Week 1: people, food, stretch--life abroad is for me!

…What a whirlwind! How do I even begin to sum-up the last week and a half that I have experienced? Most people are inundated with so many new things when they move to another country where everything is different from their previous surroundings…so much “stimuli,” as I have been referring to it this week. And I am definitely no exception to this. I have been overwhelmed in so many ways, but I can thankfully say that almost all of these have been positive and memorable experiences. I have met the most incredible people, tried exotic new foods, been given the opportunity to be stretched through my work, and had the realization that life abroad is the life for me!

Incredible People: Without a doubt, the last week has been a privilege. I have sat in on meetings and meals with people that I would have never imagined I would meet. Although none of them were “famous” by worldly standards, I can guarantee that their names and handprints are on the sidewalk stars of heaven. Not because of all of the work for the Lord they have done (although that in itself is challenging to say the least), but because their hearts for Jesus and people are overwhelmed with love and a commitment to give their entire lives (and risk it for some) to bring others to greater heights and depths with the Lord. For some, it has meant meeting secretly in their countries to sing and pray together as brothers and sisters…for others it has meant to devote all of their time and resources to traveling all around Asia building relationships to get ministries partnering together…and still for others it has meant going beyond the normality of teaching to tell his students about Christ and begin a church made up of college students. The list goes on and on and on. These are the Heaven Hall of Famers of our time—and God gave me the honor of getting to shake their hands, hug their necks, and take a picture with them. I can hardly begin thanking Him enough for that.

Exotic Foods: My all-time favorite thing to do when I first arrive in any country is EAT! You all know me…I love food. No doubt about that. And what I love about moving abroad is knowing that I will have the chance to try things I never knew existed. After just a week and a half, I am realizing that I am going to have to try several new things each and every day to even scratch the surface of Asian food. Just today, I went to a mall “eatery” where the different booths were labeled according to region/type (like Chicken Rice, Fish Balls, and chinese words I can't remember) and every single thing looked great to me. Its hard to believe that in our eateries at home we usually have just 1-2 staple Asian restaurants (which we most often refer to as “Japanese” or “Chinese”—although I am beginning to doubt if I ever understood the difference. Just to give you an idea, here are some of the new things I’ve tried: Jelly Drink, Chicken Rice (the local special), real Lo Mein, Pau (pronounced “Pow” and translated “steamed buns”), really crazy Squid, lots of things with coconut milk or flavoring (yummy!!), amazing Rice Noodle dishes, tons of different Dumplings (my all-time favorite Chinese food), Yam ice cream (that’s purple!), great Chinese New Year’s cookies, and so so so much more! As you can see, I don’t really know the names for most of it, but I know how to point and whatever I end up with I will eat (although its usually more of a surprise than a known). So…taste buds get ready, because this is just the beginning!

Stretching like an 80s Jane Fonda Workout Video: Well…I wish it were more like physical stretching. That I could handle a lot easier than the mental, emotional, and spiritual stretching that is happening right now…in these very moments…inside of my very being. Coming out here, I knew that I would be working with an incredible leader for a boss. I had heard amazing things and could tell even over the phone that this guy (Mike) was going to take me to new heights through my job. But man…I don’t know if I could have ever guessed that it would be anything like this. It has been a thrill being given so much responsibility for an impacting event that is less than 3 months away. And also a rollercoaster. One minute I am drowning in a sea of tasks and meetings that I feel I can’t handle and then next (usually after I talk to the Lord) I am relaxed, confident, and ready to take on even more that needs to be done. One minute I’m scared, the next minute I’m excited. One minute I doubt my abilities, the next minute I’m boasting in God giving me talents and wisdom. And this ride is exhausting! But I wouldn’t trade in my ticket for anything else in the world right now. This is the place for me and I know God is using this job to prepare me for even bigger adventures in the future—and every piece of knowledge and experience I am receiving right now will play an important role in whatever is next. That’s why I don’t run away when I feel the urge…and I don’t shy away when my flesh says to keep silent…and I don’t let anything stop me from striving for excellence for my God. Every day is important. Every task is meaningful. Every moment is the beginning of yet another. Let’s just pray I can bounce back from the stretch and be stronger for it!

And beyond all of this, God has given me the gift of a huge revelation. You know those moments I’m talking about. Those times when something is made so clear to you that it not only excites you but it puts your heart at peace more than you ever thought possible. God has made this clear to me: I am meant to live in another country. He has designed me for it, given me the desires, and now given me many opportunities. It couldn’t be clearer to me. I love being the minority, embracing new things, and learning other cultures and languages. Its easy and fun for me and the change is a thrill. And more than that…a part of me comes alive when I am living out of my geographical comfort zone…and I like that part of me. (You would too!) So, I am now fully embracing the idea of living abroad for long amounts of time in my life…and peace is what reigns in me. What a gift!

Until next week…enjoy the pics that will be coming soon!

sign of the week #1...

...I've decided that I am finding way too many signs here to be funny to not be sharing them with all of you. So, every Wednesday I will be posting a "Sign of the Week." I hope they its brings a smile to your face for the middle of the week blues!



I have been spoiled with taking taxis with the couple I'm staying with right now. This was inside of a taxi and made me giggle! I love British English :)

the easiest adjustment in asia...

...I was talking with Mrs. Winnie about Singapore and adjusting to life here. She has been here for almost 2 months with her husband, Doug. We both came to the conclusion that out of all the Asian countries, Singapore is definitely the way to ease into this side of the world. I can only imagine the culture shock from someone who moves from the suburbs of Atlanta to the slums of Cambodia--who knows if anyone could survive that! But Singapore is another story.

Located right smack dab in the middle of Southern Asia, you might miss Singapore unless you make a point to both see it on a map or stop over when hopping around the islands. With a prime central location and a drive for economy, Singapore has become the hub of Asian businessmen..and international businessmen as well. Beyond its location, Singapore provides a gentle transition from western to easter cultures. Being a British colony, it resembles a European city much more than I thought it would (and that's probably why i'm adjusting more easily).

Here are some ways it marries the two cultures:
~Mostly asian foods but with enough European and American restaurants to escape to as well.
~Clothing looks more European than anything (with my favorite stores: Celio, Zara, Bata,etc) but with the Asian touch (shoes are a bit wider and clothes sized for super petite!)
~Signs in both English and Mandarin Chinese
~At least a 90% asian population all driving on the left-hand side of the road! (those brits!!!)
~Bathrooms! - in almost all places you are given the choice of a "squatty potty" or a reg. seat toilet :)

So, if you are willing to take a long flight over to Asia, I reccomend stopping in Singapore first, adjusting a bit to the easter culture and then making your way to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and many more amazing countries!! Singapore is definitely the place to visit!!

snail mail me...

...due to popular demand, i will now leave you with how to reach me via snail mail. the best way will be just to mail things to the ELA office:

Pamela Simpson
Equipping Leaders for Asia
39A Jalan Pemimpin #05-03
Halcyon Building
Singapore 577183

(Singapore is both the city and the country!)

just like mastercard...

Looking through singapore money = S$2.00











Gazing at the "dancing ladies" flowers (can you see them?) = Free





Experiencing a moment in the spotlight, feeding and eating fire at the Night Safari Singapore Show on my very first night in Singpore, making an incredible memorable moment and day and more = PRICELESS!

in one piece...

...Hey everyone! I made it to Singapore in one piece!!!! So, after about 27 hours of travel time and basically 2 days of my life (with the time change), I arrived in Singapore at about 1am in the morning here. The time difference is 13 hours...just so you know. Since I will be so far ahead, I'll let you all know what the day will hold;o)

My flights were good. Main memories: very rough landing in Detroit (they were having 40-50 mph wind gusts!!), old old old 747 (35 yrs old to be exact--at least that's what a man told me) on the way to Tokyo and therefore no tvs in individual seats but I slept about 4 hours regardless (which is pretty good), and had a very talkative neighbor who loved to tell me the history of Singapore, cars (he works for GM), and talk politics on the way to Singapore (but the plane was stinkin' nice and I watched at least 3 movies and an episode of The Office (so pumped that was a choice!!). The connections were easy and I didn't have any porblems at security or customs the whole way...and my bags came quickly...so, praise the Lord b/c He made this one easy on me!!!

Thank you for your prayers...I know He heard them and He covered my travels with grace.

Its about 7:50am here (so I got about 5.5 hrs of sleep...also pretty good for jet lag) and I will be getting ready for a work meeting in just a bit. Yes, its a Saturday...but I'm so glad they have me jumping into things so quickly...that's going to help with adjusting. I have wireless in the apt I'm staying in for the next week--yea! I hope I'm busy...I think they have a lot of sightseeing and working planned for me already:)

Yes, its hot and humid...but they have some beautiful flowers and monkeys! What more could a girl ask for?? I think I'm going to like this place.

soon and very soon...

