Adventures of a Wandering Presbyterian

Joyful Nights

2009-09-11T16:23:00.002-04:00

In a few hours, I'm beginning another new and exciting part of ministry- Night of Joy. If you want to find out about the event in particular, here's the website.

But let me tell you about my/our schedule. :) And this is really just to make all of you oooo and aaaaaah at my stamina. Hahaha.

Tomorrow at 3am, I'm waking up. Yes, 3am. (I've been gradually ruining my sleep schedule this week so that I'm pretty tired and will be going to bed soon, so I can wake up rested-ish around 3.)

At 4am I'm heading out to church. I have to stop at Walgreens to grab a few things and then it's on to the church. Around 4:45 I will get there and around 5am, the bus arrives. I check in with the bus driver, go over the itinerary and details again and then the kids start arriving. With copies of permission slips being made, collecting the rest of the money, getting kids on the bus, meeting with my chaperones and all the details of getting this many people on a charter bus, I'll be pretty busy. The hope is to leave as close to 6am as possible so if we get on the road by 630 I'll be leaping down the aisles with joy.

We'll all stop for lunch at some typical fast-food chain near Orlando and then around noon (we hope) we'll arrive at the Magic Kingdom!

At that point, the youth get split into groups and chaperones go with younger groups. They get to run around the park for most of the afternoon, checking in with me every few hours.

At 4 we reconvening and boarding a shuttle bus to Hollywood Studios for the actual Night of Joy event. There, the youth get to see tons of different bands at different times, all over the park. All Christian groups, some just starting out and some that are well established and have mass followings (me included for some!)

The check-ins continue throughout the night and at 1am we are meeting up and hopefully getting onto the bus by 2am. At 2 we start the drive home. We'll get back to church sometime around 6am I think.

Then, I get to wait around a few hours and then teach a class. Yes! I'm teaching a class to kids after not having slept in 30.5 hours! I should be done around 1230 and then going home.

So that's my weekend. It will, I am sure, be amazing and fun. It will also be exhausting and stressful. I have to be prepared for the good and the bad, which I hope I am.

Please, pray for all of us this weekend. For safety, for fun, for cooler heads to prevail, for good weather, for the joys of friendship and music and community.

I hope all of you have fun and less hectic weekends. May God bless you also!

PS If you live in Florida, check Night of Joy out for next year! It's an amazing deal! :)

Cheers,
Em

Quick Update

2009-08-29T22:50:00.003-04:00

To end August...

I'm finishing up what has been a relatively fun and exciting pre-season game for the Chargers. I'm happy with the way my team looks so far, especially the deeper we go into our roster.

Today I helped lead a workshop for teachers/leaders/volunteers at work. It went very well, though I am quite tired. I was out the door at 645 this morning. And I'll do it again tomorrow. Tomorrow is Rally Day and I still have a small amount of work to do (just making up some cards for a game, really). But I want to make sure everything is set up and ready to go by the time I head over for the 9am worship service. I'm also very, very glad that I have the ability to go to either service now! That will be very convenient for me.

Youth group tomorrow afternoon will also be our last until we relaunch our new youth group - Surge. I'm very excited about the changes taking place there... more to come on that.

I had the blessing to go see the Mets play all three games when they were in town this last week. We won the final game of the series. It was a lot of fun to go to the games and I plan on it again in September when they are back again.

I have had a rather exhausting week with my games, a session meeting on Monday night, a YLC meeting on Thursday and the early morning today. I am looking forward to Monday, but more importantly to Thursday on my day off. :) Luckily, I truly love my job so it's okay. Exhausting right now, but ok.

As soon as the game is over (and it will be over soon barring unforseen circumstances, game clock says :34) I'm heading to bed, so I'm off.

Have a wonderful week! God bless.

Cheers,

Em

End of Summer Update

2009-08-20T20:25:00.002-04:00

Hello All!

Long time, no blog!
I apologize for the delay, but there was a situation regarding jobs and things that meant I shouldn't blog for a while until it ironed out. It now has, and I'm back!

Let me give you some info. I'm living with L and enjoying it - she's a great roommate! My job is going very well so far. The youth are amazing! It's a very busy few weeks for me. This weekend, we have two big events - a talent show for our youth and then an open house for anyone wanting information or with questions about the youth ministry program at the church. It will be a long, long day on Sunday. And I have to work Saturday also. Then Monday is session and the 30th is Rally Day! We are changing our sunday schedule and with the start of the school year that means more kids in classes, new teachers, new curriculum and lots of new situations.

In September, the youth and I are hopping on a charter bus and driving to Disney for Night of Joy. That's a massive Christian music festival with bands and activities, all in Disney World so you can ride rides and have fun at the same time. It will be amazing, I'm sure. :)

This next week, the Mets are coming to town to play the Marlins! So I'm going to all three games to root on my team! Bad as we are, I still love 'em!

I was up in Orlando a few days ago, actually. My good friend Chris was visiting his parents up there and I hadn't seen him in a year, so I drove up to visit. It was so nice to see him again!

Another change in friendships - my friend Beuford moved to Rome a few days ago. He was living with Laura and I for a short time before he left. He'll be back in January. It's too bad he's gone, but he's getting a great education at UM's architecture studio there. (He's a grad student at UM).

Mattie, my wonderful, wonderful, bestie (best friend) also came to visit me this summer. It was so WONDERFUL to have her here! I miss her tons but was glad we got to see each other even for a few days. She starts her second year of Med school in a few days - so prayers for her!

Also - some interesting stuff in my family these last few days - if you could keep us all in your prayers, I would very much appreciate it.

That's all for now - I'm enjoying the first football game of the season that I've been able to watch so far. Back to the game!

Oh, and by the way- GO CHARGERS!

Cheers!

Em

And so it begins...

2009-05-26T12:07:00.003-04:00

Later tonight my parents will arrive at my aunt and uncle's home. They're bringing Aslan with them! I'm so excited. I cannot even tell you how excited I am!

I'm going to F&S's (Uncle is F, Aunt is S) to meet them and bring Aslan back to my place. He'll stay here until I move in to the new condo!

That happens in only 5 days though. Sunday I move in permanently!

Tomorrow, my parents and I are visiting the new place of employment so they can meet some people as well as so I can sign my paperwork. Then we're going hunting for a bedset. When that is taken care of, we'll buy paint and then start painting my room! Then when that's all done - the real moving happens. Whee!

My parents leave Saturday morning. It is going to be a busy busy week!
Sunday I think I'm going to spend some time at Laura's church - they're having a big picnic and celebration going on in the afternoon - should be fun. :) I hope I get all the official move-in type stuff finished by then!

My first day of work in the new job is Monday. I'm getting so excited for it! I can't wait to start.

So that's what's new for now!

Cheers,
Em

Big changes, new opportunities and great blessings

2009-05-20T22:59:00.004-04:00

These last few weeks have been one of enormous change for me. Much of it has been good.

Some of the bad? One of my housemates left to be a camp counselor for the summer. Another one of my housemates had some very trying time with her work that did not come out the way we had hoped, but we are all trying to make the best of it and support her in many ways. Another is looking for a new working situation. The others are having their own fair share of problems, and for a while, the mood in the house was rather low.

But bit by bit the mood improved as people adjusted and things have returned to the old way and feel. And then, out of pretty much no where, big changes came.

The story to my big changes is long. So if you want to read the story, you can go here.

If you don't want to read the story and simply want the result, read on. The idea here is that the story, while long, is an amazing example of how God has been working in me for a long time - and all of the wonderful blessings I have encountered. It also gives detail to the big changes. Don't get me wrong - it's entertaining and has important stuff! But if you just want the gist - keep going.

In short, here is what is going on:

Recently I was offered (and accepted) a new job position. As of June 1st, I will be the Director of Youth Ministries at Central Presbyterian Church in Miami, FL. I am being paid well, receiving benefits and education funding to allow me to return to school.

I am moving in with a dear friend just six blocks north and one block east of where I am now. My little one, my cat, will be coming to live with us!

I'll give you all address and other changes when the time is right. I'm leaving the DOOR program as of June 1st and starting life out on my own. Exciting times.

Thank you all for your prayers and support this past year. It was a trying, challenging and yet wonderful and beautiful experience in so many ways and I would never trade this year for anything. I've loved it!

Now, don't worry. The blogging will continue. As will my involvement in DOOR (just not on the strictest level).

Blessings to all of you - may God give you the things you need on GOD's time - for God knows best. :)

Cheers,

Emmie

What was April?

2009-05-02T11:20:00.003-04:00

April. The fourth month. A month of springtime, renewal, growth and green.

