Before leaving for Moldova, each of the girls on our team is required to read and write papers about 5 books. Here is a short excerpt from one of my papers, in which I was responding to "The Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Claiborne.
“Jesus came not just to prepare us to die, but to teach us how to live.” (p.117) I heard a song on the way to work yesterday about how earth is not our home and heaven is really where we are meant to be. I disagree. Earth is our home, and if we were never meant to be here, we wouldn’t be here! We might have messed our home up, but that doesn’t make it a place we came to be in by mistake. I think a lot of Christians in this world, or at least in America, are just waiting for Jesus to sweep down to earth and remove us from the chaos we created ourselves. But what about redemption? What about restoration? I think it is all possible (though extremely difficult) and if we all quit thinking that our only option is to tear down this house and start over somewhere else, some real change might be possible. Bit by bit, through God (who is Love) we can once again make our home fit to live in. We can create a place where people want to be, where we can see God’s beauty and glory everywhere we turn… in every created thing!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Old Romanian Folk Songs I Like
Tara noastra-i tara noastra
Dulce pajiste albastra
Aripa sculpta-n dor
De lumina ochilor
Daca-i dor, nu-l stingi cu apa
Daca-i timp, nu-l poti intrece
Daca-i gand, nu-l poti strabe
Noi suntem romani, noi suntem romani
Noi suntem romani ca brazii
Noi suntem romani ca graul
Noi suntem romani ca focul
NOI SUNTEM ROMANI !
Tara noastra e a noastra
Varf de jale si de dor
Dulce arsita albastra
Ca lumina ochilor
Tara noastra-i tara noastra
Dulce pajiste albastra
Aripa sculpta-n dor
De lumina ochilor
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Unexpected Answers to my Prayers
This evening I had the chance to speak with some families at a church I volunteer with about my trip to Moldova. My hopes for this time was that I would find a couple families who would be able to support me on my trip (fundraising is going painstakingly slow). I have been very worried lately that I will have to zero out my bank account completely, and possibly even have to sell my car in order to be able to go on this trip. With all these fears weighing on my heart, I made up a flyer, practiced a speech, and got ready to ask for help!
When I got to the place, nothing really went as planned. A lot of the families I have had an ongoing relationship with were not able to attend tonight, and things got moved around so there was not really a good opportunity for me to speak to the group as a whole. So, very awkwardly, I went around to the families individually and handed out my flyer and asked for support. I was feeling pretty foolish (and maybe a tad bit hopeless) when I encountered the mother of one of my favorite Kindergarteners.
I had never met her mother before, so as I awkwardly tried to explain who I was I handed her a paper, and her face lit up with excitement! It turns out that is from the Ukraine and spent a lot of time in Moldova. I could see in her face and hear in her voice how much she wanted to talk about her home. She talked away for about an hour, teaching me some Romanian, telling me the best things to eat, how to best protect myself and my belongings, and what the best methods of transportation are. She described to me the terrible struggles people of Moldova have faced in the recent past, recounting her own tales. She opened up to me in a beautiful way, even telling me little things that she does now as a result of the things she experienced back home. She also told me to make sure I spent time with the poor because I could not know the true beauty of the country unless I did.
I did not get to hand out as many of my papers as I had hoped, and I don't think that I got a lot of people to sponsor me, but I got way more out of my conversation tonight than I ever could have imagined. Through being vulnerable and awkward, I gave else the chance to be reminisce about a place that she really misses. I gained a friend and saw a deep sense of pride for a country most of us have never even heard of. Though I still need to kick it up a notch with my fundraising, tonight renewed my faith that God provides. He will give me exactly what I need in order to be present in Moldova, and I think I really needed this beautiful woman he allowed me to meet tonight. Not to mention, she got me really excited to go swimming in the Black Sea!!!
