Sunday, January 31, 2010

Dream a Little Dream

Ok. You've heard me talk about it.
Africa.
Orphanages.
Mission work.
Filling this void in my soul.
Listening to God.
Serving.
Africa.

The reason I moved out to AB in the first place was to work, makes rock trucks of money, go to Africa for a month - help build a school, church, whatever, and settle back into life in Halifax.

Well. We all know how that turned out. Not as I'd planned - but my plans don't matter. I'm glad and greatful and humbled that MY ideas were wrong. Its been through my involvement with First Alliance, Maria, and the people who haved lived in this house, that I've really kept persuing mission work. I am surrounded by Africa. Anyone who I've given a skype tour of my house to can attest to that! My place is completely decorated in African masks, animals, animal prints, cool African chairs. I am surrounded by love for missions on all sides. I've met so many people, random and not - that've gone on trips and are so excited for my plans.

I will try and keep this short.

In several conversations with Maria over the past 10 months about my desire to go overseas, she's placed me in contact with a good friend of hers who works for Watoto ministry. I've emailed her with a million questions and received a response yesterday. It makes me almost weep with both anticipation and fear and realization that this dream of mine has started to move. Truly, honestly started to move. I was getting so discouraged with setbacks, both financially and personally that I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to realize this possibility. So with renewed hope and resiliant faith, I'm sharing with you and will continue to update on the process.

I will need prayer. If you want to know where I need the most guidance, I will tell you: If you feel so inclined to shoot some prayer rockets up - I'm really looking to have my heart opened and prepared for the "right" orphanage. There are several with very different types of living conditions. Some are in a city, which are busy and westernized, some are really far from emenities. (true African culture). I need to be shown where I will be utilized the most and where I will benefit both spiritually and personally. I realize there will be alot of personal growth and I need to stop 'romantizing' it and thinking, as usual, that its going to be all sunshine and lollipops. I know my heart is in the right place, my prayer is that it remains that way, as its easy to get caught up in the cool factor of going over there.

I also need to be given the wisdom (?), discipline (!!) to save money. I'm a shopoholic and spontaneous flight booker, and need to keep a rein on that kind of thing. I hope to have enough money to fly over, live for three months, come back and be able to unwind for a month, and not worry about cash flow. Impossible on the onset, but I've seen crazier miracles unfold! I am considering sponsorship, sending out prayer letters to church members, having a fundraiser of sorts - more for the awareness, (as well as the money, of course). But would like to able to set this goal and make it happen myself.

There. I said it. I dreamed a dream out loud.

If you want to check out Watoto ministry go to: www.watato.com .

(The anticipated time frame for this is Aug/Sept 2010)

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

ANDDDD, WE'RE BACK ON THE AIR

I will point form my month for you, as I’ve been blazy (blog lazy)

In chronological order this has been my January. You ready? Its not that exciting. Its been good, but not edge of your seat, nail biting, heart-racing drama. Here goes:

· Spent NYE with Ray, who went to bed at 9, Dee and Britters. Dee set me up on a Christian online dating site. Completely against my will. She is a freight train that when determined, its in your best interest to stay clear and far out of the way. B and I laughed so hard that night. Completely mocking the system and Dee telling us to be serious about it, because its my year to get a husband. Apparently. Like the Chinese Zodiac , but this doesn’t involve rats or rabbits, just husbands. But good luck finding one on there. Obviously, I've deactivated it. Obviously.

· Spent an extremely valuable day with Britt and Bree. Makes me realize how much God loves me, seeing the amazing women He’s put in my life. Honestly don’t know what I’d do without them.

· Totally threw my back out. Completely. I walked like an old lady for three weeks.


HERES MY BRIT ON OUR BREE AMBUSH WITH SOME CLASSY ED HARDY WINE. (please don't waste your time, money, tastebuds - but the bottle - so cool)

· Spent 6 hrs at a mall with a 20 year old woman. Got a winter coat at Old Navy for $20. 6 hours! 6! Even for me, thats too much.

