Baby Jackson

One of my best friends from high school had a baby early yesterday morning. His name is Corwin Jackson.  I love babies and I love Anna and I'm hoping that I can visit them later this evening.

Here we go again....

...back to the grind!  Sadly, Spring Break has ended and I am back in classes at IWU.  I had a good vacation in GC.  I stayed home with my sister and parents, and didn't do much of anything.  I made it out a couple times to dinner with friends, which was nice; went to the Creation Museum, which was good; worked out 3 times, which was necessary; and rested, relaxed, and rejuvenated myself, which was very nice!  I didn't do enough homework, but I did get 1 large project finished and that is a good feeling!!

It is Wednesday, which explains why I am blogging so early in the morning.  Every Wednesday morning at 6:30 I go on a prayer walk across campus.  This morning almost 40 students gathered together with Dr. Lo - an incredible number!  We prayed over the Townhouses and specifically for 2 students, Whitney Reynolds and Samuel Fowler, who have serious physical concerns.  We then went to the PPAC, where we have chapel at 10 and 11 o'clock.  We surrounded him in prayer as he will present a very large vision in chapel later today.  On Saturday March 28th, the Dean of the Chapels Office has organized a Community Prayer Walk, and Dr. Lo is hoping for 1000 students and faculty to represent IWU to Marion and go on a prayer walk through the Marion area.  He is also praying that $10-20,000 be given as an offering to our needy community.

Coming back, I feel overwhelmed, weary, and anxious.  In addition to a long list of school projects, I am feeling heavy pressure and responsibility for leading the trip to Cambodia.  Yesterday, I read in Psalms 46, "Be still and know that I am God." and in Matthew 6:33, "But seek 1st His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Beside that I had written, 'The spiritual person puts the care of their soul before ALL things'  So today, I am resting in His promises, and trusting (but quitting) all my work and responsibilities to Him.

Picture taken by friend Paul Garverick II in Rio Bravo, MX

Iris Ministries Sudan

I received this email this morning from Michele, Field Ministry Coordinator in Sudan::
Beloved- a quick email to ask you to pray… the LRA attacked killing 5 people and abducting an unconfirmed number from a village about 2 miles from our compound. Movement is now restricted and people have been urged to take up their “pangas” (machetes) creating another security risk. We are not to our knowledge in any immediate danger as the rebels seem to be moving in the opposite direction and only really attack at night. We are praying. Please pray with us. Tension and fear are running high. Our obvious concern is for the safety of our children and our team… we are worshiping in the face of hate and fear. Much love in Jesus, Michele

My friend Jennie Telfer works with Michele at the center.  Iris Ministries is similar to an orphanage, but is more like a village of small homes filled with family units of 10-15 children and a mama.  Read Jennie's blog about the LRA's movement nearby, HERE.

Please pray for Jennie, the ministry compound, and those in the path of the ruthless rebel army.

Malik

A woman rather confused..

I went to the dentist this morning for the regular cleaning, and the lady was asking me about my summer plans.  Now, I consider myself a very friendly and sociable person, but, when I'm in the dentist chair, I do struggle carrying my share on the conversation.  I think it has something to do with ten fingers and two tools in my mouth.

Anyways... I told her that I will be teaching English for six weeks in Cambodia and she was rather impressed.  She asked, "Teaching English, huh.  So, you speak Spanish pretty well then don't you?"

"Yes ma'am I do... (but NOT in Cambodia.)"

Cambodia is in Asia, a country very far from any spanish-speaking nations.  The people of Cambodia speak Khmer.  It looks more like this:::

A quiet week to come...

I really don't have much to say, but I did want to squeeze a post in tonight because I will again be surrendering my computer to IT tomorrow morning.  I'm not sure why, except that they asked for it back.  It has been working well, except for the battery.

I'm embarrassed to admit this, but not until yesterday evening did I realize that next week is Spring Break.  I have had so many things on my mind, that I hadn't stopped to turn the page on my schedule.  Wowie!  This also means that I will receive a letter on Thursday in regards to be an RA for next year.  I feel like I really accurately portrayed myself on my application and during my interviews, and I have prayed so much about it, that (though I will be very disappointed and discouraged) if I am rejected,  I will know that it isn't right, and I am not ready.

For Spring Break, Jessie, Mom, and I are wanting to visit the Creation Museum in Cincinnati and stay 1 night in a hotel.  Have you been there?  There is also a large aquarium nearby, and aquariums are one of my very favorite things, so we will probably stop there as well.  I also intend to:

Make lunch and dinner plans with friends,

Read a book for pleasure,

Catch up on some much-needed sleep,

Watch 4 episodes of LOST,

Visit Jayden,

Read my Bible,

and journal,

Do lots of research on Cambodia, (which conveniently doubles for my internship and a group project for Intercultural Relationships)...

and did I mention rest?

A woman missed her flight at the boarding gate HKIA..

Why do you think she is so panicked?  I understand some flights are very important, and if our team misses a flight, I'll be honest, I won't even know what to do.  Whatever the reason, this woman is a little over dramatic I think.  I cannot even believe this is real!  I would like to know what she is saying...  So if anyone speaks Korean!!  haha

Quads!

If you're interested in following a pretty interesting blog THIS might be it.  My friend Glenda's cousin had quadruplets on Christmas Eve.  Here the four cuties are::

Clockwise from top: Dahlia, Isaac, Lucia, and Jude 

Who can agree that babies are always cuter as multiples?

Jessie & I

"Tentative" design

This is the tentative design for our Cambodia t-shirts. I would never claim to be artistic, but I'm pretty darn proud of it! I say tentative, because nearly everything in missions appears to be tentative, even if it's written in stone! It's tentative..