
78. Buy an Abort 73 shirt
79. Buy a To Write Love on Her Arms shirt.
80. Improve my spelling
81. Improve my grammar.
82. Be less hypocritical.
83. Go two weeks without adding salt to food. (meaning putting it on top of food)
84. Go to a coffee shop and get coffee and not a mocha or frozen coffee drink.
85. Drink caffeine and not get addicted.
86. Floss my teeth everyday for a month.
87. Give up chocolate for 10 days
88. Go to IKEA and buy something.
89. Plant a garden and take care of it.
90. Participate in “Secret Santa’s”
91. Become a less picky eater: Try five new food items. (0/5)
92. Reread and finish 2 manga series. (0/2)
93. Take one picture a day for a year. 0/365)
94. Give presents to my family and friends just because.
95. Go to Mall of America.
96. Make a duct tape bag.
97. Go to the great lakes.
98. Visit the west coast.
99. Fix my bottom teeth
100. Find something I’m passionate about.
101. Complete this list!
1001 days
So I figure I should write my Ukraine post before I write anything else, but a) coherency is not one of my gifts, b) I'm the worlds biggest procrastinator, and c) I saw this and wanted to blog about it before I forgot.
So here we go.
So there's this project called "Day Zero" which I found out about on Alyson's blog. Basically you write a list of 101 things you want to do, and you give your self 1001 days to do them- or three years. And I want to do that. The problem is that I have problems finishing goals like that. Remember NaNoWriMo? Or BEDA? Yea... those were not my proudest moments... But I want to do this one. And I will. In fact, I think that will be on my list of goals.
Now, most people do this starting on New Years, but I think I'll start my 101 now, mainly because if I wait until New Years to do it, I'll forget by then. That, and New Years Resolutions are notorious for not actually getting done... you know what I mean. And, they have this handy little tool to help you figure out when you'll be done plus a countdown meter for your site. So I think I can do this! All I have to do now is figure out my list and add it to my blog.
So here we go.
So there's this project called "Day Zero" which I found out about on Alyson's blog. Basically you write a list of 101 things you want to do, and you give your self 1001 days to do them- or three years. And I want to do that. The problem is that I have problems finishing goals like that. Remember NaNoWriMo? Or BEDA? Yea... those were not my proudest moments... But I want to do this one. And I will. In fact, I think that will be on my list of goals.
Now, most people do this starting on New Years, but I think I'll start my 101 now, mainly because if I wait until New Years to do it, I'll forget by then. That, and New Years Resolutions are notorious for not actually getting done... you know what I mean. And, they have this handy little tool to help you figure out when you'll be done plus a countdown meter for your site. So I think I can do this! All I have to do now is figure out my list and add it to my blog.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
... And now I'm home!
If you can't tell by the title, I'M HOME FROM UKRAINE!!! I miss it, but I'm glad to be home. Honestly, I'm SUPER tired and don't feel like writing a post right now, so I'll write a post about my trip when I can gather my thoughts and write coherently.
But yes, I'm alive.
Faith
But yes, I'm alive.
Faith
Friday, June 19, 2009
And So I Go....
In five hours I will be leaving to go to the Airport. I will get on a plane to Chicago, and upon landing proceed to be driven 4 hours to training camp for my trip to Ukraine. Yup, I'm going to Ukraine again! This time, of my own accord and I'm actually excited for it.
I have a week of training camp, then off to Ukraine for FIVE WEEKS. So, I won't be commenting or anything during those five weeks, cos I'll have limited Internet access. So I apologise in advance.
So, what will I do in Ukraine? Well.... It's a basketball trip, and I don't play basketball, so I think I'll be working with kids and doing drama stuff. I'm not sure. I'll let you all know once I get there. For now, here's the link to the website: www.royalservants.org.
Byebyebyebyebye!
Faith
I have a week of training camp, then off to Ukraine for FIVE WEEKS. So, I won't be commenting or anything during those five weeks, cos I'll have limited Internet access. So I apologise in advance.
So, what will I do in Ukraine? Well.... It's a basketball trip, and I don't play basketball, so I think I'll be working with kids and doing drama stuff. I'm not sure. I'll let you all know once I get there. For now, here's the link to the website: www.royalservants.org.
Byebyebyebyebye!
Faith
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The woes of private education.
So most of you know that I go to a privet school somewhere in the northeast US. This has it's pros and cons. Today we are focusing on the Cons.
Although really it's not just a privet school thing- this could happen at any type of school with the exception of homeschooling. It's more about the administration and the ways they try to get school to end earlier- shorter breaks.
This year during the holidays, three VERY IMPORTANT EVENTS are happening. These events are as follows:
1. My grandmother on my mom's side turns 70. Her birthday wish? To spend it with her two daughters and only granddaughter- me. Her location? Arizona
2. My mom's sister, my aunt, who is 45 (I think), is getting married for the first time in her life. Where is this wedding? Arizona. What is the date? December 19th. (Seeing a pattern?)
