Just a quick check in...I very well may not see you all for a while...on thursday morning we head for the east coast to see Williamsburg and Washington DC. Very excited about that...please pray for strength as I still haven't caught up on all my sleep. I will miss you, e-mail me a little, OK?
For those of you who feel like you are fighting an uphill battle lately, be encouraged by these verses that I was given this morning. Paul understood the fact that our walk as Christians was not meant to be a temporary battle followed by a "good streak"...we are soldiers for Christ fighting not just battles but a war. My own battles have been overwhelming lately, leaving me confused, frustrated, confronted with truths about myself (always the hardest to hear), and worn out. But this is the Christian's job description...the conflict that is...my prayer for myself is that I learn to rid my mind of the frustration and allow myself to face trouble with lifted spirits. I know that my attonement is made and working...it is not just a future promise. As you continue to follow Him, take heart in his promise to never forsake us when we fail. Blessings on you all.
"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus...Endure hardship wiht us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer...Remember Jesus, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained. Therefore I endure every hardship for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. Here is a trustworthy saying:
'If we died with him, we will also live with him
If we endure, we will also reign with him
if we disown him, he will disown us
if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself'"
2 Tim. 2:1-13
Boy...maybe I'd better send this again...
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Saturday, June 18, 2005
read it if you dare...
Hey y'all...so, I'm back
Before I start I must write a disclaimer...any lack of coherancy in the following is not my fault. I've just made it back from a very long but awesome week of World Changers mission in East St. Louis. We headed out on Saturday and just returned this morning and man, I feel like I got hit by a truck.
This is a super cool week, if any of you ever get the chance, go...it's amazing. Not only do you get the regular christian camp experience with a good speaker and worship times, but you get an awesome chance to serve. As you know, east st. louis isn't exactly the greatest neighborhood, but throw 220+ youth in there with about 40 adults and a few construction people who know what their doing and you never know what you might come up with. We had 12 different houses in the area getting new siding, paint jobs, porches, windows, roofs, and so much more. It was great.
When I got there I was assigned to the "challenge house"...the one with the most work needed and the oldest kids put on the crews. Our team of 20 or so worked very long days all 5 days to complete our task for the sweetest home owner you could ever meet. Mrs. Moblie was a 78 year old woman with a leak over her stove, no AC, 7 layers of shingles on her decaying roof, and a heart of gold. We took one look at her house and were ready to go.
Determined to conquer my fear of heights to some degree I climbed to the top of the steepest pitched roof I've ever imagined and sat on the ridge all morning hacking away at old shingles to get to the "skeleton" of the roof. Scary, but I so didn't die! Actually, after you got used to it, being up there was a lot of fun. We proceeded over the next 4 days to put up plywood, tar paper, and shingles. I learned a lot...even how to weild a nail gun!! (yeah, scary, I know....try not to run from the room in terror, I only killed like 3 people) :) In the midst of that whole project, people were tearing down and re-constructing her porch, replacing all her windows, and covering her walls with new siding. I came back from the work site covered in roof soot every day...black is a good color for me I think...and yesterday I had some quality time with tar caulking, the remains of which are on my elbows still, even after my half hour battle with paint thinner and goo gone. I decided that being grungy is awesome...our society doesn't allow enough of it!!
Our crew was amazing. They were fun and hard working...I met a girl named Hannah who rocks my world...she was loud and silly and a great worker, we clicked almost instantly and kept eachother going all week. Made lots of other friends...actually, one of our supervisors could have been Ryan Jackson's twin, not as much in looks but in personality. That was fun...
We worked really hard all week, but by Thursday night the whole porch still had to be sided and finished, the porch needed a roof, and the siding wasn't complete on the house. The roof also needed to be capped and the whole place cleaned up. As we circled up to pray and close the day our crew chief shared some more needs. Mrs. Moblie desperately needed a new ceiling fan and light fixtures for her porch and blinds for her windows, but World Changers couldn't fund it. Once again our crew pitched in and collected enough money to do all of it. By God's grace, a lot of sweat, and the help of other crews cheifs as they finished thier houses, we were able to put in a 13 hour work day on Friday and finish the job. Mrs. Moblie's appreciation made it all worth it. She has so little...being able to help her was awesome. We also learned that she was a Christian, which makes the effort even sweeter.