The first thing I did in April was fly to my parents' home in North Carolina. I spent some time there, enjoying my parents and of course the company of my dear cats, Ash and Aslan. It was wonderful having the little furry creatures to cuddle and play with. I realize now just now much I miss my Aslan. It's sad being here without him. :)

While in North Carolina, we also made a spectacular purchase and I was privileged enough to get a new car! (New to me, really.) I got a beautiful, well kept 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe. I really love it, and each day I'm getting more and more comfortable and happy with it. I had a tough choice to make between this car and another and at first I was really torn but now I can't see it any other way. I've named her Clara and the fun has already begun!

I got back on a Tuesday, and I plunged head first into a heavy workload seeing as it was holy week and I had a lot going on that weekend! We had another prayer event going on at church that weekend. Friday morning, Drive played at Miami Rescue Mission for their annual Easter breakfast. It's always an experience playing for a massive crowd of homeless people, but it's always amazing and a lot of fun. Saturday was another long day (though thankfully no music school!) and our service that night involved me doing a monologue, based on a girl who witnessed Christ's death. I heard some wonderful comments - including one from my boss who said that "God used you" - and from him, that was amazing. That night we had pizza and soda and watched a movie centered on sacrificing for others, and then spent some time praying through the night. I stayed over at church that night, obviously, and was up and out the door at 430am, as we took the musical equipment and things over to Bayside Marketplace and we set up on the stage. Every year, our church and our host church have a sunrise service at the marketplace. I got some amazing photos of the event as the sun came up behind the band and worship leaders. It was a great way to celebrate the rising of our Lord.

The next week was a fairly ordinary work week, though I did have some meetings to begin the implementation of work on a summer camp that is in the works. I also got to go over to my aunt and uncle's again to visit - my cousin's wife's birthday had just passed and we were celebrating. It was pretty fun and we enjoyed some baseball while we were there.

This last week from Sunday through Tuesday I participated in our Spring Retreat down in the Florida Keys. It was a lot of fun and completely exhausting, though also very renewing as well. I learned some amazing things about my housemates and grew closer to them as well.

Lastly, I did my taxes. :)

On a personal note, I've always felt that God has called me in many ways to be a counsellor - maybe not by profession or in any such official way, but I feel that one of my many gifts is to truly listen and offer advice to others. When I was in high school I was on a retreat and someone asked me for advice about something very deep, very troubling and very big in her life. I remember talking to this person - but I don't remember what I said, or what happened at all. I do remember thinking to myself that something was speaking instead of me, through me, in me, and that I was simply the vessel. It was very odd and I was slightly alarmed, and yet I felt completely natural and at ease at the same time. The girl listened, turned her life around, made big changes, and now is headed on a great path filled with God.

Now, this may seem awfully strange - indeed it is for me also. But from that point on, I have felt that God has been using me to tell people what they need to hear. Maybe it's because people know that I will tell them what they need to hear regardless of whether they want to hear it or not. Maybe it's because I'm open myself, so people feel they can trust me. Or maybe it's just because God wants me too. I haven't had such a crazy experience as that first one in whole again, but every now and then when I'm listening and talking to someone, I feel a little push inside me. And regardless of whether I feel that even or not, I often wonder how I come up with such good advice! It's funny - things will occur to me to say to someone that could really help me in my own life and I'll think, "Wow, that IS good advice!" I truly believe that God has asked me to do this, at least for now. And because of that, I'm happy to help - because I'm doing what God wants me to do.

I've been finding myself giving a lot of advice lately, and listening to a lot of problems. But I'm happy to do it. :)

I hope May finds all of you blessed and full of the renewal that spring represents. Forget not what our Lord and Saviour has done for us! And yes, He is Risen, Indeed!

Checking In, Checking Out and Checking Up on Cars

2009-03-31T15:00:00.004-04:00

Today is Tuesday and today I moved all my stuff back into my house after two weeks of house sitting bliss. After having a fair amount of time to be alone and reflect, I think I'm ready to go back to the madness of six-person living. Now, I will miss not having to share a bathroom with three other girls, not having to share a kitchen with five other people and not having to sit in my un-air conditioned room... but I will enjoy returning to community, people I love, and knowledge that if I need something, somebody will be there for me. The break was nice though. Very nice. :)

But I won't get to enjoy this warm fuzzy feeling of being with these people again for very long. Right now it is around 3pm on Tuesday. At 8am on Thursday, I'm heading home. As referenced in the previous post, I'm heading to visit my parents in North Carolina. It has now been determined that I am buying a new car (new to me, at least) as my little bug Lucinda was sold. She got picked up on Saturday and is off having fun with her new owner (or so I hope, but we're gonna keep it that way, ok?). So now I'm picking out a new vehicle to name and call my own. What to get, what to get? Well I've got my requirements, my preferences and my wishful thinkings... and my budget. We'll just have to see what the best combo of all of those things is.

I've decided not to tell anyone down here what car I am buying.. I'm going to wait and surprise them all by just showing up in it. It's going to be fun.

As mentioned before, I am also excited about seeing my parents, my cats and some adult friends of mine - Byron and Katherine. They are both local pastors that I know and love. Should be fun!

Also, I'm going to be facing a rather long drive home from NC so Tuesday or Wednesday I may be calling people to keep me entertained. Beware!

Well, all this unpacking is beckoning me. Better go.

Cheers,

Em

Hilarity

2009-03-17T13:57:00.001-04:00

Wow! Two blog posts in one day! Miracle!!!

Actually, I just wanted to post this - you have to watch this if you like NCAA basketball at all. Beyond funny.

And if you can, slow it down or pause it when they show the lists of the teams - there is some funny, funny stuff there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxyPeME9TbI

I am a bad person :)

2009-03-17T09:57:00.002-04:00

So, probably twice a week for the past four or five weeks I've said to myself, I should really write in my blog...

Well, you can see that I really stick to my convictions when it comes to blogging.

So! What's new here, one month or so later?

A few exciting things. First off, I'm heading home (well, North Carolina, to my parents home, not really ever been mine...) to pick up a car. "A" car because we're not sure whether it's my current owned car or whether it's a different car I'll get from buying a new one and selling the current one. But regardless, I get to see my parents if only for a few days, and my little baby Aslan (and Ash too)!!! Aslan still has his cute purring into the phone and rubbing his head against it trick when I call and talk to him through the phone, with the occasional loud meow. Ah, I love it. :)

Second exciting thing is that starting tomorrow I'm house sitting for my uncle and aunt down here in Miami again. This time it's for two weeks! I'm really looking forward to having some time to myself to relax and do things on my own without worrying about what my five other housemates will think or whether it will inconvenience them. It will be nice to have a little, selfish break. Everybody needs some time on their own every once in a while, even extroverts like me.

I'm really happy with the way the music school is going right now. Lots of students who are actually working is nice, and I'm enjoying my time there a lot. I really love that portion of my work, with the school, and I'm excited for what the future may bring with that.

I'm writing a lot of grants right now for work too, which isn't a favorite activity of mine by any stretch of the imagination, but I find it fairly interesting as there's such as specific science to it, if you will. It's interesting to learn the hidden rules in the grant world.

It's getting nice and hot down here and it's looking like the a/c is going to be our soon companion. Could have used it a few days here already but we're stubborn and holding out. Though my computers are less appreciative of that such fact, as they're hot and cranky- my room, and workspace, as I work out of the house, has no a/c and is all windows. It gets hot in here! And my ceiling fan doesn't work. I've found some creative ways to cool off. But when the house's a/c switch moves into the on position, I'll just re-route myself to the living room.

I'm excited, as usual, for March Madness this year. I'm irritated that Memphis was denied a #1 seed - I think they deserved it more than UNC. Oh well. I suppose it will just feed their fire - I have them winning it all.

Hope all of you are well. Have a happy St. Patrick's day and wonderful rest of this beautiful month of March!

Cheers,
Em

February is a beautiful month in Miami

2009-02-17T12:44:00.003-05:00

This month, I've been struck so often by beauty. And not just the kind of beauty you may think about - beautiful people, beautiful days, beautiful scenery. All this has been on my mind, of course, but also, the beauty of life and all that we encounter.

I've had quite an enjoyable month, so far. Work has been exciting with grants and gigs and getting a band ready for a tour through Honduras. This last part, of course, has been no small task. Eight people will be packing up and heading off to play music all around the country, bringing God's everlasting light and love. This involves everything from making sure everyone has passports to shipping our musical equipment down to buying flights... you get the idea. But in this, I've noticed how beautiful the passion is to go and do something just a little different; to make the effort to reach out to those that you would never come into contact with in any other way.

