#62 Check

#62 Visit the Mayborn

(See my 101 in 1001 list here)

The Mayborn Museum is on the edge of Baylor's campus, and I have been meaning to visit. My wonderful little sister was in town, and since the weather decided to be gross and rainy and cold, we decided to do something inside and go check it out.

Though I wouldn't say that the Mayborn is the most interesting museum in the world, Allie and I found plenty to amuse ourselves with. It was so fun to just be silly and hang out with my sister.

#73 - Check

Today I was able to cross off one of my 101 things.

#73 Volunteer at a soup kitchen

I went with my wonderful friend Claire Aufhammer (http://lifelovejustice.blogspot.com/) to the Salvation Army soup kitchen here in Waco.



Claire has started volunteering here every week, and I finally decided to check it out this week. It was such a cool experience. I didn't really do a ton of work, but I did pass out drinks and refills and did a little bit of cleanup at the end. Next time (yes next time), I'm going to try and actually serve the food.

This soup kitchen is such a cool place because of the guy who runs it, Stanley Goode, or "Red." He is hilarious and always cracking jokes, and you can tell he has such a heart for the homeless. And it seems that all the people who come eat regularly really like him. Even more amazing is how much work and service goes into this. This location serves lunch and dinner EVERY day, even holidays. That's 365 days of two good, full meals for the hungry in Waco. HOW INCREDIBLE!

I am DEFINITELY going to go back and serve. I just love doing something for other people, and I'm really looking forward to forming relationships with those who come as well as the others who serve there.

Claire and I


"Red" and Brittney Griner.. oh yeah.. did I forget to mention that she was volunteering there today too? So crazy!

101 in 1001

I have been inspired by several other friends to start my own "101 in 1001" list. The way this works is that I have made a list of 101 things I would like to do in the next 1001 days. Some of the things are simple, some are ridiculous. I doubt that I will be able to accomplish every single one of them, but I have to at least try. I know that I'm more likely to do things if I have a list that I can check off. Plus, I have you guys to keep me accountable.

So here is my list. If you would like to join in any of these adventures or help me out with something, I would love your participation!

Starting date: March 13, 2010
Ending date: December 9, 2012

1. Attend a Baylor Basketball game
2. Attend a Baylor Baseball game - Completed 4/30/10
3. Take some friends to Cedar Point/Ohio
4. Visit a new country
5. Visit a new continent
6. Do missions work in a new country/continent
7. Read all of C.S. Lewis’s books
8. Study abroad
9. Go skydiving
10. Go camping or backpacking with friends
11. Find a church - "Completed" - Highland Baptist Church
12. Join a small group
13. Cook dinner for my family
14. Buy a nice camera
15. Visit 7 states I’ve never been to
16. Take a long road trip with friends
17. Go skiing
18. Go waterskiing
19. Take an applied music/piano class at Baylor
20. Intern with a non-profit organization
21. Intern at a church again
22. Do at least one intramural event at Baylor
23. Run a mile without stopping
24. Submit an article to The Pulse
25. Volunteer consistently in Waco
26. Visit/Volunteer at Missionaries of Charity in Dallas
27. Live in a house with a group of friends at Baylor
28. Fly by myself
29. Serve alongside a full-time missionary for a month
30. Sponsor a child
31. Paint a canvas for my room
32. Take artsy photos
33. Enlarge artsy photos and hang in my room
34. Go to a Passion conference
35. Find a “grown-up” doctor and dentist I like
36. Donate blood
37. Make Dean’s List every semester
38. Go on a trip just with my sister
39. Nanny for a family
40. Learn a new recipe
41. Become fluent in Spanish
42. Attend Vertical Ministries consistently
43. Apply to grad school/seminary
44. Read the books of the Bible I’ve never read before
45. Memorize a book of the Bible
46. Spend a day in COMPLETE solitude
47. Read a book that’s not for my reading list
48. Go kayaking or canoeing
49. Spend a day taking pictures all around Waco
50. Learn how to play guitar well
51. Read a book of poetry
52. Write a letter to someone every week for 2 months
53. Fulfill my maid of honor duties :)
54. Post a blog review about a book I’ve read
55. Visit Eleni in Greece
56. Write a poem
57. Journal at least twice a week, every week for 3 months
58. Write a letter to myself to open when I graduate
59. See a drive-in movie
60. Sleep under the stars
61. Attend a play at Baylor
62. Visit the Mayborn - Completed 3/20/10
63. Go to Cameron Park Zoo
64. Learn how to use my telescope
65. Get a departmental scholarship
66. Become a Crane Scholar
67. Be invited to join Phi Beta Kappa
68. Lend money to a micro-financing group
69. Vote
70. Completely clean and organize my room/closet.. donate everything I don’t need
71. Go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
72. Take the GRE
73. Volunteer at a soup kitchen - Completed 3/17/10
74. Go to the Grand Canyon
75. Go to Yellowstone National Park
76. Go to Antarctica
77. Go on a cruise
78. Have a picnic
79. Translate an entire book of the Bible from Greek
80. Get up and watch the sun rise once a week for a month
81. Go to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London
82. Wake up an hour early every day for a week to pray
83. Apply to/join BRH
84. Go to career counseling - Completed 4/29/10
85. Take dancing lessons
86. Visit Morgan in Alabama
87. Translate a book from Latin to English
88. Visit Claire and Brent at Texas State
89. See the Northern Lights
90. Stay in a hostel
91. Go backpacking through Europe
92. Visit an Eastern Orthodox Church
93. Attend a Roman Catholic Mass
94. Sing karaoke in public
95. Watch a foreign film
96. Get a massage
97. Buy TOMS
98. Call Bill once a month
99. Join a club at Baylor
100. Take a trip just with my mom
101. Ring by Spring…. (JUST KIDDING!)

