a few more years shall roll

I realized that half my entry was cut off only after I arrived back in the states. The story gets better, I promise!

I will try to write some more entries as the week goes on, but today is catch up day.

(pardon spelling and punctuation errors–the keyboard is a bit unfamiliar)

My little team is taking a break from the hot sun. we have had an exhausting, excitıng, overwhelming week so far. we knew things were too easy when Philadelphia security let us through in no time flat. in fact ( not to worry you about security risks) i did get through the passport check carrying mark heid’s ticket. our plane was a bit lae out of philly which meant that we arrived in paris with a tiny bit of time to make our connection. we took a bus to a terminal and then to another terminal, and if you’ve ever been to that airport, i recommend planning a long connection time. we missed the flight and stood in the transfer line for two hours. we were booked onto the next flight which meant another 7 hours in the airport. we had vouchers for lunch, and the time we had as a team was, ın retrospect, essential to the rest of our trip. Ari, Kristi, Tim, Maria, and I played a three hour game of spades. neverendıng! just having to hang out with each other during that time prepared us to spend time as a team. The flight was smooth and all was well until we lined up to get visas and Linda couldn’t find her passport. Everything was searched, but nothing was found. Jonathan and I stayed behind with her, while the team went ahead to meet up wıth John, who had brought Brian P. with him. After some time, they headed for the hotel, when it was clear that Linda would not be joining the rest that night. We understood she would have to go back to Paris and perhaps back to the US if the passport was not found. JOnathan eventually sent me on to the hotel, and Maria was asked to go to Paris with Linda if that were necessary. It was. So, for the first three days, our team was really in a state of some upheaval, yet God showed us more of himself then we would have known otherwise. Team members came together and dealt with problems, helped each other out ın amazing ways (you should hear the tales from Paris!), and began to adjust to our new situation. Linada and Maria got back on Monday night thankfully!

I don’t have time to tell all (or even most) of the tales today, but one of my highlights was my team of Amber, George, and Chrıs L. spending a whole afternoon with a family at their carpet shop. We ran into one brother on the street, began asking him questions about carpets, and he asked us to come see his brother a ways away.

I probably won’t write again from here, but wanted to touch base.

tomorrow at 7:25pm, i take off for a long trip again. the trip has come up so quickly that i can hardly believe it. i may get a chance to post something from there, but no promises. we’ve been told that we will be pretty busy the whole time.

My posts are few and far between these days. I had a great time at the baby shower for robyn, enjoyed a lovely day on Saturday with Steph and Gary at their final yard sale. They managed to get rid of quite a few things, although there was still a lot left when I headed out. And, beside two lovely chairs, I got a sunburn. That’s what I get for not wearing sunscreen on a beautiful sunny day. I’m still a nice shade of pink.

Time is moving quickly towards our departure abroad–just three weeks and a few days before we take off. It’s been fun to get to spend more time with the team members, and that time is making me really look forward to our time away together.

I’m posting just to say I posted, I think.

On Saturday I had the opportunity to attend one of the best weddings I’ve been to in a while. If you know me at all, you know that I like things to be simple, but meaningful. Jason and Nicole, two future “workers” overseas, met this year in training in Dallas, and got engaged in February. The wedding on Saturday was a joyous celebration of their love and the covenant love of God. The bridesmaids carried oil lanterns to symbolize the aniticpation of the return of the Bridegroom. They had six friends read from 1 Corinthians 13 in six different languages–none of which was English. Most of the music was beautiful hymns–the bride walked down the aisle to Praise My Soul the King of Heaven, and we (the congregation) got to sing one of my favorite hymns, How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place.

We went right upstairs to fellowship hall for a simple reception with international desserts, fruit, nuts, coffee, and punch. My friend Joyce, created several beautiful floral arrangements–she is so talented!–and managed to make the reception run effortlessly. It was a quick reception, but everyone was having a great time, catching up, chatting, laughing. Further confirmation to my theory that sit-down receptions are NOT necessarily better (and have the potential to be worse).