...I am off to Singapore! In less than 9 hours I will be on a plane making my way westward from Atlanta to Detroit (2 hrs) to Tokyo (13 hrs) to Singapore (8 hours)...yep, that's a lot of travel time. So, pray I don't go crazy on the plane and that I will have some cool people to sit by and get to know :o)

Thank you all for you love and support over the past 3 weeks of me getting ready to leave. I will miss all of you so much over the next 4 months, but know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Next blog post...from Singapore!!!

Off to Singapore...

...Just in time! God is so faithful. After losing my job at EQUIP quite suddenly (and due to some unfortunately uncontrollable financial circumstances), God has shown me so much favor once again.

I've been offered a 4 month internship in SINGAPORE!

Crazy, I know. Within one week of hearing about this distant possibility, I had talked with the head of Equipping Leaders for Asia (ELA) over the phone twice and made the decision to move to Singapore on February 22. It truly is perfect timing and an amazing and unparalleled opportunity. Not only will I be going what I love, marketing & communications, but I will be doing it emersed in another culture and with the possibility of traveling! What a huge answer to prayer.

So, here are the details: Gone from Feb 22 to June 28. Living in host homes that will probably change monthly. Its paid!

One of the best parts about this is that ELA is a partner company of EQUIP--so I'll will also be working with EQUIP and another organization I love: Growing Leaders! God's plans are so much bigger than our own. Thanks for all of your prayers and let's all praise the Lord for His faithfulness in our lives.

Check out facts about my future new home: https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sn.html

Check out who I'll be working for: http://www.equippingleadersasia.org

an answer in the question...

...Why do I not share my faith more often--or really ever? My question already begins to answer my question. Just look at it--it is covered in Christianese (the language of the every day, subcultured, bubble-living Georgian Christian). I might as well ask myself why I don't blah blah blah more often because that's what people who aren't in my subculture Christian bibble are hearing. And this leads me to yet another answer...We all live in the same culture (sort of). Why do I attempt to separate myself and be in a subculture that only makes me unrelateable to the world around me? Maybe it was years of protection by others and myself...trying to protect myself from the world...instead of infiltrating it. That's what Jesus did. He infiltrated the world, the Jewish culture...not turning from it, but completing it--finishing the story and giving the whole answer. This in turn permeated hearts...and hearts are where I should be looking. People are people and my feable attempt to draw some kind of line between the "good ones" and "bad ones" is ridiculous! Hearts are hearts and the line of truth is the line that reveals our need for Jesus (which is a the bottom of all of our hearts and souls hoping to be discovered). And then I find myself at another answer as my heart swells with pride...and inward self-righteousness that I despise. Pride--the beginning of the end, the root of the soured fruit...looking oh so good on the outside but not able to be swallowed by anyone. Not that I have time to even taste the own fruit I'm dishing out. My days are so full of organizing my life, watching my tv shows, even daydreaming my future that all the time I have for is for me and me and me. Oh how selfish I can be! Why can I not stop focusing on me...and look to others? And another answer surfaces--guilt. The age-old false motivator that sneaks up on me from behind every time. The Gospel is not guilt, its hope. Its freedom. Its sacrifice and selflessness. It reveals the gap and even the playing field. Its complete truth. Its sweet juicy perfectly Holy Spirit ripened fruit. This is the Gospel tha saved me every day and the Gospel that offers salvation to my neighbor, my barista, every heart and person I ever interact with in the world. This is Jesus.

an infamous (and unwanted) scratching sound...

Fear. Its amazing how this can grip you....really, me. I woke up early this morning to the sounds of scratching. After attempting to make sense of what was happening, I came to the conclusion that there was a mouse moving around in my bedside table--it had to be. As my heart began to heat faster, my body moved slowly over to the other side of the bed. I layed there in shock...trying to figure out what to do. First thing I decided I needed to do was find out what time it really was...and this meant I need to pick up my cell phone off the bedside table (the same one the mouse was in)...Ugh! No Way!!

After working up the nerve for about 10 mins, I grabbed my phone. 6:25am...not too early (but definitely earlier than I usually get up). I decided that I would go back to sleep for about 30 mins. Then, 5 seconds later, and a few more scratching sounds later, I realized that was the craziest thing that had ever crossed my mind. I couldn't possibly sleep next to a mouse!

So, I got up and decided I would get ready early and get out of my apartment as fast as possible. At that point I realized that my entire morning was going to be dictated by a mouse. And really, fear of a mouse. How stupid! But it was real.

I took a shower in my roommate's bathroom, got ready in her bedroom, and could barely brush my teeth in my bathroom. If someone had been a fly on the wall, it would have been quite entertaining. I'm not one for being scared of most bugs, spiders, etc...but there is something about a mouse! I was tip-toeing around my room and then suddenly I would stop in my tracks as I heard more of the infamous mouse scratching. I really think that sound is going to haunt me for a while.

And...to top all of this off, as I glanced at the corner where the mouse seemed to be having his fun, I saw a roach! It gave me the willies. And this wasn't just once...but twice. Ehat was so sad was the mouse had scared me so much that I couldn't even go kill a roach.

All I know is the first people I will be talking to at work are Julio and Daniel to figure out how to get the supposed mouse (I think it was one...I never got up enough courage to look in the drawer) out of my house!

"The Lord is for me; I will not fear; What can (mice) do to me?" (Psalm 118:6)

"Though a host (of mice and roaches) encamp against me, My heart will not fear." (Psalm 27:3)

Off to Africa...

Prepare the way, O Holy Spirit
Make Your paths known.
To all those we encounter,
Let Your Glory be shown.

Let not my own weakness
Get in Thine own way.
For under Your guidance
Is where I will stay.



This was my prayer before leaving for Africa and I am so excited to tell you that God proved Himself a faithful listener once again in my life!

Stepping onto a plane has never been hard for me. Thanks to my mom’s side of the family, I have traveling blood running through my veins. So, on flight after flight to Africa, through Paris, I was full of excitement. That is…until about 15 minutes before we landed in Niamey, Niger. It was at that point that I experienced my “moment” of the trip. I found myself looking out the window at the most orange landscape I had ever known…looking for any signs of life and not finding a single one. It was in this moment that I turned to my best friend Valerie and said, “We are in the middle of nowhere! What are we doing here? We must be crazy!” And for the next 2 hours I hardly spoke a word, and for those of you who know me you know how crazy that is. That’s what we like to call “culture shock.”

I am pleased to tell you that my “moment” passed and never returned. I looked straight ahead at the next 2 weeks ready to take on whatever the Lord had for us and oh did He have some amazing things planned! I’m going to attempt to give you a brief overview of all the amazing ways God showed me what a HUGE God He is…so please hang on while we zoom through 2 of the most significant weeks I have experienced.

blasts from the past in Paris...

The first leg of my trip was a “bonus” from God. I was able to stop through Paris for a couple of days and visit with my friends and old teammates and roommate. It was such a special time for my heart and spirit. Revisiting my apartment and favorite places around the city took me straight back to last year. I was able to show Valerie around and give her the most Parisian experiences I could in such a short amount of time. But the best part of those two days was the two hours I spent with 3 special friends. Nam, a Vietnamese-Parisian who became a Christian last year, and I had coffee and caught up on the hard times she’s been experiencing with her mother being diagnosed with cancer. God used me to encourage her in her dependence on Him and reiterate the importance of Christian fellowship. It was a great time for our spirits to reconnect and fellowship with one another. Please be praying for Nam as she looks for opportunities to share Christ with her parents and 3 sisters!! For the remainder of the two hours, we joined my two friends, Assia (from Algeria) and Elie (from Lebanon). The most amazing thing was when we opened up the French Bible to read about the Pentecost and Assia began reading the chapter out loud in the middle of the courtyard of Notre Dame. I believe the Lord was crying tears of joy as He listened to a beautiful Muslim 20-year-old reading His Holy Word in the middle of one of the darkest cities in the world, Paris.

one bush village we stopped by...

Our time in Africa was a total of 10 days. We spent 2 days in the capital, then 7 in the village, and our last day back in the capital. Our first couple of days in Niamey (pronounced “Knee-uh-may”) were spent with a wonderful missionary family, the Cain’s. They toured us around the city, we drilled them about the culture and Zarma people, and they opened up to us about the life of a missionary family in West Africa. This was a wonderful time of transition for us, as is depicted by the normal description of Niamey, “not really a city, but a bunch of villages put together in a small area.” Let me just say that there are only 2 paved roads in the whole capital, only 1-2 flights per day, and they don’t even have a sewer system!

Don and Teresa Williams - the missionary couple of the year

The bulk of our trip was spent with a missionary couple, Teresa and Don Williams, in a village called Ouallam (pronounced “Wall-um”). Each day we spent the mornings visiting different bush villages, which required long trips in the truck on very bumpy dirt roads. It was at this point that Valerie and I developed a love for these people. Overlooking the brown hair (sign of malnutrition) and yellow eyes (usually an indicator of Hepatitis) was easy once you saw their bright smiles and beautiful expressions.

