Survey the Beauty

Quick Update

2010-06-21T09:58:00.002-04:00

Only 3 full days left in HOT Taiwan! Summer officially arrived today (just on time) with intense and unrelenting heat. I must say that my Northern blood is looking forward to cool Pittsburgh temperatures soon!

A few notes:
-- The semester officially ended this past Friday. The students moved out and I had to move out of the new dorm, as well. I spent most of Friday moving all of my stuff (which was quite a task) to the old girls' dorm building. Two girls will be arriving at the college the day that I leave to help with summer school and will be staying in the old dorm building. It's my job to have their room (where all of my stuff is) ready for their arrival. The old building is.....old, and very secluded on the backside of campus. I quickly decided that I wasn't thrilled about the idea of staying in a dark, empty room by myself for my last week here. Thankfully, the Father always provides for our needs and one of the couples here offered to let me stay in their spare bedroom. They're an elderly missionary couple that has literally been all over the world. I've been having a blast listening to their stories (and eating their homemade meals)! Much, much better than being stuck in a room by myself every night :)
--I'm hard at work preparing lesson plans for the "Intercultural Communications" class that will be taught during summer school in about a week. An MTW worker will be teaching the class, but he doesn't arrive til Thursday night. My job is to have as much of the prep work done for him as possible. This will take up most of my spare time in the next 3 days.
--I'm going to the zoo tomorrow!! Yay for pandas! One of the students, Grace, will be accompanying me. I'm very much looking forward to this :)
--No idea what I'm doing Wednesday or Thursday. Meeting with a student who is doing make-up work...dinner with two dear friends here....hopefully dinner at the teacher's favorite restaurant (and mine, too :))...who knows what else.
--I'll be leaving Christ's College at about 3 am on Friday morning {3 pm on Thursday, Pittsburgh time}. My flight leaves Taipei for Hong Kong at 6:25 am {6:25 pm Thursday night}. I then fly from Hong Kong to Detroit {I'll arrive in Detroit 12:15 pm on Friday, Pgh time} then onto Pittsburgh! My connections are EXTREMELY close. I only have about 1.5 hours in between flights on both stops. Please be praying that there aren't any delays and that I don't have any difficulties getting on my flights. I reeeeeeally don't want to be stuck in any airports.

Well, that's about it. See you soon, Mei Guo {America}! :)

Coming home...

2010-06-15T05:59:00.003-04:00

As I was taking a walk around the neighborhood yesterday, the realization that I'm leaving in a week finally hit me. A week. Time has gone by so quickly. This realization was quickly followed by a wave of sadness. It's just starting to really feel like home here and now I have to leave :(

So, in order to cope with my sadness, I'm blogging :) Below you will find two lists: 1. Ways that I have "become Taiwanese"/things I will miss, 2. Things I'm excited for in America (in 9 days!)

Becoming Taiwanese/Missing Taiwan:
- Umbrellas: It rains a lot here in general, but I came during a particularly rainy season, so umbrellas are everywhere. I've grown accustomed to having one in my purse at all times (something I never did at home).
- Milk tea: As I realized that I'll no longer have this at my disposal in a week, I have been intensely craving it. Seriously delicious stuff. My goal is to have it at least once a day until I leave.
- Walking: I LOVE walking everywhere. I'm really gonna miss being able to walk to the grocery store.
- Chinglish: <3
- My room: This is the first time I've lived "on my own" (I'm in a dorm with a hundred other girls, but I've had to buy my own groceries, etc.) and I've grown attached to my room here. I have to move to another building this weekend and packing up my room has been super sad.
- Food: Despite the random duck blood and squid tentacles, I've really enjoyed the food here and will definitely miss it (especially all the fruits and veggies).
- Students: Sweet smiles....Chinglish....bringing me food....asking me how to pronounce words....everything.

American Things I'm Excited For (in no particular order):
- Family and friends
- Worshiping with my Providence family
- My bed
- Ranch dressing
- Pizza
- Boneless meat
- Fewer mosquitoes
- Driving
- Summer cook outs
- Unlimited texting
- Dairy Queen

James 1:27

2010-06-15T00:16:00.012-04:00

I had the AMAZING privilege of visiting a Christian orphanage yesterday. I went to the orphanage with a sweet girl named Sam who graduated from Christ's College a few years ago. She spent a lot of her life living at this orphanage and has an INCREDIBLE testimony. I loved getting to hear her story and share some of my own, as well.

I still don't think I've really wrapped my mind around this trip. If you know me (or my family) well, you know that there are few things that stir my heart more than orphans (especially Asian ones). I kept having to silently say to myself, "You're in an orphanage in Asia, Jamie. The Father has finally brought you to exactly where you've longed to be for years."

I was only able to stay for a few hours and actually ended up being there during nap time (as you can tell from the pictures). I only was able to hold and feed a few babies (they have a total of 17 right now), but it was enough. The home also takes care of many older kids, ranging from elementary age all the way to high school. These kids were at school while I was there, so unfortunately I wasn't able to meet them.

As I sat in an old rocking chair with a hungry and sweating child in my arms, I couldn't help but reflect on the goodness of our Father. We are all orphans--helpless and in need of care--and we've been adopted by the greatest Father ever. A Father who will never leave us and will always care for our every need. What an amazing gift!

"My whole life I thought I was an orphan. But then I found out that I have been adopted by God and he will never leave me! This gave me so much happiness!" --from Sam's testimony

I can't wait to see what opportunities the Father gives me in the future to serve in Asia. As I sat in the damp and hot nursery that smelled of baby formula and sweat, I felt a great assurance that the Lord's not done with me yet (and that Asia and I won't be separated for long) :)

After Dinner Video

2010-06-12T01:00:00.002-04:00

Last night I went out for Cantonese food with a few friends. DELICIOUS. Here's a quick, random video of everyone after dinner...

Cantonese Dinner from Jamie Stuart on Vimeo.

