Kirsten's article

I just loved reading this today.

It's an article written by Kirsten Boal, who is the daughter of Pastor Alan and Ruth Boal. The Boal's are Irish national partners of MTW, the missions organization I work for. I had the pleasure of visiting them, the interns working with them, and the church itself in July of 2005 in Dublin (see pic). This was published recently in the Irish Times. I found to it be quite heartfelt and inspiring.

"Keeping the faith" by Kirsten Boal

Teen Times: I always wear three bands. One is the well known WWJD, which stands for What Would Jesus Do. Another says GOLF, meaning God Of Love and Faithfulness. The last one is FROG: Fully Relying On God. This is my favourite - if I ever feel lonely or scared, I glance at this one and I know God is there.
Whenever I meet new people, they nearly always ask me what the bands mean. It is a fun way to describe my faith. I like wearing these bands because I love being a Christian. I suppose that seems strange seeing as I'm only 15 and there is a perception that young people are not committed to their faith.
A general reaction to Christianity is that it is boring. Sometimes I think other religions, such as Buddhism, are made to look more attractive, or allowed to be taken more seriously, such as Islam. There is a lot more to Christianity than Bible-bashing. It's hard for me to imagine not having God in my life. In the morning I always feel safe knowing that I'm going through my day with Him.

I go to Abbey Presbyterian church on Parnell Square, Dublin. I sometimes hate the thought of getting up for 11am when I could be lying in bed. However, when I get to my church and I'm with my friends, it makes it all worthwhile. There are not many young people in my church but those of us who are there have known each other since we were small and so we all get on really well. I like to meet the older people too; they always ask me how I'm getting on and take an interest in what I am doing.

We've got people from all over the world in our church. I've met people from Africa, China, Romania, Bulgaria, France, America and lots more. They are all very interesting. My dad is the Minister of the church and so we are often asked to go back to houses for dinner. The food from different countries I have tried has been really good, even though I was reluctant to eat it at first because it was like nothing I'd had before.

On a Saturday night I go to a youth club in another church in Adelaide Road. Loads of my friends would be out drinking but I don't need drink to have fun. I love hanging around with the people in the youth club because they are Christians and are a great support. I don't mind taking any of my other friends along because it usually shows them that Christianity isn't as boring as they thought.

When I was a child I went to Africa, as my dad was a missionary there. I hope to go back there with my friend Laura some day. This summer my family and I are interested in going somewhere different on missionary work. There are lots of ways to help people, both in Ireland and the rest of the world.

In the summer I go to Teenstreet, which is organised by the Christian group Operation Mobilisation. This is a huge gathering of teenagers from all over the world who are Christians. It is held in Germany, and it is the most amazing experience I have had. I've made loads of friends there. I keep in touch with them by e-mail and we help each other with our faith. The music is so heart-warming and really makes me feel closer to God. In Teenstreet, they help us to express God in whatever way we want, whether that is through art or music or socialising.
God is great, is what we say, in all the different languages of the participants at the Teenstreet event, including Irish. This is so true; I don't know what I would do without Him guiding me through life.

As it is coming up to Christmas, I look at my What Would Jesus Do band and know that what he did was come to earth as a baby to save us. He changed the world. And He changed my life.
Kirsten Boal (15) is in transition year at Mount Temple School, Dublin

Dinner in Buckhead and this week has been sooo great

As I write this, my cat Soxie is sitting next to me resting herself on my leg =).

My time off from work and school this week has been fabulous. The weather has been incredibly awesome, and I've been able to get things done inside (i.e. cleaning and watching Husker football) and go running and walking outside. Thanksgiving Day I was able to see my aunt Charlotte and cousins Jenny and Becky who I hadn't seen in about two years at least. It was fun seeing them and my Atlanta relatives, not to mention many in-laws and then my Indian friend and her mom and an Indian guy and a Pakistani that my aunt and uncle brought. The food was incredible and although I was second to last in our game of hearts I left with a full stomach and heart.

Last night Amy and Laura D and I went to dinner near Laura D's house for her 2_th birthday. She lives in an area of Atlanta that I'm quite unfamiliar with so this was quite an educational experience. Up until last night, I thought Buckhead was largely just for parties and eating out. So when Laura told me that she lived in West Buckhead, I was kind of skeptical because Laura's not a partier and she lives in a nice condo in a quiet neighborhood. As we made our way to dinner, we drove by some beautiful houses and a PARK even, then popped out just south of the Buckhead party area. Interesting. We headed on to Jabitos (I think?) this sweet Mexican place. I was already facinated by the new surroundings which only intensified at the restaurant because I think for the first time in my life I went to a public place in Atlanta where there were no black people. Everyone was white and super preppy. Apparently, Buckhead is not just parties galore but also people from the Old South with money and whatnot. But, I basically lost interest in all of this when the chips and salsa came because the salsa was so scrumptous my focus could not be on anything else.

On the way out though Laura finally spotted a black person and as we we looked closer you could tell he was obviously homeless. What the crap. Atlanta is by far the most diverse place I have ever lived, and normally I see just as many white, black, and hispanic people in a day of all socioeconomic backgrounds. But even Atlanta is not immune to segregation and the divide between the rich and poor.

