learning

So, we are in the middle of the 4th week of DTS. It's going really fast, actually. And the newness has kind of worn off and I find myself getting caught up in the "work" instead of putting my heart into it and focusing on Jesus.

For example, last night we were supposed to have a special worship evening. So I was trying to plan, trying to think of a good creative idea, was having a bit of hard time thinking of something that I thought was cool enough. Then I talked to Korinne on the phone to get some more ideas, and she said something like, 'just remember we want to do something to get them to focus on the amazing things God is doing and has done and to be grateful to Him for that...' and I can honestly say, that I had forgotten that purpose in my planning. Like, of course it was in the back of my mind, but I was more concerned about the night and how it looked and went, then about encouraging them to praise God for what He is doing...

Just a small confession. But after that realization, the evening went pretty well. We had some time to reflect on how our lives have changed for the better and on the blessings that we've seen, and we were able to share together and praise God for those things. And also confess before God the areas where we have been ungrateful. Then we had some song-singing time and it was great too, we really had fun. So, I'm grateful for that.

But I'm constantly seeing how I totally cannot be a leader without the wisdom and love and everything that flows out of relationship with God. And I'm really seeing the power of the words, "Lord, I can't do this without You... please, YOU be the leader." And I'm seeing that just work without the Spirit of God involved produces mediocre things. And I want more than mediocre.

And I'm continuing to learn.

baaaaaaaaad attitude

I had such a struggle with a bad attitude today. I don't really know why, I just woke up feeling irritated and battled with it all day. Maybe I'm getting tired, maybe I'm starting to worry too much about the future (after DTS-- what to do, where to go (want to take another training school), where to put my things when/if I go, where will Marina and her kids be, how to do this and that...) and we're still like 4 months away from even the end of DTS and the beginning of those things.

But I did make it through the day.

And I'm hoping for a better (attitude) day tomorrow.

"Give me understanding, and I will keep Your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of Your commands, for there I find my delight. Turn my heart toward Your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to Your word." Psalm 119: 34-37

" 'Teacher [Jesus], which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' Jesus replied: ' Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. (Deuteronomy 6:5) This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. (Leviticus 19:18) All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40

Jenni's Journeys #9

feeling good.

I had an incredibly productive day, and I'm so thankful!

I started feeling a little sick yesterday, but already had plans to go some places and do some things. And I actually was supposed to go somewhere today-- but I called and canceled and decided that I'd stay home all day to really try to rest my mind and body and immune system. And even though I still had a to-do list, I feel quite rested and accomplished.

This is a general idea of what my to-do list was and morphed into throughout the day:

• Sleep in (check)
• Eat something tasty (check)
• Sweep the mile-high piles of dust bunnies off of the floor (check)
• Do a bit of laundry (check)
• Make and eat some pancakes from scratch (check)
• Call Korinne and talk for a ridiculously long period of time (check)
• Write an update for the amazing people that care about you (check)
• Pluck my eyebrows and clip my fingernails (check)
• Perform a miniature facial on yourself (check)
• Read and intake some Truth (check)
• Prepare worship for tomorrow morning at DTS (to do...)
• Prepare a creative teaching explaining why YWAM is all for relationships (to do...)
• Make something cute and creative to encourage the DTS students (to do...)
• Go to bed by 10:30 (something I hope for...)

So, I'm feeling good.

Tomorrow will be the start of the 3rd week of DTS. Seriously, the 3rd week?! But things are going really great. Like I said in my update (that I completed today):

It’s funny (and completely normal at the same time) how I signed up to be DTS staff… but in a way I feel like I’m a DTS student again, for the 3rd time. How does that work? I’m not complaining though… I’m actually really glad to have this continued opportunity and setting through which I can learn more about what it means to follow Jesus-- on the insides of me and also flowing out of my actions and physical being. It’s really something beautiful and painful, and both explainable and inexpressible...I really can see how God is guiding our students--like a Shepherd guiding His sheep with His heart full of sincere love. And I can testify that God really is speaking to us and showing us His active presence and Truth. It’s incredibly exciting and humbling.


ephrata

If you are bored enough to watch this, it's a video of walking all the way through my hometown (Ephrata)... from one end to the other and back again. :-)

free day

I bought a khachapuri this afternoon and it had a big long hair in it. So I took it back to the place and the gave me a new one (which actually surprised me). But it was grroooooossss-- the fact that there was a hair in the first khachapuri, not the new second hair free khachapuri.

Today was my day off. Typically when I picture a day off I think of: sleeping in until 12 or later, maybe spending some time creating something--like painting or making cards or something, also walking outside in the sunny weather, and maybe even cleaning my room. And those were things I was actually looking forward to. But then yesterday I found out that one of the ladies from the street kid center I'm working with, had planned a special program for the kids at her church and they wanted to know if I could come and help. At first I really didn't want to... but I chose to go anyways.

When I walked out of the metro, I was like bombarded by these kids yelling my name, hugging and kissing me, asking where I've been (because I haven't been to the center now for like 2 weeks). That in itself was sweet and rewarding. Then seeing them enjoy their time at the program. And also, I brought one of the DTS students, Tamila, with me-- and she really liked it. AND I was able to set up outreach for our DTS for this next week (working with some refugee kids)... there was a lady there who is doing that now. SO, in the end, I'm really glad that I chose to go!

first week-- check.

I made it through the first week of DTS. In many ways it was really difficult, but I can say that it was actually quite an amazing week. I'm really seeing how God is protecting and blessing our students. And He's really teaching me a lot too, just about my character, how to be in a leadership position, how to choose humility instead of pride and really a lot of other things. Of course I'm completely exhausted, but I feel really rewarded.

Some of the DTS peoples

We're STILL waiting to hear from the students who applied from South Korea... they had trouble with their plane tickets, and said that they'd be getting here by Wednesday-- but they haven't showed up and we haven't heard from them. So they have until Sunday to get here... after that there won't be enough of lecture phase left for them to get credit for the school. So it's kind of a bit strange not knowing about that situation. Like, we're still planning and preparing things with the expectation that they will be here. But really I have no idea what's happening with them. So we will see.