Andrew and I had a lovely Valentine's Day time together. We didn't actually get to spend any of the real Valentine's Day together because of my long day of work, but on Friday night he brought me a dozen roses, we had dinner together and then he took me to the ballet. We had wonderful seats for a beautiful production of Don Quixote by the Miami City ballet. I was very impressed! Usually, I am skeptical of any ballet company that isn't San Francisco or ABT, but this was a beautiful show. Again with the beauty. :) Wonderful, engaging choreography and fine dancers made for a wonderful show. Andrew and I also got to spend some time together yesterday, on President's day when neither of us worked. We really only did errands and such, but it was fun to spend time with him that wasn't squeezed in between our work schedules.

True enough, the weather here has been wonderful. Sunny and warm with a slight breeze most of the time has made for us all want to get outside again! (There was a time when chilly temperatures made for frozen Floridians). :)

I'm very much looking forward to a time in March when I'll be housesitting for someone for a few weeks. I really like their home, and along with that, it is so nice to get away and have my own space at times. I am so much of an extrovert that of course I love people being around, but to have a place that you can have, even for a short time, to yourself, is a wonderful change of pace - especially since I live in a small house with five other people. That, in itself, is something simple. I'm going to de-clutter my chaos. Something beautiful.

My sister is leaving Iowa in about a week to go visit my parents in North Carolina. I truly wish I was going to be there! I miss my sister and my nephews quite a lot, as I didn't get to see them at Christmas time when I saw my parents and brother. My sister is so very excited to see my parents. I can't blame her. She hasn't seen them since this summer and it was only very brief. I think it's great that she and my parents are growing closer despite the distance between them.

In all of these things, I've found beauty. Beauty in environments, in simplicity, in growing love, in relationships, in the arts, in passion.... it's all there. It's all around us. I am overwhelmed at the beauty I am seeing.

I hope that all of you are well, also. And I challenge you to find something beautiful about each day that you are living.

Cheers,
Em

Busy January!

2009-02-04T11:36:00.002-05:00

Okay, okay, I know... it's been quite a while. Sorry!

But seriously, I have legit excuses!

The day I last wrote, I was listening to the youth band rehearse for a gig. They played the next day on the 11th in the morning for a church. The weekend after that we went out of town for 5 days to play at a camp up in Paisley, FL - aka Freezing Country. In the 30's and all! AH! Now I know all you northerners will mock me for that but seriously, that was quite unpleasant.

The next weekend I was supposed to be a part of a mission festival at a local church up in Broward County. I was able to do some of it, but here was my weekend schedule:

Friday at 230 - leave and drive South to Homestead to pick up one band member. Drive North up HWY 1 to pick up 3 more along the way, finishing about 5pm - perfect to hit the beginning of I-95 right at rush hour time!

Then, soon after I get on the turnpike (about 6pm by this point) I get a flat tire. God loving, I manage to pull over in the parking lot of a Hwy Trooper Post. Tow guy comes, helps me put on the spare, we drive N up the turn pike to the next service station to get a new tire or get this one patched/plugged etc. Well, no quick fix so can we buy a new tire? Wouldn't matter cause some people drove up in a fancy car and immediately the garage man ignored me. Finally I grabbed my own tire out of the garage, got back in the car, drove south on the turnpike to switch cars with someone but there was construction and the sign for the exit was down so I went 8 miles out of my way. Eventually we met, switched cars, etc. We stopped for food. We tried to connect the iPod and it didn't work. Called my boss, who's car it was, and when we realized we had messed up the iPod connector, got yelled at hard core for ruining something important.

Kids all fell asleep, I drove through the night in pitch black and silence. Lots of time to think, a long phone call and a very angry, angry me.

Arrived at the camp the gig that weekend would be (this is three weekends in a row now) run and grab food, get up at 6am the next morning and drive home after dropping the girls off at the camp. I get back, do music school registration, race north for a talking session about the YAV program at this mission festival and then finally have a break.

Whew! Luckily, the guy I'm seeing was very sweet and we went on a 50's night date - pizza and a drive-in movie. :)

Then Sunday morning it was back up north to the church for the rest of the mission fest (just so happened to be the guy's church too) and then all was well.

Twas busy! Then immediately on Tuesday I left in the morning for San Antonio, where I finished out the month. I was there for APCE - Association of Presbyterian Church Educators. I went to promote and recruit for DOOR and also to spend time with my mother and father. My mother was installed as president of this multi-thousand member organization and it was a moment of happiness for me. She's such an inspiration!

Lots of fun, networking, hard work and long hours finished up my month and I arrived safely home in Miami again earlier this week. Now it's back to the grind immediately, as life so often is.

Well, I hope all of you are well and staying safe and warm/cool enough wherever you may be. God's blessings on your time! I'll update again soon. I promise. :)

Cheers,
Em

New Years are not always new

2009-01-10T14:46:00.002-05:00

Here I sit, ten days into this new year. I'm currently at work, listening to the youth band rehearse for a gig tomorrow morning. They sound pretty good today. (Proud Mama moment!)

I was thinking about the "new year" recently. My year beginnings are always fun... a celebration, then my birthday soon after. (Now that I'm 24 I feel more like "an adult" than ever....) But I'm wondering about the value of a "new year". We make new year resolutions. What are those, exactly? Why do we keep making promises to ourselves that often we truly have no intention of fulfilling? And why do we usually base our resolutions on bettering ourselves in material and physical ways than on bettering the world or promoting the love of Christ?

I myself, am of course, not innocent of this. But still I think about it.

The most perplexing thing about all this resolution business is how we constantly make the same ones year after year because we did not succeed the year prior. We don't make progress, we just move back and forth in the same area. New years are far too often just a repeat of something in the past.

Why then, do we not make every effort to make each year a truly new beginning? Different goals with a dedication to fulfill. A heart to serve. A mind to question. A will to change the world.

We, as humans, are prone to think of ourselves first, just as we are prone to be lazy. We see a year to fulfill our goals so we keep saying "we'll do it later." A year is a long time... or is it?

A year is no time at all in the length of our life... and it's unimaginably small to God.

So in this impossibly short time we have, let's make the absolute most we can from it. We go through years so quickly... each day should be used to live life in the best way we can. Make the most positive difference we can, glorify God in all we do, and show others the way to true love.

The song the band is currently singing is "They will know we are Christians by our love" or "We are one in the spirit."

May your new year truly be a new beginning for you in that you'll work to make yourself known as a Christian by your love - may it shine brighter than you have ever let it shine. :)

Cheers,
Em

Great things

2008-12-28T23:29:00.002-05:00

Sitting here, basking in the glory of the Chargers taking the title to the AFC West (and therefore a trip to the playoffs) by routing the Broncos by more than 20 points. Man... this is nice.

But it has also caused me to reflect. I'm very happy right now, and I can do nothing but praise God for all of the wonderful gifts He has given me recently.

First off, a trip home to see my parents. How fortunate am I! Wonderful that in today's economy, we are comfortable and able to bring me (and my brother) to North Carolina for a family celebration.

Secondly, a good support system. The longer I am in Miami, the longer I am content with where I am and who I'm with. From providing me with a supportive boss and wonderful site director, to a growing network of friends, to a new man in my life, I'm really being blessed with wonderful relationships that are aiding me in my continuing search for human interaction. I'm also becoming more comfortable in my position, my place, and more.

Thirdly, a great home to live in. And I don't just mean the building. My housemates are increasingly wonderful people, the more I get to know them. I'm inspired by them and encouraged by them.

These are really only the smallest of samples of ways that God has blessed me, but right now, those are the ones I'm feeling the most. (That, and, of course, Jesus Christ himself.)

I'd like to encourage all of you to take the time to really sit down and think about what blessings God has given to you. God is over-generous in His gifts and sometimes we are so blinded by our own ideas that we don't see the wonderful things God has provided. So please stop, look around, and realize where you are blessed. I know I am.

Happy Holidays to all of you! I hope it was a rewarding and contented season.

I'm heading home to Florida on Tuesday. Safe travels to all of us!

Cheers,
Em

Spiritually Charged

2008-12-21T15:17:00.005-05:00

So I'm sitting here, cheering on my Chargers (and the Dolphins as well, of course) and listening to my roommates play a game together. It's been a good week and I'm really happy right now.