On top of all the great work that happened I really did have a spritually refreshing week as well. From long talks with a couple of the girls to good worship to some spiritual "re-alignment" it was a fantastic week. God "hit the nail on the head" with me a few times early on in the week and I was forced to wake up a little bit and realize what was going on inside me. I was challenged to submit, to focus my mindset on daily mission work, and to give more of myself to whole heartedly seek God...not just in the tough times, not just when I want something...at all points and for every reason. Why in my pig headded independence do I forget that I am smaller than a pin-point? Only He can take my world that has seemed so out of control lately and make sense of it all...and He wants to do it face to face with me, not at a distance.
I realize that all of the above probably doesn't make a whole lot of sense...I just tried to re-read it and I can' t make heads or tails of what it says. Guess it's time to leave you. Hope everyone's doing well...more later...blessings
The splendor of the king
clothed in majesty
let all the earth rejoice
let all the earth rejoice
he wraps himself in light
and darkness tries to hide
and trembles at his voice
and trembles at his voice
how great is our God
Before I start I must write a disclaimer...any lack of coherancy in the following is not my fault. I've just made it back from a very long but awesome week of World Changers mission in East St. Louis. We headed out on Saturday and just returned this morning and man, I feel like I got hit by a truck.
This is a super cool week, if any of you ever get the chance, go...it's amazing. Not only do you get the regular christian camp experience with a good speaker and worship times, but you get an awesome chance to serve. As you know, east st. louis isn't exactly the greatest neighborhood, but throw 220+ youth in there with about 40 adults and a few construction people who know what their doing and you never know what you might come up with. We had 12 different houses in the area getting new siding, paint jobs, porches, windows, roofs, and so much more. It was great.
When I got there I was assigned to the "challenge house"...the one with the most work needed and the oldest kids put on the crews. Our team of 20 or so worked very long days all 5 days to complete our task for the sweetest home owner you could ever meet. Mrs. Moblie was a 78 year old woman with a leak over her stove, no AC, 7 layers of shingles on her decaying roof, and a heart of gold. We took one look at her house and were ready to go.
Determined to conquer my fear of heights to some degree I climbed to the top of the steepest pitched roof I've ever imagined and sat on the ridge all morning hacking away at old shingles to get to the "skeleton" of the roof. Scary, but I so didn't die! Actually, after you got used to it, being up there was a lot of fun. We proceeded over the next 4 days to put up plywood, tar paper, and shingles. I learned a lot...even how to weild a nail gun!! (yeah, scary, I know....try not to run from the room in terror, I only killed like 3 people) :) In the midst of that whole project, people were tearing down and re-constructing her porch, replacing all her windows, and covering her walls with new siding. I came back from the work site covered in roof soot every day...black is a good color for me I think...and yesterday I had some quality time with tar caulking, the remains of which are on my elbows still, even after my half hour battle with paint thinner and goo gone. I decided that being grungy is awesome...our society doesn't allow enough of it!!
Our crew was amazing. They were fun and hard working...I met a girl named Hannah who rocks my world...she was loud and silly and a great worker, we clicked almost instantly and kept eachother going all week. Made lots of other friends...actually, one of our supervisors could have been Ryan Jackson's twin, not as much in looks but in personality. That was fun...
We worked really hard all week, but by Thursday night the whole porch still had to be sided and finished, the porch needed a roof, and the siding wasn't complete on the house. The roof also needed to be capped and the whole place cleaned up. As we circled up to pray and close the day our crew chief shared some more needs. Mrs. Moblie desperately needed a new ceiling fan and light fixtures for her porch and blinds for her windows, but World Changers couldn't fund it. Once again our crew pitched in and collected enough money to do all of it. By God's grace, a lot of sweat, and the help of other crews cheifs as they finished thier houses, we were able to put in a 13 hour work day on Friday and finish the job. Mrs. Moblie's appreciation made it all worth it. She has so little...being able to help her was awesome. We also learned that she was a Christian, which makes the effort even sweeter.
On top of all the great work that happened I really did have a spritually refreshing week as well. From long talks with a couple of the girls to good worship to some spiritual "re-alignment" it was a fantastic week. God "hit the nail on the head" with me a few times early on in the week and I was forced to wake up a little bit and realize what was going on inside me. I was challenged to submit, to focus my mindset on daily mission work, and to give more of myself to whole heartedly seek God...not just in the tough times, not just when I want something...at all points and for every reason. Why in my pig headded independence do I forget that I am smaller than a pin-point? Only He can take my world that has seemed so out of control lately and make sense of it all...and He wants to do it face to face with me, not at a distance.
