kristinfl's Xanga

Friday, November 02, 2007

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 01:06:41 GMT

I realize I've been updating this about once a month, but I missed October altogether. Here is a little glimpse into what is going on in my life lately. I moved in with Mandy and Kara, two other interns last summer, into a 3 bedroom apartment that Reba Place owns. We had an apartment blessing/home warming party last Saturday, which included communion and prayer. It was beautiful because of the people that were a part of it.

Last Saturday, a carload of us went to Dominican University for a Food and Faith conference where we discussed how our eating habits are affecting people and the environment around the world and steps we can take to restore those relationships. I'm learning that buying organic and fair trade is not just for people with higher eating standards, but for people who care about how their food is produced. Our apartment is attempting to budget more money for food. Now I compare grocery shopping to buying expensive crafts from people around the world. I pay a little more so they can actually afford to feed their children and so their children don't have to be sold into slave labor. I'm also learning people have not always had every type of food available to them year round, but only in seasons. When I eat out of season, I am eating food that probably has been shipped from other countries or been frozen/refridgerated for up to a year. When I eat out of season I am feeding (haha) into my self-centered consumer mindset that my demands must be met immediately. I'm on a slow path to transformation though.

I started working registry, or per diem, at a hospital a few blocks away. It is much smaller than my recent employer, and I'm still adjusting to the different way of doing things there. I enjoy walking to work and only working about 30 hours a week. Because I'm registry, I only work when the hospital needs me and when I agree to it, similar to a substitute. Therapists are always in demand, so I basically have the freedom to choose my own hours and this means no weekends or holidays! Wahoo! I don't think I'll work anything but registry if I can help it. It is nice to be back into a routine and to do something productive and helpful again.

Andy and I are doing well and learning from so many people here. We are discovering our brokenness and Christ's redemption as we strive to serve one another and share deep friendship. Some ways we've been enjoying each other's company are riding the tandem bike my dad and Steph lent us, cooking, reading, praying, running, volunteering at a homeless ministry, and getting each other crazy Haloween costumes at thrift stores. I was Jasmine from Aladdin, and he was a cowboy.

That's my life lately. Now it is time to do some dishes.

More Books

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 13:36:51 GMT

Ahhhh, Madeline L'Engle. She reminds me of C.S. Lewis in that she can write a book that is enjoyable for all ages as she writes about good vs. evil.

Books

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 13:33:53 GMT

I realized that my favorite aspect of this weblog is sharing what books I'm reading. I haven't done that in a while, so I will play catch up. I read We Belong to the Land slowly this summer. Elias Chacour does a wonderful job discussing his struggle to love his enemies that are coming against his ministry as a Melkite Priest in Palestine. He attempts to see them as human beings, children of God, even though they are treating him as he is less than human. Great read.

Observations Made at the Playground

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 20:34:05 GMT

As you requested Grete, a story about the kids at the daycare.

The Kingdom of God can be seen in a group of children on a playground. When a few children play on the swings, all the children want to play on the swings. There is not enough for all to swing, so there is crying and fighting. When a few children find the swings boring, they go to play on the slide, and all the other children then want to play on the slide. But soon the slide becomes crowded and children are pushing and shoving to get down it. When a few children leave the slide to play on the teeter-totter, all the others soon follow, climbing on the middle of the teeter-totter to become some part of the excitement. There is always a child though, who never seems to become part of the fun in any activity on the playground. She follows all the other children from activity to activity in hopes of joining in the laughing, joking, and acting along. However, when it is her turn to swing, there is no one to push her. When it is her turn to slide there is no one to watch her hurry down. When it is her turn to teeter-totter there is no one to balance her because they have all gone on to find something new to play.

But one day, a few children will play tag and all the others will follow along in the game. Trina will run away from the person who is it, and she will be chased. She will be included in the game no matter how many times she has hit or bit or kicked the other children and regardless of all the times the teachers have told the other children to stay away from Trina. She will be chased and laugh and scream aloud from the thrill of finally getting to play along and they will too.

Community

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 20:58:02 GMT

I've made it to Reba Place Fellowship where I am interning for the summer in attempts to learn about how one group has been called to live out the kingdom here on earth in community. After a week in San Diego and a couple days in Tennessee, I still feel like I'm on vacation somewhat. But it has been tough because now that I'm here, I have 9 weeks remaining to figure out why I'm here and what God is calling me to do next. I'm supposed to be volunteering in a day care center, but another intern, Mandy, and I have to get all the required paperwork done before we can start. It's been good not being there yet. We've had the opportunity to see how Reba receives produce from its sister community Plow Creek Fellowship. We sorted it and met some of the community that came to pick it up. I've gotten my hands a bit dirty doing some weeding in Evanston's garden. I've heard some stories, baked some banana bread, been doing some good running along the lakeside, and even learned how to play a domino game Mexican train. I like that people know their neighbors here and share their possessions and eat together. I'm learning that life is still very comfortable. Are we called to live uncomfortably? Or are we called to be with those who aren't able to live comfortably? Is it ok that we are comfortable if we are helping others in the process?
We are studying the parables of Jesus this summer. Next week some of us are going up to Plow Creek to give them extra help picking berries. Right now I'm learning about city community. Next week I'll get a taste of some country community.