Saturday was an amazing day. I woke up bright and early (530 am!) and put a casserole in the oven. It was a breakfast casserole and at 7am, members of our over-18 band, Toolbox, came over for some coffee, breakfast and then an early departure. We left for a local prison and played a concert there. This was an amazing experience. The prison we went to is the reception center, so it's where all male prisoners go at the beginning of their sentence before they get placed in their permanent facility. It's a very interesting environment. First off, most of the men in there are probably not in a very good place mentally. They are either in jail for the first time and facing all the emotions that we could imagine, or they are having whatever self view of themselves being reinforced by yet another trip to custody. It's a rough mental environment. We even walked through a room with a mass of inmates, all not allowed to talk. It was a silent room. That was tough to see.

But when we got to our location and set up and the inmates started to come forward, it was amazing! The concert was great and so many of the inmates were appreciative. Many of them sat and listened to us even though they didn't need to at all. They were under no obligation to hear our message. There were even inmates from another recreation area all pressed against the fence into the section we were playing so they could hear our music.

Some of them said "God bless" and "thank you" to us when we finished. The looks on their faces were amazing and some of then danced and raised their hands to the music. How wonderful it was!

I've been on a spiritual high since then... how great it was. Church on Saturday night was again, wonderful. I loved it.

Then last night, my housemates and I had one of our classic dance parties, accompanied by home-baked treats and cheap champagne. It was pretty fun. :)

So things are pretty good around here right now. Tuesday, I go home to North Carolina for a week to celebrate Christmas. I get to see my parents, my brother, my cats and snow. Should be a great time and I'm very excited.

I hope all of you have a really wonderful Christmas. I'm so excited about the promise of our savior. Let's not forget Jesus this Christmas!

That's all for now... cheers!
Em

It's been a while...

2008-12-13T23:24:00.003-05:00

Well, happy thanksgiving all... and into Christmas we go! I had a lovely visit with my parents here in town and really was happy to have them here. I'm glad I'll be seeing them again soon though because I miss them.

A few weeks ago I wrote to you from Orlando, courtesy of a gig for the youth band and a night without sleep due to transport. Well... here we go again, folks! Once more, I'm embarking on a sleepless night and an over night drive up to Orlando... this time, though, we'll leave at 3am, arrive a little before 8, grab a quick breakfast, go to the gig, play, eat a quick lunch, and drive home. I'll be back around 6 or 7 pm. Whirlwind, I know! But school is in the mix and finals are going mad for many of our band members so this trip must be quick.

Things have been okay for me here. I'm learning a lot, especially about forgiveness. I've been gearing up for a play here lately. It is a Christmas play and ready to get going for production next Saturday. I was director and actor and had assembled a cast for the show. It was going along well until one of my cast members stopped showing up to rehearsals. Essentially what it boils down to was this cast member lying to me, avoiding my phone calls and attempts to contact her and never showing up. So I talked to my supervisor at the music ministry and he called her and she immediately answered the cell phone that was supposed to be broken (when I called her). He asked my cast member straight out if she was going to do the play and she said no, flat out. That was 9 days before the play. To summarize, the play had to close - no replacement could be found and there wasn't sufficient rehearsal time even if we could locate someone. By the way, this person still has not said "I'm sorry" or actually told ME that they were leaving... only told my supervisor.

Because of that, I'm learning a lot about forgiveness. I think I'm actually learning something interesting. Most people think you have to abandon your pride in order to ask someone to forgive you. This is true, of course. You can't be ready to ask for forgiveness if you still have pride for yourself. But I've learned that it is also important to abandon all pride for yourself before you forgive someone also. You can't truly forgive someone until you let go of your pride. I can't hope someone will come to me and apologize and I can't hope that they secretly feel bad for hurting me. I can't hope that they feel guilty if I'm nice to them after they've betrayed my trust. I have to be totally okay with the idea that someone will brush off anything bad between us and not really even care if I truly want to forgive. It has to be selfless.

So that's one of the many lessons God is teaching me this week.

Other than the play, lots of little things have been keeping me busy. I'm going to my parents house in 10 days, so yay for that! Funny as it is, I'm almost more excited to see my cat than I am to see my family. It's too bad my sister and nephews can't make it.

I'm also really loving Christmas right now. Not the typical Christmas idea, but I'm just so blown away tonight about how God came down to earth. I really just can't get over it. I usually think about it, and acknowledge it, but tonight it really hit me. This world that is so dirty and gross and sad... why would God ever want to come here? I don't even know how to describe it. I just really feel it tonight.

So happy Christmas to you all. I hope you all feel that unconditional love of God too. I promise to write more soon.

Cheers,
Em

Thanks and Giving

2008-11-24T00:47:00.001-05:00

This week promises to be an exciting and joyful one for me. Tomorrow, I have work and worship team as always but then after worship team I'm driving to my aunt and uncle's house - and meeting up with them and my parents! My parents are coming into town for a week for Thanksgiving time. Huzzah!

I'm so pumped to see them, I've been talking about it for a long time without much stopping. I'm really, really excited. It should be a relatively low key week, but I have to work Thanksgiving morning. Our older band plays at a local homeless meal on Thanksgiving morning. It's a lot of fun though, and my parents are going to be able to come so it should be pretty cool. I'm really looking forward to having them around.

I've been thinking this week about giving thanks and such and I just wanted to point out that we usually remember to be thankful on thanksgiving day... but it should be every day and every hour that we are thankful for what we've been given. We are so blessed! Let's never forget that.

I hope all of you have a wonderful and happy week with friends, family or whomever you may be with. And if you are alone, remember you always have Someone with you.

God bless to all of you!

Cheers,

Em

Unable to think of a creative title....

2008-11-16T17:43:00.002-05:00

So my creativity is a little stifled. Sorry. :)

It's been a very long 10 days since my last post. I can't believe it's only been that many. Feels like a million.

The silent retreat went well. I had a good time just sitting there, being with God, no complications. It did, I admit, get rather boring at times. But in all, I think it was a very positive experience for me.

While I was there, I spent a bit of my time writing because I was preaching Saturday night at the Lighthouse. I think that went ok. I had some people tell me they enjoyed it, but you all know how critical I am of myself, so I really don't know. I did, however, manage to incorporate some dramatic elements in the form of a scripture pyramid. (For those of you who don't know what that is, it is a type of reading scripture that builds the words upon themselves in reverse order. It also incorporates aspects from "audience participation". It's really pretty cool. You may not get it at all, but believe me, it's cool.) I think in all I did pretty well, but I also believe that it's really just up to God. I hope God used me well.

Monday at our weekly meeting the worship team met with some pastors and worship leaders of a local church. Honestly, though, that doesn't quite get there. The reality of the situation is that it is a mega church, mega with five campuses all over the county. It's mega in so many ways... schools, services, bands, pastors, etc. They bring in over $80,000 a Sunday. Seriously. In reality, I haven't liked this church any time I've been to any of their campuses, and I'm skeptical of their mission and the way they approach the gospel. But all the same, they have a knack for bringing in people and have a lot of money. So Monday night, we the worship team, met with some of their staff to discuss potential partnerships. We have been talking with them for many months, but things have never really come to a resolution. Well on Monday night, to put it simply, a resolution did come. We resolved not to work together. I think it's the best outcome.

Thursday, I had an amazing day. Richard and I went to a local correctional facility. We have been trying to set up a volunteer opportunity to play a concert at a prison for quite some time and finally a meeting with a chaplain had materialized. We went, and it was a wonderful thing. I'm pleased to say that we are able to go in a month or so and play for the inmates. Everything we learned about was fascinating.

Friday was community day and my housemates and I went to the Miami Book Fair, which has been going on this week. The MBF is really famous and HUGE. It was a lot of fun, but unbearably hot (over 90 and maxed out humidity) and a few of my roommates and I decided that the Thai Food booth would be the wise choice for lunch so we added hot, spicy food to the mix.. Ha, that was smart.

After the book fair I drove (accompanied by my roommate Rachael) to Florida City and picked up Lily. This weekend we had music school and band practices and church, of course, but we also had a gig earlier today (Sunday). The important thing is though, that the races were in town today! Three races this weekend at Homestead/Miami racetrack, including the final race of the Nascar Sprint Cup series (this race determines the winner of the season, essentially). So traffic in Florida City and Homestead was terrible. So Friday I picked up Lily (Zoraida was coming up Saturday morning on her own and Nahomi is out of town). It took 3.5 hours to go down, pick her up, and bring her back. Long day.

Saturday was a good day with lots of good students and fun. I'm really enjoying the theatre class and my students in it. I'm proud of them and think they are doing well.

Today, we played at a local church. In fact, it's the one that my aunt and uncle attend. It was a lot of fun, and I thought it went well. But now, I'm exhausted. I'm here at Richard and Heidi's watching football and working on a grant that is due tomorrow. Heidi and I are working on it now, and we will be again tomorrow, before we go hand it in at five pm.