I can't really find anything else to say (because my brain and body are tiiiiiirreeeed) but I felt strange just abruptly ending with that last paragraph. Okay, good night.

explosion

Tomorrow, my life will explode into an array of joyous events and activities.

In other words, DTS will start.

I'm excited.

music

I remember reading on the news the other day, about a study some people were doing on the way music affects behavior. They stated that kids who listened to music that freely talked about certain activities, more frequently participated in those activities in their actual lives (I won't get specific here). And then some other people came along and said that it was too simplistic (or some word like that) to draw a connection between music and behavior.

And I'm thinking like, HELLO... it totally influences.

Music moves people-- that's why they applaud loudly after a band performs an awesome song. That's why they cry when they hear certain lyrics sung to certain melodies. That's why they drive more aggressively/faster when they're listening to an upbeat intense song.

I see it in my own life too. The music I listen to totally affects me and my mood and my thoughts.

I just think it's ridiculous that people would want to deny that fact.

my grammatically painful story of my visa adventure with Maia

I was so wrong when I had the thought that applying for my visa/resident card thing would be easy. I must have forgotten that I'm applying for one in Georgia.

(Georgia, I still love you in spite of your sometimes deterring and problematic quirks.)

By the way, this story might be painful to read for the grammatically proficient.

I gathered all my papers and headed downtown to meet Maia, who would be helping me with translation and such. Our first stop was to find a good translation/notary place to translate and notarize my passport. Dropped off the papers. Next, visa pictures. Done fast, and pretty good (is it even possible to take a photogenic passport/visa photo?). We then headed to a leisurely stop at a coffee shop while my passport was being translated. Drank some tea and ate some sandwiches. Then off to pick up the passport translation which was done very well. Good. Next off to the ministry of justice to begin the application process. We walk into the building and notice that there aren't many people there... we think: 'Good for us! This will be done quickly!' We get up to the man sitting behind the desk and are informed that the visa/passport part of the ministry of justice has been moved to another (distant) location.

Problem 1.

This was not, however, insurmountable. We stop off at McDonald's for a bathroom break (clean bathrooms all over the world). Then we run into some of the street kids that I work with, and talk with them for a little bit. They buy us flowers for Mother's day (it's tomorrow) and give us many kisses. Then we hop on the metro to get to our next location.

After quite some walking, we find the new location of the passport/visa part of the ministry of justice. It also happens to be the place where refugees and others are registering. So there are like 10 times as many people. But we find our line and begin to wait. Take note, lines in Georgia do not resemble actual lines by any means. This requires vigilance, always being ready to inform newcomers who the last person in "line" is.. otherwise you will get cut in front of again and again. We get up to the desk and begin to explain our goal (apply for a longer visa) and ask how we can do this. After quite some discussion, (she wanted to send us to yet another location, but I pretty much refused... and it turns out that she was the one who could help us, but I think she wanted to send work somewhere else if she could... which is understandable because there were really a lot of people), we are sent to pay a fee for the visa at a local bank (180 lari). We go to the bank, wait in line, pay the fee, return to the new ministry of justice and see that the line has increased significantly, but take our position at the end. We wait for a while, and then are noticed by the lady who had been helping us--she calls us over. She shows me the letter I have stating that I'm working with Axalgazrdoba Miznit (Youth With a Mission) and shows me a few things that need to be changed... even though this is the same letter that I used and that worked for my last long term visa...

Problem 2.

I live quite far away, so we jump into a taxi and head to my house to type in the corrections and print out a new letter. We then jump into another taxi and head to my directors house so that he can sign it and stamp it with our official organization stamp. Then I hop back into that same taxi (he waited with Maia in the car) and head back to the new location of the visa/passport part of the ministry of justice and see that the line has stayed just as large as before. But we take our place at the end again.

By this time I was quite exhausted, Maia was feeling carsick from all these quick taxi rides and the ministry was supposed to close in like an hour and a half.... so I was SO hoping that things would work out okay.

After some time, I make it to the front of the "line" and proudly display my new, corrected letter. The lady reads it and then looks at me with a significant amount of pity in her eyes, and shows me that there is still a mistake... it was not clearly explained how to change this mistake, so Maia begins to defend her translation and I begin to beg her to take it in spite of the small error (and it was SUCH a small error, quite irrelevant to my visa application). The lady, filled with mercy, called one of her coworkers and checked to see if it would make a big problem for me if I turned in that document as is. They said that it would be fine and I was so ecstatically relieved.

Almost problem 3.

Then she continues with application process and begins to input my information into the computer. She asks me what my position is in the organization and I say that I'm just a staff person. But she can't understand exactly what that means. She asks if I'm a manager or assistant, and I say no, I'm just a staff worker. She still is puzzled as to what to write in that blank, and so the 10 people waiting in "line" behind me begin to all chime in (it's the Georgian way of resolving conflicts) and she eventually decides to leave it blank. Then she begins to upload my visa picture into the computer, and we discover that the guy at the picture place didn't put the cropped version on the disc... so I beg her to please please just crop it on her computer. She again mercifully does.

Almost problems 4 and 5.

And about 6 hours after beginning our journey, and after asking the kind lady that helped me again and again if all things would be approved, I hold in my hand the confirmation paper that my application was received.

(this is where I breath a sigh of relief).

So, hopefully by April 1st I will have my resident visa. I have no idea how long it will be for-- 1 year or 5 years. And she said that if there are any problems, she will call me-- but let's hope that doesn't happen.