I realize that all of the above probably doesn't make a whole lot of sense...I just tried to re-read it and I can' t make heads or tails of what it says. Guess it's time to leave you. Hope everyone's doing well...more later...blessings
The splendor of the king
clothed in majesty
let all the earth rejoice
let all the earth rejoice
he wraps himself in light
and darkness tries to hide
and trembles at his voice
and trembles at his voice
how great is our God
Friday, June 10, 2005
jet lagged? ...all nightered? ...confused as normal?
Well good morning! How's everyone doing? Gee...it's pretty dark outside...and doesn't it usually storm in the evenings here? OH man, maybe today was when the eclipse was supposed to happen. Well, I guess I just got home too late last night. ...no wait, that was this morning! morning? afternoon? lunchtime? midnight?
Welcome to "summer Morgan"--the person I am destined to be for the rest of the season. Then again, I did survive back to back night shifts...so that's something! No actually, the last 48 hours have been craziness but great to...let me tell you about it all.
Wednesday night was hard because I just wasn't used to it, but we had a great time. The floor was SUPER busy...and frankly I like it that way...there's always something to do. You would be surprised about how much...in fact, we really don't let these people sleep! I asked an RN about it the other night and he just laughed...."no way, this isn't the Holiday Inn...we're on a schedule here!!" never mind that people are sick and just need rest, never mind that normal people don't enjoy giving shots at 3:30 am...vitals every 4 hours! empty urine at 11 and 5! admit patients at all times! draw blood at 3! and get those EKG's (really annoying though painless) started by 4:30! Oh, and could you get 51 bed 2 up at 5am to be weighed? I need to ask a doctor somewhere about whether it's healthy...seems a little crazy to me. It's funny all you hear though as patients are coming out of sleep and to see them just stick their arm up for blood pressure and open thier mouths when you walk in the room...they know the drill!
I'm learning a whole ton...how to measure intake and outtake and chart it carefully, how to assist patients into and out of bed, how to give EKG's, how to keep the nurses happy, how to build up a repore with the patients, how to ease frustration and fear, and to always ask a lot of questions. We've encountered a few fiesty patients (always those little 65 lb old ladies who survived the depression...they are firey!)...that's been interesting to handle but I'm learning a lot by watching my supervisors there.
There are boring times, there are times when you have to do three things at once, but all in all things are pretty laid back. Sometime around about 3 last night I was getting someone water when I realized that I was really enjoying myself...it was great. Sure, I don't want to do this for the rest of my life, but for now it's the closest I can get to what I want to do...I am so excited. So, keep praying for energy and that I don't go show up to church at 4 in the afternoon some day. My clock is so messed up...it's funny :)
Tomorrow I head for St. Louis for a missions trip there...I am so excited to go work on some roofs or something cool, and have some time for evangelism and fellowship in the evenings. Again pray for energy!
much love to you all as you celebrate this Christmas season...I'll see you at the fireworks!
Welcome to "summer Morgan"--the person I am destined to be for the rest of the season. Then again, I did survive back to back night shifts...so that's something! No actually, the last 48 hours have been craziness but great to...let me tell you about it all.
Wednesday night was hard because I just wasn't used to it, but we had a great time. The floor was SUPER busy...and frankly I like it that way...there's always something to do. You would be surprised about how much...in fact, we really don't let these people sleep! I asked an RN about it the other night and he just laughed...."no way, this isn't the Holiday Inn...we're on a schedule here!!" never mind that people are sick and just need rest, never mind that normal people don't enjoy giving shots at 3:30 am...vitals every 4 hours! empty urine at 11 and 5! admit patients at all times! draw blood at 3! and get those EKG's (really annoying though painless) started by 4:30! Oh, and could you get 51 bed 2 up at 5am to be weighed? I need to ask a doctor somewhere about whether it's healthy...seems a little crazy to me. It's funny all you hear though as patients are coming out of sleep and to see them just stick their arm up for blood pressure and open thier mouths when you walk in the room...they know the drill!
I'm learning a whole ton...how to measure intake and outtake and chart it carefully, how to assist patients into and out of bed, how to give EKG's, how to keep the nurses happy, how to build up a repore with the patients, how to ease frustration and fear, and to always ask a lot of questions. We've encountered a few fiesty patients (always those little 65 lb old ladies who survived the depression...they are firey!)...that's been interesting to handle but I'm learning a lot by watching my supervisors there.