No rest for the weary! :)

Oh well. I'm enjoying myself though. Things are going well.

I guess it's off for now. I'm going to watch the rest of this game and then head home.

Cheers,

Em

Silence is golden...

2008-11-06T07:38:00.003-05:00

Now that the election is over I'd like to say a big thanks to everyone who went out and voted. Horray! Also, let's all pray for the new President-Elect- he's got the worst job in the world right now and needs our support.

This week I feel like I've gotten a lot done. I think having that talk with my boss about what specifically is needed of me and how he can relay that has been beneficial.

Today I'm going to a local organization to recruit for the music school. It should be exciting because these are young people who could really use a direction for their life and some of them have already indicated an interest in music. I'm hoping to be able to get three to four new students. That would be great. But, as my boss points out - you go, you talk, you recruit - then leave it up to God. If they don't come, don't worry.

Tonight I'm going with my housemates on a silent retreat. Hmm.... silence? You bet. The idea is that after dinner tonight we simply shut down all talking and spend time alone. No tv, no phone calls, etc... Reading, reflecting, writing is encouraged. We can go on the lake (freshwater so no gators!) in one of the small boats, go swimming, etc. My site director said that we should all have one or more of these "an idea, a question, a struggle or a boat load of happiness" and that's what we should focus on.

We've been studying solitude and silence recently in our learning of spiritual disciplines. We've studied many more, of course, but this one in particular is right now. I'm actually looking forward to this retreat.

My boss informed me on Monday that I am preaching this Saturday so I think I'll be spending most of my time Saturday coming up with what I want to preach on and writing my notes. :)

I'm asking you all to pray for me this weekend- I want to have a good time in silence for a full 24 hours (we can talk again at dinner on Friday) and then really let God's wisdom come from me when I preach. Pray that I really put forth what God wants everyone to hear!

I've got a fair bit of work to do before I head off tonight, so that's all for now. Let's hope that silence is golden for me tonight.

Cheers,

Em

I voted - that's the way it should be!

2008-11-04T16:49:00.004-05:00

Election Day!

I'd just like to take the time to post that I hope all of you have or are going to vote.

Sometimes I still marvel at how our government lets us make a large part of this decision. There are so many places around the world where the citizens are subject to someone else choosing their leader. Let's realize how fortunate we are to live in an area with free elections.

I still don't understand people who don't vote. Why would you not? One of my roommates didn't this year and I honestly don't know why. I don't think my roommate does either. If it is a matter of being lazy, there are ways around it. If feeling like you don't matter at all, well, then.... you obviously don't understand our privilege. It breaks my heart that people just don't care enough about it. Even if the reason be because they choose to follow God and not politics, I still have trouble with that justification. Are we not, as those entrusted to the care of this earth and life of others, therefore required to vote? We can help choose those that will protect, love and care for the earth, the people in it, and all of God's creation. We can help do so many things by carefully and thoughtfully choosing whom to vote for. Not voting is to give up your God-given duty to do what we can for the world.

So please, go vote! And if you have already, thank you. You've done a wonderful thing. Thanks on behalf of me, our country and our world.

Regardless of how this election turns out, we should all be praying for our leaders - past, present and future. None of this is easy - especially right now. It is our job as those who trust in God to ask the Lord to bless those who have stepped up to lead. They need wisdom, courage, guidance and safety.
Cheers,

Em

Sunday Afternoons

2008-11-02T15:56:00.003-05:00

Today I'm relaxing and watching some football. It's a comfort for me right now. Lately I haven't been feeling the best and am looking in many places for some respite.

I'm dealing a lot right now with being very lonely. As you all know, I'm an extrovert (understatement to put it that way!). I love being around people. I gather energy from people. I am happier when others are around.

But, guess what? I work alone. By myself. With no co-workers, no office mates, no nothing. I work at home, in my bedroom, by myself. I can't even go anywhere that is MY own to work. So I spend all day alone until around 430pm. When my housemates get home, they are all burned out and exhausted from work, or else have had a lot of interaction with people and are looking for some solitude. So, I sort of miss out on this even when they are home. It's nobody's fault it is just the nature of the beast.

But a beast it is, so I am dealing with this. At first it was no big deal, but now it's getting hard. I could go to a coffee shop or something - but then I'd be tempted to spend money. I could go to the library, but it's still not my place. I'm a visitor and that's not really what you want out of work everyday. And the people at those places aren't my coworkers, and I won't necessarily get to know them the way I would someone I work with. So, understandably, I'm having a tough time.

Hopefully though, some sort of solution will come out of the woodwork. Please, pray for me! I'd really appreciate it.

Otherwise, I think things are coming along ok. I'm finally able to dig into the drama aspect of my job and am directing and acting in a play in December. My students in drama are doing well too and I'm pumped about that.

I'm learning the ins and outs of communicating with a large group of people that you live with too. That is definitely interesting.

Right now I'm in a bumpy phase but things are still good on the whole. I'm enjoying my time here and am eager to keep exploring the things that are coming my way.

I'm volunteering for the Obama campaign in Miami on Election Day and am really excited.

Please pray for me in all of this, but also celebrate with me that I'm here doing what I am so happy to be in the midst of.

Cheers!
Em

The Politics of Life

2008-10-23T09:04:00.004-04:00

I know it has been a very long time since I last wrote, and for that I am sorry. My life has been following the path of general exhaustion for the past few weeks so in my free time I have been anything but inclined to sit down and enlighten the world. So now I am. I will go into some more details on my life and such and tell you more about what is going on here in Miami, but first I'm going to talk about something else - politics. Cringe if you want, but please read on. It's going to be a long post.

What prompted this political conversation I actually happened upon last night; it was for the sake of calm and collected writing that I waited. I was so angered by what I saw and so upset that I "enjoyed" a fitful night of sleep in order to spare any readers of an emotional outburst.

I assume many of you know my political sway - I am a proud democrat, but I have indeed voted for a Republican or two in my life. Ususally, though, I do side with the more socially progressive candidates. This year I am supporting Barack Obama to be president. I did not start with him in the primary but have found him to be a worthy and a dedicatd servant to this country that has given us all so much.

Now, I understand that this is a very controversial presidential race, and for a vast number of reasons. The Bush Legacy, left to be cleaned up by a new president. The wars going on in the Middle East. Our role in peacekeeping around the world. The economy, gas prices, etc etc etc. And yet there also are more cosmetic issues - Obama is black, McCain is Old, McCain is "experienced" and Obama is relatively new to national politics.

Throughout this campaign (as with many others) I have been disappointed by many of the ads run. Some disappointment comes from the attacks made and how deeply saddened that makes me, and other disappointment comes from the nature of the ads - that they are poor quality. Take for example a recent ad by the GOP - it said Obama has no executive experience and talked about how he would make his first executive decisions from the chair in the oval office. Well, DUH, of course he would! But so would McCain! Neither of them have been president before so neither of them have executive experience and neither of them have sat in that chair as POTUS! In ads like this I am less upset over the content and more dismayed at the stupidity of the idea.

Recently, I have been very proud of ads Obama has put forth. Calmly discussing his plans and his ideas on how to implement them, reassuring the voters that things will get better and yet also calling us to accountability - he said in a recent ad for education that it is up to the parents to "turn off the tv" and read to the kids, etc for not only their future but ours. I really like these ads. They encourage us to get involved not only in politics, but in our lives. I do understand that Obama does have his own share of negative ads running out there, but I have found them to be much less offensive and even less negative "sounding" (music, narration) than McCain's.

The real thing that upset me the most and caused me to go on this particular topic was a late night tour of the internet. I, as many members of the worldly society do, love Facebook. Last night I was doing my usual updating and such on facebook when I decided to pop on over to my favorite app- Pieces of Flair. It's a fun little application in which you can get buttons and display them - buttons on anything, and I mean anything. I have cartoons, buttons from my favorite tv shows, some made for me by my friends with our pictures on them and more. I also have a few political ones. I have the popular red and blue drawing of Obama's face and I have one I find to be funny - a picture of McCain with a red "no" circle across it and the words "No Country for Old Men." Now I realize that this is slightly offensive and it mocks McCain's age. But let's face it, he's very old so far as presidents come. If he was a two term president he'd be 80 when he left office. But I also (incorrect as it may be) believe a general mock of McCain's age to be much less offensive than a mock of Obama's race. To know that at McCain and Palin rallies across the country people have shouted things like "off with his head" and "kill obama", and have these things met with small, sly smiles by the candidates on the stage disgusts me. I have learned more in this election than in others that there are people who truly HATE. I came across this on the facebook application last night.