Craig's List Rocks my Socks Off

Fri, 18 May 2007 22:42:01 GMT

But I'm presently still wearing them, my socks that is. I'm waiting for people to come and buy my stuff. I'm getting rid of all my furniture. Most of it I got second hand, in fact, all of it except for my bed, which I'm not selling. The best part about selling on Craig's List is that the people come to your place to pick it up. So sorry for them that I live on the 3rd floor, but I'm willing to help. The even funnier thing is that the first piece of furniture I sold was a rocking chair I found at the dumpster. I put it up for $5 just so I wouldn't have to drag it to the thrift store. I listed it at 9:30am and it was gone by 12:30 pm that day. Hopefully, I will not have to deal with more emails and phone calls after tonight.

But while I'm waiting for people to come, I'll update you on life lately. Today work had a going-away celebration for me and three other employees leaving the physical therapy department. I've been slowly sorting, donating, recyclying, and packing the past two weeks. I'm excited to head to California with Karen and Susan a few days after we scrub our apartment down and turn in the keys. From there, I'm heading to Reba Place Fellowship in Evanston, Illinois to learn about intentional community. After that, I may be heading to Ukraine to see my friend Ira's home and meet her family, as well as assisting with Amy as she opens a special needs school. Whew! I'm exhausted just typing this. Plus I just finished hauling out my bedroom furniture and dinner table. Alright back to trying to get people to buy my couch, bookcase, and computer desk.

Mother's Day

Tue, 15 May 2007 21:00:22 GMT

I worked this mother's day. This was the first year that people told me, "Happy Mother's Day." Not just one person, but many, including workers in the cafeteria, nurses, patients, and strangers passing by in the parking garage. I guess this year I look old enough to make the assumption that I am a mom. It is really wierd.

Identity Theft in My Dreams?

Tue, 08 May 2007 11:27:12 GMT

I dreamed last night that some guys in a grey buick tried to rob me. I was in some sort of large warehouse walking to a house that was probably 1/2 a block away. A car pulled up and a couple of guys who were up to no good started making trouble in my neighborhood by digging through my purse. I got really upset and started to fight them, but then I decided that my anger was not going to be a light to them, so I started to pray over them. But, then one of the guys, who was bald, in his 30's, and a little overweight tried to kiss me. Yuck! That was when I went running for my life. I grabbed my purse on the way and made it to the house safely. I looked through the purse and thought that they stole my cell phone, which really stunk because then I had no one numbers. I used a friend's phone to call the cops. But then I searched again and found my phone, but realized I was missing a couple hundred dollars. I had just returned from Ukraine and had extra travel cash that I had not used. I remember thinking I needed to check to see if they stole my credit and debit cards, but I never did.

I think I was dreaming that because of the recent lost of my yahoo email account. I still haven't been able to use it and am in the long process of trying to get it back. If you don't have my new email, please email me on this xanga site with your email address, and I'll shoot you a response.

Very Strange

Thu, 03 May 2007 10:23:54 GMT

I logged into my email account Wednesday no problem. I tried checking my email again Wednesday evening and have not been able to log-in. Still no luck. So, if you are trying to contact me, please call me instead of emailing me. Thanks!

Deuteronomy, China, Birthday, and More

Wed, 02 May 2007 21:04:24 GMT

As I was reading Deuteronomy 1, I recalled many conversations that took place in my family. They went something like this:

Mom: Kristin, can you help me move this table?

Kristin: No, I'm busy. Get Angie to help you.

Mom: Fine, I'll just do it myself! I can't rely on anyone around here.

Kristin: Ok, ok, just wait a second, I'll help.

Mom: No, I don't want your help anymore. I'll do it myself.

Kristin (after going to PT school): Oooh, you're lifting that wrong, you are going to hurt yourself.

Someone in our family would ask someone else for help, not receive it the first time, give a guilt trip, and then not want to accept it when the person finally agreed to help. The person wanted a willing helper, not someone she had to give a guilt trip to help her.

The same thing is happening in Deuteronomy when God tells the Israelites to go to battle. They at first don't because they are too scared. Then God gives them a guilt trip and punishes them for their lack of faith; they will no longer enter the promise land. After the Israelites hear this, they say, "Ok, ok, we will go to battle." However, it is too late, God says he will no longer fight for them. However, they again did not listen and got their butts kicked pretty bad.

China, I got back early Monday morning. I'm still trying to catch up on sleep and my room is a wreck. Great trip. I hope to travel with a purpose more often. It is the best way to get inside of a culture, which is nearly impossible as a tourist. I wish I had more time to learn from new Chinese friends and see more of their home. But my stomach is happy to be back in America. The children are beautiful. Our work at the orphanage has and will impact many.

My birthday is this Friday, and I'm trying to stay strong this year by not opening up cards and presents that have already made it to my home. They are tempting me to open them.

Today I gave my boss the date I will be leaving work, which is at the end of May. I will be an intern at Reba Place Fellowship this summer. I get to live with Grete and Aaron as well as hang out with Andy a bit more than usual.

That about wraps it up. I'm off to house church if I can find my way out of my room.