Being Renewed Day by Day

Tomorrow I leave with 199 other students and head south to Atlanta, Georgia! Atlanta is fast becoming one of my favorite cities and top choices for post-graduation life. This weekend, ATL is home of the Mission to the World Global Conference. I’ve been looking forward to this weekend since I found out about it, but even more now since I know I will get to see my roommate and good friend from my freshman year at Covenant - Lisa. We’ll be rooming together at the conference along with my younger sister, Joanna. It will be a mini-family reunion since my grandparents will be there as well as my aunt. We won’t be with them for Thanksgiving, so it will be a good time to catch up before Christmas.

I was looking at the line-up for seminars and featured panels and so far, nothing has caught my attention in a drastic way. Joanna and Lisa will have a common bond by default. Lisa has been in nursing school these past few years and took a missions trip last fall to Mexico for a medical internship. Joanna just started the nursing program at Samford University and is looking into opportunities for medical missions as well. Her dream is to work with AIDS orphans in Africa, and that is a hot topic at the conference as well as with the rest of the world.

My dreams are blurry and I’m not sure they include missions specifically, but I know I want to be involved in some way - most likely short-term. God will use this weekend to open my eyes, of that I’m sure. I just don’t know if it will be concrete and obvious or another experience to open my mind and heart to missions and what God is doing across the world. Missions has been bred in my family starting with both sets of grandparents. I feel the pressure in both good and bad ways to “go on the missions field.” Recently I was talking with my roommates about that pressure and the feelings of uncertainty in my chosen field of interest. I wish I could recount all the words we spoke, but in the end, I realized that even if I don’t feel called to China like Heather or the Ukraine like my grandparents, God will use me in the United States just the same. I do have a passion for Americans, for media, for the film industry and for people who need the Gospel as much as AIDS orphans in Africa. Often I’m blinded by the struggles of my co-workers at Starbucks, the checker at the grocery store, and my car mechanic. These people are precious in God’s sight and will die without a Savior if they never hear the Gospel. If I never recognize those opportunities to love people already around me, how should I expect to love people half the world around. Yet I will use those experiences both here in the States and the ones I’ve had in Ecuador and the opportunities I’ll have in the future to shape my Gospel-centered lifestyle. How do I start now? As a prayer warrior for my loved ones away and for the ones I strive to love here.

As I head to Atlanta on the big bus tomorrow, I’ll be praying that the Lord would open my eyes to both simple and necessary time consuming ways in which I should be sharing the Gospel in these days. Missions is exciting. It takes the focus off of my world and shifts it onto GOD’S WORLD.

This is my senior year of college. Yes, my fourth, my final, my *crosses fingers*, *knocks on wood* BEST year of school.
Here at Covenant College the seniors are required to do a major paper/project called a Senior Integration Paper and more affectionately called a Sip. As an English Major, my Sip is broken down into two sections - research and writing. Research is done over an entire semester and helps focus the topic and create a bibliography of sources to use for the writing of the paper. This semester is my research semester and I’ve been compiling a 7-8 page annotated bibliography with sources that span a variety of interests under the main topic of the film theory of adaptation looking specifically at the patterns of adapting a classic novel into a modern film. There are so many different ways I could go with that, and really, I’m not set on the direction in which to go. I enjoy and actually have begun to understand the theories that are out there, but my main concern is in the choices screenwriters and directors make when adapting a classic, well-known-to-the-public type text. There are several major questions they must ask themselves when moving from a written work of art into a visual, modern work of art. For example:
What is the movie accomplishing?
Will I follow the text and be as “faithful” or “true to the original work” as possible?
Is fidelity an issue I want to deal with?
How will my audience react to this film?
Is the film going to be a period piece?
Am I adapting the story line into a modern-day re-telling?
Do I focus on the characters and develop them past the point taken in the novel?
Should I re-write, add to, subtract from, or keep the original dialog?
And so on…
I am very interested in these questions. I am also very interested in the way filmmakers have accomplished adaptations in films that have already been made. I’ll be looking the works of Scott F. Fitzgerald and the adaptations made from his texts like, The Great Gatsby and Tender is the Night. While I love Fitzgerald, I’m not fully convinced his works will be the best to compare. Anyway, if anyone has suggestions for good texts to study in addition to my massive list, let me know! I’ll write more on this topic later, I’m sure.