Photo Albums

2010-06-11T01:52:00.002-04:00

For those of you not on Facebook (or at least not friends with me), here are the links to all of my photo albums (you'll be able to view them without a FB account):

Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Weeks 4-5: Part 1
Weeks 4-5: Part 2
Taipei

Enjoy :)

Zhuwei

2010-06-02T22:42:00.001-04:00

Here's a quick peak at my surroundings while I'm waiting to cross the street in town....

Zhuwei from Jamie Stuart on Vimeo.

A Few Food Highlights....

2010-06-01T01:51:00.013-04:00

The Taiwanese love their food...and I mean, LOVE. The streets are lined with independent food stands and restaurants. I think you could stand anywhere in Taipei and, at the most, have to walk 30 seconds to find food. Here's a little sample of the food I've been enjoying:

{Above: Super tall ice cream cones that cost roughly 30 cents USD.}

Hot Pot: I had heard a lot about this and was very excited to try it for myself! Basically, you have a pot of boiling water at your table, then you take your plate to a big freezer and pick out as many uncooked meats and veggies as you'd like. Throw everything in the pot and voila! A delicious Chinese meal :)

Sha bing: This is AMAZING. It's a big bowl of shaved ice milk (creamier than just shaved iced) covered with fresh fruit. I got strawberry and mango and it was fantastic. This is probably Taiwan's most famous dessert.

Fresh fruit....mango....smoothies: Taiwan is an island. It's really hot and humid. The upside to this fact: delicious fruit.

Sketchy Malaysian food: After we ordered this food at a night market, the students confessed that they'd never tried it before. Great. The rice on the left wasn't terrible, but the soup on the right...."not good," as the students would say. After finding out that the brown things in the soup were pieces of duck blood, I quietly set my spoon on the table :)

Half-eaten Korean food: For the most part, I enjoyed this meal. Korean barbecue is delicious and there were some really yummy veggies. Kimchi is a popular Korean dish that you'll find in Taiwan a lot. It's usually made from fermented cabbage and is rather spicy...I'm not a big fan. Do you see the triangle shaped bread-like things on the left side? I was breaking one of them apart (to eat it) and quickly discovered shrimp head + antennae and little tiny squid tentacles inside. Ew.

Indian food from the food court at Taipei 101: YUM. My naan and chicken curry was spectacular.

Auntie Anne's!: This was an exciting treat from the food court (also at 101.)

Recitals

2010-05-21T04:06:00.014-04:00

This past week, the senior music students here at Christ's College gave their final recitals. I was able to see seven students perform. There is some great talent here! Here are my favorite photos from this week's recitals....

Amazing Grace

2010-05-21T03:56:00.004-04:00

It's an emotional weekend here at Christ's College. A dear couple (that I've been privileged to spend 2 weeks with,) Jim & Sandy Vargas are moving back to the States after eight years of service here at CC. It has been wonderful for me to see the students and teachers here send them off with much love and affection. They're heading back to the US on Tuesday and I'll be taking over some of their teaching and tutoring duties for the remainder of the year. On Friday in Chapel, some of the freshman class sang "Amazing Grace" for Jim & Sandy. Enjoy the video....

Amazing Grace (CC) from Jamie Stuart on Vimeo.

Chapel @ Christ's College

2010-05-15T08:45:00.002-04:00

I've attended the school-wide chapel services twice so far (they have 3 a week) and was able to take some photos, as well as videos. The services are almost completely in Chinese, so I wear a headset and someone translates for me. Enjoy the worship of the Lord in another tongue :)

Christ's College Chapel (2) 5/14 from Jamie Stuart on Vimeo.

Christ's College Chapel 5/14 from Jamie Stuart on Vimeo.

My humble abode....

2010-05-14T04:25:00.014-04:00

I'm living in the girls' dorm building, but I have my own room. There are usually 6 girls to a room here, so eating a meal or hanging out in my big open room is a nice break from the chaos for most girls. I'm happy to open up my "home" to them :) Here are a few pics...

Above photo: My workspace :)

Closets and hallway

Bed and bookcase

My make-shift "living room"

Perfect for sharing a meal :)

My "kitchen"

Hallway

VERY thankful for a normal, Western bathroom (with hot water!) :)

The above poster of my face is hanging up all over campus (and on my door.)

A First Look at Christ's College....

2010-05-13T02:38:00.015-04:00

I had some free time this afternoon, so I walked around campus with my camera to give you a better idea of what my new home looks like! :) Enjoy a few photos of the campus....

This is the dorm building that I'm living in.

This building is where the auditorium and the Education Dept. office are located. I hear music playing from the auditorium every time I walk past it. So fun :)

Taiwan is very green.....

A row of classrooms...

The English Dept. Office

The Chapel

I'm finally here!!

2010-05-11T01:52:00.009-04:00

Ni hao {hello}! After almost a year's worth of preparation, I am finally in Taiwan! It's been a busy and tiring (jet lag is not fun,) but encouraging first few days. I've been meeting lots of people--teachers, students and other staff at Christ's College. I've also had several meetings and observed a few English classes. I thought I'd share a sort of random list of initial cultural observations, highlights, things I love and things that are hard about my new home (for the next 2 months.)