At 9:30, they left to the light of sparklers (a good idea in concept, although not as beautiful in execution–smoke inhalation and sparks near flammable clothing . . .).

Many blessings to Jason and Nicole!

I believe I can officially consider myself a Philadelphian.

After nearly 11 years of living in this city, I have experienced the true joy of being a city taxpayer. Yes, that’s right, my stereo was stolen out of my car Tuesday night. It was parked right on my street, too. I’ve parked in much “worse” sections of the city, and never had an issue.

But, the temptation of the 17 CD set of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was clearly too much for the vandal, and he (or she) deftly unlocked my car and took it, along with my CD player. If I hadn’t checked the CD set out of the library, I wouldn’t be so upset. It’s more a hassle to have to replace it for them than anything else. No broken windows, no stolen music CDs (guess they didn’t like my taste), no stolen registration or license.

But, I feel that I belong now. I have my urban story. I am a city dweller.

Maybe I’ll even get around to reporting it to the police one of these days.

seriously, i’m sitting in a starbucks, typing into my ibook laptop, using a wireless internet connection (thanks lara! it worked!). and, i’m in the suburbs. but i live in the city, really i do.

and the most american thing? i’m typing a BLOG entry!

i feel like should get into an suv when i leave this place.

but, then i remember that i have charged certain friends to shoot me if i ever have an suv. another bullet dodged.

the laptop is mainly so that i can do my summer writing from home with a bit more ease and enjoyment. it will allow me to check my email too without going to the local library, although i may stop by there anyway. where else would i find the latest copy of harry potter or lemony snicket?

i’ve noticed one thing about this blogging thing–if you get out of the habit (or skip several weeks) it’s hard to know where to begin. if you hadn’t noticed, i’m having a little trouble focusing my thoughts this fine evening. partially, that’s because i have limited time so i don’t want to write a long, detailed entry, but i feel this pressure to write something meaningful since it’s been so long.

so, let me tell you about my trip. last summer, i got to spend 10 days there with a large (50) team from church. it was a wonderful trip, allowing me to see the beautiful country, but also to begin to get to know some of the people there. i’m thrilled that i have the opportunity to return this summer. i knew that a smaller trip was going to happen–i sat in and took notes at the meeting where it was discussed. (by the way, you should try taking notes at a meeting there–i never felt so American, with my trying to outline things, and determine goals, agendas. it just doesn’t work there, and that’s not a bad thing!) i figured that the group would be made up primarily of college and career aged people from Tenth, and although I do have a career, it seems I don’t really categorize myself that way. But, my ways are not the Father’s and I have (happily) joined the team. This time, instead of travelling all over the countryside, we’ll stay in just two cities and really have time for getting to know the people and the culture. there are fourteen people on the team, including me, and i only become more excited as we get to know each other further. we’ve been meeting regularly just to hang out and talk, and that has been so good. it’s not a novel idea, it’s not something i was unaware of, but something that i don’t think i really believed ten years ago that just spending time with people was so important. that might explain the fact that i didn’t attend my 10th college reunion this past weekend.

I just bought my own personal laptop (yay for ibooks!), so I might actually post more often.

For now, you should check out this fun matching game. Work quickly or the flood and lightning will come.

Speaking of exercise, today is the beginning of the running events at the Penn Relays, so campus is crowded with track teams from around the area and country. Past and future Olympians will be participating–it’s a big deal around these parts, appropriately. It’s been a long time since my high school track days, but I always enjoyed spring track meets, especially as we moved into late April, early May when the weather was warm and we got to leave school early to get to the meets on time.