And, this was my day!

naaaaaame droppppping

Hey! I had a pretty good weekend. Went to Gardabani for the children's program, ended up staying the night at my friend Diana's house. Went and saw my friend Tarana's new baby (in Gardabani). Then came back to Tbilisi really early this morning and went to church with some other friends, Dan and Alla. That was pretty exciting, because I pretty much understood what the pastor was teaching.. not all words, but the main idea... and it was in Russian! (which I have not actually studied, just picked up from hearing it so much)... so that was pretty cooooool.

Tomorrow I'm going with Maia to turn in my application and do all the necessary stuff to get my one year (or hopefully two years this time) visa. Then off to visit Tia because it's her 7th birthday tomorrow!

Wow, I'm doing a lot of name dropping in this post. Too bad most of you don't know who these people are, because if you did I'm certain the name dropping really would be worthwhile and effective. :-)

I saw some of my street kids today in the metro (they're begging in the metro sometimes too). I saw how people were like so afraid to be close to them... and I thought it was so strange, because I really don't have any of those feelings at all. And it's so interesting to see how people look at me when I'm talking to them or kiss them (the typical Georgian greeting)... I hope it's some sort of "testimony" to both the kids and the people watching.

So, in honor of my lovely street sweethearts, here are some fo-toes.

Visiting their house (it's actually not a paradox that the street kids have "homes"... they rent small rooms/houses (not very nice, but liveable at least)... they are actually together with their families, many of the kids are related too... but they live this lifestyle of begging on the streets... it's very complicated and I'm only beginning to understand a little bit of it.)




This is the traditional way that they carry their babies (sometimes they have their little sister or brother with them, or some other relative).




Aren't they like incredibly adorable?? Larissa on the left, Esmira on the right.




We had one day where we gave out Operation Christmas Child gifts, and the parents came too! It was SOOO exciting to begin to build relationship with them! If we want the kids' lives to change, the parents have to change first. And up until now, we hadn't really met any of them... so this was a very cool day!




Aslan with his gift.

that would be E-Freight-ah,emphasis on the E

One: I am incredibly incredibly incredibly grateful for my Dad. He helps me with so many things while I'm over here. For example, doing my taxes. It's like taking away millions of degrees of stress for me that he does that. And he's just a great guy in general, really humble and I'm pretty sure he can fix anything (and that's a comforting thought).

Two: I'm also incredibly incredibly incredibly grateful for my Mom. I really feel free to be open and honest with her, and I'm so glad for that. And she cooks really good food. Also, she's funny and fashionable (seriously, when I'm home I "steal" things from her closet).

Three: I'm strangely longing to be in my hometown (Ephrata). Like, SO bad. Not forever, just for a visit. I realized that I didn't really know a lot about it, so I researched some. The population is less than 7,000... the total area is about 10 square miles... it was founded by some horse rancher man and it was named supposedly by a railroad worker who derived the name from the Biblical description of an orchard in the middle of a desert... also, during the settling times (like in the way olden days), it was not looked at as good settling territory because it's a semi-arid desert (this is all according to my friend, Wikipedia). All of these things fill my heart with such like .... almost pride in the fact that I came from this place. I cannot tell you how strange that is. In high school, my biggest desire was to live anywhere but Ephrata. But I guess things change after time.

Anyways, my dear Ephrata (and all of your inhabitants)-- I love you. :-)

And I really wish that I could eat some of my Mom's food right now...

t- t- tagged

At first I thought this would be appropriate as a good 200th post (I'm not sure why or how, but I feel like 200 posts is some kind of milestone in blog-life). But then I decided it would be better as a 201st post. Rachael, "tagged" me. Or in other non-blogging terms, has forced me against my will to complete this survey and post it on my blog. All love and good humor to you, Rachael. :-)

And, I guess it's supposed to be in celebration/honor of the new year... but hey, it's only February... right?

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Go to Armenia, eat cow head dolma, take Georgian dance lessons

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I gave up on the whole new year's resolution thing back in high school sometime. I did (back then) make ones like, "lose 5 pounds"... but then I realized that I never even really made a way to reach my goal, and that the goals weren't my goals anyways... they were totally influenced by the people and popular media around me. So, I quit.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Umm, I'm sure many but since I'm already 2 months into the "new year", I'm having trouble discerning this year's births and last year's births... so I'll just stick with the answer-- yes.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Well, actually many people died... but I can't say any that were very very close to me.

5. What countries did you visit?
Georgia (the country), Armenia, Ukraine, USA

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A stronger dependence on my relationship with God to even live life in general

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 8th, it was the day I found out that there was a war in Georgia (and I was there at the time).

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Staying alive?

9. What was your biggest failure?
Selfishness. Pride. Jealousy.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes, I had like a million and a half sinus infections.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My Georgian resident card (it's like a one year visa) and my plane tickets to Ukraine and "America".

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
God

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Man

14. Where did most of your money go?
To many different things. But I did begin to rent my very own apartment for the first time in August.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
All the ways that God provided for mine and other's many needs... just being totally amazed and convinced of God's activity.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Your Love is Strong - Jon Foreman

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Definitely happier-- letting go and being freed from many character flaws and wrong ways of thinking! And more clearly seeing the hope that is in the future and the joy that is in today!
b) thinner or fatter? Umm.. I think thinner.
c) richer or poorer? Actually, richer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Forgiving. Loving. Giving. Trusting. Believing. Seeing each moment as valuable and taking opportunities/risks more. Felt free to be free.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Being insecure and leech-like.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With my FAMILY in "America"!!!

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
In many ways and forms.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
House. I wish that I could watch it here!

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I do my best not to let things grow into hate in my heart. But I can't really think of anyone that I'd be tempted to very seriously hate.

24. What was the best book you read?
I read through the Chronicles of Narnia (all of them) for the first time. It was very close to being a spiritual journey for me and my imagination was totally overjoyed (I seem to spend so much time now reading "teaching" or "informative" books... but it was so nice to read a fairytale... a very well written one!)

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Jon Foreman and Lori Chaffer, hands down.

