Person of the Week- Week 2

It's a little early, but i figured i wouldnt get to it on Christmas:


President Bush

Though his approval rating is about the same as Truman's and he is blamed for an unnecessary war and this financial crisis, President Bush will go out looking hard core. When shoes were thrown at him, he was able to swiftly duck and made it look like he did so with ease. And after the fact, he didn’t hold any hard feelings about it, but rather made jokes about it. Here's to you President Bush.

Person of the week- week 1

I decided that every week, I am going to highlight a person of the week. This week is:


Daniel Unger

Daniel is our roommate’s boyfriend and a dear friend of the rest of us. As some of you may know, it is snowing here in Portland, which means life really sucks without a car. He has been faithful to make sure we all have rides and are safe, even if it is super inconvenient for him. He never complains and won’t take gas money. I think Daniel is such a blessing and I am so thankful to call him friend. Heres to you Daniel Unger.

Abba

To know your love,
Your guidance in spite of strain,
Your over whelming peace,
Again and again

Despite my flaws,
And sin I hold so dear,
You work anew in me,
And continue to draw me near

Create in me a pure heart,
To honor you in word, thought and deed,
Show me how you will use me
To help this world in need

Let me follow Your heart,
Rather than the desires of my own,
You are so faithful,
I see it in how much I have grown

Let me hear Your word,
Rather than a thousand different voices,
Let everything be guided by you,
Every single one of my choices.

Snow

It snowed in Portland. I love it. Except waiting for the bus in wet converse, but now I have boots so its all good. Some of my roommates had snow days for work....awesome!!!

I get to go home in 6 days. Though I love it up here, it will be a nice warm break and a good chance to see everyone. Looking forward to some time with the fam and friends. Also looking forward to getting some major wedding stuff done.

This will be Jerry and my 4th Christmas together (crazy)! We have our tradition of going to south coast, balboa island and fashion island to look at all the Christmas stuff. This year will be no exception :) Also, it is looking like we will actually be able to spend New Years together (a first)....which would mean that I would finally have my first news years kiss at age 22.

We had our roommate gift exchange last night which was a ton of fun. I sure love 3235 (a simple way of saying the ladies of my home address). This has been a really good year so far. I have grown a lot spiritually. I have a much better understanding of hard work and respect for those who go most of their lives without a car. I have learned how to budget, tithe, save and be financially independent. I feel like this year has been a really good transition into "the real world" and adulthood. I have a much better grasp of reality.

I am getting so excited for next year. I get married in less than 6 months :). As of now it is looking quite possible that I will have a part time job in residents life (my dream job), part time with Open Doors and full time grad student. Jerry and I are looking to stay there for a few years to save up a lot of money, have time to travel (since we have summers and a month at Christmas off-Europe here we come) and start up an amazing retirement fund. God is really good. Hopefully by the end of the next few years we will have the majority of our loans paid off and enough money for a down payment on a house too. God is so faithful to not only take care of us, but to give us the desires of our heart. He knows how much I love working with student life and it looks like I will have the opportunity to do so. Praise be to Him!!!

2008

This has been an eventful year....looking back I realize that a lot has happened:

*Kyo and Corri got together on the 1st and now they are engaged

*I graduated college

*My best friend, along with 6 other friends (thus far- 3more to go) have gotten married.

*My sister moved back to SC

*I moved to Oregon

*I started working more than full time

*I have seen where I will be living for the next few years

*I got engaged to the most wonderful man on the face of the earth

*Got plugged into a life changing church and small group

*Saw history being made as Obama became our 1st black President

*Have seen our economy at it's worst state since the Great Depression

*No longer have an automobile

*Started writing a book


I know a lot more has happened too. Those items stick out to me. I am excited to see what 2009 will bring. Yesterday I heard about what it could potentially look like, and I pray (according to His will, that’s what it is).

A lot has changed in 2008, but a lot has stayed the same. I head home in a few weeks. I am excited, but at the same time I am not looking forward to some conversations I am going to have. I know I serve a mighty God who is in control of everything and I am so thankful for Him.