But we didn’t want to overlook their health completely, so we put on skits to teach them about health and safety and, in some cases, salvation. We felt fortunate to see those “a-ha” moments when they realized they should clean a wound and bandage it so it won’t get infected…or drink clean water when they are sick so they will be re-hydrated. We couldn’t have chose a more perfect couple to team with—after 21 years in Niger, they were an incredible example to observe and learn from both in mission-work, their marriage and their personal relationships with the Lord. We praise God for His incredible insight in teaming us with Don and Teresa and showing us that a life of service for the Lord is the most fulfilling life—no matter what city, country, or continent on which your feet may stand!

Having a month to think over all that God revealed to me through this experience gave me several thoughts I want to leave with you. Obedience to the Holy Spirit’s call to a place is all you need—He’ll take care of the rest. Africa is huge, the needs are huge, and God is huge…and He is asking us to be a part of something huge—changing Africa as the world knows it, one life at a time. Take a chance for Jesus and go someplace where you might say “We are in the middle of nowhere! What are we doing here? We must be crazy!”

Me and Val at the Niger River

Me and Valerie at the Niger River in Niamey, Niger...our last night before leaving Africa to come back home.

bend or amend....

"We know that innovators bend the world, but it’s the spiritual innovators who amend the world." (Bryan Davidson, my boss' husband)

I read this on Bryan's blog (Conversoulogy) and it made me think. I love when I run across a clever line that makes me stop and think and chew on it a bit. Larry Trammel had a lot of points/quotes that had this affect on me (although I have only heard his voice and teachings on cd). So...what does this really mean? What are the implications of this?

I think I've always wanted the first...to be an innovator that bent the world...that changed it a bit in some way. I think that's why I majored in business and have always liked business...for this kind of purpose.

The second part...though...that's the part that begins to hit home and challenge me. Is this a desire of mine? Truthfully, I don't think I've really been thinking this way, so it couldn't possibly be a desire. Amend, like bending, is a way of changing. But a bend is such a small change...When I think of bend...I think of taking a metal pipe or something like that and bending it. The consequences are that it does change a bit...it looks a little different and may not be able to be used for the same purposes, but the main substance of it doesn't change. Its still made of the same material and feels the same and can still be identified as a metal pipe.

But when I think of "amend"...I think of an ammendment to the Constitution. One simple ammendment contains so much power. It changes the interpretation of the entire document...it defines what is truth in a better way...what is acceptable and inacceptable...and eventually it can decide the fate of a person...life or death. Hmm...oh, that I would have that goal...that vision....to amend the world...it may be a small change...but it will be a change that impacts the main substance of a person, it will change the material of that being, and it will change the person to where they are barely recognizable as the same as they were before...

Thanks for the challenge Bryan! May the Holy Spirit amend me and amend the world through me.

africa coming soon...

...the long awaited africa posts will be arriving during this next week. keep looking!! i will be putting up some pics and giving some insights into the life in niger. be intrigued;o)

keep checking in!!!

back from the bush...still in niger...

thank you for your prayers...God has been good. i will write a lot more later, but i just wanted to let you all know that we're all healthy and God has been teaching us and hopefully used us to glorify Himself among the Zarma people. i'll fly out of the capital (Niamey) tomorrow night and be back in the states on Saturday night. keep praying for safe travels and easy adjustment back to the american culture! i love you all. see you soon!!!

off to africa...

...in just a few minutes, i'm hopping into the parents' expedition and going to the airport. after hours on airplanes, and different connections, and a stopover for a couple of days in paris!, i'll arrive in Niamey, Niger, West Africa. i'm so excited that God has given me the opportunity to minister to the Zerma people for two weeks with my best friend, Valerie.

thank you to all my friends and family who have made this opportunity possible through provisions. please keep us in your hearts and prayers over the next two weeks. i'll try to write a blog or two, so keep checking (but we won't have the internet out in the bush!).

i look forward to writing about all the Lord is doing in Niger! stay tuned...

finger cramps...

...just a warning, some of you are not going to believe how ridiculous this one is...so only read if you are willing to realize how dumb i can be sometimes...or at least lazy without logic.

so, my new amazing apt is fully furnished. its kind of weird b/c somethings are new and so nice (pretty much everything in my bedroom and so much more) and other things are oddly old and disfunctional...just keep reading.

first, the washer and dryer (pretty ghetto....but still oh so grateful!). also, well, there's really only one also.

the tv.

an old philips, with maybe 10 channels (3 at somewhat visible quality and sound without too much adjustment of the cable in the back)...with channels being 2, 5, 8, 11, 68 (tbs), 85 (spanish..thank goodness i have that one!), 87 (WB), 102 (CBS), and 125 (upn...again, thank goodness!)...and the best part, no remote. yep, that's right...no clicker, no changer, no whatever other name there is for it out there (you're welcome to add to the list via comments).

so, this hasn't been a huge issue yet b/c i usually pick one show to watch a night and just stick to that channel...that is, until last Tuesday night!

two huge shows! Gilmore Girls season finale and American Idol (only 4 left!...now 3). so...i was so excited i had just discovered the WB channel a few days earlier...but only to figure out that it was channel 87...and the other desired channel...channel 5. yep...that means they are 82 button pushes away from eachother. so, i did the only sensible thing.

...well, it seemed sensible at the time.

i determined to watch both. so, on GG commercials i flipped to 5...oh wait...i mean i got up off the couch...and began pressing the down arrow...for like 1.2 mins...at least...it really seemed like 10 as i waited in suspense hoping to catch as much of both shows as possible.

now, you probably think that would maybe last one or two commercial breaks...well, if you know anything about me, you know that when i am determined to do something, and its a challenge, and i see how ridiculous it is, my pride kicks in and i just keep doing it out of a desire to prove it to myself that i can. and i did. the whole hour. every commercial break...i got up and pressed the arrow button 82 times. over and over again.

i wonder how much of the shows i actually caught...in mins. oh, if only i had a changer, clicker, remote, whatever!

a good speaker...

...What makes a good speaker:

After going to a leadership conference and hearing about 10 professionals speak for an average of 30-45 mins a piece, I realized that its definitely easy to pick out who is really good...i mean, really really good.

Each of these speakers are well-known and definitely experienced, but let's just say that experience ain't everything...you gotta have talent. Anyways...I'm straying. I think I'll try to sum up what I think makes a really impacting speaker and you share back!

*As many references to current top 10 television shows (i.e. American Idol, 24, Lost, etc)

*Focus on the topic is a nice idea

*Jokes that keep my attention, but are still relevant

*Leaving me with one idea that is stuck in my head that I think about over and over

*Realness


What do you think?

after one month...

....things i've learned after working in the "real world" with a "real job" for one month:

~being a night person by nature is not in my favor anymore...those days are long gone...congrats morning people!

~weekends are not for play, relaxing, etc...that was a short-term tease...they are for doing laundry, cleaning the apt, catching up on email (for those of us that don't do it at work;o), and still not catching up on sleep.

~pay days are still fun

~you don't see a true office until friday

~offices and people are bi-polar...just compare monday mornings to friday afternoons

~all the sweets that parents have attempted to stop giving their children end up at offices...i thought this was a good thing at first, but its like my first month in Paris with the pastries...gotta learn to just keep walking...don't stop in the breakroom

~email/outlook is uncontrollable...don't set the alert button for new emails...its just distracting b/c they never end!

~seeing the same amazing people every day , 5 days a week is AWESOME...i miss them on the weekends...you'll have to meet them, then you will see

~similar to middle school, the coolest person in the office is the one who comes up with the best joke/game/free entertainment/etc...and you find out who very quickly...esp with the help of email

~pride only leads to pain...admitting mistakes is the best way to go

~never settle for a job...i've got the perfect match and i hope all of you do too...if not, seek it out...its out there!

all in a days work...

...So, I'm writing this with the risk of increasing the already held opinion that I'm living off of free food at work...this is only a half-truth.

This morning (Fridays are bring breakfast for the office day...everyone signs up for a Friday...and as I tried to sign up today, I realized what a high honor this list creates, as there are no openings until May!). Today, we were provided with wonderful pastries. But the real attraction to the break room was when someone brought in a huge bag of chick-fil-a biscuits that were donated to us from the office across the hall...I mean, there must have been 50 of them in this bag!

The bag had a variety of 3 kinds...chicken being in the highest demand of course. Although watching everyone attack this bag was entertaining in itself...the real entertainment came when our President strolled in, ripped open the bag and went fishing. The first he pulled out was sausage...and the second...and the third....this went on for many more times. There was even a moment of false hope as he was convinced one was thicker than the rest, so it must be chicken (the foil wrappers, which normally serve the role of labeling, had forgotten their true purpose in life...they should look up that book).

Then one employee offered him her chicken biscuit...but he refused. I'm sure there was some leadership principle in this action. Then, two more reacahes in, and alas--He got one! And I've never seen him walk away in such a victorious manner before.