I, looking for more "pro-Obama" flair, typed in "obama" in the search box. I found a few pro-Obama ones and many anti-Obama. Granted, the anti-Obama ones on the first page were usually more funny to me than not. There was a button with the word "Socialism" written on it with the O being the Obama logo. There was one saying "Obama/Marx" as if Obama was running with our favorite communist. And then there was one with Obama's face imposed on the movie cover of The 40-Year Old Virgin... but they added "political" before the word virgin.

Okay, so none of these bothered me too much. But then as I clicked through the pages I began to sense something completely different.

666 - on a piece of flair, the obama logo being used in the rounded part of each 6
Obama isn't the messiah he's the 12th Imam
Give Al-Qaeda A chance - Vote Barack Obama!
Buck Ofama
The only difference between Osama and Obama is BS
A picture of Obama in a darth vader suit - don't be seduced by the dark side
and the one that made me stop - A picture of a sonogram and the words in cold red: OBAMA HATES ME

I was so angered, so disgusted, so upset that I literally kicked my chair back and paced my room. There are anti McCain buttons of course but they are usually going after his choice of Palin as VP, his age or his funny faces that he makes. But none are nearly so offensive as these against Obama.

So what if he's black? And he's not that young! He's 48! He's intelligent, and he worked himself up from the bottom. Barack Obama is the epitome of the American Dream. He is someone I'm proud to vote for.

I was so shocked at seeing hatred so blatant and so alive in such a medium! Facebook applications? Honestly?

I know this kind of hatred exists and I've come across it before. I was just so saddened to see it here, now, in this way. I am praying for both our candidates to find a way whether they win or lose to bring this country together and heal the wounds that we have created. We need someone to help us and teach us how to stop destroying ourselves; because right now, we've set ourselves on self destruct and nobody even knows it. We have hate, greed, jealousy and overwhelming fear of all things different. We're so used to being in control and being the "big one" in the world that we can't even cope with the idea that other countries, other races, other people have worthy ideas and ways to help this great earth. We need someone to help us, and we need someone to lead. And for that, I'm choosing Barack Obama.

Now that my political rant if you will is over, I'll provide an update on the ongoings in my life.

Music school is up and going strong. Our student base is growing and we're enjoying working together in learning music and growing in God. This has been the main reason I've been so busy lately.

Right now, CCDA (Christian Community Developers Association) is in town for their annual conference. They picked Miami this year and a local organization that two of my housemates work for has been heading up the local side of it. It's nice to see things finally going! It's been a long and difficult road to get this here but now it is and it's moving along nicely.

I'm facing a lot of tough decisions with the church I'm involved in at the music ministry. We're making lots of big choices right now and being new, I often feel like I am unworthy of input. But occasionally I feel God tugging at my heart and I speak up.

My parents are coming down soon for thanksgiving and I am quite excited to see them. It will be wonderful to have them around!

I've been able to spend more time with my aunt and uncle lately which has been great too.

In general, things have been moving along, quickly and crazily, but steadily as well. For this I am thankful.

Now, I really must get back to work. The band is playing tonight at CCDA and I've got a lot to do before taking off to pick up some of the musicians.

I hope you all have a wonderful day. God bless!

Cheers,
Em

Orlando

2008-10-05T09:46:00.002-04:00

This weekend, God's been moving in my life. I know I already said a lot of this in a prior post but I'm including it again now as a way to show how God has been blessing me. I left around 12:30 Friday night/Saturday morning and Danielle (Drive band member) and I drove up to Orlando. Including the tolls and a stop at Starbucks in the middle of the night, we arrived sometime around 5am. By the time I got to my room, it was 5:30 and we had to be up at 7am. So I decided to forgo sleep and just spent some time alone. It was great. The hotel we have been at is the Holiday Inn on International Drive. There are a number of buildings on a lovely if not touristy campus. Our rooms have been in the "tower" which is a building 13 stories (though they say 14) tall with a completely open air atrium. The entrance is covered, but enter the center again and look up and you see the sky. It's wonderful. So I spent the rest of that morning sitting on a neat little couch, checking email and relishing the grotto-like waterfall and foliage.

While I was sitting on that comfy bench, I received a much anticipated email. I've been a member of an organization called CITA (Christians in Theatre Arts) for a year or so now and really love what they're doing. Every year they have an annual conference. A few days ago I was randomly on the CITA website and I came across preparations for this next conference, and it's going to be in Orlando. I sent off an email and phone message to those in charge of CITA and got my response yesterday morning. It was an email from the executive director of CITA. He said he had forgotten how close Miami is to Orlando, and that if I was in the Orlando area this weekend, he'd love to meet. Well, it just so happens I am! He's visiting this weekend for conference preparations so after a few phone calls and emails, yesterday afternoon I got to sit down an chat with him. We discussed many things, including the conference itself, involvement of people from the Music Ministry (in many ways) and gave me some helpful hints and even told me about something that could really help the ministry grow. It was a great meeting that really filled me with validation in what I'm doing. I feel so fortunate and give GLORY to GOD for this. :) He also visited with the band and listened to a rehearsal and he liked what he heard.

After a failed attempt at napping during the afternoon (maybe it was my excitement through the holy spirit) we had another worship session at night. (There's a total of four played this weekend.) During that worship, I saw God again. It was a moment I was not expecting. The worship service ended with an alter call. Now, I in my life have been very anti-alter call because of the implication of "saving". This is a subject I have trouble with. I believe we were "saved" when Jesus Christ died for us. So saying you were "saved" when you chose to follow God is a bad idea for me. Because I believe that we refocus ourselves on God many many times during our lives and it is not our saving of ourselves, but our renewed attention to God's love and His saving of us. So alter calls I think are self-serving and saying "I have now saved myself in Jesus Christ". But I'd never seen one in which things made sense. Last night, I saw one in which it was simply a call to repent and return to "our first love" as the preacher put it. I saw many young people refocusing themselves and saying they were sorry. I heard people say that they needed forgiveness. And it was great. I loved it. I felt like people were actually going to connect. Granted there were, as there always will be, those who went merely for show and for a public exhibition of their faith. But I pray that God will move in their hearts as well.

I've met a number of fun youth and young adults who truly seek God, and many who are still searching for everything they yearn to know about life and love. And I've also met those who don't know anything about God or faith and have simply come to learn or find out what this about. But no matter where they may be on their journey, I know God is walking with them, constantly encouraging them to learn, ask and grow in Him.

It's been a good week. And bonding has been going well. :)

I hope all of you take the time to find God in your life this week. Seek Him in all you do.

Cheers!
Em

Sleepless Nights - but not for stress!

2008-10-04T04:56:00.002-04:00

So here I am, just before 5am in Orlando, FL. I just arrived and am all ready to begin a crazy weekend here working with the youth band at a conference at which they are playing. I left Miami around 12:30am (thankfully that early!) and drove about 4 hours to Orlando, then found our hotel. I went to my room but found some of the band girls there, asleep each in one of the two beds and with the tv on loudly. How they can sleep that way is beyond me. We may have to discuss that for this next night. I didn't want to wake them (since it's they that have to perform tomorrow!) or change their TV sleeping habits, and since it's 5am anyway and we START at 730am, I figured sleep would only make me groggy as I'm feeling rather perky and awake now. I'd rather take a long nap this afternoon while people are in session than pick up an hour of sleep now. Blech.
So now I'm sitting in the center grotto of the hotel we're staying at. We're at a very lovely Holiday Inn with many buildings and areas... it's a resort and conference center. Nice.

Hopefully I'll get some sleep today. Otherwise I'll be cranky. :) Or ineffective. Or whatever. I also need to shower. I feel gross.

Wish me luck this weekend! It's my first real trip with the youth band and I am hoping for some good bonding, good work and good fun.

Cheers!

New Beginnings, Ghosts and More

2008-09-30T21:56:00.002-04:00

I realize that it has been some time since I last posted, but for good reason.

Music school finally kicked off in some official manner on Saturday. Orientation/registration happened for the students, etc. I have been working my tail off for the last weeks getting things ready, making phone calls, organizing things and such. Official lessons start NEXT week, not this coming Saturday. Why you ask? Because I, the youth band and Richard (boss) will all be in Orlando! We're playing at a conference for the United Methodist Church - they're having a conference for equipping youth leaders and the band is their music. Rock on. It's at a lovely hotel. So while we're off playing (and working).... school will be postponed. I'm quite excited! The unfortunate part is that it's looking like I'm not leaving Friday afternoon with the rest of the group. There are some younger band members that have to leave post Friday pm so i'll be waking UP at 2 am and going South by 3 am to pick them up so we can be on the road for Orlando by 4 am. My the fun we will have. My sleep schedule is going to be so messed up!