I’m listening to Emmylou Harris by way of this great invention called Pandora Radio. I’ve got it on my Bookmarks Toolbar along side the English major’s best friend: JSTOR, the college student’s best friend: Facebook and my own baby internet radio station, Scots Radio, WKLT “The Kilt.”

I’m not sure why I felt I had to tell you all the links on my Bookmarks Toolbar, but maybe it will give you a little insight into my online life these days. Let’s just say I’ve been spending my time a little more “wisely” by spending less online and more on school, work, and with my college buds! However, I do feel like my reflection time has been lost and while I would love to sit down and write in my journal for more than 15 minutes a day, I feel like I’m more likely to spend those 15 minutes typing a heck of a lot faster and use a lot less paper.

That’s another thing… a stage I’m going through. I’ve never been more aware of all the paper I use. I’m a list-maker, a sketch-loving-note-taker, and a pack rat. Not the best combination when I have the tendency to keep everything that I write down… including those tiny scraps that have one sketch that I like or one entry of a grocery list that makes me think of a specific memory that I want to remember forever. However, this past summer, I decided it was that time of year; the time of year that I clean out all those papers. I cleaned out all the notebooks, the school papers, lists, and memorbilia which I stash in all sorts of places in boxes and binders that I keep in all corners of my bedroom. I started with all my journals and notebooks and moved to the ticket stubs, musical programs, cut off wrist-bands, and newspapers. By the end of the purging, I think I had at least 20 lbs of paper. (ok, I’m really bad with guessing measurements, but that seems about right…) So yeah, paper. Crazy how much we go throug a year. Then I got on this crazy phase where I researched all the ways to recycle paper and I spent hours and hours online looking up all the nearest recycling centers. Finally I discovered that while the Wal-Mart about 2 miles down the road from my house in St. Louis had a paper recycling container, my own dear Covenant College doesn’t have a recycling program. Then I got kinda depressed that Presbyterians don’t care enough about the environment, mostly cause it is such a huge concern of Al Gore probably… So then I got a little carried away and I almost did some home-made paper making just for fun. Unfortunately, since I’ve been back at school, I lost my fuel for recycling. (pun intended)

Anyway, I’ve got some work to do on WKLT since we’re not exactly up and running yet…
I’m going to try to write weekly, if not, monthly. No really, I think I’m serious about this!
Until next time, listen to some good Bluegrass music!!

With ten weeks completed, I feel a great burden lifted from my shoulders. It has been a rough past two weeks, but I am happy to report that I finished shooting my third and final film for Motion Picture Production. I’ll cut & edit my final draft for a week from Thursday and be done!! However, that only means that production for “Peace Out, Ninja” is almost upon us!

Last night the director, Matt, held a table read with our chosen actors for the film with a pizza social before hand where cast and crew could mingle and become familiar with each other. Since the film is a story about kids, we had fun getting to know Richie,11, Chase,9, Alexa,6, & Devin, 10. I’m excited to start shooting and excited that I’ll be able to focus on cinematography & lighting instead of thinking about EVERYTHING.

Film Independent has gotten quieter around the office since the Spirit Awards are finished, but we’re still wrapping things up and preparing for the Los Angeles Film Festival (LAFF). Because of my extra day at work this past Tuesday, I get an extra long weekend & I’m not sure where to go or what to do! I think the best thing is to work in the edit lab on my 3rd film & burn my first 2 films to DVD for the actors. I owe them!!

I’ll be posting them on youtube as well, so keep your eyes open!!

Peace_Sarah_

It’s a funny place to be in the timeline of a season of life. I feel comfortable with each place of daily life in Los Angeles, but at the same time, I’ve only been here a short time. It doesn’t feel like MY place, I’m still a visitor. I don’t like the term tourist because in all reality, I’m living here.

I visited Hollywood & Highland last night just to get away and use my day pass for the Metro. When I reached the Walk of Fame, DSW Shoes called my name so I got off & made my way inside only to be overwhelmed by the ammount of shoes. I’ve never been much of a shoe connoisseur, or fashion conscious really… but I knew I needed new shoes, so I began going up and down each aisle, checking prices, styles, and colors. Of course I ended up in the back perusing through the selection of clearance items. (why pay full price, right?) Found some cute black slip-on/velcro street by Rocket Dog . They’ve got purpley stitching & white rubber soles. There’s nothing quite like new shoes. I once heard a quote that I think I’ll always remember. “Invest in good shoes & a good bed, because if you’re not in one, you’re in the other.”