The Beauty of Disappointment

For those of you who don't know, I'm interning this summer for LeaderTreks, a missions organization that is devoted to training students to be effective leaders. Check out their website to learn more. Also, join my Facebook group if you would like to support me this summer through prayer.

Anyways, I got my official site assignment yesterday. I will spend the first part of my internship in the Navajo Nation, fly back to Houston for my friend Claire's wedding, then spend the rest of my time in Montana. Honestly, I was disappointed at first. I have been to both those sites before and I was interested in going someplace new. Additionally, I had hoped not to be involved in a wilderness trip, but I got that thrown in as well. I vividly remember talking to my youth pastor about the different LT sites and I very determinedly told him I would never want to go back to the Navajo site. It wasn't that I had a bad trip. My team was wonderful, I learned a ton, and I know I grew through all of it. I just am not drawn to the site at all. I don't feel a particular burden for the Navajo people, and the hike was an enormous challenge for me this summer (if you want more on that story just let me know).

Montana is gorgeous and it is definitely the mission trip that changed my life and entire relationship with God. The hike was difficult, but not as bad as Navajo. But once again, I have never felt particularly called to the Cheyenne people. In fact, I was really, really hoping for a site in Latin America. I love that culture and I love being able to practice my Spanish. I knew, however, that with the wedding I was most likely going to be assigned state-side so that I could fly back and forth.

Since honesty is the best policy, you all get to know the truth: I had to take some time for myself so that I didn't get bitter about situations. My disappointment didn't last very long, but the fact that I even experienced a little of it left me feeling guilty. Who am I to question where God has placed me? How could I think that other events were "getting in the way" of my internship? Isn't everything working out to fulfill his plan?

After praying, journaling, and just spending some time in solitude, I can say with confidence that I AM SO INCREDIBLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS SUMMER!! I'm excited about the students that I will come in contact with, and the opportunity to encourage them. I'm thrilled to be working with other amazing staff members and just getting to share this whole summer experience with them. I'm so excited to see how God changes my life once again this summer. I'm looking forward to experiencing the amazing beauty of nature and seeing God's handprints throughout creation. AND.. I can't wait to see the amazing stars!!!

I have already been able to see God's hand in all of this. I have almost all the equipment that I will need this summer since I have been to these sites before. That will be a huge financial relief since I still have several plane tickets to purchase. Additionally, I have two good friends who really enjoy hiking, so I have people in my life who will be able to help me prepare. Finally, I just started reading Dante's Purgatorio for my Great Texts class and it's all about a climb to the top of the mountain of Purgatory in order to purge his soul of sin so he can be with God in paradise. Talk about inspiration!! I'll just pretend to be Dante while I climb... and maybe sing some Miley Cyrus... or not.

So, despite my initial disappointment (all triggered by selfishness), I am so excited about this summer and about where I will be. And I think this quick instance of disappointment will make this summer all the more memorable and incredible. I can't wait to see what happens!!

Pictures from Montana, Honduras, and the Navajo Nation

In the Light

I love DC Talk's song, "In the Light" which speaks of living life in the light of God, since he is the light. This imagery of light versus darkness can be found in 1 John 1:5-7: "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

I have always enjoyed the contrast of light and dark in relation to God and the world, but after writing a paper on Boethius I am even more enthralled by the imagery. I HIGHLY encourage you to read Boethius at some point.. he has so much truth to offer!


My paper explored a poem in Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy that heavily uses the imagery of light to explain that true happiness is only found in God. Reflected light represents the things of this world that appear to bring happiness to man, but in reality are only shadows of the true happiness found in God. One line states that the light of God is the "splendor that guides and moves the heavens." What a wonderful description! In the end, the poem shows that man must develop the ability to distinguish between the reflected light and the light of God. In my own life I need to recognize that though these things of the world can bring comfort and entertainment, ultimately I can never be fulfilled/happy (eudaimonia for all you Greek scholars) unless I recognize that knowledge of God brings that fulfillment to my life.

I don't know about you, but as for me, I want to be in the light.