All for the magnificent Chick-fil-A Chicken Biscuit. And I think he would say that it was totally worth it!

the word is alive...

...and kickin'! i have been so not motivated to read the Bible lately...so complacent, reading only out of obedience...no desire, no delight. well, God answers wake-up call prayers (after initiating them Himself!) very quickly. i prayed one of those about this very problem on monday morning and low and behold, this morning, just a mere 24 hours later, God decided to knock my socks off.

i walked into my living room, sat down, opened my Bible, and prayed that God would begin preparing me for all of the changes that will be happening in my life in the next few weeks. i prayed that i would be ok with living in an apt by myself, that i would not fear, and that i would be okay with the recent realization that i am moving on to my next phase in life and its not marriage...am i okay with that? i pray that i am okay with that.

next...i look to my handy scripture reading calendar i made for my small group, breaking up Isaiah into chewable bites, and saw that Is 54:1-6 was todays. umm...did you look at it? come on, look at it!!! its stinkin' aaaammmmmaaaaazzzzzzinnnngggg! immediately i noticed verses 2 & 3 about enlarging my tent (moving on to bigger pastures where the Lord wants to use me). next, verse 4 about not being afraid....next, verse 1 about God blessing a barren woman with MORE offspring (a bit incomprehensible until you think about Sarah...and think of it in spiritual children terms and discipleship and ministry...pretty sweet!)....next, verses 5 & 6....my Husband is my Master and He's the Lord of the Universe! pretty sweet credentials! i'll take it!

so...answered prayer...God is good...change is good...scripture is gooooooooood!

how's God speaking to you through His Word today?

unofficially official...

...i just got the call yesterday that the ministry i interviewed with is willing to pay me the minimum that i asked for!! whoohoo! so, of course i said the official "yes" and am now unofficially officially employed! can you call an internship employment? i'm going to anyways...its closer than anythign else i've been doing. hey...it comes with the possibility of leading to a full-time salary w/benefits position...that's pretty sweet...we'll see what God has in store.

i just have to give a big shout out to my Lord because He made all of this incredibly possible. after waiting, praying, waiting, obeying, praying, and waiting some more...He led me to this incredible ministry called EQUIP (check us out www.iequip.org) that combines my two passions of training leaders and the world! and of course all of the details (although there were many to be worked out) fell into place.

so...i start in just about a week and a half. i'll be living in the apt they are providing in duluth, ga half of the time and in athens (mostly on the weekends;o) the other half...can't leave my roomies yet! thanks for all of the prayers!!!

thoughts from a survivor...

of course, i use that word loosely...but it did feel a bit like war with the 7, 4, 1 year olds by the fifth day of taking care of them 24 hours a day. props to moms who deal with that for years and years...and props to teachers who give the moms (and babysitters) a break during the day (home schooling moms are nuts!)

so...here's so random things i took away from the experience.

DAY 1: 7 year olds can be very sure of themselves. Within 10 minutes of my arrival, I was getting told by this lovely 2nd grade girl that she was going to be in charge of us (her 2 brothers and me) and it was going to be hard for her to take care of all of us. I tried to reassure her that I would attempt to be as little trouble as possible;o)

DAY 2: I think I finally got the final push I needed to ausition for American Idol the next time it rolls near the ATL..teh recommendation from the same expert 7 year old...I think my rendition of "twinkle, twinkle" will knock Simon's socks off!

DAY 3: 7 year old playmate flirting is not much different from 20something's party flirting...first, there's the recognition of who they are: "Hey, I know you, you go to my school." Then...a little sarcastic confirming response "I know who you are." Next...girl exposing need of recognition "Do you see that garden (mound of basball field dirt with dug-up weeds stuck in it) I made over there?" And...boy exposing need of being affirmed that he's capable "Wait...oh, I see it, I found it, there it is." And of course...it all led to a game of hide-and-seek (I won't even bother explaining that obvious metaphor!)

DAY 4: "If I be popular, I tell all kids they are great like me." ~the 4 year old. Oh, how sweet they are at this age! Anyways...what a lesson I learned from this. Although there's a little pride stuck in there...there is goodness at heart and a simplistic caring for others. I want to tell all the kids they are great!

DAY 5: Unending whiney crying is the worst kind...I feel sorry for God's ears after listening to me for years! Oh...what I would have done if the 1 year old would have just come up to me and touched my knee to get me to pick him up instead of whining...Lord, I'll try to give you a tap next time instead of driving you nuts with the whining;o)

Man...parent's must learn something new constantly...I know I did!

some great friends...

my life might be moving to duluth...but i'm so glad i already have a life there awaiting me.

i had so much fun hanging out with my amazing HC friends today...and moving stuff and organizing was a bonus;o) you guys are HILarious!!! woookkk, woookkk! i love you all soooo much. hope you henderson's are enjoying your new pad. can't wait to come clean your windows!!

does it fit...

"We must know how a course of action fits into the overall plan God has for our lives if it is to thrill our soulds with a sense of desting." (Master Plan, Robert e. Coleman)

This sentence makes me stop in my tracks. I have felt like a wandering nomad for the past six months--feeling aimless and confused. Maybe its because I haven't stopped to look at what I am putting my time into and recognized how this fits into God's big plan. So...that's what I'm going to do. How do your everyday activities, those that you put the most time into, fit into enternity??

love...

Thank you my True Love for giving me all three of these, especially appreciative! May I seek to love you with all three as well.

"Need-love cries to God from our poverty; Gift-love longs to serve, or even to suufer for, God; Appreciative-love says: 'We give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory.' Need-love says of a woman, 'I cannot live without her'; Gift-love longs to give her happiness, comfort, protection-if possible, wealth; Appreciative-love gazes and holds its breath and is silent, rejoices that such a wonder should exist even if not for him, will not be wholly dejected by losing her, would rather have it so than never to have seen her at all." (C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves)

a new view on passion...

...my long awaited post;o) passion 06 was amazing. my first volunteer experience and i walked away a little more like Christ...thank you Lord. summarized version: hard hard work, bad attitude, kneeled before Christ, changed attitude, hard hard work with smiles and view of eternal impact, beth moore challenged me (more to come on that), exhaustion, breakfast at Noshville;o), a new view on passion (passion for what the Lord has called me to do, passion the organization (more respect than ever), and passion the conference truly minstered to college students!). God is good and faithful.

...can't wait to serve next year here in atlanta...anyone joining me?? (that is, if i'm still around here;o).

to come...

...no worries, a post about passion 06 will be coming soon;o) be excited!

off to music city...

....Happy New Year everyone!!! I'm going to hit up the ATL tonight and bring in the new year with 2,000 college students and Steve Fee. I'm pumped!

And then tomorrow I'll be heading off to Nashville, TN...the city of music. I love Nashville. But I have a feeling I won't be seeing much of the city. I will be manning my post in the GO Center of the PASSION 06 conference...and I'm so excited. I will be hosting those in the mobilization (missions) area...I don't know exactly what that means...but I figure I'll get to hang out with, talk, and pick the brain of missionaries and heads of missions from all over the states and the world...how cool is that?? (I might even get some kind of open door and arrow pointing to a path for next year...who knows.)

So..please be praying for the 16,000 students and ministry staff that will be there. Pray for the speakers and worship leaders and volunteers. It will be all next week...so pray, pray, pray!!

I hope to report back some great stuff afterwards....until then....everyone stay safe tonight and give thanks for all that the Lord has done for you, blessed you with, and brought you through in the year 2005...and praise Him for what He is preparing for 2006!!!

freak out day...

...how did Christmas turn into freak-out day for me? everything was going well. time with the family was great. we spent the morning at my sister's house watching my nephews playing with their new gifts from santa...and opening a few of our own. then we enjoyed a relaxing day sitting on the couch, cuddling with my nephew while watching the Polar Express, and napping a bit in between games. i did get a bit of exercise playing a new game with my nephews called "frog ride" (it developed out of the traditional piggy-back and horsey rides...you can imagine what it is)...it involves a lot of jumping and some extra weight on my back...whew...talk about burning thighs...what was i thinking??

we had fun at my parents' house watching sad football games and coercing my dad into finally playing a game with us (he hates games because he almost always loses;o). we played my sister's new game, Scene It, that involves watching movie clips and answering movie trivia questions...it was so fun that we played in different teams like 4 times!

but some time inbetween those, i was trying to figure out how to install my new operating system and realized that i have big problems...i might have to spend a lot of time backing a lot of stuff up and maybe some extra money trying to reinstall some software...technology and me...its never an easy combination...its always filled with frustration!

and also some time inbetween...i began looking at my bank account and credit card statement and that is when the freaking out began. i've been fortunate enough to be at peace with my money situation for a few months now. God is so faithful to provide me with everything i need. but every once in a while, i get a little attack from out of nowhere that sends me into a worrying frenzy. and it was not easy to get out of.

