Savor Irony

I have spent a lot of time over the past few days contemplating irony and trying to enjoy the concept - it's utterly out of your control, so what else can you do?

Here's a few examples:

Last Sunday night I convinced some friends that I know love Indian food to go for a late dinner. It took some doing, but I argued, “This gift certificate I have is burning a hole in my pocket.” Why? You might ask. Well, I’ve had it for two years. Although it has no expiration date, it should have been good for only one year. I really just wanted to use it up before I go. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The next evening I was at my last Missions Committee Meeting as I leave soon. What did the committee give me as a going away gift? Another gift certificate to the very same restaurant.

And another: Two weeks ago it finally got to “real” Minnesota weather here. What I mean is that every day the high was a negative number. Something like -14 degrees at midday. We got through a little stretch of serious negative numbers and then it got up to more pleasant winter weather. (I think 20 above with no wind is perfect winter weather.) Anyway, the day after it got back in that range, I was sorting clothes and found my long johns! I thought it was so funny, I really don’t need them and now I’m heading to perpetual summer. (Of course it’s below zero again, and I do have them on today – just this once.)

The real irony, though, is the fact that for a year and a half I have worked toward moving back to Kenya to work with Care of Creation. The political unrest since the elections results (Dec 30th) has not really been a deterrent in my mind. The unrest seemed isolated to certain areas and ethnicities. Those on the ground in Kenya were not worried. Crunch day came, because there was a team going and many wanted me on that team. So last Friday (as you can read) we decided to “go for it”. I booked my ticket on the last possible day to go with the team. Over the weekend I had managed to arrange times for being commissioned, having a good-bye open house, in addition I got a prayer card together, included that information and put it all in the mail Monday morning. But sometime over the weekend the violence in Kenya had moved closer to the area I am planning to go to. On Monday the team cancelled just shy of two weeks out. I was told I should think about postponing my trip. On Tuesday morning I got a call from Kenya telling me not to come at this time.

Savor the irony. Enjoy it. There is really no other way to look at it.

At this point I will delay a week and then go to Tanzania for 3 months of language study.

God willing, of course.

connected with minneapolis

Local writer, James Lileks has a delightful website full of all kinds of nostalgia from bygone days of this region. He has a ton of historic photos of Minneapolis, a fabulous collection of matchbook covers from the old days of advertising on matchbooks. He grew up in Fargo. What more can I say? He also keeps a blog of goings-on around here. Not to mention the books he's compiles of poor advice, unsavory recipes and bad design. Actually, there is lots more to his site as well. I remember reading his articles in the Minnesota Daily, the U of M newspaper, back in the early 80's. He knows his history and he tells it with a pleasant flair of the pen.

If you have a little time to burn, it's a fun site. I'll put a link on the side for you to be able to get back to him whenever you like. Enjoy.

Firsts and Lasts

The Whirlwind of Getting Out of the Country

Well, the flurry has begun. I am already not sleeping well. Trying to think of all that needs doing. And realizing the emotional charge of each last thing I do and all the firsts ahead.

I'm thankful that I have done this before. But I am in need of much grace and prayer as I dash through the last visit with people, the finishing up loose ends, tying-up matters, and saying good-byes. On to the first time of moving overseas without leaving parents behind, first time to work for environmental issues, and first time to be with such a fledgling organization.

There is so much more to say, but I need to get packing at the moment.

Thank you for all your support.

I'm going!

Well, after all that creative number crunching I'm somewhere between $40 and $400 short per month, it all depends on how you look at it. That is close enough for the powers that be.

In other words, there is still room for additional monthly support, but I am going with the team on February 8th. And I'm staying. (I'll likely be back for a visit at Christmas since I have to get a round trip ticket.)

I blame my lack of math interest on Mr Gustafson

I loved math and was good at it until the eighth grade. I blame my decline in the subject and all subsequent difficulty and frustration with it on my male chauvinistic eighth grade math teacher, Mr. Gustafson. He was fairly outspoken, stating his opinion as fact. Girls simply weren’t good at math, thus didn’t merit any encouragement in the subject. In fact, they were the ones to be made an example of for any mistakes or not catching on to a new concept and so forth.

That’s not to say I can’t do math. I just have never really enjoyed it since. But once I put my mind to it, I can juggle the numbers around just like most folks. A small amount of knowledge on how an Excel spread sheet works and it starts to become a little more enjoyable.

Once you start playing with the numbers – and aren’t numbers facts? – you can do different things. Since I am still doing a little juggling while I wait for the final word from the office you’ll have to stay tuned for how they all come out.

"How close do you have to be?"

The newsletter I sent out two weeks ago for getting the final support in said today was the day for getting a ticket. I talked to the travel agent again and I have until tomorrow. So I will wait one more day.

As of today I still have about $475 per month to raise. However, I haven't completely crunched numbers to see if the one-time gifts might be over the target enough to cover the gap for the next year.

I've had folks ask, "Well, how close to you really have to be?" Since my organization is so new and small it's negotiable. 90% would be the minimum. I'd feel better with 95%. Of course, 100% would be best.

It's coming...

Hello Readers -

Here's the support raising update after the long holiday weekend.
The office received a few more commitments and I had a phone call, so now I have $500 per month remaining to raise by Thursday afternoon. It still seems impossible and some ways. To be honest, that is the way I like it. If it feels impossible then God gets all the glory when He comes through.
He delights in the impossibilities!

On the team front: We made a decision that our Vision Trip Team leaving February 8th is still going. God willing, I will accompany them.

Thanks for your constant prayers - and your financial support!