*Points to anyone who understands my title*
Hello friends, family, and internet users! I haven't written in my blog in a while because, well, there really hasn't been anything to write about! After I got back from my Christmas vacation, I haven't done much. Still in school, still in soccer, still running, still playing guitar, oh, but I did quit the rowing team (I didn't have any friends on it and all the training we were doing I basically did on my own and we never went on the ocean.) I have started painting, I started a YouTube channel (check it out! http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrDeazXqb5auu3IYBwC4EhQ Swedish Fish & Tea is the name,) I have recently gotten back into reading (I am almost done with John Green's "Looking for Alaska" which I started less than 24 hours ago,) and that is really about it!
This weekend my friend Hope was supposed to come to town and stay with me so we could go to the Aquarium to celebrate our halfway marks, but the weather got really bad... And by really bad I mean winds classified as hurricane level and an exorbitant amount of rain as well as power outages in some places (thankfully not my school or home.)
Recently, I was instilled with the idea of doing a peace crane project. After seeing countless pictures and news articles of the chaotic state (which is an understatement) of Ukraine as well as knowing how tumultuous the Middle East is, the corruption in many African countries, having Hunter tell me about the riots and shootings in South America, the concentration camps in North Korea, and even the poverty in my own backyard of the US or even Minneapolis for that matter (Oceania, you seem to be doing fine for the moment,) I wanted to do something. But I am an 18 year old girl who has limited finances so sending aid wouldn't get me very far (not to mention it would probably be intercepted by the government and used for its own purposes,) and I personally only have connections to countries that are doing just fine. Now what? Well, I have the lovely opportunity to be a Rotary exchange student, an organization that is connected to 200+ countries/territories around the world as well as be an active member of Westwood Community Church which sends missionaries to all regions of the globe. Connections? Check. Now, what do all of these countries lack? A sense of peace and stability with the current situation. The crane/dove is a pretty worldwide symbol for peace so why not send them peace cranes? Seems a little silly, not like the paper birds can get anything accomplished, but it encourages unity between nations and to protest in peaceful manners. Right now the idea is very young and I am still working out my next steps, but it just got me thinking! If you have any suggestions or ways you want to help me, please let me know!
Last, but certainly not least, I am in the process of memorizing the book of James which is proving to be easier than I thought (but still difficult.) I am amazed at the capacity my brain has for memorization! Mind palaces are a wondrous thing! Why have I not utilized them before?! Nevertheless, my favorite verses so far are still in the beginning verses: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know it produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4.) It's not an if question, but a when we are faced with trials. And we should welcome them because they give us the chance to persevere, to thrive which will in turn make us whole. God will make us whole when we persevere through Him in our difficult times.
~Ashlyn
No comments:
Post a Comment