...waking up this morning, i felt like crap. i have a sinus infection that i'm battling (which is enough in itself) but that wasn't why i was feeling so awful. how did the day that is devoted to worshiping Christ and His Gift of salvation turn into a day of worry for me?? that's why i felt bad. so...God was good and pulled me into Himself and made me spend time with Him first thing this morning...winging praises to Him, humbling myself before Him (knowing that I'm not worthy of His grace and mercy!), and reading His promises in the book of Isaiah in the Bible. and now i can write this and truly say that i'm coming out of the frenzy and entering back into the peace of Christ which surpasses all understanding!

"I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you, and I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those who dwell in darkness from the prison." (The Lord, Isaiah 42:6-7)

encouraging words for singles...

...i've been reading a book called "Fine China is for Single Women too" and this lady is hitting it right on the money. my favorite part about reading a book is seeing someone put things into words that God has already been teaching me in my life...its like a nice little summary of my times with the Lord...very convenient:o) so here are some quotes from the book that i've really enjoyed.

"...life doesn't begin when you get married. This is you life. You will never find contentment in living for what you hope tomorrow may hold. Contentment is for today." (everyone can take this one!)

"the important thing to do is get beneath all the speculation about why we are single and acknowledge the fact that each and every one of us is alone because, for today at least, God has ordained it." (and rejoice in it!)

"the other cause...is a lack of understanding about God's sovereignty. She sees her marital status as under her control." (ughh...that one was convicting)

"When we come to trust that God rules the details of our lives, that nothing we or others do can untimately determine our course, we find ourselves experiencing the benefits of such trust...We are free to be ourselves!" (thanks for another confirmation of Ben's advice)


...and i'm sure there will be more to come...i've only begun reading the book. oh, speaking of books, i just finished Captivating and recommend it for EVERY woman out there!!! read it!! you might even figure yourself out a bit;o)

the best birthday present ever...

...last thursday i turned the big 24. and luckily i don't feel old (except for the other day when i was hanging out with a bunch of 20 year olds and they found out my age and went on and on about how old that was for like 5 mins...i was dying to call my friend, marisa, to just feel the same age as someone else;o). but really...i feel like i've barely even scratched the surface of life. man, the Lord has really blessed me beyond belief and i have so many memories involving tons of people, places, and things...but its given me so many little tastes that leave me wanting more and knowing so much more is out there.

one new thing the Lord has blessed me with (that also seems to be just scratching the surface) is my new spiritual family...what up y'all??? i'm sure you are reading this because you keep bugging me about not blogging enough;o) they have become such an important part of my life...this is what Christ (and Paul) meant by "fellowship with the saints".

i was lucky enough that this years birthday fell on the same night as our bible study together...way lucky. although we spent time exchanging presents (both birthday and christmas) and i loved each one (thank you again!!)...the best present EVER was to follow.

for what seemed like hours, God met with us! i mean...he really met with us....really. i've had times when the Holy Spirit has been in my presence and man was that unbelievable...but usually those times were so fleeting. it would be liek 30 seconds and then i would kind of freak and "lose it". its like i couldn't handle it (i've had many conversations about this with my sister). but thursday night i didn't freak...none of us did. we were there...truly with eachother, ministering to God with eachother...and ministering to eachother through God!! i was unreal. we've been meeting for about 2 months now and this was by far the "best" time. actually...they just keep getting better and better. but i think we really hit it on the money....and it wasn't in any of our control....it was because we focused solely on Christ! the entire time (way to minimize the bunny trails;o).

THANK YOU GOD for the best birthday present!!! and thank you my spiritual family;o) you don't know what you mean to me...and i know that's only going to grow. i love you all so much!!! and i pray that all of you out there that don't have a clue about any of the things i've been describing with experience it first hand...just ask God...He'll meet you wherever you are...don't be afraid....its amazing!!!!!!!

a pile of scrap...

...I think it's amazing that God chose the career of a carpenter for His walk on earth, Jesus' trade. A carpenter is an expert on building, creating, and also reconstruction. A carpenter can take a pile of scrapwood and create something that is both useful and beautiful.

My dad is a builder. He began as a teenager and learned how to build a house from top to bottom...everything but plumbing. But he also is a packrat. And every year, at least once, my mom is faced with cleaning out my dad's garage...the haven for all left-overs...from nails and screws to saws that don't work and huge rolls of wire. As I helped my mom this last time, we spent days sorting through what we through of as a bunch of junk. I spent an hour just moving piles of scrapwood outside to the driveway. Although I was ready to chunk it all, my mom knew better. She knew that my dad valued that wood.

You see, out of all of that stuff, my dad has a thing for wood. Sure, I love the smell of wood (esp. sawdust...it reminds me of my dad)...but I don't think that's why my dad loves wood. I think that when my dad looks at a pile of scrapwood, he doesn't see pieces that never made it onto a house...he sees pieces ready to become a part of a project. He sees the potential.

Its so amazing to think of how our Heavenly Dad looks at all of the "scrapwood" of our lives and sees how He's going to make it into something both useful and beautiful!

partly true...

You Are a Peacemaker Soul

You strive to please others and compromise anyway you can. War or conflict bothers you, and you would do anything to keep the peace. You are a good mediator and a true negotiator. Sometimes you do too much, trying so hard to make people happy. While you keep the peace, you tend to be secretly judgmental. You lose respect for people who don't like to both give and take. On the flip side, you've got a graet sense of humor and wit. You're always dimplomatic and able to give good advice. Souls you are most compatible with: Warrior Soul, Hunter Soul and Visionary Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?

the best dating advice ever...

...ahhh, good ole' tailgating. the usual...lots of walking, bits of food, and TONS of socializing. i had a great time! and of course, there were some memorable moments. this one i had to share.

"eat bbq, talk football and you can get any guy." yes...this is an actual quote. my friend, Tanner, and I and Marisa were chatting over a plate full of bbq...and of course, we were talking about our expectations for the game. a few sentences later, ones that included words like "special teams" and "field position" and i was getting one of the biggest dating tips of my life;o)

well...Tanner...i guess i know what your ideal first date would look like. hey...maybe i'll even try it someday. i'll take a guy to that really sketchy bbq place off of broad street...get it to go of course...bring him back to my apt...on a saturday or sunday and talk it up...i know all kinds of football words to use...maybe like: d-line, holding, rushing yards,touch-back, blitz and maybe i'll even throw in some talk about uga's chances of going to the sec championship...that should really make an impact. guess i'm set.

thanks for the advice...i'll let you know if it works;o)

struggles...

...wow, two blogs in one day...this must be a record for me. actually, its past midnight, so i guess its not technically the same day..darn.

tonight i had the opportunity to finally let out some of my struggles and lean on my brothers and sisters in Christ...my volnerability was welcomed with encouragement, understanding, relating, and some well-spoken advice.

i have struggled with trusting the Lord...and wondering if my desires line up with His...and much more on deeper levels. i thought this struggle would cease when i finally could wrap my arms around the Lord and declare that He satisfies me completely. this past year, He has led me to the point where i had the opportunity to declare that just a couple of weeks ago. i could truly exclaim "i am in love with you, Lord!!!!" i really could scream that from the ROOFTOPS right NOW! then...why am i still struggling?

then...tonight it hit me that this area of struggle is not just going to disappear in one day. although i have found the true answer and my true satisfaction, the lies that have been holding me hostage for so many years, have left scars..and they are still holding onto me..and little by little the Lord is helping me to cut these chains off of me!

so...i will not despair...i will HOPE..because i know that one day i will be completely free from this struggle and i will be free! Christ will always have the ultimate victory!!!!

a hurting heart...

...since the beginning of the week, God has been taking me on a journey through my heart, my emotions. on monday, the scriptures opened my eyes to the decietful nature of my heart. i had not realized that i had been believing that if my heart desired something and it seemed good, then it must be the best thing for me. but that is not always true. what IS always true is that God always wants and does what is best for me. that is truth.

i thought my journey had ended with this. but of course the Lord wanted me to dig deeper. since going to a concert on monday night, my heart has been both joyful and heavy. how can i feel both of these things at once...the heart is a complicated thing. i speak of heart as basically my soul (being defined as that which includes my thoughts and emotions...excluding the other two parts of me, my spirit and body). so...feeling both of these emotions proves the point that i can't trust what i am feeling...because i can't even really keep it straight.

so...even today i woke up feeling very weighted down. a lot of times in the past this has been because the Lord was giving me a burden to pray for someone or something. so...i asked Him what or who? but no clear answer has come. what in the world? i have been a bit confused.

then, as i was reading an email from a friend who is serving in Spain as a volunteer missionary, i broke down. i began crying and realized that my burden is the feeling of loss. i feel like i have lost a huge part of me...where my desires were released. the Lord has once again confirmed in my heart that He has given me a desire to do full-time ministry...i long to do it. i don't mind working in the traditional sense...but i just have this huge longing to do ministry as my vocation (not ministry in my vocation).

but as i have just learned...i cannot trust my emotions. so, i'm taking this to the Lord and to the scriptures and trusting that God will continue to be my guide and show me where He wants me, when He wants me. i wait on Your word, Lord...I'm ready when you want me...whoa...i just realized that's a big statement...hold me to it, Jesus, and give me the strength!!!

trusting and entrusting...

