Italy

Yes, of all places, I would really love to visit Italy. I remember watching a travel channel featuring Italy in 5th grade. I was super excited and felt a strong need to take notes using a napkin at arm's reach.

Anyway, I get the day off (worked four 10s this wk!) and thought I'd indulge myself in dreamin' a bit :D

Florence





Sicily








Venice










Rome






Capri










Cute cafes




:)
Someday!!

Prayerful Life

This is what is meant by a prayerful life. It is not a life in which we say many prayers, but a life in which nothing, absolutely nothing, is done, said, or understood independently of him who is the origin and purpose of our existence.

- from The Living Reminder by Henri Nouwen

Bliss

Grace: Is this Katy Perry?
me: No, it's Brittany Spears
Grace: Oh... thanks for putting up with my ignorance...
Julie: It's okay. Ignorance is bliss.

Chihuly in Venice

Disciples

How come Jesus did not have any female disciples? Historical & cultural context?

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

MY FRIEND CINDY GOT ENGAGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrNE82VIuFo&feature=share

email to-fro parents

Dad,

I get points marked off from presentations because I'm "too humorous"

=(

Mom,

I get points marked off in the clinic because I "smile too much"

=(

I think your genes are causing me to get bad grades in school......... 

------------

Cecilia,

It’s OK, as long as you can pass the courses!

On humor and smiling, you need to learn “where” “when” and “how”.  It is a good experience to pay attention to this, congratulations!  I am quite serious when I am discussing academic issues….  It is an advanced skill if you can using “sense of humor” and “seriousness” interactively with appropriateness.

Anyway, you have good genes!

God Bless!

Dad

insightful bits

I've been reading about my Brazil team leaders R & R's adventures. Below are two snippets I've c&p'd.

'Walk peacefully with Me through this day. You are wondering how you will cope with all that is expected of you. You must traverse this day like any other one: one step at a time. Instead of mentally rehearsing how you will do this or that, keep your mind on My Presence and on taking the next step. The more demanding your day, the more help you can expect from Me. This is a training experience since I designed you for a deep dependence on your Shepherd-King. Challenging times wake you up and amplify your awareness of needing my help.

'When you don’t know what to do, wait while I open the way before you. Trust that I know what I’m doing. And be ready to follow my lead. I will give you strength and will bless you with Peace.

Exodus 33:14, Deut. 33:25, Hebrews 13:20-21, Psalm 29:11

From “Jesus Calling” Sarah Young

This week we are busy in preparing for a "mini-distribution" and disability ministry training session in Jaurez Mexico. Yes, we know, Jaurez is a very dangerous place but as Jenny Hanks always says, "the safest place for a Christian to be is in the center of God's will...."

Boston Schweitzer Fellowship

Apparently a year has passed since I first took part in the Boston Schweitzer Fellowship.

One of my personal challenges in being part of this fellowship was comparing myself with the other 24 fellows. Their passions for their projects and compassion towards underserved populations overflowed, and they all seemed to have such discipline and focus. I sometimes questioned whether or not I was doing enough or even if my project were as valuable as theirs.

Today was our day-long closing retreat. We each had the opportunity to reflect and share our lessons learned from our experience as a Schweitzer Fellow.

I particularly appreciate the way the fellowship encouraged introspection - going deeper and figuring out our motivations for serving. For me personally I have to say that my ultimate driving force is my Christian faith; I believe that

1. Every single human being has inherent value
2. The world we live in is not supposed to be this messed up

It's been such a privilege to work with Chinese families affected by Autism this past year while hearing updates on 24 other projects in Boston. These grad students have been working with populations ranging from African refugees lacking access to primary care to teenage girls recovering from drug addictions.

To me, each project has been a glimpse of restoration in this messed up world. I see each fellow as an instrument used to restore a sense of worth in people who may have lost it in society. And the way we're enlivened through these new relationships remind me that we need each other. It's a beautiful thing - how caring relationships can blend "giver" and "receiver" into partnership, community, and hope.

This realization overpowers my interest in comparing myself with my fellow fellows. I just feel extremely blessed and thankful to be part of a much bigger picture.

Reminders and Epiphanies

I'm in the clinic 10 hrs/day M-Th, and these days are bookended by 80 min commutes. As a newbie student in the clinic, I feel like I'm constantly on the go and constantly being challenged.

My favorite part of each day is when my Clinical Instructor takes me aside after a new patient's initial evaluation and asks, "So what do you think is going on?" It's after we've gathered all the data we could within an hour through talking with the patient and taking objective measurements. It's when we try to pinpoint the underlying biomechanical dysfunction and/or pathology causing the patient's current state of disability. I present my tentative diagnosis and rationales, and then my CI shares a much more eloquent and comprehensive explanation. She blasts me with epiphany, basically. It's pretty fun :)

On my 80 min train/bus ride to the clinic each morning, I try to read through daily devotionals. But I can't seem to soak in the reading the same way as I can on a day like today, the beginning of my weekend.

I just read this in a World Vision Lent devo:

Hope is not an excuse to do nothing; it’s a reason to do what we can now, knowing that God is the restorer, His kingdom will come in due time.

So true.