First Impressions of Taiwan:
--The photo at the top of the page is of the Danshui River and the Goddess of Mercy Mountain. There is a walkway next to the river that stretches across most of Taipei. I've taken a walk along this path twice now and I absolutely LOVE it. So beautiful. I love that you can be in the middle of a busy and noisy city, then walk about 5 minutes and be on a quiet tree-lined sidewalk, looking at the mountains. It's the perfect combination of natural beauty & the excitement of city life.
(Below: another photo of the Danshui River and G.o.M Mountain)

--The town is like a county fair in the States....except all the time. The photo below is a street in Danshui within walking distance of Christ's College. It basically always looks this crazy.
--If you hear cheesy music coming from a truck, don't expect to get ice cream. It's the garbage truck. Very odd.
--My least favorite thing about Taiwan, as of now, is that they recycle EVERYTHING...paper, plastic and even food. You have to save all of your wasted food and put it in a special trash can. At this point, I really don't know what I'm actually allowed to throw in a general trashcan.
--So far the only Chinese food I've eaten is jiaozi (dumplings) and a local restaurant specialty--shaved noodles. Both were delicious. My chopsticks skills are improving by the minute.
--I've finally gotten all settled into my little apartment in the girls' dorm building. It's very nice and already feeling like "home." I'll share some pictures of my room soon....
--I ate lunch in my room with a student named Emily today. I learned from this lunch that Pride & Prejudice crosses all cultural boundaries. Even Taiwanese college students love Mr. Darcy! Now that my apartment is cleaned up, I'm looking forward to many more visits from students!
--Even after a mere 3 days, I've learned that living in Asia is always more hectic than you expect. I planned to have some time to relax this morning before my first meeting of the day. Instead, my shower head broke and I spent most of my morning finding another place to shower and getting my own shower back in working order.
--If you're walking in the town, it feels like you're going to get hit by a car or motor bike at all times. Asians have a very different (possibly non-existent) concept of personal space.
--Squid on a stick looks super gross and I will not be eating it.
--What's considered warm/nice weather in Pittsburgh, is considered "really cold" in Taiwan. It's been rainy and foggy the past few days, but it's very warm and humid.
--I've had two older Taiwanese women who work at the school (neither speak any English) tell me that I'm "so cute" and that they have sons who are my age. It's rather hilarious.
(Above: Another view from walking along the Danshui River)
--I got some sort of mango shaved ice drink from the above shop. Yummy. I also tried pearl milk tea (or bubble tea) for the first time. If you don't know what this is, wikipedia can tell you. How the Taiwanese thought of putting tapioca balls in tea is beyond me, but I'm glad they did. I'm excited to try more tea concoctions...

Thank you all for your support and for sharing in this adventure with me! I'm excited to continue sharing my thoughts, stories and photos with you. Feel free to drop me an email (jamie.l.stuart@gmail.com) or message me on Facebook or Skype (jam.ie.stuart.)

The Harvest Is Plentiful

2010-04-06T23:14:00.004-04:00

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'" --Matthew 9:36-38

Empty Hands

2010-03-23T19:50:00.004-04:00

I purchased plane tickets today. This was equal parts frightening and extremely exciting. Our dear Father is faithful and all of the details are falling into place. As I've been thinking about both traveling and embarking on this adventure by myself, I've been overwhelmed with the knowledge of my own inadequacy and the Father's great sufficiency. A song written by Sandra McCracken (one of my favorite song writers!) has particularly struck me over the past few weeks.

"Can't Help Myself"
I confess the things I am afraid of
thorns and danger just around the bend.
I pray for tongues of fire and bands of angels
to come and circle 'round me like a fence.

Chorus:
I lift my eyes to the hills.
Where comes my help?
I lift my hands--empty hands.
I can't help myself.
I can't help myself.
No, I can't help myself.

My enemies surround me like an army,
within, without, the battle's raging on.
I pray the Spirit will be strong and mighty
for courage through the night until the dawn.

Chorus

I trust the Lord, my soul and all that is in me.
Oh, trust the Light to show your darkest parts.
With words of truth and love, a friend who has known me.
A fool would keep his secrets in his heart.

Chorus

"I LIFT UP MY EYES TO THE HILLS. FROM WHERE DOES MY HELP COME? MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD, WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH." --PSALM 121:1-2

An Incarnational Model...

2010-03-05T20:42:00.003-05:00

I recently read the book "Ministering Cross-Culturally: An Incarnational Model for Personal Relationships" by Sherwood G. Lingenfelter. (Fun side note: Dr. Lingenfelter received his Ph.D from Pitt!) Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

"The Bible speaks to all people and all cultures and that Jesus Christ is the only faithful example of divine love in interpersonal relationships and communication."

"Jesus was a learner. He was not born with a knowledge of language or culture."

"God's Son studied the language, culture and the lifestyles of his people for thirty years before He began His ministry...He identified totally with those to whom He was sent."

"Culture, then, is the conceptual design, the definitions by which people order their lives, interpret their experiences, and evaluate the behaviors of others."

"Culture is always learned and shared with others, and in this process, people perceive and respond to one another in culturally conditioned ways."

"Missionaries, by nature of their task, must become personally immersed with people who are different."

"Our goal should be to become more than we are...even if that means being less than 100% American."

"We must love the people to whom we minister so much that we are willing to enter their culture as children, to learn how to speak as they speak, play as they play, eat what they eat, sleep where they sleep, study what they study, and thus earn their respect and admiration."

"Becoming incarnate in another culture will be a trial by fire, a test of inner strength, of personal faith, and most of all a test of the veracity of one's love."

"We must enter a new community of strangers, often without many if not most of the comforts and symbols of home, and begin as children, learning at the feet of those we have gone to serve. We must be willing to become world Christians."

"Jesus attended to the multitude around Him, and then He ministered to Himself."

"Jesus not only grasped the content of Jewish life and culture but also discerned the workings of the minds of the people."

"Jesus created stories to illustrate and teach particular truths."

"Hudson Taylor made similar demands on his missionary colleagues, forcing them to consider Chinese expectations and showing them how their acceptance of Chinese ways opened the Chinese people to the Gospel."

"In America, we find out very little about others as persons because we do not take the time or have the opportunity to observe them."

"For the Christian laborer, then, the challenge is to have an unwavering declarative commitment to the Gospel and an open, questioning, noncrisis-oriented lifestyle and ministry."

"The missionary is sent to people to serve them, to minister to them, to communicate God's love for them. Building relationships is central to ministry. A missionary must devote his or her time and life to personal interaction."

"Although we might be doing a work of love with our hands or heart or mind, unless we show people our love in a personal way by interacting with them as individuals, our work will mean nothing to them."

"We must seek to share our lives."