There are boring times, there are times when you have to do three things at once, but all in all things are pretty laid back. Sometime around about 3 last night I was getting someone water when I realized that I was really enjoying myself...it was great. Sure, I don't want to do this for the rest of my life, but for now it's the closest I can get to what I want to do...I am so excited. So, keep praying for energy and that I don't go show up to church at 4 in the afternoon some day. My clock is so messed up...it's funny :)
Tomorrow I head for St. Louis for a missions trip there...I am so excited to go work on some roofs or something cool, and have some time for evangelism and fellowship in the evenings. Again pray for energy!
much love to you all as you celebrate this Christmas season...I'll see you at the fireworks!
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
...a few of my favorite things
I like monicals pizza
and making cookies with my sis
and grinding brown sugar into her hair
and getting flour ground into mine
I like long runs with plenty of time to stretch out, think, and pray
and reading a scary novel in the middle of the afternoon
and taking time to sort through photos of the past month
and writing thank you notes (yes, still)
I like having a brother that still hugs me goodnight of his own free will
and getting to spend a night just with the kids
and watching little league baseball(even though I can't spell it)
and staying up late even though I have to get up early
I like long hot days, and sitting on the deck in the cool after them
and grilling out
and the promise that with all this humidity it will have to storm soon
and the time to digest a little bit more of CS Lewis several times this week
Sure, I don't like 12 hour shifts
and I'm not too keen on anchovies
and I might like a 36 hour day
and registering for college is WIERD
and saying goodbye to friends is tough
...but all in all, I've got it pretty good
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the holy spirit." Romans 15:13
and making cookies with my sis
and grinding brown sugar into her hair
and getting flour ground into mine
I like long runs with plenty of time to stretch out, think, and pray
and reading a scary novel in the middle of the afternoon
and taking time to sort through photos of the past month
and writing thank you notes (yes, still)
I like having a brother that still hugs me goodnight of his own free will
and getting to spend a night just with the kids
and watching little league baseball(even though I can't spell it)
and staying up late even though I have to get up early
I like long hot days, and sitting on the deck in the cool after them
and grilling out
and the promise that with all this humidity it will have to storm soon
and the time to digest a little bit more of CS Lewis several times this week
Sure, I don't like 12 hour shifts
and I'm not too keen on anchovies
and I might like a 36 hour day
and registering for college is WIERD
and saying goodbye to friends is tough
...but all in all, I've got it pretty good
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the holy spirit." Romans 15:13
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Sleep? Who needs it?
Ok, so the weekend has been crazy...what else is new. I am very tired but very glad for the week's experiences. ...well, let me just tell you about it.
Spent the week in training at the hospital, which is going GREAT. I love the people I work with (most of them anyway) and am adjusting to the wierd parts of working in the hospital. Friday was the first time we spent more than an hour on the floor and I shadowed a girl and tried not to contaminate half the ward (a harder job than you might imagine...I feel like I'm single handedly destroying the ecosystem with latex gloves, water waste, and alcohol fumes and still spreading germs every time I touch a door. Probably not a bad problem for someone who's usually a little too careless about germs and certainly not a 'clean freak.') I love helping people and I HATE standing by helpless and watching...which is probably one of the reasons that I'm in this job. I'm realizing that even the best trained specialists can't always help (a humbling reminder of our frailty as humans, even with the great advances of science) but hopefully I can make people more comfortable...perhaps even just with a smile. "Improving the quality of life, rather than delaying death" as Patch Adams would say (...that may not be a direct quote...help me Cos). Anyway, I ramble...but I am too excited about the opportunity God has given me.
Back to the events of the weekend...Thursday the girls got together to swap senior trip pictures and see "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants." I know that sounds like a silly movie that Ryan Jackson named but it turned out to be VERY good. We lauged way too loud...comparing the girls on the screen to eachother or other girls from school, we cried, and we had a great time together. Friday night I headed for the Jackson abode for a movie night...we watched "Honey I shrunk the Kids"...a classic "special effects miracle" (hehehe) and a must see since I hadn't for like 10 years. I also got to play catch up with some old friends that I haven't seen in a few months because we've spent so much time with the Riverside clan. Having too many friends is a great problem to have but I hate loosing touch...so it was nice to climb back in there again and feel right at home. Tina and I kicked butt at spades even though we hardly cared the last round...telepathy was never more effective dearest!