26. What did you want and get?
A new mobile phone

27. What did you want and not get?
A husband

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Honestly, the only movies that really come to my mind are I Am Legend and Transformers. But I can't say either of those are films and I can't say either of them are my "favorites". But I really can't think of what else I saw that was like really monumental.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 22 and I was in a village (Gonio) that's like right on the Black Sea in Georgia. We were having our last weeks of DTS outreach. My friends made a party for me and cooked a lot of tasty food. The lady who owned the house we were staying at, did my hair and put makeup on me. And later at night we walked downtown in Batumi and went on the ferris wheel. It was a pretty great birthday.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I cannot say. It was satisfying because I made it through and came out a little more wise.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Umm... "try to be as Georgian as possible".

32. What kept you sane?
People and I'm sure God (even if it I wasn't always going to Him and asking Him to help keep me sane, I'm sure He did many things to ensure that... I know that sounds crazy, but I believe it.).

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
...none?

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Umm, I'm not sure. There are too many spheres of political issues (different countries and such) that I am non-actively involved in... and also, my political views are not all that informed. But I guess you could say that I didn't really like that Russians and Georgians were shooting and bombing each other.

35. Who did you miss?
Well, being in Georgia, I missed a lot of people in "America".

36. Who was the best new person you met?
There were many "best" new people.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
God is bigger than religion.
People are people (and that's incredibly beautiful).
Let little things go and freedom will be found.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"...so why do I worry, why do I freak out, God knows what I need..."
Jon Foreman- Your Love is Strong

two-two-200

Well, this is my 200th post. Ta-da!

i am a so-so-solar panel

Sometimes I feel like a solar panel. If there is a lot of sunlight, I feel energized and excited about life. If there is a lack of sunshine, I feel quite less excited and energized. I observed this in my character this morning.

Also, right now I'm incredibly sick, along with I think half of the world's population (" _____ is sick/dying/ill beyond description" seems to be a common status update on Facebook these days). I'm trying to stay in bed as much as I can today. It's funny how hard it is... I'm like always feeling like I need to do this, or use my free day in a different way. But when I have like a full work day, I'm so eager to not work and stay in bed. Yesterday I was going to try to stay in bed too, but it definitely didn't happen. I had a great day though [recorded new song, went to church, made biscuits and gravy with my friend Amanda and then watched Pride & Prejudice (the new version)]-- but I think it definitely increased my sickness-ness.

I used to watch The Magic School Bus when I was a kiddo, and I even had some of the books... and I remember one episode, where it was talking about how sickness works. And if I remember right, the stuff that runs out of your nose is like dead white blood cells. Again, I am totally willing to be corrected here. But if that is true, then there is some serious carnage happening inside of my face today.

NEW SONG

Wrote a new song last night, recorded it today. To listen, you can go HERE to my myspace page, it will be the first song that plays.

Here are the lyrics:

I can't say I own you
And I don't claim to control you
Yet you are mine

I can't say I know you
But I can say I know you
At the very same time

And I'm different than I was
But you're still the same
I'll be different than I am
But you'll remain

Chorus:
You are, I am
Once divided, now together
Divinity and man
You are the truth I seek
You are the one who sets me free
Once divided, now together
You and me

I can't say I've touched you
But I can say I've felt you
Through loving hands

I can say you love me
And I can say I love you
But it's more than that

You're bigger than you were
Or maybe I was blind
But now you're opening up my eyes
You're opening up my eyes

re-re-responsibility

I have a new title fettish.

We're in the last planning stages for DTS. Actually they feel like the first planning stages, but literally they are the last (we got started a little late on things this year...)! But things are coming along. A month ago we didn't have any students, now we have at least 4 maybe 7. So that's definitely a good change. And our staff has increased from 6 to 9. So things are going quite well actually.

(DTS, by the way is short for Discipleship Training School. It's a program in the organization I work with... if you have no idea what I'm talking about and/or want to get more information, click HERE... no, just kidding. Click here.)

So, today we kind of divided up the responsibilities that running a DTS entails. I've got mine: worship and outreach preparation (and scheduling our weekly outreach locations). I think the worship one is understandable, and the outreach preparation is just getting the students ready to serve in different settings (working with street kids, preparing like testimonies/preachings, and also to kind of prep them for the big outreach at the end of lecture phase).

Anyways, I'm like totally excited about the possibilities of great things that could happen in both of these things I'm responsible for. But I also feel totally like really unable. I realize that I have this problem: I love to have ideas and think of new things, but I struggle so much to bring them into being/action. I think it's partly due to being easily distracted (it can be hard for me to work on one thing for a long time if I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing) and also partly due to laziness (maybe I see that it will take a lot to do what I want, and so I just kind of am lazy and... don't do it).

But none of that is too big or horrible for God to overcome in my character.
And I believe it to be true that God's strength is made perfect in our weakness... and it's my hope that this situation can be a living example of that!

For shizzle.

r-r-random

I got my hair cut quite short the other day-- I like it. But it donned on me this morning as I was looking in the mirror, that it quite resembles some stylish British boy band hair cut. But I like that it's short. I feel freeeeeeee.

I have a cold and my nose is super plugged (though on the pathway to betterness). I'm tempted to be irritated. But I make a comparison-- LAST WINTER: 5 months of misery with sinus infections and zillions of medicines. THIS WINTER: Glorious health sprinkled with the occasional nose issue here and there. And I deny the temptation to be annoyed, try to get some sleep and go on with my life with joy and thankfulness.