"To accept one's vulnerability is to be open to the strength and support of others."

2 Months From Now...

2010-02-25T22:53:00.009-05:00

... I will be getting ready to leave for Taiwan! I can't believe how fast my trip is approaching and I'm getting even more excited with each passing day. :) I thought I'd give you a brief update on my progress/preparation/plans/etc.

Funds:
The Father has ABUNDANTLY blessed my financial needs! I almost have 100% of my financial need fulfilled! *sighs* What a relief and a blessing! I am SO humbled by and thankful for the generosity and support of my brothers & sisters.
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." -- 2 Cor. 9:8

Personal Preparation:
As this is my first time serving for more than a week on the mission field (and without a team!) I have A LOT of heart preparation to do! Here are 5 things I'm doing right now:
1. Word study: I just finished reading the book of 2 Corinthians today and man, what a challenge that magnificent epistle is! Paul has a way of teaming boldness with humility that simply amazes me. His love for the Church and his confidence in Christ are clearly evident. {I'm planning to share more about my study of 2 Corinthians in a few days.} Tomorrow I will begin reading the Gospel of Matthew. I chose this book because I want to study closely the teachings and character of the One I will be representing while in Taiwan (and here in Pittsburgh.)
2. Other books: I just finished reading a really insightful book on how to deal with conflict in cross-cultural ministry {A post of my favorite quotes from this book is also coming soon.} I have a few other books on crossing cultures, as well as books specifically on Asia that are on the shelf, waiting to be read...
3. Rosetta Stone: Thanks to my dear friends, the Landons, I am the thankful owner of Rosetta Stone for Mandarin Chinese. Part of my purpose at Christ College will be to engage in conversation in English with students, but it would definitely be awesome if my Mandarin vocabulary wasn't limited to about 10 words. I'm hoping to soak in as much Mandarin as possible while I'm there and RS should be helpful preparation for my ears, eyes and tongue :)
4. Asking Questions: How can I show the most love possible to the students at Christ College in a mere six weeks? What personal sins will rise to the surface when I am confronted with loneliness, conflict and uncomfortable situations? {I'd love for you to ask me questions, too :)}
5. Talking to strangers: If you want the full explanation of this, just ask me. It's too hard to explain here :)

Prayer:
1. Pray for the hearts of the people that I will be in contact with--students, faculty, random people on the street (or plane)--only the Father knows where seeds will be planted :)
2. Pray that I would have clear focus on my purpose for serving and that I wouldn't get caught up in details and planning.
3. Pray for the staff at both MTW and Christ College who are working hard to get me on the other side of the world.
4. Pray that the Father would fill my heart with overflowing love for Him.
5. Pray that the Father would give me a humble spirit and that I would be joyfully willing to "become a Taiwanese child"--learning the most basic elements of a brand new culture and way of life.

Thank you again for your prayers and support! I look forward to sharing more with you soon...

Xie xie!!

2010-02-11T23:29:00.003-05:00

Thank you SO MUCH to all who have supported me! Within two weeks, I already have 75% of my needed support! This is such a relief and a blessing to me! I have enough to purchase my plane tickets soon! :)

ps. "xie xie" = "thank you" in Chinese :)

Asia Bound

2010-01-17T13:34:00.003-05:00

Hello all! As you can see from the title of this post, I am heading to Asia this May! I'll be using this blog to share with you during my 6 weeks in Taipei, Taiwan (and in the months prior to my trip.) Below is a copy of the support letter that I've mailed out....

Dear Friends and Family,

I hope this letter finds you well rested from the holidays and newly thankful for another year of life. I'm writing to share with you why I'm incredibly excited for what 2010 holds for me. As many of you know, I graduated from Robinson Township Christian School in June of 2009. Since graduating, I have been taking a full class load at a community college, working at a local coffee shop and enjoying living at home with my family. Since early September, 2009, I have been in the application process to be an intern for Mission To The World (MTW.) MTW is the mission-sending agency of the Presbyterian Church in America (the church denomination in which I am a member.) Through MTW, I spent ten days working at a church in Tranas, Sweden with a team from my church in July of 2007. This time around, I'm excited to announce, I will be heading even farther east to the beautiful island of Taiwan! I have been invited to serve at Christ College in Taipei, Taiwan for about six weeks in the summer of 2010.

Christ College was established in 1959 by Dr. James R. Graham Jr., a lifelong missionary to the Chinese. It is a standard four-year Christian Liberal Arts College with around 600 students and 55 faculty members. Christ College is committed to building a strong faith in the lives of their students through Biblical teaching and discipleship. The school's desire is to also reach out to non-Christian students and win their hearts for Christ. While at Christ College, I will be assisting teachers in the classroom, tutoring students in preparation for (English) finals, preparing materials for their summer Bible camp and most importantly, building relationships with students. I will be arriving at Christ College in mid-May, just 5 weeks away from finals. I am praying that I will be of great service to both the faculty and students as they busily work toward finishing another school year.
To read more about Christ College, visit http://www.christc.org.tw/.

So....why am I going? Why am I leaving friends, family and comfort for six weeks to live in a nation so unlike my own? Simply put, I'm going because I believe that the Father has a heart for the nations. I'm going because I believe there are souls in Taiwan that desperately need the good news of a Savior. I'm going because Jesus has commanded me to share the Good News with every tribe and every tongue. I'm going because the Father has given me a heart for the Chinese and a desire to encourage the hearts of his Chinese children. I recently read the autobiography of J. Hudson Taylor, the founder of China Inland Mission in the late 1800s. He recalls a conversation with a Chinese convert who asked him: "Is it possible that for hundreds of years you have had the knowledge of these glad tidings in your possession, and yet have only now come to preach to us? Oh, why did you not come sooner?" Since reading these words, they have been burning a permanent imprint on my heart. I have been given this gift of salvation and hope, who am I to remain silent?

I'm asking you to prayerfully consider partnering with me in my service to the Lord's Kingdom in Taiwan. It will cost roughly $3,500 for me to serve in Taiwan for six weeks and I need the financial support of the Church here at home. More importantly, I desperately need your prayers in the months ahead as I prepare to leave and during my weeks of service. This will be the longest I've ever been away from home, not to mention I'm heading to the other side of the world by myself! I know that despite the blessing and excitement of the trip, there will be times of hardship, loneliness and discouragement. If you feel able and led to support me, please simply mail the enclosed form to the address listed. All checks should be made payable to Mission To The World, and should include "Jamie Stuart--17139" (my MTW account number) on the memo line of the check. If you're interested in giving online, please go here: https://www2.mtw.org/donations/donate/AddDesignation.aspx?No=17139. Even if you are unable to commit to supporting me through finances or prayer, I'd love to keep you updated on my trip. I will be doing my best to update my blog (www.jamielynnstuart.blogspot.com) with stories, photos and prayer requests. I will also be sending out updates via email. If you'd like to be on my email list, please send an email to jamie.l.stuart@gmail.com and let me know! I'd also love to meet with you in person to pray with you or share more about my trip. Please send me an email (to the address listed above) if you're interested in setting up a meeting with me.

In His Service,

Jamie Stuart

More details and news coming soon!

Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T09:00:00.002-05:00

In light of the holiday (and because sometimes I enjoy being cliche,) here's a list of 25 things I'm especially thankful for this year (not in any special order):

1. The salvation I have in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
2. My loving and committed church family.
3. My parents and siblings--living at home this semester has been anything but stressful!
4. LVOP--I love these beautiful ladies and singing with them is one of my favorite activities :)
5. RUF--What an answer to prayer and a blessing! I've loved getting to meet new people and study the Word with others who love Jesus.
6. CCAC--Never thought I'd say that. haha. But, thanks to CCAC, I have no debt right now.
7. Barnes & Noble--I'm thankful for a steady job and a pleasant working environment.
8. Coffee (and all of the coffee shops I now frequent as a college student--especially Niko's.)
9. Skype--Best invention ever. I love getting to see my friends that are away (for free.)
10. My MacBook--I can take online classes because I have it....and I just love it. :)
11. RTCS--My college classes seem easy because I was so well prepared in high school.
12. Music (both listening to and making)
13. Having time to read
14. A car to drive (and the freedom that comes with that)
15. Google Documents--keeps my schoolwork and life organized
16. Chick-fil-A
17. Indian summer days in Pittsburgh
18. Mail (both electronic and paper)
19. My cell phone
20. Ugg boots, scarves, hats, gloves and blankets--so I don't freeze :)
21. Twitter & Facebook--provides entertainment and the means to stay in touch (or stalk)
22. My camera
23. Joss Whedon--his genius has provided much joy for me.
24. Good conversation--Spending a lot of time alone definitely gives you an appreciation for good conversation with thoughtful people.
25. Life in general--I love it and I'm doing my best to live it to the fullest.

Joy Is In Our Hearts

2009-11-25T14:00:00.002-05:00

I recently purchased the new Sara Groves album (for $5 on amazon.com) and the last song on the album really stood out to me...here are the lyrics:

"Joy Is In Our Hearts"
We were pressed on every side
Full of fear and troubled thoughts
For good reason, we carried heavy hearts

It is good to come together
In a friendship to remember
All the reasons, hope is in our hearts

Alleluia, Alleluia,
Christ, our joy and strength
Alleluia, Alleluia
Christ, our joy and strength

Now with patience in our suffering
Perseverance in our prayers
With good reason, this hope is in our hearts

Alleluia, Alleluia,
Christ, our joy and strength
Alleluia, Alleluia
Christ, our joy and strength

Oh, we saw the face of the angels
Many good things well secured
For good reason, this joy is in our hearts

Alleluia, Alleluia,
Christ, our joy and strength
Alleluia, Alleluia
Christ, our joy and strength

For good reason, joy is in our hearts

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This song is such a simple, powerful and beautiful reminder of the reason for our joy and strength: Christ. Even when we are pressed on every side and our hearts are heavy, Christ is our one, true source of overflowing joy that never fails.

Market District Madness

2009-11-17T23:36:00.005-05:00

For those of you living in Pittsburgh, I hope you've already experienced the awesomeness that is Market District....for those of you not living in Pittsburgh (or you just haven't ever been to one,) allow me to enlighten you.

Market District is quite possibly the most amazing store I've ever been stepped foot in. (See the above photo. Sorry for the lame quality--it was the best I could do at night :/) It's essentially a new and very improved Giant Eagle with a whole lot of impressive quirks. When you first walk in the door, an employee is there to hand you a map. A map. For a grocery store. I found this highly amusing, but after about five minutes, I realized that I definitely needed it. This place is HUGE (as you can see from the photos.) When you walk in the main entrance, you're standing directly in front of the produce section of the store. This section alone is probably the size of a normal Giant Eagle. They literally have any fresh grown product you can think of--and in great abundance. Example: There was entire wall containing different types of mushrooms. To the left of the produce section is the standard grocery store side (although much larger than normal.) There is also an impressive Health & Beauty department that is unique to Market District. One of my favorite quirks of the grocery store side is the container of bread, milk and eggs right by the registers--just in case you need to make a quick stop for essentials. :) Oh, did I mention the ridiculously amazing cheese department? And the deli? And the bakery? And the candy shop? And the coffee shop? Yep. They're all inside.

The above photo was taken from the second floor cafe of the first floor "market area." To the left of the produce, is the international foods section and the "market." The international department is really fun--I even found some foods I had in Sweden! The market area is what really amazes me. There are all different sorts of stands offering freshly prepared food. For a complete look at everything Market District offers click here. My favorite stands include: Asian street food, the juice/smoothie bar, crepes and gelato.

This is a photo of my dinner....Tandoor roasted chicken, rice, naan and mango chutney. *deeeeelicious* While I was waiting in line, I literally watched the chef bake the naan he put on my plate. I also got a fruit smoothie from the juice bar and watched the employee cut up the fresh fruit for my drink. Amazing. The second floor of the store is all restaurant style seating, so you can enjoy your food there. Bonus: they also have free wifi.

Seriously. A store that has (good) Asian food, smoothies, coffee and made-to-order crepes--in addition to actual groceries? Yes, please. I spent about two hours there (by myself) just wandering around and exploring. I strongly recommend checking it out if you haven't already. Even better, come share some curry and naan with me and we can explore together. :)

A Day in the Life of a Cafe Barista

2009-11-13T00:25:00.004-05:00

I work in the cafe at Barnes & Noble. Most of the time, work is pretty regular and uneventful. Then sometimes, I have nights like tonight.....

4:00--Arrive at work
--We're really slow, so my fellow co-workers and I stand around for awhile and talk.
--Mr. Alouise comes in and I vent to him about my terrible online history class.
--Heather comes in and I make her a drink.
--Two of my fellow co-workers (who weren't working tonight) are sitting in the cafe, knitting. They decide to remove yarn from a skein and roll it into a ball instead. A GIANT knotted mess of yarn is created. Since there's nothing else to do, the other barista and I decide to help them untangle it. So, four B&N employees are spread out across the cafe, with clumps of knotted yarn between them, laughing hysterically and hoping we don't break anything.
--During this time, two of our regular customers walk in, shake their heads, chuckle and walk away. haha.
--The second regular returns and I spend about 15 minutes at the counter with her--attempting to make a drink the exact way she wants it. She changes her mind multiple times and I throw away one attempt before the second one is perfect.
--A random customer orders an extra dry cappuccino and compliments me on making it well (if you know anything about coffee, this is a great feat.) This just about makes my day.
--While sweeping the floor, I overhear a middle aged woman say to her two friends: "This guy I was dating, who was ten years younger than me, still lived with his parents. But, he had a Porsche." I find this highly amusing and giggle to myself.
--The regular customer (mentioned above,) who walked away, came back and while I was making his drink asks: "So, did Chandler's eye fall out?" (Chandler = another barista who recently cut her cornea with her contact lens.)
--Cleaning....stocking....more cleaning....mopping....
--Done with everything by 10:08 (8 minutes after the store closes)....22 minutes early. I punch out at 10:11 and head home.

I enjoy my job.

Pre-Wedding Weekend in Maryland

2009-11-11T00:53:00.011-05:00

(L to R: Me, Alex, David, Annie)

On December 19th, 2009 (38 days from now, I believe,) I have the honor of being a bridesmaid (along with my dear friend, Annie Donahoe) in the wedding of David Williams and Alex DeVore. David, Annie and I have been friends since preschool and have stayed close, despite the fact that we live in three different states. Annie and I have just gotten to know Alex, his fiancee, this past year and we absolutely love her! We couldn't have picked anyone more perfect for our friend and brother in Christ.

This past weekend, my Mom and I drove to Maryland for Alex's bridal shower. Since we all don't get to see each other very often, we definitely make the most of our time together. My mom and I arrived late Thursday night and Friday morning David, Alex and I took the metro to downtown Washington DC. We walked around town for awhile, ate at the mall food court, went to the Air & Space Museum and of course, took lots of pictures. :) After Annie's flight arrived in DC, we went back to the Williams' house for dinner with the whole family. After dinner, we watched a few old tapes from when they lived in Pittsburgh. It was so fun to see Annie and I sitting next to each other in church at the age of five! It is an INCREDIBLE blessing that the Lord has preserved friendships in my life for so long (and I pray that He continues to do so.)

Awesome photo that Alex took of me in DC

The happy couple in front of the Air & Space Museum

The Capitol

<3

The shower was held Saturday afternoon at the Williams' church. Everything went according to plan and it was a wonderful time of celebration and fellowship.

The set-up

Alex with the bowl I made for her and David (also known as Forrest)

Her beautiful cake :)

All of the yummy food :)
(Special thanks to my Mom for preparing most of it.)

After the shower on Saturday, Alex, Annie and I (David was working) went into downtown Annapolis. What a beautiful city! Unfortunately, it was way past daylight when we went, so I don't have any photos (hopefully I'll get some in December.) We walked around town and then sat in a coffee shop for a few hours (we had lots to learn about each other.) I'm thankful for the beautiful hearts Jesus has given my friends and the privilege to run this race with them! I can't wait for the wedding!

ps. I'll post more pictures soon (probably on facebook.)

"Beauty Will Rise"

2009-11-11T00:26:00.003-05:00

Last week, Steven Curtis Chapman released his much anticipated album, "Beauty Will Rise." Written after the tragic death of his young daughter, Maria (pictured above,) this album is immensely personal in nature. I have a great love and respect for the Chapman family (because they love China and orphans, too) but to be completely honest, I've never been a huge fan of SCC's music. It tends to be a little too far on the cheesy side of "Christian music" for my taste, but I have many friends that love his music. I heard many positive reviews of this new album, so I decided to give it a try. My first listen-through was in the car and it quickly became a driving hazard. Almost every single song made me cry (weep might actually be more accurate.) Musically, the album is primarily acoustic (guitar, piano, various strings.) The simplicity of the musical arrangements preserves the "raw" and personal nature of the lyrics. I read one review that compared the writing style of the album to the psalms and I readily agree with this assessment. This album is clearly the evidence of a believer working through intense grief and pain (think King David.)

Each song addresses different aspects of his grieving process--pain & tears, waiting on God, the hope of seeing Maria again in Heaven, healing within their family and trusting that God will bring beauty out of this tragedy. I have yet to listen to the song "February 20th" without crying. It's a beautiful retelling of the day that Maria asked Jesus to live in her heart and take her to his "big, big house with a lot of rooms." In another favorite of mine, "Heaven is the Face," he looks forward to a place without cancer, hunger, orphans or enemies--our Heavenly home that his daughter has already gone to.

This album is beautiful and a testament to the amazing faith of the Chapman family. Despite such a life-changing tragedy, they have placed their hearts in the care of their Heavenly Father. This album has set my mind on heavenly things and strengthened my trust that God's plans for my life are better than my own.

Spring?? Already??

2009-11-01T23:09:00.002-05:00

This past week I registered for my spring semester. It seems so crazy that I'm almost finished with my first semester of college! Thankfully, I was able to get (almost) all of the classes I wanted and even more importantly, ALL five of them are online. The online classes I'm taking this semester have worked out well and doing everything online next semester will allow me more time to work.

Here's what I'll be studying in the spring:
English Composition 2
Forensic Anthropology
Logic
Art Appreciation
Intro to Psychology

Sounds thrilling, right? {note sarcasm} I'm looking forward to Art and English....the others, not so much. Oh well. Gen Eds are part of life, I guess. :)

Happy Autumn!

2009-10-21T00:02:00.012-04:00

The campus ministry I'm involved in is called Reformed University Fellowship (RUF)....but it really should be written Reformed University FELLOWSHIP! Fellowship is certainly a key part of this group and I've loved every minute of it! A little over a week ago, we had a party celebrating all things Autumn--mostly pumpkins and some Luther thrown in there, too (see above picture--pumpkin carved by the lovely Mrs. Elisabeth Snider.) We ate lots of yummy pumpkin foods, watched Fantasia and carved pumpkins.

*Fellowship*

All of our delicious pumpkin foods!

Carving mine and Jessie's pumpkin...

We decided to do the drama masks. Jessie sketched them out,
then I carved the comedy side and she did the tragedy.

We named it Gloucester because we gouged out its eyes with a spoon (we're nerds.)
{ps. If you don't "get" this, you should go read King Lear by Shakespeare right now.}

P.F. Chang's!

2009-10-16T12:00:00.001-04:00

On Wednesday, Heather and I went to the new P.F. Chang's at Settler's Ridge (in Robinson, off of Rt. 60) for dinner. Every time I eat there, I become more convinced that it's my favorite restaurant ever (and that I need to eat *real* Chinese food.)

I firmly believe that family style (sharing everything) is the only way to eat Chinese food (and any food, really.) Heather and I shared lettuce wraps (always amazing,) Orange Peel Chicken and Lemon Chicken. Everything was delicious. I already can't wait to go back. Who wants to come with me?? :)

Me with the P.F. Chang's horse (and my left-overs.) :)

"I Know One Day God Will Take Me Away..."

2009-10-15T18:00:00.001-04:00

Today, October 15th, is a nationally recognized day to remember babies lost by stillbirth or miscarriage. At 7:00 pm, families across the country light a candle for an hour in memory of their lost child{ren.}

I am remembering dear friends today that have lost precious children. Despite the solemnity attached to this day, it is comforting to remember that our Father holds each of us in His hand. He already knows the exact time He will call each of us home--including the covenant children that never experienced life on this Earth. Please remember, along with me, to keep those families that are mourning in your prayers today.

For more information, watch this.

RTCS Rams Soccer

2009-10-15T12:00:00.002-04:00

On Tuesday, the RTCS Rams had their last home soccer game of the season. Both Johnny and Jared play on the team, so I did my sisterly duty and came to the game to cheer them on. It was a great game and they won 4-0. To celebrate, we did the Christian school thing and went to Chick-fil-A after the game. :) Above is a picture of myself, Jill (my sister) and my mom trying to keep warm (in our matching hoodies) during the game.

Johnny and Jared at Chick-fil-A

Mom and Dad

I <3 waffle fries.

Carli and me :)

Everyone squished at our table.

RUF Fall Retreat

2009-10-14T20:20:00.014-04:00

It's been a very busy, but fun, few weeks. I have a few posts lined up to show you what I've been up to.

This past weekend, I went on a an overnight retreat with the RUF (Reformed University Fellowship) group at Pitt. Derek Bates, the RUF campus pastor at Pitt, preached at Providence over the summer and I first heard about the work being done at Pitt. When I found out that I wouldn't be attending Geneva this fall, I contacted Derek and decided to get involved with the group at Pitt. It's been great so far. I'm so thankful for the way God has provided a strong Christian community (that's my age!) for me--even though I'm living at home and not on a campus. I'm sure I'll have much more to say about RUF over the next year--it's a lively group that likes to have a lot of parties!

We left Oakland on Sunday afternoon and headed north to one of the girl's (Evelyn) houses. We spent the rest of the night outside by the fire--eating yummy food, talking and singing. On Monday morning, we took a walk to a local park for some fooling around and a game of capture the flag. It was a much-needed break from the stress of work and classes and a great time of fellowship.

JJ cooking the deer meat burgers (from a deer he shot himself!)

Having fun on the swings at the park

On the playground

James 3

2009-10-03T22:39:00.003-04:00

First off, I'm doing much better than I was in the picture from my last post. I think I'm healing well (at least I hope so) and life is back to normal. During the few days that I was stuck in bed, resting from the procedure, I thought a lot about James 3. {side note: We're currently studying James in my Sunday school class, so the book has been on my mind a lot.} James 3:5-6 says:

"So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!
And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness.
The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body,
setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell."

The truth in these verses became very real to me as I felt the affect that such a small part of my body (my lower left jaw) had on me. The pain I experienced in my mouth caused exhaustion and weakness to my entire body. How much more does the sin of my words infect my whole being!

Getting "cleaned up"

2009-09-30T13:30:00.003-04:00

Today I learned what this phrase means when used in an oral surgeon's office. Nothing with my mouth/teeth can ever be easy. My surgeon had to do a "procedure" today to remove infected tissue that had tucked itself away in the place where my wisdom teeth used to be. Hopefully the infection's completely gone now, but in the meantime, I'm stuck with a swollen face again.

Indescribable

2009-09-24T23:13:00.003-04:00

Thanks to the G20 Summit taking over Pittsburgh (its roads, in particular,) my class was canceled today. Sooo, instead of class, I visited RTCS for the weekly Chapel service. My friend and fellow graduate, Alena Landon, was also able to visit today. I've really enjoyed being able to visit RTCS since graduating in June. It's so amazing to me that I spent 13 years in that school, yet God perfectly prepared my heart to leave it. I don't feel any sort of strong attachment or "need" to be there (as a student again) when I visit. I felt very peaceful and as if I had completed all the work He had for me at RTCS when I graduated. I was really nervous that I'd have a hard time with not returning this year, but the Lord has been faithful. All I feel is simple encouragement when I return there. The teachers are just as caring and loving as they were before and the students are just as fun and like family. It's encouraging to me when I'm surrounded by worldliness (whether it's at school or work) to remember the amazing work God is doing at RTCS in the lives of the students, staff and families. I was reminded of that work today--by hearing a teacher's testimony and singing along with my former classmates. I'm so overwhelmingly thankful for God's provision for RTCS and I know that He has provided so abundantly because of the faithfulness of the people there.

ps. On a more ridiculous note, I used the teachers' stall in the restroom today and felt really rebellious (students aren't permitted to use it.) haha. I promptly informed Mr. Wirebaugh (the headmaster) that I broke a rule because I can't get in trouble anymore. haha. :)

G20 Pittsburgh Summit

2009-09-23T23:41:00.003-04:00

For the next two days, Pittsburgh is just about one of the worst places to be living.
Here's why: http://www.reason.com/news/show/136283.html

Here was the highlight of today--G20 Summit "eve":
http://kdka.com/local/g20/West.End.Bridge.2.1202586.html

Yep, you read correctly. Go green protesters attempting to chain themselves to the West End Bridge. In my opinion, the only "go green" people that have a right to protest here are the ones that walked to Pittsburgh. Think of all the fuel being used by thousands of protesters traveling to Pittsburgh by car, bus or plane. People are silly.

I'll be sure to post anything "exciting" that happens. I'm hoping to get some photos of the traffic craziness, too.

ps. The only win of G20: classes are canceled.

Attn: Music Nerds

2009-09-23T00:06:00.003-04:00

I'm a music nerd at heart and this brings joy to my soul. Kudos to my friend, Alena, for sending me the video. {Warning: he swears a little at the end.}

ps. I still love Canon in D....but I love cellos more.

Wild Swans

2009-09-21T13:46:00.004-04:00

"...But all this introspection was really designed to serve no other purpose than to create a people who had no thoughts of their own...."

This is a statement I just read in Wild Swans, a memoir of three generations of Chinese women. I'm about half-way through the book and LOVE it. The author, Jung Chang, paints an intricate picture of what life was and is like in Communist China. She begins the book with the life of her grandmother--a concubine to a warlord general, and continues the family history with her mother--a committed worker for the Communist party. At my current place in the book, Jung is about thirteen years old (1966) and living on a compound for Communist officials and their families.

This book has already immensely opened my eyes to the reality of Communism and the effects it has had on the Chinese people. As a "sheltered American," the descriptions of the cult of Mao and the overwhelming propaganda that had overtaken the country send shivers up my spine. From Jung's point of view (in the quote above,) you can see how the deception of the government in its lust for power essentially "brain washed" the people into believing anything decreed by Mao.

Once I finish the book, I'll write a more thorough post on my thoughts and impressions. Until then, you can be reminded (along with me) to be praying for the Kingdom work being done in China. All nations are in the Lord's hand and I know that He will be faithful in the lives of His Chinese children.

Preface

2009-09-19T22:23:00.003-04:00

Hello and welcome to my new online home! My Pilgrim Photography days are over (at least the official part,) but I decided to start a new blog as an attempt to keep all those who've moved away (and I suppose those who are still here) updated on my life. For right now, my posts will be somewhat random and coincide with my daily life and thoughts. I'm hoping in a few months it will take a little more specific direction, but I'll share more about that later. :)

The title that I've chosen for my blog comes from one of my favorite hymns, 'To Christ The Lord Let Every Tongue." You can read the lyrics here. It's a beautiful hymn with chilling words that deeply resonate with me. I thought the phrase "survey the beauties" was very fitting to describe my purpose in writing and sharing. I'm offering you a "survey" or brief overview of my daily life and in that, I hope you will see the beauty of the Lord's work in my life. I also love the phrase "on His glories dwell." I hope that this blog will serve as a way for me to reflect and dwell on the glory of the Lord and encourage you to do so as well.

So....what is my life like right now?
--I'm currently a freshman at CCAC (Community College of Allegheny County.) This was not my first choice in school (and I don't feel the need to explain all the details,) but I feel confident that the Lord's plan for my life (including my college career) is perfect and far better than anything I've attempted to plan myself.
--I'm taking four courses this semester--three of which are online. (If you're curious, I'm taking Astronomy, Intro to Sociology, American History 1 and English 101.) I attend my basic English Composition class two times a week and the rest of my class work is done via the internet and textbooks.
--That being said, I spend about 80% of my week in coffee shops. I'm able to stay focused and get a lot more done by doing school work away from home. I'm definitely loving this aspect of my life. Sitting in a coffee shop with a book, a latte and good music playing in head phones is my idea of a fantastic day. For the most part, you can find me at Niko's Coffee House.
--I've also kept my job as a barista at the Barnes & Noble Cafe (I really do live and breathe coffee right now.) It's hard to believe I've worked there two years already! I enjoy my job and I've gotten to know some of the people I work with really well.
--The other 20% of my week: I'm a member of my church's choir as well as a WONDERFUL ladies ensemble called LVOP (Ladies Voices of Providence.) I've also gotten involved with a small group that meets at the University of Pittsburgh through RUF (Reformed University Fellowship.) It's a great group of believers and I'm thankful I can be a part of it.

While my life doesn't sound terribly exciting on paper, I'm hoping I can come up with some fun and exciting things to share. We'll see how it goes. :)