Yet it scares me how easily and quickly I lose sight of why I do what I do. I can go through the motions of planning a night of bowling & fellowship to connect undergrads with young adults in Dorchester. And I can do all the busy work in preparation for monthly respite nights servicing Chinese families affected by Autism.

But why?

Sometimes doing these things week to week become just tasks to check off. The overarching visions no longer move me emotionally.

Then I just notice more immediate effects of my efforts - praise from people, recognition, the sense of accomplishment. These things aren't inherently evil. But when they're all I notice, they become all that I seek to sustain me through the week.

Sometimes I can sense pride rising up in me. It really saddens and discourages me because I know that God hates it. It "contends with His supremacy", as CJ Mahaney puts it. And I can sense how it dampens my relationship with Him :( It's frustrating because I've tried and I can't just will away this sense of pride or force myself to feel differently.

So I'm thankful for days like today, when God graces me with the ability to soak in His Word and His truth. Reading Job 38 helped me visualize and remember who God is and... well, how tiny & dispensable I am. How lucky I am to be a small part of all that He is doing... :)

Reading Revelations 21:1-7 reminded me of His vision for this world. It drew me into deeper yearning for that complete restoration of this depressing, messed up world... the restoration that only God can accomplish.

These two passages reminded me of this greater hope, and it fuels me to continue living each day knowing God is God and that He will restore.

As mentioned earlier, hope and truth aren't what always motivate me to do the things that I do. And I know God sees all the pride, filth, and messiness in my heart... to an infinitely greater extent than I can see myself.

Yet in prayer, He reminded me that He loves me???

He still loves me. That's just bizarre.

I wish that every single time I lay eyes on Scripture or engaged in prayer would be a moment of dramatic reminder + epiphany. But in this season, I'm just really thankful for these 3-day weekends that provide me with time to ruminate and listen. And I am thankful for His gracious provision of peace, purpose, and strength that sometimes follow.

... may my life make your great heart glad today.

I live in Boston

After seeing a buncha lovely UVa buddies at A&D's wedding last Saturday, I grew unexpectedly and immensely home(VA)sick. You know when your heart physically aches from missing someone? As if someone reached in and began wrenching and twisting it? I felt like that several times per day this past week-- missing old friends, familiar community, being understood without having to explain.

I'm trying to cope; I don't know where I'll be for my intern year or post graduation, but I know that I'm here now. I thought about constructing a list of things I love about Boston. That wouldn't be hard-- I could immediately think of at least 20 things at the top of my head... after all, I'm part of the rare breed that loves the cold, winter, and snow :)

The problem has been remembering and internalizing what's good. Living in the moment & appreciating it. It's so easy here (as it probably can be anywhere in the world) to see what's missing: what could be better, what desperately needs fixing, what relationships could be deeper. Wanting more.

The life I led in VA was one I'll forever treasure; being part of a loving & truth-seeking community grew me in so many ways, especially in opening my eyes to the way God Himself is revealed through the ways we strive to seek Him and love one another.

What about now? Here? Today?

I want to try keeping track of these treasurable moments and appreciating what I have. Now. Here. Today.

This morning, I can think of 2...

Shirin. Last night was Hannah's birthday, so a buncha my classmates and I went to dinner at Orinoco's. We were on our way to a lounge post-dinner for further celebration when Hannah began feeling motion sickness on the T-ride. None of us had disposable bags/containers with us. She held one hand tightly over her mouth, embarrassed to make a scene. Her roommate Shirin (another friend & classmate of mine) quickly emptied the contents of her pink Coach purse, handed it over to Hannah, and whispered, "Just use my bag, seriously don't worry about it. It's just a bag." Shirin stood right next to Hannah and held her purse close by the entire T ride, just in case. I don't think Shirin knows Jesus, but I see Jesus in her.

Cedar House. The 5 of us who live here try to have brunch together once every 2 weeks to catch up more in depth and pray. We essentially all go to different churches and spend our days in starkly different settings. The commonality? We're all trying-- trying to seek God, obey Him, love those around us, and make an impact in His world. We're all single, and our families all live a good distance away. And we're all looking for depth in our community as a house. I've lived here for 8 months, and it's been pretty darn cool to be part of a group that doesn't have all the answers or know the exact next steps, but that is trying-- trying to do what's right, asking each other for help, and encouraging each other along the way. I love brunches in general, but brunches with these gals have been extra special.

WV - Lent 2011

May God bless you with discomfort. Discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. Amen

May God bless you with anger. Anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace. Amen

May God bless you with tears. Tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain into joy. Amen

May God bless you with foolishness. Enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done. Amen

And the blessing of God, who creates, redeems and sanctifies, be upon you and all you love and pray for this day, and forever more. Amen

http://www.worldvisionacts.org/?q=lent2011_relentless_acts_of_justice

on praying for people

Frequently our lack is not faith but compassion... [If] we genuinely love people, we desire for them far more than it is within our power to give, and that will cause us to pray.

- Richard Foster

a new year

Fixed scenes peel away

In loud, thick, and jagged strips

Revealing what's real

The ultimate measure of a person is not where one stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where one stands in times of challenge and controversy.

- MLK Jr

(... happy 2011, everyone!)