Lastly, somehow my neighbors upstairs have morphed from normal, quiet people into annoying cyborgs with insanely loud voices & TVs & friends who do things like drag furniture back and forth in the same spot directly above my head in the middle of the night. I'm trying to be patient. But thankfully, I have these in-canal ear plugs that are amazing in the fact that they can produce the illusion of solitude and peace when there is, in fact, none. It's helpful. :-)

village

This weekend I went with my friend Diana to visit her grandpa in his village. Here are some photos.

now now

I feel like my life is flashing before my eyes. This is said not out of a depressed state. But a reflective one. I was looking at some pictures from my trip to Armenia like almost a year ago, and I feel like it was a million years ago. Actually I feel even a little bit like it didn't even happen. But I know it did. And then I realize that I'm here now. In the situation I'm in. In the place I'm in. And just all of that together produces this feeling that my life is flashing before my eyes.

Which is interesting. Recently God really revealed to me (through reading the Bible and reflecting on my "heart" (like what I think about things, how I'm interpreting situations, responding, etc.) and recent experiences) that I spend way too much time in the "future"--my idea of what the future could end up being like. I have a huge imagination, and so it's very easy for me to intake all of the things that happen around me and output (in my mind) all the possible results of those things. This could otherwise be called as "daydreaming", but I feel like it's more complicated than that.

Anyways, my point is, I've been wasting time and missing so many things by setting my hope and focusing too much of my time and energy into my totally ridiculous idea of what I think could happen. Just even writing that makes me feel more ridiculous.

So now I'm really praying, and really trying to take action to live in the present time. To take in the beautiful (maybe not so beautiful either) things that happen around me-- in short, to use my time well and full, and to not miss things. I want to become more of an observer and an appreciater and a live-life-to-the-fullest-er... which means so much more than what the words appear to say.

Just a little bit of what I'm learning.

ba-ba-batumi

So, I've been in Batumi now for a week, and will be staying until Friday.

We've been doing a lot of different things: visiting university students, playing with kids at the Salvation Army here, visiting with different pastors, we held a conference teaching about missions (what it is and what it's for)... it's been a really great time.

I've had some revelations during this past week.

For one, I realized that I'm not as good of leader as I thought that I was (that was a humbling realization). Just, I still don't quite have this group mentality, thinking about other people and thinking how I can involve them. I want to change this. Or rather, let God change it in me--but work towards it too.

Also, I realized that I'm so eager to serve new people. I can be super helpful in new situations and everything-- but just in my "normal" life, I'm actually quite lazy. And I want this to change to. I sometimes feel like I'm like 2 people, but I want to feel like one whole person all the time, not changing.

Lots of things to think about.

Also, I think that this week was the first time that I ever said to God that if He would have me remain single for the rest of my life, I'd do it for Him. (of course I still want to be married, but before I was 100% opposed to the idea of being single forever...and now I'm just really trying to trust that God knows what is best and I want to do what He asks of me, even if it's something that I'd rather not do. If He asks me, I want to do it).

Lots of things to learn and APPLY in my life. I'm hoping for good changes. Lord, please.

I have a lot of pictures from my time here, but am currently in an internet cafe and not able to upload, so I'll do that when I get home.

Sending my love.

back

Hey you guys!

I'm back in Georgia now. Things were great traveling. I had like no problems at all, which was awesome! And I'm really glad to be back!

sweetness

My blog posts come like the waves of an ocean.

That was the first thing to come to my mind when I started to post just now.

Well, I'm down to 2 days until I return to Georgia! I'm getting excited (in the midst of the heart-hurtingness). Tonight I had a "Georgia" party with my friends who went on that first trip to Georgia with me and with some that went on the second trip, and their families. It was small and intimate, but being with those people just really reminds me of the miracles God has performed in my life to bring me where I am now. The things He overcame in me and helped me overcome. Being with them reminds me of that first-love feeling I had when I went to Georgia for the first time. I loved the little shops on the sidewalks. I loved (well, it was a love-hate relationship) the bumpy roads and the crazy driving. I loved the people and the hospitality. I loved the culture and the age and depth of tradition. I was totally love-struck. And it feels really good to remember all that.

To remember my little room that I shared with Hannah in a house full of Georgian women. Where I took my first "shower" without a bathtub or a shower, and where we flushed the toliet with a bucket of water. Where they cooked over a burner that was attached to the top of a small propane bottle. Where I used to sit and sing songs and try to learn Georgian and communicate with Bela and her sisters.

It was such a sweet time. I feel that I was so small and totally oblivious to many things. But it was so sweet.

I will never be a light unless I turn myself to You...

My heart HUUUUUURRRTS.

It's just hard saying goodbye for extended periods of time. My question now is, "why can't it get easier?"

I'm not leaving the U.S. yet, but I am moving on from my parents and hometown. And it's not even over there. I'll be in Everett for another week, and have to say goodbye to all those people too. It's so emotionally not easy doing this.

Lord, I need your help. A lot of it. I need reassurance that what I'm doing is valuable and worthwhile, and that there is something greater than the difficulty and pain.

Sometimes I wish I could go spend a weekend in like, Narnia or something. Just take a break from life, not indefinitely... just temporarily. Be totally free from everything (emotions/physical burdens, hindrances, weaknesses, pain).

But I understand that I can't, so I'll do my best to be here NOW. And be grateful for what's around me instead of focusing on the pain and the difficulty. That's what I'll do.

So, in line with gratefulness:

I had a great time in the States. Seeing people. Spending time with my parents. Having fun. Eating amazing food. Continuing to learn some incredibly valuable lessons about God's character and life. I feel like I've been refreshed and have a new energy to do what I was doing before, but with more of me. I love my life. I love what I do. I love the people in my life (regardless of the frequency of our meetings). I love who God made me to be. I love who God is (even though I don't even have a glimpse of the complete image of Him and His character). I discovered some sweet new music. I re-increased my English vocabulary (even though that will be most definitely temporary). I was totally encouraged by peoples' interest and care in my happenings and by their prayers and seeking-God on my behalf.

And I believe good things will continue to happen, even tomorrow. Even in a week. Even in a month. And God will give me strength in spite of pain and difficulty.

Father God, thank you.

something to say

I learned how to crochet hats and washcloths.

I'm pretty excited about that.

<-- I made this hat.