Speaking of Him....I felt God called me up here to be a witness to him in a city where many do not know Him. I have been disappointed in my lack of 'evangelism' with non believers. I have been praying He would open up conversations with non believers, but instead it has seemed like I keep meeting believers instead. Today, the epiphany came: the subtle witness. While I was talking with my Bus driver, Curtis (a fellow believer) we were talking about our walk with God. He was sharing about his struggle and how God is faithful to step in. Though I realized that the conversation was between us, other people on the bus were listening (mainly because Curtis has excellent voice modulation) and seeds are being planted. People know I am a Christian and are hearing about how it is affecting my life. People know that Curtis is a believer by his joy and outward conversation about it. He carries his duct taped, beat up bible with him in his vest and wears a Jesus bracelet. He is great. So this morning I decided that Curtis and I will have to continue having our louder conversations about our faith. Seeds will be planted AND we won’t be shoving it on anyone, they will just be hearing about the real life affect a walk with God can have on a person. :)

In His Grip

My youth pastor signed a letter of recommendation for me that way once: In His Grip, Paul.

At the time I thought it was cute and a little unprofessional. Now I find myself saying it almost everyday.

For the first time yet, I have felt a direct impact of the suffering economy. It isn't anything compared to those who have lost jobs, their homes, their cars. But it is the first time that it has hit home for me.

Anywho, Jer Bear and I were talking about how even worst case scenario next year, we are going to have a place to live, food to eat and enough money to pay off our loans. God is so good to us. I really want to honor him with all that I am, in everyway that I can.

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from Heaven above
With Wisdom, Power and Love
Our God is an awesome God

Just when I thought my approval rating for the police force couldn't be any lower...

an incident on the bus happened this morning.

I got on my transferring bus this morning and noticed an Indian woman talking to the bus driver. She told him she was being stalked by a man. He told her he would call it in to the police and to stay on board. He told the rest of us (myself and a man named Raj that I ride the bus with every morning) that it might take awhile. Raj asked if he could use my phone, as he had a 9 am business meeting to go to, so I let him and I called in for my work. The woman was shaken up. She told the bus driver that this man and his friends were outside of where she lived every morning and would harass her, trying to get her attention by talking to her. She said they would follow her onto the bus and get off where she got off. She said that everyday they would wear the same thing she was wearing....today it was a green shirt and green pants. I saw one of the men today and it was true. Scary right?

So the police take their sweet time getting over to where we were (aprx 20 mins), though they knew that multiple tri met vehicles were being held up to catch this one guy in particular. They finally get there and ask the lady what is going on....she explained everything to them. They said ‘well we can’t do anything. It would be wrong for us to go talk to him and embarrass him off people he may know.’ Lie #1. I know that the police never have an issue with stopping people. I am as good of a citizen as anyone and I have been stopped and questioned by police while waiting at a bus stop. They could have pulled him aside to talk to him....they wouldn’t have had to do it in front of "all his friends". Secondly, the cops knew all the details before arriving (I heard the whole convo between the bus driver and dispatch), so I wonder why when they arrived, they thought it wasn’t as big of a deal anymore (maybe because she wasn’t a white woman)?

So this girl will still be harassed by these men every day and though she has made multiple reports, our wonderful police task is doing nothing and she will continue to be stalked and harassed everyday. I understand you can’t detain someone over this...but you are allowed to question them. It is the police’s sworn duty to protect and serve, I saw them doing neither today.

With this said, I know there are good cops out there....it just seems like they are becoming less and less. I am thankful for these rare officers for fulfilling their job requirements, but I am becoming more and more enraged by the rest of the force. I guess all I can do is pray for this woman’s safety.

Hmmmmmmmm

I have been struggling with two things lately; anxiety and envy.

Anxiety is something that I have always struggled with. Sometimes its worse than others. Right now is one of those times. I think when work is stressful it gets bad. I get physically ill and so nervous that it can be almost unbearable. I am trying to give it over to God. Writing helps too.

Envy is something that I have not really struggled with before, but I find that recently I am. I am envious of my friends who only have to work a couple days a week. I am envious that my parents like my sisters boyfriend. I am envious of those who do not have to pay back student loans. I really hate this feeling and pray that it goes away.

So it goes.

Kell Bell

My friend's mom Kelly passed away last night. She had terminal cancer and we all knew it was coming; doesn’t make it any less difficult. She was a wonderful mother to her 3 children and a wonderful friend to all of their friends. I will always have fond memories of her taking her kids to Hollywood to meet famous celebs or her calling Jerry a "hottie" when she first met him. I will miss the craziness that always ensued because of her and the wonderful conversations we shared, but I rejoice knowing that she is with our Maker where there is no more suffering. I am so thankful to have known Kell Bell.