When I got to the place, nothing really went as planned. A lot of the families I have had an ongoing relationship with were not able to attend tonight, and things got moved around so there was not really a good opportunity for me to speak to the group as a whole. So, very awkwardly, I went around to the families individually and handed out my flyer and asked for support. I was feeling pretty foolish (and maybe a tad bit hopeless) when I encountered the mother of one of my favorite Kindergarteners.
I had never met her mother before, so as I awkwardly tried to explain who I was I handed her a paper, and her face lit up with excitement! It turns out that is from the Ukraine and spent a lot of time in Moldova. I could see in her face and hear in her voice how much she wanted to talk about her home. She talked away for about an hour, teaching me some Romanian, telling me the best things to eat, how to best protect myself and my belongings, and what the best methods of transportation are. She described to me the terrible struggles people of Moldova have faced in the recent past, recounting her own tales. She opened up to me in a beautiful way, even telling me little things that she does now as a result of the things she experienced back home. She also told me to make sure I spent time with the poor because I could not know the true beauty of the country unless I did.
I did not get to hand out as many of my papers as I had hoped, and I don't think that I got a lot of people to sponsor me, but I got way more out of my conversation tonight than I ever could have imagined. Through being vulnerable and awkward, I gave else the chance to be reminisce about a place that she really misses. I gained a friend and saw a deep sense of pride for a country most of us have never even heard of. Though I still need to kick it up a notch with my fundraising, tonight renewed my faith that God provides. He will give me exactly what I need in order to be present in Moldova, and I think I really needed this beautiful woman he allowed me to meet tonight. Not to mention, she got me really excited to go swimming in the Black Sea!!!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Consumed by Consumerism
On my drive home from work today I called my mom as I usually do, to tell her I was on my way. I told her I had to stop and pick up a couple of things for my friends annual Christmas party on Friday and she asked me to get a loaf of bread. This doesn't seem like that absurd of a request, but we happened to have an entire loaf at home (I just opened it this morning to make some toast). When I pointed this out, she said "but it's not very good bread, we need a new one". When I hung up the phone I started to cry. This whole situation called attention to how wasteful I have the means to be, and it broke my heart! There are so many people in this world, so many of my friends, who have a hard enough time buying one loaf of bread (and when they do, they use it sparingly). When I go to Moldova I am sure I am going to see children on the streets who would give anything they have for that loaf of bread we are able to throw away.
It frustrates me so much to know that I have so many unnecessary things in my life! Last weekend I went through my clothes and found 87 things to give away(and yet I still have a closet full), I have about 10 boxes of books in my basement that won't fit in my room, and untouched foods sit in our fridge. As much as I try to give away, I still feel like I am suffocating in things!
This holiday season I have been desperately trying to find small ways to escape the consumerism that consumes so many of us, but I still rushed out to buy things for a gingerbread making contest. I know there is so much more to life than possessions, and those are the things that I cherish, that bring true joy to my heart. Every day I work with two beautiful little people who have nothing to give but themselves, and yet they always give me life.
The aspect of my mission with Word Made Flesh that excites me the most is that I will have only myself to give. And the people I am working with, they will know how to give of themselves as well. Despite every gift I could give this Christmas, I want to remember that the best gift I can give is myself, because when I give that I am giving everything I have.
God, take all of me. Take my heart, and my soul, and my passion. Take all of my love. And free me from the things that take away from the abundance I have in You. Give me life to the fullest, and let me love as selflessly as You. Amen.
It frustrates me so much to know that I have so many unnecessary things in my life! Last weekend I went through my clothes and found 87 things to give away(and yet I still have a closet full), I have about 10 boxes of books in my basement that won't fit in my room, and untouched foods sit in our fridge. As much as I try to give away, I still feel like I am suffocating in things!
This holiday season I have been desperately trying to find small ways to escape the consumerism that consumes so many of us, but I still rushed out to buy things for a gingerbread making contest. I know there is so much more to life than possessions, and those are the things that I cherish, that bring true joy to my heart. Every day I work with two beautiful little people who have nothing to give but themselves, and yet they always give me life.
The aspect of my mission with Word Made Flesh that excites me the most is that I will have only myself to give. And the people I am working with, they will know how to give of themselves as well. Despite every gift I could give this Christmas, I want to remember that the best gift I can give is myself, because when I give that I am giving everything I have.
God, take all of me. Take my heart, and my soul, and my passion. Take all of my love. And free me from the things that take away from the abundance I have in You. Give me life to the fullest, and let me love as selflessly as You. Amen.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Megan in Moldova
A lot of you have been asking me about my trip to Moldova and what I will be doing there. When and why am I going? What will I be doing? Is Moldova a real country... things to that effect. Although i don't want to make this blog entirely about Moldova, I will probably write about it quite a bit here.
First off, yes. Moldova is a real country. It is not next to Genovia and you don't have to enter through the back of a wardrobe. It is a pretty small eastern European country, landlocked right in between Romania and the Ukraine. The people there speak mostly Romanian, but a lot of folks speak Russian as well (thanks Professor Wagenblast for making my math quizzes in Russian, maybe that will help while I'm there!) The country is mostly agricultural and has tons and tons of sunflower fields (my favorite flower!). However, I will be living in Chinsinau, which is the capitol city, so there probably won't be an abundant amount of easily accessible flowery meadows.
Moldova has also struggled a lot financially since the fall of communism in 1991. In fact, a lot of people are forced to illegally emigrate in order to make enough money to support their families. Due to the poor economic state of the country, a lot of children are abandoned by parents or trafficked. During my time in Moldova, I will be working with children at a state run boarding school. The program I am going with is called Word Made Flesh. It is a pretty spectacular organization that works to bridge the economic gap between people through mutual friendships. During my 4 months abroad I hope to learn from the people of Moldova and convey my love for them as well. I want this to be not just a mission for them, but a growing experience for myself. I want to learn how to love better and I want to know God more fully. I also want to share the love that I have received and to give my time and energy to people who have suffered in different ways than I understand.
I am leaving March 1st and will return sometime around the beginning of July. If you want to learn more about the organization or if you would be willing to sponsor me (I need to raise about $5,000 to go) you can go to the Word Made Flesh website at http://www.wordmadeflesh.org/. In order to donate you need to click the donate button on the left hand side. Once you have filled out all your information, make sure you write my name in the box that asks where you would like your donation to go!
First off, yes. Moldova is a real country. It is not next to Genovia and you don't have to enter through the back of a wardrobe. It is a pretty small eastern European country, landlocked right in between Romania and the Ukraine. The people there speak mostly Romanian, but a lot of folks speak Russian as well (thanks Professor Wagenblast for making my math quizzes in Russian, maybe that will help while I'm there!) The country is mostly agricultural and has tons and tons of sunflower fields (my favorite flower!). However, I will be living in Chinsinau, which is the capitol city, so there probably won't be an abundant amount of easily accessible flowery meadows.
Moldova has also struggled a lot financially since the fall of communism in 1991. In fact, a lot of people are forced to illegally emigrate in order to make enough money to support their families. Due to the poor economic state of the country, a lot of children are abandoned by parents or trafficked. During my time in Moldova, I will be working with children at a state run boarding school. The program I am going with is called Word Made Flesh. It is a pretty spectacular organization that works to bridge the economic gap between people through mutual friendships. During my 4 months abroad I hope to learn from the people of Moldova and convey my love for them as well. I want this to be not just a mission for them, but a growing experience for myself. I want to learn how to love better and I want to know God more fully. I also want to share the love that I have received and to give my time and energy to people who have suffered in different ways than I understand.
I am leaving March 1st and will return sometime around the beginning of July. If you want to learn more about the organization or if you would be willing to sponsor me (I need to raise about $5,000 to go) you can go to the Word Made Flesh website at http://www.wordmadeflesh.org/. In order to donate you need to click the donate button on the left hand side. Once you have filled out all your information, make sure you write my name in the box that asks where you would like your donation to go!
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