Well, I’m drinking Fuji water and heading home in less than an hour, so I’m pumped! We’ve been getting ready for the Sponsor Summit around the office and once again I’m in charge of the guest list. We’ll be starting early tomorrow morning so I hope I can get some good sleep tonight. Lately I’ve been having restless sleep full of dreams and random waking in the night. I had a really good set of lyrics going through my head last night, but in the morning it didn’t exactly come the way I remembered. I also had a great movie idea, and I think I may be able to pull it off eventually.

I just remembered I need to check my mail tonight cause I’m supposed to be getting a new JVC camcorder to replace my old sick one! So, what to say? Why did I start this again? Oh yeah, timing. Yes, it is a fairly bizare time of the semester cause I feel at home here in L.A. but I know I want to be home either in St. Louis or Chattanooga. Sandra made me miss Greyfriar’s today! She’s gonna be there this weekend and I’m sad to miss it! It would have been my second time to see her at the Tivoli. What a great venue.

Sadly I’ve only been to one show here in L.A. while if I had been in Chat-town I would have been to at least one a week

Anywho, I gotta get to work!

Peace_Sarah_

Well everybody, I’m here at last!
Yesterday my plane arrived at around 2:00pm and I finally found a shuttle after gathering my luggage at 3pm. My check-in time at LAFSC (Los Angeles Film Studies Center aka “the Center”) was supposed to be before 4pm since we had our first meeting at 5pm, and I barely made it into the activity center at my new home: Park La Brea Apartments. I met Sarah Duff, the RD for the apartments, and Lisa, our Park La Brea contact. After signing my apartment lease and a million other agreements, I got a ride with fellow student, Jake to my apartment tower, 43.

None of my roommates where there when I arrived, sadly, but I found my room with the help of my roommate Julie’s traveling friend, Lauren and unpacked for a while before heading to the LAFSC building. The walk is only about three blocks and my tower is the closest one to the Center which is nice as I don’t have a car.

Last night was full of orientation stuff and getting to know people and places. My apartment mates are: Julie, Kiera, Lauren, and Alex. All four girls are very sweet and friendly, and we consider ourselves very blessed to be on the 11th floor of tower 43 with a very good view Kiera and I share one room and the other three girls have the bigger room. After the orientation stuff, Kiera, Julie, and her friend and I went on a walk to “The Grove” which is a group of amazing shopping places and vendors and is right by the Farmers Market. We took note of what we wanted to come back and see when it got warmer. Yes, it was cold in L.A. terms, but just “chilly” in St. Louis terms. We were all disappointed about the cold and are looking forward to the 70’s we’ve heard so much about!

Day 2:
In the morning we had breakfast at the Center followed by worship led by Patrick Duff who is in charge of all the technology & equipment stuff at LAFSC. An LAFSC alum gave his testimony and let us know how he has adjusted to life in LA. (can’t remember his name). I am so happy to finally be here and it’s just been surreal! I’ll write back soon!

Peace_Sarah_

Ok, so this post is somewhat late, but I’ll keep posting my general letters here, and then maybe some extra stories when I feel like it.

Written, Jan. 11th:

The time has almost come for me to leave for Los Angeles, California! During this next semester (Jan. 13-May 4) I will be studying film production with the Los Angeles Film Studies Center (http://lafsc.bestsemseter.com). There are 44 students from all sorts of Christian Colleges and Universities who will be joining me, living with/near me, working with me, and learning with me. I am so excited to experience a new place, but more than that, to experience a new culture and get to know diverse members of the Body of Christ!

As far as my schedule goes, I will be taking 3 courses and working as an intern at one of the area film production studios. Each course will push my story-telling abilities and put to test all that I’ve learned about visual art the past 2 1/2 years. I am more nervous about these challenges than I’ve ever really felt about anything, and yet I trying hard to fully rely on God’s grace and mercy to get me through it all!