And I discovered that I can knit pretty fast (for me) too.

But all this knitting and crocheting is giving me a twitch in my right shoulder muscle. Hmmph.

I hung out with my Dad today watching and NCIS, or NSIC... whatever it is... marathon.

I also went into the Geesey guitar place and asked the owner to play like all of the interesting instruments he had in there. And he actually could for the most part. I was pretty impressed.

Also, when I came in he was like, "how can I help you?" and I said, "you can give me a free guitar..!" He laughed. Little did he know I was making a serious request. :-)

I'm gaining weight too. Hmmph.

take me

I'm feeling contemplative.

Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee
Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love

Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee
Take my voice and let me sing
Always, only for my King

Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee
Take my silver and my gold
Not a mite would I withhold

Take my moments and my days
Let them flow in endless praise
Take my intellect and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose

Take my will and make it Thine
It shall be no longer mine
Take my heart, it is Thine own
It shall be Thy royal throne

Take my Love, my Lord I pour
At the feet of it's treasure store
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee

You know, it's such a strange thing to think of asking God to take all of these things: my life, my hands, my feet, my voice, my lips, my silver & my gold, my moments & my days, my intellect, my will, my heart, my love and myself. It's so bitter in a sense, beyond words--at least in this situation. Because it would take me a very long time to catch you all up on what is happening on the inside of me relating to each and everyone of these aforementioned nouns.

But at the same time, I feel this really sweet comfort even at the thought of asking Him to take all of this. Really warm. And I (at this moment) really want to surrender this all to the One who gave us all these things in the first place.

And I believe.

Frances R. Havergal
This lady wrote this poem/hymn, and here's a little information about her life. It's a kind of long, but definitely interesting.

Christmas Eve

My brother is going to propose to his girlfriend tonight at church.

There is a lot of snow.

I knit a scarf really fast yesterday night + like 20 minutes this morning.

Tonight for dinner I made dolma from grape leaves (meat wrapped in grape leaves). They're still cooking, I hope they turn out okay.

At church I'm going to sing, "O Holy Night".

I made contact with my birth father's family, talked to my grandma and some of my aunts and Uncles. They say that I look a lot like my father, which is so strange to hear. I spend my life not looking like anyone in my family, then I find out I do look like someone whom I've never met. It's not bad, just really really strange. I also found some letters from when he was alive, and in one he wrote to my mother that he would take full responsibility for "his child". That would be me. They weren't married when she got pregnant, and I think they broke up shortly after. But he still wanted to take responsibility for me. My grandma, aunts and uncles all said that he was a really nice guy (my father). Soft-spoken, liked to help people.

I also found out that my Grandma is pretty cool. She's full-blooded German named Hannelore. She's 70, and she works full-time at Walmart on the night shift. I'm pretty impressed.

Tonight at church, I'm going to sing "Away in a Manger" too, accompanied by the auto-harp. It's the same song, same accompanying instrument and same accompanist as the last time I sang that song at church when I was 8 and my birth mother was still alive.

I've got lots of thoughts. Lots of different feelings. Trying to filter them all through the Truth of who God is and not become overwhelmed.

once upon a time in Georgia...

Some pictures of me with Irma & David and Marina before I left. If you have no idea who I'm talking about or who these people are, you can ask me and I will gladly inform you. :-)

(Irma did my hair. Lovely!)

Aren't they cute?

paaaatience.

You know what I realized (re-realized....took a moment from denying....) that I'm entirely NOT patient. Like, not at all. And that's a real problem for me.

Also, I struggle to trust: people, myself, and still (if you can believe it after the amazing things He continues to do in my life and in the lives of those around me)--God.

And I learned that I really shouldn't watch "Extreme Makeover- Home Edition" because it makes me cry.

But back to the serious stuff...

I can see though, that God has brought me a long way in both of those things. I remember back in the day with my friend Tawna (like when I was in high school and such) and we'd be having conversations about God and about knowing Him more and living out of that knowledge, and I was so impatient. I wanted to be in that perfect place of knowing Him NOW. I didn't want to go through any of the things that would cause me to grow into that place. I just wanted to be there in that very moment.

I'm grateful though that He either quenched or just eradicated some of that impatience and He's helped me to make it this far...and it's been quite a long road.

So, I'm trying to hold onto that past experience and knowledge and walk through these days with that in hand, heart and mind. I don't want to waste my life by always looking forward to what will be--and missing what's in front of me.

That rhymed, didn't it? Catchy.

SOOO... Lord, please help me.

In other news, it's snowing A LOT. Ginormous amounts. This is what the window in my room looks like:

But thankfully, we have those base board heater things, so I'm not freezing to death. Just my window.

Okay, I love you guys! Thanks for reading and being interested in what's-a-happening.

New Camera Fettish

My brother's dog decapitated her toy cow.

Creepy chair covers (at night when I walk by them, they kind of scare me if I forget that they are there...)

My Mom has a Santa fettish.

Our family's stockings (note: "Toot" is my Mom's aunt who lives with us)

Little Christmas tree.

Big Christmas tree.

Snow + my dirty car (from driving on slushy freeways)

somewhere over snoqualmie...

So, I made it safely over the pass. It wasn't even that exciting. No massive snow drifts. Not even a lot of cars. But I'm grateful that I made it safely. Thanks for the concern!

Here's some pictures that I took with my NEW camera!





I love Washington.

to tell you the truth...

I went to a really great concert last night! I forgot how much I enjoy live music, especially when it's good. Check this guy out (Noah Gunderson)--I was greatly impressed with his music and with the content of his songs. They made my heart warm.

One thing I really really love about winter: how, at night after it's snowed a bit and this are dusted white, the sky like glows. It's incredibly beautiful. It's night, but not dark, but not light--just amazing. I love it. I want to just sit outside and stare at the sky, if only I could do that without freezing to death.

One thing I'm not sure about--how I'll get over the pass with all this snow. I'm not leaving until Tuesday, so I guess there is some time for it to settle down. But this is one of those situations when I seriously wish I had a travel buddy (call him a husband, if you'd like). Just being honest.

stinging nettles and sushi

You would not believe how much food I ate today. This is the fullest I've been in a long time. And I feel bittersweet about it. Part of me is like, "It's okay that you ate like 80 pieces of sushi because they don't have sushi in Georgia". And the other part of me is like, "I hope you don't make this a habit again, because your Mom and Dad did just buy you new clothes for Christmas, and you want to wear them for a long time."

But I also walked like 3 miles with my friend Lauren, around Greenlake today.

You know, I was in the car on my way home and I was talking with another friend about pictures and keeping them and organizing them and everything and then I realized how much of our life centers on this electronic media (and some non-electronic)--pictures. And then I thought,"what are the pros and cons of the abundance of pictures and the ability to take such real pictures?" For some reason I felt like it was a really like intellectual thought. I mean, what if the fact that we can see such real pictures of places that we've never seen in real life like somehow cheapens that amazing thing...? But then again, I love looking at pictures. The other day I was in University Bookstore and I spent like probably 30 minutes looking through this book of National Geographic pictures, and was just completely enamored.

Okay, I guess my intellectualness is done now.

Oh! I'm taking Freeze Dried Nettle Leaf supplements now, it's supposed to help my allergies (if I even have allergies). But it seems so wacky to me to be ingesting something that is so physically painful when you touch it. Unless there is a difference between stinging nettle and just plain nettle. But I'm assuming there's not.

I want to smell things!

So, I'm in Everett now--for a little over a week.

I feel like time is starting to go quickly now and I want it to slow down a bit, seriously. But I think part of my problem has been: 1) wasting time on the computer instead of finding more valuable things to do. 2) Not focusing on the "now"...living too much in the future or in the past (in my mind) and not being able to appreciate the things that are in front of me at this very moment! 3) Just bad time management in general (you know, watching the hour long trading spaces instead of packing to come to Everett--therefore moving my whole schedule back an hour +, and then not getting enough sleep, being tired...etc.)

But I'm grateful for today. :-)

I'm on antibiotics now for a sinus infection--at least I hope that's what it is and that it will go away very very soon. I started on Friday and I'm still pretty stuffed up. Maybe I need to take decongestant too? Maybe it's allergies? Feeling a little weary of all my nose problems...but hey, at least I have a nose? So I'm still trying to be grateful in spite of my circumstance. It would be really nice to be able to smell though...

angels and bazaars.

very beatufil eye..you kind angel???

Yes, I did just get this message + friend request from a guy on Facebook named "fa ze".

I guess I'll take that as a compliment, but I did not accept his Facebook friendship offer--sorry fa ze.

Yesterday I went with my Dad to a Christmas bazaar in Odessa. It was pretty cool. Two of my Aunts were there too, and one of my Uncles. My Aunt Lois taught me how to crochet. My Uncle Dave kept threatening to pull the string on the scarf I was knitting (which would therefore unravel it all). But I had a really great day.

My Dad is so cool, he designs all these wooden toys and makes them and sells them at bazaars. Here's a picture or two.

Getting things set up

Dad with his toys

A closer view

Me with Dad (we sat at this table from like 9am-7pm)

It was a great day!

note(s) to self

If you ever have a house that you decorate (either you're living in it for a long period of time, or you own it)--NEVER decorate with silk/plastic flowers. No questions, just don't do it. This is merely a cleaning resolution...remember trying to dust those things? Does not work well. And real flowers are prettier anyways.

When and if you have the joy of being pregnant, do not wear long shirts. They do not accentuate the bump in the middle and are not very pleasing to the eye (when pregnant). This is not written because of anyone specific, just observations have proven this to be true.

Please, don't dye your hair ever again. Not that it's wrong, but just don't do it. When you go gray, wear it proudly. And hopefully your body will benefit from choosing not to expose yourself to the massive amounts of chemicals that are in hair dye.

Talk with your children (if they ever exist), find out who they are. You may have given them DNA, and you will influence them by your presence--but they have a unique God-given personality that you need to discover and encourage. Talk. Spend time with them. Love them for who they are.

Actually, do the above with all people (even though you probably won't be DNA related with most of them).

Surrender everything to God, always. Every desire, dream, plan, failure, striving, stress, joy, success... you get the picture. Seriously, you will waste your life if you hold onto things that you cannot control. Either by emotionally traumatizing your body or by just wasting your time.

Note(s) to self.

taking action-- looking OUTward

" And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and will do it."

-1 Thessalonians 5:14-24

I am just so tempted when I come home to get caught up in the, "it's all about me" thing. Which it most definitely is not (all about me), because I am not the only being on this planet.

But I read this this morning and was encouraged to take action to encourage, help, warn. To be patient and kind and to hold onto good. To give thanks and be joyful.

I'm thankful for the reminder. I've been here less than a week, and I was already feeling the laziness kick in. Especially (I think this is the life-long illness with children) when my Mom would ask me to do something, I'm sometimes so slow to do it...and sometimes don't do it at all. So, I'm trying to grow up.

Speaking of growing up...I feel old! (But remember in my last post, I said I used to be afraid of getting old...but now I think that age makes things more beautiful and meaningful?...so it's not a bad thing-- just shocking sometimes). Last night my mom's friend came over with her 2 kids that my brother Josh and I basically spent a lot of our childhood with. And those 2 kids (who used to be like 5 and 7) are HUGE now! Seriously taller than both Josh and I, and all grown up and driving and playing football and stuff. I WISH I would've taken a picture.

Now would be the best time to get a camera, because then I'd have the new-camera fettish where you take pictures of everything. And then I wouldn't have any regrets about not taking pictures of people during my time home. Sheesh. :-)

Okay, off to decorate the house for Christmas with Mom!

big cold friends

I had a great time hanging out with some old friends today. I used to fear getting older. Sometimes I still do (well, the physical ailment of it at least). But I think that my life and relationships seem more significant and meaningful than they did before. Maybe this is just the normal thing that comes along with "maturing", and I haven't discovered anything new. But it's okay, I'm not trying to be revolutionary. This is new stuff-- new feelings, new ideas-- for me. And I'm finding much joy in these little revelations.

By the way, I think I had been away from Ephrata for way too long when I was packing my bags (to come here). Because I specifically remember choosing NOT to bring my long underwear or thick tights because, "it would be warmer here". Well, I was wrong on that one. Today I went on a walk with a friend, and after like 15 minutes my thighs were frozen through. Seriously. But I guess I was right in the fact that it's warmer in houses and in my nice, cute little heated car.

Hey guys, God is big. Bigger than you or I can imagine. Of course, there are many logical things about Him. But there are much more than many things about Him that seem completely illogical, and don't make sense. But He's still God. And I am still choosing and going to choose to trust Him.

in the us

So, I don't know what it was, but for a few days there I seriously could not access my blog. It's like somehow my internet provider in Georgia blocked the site or something...but why? Maybe that wasn't the real problem. But I'm grateful it's working now.

I'm in America, by the way! Ephrata, to be exact.

I'm totally exhausted after not sleeping for basically 2 whole days and being in transit for at least 24 of those hours, if not more. TIRED. But I had a pretty good trip. The flights were okay, I sat by nice people, my layover was relaxed, customs let me take my beloved Georgian food items through (tkemali, preserved figs, etc.) and my parents picked me up at the airport! We ate dinner and then drove another 3 hourish to get to Ephrata. I was conked out in the back seat. Seriously. We got into Ephrata and my mom was like, "look honey, we're in Ephrata!" and I was like, "that's nice"-in my slightly delusioned state, and returned to trying to sleep. But I hope I'll get rested soon.

:-)

6 days

I'm leaving for America in 6 days. 6 days. The idea of going has seemed so far away to me, that I really have shock (excited shock) that it's coming up so soon.

So, I'm already trying to practice my self-control skills, you know like in eating. Since I'm going home around 2 of the biggest food/eating holidays of the year, I want to make sure I'm not eating too much (especially of that good American food that I haven't eaten for 14 months)... :-).

What else? Also, I'm trying to get things in order before I go. I must say that one thing I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy about (really really happy) is that I don't have to pack up my entire room and find a place for my stuff when I go, because I have my OWN room that I will RETURN TO when I come back!! I cannot explain how huge of a thing that is for me. I've had to do that so many times--pack for a trip and then pack up my room to leave for the trip--and it is like 80 times more stressful. So, thank you Lord (and thank you supporters) for an apartment that I don't have to move out of (at least not now).

6 days.

readers

So you know, internet is back!

Actually, it has been for a few days...so you would think that I maybe would've posted something. But now, I waste my internet time on facebook and news.

And so today I had the slight whim to write something semi-meaningful here, but now after an hour and half of doing non-blogging things, it's left and I can't really imitate what would have come out in the moment of inspiration. So sorry.

But I think part of my problem, is that I have no idea what kind of audience I'm writing too--like a real one or an imaginary one that comes along with signing up for a blog (like the one that you think/hope reads your blog...but that doesn't really exist). And not that I would necessarily change a lot about my writing...but I think there's some more inspiration when I know that my words are read and enjoyed.

Eeehhhh-ni-ways.

fantabulous video

Here's a video of one of my high school friends. It's so cool to see her in this! And also, there's footage of my fabulous hometown, Ephrata! So for those of you who are not Ephratians...take a look!

waiting period

So how is this for Georgia: the internet finally gets installed at my house after a waiting period of more than 2 months, and 4 days after they install it the internet company gets shut down because they didn't pay the phone bill.
*Jenni laughs at the ridiculousness while thinking what to do now*

I was never into that whole taking about yourself in the third person and surrounding it with astericks thing, but it seemed appropriate.

So I just got back from spending 3 days in Gardbani. My initial plan was to spend just one night, but ended up staying more... But it was a good break from my busy life in Tbilisi. Gardbani is a small town (even smaller than Ephrata), so it's more peaceful. And also it kind of has become my equivalent to visiting "home", like I did when I was in college, because Diana's mom cooks special food, and really takes care of us. So it was really nice not to think about what to feed myself, or about cleaning the house, or to be overwhelmed with the plethora of opportunities for busyness in Tbilisi.

But now I'm back, and the craziness starts again tomorrow. Honestly I think there are plenty of people who are much more busy than I am, but I FEEL very busy. Partly due to bad time management and my inability to do all the things I WANT to do (knit hundreds of scarves, paint things, learn how to crochet, cook interesting food, read through the 5 books that I've started reading and haven't finished, play my guitar and make beautiful music, walk around Tbilisi enjoying the beauty of fall, etc.) which leads me to this unsatisfied feeling. And also I think I've begun to give more attention to God's work than to God Himself. And that message has been resounding all around me for some time, but I feel stuck as how to bring it into application in my life at this moment. Not that I don't know what I should do, or what the outcome should look like.. I just really am struggling with my application skills. *Sighs a bit tiredly (tired from the worries of life and from wanting physical sleep as well)*

I hope that my desire to write those asterick things soon passes. Ok, I'd better go- my thumb is cramping from writing too much on my small cellphone keys.. (but seriously, I am so grateful for predictive text!).

By the way, if you have not listened to the Jon Foreman season EPs, please do. They will enrich your life.

the rumor

So, the rumor on the street is that some guy from the Caucasus Net office is supposed to come and install internet at my house tomorrow. But I do live in Georgia.

BUT, if he does come, this might actually turn into a blog where you can read about my life and what I'm doing and stuff. Until then, posting from my Nokia N73...

Oh, I am alive, by the way.