Its time to start collecting for: Follow Your Feet
The Pacific Ocean! This was September 2009, Seattle Washington. Alki Beach. My BFF Alison took me there! The beach is on the other side of the Puget Sound from the city! It was chilly, but perfect! Look, its actually sunny in Seattle!
In 4 days I will be leaving on a plane(which is extremely hard for me) to Sells, Arizona. Why you may ask? We are going on a mission trip to the Tohono O'odham Native American Reservation. I went last year around this time and fell in love with the T.O. people and the area. When you enter onto the Rez (yes Twilight fans...they really call it the Rez), its like entering into a third world country in the middle of the United States. No modern sewage system, trash and abandoned homes and cars everywhere.
I have been researching about the T.O.'s for my international social work class. I will be meeting the social workers at the Sells Indian Health Services Hospital down the street from where we are staying. The T.O. people originally had land that covered into the U.S. and Mexico. After the treaty that has a long name, their land was split between the Mexican/American boarder. Their way of life has completely changed. Since 9/11 boarder control has increased and the negative outcomes show in their society. High drug trafficking between Mexico and Arizona leads to high gang activity, abandoned vehicles everywhere. Poor health behavior, no economic development therefore no jobs, high alcoholism... you name it...they got it. I can't wait to be out there.
I'm also buying a new camera before I leave so I am excited to take pictures!
Its raining in Atlanta today.....whats new?? It seems that it hasn't stopped raining since september. I currently am missing class right now, and I think it was a good decision. I've been able to get some work done today, eat a healthy lunch, relax and not feel rushed before I go work at Treehouse tonight. Sad, but sometimes class just gets in the way of actually getting things accomplished.
So I read the book by Nicholas Sparks, Dear John. For some reason, most other women in the U.S. didn't read this book. Apparently, we don't like entertainment if it doesn't give us a fairy tale ending. I'm opposite, I love books that give us realistic glimpses into our own lives. This book is one of my favorites. I did get to be girly and go see it the night it came out in theaters! I loved it. Of course, no movie is as good as the book(changing of characters, and lost scenes). The last time I read a book and then saw a movie was Kite Runner. If you have the chance to read it, you should! It is set in Afghanistan, so it gives a decent look into their culture.
My BFF Alison Leigh Dickens inspired me to post today :)
Its funny out she can be on the opposite end of the country....I mean absolute opposite ends and yet our lives remain intertwined and connected :) Today, my heart is overflowing (although the first half of the day you would have not known). As I sit at my internship...and do NO work....I have this feeling of just wanting to be with my Lord. He has opened my eyes to so my truth through His words, I can not keep it all in! I just want to be the beloved: "I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine" Song of Solomon 6:3 Everyday for me I am consumed with school, internship, working for my professor, working at Treehouse, and socializing.....and I leave the Lord out everyday. His grace never ceases to find me, the Spirit intercedes for me in ways I do not even know, and he picks me up from the bottom :) So much more I could share, but I think this sums it all up...Enjoy.
I was fortunate enough learn about this organization LiNK this summer. The crisis in North Korea is gut wrenching. Tragedy, and the maltreatment of humanity happen everywhere, in every crevice and corner of every society and culture around the world. So why does this one resonate within my soul? I'm not sure. I feel like I have always been fairly aware of the social justice issues around the world, but was blind to this one in particular. Basically, North Koreans are starving and being held in "political prisoner" camps all over the country. Because there is such a large famine, North Koreans are fleeing the country. They are mainly escaping into China. The problem? Unlike most other countries around the world, China is not recognizing these North Koreans as political refugees (which the U.N. has declared they are). If North Koreans are discovered, and are sent back, they are sentenced to death for defecting, or put in labor camps (which is death). Chinese citizens are given a reward if they report North Koreans. There is a documentary being screened across the country by this organization, and if you get a change to see it....I highly encourage you to. It is called Seoul Train. Here is video for their new campaign:
So, after a guest speaker visited on of my classes and addressed the issue of Social Media and Social Work, I realized.... I am a social media nerd. It dawned on me, that I have not tapped into the world of blogs. I love reading them (well certain blogs) and now I want one!