We did have a lot of fun and got to talk some shop because Laura and Amy are veteran counselors. OH and one more thing, don't ever watch the movie American Dreamz, because it's really American nightmarez.

My PSI BFF's

This weekend I was able to spend time with my two BFF's from PSI: Alison and Morgan. Alison was getting married in Thomaston, GA and Morgan and I had the honor of being two of her bridesmaids. Neither Morgan and I had ever been to Thomaston which is a small town about 1 1/2 hours south of Atlanta. We had a fun time "exploring" the place. Let's just say it didn't have Starbucks, but all the food was really good and we did get some exercise around the "downtown" area a few times. The big disappointment was not getting to try the Big Chic, which always had a hopping drive through. It just never seemed appropriate to show up for any of the wedding activities smelling like fried chicken.

Alison's family and friends were awesome though and she got married to Andrew, a terrific guy!!

Next week we'll all be back to our group counseling presentations and final videos and exams. So it was super nice to have the break and enjoy spending time together. Plus, how else would we have been able to try both egg custard and coconut egg custard pie in the same sitting?

Last day of group therapy

On Thursday afternoons I have my group therapy class which consists of half lecture and then half group therapy. The lecture helps us get the concepts and the therapy helps us experience what that's like since many people have never been a part of it before.

We split up sort of randomly during one of the first classes into our two different groups. Each group is led by a student leader who has graduated from our school. After lecture we get with our groups and go to the room for "therapy". I put that in quotes because it can never be true therapy because it's for a class, we're required to be there, and it's a bit weird being with fellow students who will see you over and over again in different classes.

Today was our last time for the therapy part and so we were supposed to write an encouraging notecard to each person in the group sharing what you learned from them or how you wanted to say goodbye to them. We brought them and exchanged them. It was really really cool to see what people wrote. Here's a couple of mine.

"I have appreciated the authenticity with which you approach topics. You appear to speak your mind and creatively incorporate humor into your genuinuess. I enjoyed your quirkiness."

"You were the one in the group who I felt like I had the most in common with and enjoyed sharing with the most. I appreciated your honesty and your humor that you brought to the group. I though it was admirable to be able to share about your mom, even though you were unsure about sharing at all."

"In keeping with my true nature of conciseness, I have elected to say goodbye to you by selecting three words/terms that you have embodied in our group from my perspective: honesty, comedy, self-awareness. Thank you for the gift you are and will become."

Anne of Green Gables

This weekend I was reminded of how much I loved reading the Anne of Green Gables books which I did for the first time just four years ago. My friend Ami loves them and somehow introduced me to them and so I read at least the first three books from the series.

Today I decided to start rereading the first book. As I pulled my copy off the shelf I found the handwritten inscription on the first blank page which was written by Ami. She gave me this sweet collectors edition copy for my 23rd birthday, about a month after my mom passed away. It was a very fun and well-timed gift. In the inscription she referenced a particular quote from page 377. It was so applicable to my life then and as I read it now it spoke to me in the same way. Sort of eery and cool, eh? Here it is:

"I shall give my life here my best, and I believe it will give its best to me in return. When I left Queen's my future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a bend in it. I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does. It has a fascination of its own, that bend, Marilla. I wonder how the road beyond it goes-what there is of green glory and soft, checkered light and shadows-what new landscapes-what new beauties- what curves and hills and valleys further on."

It's that time of year again!!

That's right- it's bumper sticker season!!

It's starting right about now with election day and will continue through 2008. Of course, I'm excited to continue sporting my three stickers around the metro Atlanta area.

I'll surely keep you posted with any especially creative stickers I see.

Of course in my area the most popular bumper sticker is the Raza 102.3 radio station one. For obvious reasons.

I love this time of year!! Only 1 1/2 hours left of voting time before we have to wait 2 more years!

The Lone Arcacia~ July 13, 2006

"Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord." ~Habakkuk 3:2

Quotes

This week I was reading an online journal written by a couple that goes to my church. The husband has battled with colon cancer for about 10 years. Here is a couple of quotes from the journal that really resignated with me:

"Those who dive into the Sea of Affliction bring up rare pearls." ~Charles Spurgeon

"We are all created with hearts that are factories of desires that never close and are always trying to manufacture happiness."

"God is my treasure, my rock, my rest, my comfort, my nourishment, the lover of my soul. He is compelled to satisfy me in Himself alone. The faith you see outwardly in me is merely an evidence of God's miraculous transplant of my heart. It provides the confidence that, when I turn from all other objects and sources of comfort, God will shape and satisfy my deepest desires."

It's weird

Sometimes when I spend a few moments looking through my pics and facebook walls of my Kenya teammates, I can't believe I went there and did that for two months. Wow.

White and Nerdy

Weird Al's play on the song "riding dirty". It's worth it.

I think my brother might actually be in this catagory. Like him, the guy in the video can name Pi to a 1000 places.

Erica, you're awesome for sending this to me!

Today was filled with these.....

If you haven't checked out www.despair.com you should. It's hilarious.