...why do i have so much trouble with these words?

"I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day." 2 Timothy 1:12

...so much goes along with this...believing, trusting, knowing God.

I pray the prayer of the man with the demon-possessed boy in Matthew..."Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!"

The start of freedom...

...Today was a pivotal day, the start of a new life of freedom in Christ, one that I had already been attempting, but now with the power of the Spirit freeing me from bonds that had been holding me back, actually can live.

"The steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in Thee. Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord we have an everlasting rock." Isaiah 26:3-4

...This verse had a whole new meaning to me this morning as the Lord began revealing to me my lack of peace resulting from my lack of trust in Him. I trust the Lord on a daily basis with most of my life, but there is one particular area that I have struggled with for at least 6 years...trusting Him in, let's see, what should I call it..."my love life"/"boys"/"who's my husband"/"where's my date"/"will I ever get to the next stage"...all this and more.

So, what changed me today? It wasn't the verse...that was just a helper. Christ revealed to me that I was lacking trust in Him because of a situation in the past. He revealed to me why He allowed that situation to happen...and He showed me at least 4 huge great things that came out of it (so far!). This entire time, I had not come to the conclusion that God wasn't a liar, but that He would control the situation, He didn't know how to handle it. But that was a lie!! He was in control, but I just didn't like what He was allowing to happen...I couldn't see the whole picture.

Now, as He's revealing to me more parts of the entire picture, I am understanding that my trust in Him is only through obedience...daily obedience. And only through this trust will I be able to live a "love" life of peace, first with my true Love, Christ, and then with my "earthly love". Whew...what a day! God is good!!!!

(This moment of release from bondage was helped by the Bible study, Breaking Free, by Beth Moore. I highly recommmend it!)

the plant that i am...

...cornus sanguinea. need i say more? probably. no one know what that stuff means, but its really a name for a plant whose common names are "Winter Beauty" or "Bloodtwig Dogwood" or "Winter Fire". it begins with the name...i mean, i am a winter beauty right? i was born in december:o) but really it all started with this quote i found in a gardening magazine (my dad's) that really struck me: "many plants thrive under regular hard pruning and perform better than they would if left alone." man...that's deep huh? well...this plant was the mascot of that quote and what struck me was its vibrant red colored branches. so, i decided to look the plant up and read more about it. here's what i found...its almost eery...it fits me so well.

Hardiness Zones: 4-7
Habit: Deciduous
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
Site Requirements: Sun to partial shade; well drained soil
Texture: Medium
Form: Loose, unkept floppy habit (i don't know about this part so much;o); spreading rounded top; multistemmed ; dense twiggy habit
Height: 6 to 15'
Width: 6 to 15' (hopefully not this so much!!)
Leaf: 1.5 to 3" simple, opposite leaves; blood red fall color
Flower/Fruit: White flowers in May to early June; flat topped cyme; .25" purplish black fruit in fall
Comments: Easy to transplant; fibrous roots; very adoptable; not a good specimen plant; suckers freely; quite adoptable


*i swear i didn't make this up...i copy and pasted it from this nc state webstie. the parts that hit me the most were the white blooms and the comments about adaptability. i hope and pray these describe me the most. for i want my blooms...my fruit...my beauty to be white...pure...and come out in the coldest times!! and i truly hope that i am always easy to transplant knowing that God is my only permanant home and He travels with me.

So....what's your plant??

An unforgettable visit...

...As I mentioned before, one of my best friends, Stephanie, visited me here in Paris just a while ago. She came all the way from China to spend time with me (and see a little bit of Paris). We had such an amazing time together. She is a wonderful best friend and I know the Lord is blessing our friendship (even while we are thousands and thousands of miles away from eachother). So, this is for you Steph...just some words: the apprentice, dumplings, who are all these people from california?, a springy mattress, some beautiful views of the city, no waffle, breakfast or lunch?, fresh market food, picard & ed, spilled jam, the park with will, a huge salad and little bity brownie, we know how old frieda is!, and what's up with the cold??? I love you girl and it means so much to me that you came so far to see me. The pleasure will be mine next year!!

Soakin' it in...

...Wow...its always toward the end of something that time begins to fly by. The end of my time here in Paris is in sight...a little too close I think. For the past few months, it seemed as though I would be in Paris forever, and then all of the sudden I have less than two weeks left in this city that I have fallen in love with. I beginning to feel the sadness of leaving behind a world that is so different from my old one. I feel as if I have to say goodbye to all of these changes that I have both painfully accepted and warmy welcomed. But I also know that God has blessed me with all of these changes and I am praying that He will help me integrate them into a new life back home...in my old, but new world. Its all a bit fuzzy to me. But I know God will guide me. I am just so incredibly joyful as I look back on this year in Paris and a smile comes over my face and my eyes light up and all of the wonderful experiences, people, and memories come flooding into my head and heart. And I know that I still have two fabulous weeks to soak up even more of the life-changing Paris and take a million more pictures!! Its not goodbye yet!

ice cream...

You Are Rocky Road Ice Cream

Unpredictable and wild, you know how to have fun. You're also a trendsetter who takes risks with new things. You know about the latest and greatest - and may have invented it. You are most compatible with vanilla ice cream.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

A cooler, calmer summer...

...After a couple of weeks of crazy heat here in Paris, we're finally getting some mild (and a bit chilly) weather. Its a welcomed relief after surviving the "heat wave" without AC. And along with the cooler weather has come a calmer schedule for me. What a drastic difference. Many students have gone home for the summer and the goodbyes have continued...my friends, Joelle and Assia, and my teammates, the Kings, and my roommate, Ashley. Whew. And its expecially been a big change from my busy 10 days I spent at home in the states a couple of weeks ago. I had an amazing visit at home...spending lots of time with college friends, my nephews, my sisters, my parents, and my best friends from high school...and I have my best friend, Valerie, to thank for my visit...she just got married! It was a beautiful wedding that brought glory to God...a wonderful example that I pray to follow. I love you Val and I'm so happy for you!

So...its a bit calmer and with that comes a bit or boredom. But I'm tyring really hard to be productive and not just sit around idle the last month of my time here in Paris. I have some fun things planned for students that are still here and I have my teammates, the Campbells, to spend lots of time with before I leave (and a new addition, Wyatt...when he comes very soon!), and I have also just finished my "Paris To Do" list...all of the places I want to go and things I want to do in Paris before I leave...and its really long...probably too long for just one month left. So...that should keep me busy...and I'm really hoping to have some great time alone with God to read, chat, and just have some good quality time with my favorite companion!

And the best news for the moment is that my best friend and roommate from college, Stephanie, is coming all the way from China to visit me here in Paris!! She'll be here this week and is staying for 5 whole days!!! I can't wait to spend time with her and for us to talk about our year away in foreign countries...lots to talk about...So...as you can see, the Lord has plans for me here in Paris for my last month and I hope to be writing about some amazing things in the next days...keep checking (now that I remembered to write in here:o).

Go Andy!!!! Wish I could be watching.

The fam...

....Whoo hoo!! My family is in town visiting me. Its so great to have family here, experiencing my life here (going grocery shopping with me, meeting my teammates, staying in my apartment, and eating at my favorite restaurants). Its a neat experience to be able to be the native showing them around to all the sights that I've seen multiple times....like the Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur, Versailles, and more. We've been so lucky to have amazing weather while they've been here...blue skies and temperatures in the 79s and 80s! The hottest its been since I've lived here. Thank you Lord for that. Right now my parents and sister are on a boat ride on the Seine River...seeing all the sights from down on the river...and I'm taking a break from being tourist and getting back to some of the things in my normal schedule, like righting here and my prayer letter. Tonight we have a wonderful dinner at Chez Papa planned...my teammates, Anna and Mentanna, will be joining us for the Southwestern French cuisine. I love this place! Then we'll be doing some more sight seeing and other stuff in the next couple of days before my parents leave. Tomorrow night we are going to Cirque de Soleil...a birthday present to my sister....I'm so excited. Then on Saturday, me and my sister are heading to Belgium and Holland for a few days of European touring. Then I will say goodbye to my sister in a week and a half. Then its only a month until I go home for Valerie's wedding...a little 10-day trip home. So...its going to be a busy next month...but I'm looking forward to the Lord using me this month to do the amazing things He has planned. I'll try to send out some updates on everything!!

Saying goodbye already...

...In the past week, I've had to say three really hard goodbyes/see you laters.

The first was to my teammates, Rob and Nichole, as they left for the states for four months to raise support to come back here in the fall. I am so thankful to have been able to work with them and am challenged by their motivation and hard work with students here in Paris. Please pray for them while they are in the states!