· Got a one day gig at an oil and gas co, which led to another gig at a non oil and gas co. This gig is more permanent, however, I am waiting on said industry to get back on its feet so I can some stability in my life with a real job.

· Worked at the bar again. Such fun. I love drunk people. They are so lovey and sweet.They hug me and tip me and compliment me and thank me. And the ones who aren’t – have to face the burly bouncers whose main focus of the night is to protect me.

· Went shopping again with a geologist who wants to be more feminine, as she works up North with only men. She likes my style so I was ‘dragged’ out (jk) and was fashion consultant to someone who listened. Its like I could mould her .... But not for 6 hrs. She's not THAT fem yet.

· Got on the scale and it read 19.8 lbs more it did in July. So, I lost 10 of those that crept up on me somewhere in the past 6 months.

· Calgary experienced a Chinook. Heaven on Earth. You have no idea.

· Spent a few hours each day of one weekend with Britters and her adorable nephews, ages 5 and 1 and her gorgeous amazing niece Ruby age 3. So much work. So much fun. Kids are smart. Smarter than me I bet.

· Got back into the gym, sort of - but not really.

· I know where all the pretty people in Calgary go after work. World Health Club 7th Ave. I will go back.

ME N' STACE ROCKIN' COAT CHECK. MAKING MAD MONEY.
Learned to love Skype. Got to see my sis, bro in law and their kiddos for the first time in a year.

PHOTO - MO AND MAURA

VID - WATCH MAURA TELL A STORY


LANDY PANTS. AND THATS ABOUT IT. PANTS.


ADZ. SO GROWN UP - JUST BACK FROM BASKETBALL PRACTICE.


· Mom and Dad came to visit. Long overdue and just what I needed to get me out of my funk.

MY BIRTHDAY JEANS. PARDON MY BUM, BUT AREN'T THE JEANS GREAT?? I COULDN'T DECIDE BETWEEN 4 PAIRS, SO WE TOOK PHOTOS TO MAKE OUR DECISION. MOM'S HONEST. BRUTALLY. I LOVE IT.

MOM'S 'NEWLY PURCHASED SUNDAY GO TO MEETIN' OUTFIT. TOTALLY GORGEOUS.

TOOK DAD AND MOM TO FARM. THATS OUR MEAT AND CHEESE APPY WITH DIJON MUSTARD, SOMETHING CHUTNEY AND DRIED CHERRIES. AMMMMAZEBALLS.


· I was set up on a blind date. And by set up, I mean forced by his parents and Ray/Dee. Well it was half blind – I knew what he looked like as many photos of him were mysteriously forwarded to my inbox. Poor guy - had no idea what he was walking into. Went to a Flames game. His season tickets. Great seats. Great company. (in case you were wondering). First NHL game, first blind date (besides the time Liana tricked me into a dinner for 7, when strangely, 3 of them bailed at the last minute and, strangely, we were seated at a romantic table for 4 - but we don't talk about that :-)

* BIG DREAMY SIGH - I HEART JEROME.

ANNNNND.... A FIGHT. ITS A GOODER - AS THEY SAY OUT HERE. WHO AM I KIDDING? I SAY IT ALL THE TIME!

And thats January until now. Which is almost over. Which means my birthday is next. Which means I’m 35.

Later !

Lea

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

A tear (pronounced tier, not tare) escaped

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg-3ZJcbfJY

Theres a tv show called Glee. I don't know what its about other than singing, as I am pop-culturely challenged this past year or so. But I was checking out YouTube vids tonight and its actually really good singing.

So as YouTube has it, it gives you all kinds of other 'related' vids to watch. I happened to click on this one and was crying laughing by the end. Not even the end. The middle. It reminded me so much of us in the summer the first year we had that big honkin' video camera and we made movies and recorded whatever we could.

And these boys definitely reminded me of Mark, Stephen, and Timothy. Except I wondered periodically if these boys were high and I wondered frequently how embarassed they're going to be in 10 years.

Enjoy. This made my day!

Peace, Love and Happiness y'all!

LeeLeeMac