Saturday morning we headed for the Hohm's house to help load the moving van...had some great times running up and down stairs with stacks of boxes, cleaning out closets, and playing with giant rolls of bubble wrap...I'm giving someone that for Christmas some time...it was a blast! Went to a beautiful wedding in the afternoon, then headed for Mary K's to spend some time with the whole gang for the official going away party. We had a great round of volleyball, some good food, tons of people, homemade icecream(YOU DON'T CRANK, YOU DON'T EAT!), and an awesome time of prayer, tears, hugs, pictures, and blessings. It's tough to see how close you get to someone in the last few days before they leave....Chris has been a huge blessing to me recently...if you read this bud...thanks. Anyway, it was a draining night but one that we will be very greatful for later.
Tonight, one more send off party for the Wilkersons...I couldn't bear to stay past about 6...I'm partied out. Besides, I had a "few" more thank you's to write. I think I'm about half way through. Whew! This week I have 2 twelve hour shifts from 6 PM to 6 AM...that should be interesting, please pray I can figure the schedule out. Then again...sleep?? ...how boring is that.
Spent the week in training at the hospital, which is going GREAT. I love the people I work with (most of them anyway) and am adjusting to the wierd parts of working in the hospital. Friday was the first time we spent more than an hour on the floor and I shadowed a girl and tried not to contaminate half the ward (a harder job than you might imagine...I feel like I'm single handedly destroying the ecosystem with latex gloves, water waste, and alcohol fumes and still spreading germs every time I touch a door. Probably not a bad problem for someone who's usually a little too careless about germs and certainly not a 'clean freak.') I love helping people and I HATE standing by helpless and watching...which is probably one of the reasons that I'm in this job. I'm realizing that even the best trained specialists can't always help (a humbling reminder of our frailty as humans, even with the great advances of science) but hopefully I can make people more comfortable...perhaps even just with a smile. "Improving the quality of life, rather than delaying death" as Patch Adams would say (...that may not be a direct quote...help me Cos). Anyway, I ramble...but I am too excited about the opportunity God has given me.
Back to the events of the weekend...Thursday the girls got together to swap senior trip pictures and see "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants." I know that sounds like a silly movie that Ryan Jackson named but it turned out to be VERY good. We lauged way too loud...comparing the girls on the screen to eachother or other girls from school, we cried, and we had a great time together. Friday night I headed for the Jackson abode for a movie night...we watched "Honey I shrunk the Kids"...a classic "special effects miracle" (hehehe) and a must see since I hadn't for like 10 years. I also got to play catch up with some old friends that I haven't seen in a few months because we've spent so much time with the Riverside clan. Having too many friends is a great problem to have but I hate loosing touch...so it was nice to climb back in there again and feel right at home. Tina and I kicked butt at spades even though we hardly cared the last round...telepathy was never more effective dearest!
Saturday morning we headed for the Hohm's house to help load the moving van...had some great times running up and down stairs with stacks of boxes, cleaning out closets, and playing with giant rolls of bubble wrap...I'm giving someone that for Christmas some time...it was a blast! Went to a beautiful wedding in the afternoon, then headed for Mary K's to spend some time with the whole gang for the official going away party. We had a great round of volleyball, some good food, tons of people, homemade icecream(YOU DON'T CRANK, YOU DON'T EAT!), and an awesome time of prayer, tears, hugs, pictures, and blessings. It's tough to see how close you get to someone in the last few days before they leave....Chris has been a huge blessing to me recently...if you read this bud...thanks. Anyway, it was a draining night but one that we will be very greatful for later.
Tonight, one more send off party for the Wilkersons...I couldn't bear to stay past about 6...I'm partied out. Besides, I had a "few" more thank you's to write. I think I'm about half way through. Whew! This week I have 2 twelve hour shifts from 6 PM to 6 AM...that should be interesting, please pray I can figure the schedule out. Then again...sleep?? ...how boring is that.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
*Cricket*
daily on-the job training (today was giving baths and making beds)
a week with the grandparents
evening games of bocce ball
a list of graduation thankyou's the length of my arm
a baseball game here
a grilled dinner there
a run over yonder and back
oh, and a kickin' game of capture the flag with the Hohms
...hmmmmm....sounds like summer
a week with the grandparents
evening games of bocce ball
a list of graduation thankyou's the length of my arm
a baseball game here
a grilled dinner there
a run over yonder and back
oh, and a kickin' game of capture the flag with the Hohms
...hmmmmm....sounds like summer
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