The second was a sudden one. My friend, Khadija, had to leave Paris and go home to Morocco due to some personal problems. Although this was a very sad goodbye...we had coffee two days before she left and had some amazingly blessed conversation!! Please be praying for her as well.

The third was sudden as well. My roommate, Ali, needed to move apartments. Although I am so sad for losing an amazing roommate, I know this is better for her and I know the Lord has plans in this and is using it. Please pray for her as she goes through these changes.

So...its been a bit of a rollercoaster...but the Lord is sustaining me and I know that He is always with me and He is my true HOME!

A four letter word...

...KIND. So simple. I read this word everywhere in the Bible, but something hit me the other night in house church: I've never really thought about its meaning. What does the word "kind" mean? Am I "kind"? Do I exhibit kindness?

My first response is no. I don't think of myself as first and foremost a "kind" person. So, what is a kind person? I think I've always thought of someone who just seems to be sweet all the time to everyone. But I think it goes beyond that.

As a group of us discussed it, some good points were shared. Kindness is not just a feeling, but must be manifested into action. You can't just feel kind...you must BE kind. And someone must receive your kindness...you can't be kind into the air, but you can be kind to someONE. Also...kindness entails valuing people. When I think about Jesus and how He displayed kindness, its easy to see that what pushed Him to kind actions was His love for people...He valued them because He saw the potential in everyone.

So...there are some thoughts that have been swimming around in my head the past few days. Hopefully these thoughts will turn into actions as I open myself up to God showing me how to be kind, when, and to whom. Maybe I'll be able to share some cool experiences soon!

I'll leave you with some quotes about kindness:


Eric Hoffer:
Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.

Abraham Joshua Heschel:
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people; as I grow older, I admire kind people.

Albert Schweitzer:
Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.


http://www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_kindness.html (for more quotes)

A tech miracle...could it be?...

...I can't believe I'm going to blog yet again about technology. But I have to express the joy I am feeling right now. I truly am in shock about the fact that I am sitting here in my room in my apartment using my own laptop to write this...wireless internet!! Its really a man-made (God-blessed for us) miracle! Some of you have heard me complain for months and months about all our internet troubles...I mean, who hasn't had internet troubles at one point or another. I know I've had my fair share. But for the moment, I am smiling. After many months of saying mean things to our former computer and sighing over and over again around my teammates, Scott from my team blessed our apartment, specifically Ali, with a new computer. Its a Mac that he used to have before he got a new one. So, out with the old and in with the new. This started the process of getting a new modem...one that actually works with computers that aren't as old as who knows what. So...after much patience from Ali, 4 visits to the France telecom store (3 different ones), and a salesman that actually revealed to us a secret plan...we ended up with not only a new modem, but a wireless router...for even cheaper than expected! Amazing. Truly a miracle. And thanks to Scott again, after hooking everthing up for us in our apartment, I am sitting in my room, on my laptop, typing this. Amazing. You can't know what a relief and joy it is to have internet with a computer that will actually work and not have to be restarted an average of 10 times per day! So, thanks again to everyone who was a part of this amazing process that has revolutionized mine and my roommates' lives: Scott, Ali, Paulette, and the salesman at France telecom. I look forward to many more months of emailing more, blogging more, and sending out updates more frequently!

Lots of laughs...

...Although the visit ended with a few tears, it could hardly be classified as a sad or disappointing one. My best friends, Leah and Tatum, came to see me last week and we had sooooooo much fun. Of course, what should else should I expect from the two of them. Anyone who knows them both and has been around them together can testify that life gets pretty silly when both of them are around...you know what I mean! And that's exactly what I needed! I didn't even realize how warn out and tired and serious I had gotten from living in the city for 7 months. As they put it..."you're just more reserved here." That's definitely true and partly because of the culture here...but also partly because I'm just more tired here. I can't explain it, but if you've lived in a big city then you understand. Anyways...they were such a blessing of refreshment for me. I need times of complete silliness to relax and have fun and let go of everything I had been holding onto. This couldn't have been represented more perfectly than by our last night. They invited me to join them in a hotel suite where we ordered pizza in, watched the French version of American Idol (Nouvelle Star), and ate 3/4 of a cake (chocolate with cream cheese icing)!!! Not to mention, Tatum became photo artiste and took about 40 pics with different objects that we aptly names the "box pictures". So...as you can see, silly it was! Thanks for an amazing time girls!! Tatum...you're next...it will be mine and Leah's treat!

Technology again...

...So, once again I'm amazed at technology and feel as if I've jumped 100 years into the future into come time that I used to watch on television...like on the Back to the Future movie. On Saturday, I talked to my friend, Stephanie, who's in China, through the internet. I sat with a laptop in front of me and a headset on and talked to her as if it were a phone. It was so weird at first. I really felt like I was in a movie. But it was really amazing. To think that I can talk to her when she's so far away so easily (and it was free!). So...thanks technology and all those who are constantly discovering new things!!! And thanks for a fun talk Steph!

Happy Birthday Caden!

I would like to say Joyeaux Anniversaire to my little nephew, Caden, who is turning 1 !!!! Its his first birthday and I am very sad to miss celebrating it with him...but I heard the party was a blast. My big sis always knows how to throw a good party:o) I love you Caden and I'm giving you a big hug and kiss from Paris!!

Technology continues to amaze me...

...Last night, I watched a video over the internet of Louie Giglio speaking at 7:22. Amazing. I knew that you could do this now...but it still floored me when I clicked on one button and within 30 seconds I was watching a talk that took place a few weeks ago in the states...had I known before, I could probably watch it live. It was so cool to hear some of the new praise songs that were played and to hear Louie again...man is he good or what? He is totally annointed for speaking to our generation. I will say that I believe he might have read Piper's book that I'm reading right now...the talk was very familiar. But I hear Louie is a big Piper fan. Its good though...Piper's ideas are a bit over my head a lot of the time and Louie kind of brings them down closer to my level...and then I can chew on the ideas from there. So...I recommend this to all of you who don't get a chance to go to 7:22 in Alpharetta, Georgia...go to www.webvideocastings.com/722 and listen to some broadcasts...they are truly inspiring.

Pretty in Pink...

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Originally uploaded by pamelamsimpson.

...Marisa and I finally made it to the Eiffel Tower...just to take look and some pictures. Thanks for loaning me the sweater Ris! And don't you all love Marisa's hat??

Let's eat some more...

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Originally uploaded by pamelamsimpson.

...Elie, Assia, Marisa, and Me eating at this awesome Peruvian restaurant. Although we waited forever for the food (I think they forgot about us for a while), the food was great and we had a great time enjoying eachother's company.

Her first American meal...

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Originally uploaded by pamelamsimpson.

...Me, Assia, Jessica and Sarah (both from the Mercer group). Assia joined us for dinner at the American restaurant and enjoyed her very first American meal (aside from McDonald's). She actually like the American mustard too!

Some new friends...

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Originally uploaded by pamelamsimpson.

...At the end of the volunteer week, we had a dinner at the American restaurant and invited students to join us. Three girls that Veronica had met joined us and, along with Ali and Sandra, they had a great time getting to know eachother. Ali is hoping to begin meeting with these girls and carry on the new friendship.

A little chit chat...

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Originally uploaded by pamelamsimpson.

...On campuses, we use volunteer groups to give surveys. These surveys are great ways to learn about the french student culture and mindset. Here Sandra (from the Mercer group) and Anna King (from our team) are talking with a couple of girls at the university building at Censier. They ended up talking with them for at least an hour!

Cooking lessons with Lulu...

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Originally uploaded by pamelamsimpson.

...This was my first lesson in Chinese cooking...given by my teacher, Lulu. Its an exchange of sorts...I give Enlgish lessons and now she's teaching me how to cook real genuine Chinese food. The only problem is that she doesn't know the french or english word for a lot of the ingredients....I think you can only find them in China (or Chinatown, near where I live here in Paris).

The familiar accent group...

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Originally uploaded by pamelamsimpson.

...This is the group from Mercer University in the states that came to work with us for a week. From the left its, Sarah, Chris (the leader), Veronica, Jessica, and Sandra.

Discovering new restaurants...

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Originally uploaded by pamelamsimpson.

...I love going to ethnic restaurants and discovering foods I've never tasted before. Here, me and Assia are at a Lebonese place with our friend, Elie. He is Lebonese and took us to one of his favorite restaurants. The food was great! We're hoping to make this a weekly event...trying new restaurants with Assia, Elie, and their friends (giving them the chance to practice their English!).

A wonderful day to celebrate...

...After walking the road to the cross....what a day of celebration today is...the day that Christ defied all human laws and rose Himself from the grave!!!

Christ is Risen Indeed!!

Happy Easter everyone!!

Today is an amazing day for Christians. This is the most important day of the year as we reflect on the amazing and free gift Christ gave us...the gift of eternal life through a sacrifice that we could not make ourselves...a sinless sacrifice. I would just like to say a huge thank you to the Lord for this amazing gift...this is my Thanksgiving Day!!!!!

A walk following the cross...

