Tomorrow I head out the door in the direction of Denver, Colorado!
I'm looking forward to seeing friends and family. If you think of it- please pray for safety and a peaceful time on the road.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
The Dumbest Question I've Heard Today
I was visiting my local library today in search of some peace and quiet. A library is a place where you expect knowledgeable, intelligent people- right? Here's how the conversation went:
Me: I'd like to check out a book, but I don't have my library card.
Library Lady: That's fine. I just need your ID and current address.
(I give it to her.)
Library Lady: It looks like you have a $10 fine on your account from August 2006. Would you like to pay it now?
Me: I'm pretty sure I paid all of my accounts before I left the country, but of course, I can't verify that.
Library Lady: Well, do you have the receipt?
*Point 1- I just stated that I can't verify that.
* Point 2- The fine was from August 2006. I am not even required by law to keep my paycheck stubs for longer than a year! Who in the world would keep a library fine receipt? Let alone in their wallet for the last 3 years?
Seriously, one of the dumbest questions, EVER!
Me: I'd like to check out a book, but I don't have my library card.
Library Lady: That's fine. I just need your ID and current address.
(I give it to her.)
Library Lady: It looks like you have a $10 fine on your account from August 2006. Would you like to pay it now?
Me: I'm pretty sure I paid all of my accounts before I left the country, but of course, I can't verify that.
Library Lady: Well, do you have the receipt?
*Point 1- I just stated that I can't verify that.
* Point 2- The fine was from August 2006. I am not even required by law to keep my paycheck stubs for longer than a year! Who in the world would keep a library fine receipt? Let alone in their wallet for the last 3 years?
Seriously, one of the dumbest questions, EVER!
Monday, January 05, 2009
Signs that I'm back in America...
Business are open 24 hours a day
Gas prices can change ANYTIME
Customer service
An exagerated sense of entitlement
People rarely smile
Everyone is in a hurry
Free refills
Ice in my beverages
When a waiter sees a lemon in my glass, he assumes it's water- not soda
Signs are only in one language
I can turn right at a red light
I don't have to pay to go to the bathroom
Public bathrooms are filthy!
People driving pass you on the right without hesitation
Drivers honk their horns when they're unhappy
Gas prices can change ANYTIME
Customer service
An exagerated sense of entitlement
People rarely smile
Everyone is in a hurry
Free refills
Ice in my beverages
When a waiter sees a lemon in my glass, he assumes it's water- not soda
Signs are only in one language
I can turn right at a red light
I don't have to pay to go to the bathroom
Public bathrooms are filthy!
People driving pass you on the right without hesitation
Drivers honk their horns when they're unhappy
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Testimony of faithfulness
The last couple of weeks have not been the easiest for me. I said goodbye to some very dear friends in Germany and I reentered the US of A. America has caught me off guard in a few things: things like customer service, places being open 24 hours a day, a whole aisle in Wal-Mart for just salad dressing, an unbelievable sense of entitlement, people always being in a hurry and rarely smiling- just because. Some people would say I’m experiencing reverse culture shock.
The whole thing has been quite bizarre to me, as I did not feel like I experienced a lot of culture shock when I went to . There were a few things: having six trash cans for recycling, no customer service skills whatsoever, driving at a quick clip down the autobahn, etc. However, none of these cultural things felt too extreme.
There have been a lot of changes for me since I arrived back in the states. When I landed, we found out that my stepmom’s Dad had suffered a stroke- he is now living with us in my old room. I also had the privilege of participating in one of my best friends weddings…I am now one of the only unmarried from our group of friends. I’ve gone from being surrounded with 50-75 people every Friday night and having a built-in social group to next to no social life. It’s a big change.
I admit that I haven’t handled it very well at all. I have felt incredibly alone and not sure how to be this “spiritual missionary” and admit that I didn’t know how to handle all of this pressure. I know the “right” answer is to give it up to God…but HOW do I do that practically?
It began last night, with a simple admission in prayer that I can’t do this on my own. This morning in church we talked about God’s faithfulness. As I sang the line, “All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided.” I thought about how God HAS provided everything I need. He has given me a roof over my head, a vehicle (for free), wonderful friends, a family that lets me live with them…He is good. Then the sermon was on Joshua 4 where the Israelites built a memorial of stones to remind the generations to come of God’s faithfulness. When they looked at the stones they remembered how God parted the waters, protected them from the enemy, and walked them into the Promised Land. It got me to thinking, what would the stones in my life represent? What are the tangible ways that I have seen God’s faithfulness? I’m not sure how I’m going to “memorialize” my list, but I think it’s a great perspective to take- especially as I look at all the changes ahead of me. Thank you to those of you who have and are praying for me through this all. I believe this change of heart and mind is directly linked to your prayers!
Don’t worry; this isn’t the end of our conversation on faith and faithfulness…
I’d like to know, how would you set a memorial of God’s faithfulness in your life?
The whole thing has been quite bizarre to me, as I did not feel like I experienced a lot of culture shock when I went to . There were a few things: having six trash cans for recycling, no customer service skills whatsoever, driving at a quick clip down the autobahn, etc. However, none of these cultural things felt too extreme.
There have been a lot of changes for me since I arrived back in the states. When I landed, we found out that my stepmom’s Dad had suffered a stroke- he is now living with us in my old room. I also had the privilege of participating in one of my best friends weddings…I am now one of the only unmarried from our group of friends. I’ve gone from being surrounded with 50-75 people every Friday night and having a built-in social group to next to no social life. It’s a big change.
I admit that I haven’t handled it very well at all. I have felt incredibly alone and not sure how to be this “spiritual missionary” and admit that I didn’t know how to handle all of this pressure. I know the “right” answer is to give it up to God…but HOW do I do that practically?
It began last night, with a simple admission in prayer that I can’t do this on my own. This morning in church we talked about God’s faithfulness. As I sang the line, “All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided.” I thought about how God HAS provided everything I need. He has given me a roof over my head, a vehicle (for free), wonderful friends, a family that lets me live with them…He is good. Then the sermon was on Joshua 4 where the Israelites built a memorial of stones to remind the generations to come of God’s faithfulness. When they looked at the stones they remembered how God parted the waters, protected them from the enemy, and walked them into the Promised Land. It got me to thinking, what would the stones in my life represent? What are the tangible ways that I have seen God’s faithfulness? I’m not sure how I’m going to “memorialize” my list, but I think it’s a great perspective to take- especially as I look at all the changes ahead of me. Thank you to those of you who have and are praying for me through this all. I believe this change of heart and mind is directly linked to your prayers!
Don’t worry; this isn’t the end of our conversation on faith and faithfulness…
I’d like to know, how would you set a memorial of God’s faithfulness in your life?
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