I joined the track team on a whim in ninth grade. My sport had been field hockey, which I began playing in fourth grade and continued through the end of high school. Track, on the other hand, was not something I had ever considered. At my high school, anyone could join the team. A friend of mine was a jumper and thought I might want to give it a whirl. I remember the first practice with all the stretches and calisthenics, and then the decision time came. We had to decide that day which events we were interested in, so I figured since I didn’t like to run at all, I should try something like jumping or throwing. I ended up spending four years as a discus thrower (with some javelin and shot put on the side). I made it to districts a few times, but my high point was probably sophomore year when I was chosen as “Most Improved” for the team. A far cry from the success of the Penn Relays participants. Fond memories, though–the long bus rides (we sometimes competed with teams over 90 minutes away), the fun at McDonalds on the way home (who thought fast food was a good thing for athletes to eat?), the excitement of contributing points to the team’s efforts, and the cheering for the final events especially if our winning meant the difference in the meet.

someone needs to go with me to the gym and stop me from doing extra lunges and squats when i’ve completed my sets but think i haven’t worked the muscles hard enough.

it’s no good to exercise when you can barely walk the next day.

pass the tylenol, please.

I hit the most perfect weekend weather in north carolina, I do believe.

70ish on Saturday, and must have been 80 on Sunday. What gorgeous blue skied days to enjoy with my friend Dawn. (you know, my music friend, the one I met at a concert before we started staying in touch via the internet).

The weekend started off well, because despite a delayed flight, I sat across the aisle from an Eagles player Darwin Walker. Of course, on the flight, I didn’t know who he was, only that he was an Eagles player since another traveller bought a hat and had him sign it.

Saturday was spent shopping for party supplies and food for Dawn’s roommate’s birthday party on Sunday evening. Fun times–we had to go to all three grocery stores, because Dawn, like me, is a bargain shopper. Oh, plus, we visited the Carrboro Farmer’s Market! I recommend it.

We got done in plenty of time to head down to Franklin St in Chapel Hill, which was a little overcrowded with all the UNC fans buying NCAA Championship t-shirts and such. I was even color coordinated with the fans in my blue gingham top (although I didn’t realise this until I was surrounded by seas of Carolina blue). We headed to Greensboro to meet up with a group of (shh!) internet friends. We met at Steak N Shake, because I wanted a shake, and they have great service. Well, the first is true, at least. Our waitress made more mistakes than seemed possible, but we were there for three hours, so I guess we deserved it. It was such fun to catch up a bit with folks, laugh a lot, recommend terrible first dance songs to Brandon and Sarah for their wedding in July.

Dawn’s church meets Sunday evenings, so we had the morning to finish preparing for the b-day party. Sunday afternoon we went to Weaver Street Market, where we sat outside in the sun and shade and chatted and played cards. Church was good–lots of i-grace hymns and communion, where everyone comes up front for the bread and wine. I like that because it really makes the community of the saints more tangible (although I understand how impossible it’d be at a church as big as Tenth–or would it? anyone go to a big church where they do this?).

The party afterwards was a big success–I’m still amazed at how many people fit into Dawn and Katie’s apartment. I met some fun folks–I can see why Dawn enjoys her church family.

So, Pittsburgh, North Carolina . . . what’s next weekend? How about the caribbean? yes, I’m heading to Grenada next weekend for five days. Poor, poor, pitiful me.

so, pittsburgh is a fun city. the sun even shone. my conference was just fine. but the best part was getting to leave the conference each night and drive to mike and robyn’s house! it’s so much more fun to visit cities where you know people. we went to this great restaurant called Church Brew Works. it’s a gorgeous old brick church that’s been converted into a brewery and restaurant. the outside still looks like a church and even when you walk in the front door, there is a narthex that still has the feel of an old church. it’s not until you push the door to the eating area that you are struck with the sacreligiosity. check this out: they’ve kept the beauty of the church building, while creating a delightful place to enjoy a meal. it feels a little weird walking down the center aisle to your table, and if you go, be sure to request the bar menu so you can get the buffalo burger or the pulled pork sandwich. the stained glass is gorgeous, and the pipe organ is still in place. read the history section of the website if you get a chance. they brew very nice beers–i chose the blast furnace stout, but Mike got the sampler.

if you ever get to the ‘burgh, be sure to stop at this fun spot. if you’ve ever visited tenth presbyterian, you’ll be struck by the resemblance in architecture as well.

i’m off to pittsburgh for a few days. no april fool’s joke here. i get to go to a conference, and see my brother and sis-in-law.