3. My school choir is going to Disney World to participate in a massive choir with schools from all over the country that will sing in a candlelight concert that takes place after Christmas. We will also get to do concerts in Disney by ourselves, and so will the audition choir, of which I am a founding member of. I have also been in choir since 9th grade. (AND we get to take private vocal workshops. FROM PROFESSIONAL DISNEY PERFORMERS. Yea, the Disney Channel stars tend not to be the best in that area aside from a select few, but the performers at Disney word who do the shows there- You have to admit they're pretty freaking amazing.) When do we leave? December 26.
Now normally this wouldn't be a problem. HOWEVER, when is Christmas break this year? DECEMBER 24th. When is the Christmas concert? December 17th. SO, I have to spend the day before my aunts wedding/ Grandma's birthday in a plane for FIVE FREAKING HOURS. I spend the day before Christmas eve flying back home, and spending Christmas doing laundry. I also miss Christmas with my mom's side of the family, which I haven't had since 7th grade (almost 5 years) and that wasn't even with everyone, which this year would be because of the wedding, obviously. Fortunately I got to see them because my cousin got married last week, but still, we're already missing my other cousin's 10 year vow renewals because of my Ukraine trip, (I leave this Saturday!!!!) and It'd be nice to spend Christmas with them for once.
See why this is a problem?
I am seriously pissed right now. Especially since we get shorter breaks in general this year- yea, we get out WAY earlier, but school just drags on after a while and a break here and there is nice!
But seriously, does it have to be THIS YEAR? UGH.
Although really it's not just a privet school thing- this could happen at any type of school with the exception of homeschooling. It's more about the administration and the ways they try to get school to end earlier- shorter breaks.
This year during the holidays, three VERY IMPORTANT EVENTS are happening. These events are as follows:
1. My grandmother on my mom's side turns 70. Her birthday wish? To spend it with her two daughters and only granddaughter- me. Her location? Arizona
2. My mom's sister, my aunt, who is 45 (I think), is getting married for the first time in her life. Where is this wedding? Arizona. What is the date? December 19th. (Seeing a pattern?)
3. My school choir is going to Disney World to participate in a massive choir with schools from all over the country that will sing in a candlelight concert that takes place after Christmas. We will also get to do concerts in Disney by ourselves, and so will the audition choir, of which I am a founding member of. I have also been in choir since 9th grade. (AND we get to take private vocal workshops. FROM PROFESSIONAL DISNEY PERFORMERS. Yea, the Disney Channel stars tend not to be the best in that area aside from a select few, but the performers at Disney word who do the shows there- You have to admit they're pretty freaking amazing.) When do we leave? December 26.
Now normally this wouldn't be a problem. HOWEVER, when is Christmas break this year? DECEMBER 24th. When is the Christmas concert? December 17th. SO, I have to spend the day before my aunts wedding/ Grandma's birthday in a plane for FIVE FREAKING HOURS. I spend the day before Christmas eve flying back home, and spending Christmas doing laundry. I also miss Christmas with my mom's side of the family, which I haven't had since 7th grade (almost 5 years) and that wasn't even with everyone, which this year would be because of the wedding, obviously. Fortunately I got to see them because my cousin got married last week, but still, we're already missing my other cousin's 10 year vow renewals because of my Ukraine trip, (I leave this Saturday!!!!) and It'd be nice to spend Christmas with them for once.
See why this is a problem?
I am seriously pissed right now. Especially since we get shorter breaks in general this year- yea, we get out WAY earlier, but school just drags on after a while and a break here and there is nice!
But seriously, does it have to be THIS YEAR? UGH.
Friday, June 5, 2009
School's Out, Let's Rock & Roll.
School ended yesterday. I'm no longer a wise fool; a sophomore. I'm a Junior. An upperclassmen. I now have to start thinking about what the heck it is that I want to do with my life. That's scary- I have to be more responsible; I have to care about school; I have to stop being so apathetic. I have to look for colleges, do well on PSAT's so I can get scholarships; I have to take SAT's; I have to apply for colleges; ugh, just thinking about it stresses me out!
Oh dear. Summer's here; I can relax. I slept until about 12:30 today!
Rinny left for Korea to day. Sad.
Yesterday afternoon Lily and I went shopping. It was a lot of fun and I got the coolest nailpolish ever! I got bright lime green polish from Hot Topic, and pink, purple, and blue polish from Charlotte Ruse. The three colours were actually together in one bottle. That's why it's so cool!
I I have to go wright thank- you notes now. ugh.
See ya soon!
Faith
Oh dear. Summer's here; I can relax. I slept until about 12:30 today!
Rinny left for Korea to day. Sad.
Yesterday afternoon Lily and I went shopping. It was a lot of fun and I got the coolest nailpolish ever! I got bright lime green polish from Hot Topic, and pink, purple, and blue polish from Charlotte Ruse. The three colours were actually together in one bottle. That's why it's so cool!
I I have to go wright thank- you notes now. ugh.
See ya soon!
Faith
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