I would ask that you pray for a few thing especially over the next week:
- safe travels on Saturday morning at 8am from St. Louis
- that I won’t have trouble getting to my apartment from the LAX airport (Park La Brea Apartments)
- that I’ll adjust to the new schedule (classes etc) and time difference (I know, it’s only 2 hours!)
- wisdom as I apply for an internship
- Peace that transcends all understanding

I really appreciate all the support and prayer you have given me and continue to give! You mean so much to me! I hope to keep you well informed over the next four months.
You can continue to e-mail me at this address as I will be checking it daily, hourly, etc. and I’ll be happy to answer any other specific questions you have about my semester!

Peace_Sarah_
haas@covenant.edu
WKLT Scots Radio

I think I may use this blog pretty soon because I’ll be taking a journey to Los Angeles, California and this may come in handy for some better reflection, plus, I’ve been meaning to really make this site about something… at least make it a little more focused than it’s been.
So yeah, that’s that and I’m sure no one is reading this (but you Geof-cause you run this place and are so nice to me) and that’s really alright with me!

So until later,
Peace_Sarah_
ps. listen to Jennifer Daniels at http://wklt.covenant.edu and my show “Who’s that?” with Sarah Haas

I’m sitting at breakfast with a cup of “Joe” in my hand and was wondering why it was called “Joe” and not something like “Bob” or “George.” And why a typical male name? Why not “Sue” or “Joan?” This morning, to me, it’s more than “a cup of Joe” it’s Greyfriar’s at hand! When I miss my friends at Covenant or my favorite coffee spot, I can just brew a cup of my own! I got a yummy bag of Peaberry African whole bean coffee before I left for St. Louis and the taste activates feelings of comfort and friendship…

On to other topics, I’m also listening to Derek Webb on his last pod cast about his church involvement. He has a lot of good stuff to share. I think it’s funny that the church has certain heroes that tend to overshadow their messages. Derek Webb is the hero of a small community, but there are others like C.S. Lewis, Donald Miller, and Tim Keller. Just recently this summer I heard a Tim Keller sermon for the first time. The teaching came from Luke 10 on “Who is my neighbor?” and the idea that Jesus was a neighbor to me therefore I can now understand what it means to be a neighbor to someone else. Being neighbored and being a neighbor. Great concept & amazing words from a wise man. However, when do our heroes get to that point. You know, the idol point? No one, especially Christians want to admit they make people their idols - unless it’s American Idol, but that’s another topic for another day - instead, we have words like “role model” and “influence” and “mentor.” Certain leaders in the Christian world have gained so much popularity and following because they are good men; they are wise men; they are men of God. Honestly, I have been struggling with idolatry of certain individuals in my life. It’s easier to let a human take the place of God’s priority and influence in life when God isn’t as present physically as the person we can hear audibly, see physically, and even touch or smell. So how to steer clear of this… you tell me! I think it starts with remembering that the people I look up to are weak sinners just like me. Yes, it is good to recognize talents, and learn from the ones God has gifted with teaching, with leading, and with speaking his wisdom, but to look to the One who has done the gifting.

The Bible has become a secondary resource rather than a primary resource in my spiritual growth and learning. Where is my hunger and thirst for God’s word? Oh but I feel it on Sunday morning when the Pastor reads one passage and then moves on to his own words. I feel that hunger gnawing my soul and I find my eyes wandering past the passage and then my fingers flip through that rich nourishment and I get lost in His word. That hunger needs to be filled regularly, not in one gluttoness activity on Sundays. So pray for me when you think of me; pray that I’ll remember what fills and what truly has meaning and gives life.
Thus ends the rambling.

Peace_Sarah_

I heard this song a few nights ago while listening to the local college radio station. It’s amazing and I’m not completely sure what it means, but thought I’d share the lyrics:

I heard there was a secret chord
That david played and it pleased the lord
But you don’t really care for music, do you
Well it goes like this the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing hallelujah

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah

Well your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to her kitchen chair
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the hallelujah

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah

Baby i’ve been here before
I’ve seen this room and i’ve walked this floor
I used to live alone before i knew you
I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch
But love is not a victory march
It’s a cold and it’s a broken hallelujah

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah

Well there was a time when you let me know
What’s really going on below
But now you never show that to me do you
But remember when i moved in you
And the holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was hallelujah

Well, maybe there’s a god above
But all i’ve ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you
It’s not a cry that you hear at night
It’s not somebody who’s seen the light
It’s a cold and it’s a broken hallelujah

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah