Can any good thing come out of snow? *

Hello Everybody! :)  It's Megan again with "Fursttimes"

For those of you who don't live in New York,
            
       Below-freezing temperatures, runny-noses, and snow can get pretty over-rated when you're stuck with them for 4 months out of the year.  Although snow is not necessarily the most menacing of the three hardships mentioned above, it is the one that most readily comes to mind when one says "winter."  Therefore, over the years I have, maybe subconsciously - maybe not,  mentally "blacklisted" it.

       When my nieces and nephew lived nearby, they would come over when it snowed to go sledding on our neighbor's hill, making it impossible for me to justify staying inside (i.e., staying warm and comfortable).  Of course the joy of sliding down a hill with screaming kids and then pulling them back UP the hill was always worth it.  I'm just one of those people who forgets how green the grass really is  on the other side of the fence when I have come as far as the fence dividing the two fields and am actually faced with the decision of whether to jump over it or not.

       However, I did jump!  This past week we got dumped with 2 ft. of snow and I decided that I should go outside and enjoy it with my little sister, to share in her joy like big sisters should, even if it means a little loss of warmth and personal comfort.  Plus, the power was out, inside.

       I suggested, since we were outside freezing anyway, that we might as well build a snowman.  Shannon  happily agreed.  This is the girl who is just as happy in snow in winter as she is in freezing cold mountain water in summer.  Translation - as happy as I would be in a jacuzzi or snuggled up with a book at any time of year.
    
       I had come to accept this absurdity - after all, we've been sisters for 14 years, but I was not prepared to find that she could not roll a snowball!  Of course, it could have been a clever ploy on her part, as my demonstrations became the bottom and middle sections of our snowman and all she ended up having to do was roll the head.  I must admit though, that, now that she is bigger than I am, I never would have been able to stack the snowman without her help.

       She also found the perfect material to use for the nose and buttons and hair while I went looking for the mouth and arms.  We were very proud of our craftsmanship and, taking a step back from the snowman, realized that it resembled a favorite family friend, making him even more endearing.

       Dad must have noticed that the house was unusually quiet because he came out to take pictures.    Out to the insulated back porch, that is.  :)  Shannon and I had fun posing with "Walter" for our paparazzi (or paparazzo in singular), who even went so far as to say that it was the best snowman he had ever seen!  He went too far however, in my estimation at least,  when he followed that compliment  soon afterwards with, "Please go shovel off the roofs now before lunch."

       I was suddenly reminded of the many reasons I didn't like snow.

       Walter did make good company though. :)  So I guess for the answer to the question of whether or not any good thing can come out of snow, you'll just have to look and see:

  "Walter"

            "Smile!"

"After a Second Snow"

      "Shannon's 'Snow Baby' "

* Also check out the story of Nathaneal's introduction to Jesus, in John 1, to see the real story behind the title of this blog.

Forgetfulness.... and Psychology

       Some of you may know that I am taking an online Psychology class through the Dual-Enrollment program of Cedarville University.  Every week I am required to submit a 2 page, double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 Reflection Journal.  I thought you might enjoy reading what I posted for this week.

My Assignment:

Reflection Journal

Respond to this week’s content as it relates to your life, your faith, and your ministry. To guide your writing, you can respond to the following questions:

1. Describe a time you forgot something important that negatively impacted your life, your faith, and/or your ministry.

2. How can you use the memory strategies to avoid something like this in the future?

Submit your Week 6 Reflection Journal.                                                                                                       Due in Moodle by Sunday, 11pm (EST).

My Response: 

In general, forgetting negatively impacts my life.   In fact, the only time I can think of, that it has been a good thing that I forgot something, was when I accidentally watched part of a movie that I wasn’t supposed too.  I was totally naive to the thought that my friend might start a movie which was rated R after I told her that I couldn’t watch those movies.  By the time I figured out what was going on, I had already seen some pretty graphic stuff.  I tried very hard, and prayed very hard, to not remember those scenes and, thank God, I have now forgotten them completely.  There may have been other times when forgetting something was beneficial..... but I can’t remember any ;) 

For some reason, the most memorable moments of forgetting, for me, all happened in the kitchen.  I guess because food is so important to all of us and because my Dad is sort of a pyrophobic (one who is afraid of fire.)  For instance: the time when I forgot to grab a pot-holder before I grabbed the pot; the time I forgot I was making mac-and-cheese and all my water boiled away; the many times I have forgotten to turn off the oven when I am done using it; the time I forgot that it was my turn to make dinner - probably the most memorable.   

I have also, like most people, experienced the classic cases of forgetting the answers to tests.  I think I’ve even forgotten that I had a test once.  My brain is often so busy, or so lazy, that I forget many things every day.  Today I forgot to double-check what I put in the copier and made 30 copies of something that I didn’t need.  Today a child on my team told me that they hadn’t put the vacuum cleaner away but I was so busy that I forgot about it and it is still sitting in the principal’s office.  

        So certainly I experience multiple set-backs in life because of forgetting.  It’s the times when my forgetting hurts someone else that are really regrettable.  These range from forgetting someone’s birthday to forgetting to fulfill a promise I made to forgetting to control my temper.  Forgetting to put myself under the Spirit’s control certainly hurts my ministry.  Every time someone sees me lose my temper or speak roughly to my sister is a time when they can ask, “So, why do I need Jesus?”

There are also those times when forgetting weakens my faith.  There are some lessons I seem to need to learn over and over again:  how to be thankful; how to wait patiently on God; how to seek His will.  I must constantly remember what God has told me in order to have a positive outlook and to walk in harmony with His Spirit.  When I don’t remember all the times that God has come through for me, I can’t trust Him.  When I don’t remember how much He loves me, I can’t stand myself.  When I don’t remember that He died for my class-mates just like He died for me, I can’t love them.  

It was helpful to read the memory strategies.  It shows that getting enough rest is important.  It also reminds me to take time to process information, to slow down.  I’ll only get in my brain what I put time into studying.  It also proved that it is okay if I talk to myself once in a while.  :)

The fact that God is the only one who never forgets is pretty awesome though.  (Unless He does it on purpose: He has completely forgotten our sins.)   He never forgets to provide for us.  He never forgets what we’ve asked Him for, even if it seems like He has sometimes, and He never forgets to listen to us, and to bend down and help with our problems when we need Him.

       I pray, after reflecting, that God will make me more mindful, and less forgetful.  ~

A Lesson in Hair-Cuttery

  

~ My Lovely Sister ~

BEFORE >

(By the way, my sister made the scarf she is wearing.  It's one of the products of her new hobby "Knitabits.")

  When cutting hair, there are some definite dos and don'ts.  Although it wasn't my "furst" time cutting my sister's hair (it was my second), I learned some valuable tips from the experience that I thought you might benefit from :)

   Never! 

Make your sister laugh and then expect to cut her hair in a straight line

*

*

*

  Never!

Cut her bangs while she is drinking

*

*

*

Never!

Poke her in the eye with the scissors

*

*

*

Never!

Get too close to her eyelashes

...

or eyebrows

*

*

*

this next is a big one

*

*

*

Never!

say "oops"

*

*

*

AND

*

*

*

Always!

Check to make sure your spray bottle is on the 'mist' setting so that you do not direct-stream water into her ear.

I hope you've found these tips helpful, but the real secret to my success............ is my sister :)  No matter how many tips you get on hair-cuttery, you'll never meet with as much success on your second try as an amateur hair-cutter as I have with my ever-encouraging, ever-gracious sister.  

And by the way, her new haircut is a big hit with the family ;)

~ After ~

,

"Awakening" Facts

Read this quote.  
        Discover the piercing reality of the world around us:

"The truth is that the 143 million orphaned children and the 11 million who starve to death or die from preventable diseases and the 8.5 million who work as child slaves, prostitutes, or under other horrific conditions and the 2.3 million who live with HIV add up to 164.8 million needy children.  And though at first glance that looks like a big number, 2.1 billion people on this earth proclaim to be Christians.

The truth is that if only 8 percent of the Christians would care for one more child, there would not be any statistics left."

Katie Davis.  Kisses from Katie.  2011.

I Love You Camp Shoshi!!

Soooo.. we're talking about "fursts" right?  

             [ - By the way,  Sorry Guys!!  I know I haven't updated you in a while but I haven't updated my journal either so.. don't feel too slighted :)  - ]

         Anyway - back to "fursts."  I just finished my second summer working at Camp Shoshanah!  It was another great experience, even better than last year because I got to connect more intimately with people and make some lasting friendships.  
         Many of the experiences of camp were repeats for me this summer but a new "furst" that I highly enjoyed was teaching!!  I was blessed with the opportunity to teach one class a day to our group of students ages six through ten.  I've heard people say that teaching is the best way to learn something and I've been anxious to test that theory.  It is so true!  I Loved every minute of teaching and studying for the classes and found myself having to ask my employer, and co-teacher, a lot of questions.  I am very grateful to God for bringing me back to camp this year, grateful for my employer's trust and encouragement and grateful for the attention and participation of the students.  All of these worked together to create a wonderful experience and season of growth this summer.  
          My word to young people in the church is - take opportunities to teach!  Look for opportunities to help out at your Sunday School or Children's Church.  You don't have to have everything figured out.  (No one does, you know.)  And Christian adults, give your young people responsibility.  Put them in positions of leadership and see how it challenges their beliefs and gives them opportunity and reason to grow.  Teaching is a great way to find out what you know and ... what you still need to learn.  :)  And besides,  children are amazing! 

Matthew 19:14

But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me.  Don't stop them!  For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children."

Matthew 21:15a

The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the temple shouting, "Praise God for the Son of David."  

John 1:12

But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. 

         Blessings to all of you and I hope that this summer was for you enjoyable, and a season of growth!  <3 

Reflections and Poetry

Life doesn't always feel fresh.
            Sometimes it feels boring.
                                             Routine.

        I've felt lately that there wasn't much to write about.  However, life does not have to be a constant roller-coaster of joyous "fursts."  :)  Life is made beautiful by family, health, our walk with God.  I am, and have felt, blessed by all of those things lately.

        Although I will be posting some highlights soon I would like to share this poem now.  I read it in my Literature book today at school and it made me cry.  I have copied the first half of it here:

Long ago the Lord looked down
Through the years to this small town,
This street, this house, and planned that I,
While I was living here, should try

To do His work and will, and so
He started, long and long ago,
To make this person which is I,
He watched and guided from the sky,

Had this one marry that, and He
Sometimes would make one cross the sea
To meet the one he was to wed.
Strangely, strangely they were led,

And strangely mixed, some Irish, Dutch,
Some Scotch, a little French, not much,
and English blood to some degree,
Till many races met in me

To give me just this mind and face.
And then He saved me, by His grace!

~  "Long and Long Ago" by Martha Snell Nicholson

            I guess it's just a reminder of how much our infinite God loves us, how He watches over our lives and has plans for us even when it seems like nothing's happening.  

Will You do Nothing?

                         ~ "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men should do nothing." ~ Edmund Burke

      

  One of the deacons in my church is also my high-school teacher and my youth pastor.  Every week he pours out his time and compassion to the unsaved kids at my youth group, trying to lead all of us closer to God and to disarm the lies and misconceptions of this world.  Tonight we watched Veil of Tears.

       This movie exposes the heart-breaking way of life for most women in India.  We know that poverty and the caste system are hurting these women, but there are even greater contributive factors.  The cultural mindset of many Indians is damaging and can have tragic effects.  In India, women are not valued.  They are considered inferior and, at best, are treated unfairly.  Many are beaten, raped, murdered, abandoned, disowned....... the list goes on.  

       The movie was about one and a half hours long.  As I watched, my heart became more and more burdened for these Indian women.  What really made the experience so poignant was that, one month ago, I was walking in the slums (of Africa).  I saw the naked children of drunken fathers and of mothers who felt that their only option was prostitution.  I became so discouraged watching the movie that about half-way through I wondered, "What is the hope for these millions of people?  What could possibly happen to them to make their life better?  To give them a transformed future?"  Isn't it crazy that I even had to ask!  

   

       Of course the answer, - that this movie did end up revealing - the hope for these millions, is only found in the Gospel of Christ.  Only God's Word and God's love are strong enough to shatter the mentality of an entire country, engraved through the millennia.  Only His Word can transform the way these people see themselves and give them the hope and the power to rise above their current position in life.

       God has sent people into the country to aid the citizens of India, but He has also sent us into the world.  There are so many things we can do.  We may not be able to fly over to the country and spend the rest of our lives with these people - but we can still be helping!  We can aid in furthering God's work in these broken lives.  It may be through donations; it may be through sponsoring a child.  Even if we can't give financially, we can pray.  In fact,  brothers and sisters in Christ, we are commanded to pray.  Jesus said in Luke 10 (and other places), “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields." 

       I need this lesson just as much as anyone.  I need to be reminded over and over... and over.  :)  We as Christians have a responsibility to give, at least our time in prayer, to the people around the world: the widows, the poor, the fatherless.

I am only one, 

but still I am one. 

I cannot do everything, 

but still I can do something;

 and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.

Helen Keller

"You can be the turning point in the life of a needy child."   Check out the link http://www.africaconnect.org/pages/ian-memorial.html  

to find out how!

The Shocking Reality

       I love reading my Bible.  However, I seem to operate on a pendulum in many areas of my life: at one point,  I may be digging gold out of God's Word like there is no tomorrow, and, at other times, you may find me in a state of seeming apathy, hardly ever opening my Bible's cover.  Despite these contradictory actions I truly love God and I always desire to please Him and enjoy reading His Word.  For the past year or so, my goal was to read every book of the Bible that I hadn't read before.  Except for Revelation, I have accomplished that goal.
        Last week I decided to read the Bible again, this time putting into practice some of Deitrich Bonheoffer's advice, from his book - Life Together.   He suggests reading multiple chapters at a time, two from the Old Testament and one from the New.  I now do this every night and am not only taking notes on what I read but also compiling a summary of the Bible in my own words, chapter by chapter.
       Last night I read Matthew chapter seven.  I was especially struck by verses 13-23.  These verses related to something that has been a concern of mine for several years now.  That is, whether the young people around here - where I live, and in my youth group, are really saved.
       It seems that in recent times, kids are spoken to about salvation and are then taught about God's love and acceptance and compassion.  These are all majorly important attributes of our God, the God of Love, who does have compassion on all men and will accept any who turn to Him, and although it is important, and maybe even necessary, to understand God's Love and Grace in order to have a real relationship with Him, kids (and any new converts) should also be taught what pleases God - and what doesn't.  The Christian life is a TRANSFORMED life.  Through Jesus Christ we have died to sin (Rom. 6:11) and because of His power living within us we are no longer subject to it - so why do many people today think that it is okay for kids to pray the salvation prayer and then continue in their old lifestyle and sin patterns?
        The verse that really stood out to me in my Living Bible last night was verse 21, which says,

             "Not all who sound religious are really godly people. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but still won’t get to heaven. For the decisive question is whether they obey my Father in heaven."  

I think that this really sums it up and describes countless Americans today.   To me, it is just as frightening, and maybe more, to see someone that has false security in their salvation than to see one who knows he's not saved. 
         I just wanted to share this and to try to spread awareness of this issue.

       Please pray for me.  Due to instances in the past I have been inactive in my youth group for a long time.  God has recently put it on my heart to step back in and reach out to two girls in particular.  One professes faith in Christ but I'm not sure that the other does.  Pray that I will be able to develop a close relationship with them both; that I will be a good friend and that God would use me to show His love to these girls and would use this desire in my heart to help both of them to find true salvation and experience a transformed life. 

JEEP!

        Remember when I said that I couldn't get my permit on my birthday, which was a Wednesday?  Well, I got it on Friday, 14th.  That's right - I am now the proud possessor of a permit! :D   ~ (Yay!) ~    It took Dad and I two trips after school to the DMV and several phone calls but I was finally able to take the test, scoring a 19/20.  And, despite my habit of cramming,  I still remember the information in the study manual.

       But - what good is a permit, if you can't drive?  Dad has graciously spent several hours with me already, practicing in his red, manual-transmission, 5 speed, jeep.  I've only stalled the car about 5 times so far and have only run up on one snowbank.  I'm making progress! :) 

        On the very 'furst' trip we all went together: Me, my Dad, and my little sister who had been just as eager to go as I was.  (I say had.  She has not volunteered to accompany me since then.)  Thankfully, although our house is on somewhat off a main road, we are very close to a decent network of practically deserted side streets.  Dad directed me around a certain loop ending back at our house.  When I parked the car in the driveway Dad said, "Now. Get out of the car and walk around it twice before getting back in."  I suppose he thought that I needed to calm down.  The second time we made the loop and parked Dad said, "This time, you get out and walk around the car again - and I'm coming with you!"  :)  At school the next morning Dad reported that he had felt himself aging during our practice time.   However, we are all still alive and I have made enough progress since then to drive us to church on Sundays!........ in Mom's car...........which is automatic.  :/   I guess a little more practice is needed in the jeep.  

Sixteen!

          On March 12th I turned sixteen.  For some reason, people seem to think that sixteen is the magic year - the one year that is supposed to be very special and defining.   So far, my sixteenth year feels just like my fifteenth!  :)  I am not aware of having grown suddenly more mature or wise or purposed.  Hopefully all those things will develop this year.  God has gifted me with another year of youth - to enjoy and to grow in.  They have all been special and exciting!  I am thankful for each one and wouldn't trade with anyone else.
         The only thing that I wanted for my sixteenth birthday was my learner's permit.   My older sister and brother had both gotten their permits on their sixteenth birthdays and I planned to follow tradition.   School had been canceled on my birthday because of a snowstorm which, believe it or not, was a little bit disappointing to me.  I had made some plans.  Before Dad and I went to the DMV on the 12th I had a little conversation with God.  It was something like this:
     "God, my plan for today is to get my permit.  Dad and I are going to go to the DMV; we've  called ahead to make sure they are open.  But I know it's snowy out.  This is my plan God, but if you have a different one, then please let it happen.  I want Your plans for my life.  Thank you."
         Apparently God's plan was for me to not get my permit that day because the DMV was closed when Dad and I got there.  So we'll go later, and that's okay! :)
         A lot of things happened on my birthday to make it special.  On the way back from the DMV, Dad stopped at Stewart's and I had my "furst" hot chocolate / peanut butter cup drink.  Mom made me a delicious dinner and I spent a couple hours in the afternoon (between whooping my sister at Monopoly) working on this:

  

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/fudge-lovers-strawberry-truffle-cake/6993491d-1269-4719-ab82-22ecd0e72e15

I'm not sure if I made it correctly.  It seems a little wrong to me but Mom thought it was "delish," Dad said it was "scrumptious," and my little sister ate her whole piece and licked all my spatulas and empty bowls.  I guess the cake was a success :)

          The thing that was most special to me on my birthday was hearing from my friends and family.   My big sister called and I got to visit with her and my nieces and nephew.  It was really sweet when my niece suggested they sing "Happy Birthday" to me.  Now that I think of it, that was the only time it got sung that day, and I couldn't have had a more willing and joyful choir.
         Also my brother called from California.  I had been wanting to call him and was very happy when the phone rang and I saw his number on the caller ID.   I also have a friend whose birthday is the same as mine so we were able to wish each other a happy birthday and a blessed new year.
         One of the things that really made my day was Mom telling me that she had received a message from someone I went to Africa with wishing me a happy birthday.  I don't even know how that person knew when my birthday was and I was so blessed to hear from them, even through a middle-man.

          In conclusion, life is made sweet by your friends and family, and so this birthday was very much a "Sweet Sixteen."

"Kwa Heri" - Good-bye

 Well, the Kenya chapter in my adventure is over.  By now each member of the team has reached his home state here in the U.S. and civilian life as we individually know it, goes on.

This past month spent in Kenya has been amazing.  I've seen a lot, experienced a lot, and met a lot of people.  I've learned that I have the stomach to be a doctor if I ever decide to pursue that field.  I've learned that I can easily adjust to life in a different country and that language isn't too hard to pick up either.  I'm sorry that I couldn't keep you updated during the trip.  I cannot go back now and write about every individual experience but I am able to finally show you pictures!  These pictures are of big events and the things that were most meaningful to me.  Enjoy!  Thank you for your support and prayers - I was never sick on this trip. :)

                

THE SCHOOL

(The school has one classroom for each grade, an office room, 

and a dirt yard where the kids play.) 

 (The children wash their hands before every meal.)

                                                            

(We dearly love the school children and did just about everything they asked to make them happy.)

    

UNIFORM DAY!!!! :)

(The children were washed in these tubs.  Boys first and then girls.)

(These children were given a full uniform,

 from underwear and socks to new shoes and a backpack.)

FIELD DAY

Today we took the kids on a field day.  It was hard to walk 90 pre-schoolers through the streets but the teachers kept them in good order.  Our leader had chosen a large, fenced-in area for our field day. We gave the kids "footballs," jump-rope, bubbles, fed them their first slices of watermelon, and even taught them how to sack race.  Field day, or now, Fun Day was a success. 

                                                           

  IN STEP

(The "baby orphanage" 

for abandoned children.)

(One of the bedrooms.  See the 3 story bunk bed?)

(This swing holds a dozen kids.  Efficient.)

(Dining Room when empty.)

(Dining Room when full.)

(These children are precious.  It was so hard to leave them.) 

                                                                      

  CLINICS

(Our nurse set up the clinics and ran the medicine distribution tables.  We served hundreds of people at each of our three, one day clinics.)

(I was shown how to help with wound care.)

                                                                 

MICHELLE

(This little girl stuck with me all day during one of our clinics.  The kids said her mother was down the street; I never saw her.  One of the ways we bless people at the clinics is by giving them hats for their babies.  It gets cold at night on the mountain.  One of the Pastors told me to pick out a hat for "my baby" also.  About 2 1/2.  Isn't she sweet?)

(She fell asleep in my arms so I asked some Kenyan ladies to help me tie her on.  I fed her that muffin for lunch when she woke up.  I just know that she would have fit perfectly in my suitcase but my team said I had to leave her behind when we left.  Along with so many things.....)

SAFARI

Of course, we saw some wildlife during our stay.

(Bats and birds in our safari on Elgon.)

                                                         

          Lots of Monkeys ;)

(~Where the zebra and waterbuck play!~)

(Our favorite was the 

photogenic...photo-generating?

 giraffe.)

BEAUTIFUL AFRICA!!!

I have a feeling that I'll be sighing for it for a while....