But I'm looking forward to it. :)

I have a new computer now, that I'm typing this on, so if there's an unusually high number of typos or such, please just accept them as adjustments to the new keyboard. My old one decided to sacrifice itself to the gods of laptop monitor failure, so here I am with Christmas in my lap.

The other big thing that happened this past week is that I spent 5 days at Ghost Ranch Retreat and Conference Center in Abiquiu, New Mexico. It's one of the big Presbyterian Church USA conference centers. It was very beautiful and fun. I went for the YAV orientation retreat. This was for all of the Nationally serving YAVs so I met all those serving around the country for this next year. It was 5 days of no communication with the outside world (so missing the debate totally sucked!) and forgetting to tell my mother so I had many messages like "hmm, well, I guess you're busy..." but also 5 days of really feeling connected and meeting tons of other people doing what I'm doing and so much more. Yay! Good times had by all.

I'm really enjoying my time here. Truly. And I'm learning everyday how tough living with 5 other people is, but it's really helping me learn to always think of others first. I like my housemates a lot still so when things go up or down in relationships, it's easy to remember the relationship is more important than whatever issue I/others may be having. So yay for this being a year of learning!

We talked about discernment during one of our days at Ghost Ranch and I found that a very helpful and enriching seminar. I'm hoping to put many of the things I learned into practice.

Well, I'm tired, and I'm starting to push my bedtime forward each day in prep for this weekend so I'm signing off.

Cheers!

Checklist: Week 1

2008-09-14T23:56:00.003-04:00

Week #1 is finished. What an exciting week. First days of work, first worship team meeting, first Lighthouse Church where I helped out, etc. It has been a little stressful but a lot of fun and very rewarding. I'm getting ready to really sink my heels in.

I'm currently neglecting folding laundry and getting ready to go to bed, but I felt like writing at least a little.

Today I went to the church my aunt and uncle go to and they had a big kick off for their new church vision and things. They are called Crossbridge Church and they are a fun, funky church with a multicultural and arts based worship experience. A lot of fun. After worship there was a lunch with food from Pollo Tropicale (sp?) and then a Latin band played some great music. I went on a tour of the building (for reasons I will disclose later) and it was really an all around good experience.

Saturday was my first full day with the bands and such. It was different than it will be once the school gets going, but a load of fun. I had to go to Florida City to pick up some students. It was a new and different and long drive that I'll have to get used to.

Friday was community day and the housemates went to Sailboard Beach and we spent the day picking up trash and recycling. Then we went further to Hobie Beach and swam a bit before going home. It was a lot of fun.

Other than that, there has been more time settling into things.

Oh, and my computer is on its way out... so I am getting a new one soon. :) I'm gonna wipe Vista off tho and put XP back on. Grr Vista.

Okay, I'm tired (I work long days Saturdays and didn't sleep well last night) so I'm gonna finish with the laundry and then hit the pillow... hard.

Night all!

The Beginning.....

2008-09-09T00:27:00.002-04:00

It's late at night and I'm finally getting around to doing this.

Things here have been crazy. Wonderful, but crazy.

Let me tell you about it.

Julie and I arrived safe and sound (but very tired) in Miami on Tuesday afternoon. We were met at the train station by Heidi and we loaded up our things and drove to the house. We dropped off our stuff, met Matt and JJ (Matt I had met before... he took some of my things down with him on his way in his car - incredibly sweet!) and all went to grab dinner before dropping me at my Uncle and Aunt's house. Dinner was great - eating subs on the end of a dock in the bay, looking out over a marina. I caught up with my Aunt and Uncle (Sally and Frank, respectively, my mother's brother and sister-in-law), had a fantastic shower (after twenty hours on the train, it was wonderful) and got some much needed sleep.

After a late breakfast out on Wednesday, Frank and Sally dropped me back off at the house (the Wesley House... where we live) and we waited for Julie and Heidi to arrive so we could all go to the airport to pick up Elizabeth and Rachael.

After we picked them up, we went to the famous Scotty's Landing for lunch. Delicious food abounded, as did discussions of the best way to steal coconuts, movies about zombies and other fun things. It was quite fun.

The Wesley House is one of two houses that the DOOR program uses here in Miami. The other house (the South House) is not being used this year as there are six of us. So guess what happened to all the furniture from the other house? It ended up in our living room.

Much of our week was putting away the furniture, painting a bedroom (a rather large task), unpacking, cleaning, driving around to everyone's sites so we could meet everyone's work placements and bosses and such, doing paperwork and reading rules, writing a covenant, making a chore chart, praying together and such. This all had to be done before Sunday at 4pm, in which our house was going to be taken over by many guests in an open house so that the bosses, board members, former DOOR volunteers and many other people could see what we're doing, how we're living, and get to know everyone.

Needless to say, I've been very, very busy. I feel quite guilty about only having called my parents once in the whole time I've been here, and never being able to call any of my friends, let alone my best friend Mattie. Time has been crazy here. So for those of you who may feel neglected... I love you! I didn't forget about you! Now that things here are settling into routines as we are all getting into work and such, things should calm down and I should have a set schedule.

Speaking of work.... it started today! I, unlike the rest of the DOOR people here this year, have a very different work placement. Most of them go to work 4 days a week (M-Th) at the same hours each day. Some work morning to afternoon like at and office or school, or some work late morning to early evening, for afterschool type things.

I, however, have none of that luxury. :)

Let me tell you about my job.

I am now, officially, the Director of the Community Music School of Miami. I also am on the worship team for Lighthouse Christian Fellowship and one of the key staff of Miami Music Ministries (which runs all of this stuff).

I am responsible for finding curriculum, writing curriculum, finding teachers and students, fundraising, grant writing, scheduling classes, private lessons, bible studies and more, networking, investigating and connecting people. And all of this is done with my mind completely on what God wants me to do. Heavy stuff.

I also will be teaching/leading drama classes: history/theory of theatre and acting classes that will evolve into rehearsals when nearing a performance of any kind.

I get to travel with the youth band (one of the many amazing ministries of the school and church and such) and help lead worship on Saturday nights. I'm already signed up to preach in October.

Most of our classes and things take place on Saturday, so Saturdays will be big, crazy busy days for me. I will work from very early in the morning to very early the next morning. Sundays, if the band is travelling, will be busy too. And most likely Mondays, I'll be heading South to a particularly poverty-stricken area of Florida to teach in and direct a satellite part of the Music School in Florida City.

So this means that Tuesdays are my day off. :)

Wednesdays and Thursdays are for phone calls, emails, grant writing, scheduling, fundraising, networking and organising.

Friday is the community day here at the house when all of us don't work and we do things together - a lot of volunteer work, a lot of fun, a lot of bonding.

Speaking of my community....

IT ROCKS! I am so happy and so blessed to be with such a wonderful group of people. I really have such huge appreciation for each of them. Rachael, Julie, Elizabeth, Matt and JJ are incredible Christians and wonderful young people and we have all really hit it off. We're all having fun and getting along well. We joke that we will have to see how things are going in six months, but I don't think I could have asked for a better group. We're all so different and yet have so much in common and so much to talk about.

So in a nutshell.... I'm pretty happy. My job will be a blast (though very difficult so please please pray for me!)

I want to really thank all of you who have been supporting me in so many ways these last few weeks. It means a ton. And of course, all the glory to God our Redeemer. For it is for GOD that I am doing all of this!

And don't worry... Ike left town. :)

Getting There - and Hurricanes!

2008-09-01T08:01:00.003-04:00

This evening I'm boarding the train and heading off for Miami.

It's finally here!

I'm very excited about going and getting started. We have a week of orientation things and moving in, times to get to know people in the community and (if the weather holds up) a possible trip to Orlando for a concert.

Speaking of weather....

Many friends and family have been checking in on me and my "hurricane status".
First off, the house I'm living in has hurricane shutters. And secondly, there is indeed an evacuation plan for all of us.
Hurricanes, in general, are "the best" natural disaster, though I say this lightly in the wake of current events. What I mean by this is that in the case of hurricanes, you get a few days of notice. It's not instant like an earthquake, or sudden like a tornado.

Don't worry - If I'm in danger of a hurricane's path - I'll leave. The program people understand the risk and we'll be well taken care of.

But in most cases, evacuation won't be necessary. Just putting up the shutters and staying inside could make for an exciting evening! There will be plenty of flashlights and candles and other things we need.