...This past Friday (Good Friday) I was invited to join my friend, Joelle, and her sister to go to a service at a local catholic church. I was excited to experience something different...and I did. We begun by singing a few chants...remember, this is all in French. Then a priest carried a wooden cross and we all got up and began to follow him...even out the door! So, Joelle filled me in on what was going on. It turned out to be such a cool experience. It was "The Way of the Cross" (some know it as the "stations" of the cross). We walked a block or so, then stopped, a priest would read scripture and pray and then we would sing a chant that went along with the "station." Each station were parts of Jesus' path to the cross...from the acusasations of the sanhedrin to Peter's denial to the crucifixion. It was really moving. Although the standing and walking was very tiring...it was so great to spend three hours reading about Christ's amazing sacrifice and worship Him through prayer and song. It was a great way to spend Good Friday since that it when it all happened. I think I am going to make it a tradition for myself every year...maybe with a few slight (more protestant) changes:o)

Some familiar accents...

...A couple of weeks ago, we had the opportunity to host a volunteer group from Mercer University. Boy was it fun to hear some nice southern accents and the "correct" pronunciation of Atlanta ("Alana"). They were able to join us for a week. The group was made up of four girls and I loved getting to know all of them. One of my favorite questions to ask all of them was what they had learned about the students here in France throughout the week. So many of them were so surprised to find out that most students don't believe in God and don't think faith is important in our lives through the cultural exchange surveys they conducted. It was exciting to watch their eyes open to a whole new world around them.

On top of learning things themselves, they helped us out with making new contacts through the surveys, prayer walking up a storm!, and helping with English Club sign-ups. There were a few girls that my roommate met through them and is hoping to begin meeting with. Thanks for all the help Mercer Girls...and Chris!! We enjoyed having you all here...keep praying for the students in Paris and I'm looking forward to hearing about the new outreaches you will be doing on your campus!!!!

By His Grace...

(the Hymn, "By His Grace")


"By His grace I am redeemed, By His blood I am made clean,
And I now can know Him face to face.
By His pow'r I havev been raised, Hidden now in Christ by faith;
I will praise the glory of His grace.

By Your grace I am redeemed, By Your blood I am made clean,
And I now can know You face to face.
By Your pow'r I have been raised, Hidden now in You by faith;
I will praise the glory of Your grace."

The waves and winds still know his voice...

I am currently reading "Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ" by John Piper. In the chapter titled "The Waves and Winds Still Know His Voice" Piper expresses the relationship of God with the earth and all its parts. I was moved by this chapter due to the recent tsunami event in Asia. It really spoke to me. God is completely in control of the earth and what happens with nature...eventhough we may not understand it. Here is a poem from the chapter that Piper wrote...it really moved me and I hope it speaks to you...


God strolled the beach---
Our legs and faces could not bear the piercing, blasting sand.

God stepped ashore---
Palms waved, scattering branches in his path.

God strode inland---
Magnolias, pines, and oaks
Who'd stretched one hundred years toward God,
Fell to the ground before him.

God stood and breathed---
While we--in dark, closed closet--
Feared to face his glory.

All fun and games...

...I've forgotten how much fun I have playing games with friends. Last night I had such a great time over at the King's apartment just playing games. Accompanied by my two roommates, Ali and Heidi, and my friend, Troy, we snacked on my favorite Tex-Mex dish, a layer dip with chips. About thirty chips later we began the real fun. We started off by teaching my roommates one of my favorite games, Speed Scrabble. If you aren't familiar with this game, you should be. Its so much more fun than Scrabble (although I've never actually played regular Scrabble...I just assume that it is a bit boring for me, too slow paced...kind of like my assumption with golf). I won't go into detail about the game, but its called SPEED Scrabble for that very reason. It was fun to watch my roommate, Heidi, come up with new words that I've never seen...she decide to play phonetically. Then we moved on to Nertz. Me and Ali were a team until we got too good and they decided that we needed to be on our own...just because they were all playing indiviually doesn't mean we have to right? Man, it was a competitive bunch. I got in trouble twice for "double handing" it. Who knew that was some unspoken rule? Anyways...one of my favorite parts was hearing what Ali would come up with to say about the number of points she got (she's not a big fan of speed games...she likes regular Scrabble better). When she achieved a positive score, she accredited it to Henry and Henrietta (the two ducks on the deck of card she was using). Another time, she recieved 3 points and said that this was a great number because it was the number of the month of her birthday. She's so funny and creative...always making us laugh...mostly because she's already laughing. So...thanks for having us over Anna and Tom!! We had a blast...next time, we'll host the game night and I'm sure Ali will make us play at least one slower paced game:o) Happy Gamenighting everyone!!!

Letting go of the rope...

(dedicated to my friend who gives me hope every time I speak with her)

Seeking with hope
A young doctor sees
There is more to this world
More than she’s known
Starting with nothing
Stepping slowly down the path
Asking questions with no fear
Just a mind with all wonders
A journey has commenced
And stories unfold
Of other Christians
And their paths to the One
Change has begun
In her heart, mind and soul
She begins to hear the faint whispers
She sees the power, He’s moving
So what holds her back
From the life-saving choice
To give all control
To the ultimate Love
She says there’s a bridge
She sees the other side
But preventing the next step
Is not letting go of the rope

Roller coasters...

Bonjour Supporters, Famille, et Amis!!

Hello Supporters, Family, and Friends!!

“Consider the work of God, for who is able to straighten what He has bent? In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider—God has made the one as well as the other…” Ecclesiastes 7:13-14

The New Year began with fireworks, but little did I know that the Lord had a roller coaster in store for me the first month of the year. The month of January was full of ups and downs…and oh how the “downs” made me appreciate the “ups” so much more. Now, no one worry…I’m fine, I promise.

So…where to begin.

Most memorable moment: Seeing the look on my face in the mirror after getting my first Parisian-style haircut. I adventured into the Jean Louise David school to get my super-cheap haircut (only 4 euro, which is about 6 dollars or so right now). All was going well until I was separated from my roommate, Ali, who was assigned to be my translator for this momentous occasion. Although my understanding of French has grown, my ability to speak has not (unfortunately). But with the help of many hand gestures and a magazine or two…the student began hacking away. Huge chunks of hair were flying around and I suddenly realized that my worst fear might be coming true…I was getting an infamous mullet! After two hours of cutting, and help from the teacher, all was complete and I was officially a part of the group known as South-Georgian Hicks. Now, some might say, “you’re exaggerating Pam!”…well, you are right, I am. Truthfully, it is a very stylish mullet…my stick-straight hair helps in that way. And I have come to really like it and I actually feel like I fit in better now. But, I don’t think I’ll be pointing to that picture next time. And don’t worry Valerie, I’m going to get another haircut to even it all out before your wedding. I don’t think a mullet (no matter how stylish) will go well with a lilac bridesmaid dress.

A sad good-bye: One of my down moments was having to say goodbye to my good friend, Lydia, who was studying here from Germany. She ended up having to leave Paris a month early due to an internship. However, we did get in a whole bunch of fun before she left: shopping, coffee, ice-skating, and dinner at an amazing Ethiopian restaurant. I truly feel blessed to have met Lydia and become friends with her. And I wish her all the happiness in the world in her new marriage that will begin in August! I can’t wait to visit you Lydia!

A big southern-style hello: The third week in January, we welcomed a volunteer mission group from Southeastern Seminary in North Carolina. They were here for 10 days helping out our ministry. This was my first time being on this side of things and it was very interesting. I have a new appreciation. We were blessed to have these students come…their zeal was encouraging, their theological discussions were unforgettable, and I think they walked away from here with a new understanding of reaching post-modern thinkers through relationship evangelism. Thanks for all the help y’all!!


“The end of the matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.” Ecclesiastes 7:8

Avec amour,Pamela Simpson

Hey Y'all!

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Originally uploaded by pamelamsimpson.

I was so excited to have a group of southerners come and help us out. This is the group from Southeastern Seminary in North Carolina. They joined us for 10 days and their zeal was unforgettable. Thanks for the help!

The moast fashionable mullet I've ever seen:o)

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Originally uploaded by pamelamsimpson.

Here's a close-up of my wonderful Parisian haircut that has now famed me with the name Pamullet:o) The best part about it is that you can always see my cool earrings...the worst part...no second-day hair. But for only 4 euros, it was definitely worth it!

The Best Way to Say Goodbye

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Originally uploaded by pamelamsimpson.

I think this was the best goodbye dinner I've ever had...no tears, just amazing and different Ethiopian food. I will definitely be going back here. It may not look like much, but we couldn't even finish that plate! Oh...this is Lydia and Me...she had to go back to Germany for an internship...but hopefully I will get to go to Germany to visit her soon.

The Lips

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Originally uploaded by pamelamsimpson.

I couldn't believe my eyes...this is the cotemporary art fountain that is in one of my favorite movies, Sabrina! So cool. Its a great meeting spot...no one can miss the lips!