For now, let's just pray that Hanna holds off until I'm all moved in! It could be interesting moving into the house with rain and wind.

Wish me luck this first busy week! And as always, your prayers are always appreciated.

Cheers,
Em

Fernando Alejandro Guitario

2008-08-27T15:23:00.001-04:00

I was re-reading some old posts and realized that while I disclosed I had a new guitar and that it would take some time to name it, I had not posted what the name was!

Well, after much careful deliberation, my new guitar was named Fernando Alejandro Guitario. He's beautiful. *Sigh*.

Things are going well here in NC. I'm taking the train with Julie down to Miami and another YAV, Matt, has volunteered in fantastic fashion to help transport some things in his car as he drives right by the R/D area. Yay Matt!

I'm helping clean up the house and packing things much tighter now... fit for train travel... this also means that I'm having to cut back more on things I was planning on bringing. But oh well. This is truly a learning experience, and I'm ok with that.

:)

Hope everyone is enjoying their time, wherever they are.

Cheers,
Em

Finally! An update!

2008-08-21T09:35:00.002-04:00

Well, I'm sorry it took so long (over a month, yeesh!) but it's finally here. An update.

Things have been, well, insane since I last posted.

Here's a brief rundown:

With the intent of finalizing my "work" while away on my trip I had some casual interviews with a few organizations in the Miami area. I know now at least one organization I'll be working with. I don't know for sure whether I can release that info yet, but I can tell you it will deal with drama ministry and lots of fun stuff. I'll give more info when it is completely settled and I feel comfortable disclosing information.

I also completely packed up my apartment, gave away a number of things, sold all my furniture and moved out of my place. My friend Natasha has been a huge blessing this week, staying with me and helping me move. We cleaned the whole apartment top to bottom and drove 2 days down to my parents place in North Carolina. She gets to visit for a week or so, and then is flying home. Then I'm leaving about a week later for Miami, traveling with another young woman from the Miami YAV site who lives here in the area near my parents home.

All in all, I've concluded working at both prior jobs, interviewed for 2 new ones, packed and cleaned up my apartment, had a fun going away party, finished a semester at Kirkwood and moved (partially) to North Carolina. It's been quite busy. But I enjoyed it.

Another update to come soon... much sooner than the last.

PS - I have the address, phone number and more for the new home in Miami, and I have a new cell phone number so the old one you had will not work any more. If you need any of this, contact me and I'll pass it along.

Cheers!

So Long Furniture Friends

2008-07-16T08:28:00.002-04:00

News Flash! My apartment is for sale!

Well, not literally, but many of the items in it are. I am selling almost all of my furniture.

Here is a list of what I am selling (that is not already claimed):

Brown wingchair
Sofa (with slip covers so you have TWO options!)
Tall, good quality dresser
Endtable
Entertainment Center
Short bookcase
Tall bookcase
Rubbermaid drawer sets
Small white cabinet

If you need or know anyone who needs (which may be fitting considering those in need of things post-flood) any of these furniture items please contact me pronto!!!

Otherwise, things are going well. I'm moving forward dissecting my life into three piles: take, store, sell/giveaway/throwaway.

I am getting very excited about going to Miami! Less than 5 weeks til I leave Iowa and just a few more days after that until I arrive for the program itself.

I'll keep updating, though until I arrive, I've got lots to do and not much time to do it in, so the post-volume may tone down a bit. But rest assured, any exciting and important information will be here!

Miami, here I come!

2008-07-10T12:31:00.002-04:00

Well, after a lot of thought, prayer, and LONG phone calls, I'm headed to Miami!!!

I'm very excited about all of this. It took a while to be sure about where I want to go but now that I've made the decision and worked out some details, I'm so excited!

I'm really looking forward to working with Heidi (the site coordinator) and the other YAVs there. I'm also looking forward to this new and exciting (and stressful) year ahead. But I'm all geared up and ready.

Now, I just have to figure things out. At least I won't have to pack up any winter clothes and such, so that will cut down on the amount of things I need. :)

I'm also excited to be living in an area near my Aunt and Uncle and my cousin and his wife. It will be nice to see them more regularly.

I'm really looking forward to this experience. Huzzah!

On another exciting note, yesterday I bought a new guitar! It's beautiful. I will take some time to name it, as this is an important part. The best part is, it's all black! How awesome is that?!

Anyway, wish me luck! I'm psyched!

Awaiting News

2008-07-08T10:08:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I finished my last interview with Heidi in Miami. Afterward I had a lot of prayer and thinking going on... and then I filled out my response sheet and sent it to the denomination.

Today, I wait to hear back from them as to where I am going. Hopefully I should find out today, but it may be tomorrow. I'm nervous! We shall see.

Pray for me until I find out! I'll be sure to post here as soon as I know anything.

I won't be running with the horses this year

2008-07-04T10:58:00.003-04:00

Having spoken with the wonderful people who've helped me make lots of decisions about all of this (aka the people at the PCUSA office, namely Essie and Bridgette), I've decided to wait and apply for the internship this year. I really feel like God is calling me to do mission now, and if I'm able, the internship later. So no Louisville. I'm okay with it though.

Now, it's down to Miami or Nashville. I'm in the process of setting up my final interview with Miami and then I'll just have to pray and think a lot.

This morning I wrote a letter to my congregation about my mission, asking them to help in many ways. I asked for help to store things (the large stuff), for financial help since I have to raise a ton of money, and for prayers, letters, phone calls, etc.

For those of you reading this, I ask all of this from you as well. Please contact me to find out what I need and how you can give it to me. Thank you so much. :)

Today is July 4th. Happy Independence Day! I, unfortunately, am working at the bar today, but it should be a slow day out at the airport because I don't think many people would be flying today. I hope our new bar has finally opened and I can go work upstairs in the concourse at the new bar! How exciting it would be! Plus, a nice benefit is that I get paid time and a half. :)

After work I'm planning on going up to Center Point to Kristen and Mark's to celebrate with a bunch of friends. Long drive from the airport to CP, but oh well. It should be fun.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday today. God Bless America (and every other country out there too).

Maybe Miami?

2008-07-03T12:48:00.001-04:00

After discussing a few things with some people at the PCUSA, I've decided to interview with the Miami site as well. Who knows? Maybe I'll end up there. That site needs more volunteers so I could be helping them out quite a bit if I ended up going there. But they also told me not to let that sway my decision as it really needs to be a guided decision with lots of prayer and thought. I did really like the Miami site so far (it was my second YAV site) and Heidi, the coordinator, seemed really cool. So, yeah. We'll see. It's definitely something to think about. Hopefully I can talk to Heidi soon and get this all settled so that I know where I want to go and what I want to do.

I've also decided that August 18th is the day I'm leaving Iowa. I'm driving 2 days to North Carolina, spending a week or so there and then heading off to my next destination, whether it be Nashville, Miami, or Louisville.

Drats. Just when I had it narrowed down, I have more work to do. :) Ah well. I can't complain. This is all very exciting.

Usually, Tuesdays and Thursdays (and some Fridays) are nuts for me as I'm working both jobs crazily, but tonight I don't have to work at the bar tonight because the second bar hasn't opened yet (it's behind schedule caues the contractors are, well, terrible) so they don't need the like 10 bartenders they have scheduled for one night and I really don't want to be working somewhere else not making tips, like the terminal snack shop or the gift shop. Oh well. I'll get a lot of nice hours tomorrow at the bar getting paid time and a half for working July 4th... and since FCC is closed that day, I go in at noon and make lots of moolah. Huzzah!

Spose that's all for now! Cheerio!

Numero Uno!

2008-07-02T13:15:00.001-04:00

Entering into the world of blogging. Interesting.

Is it really a surprise though? I have been called an open book before, so be it.

Really, though, this blog is more to describe and let others know about my adventures helping out the PCUSA as either a YAV or an Intern. I'm not sure which yet, though hopefully that will be done by the end of this week. A YAV is a Young Adult Volunteer which consists of being part of a year long mission program. I'll pack up to a site somewhere and work for a year in mission work. Details to be ironed out later. The Internship I'm considering is in the office for young women at the PCUSA offices in Louisville, KY. The YAV site I'm most interested in is in Nashville, TN. We shall see.

Hopefully this blog will keep those I love and care about (and those that love and care about me) up to date on my goings-on. I'll try to keep on top of this and let everyone who wants to know what I'm doing in my far away place, well, what I'm doing.

Fabulous.

Off I go. Long day of work ahead of me today at FCC. Blah. Only a few more weeks though. It will be bittersweet to say goodbye to the people who have become such a family to me over the last year.