Creative outlet.

It's been another amazing week.

This week focused on worldview and working with those we serve- and after all the discussions I am thrilled all over again at the chance to work with Mercy Ships. I believe whole-heartedly in the model that is being used here to make lasting change.

This was one of my favorite exercises from this week- it was during the worldview section. Our speaker asked us to write on the board the words that come to mind when we think of "the Law".

And then we studied Psalm 119 to see what words David used to describe God's law...

It was a great reminder to keep a Biblical worldview of God's law- His word and instruction is not oppressive and legalistic, but freeing, preserving, good and precious!

 

On another note, I am realizing how important it is to me to have a creative outlet of some sort.

Here is Dangyra and her beautiful creativity:

"Dentist Dan" here is missing the delicate work of drilling and caring for teeth. She has taken to making these beautiful paper creations.

The wonderful bookmark she made for me!

I went on a walk yesterday and took some photos:

I miss photographing people- usually by now I am well into the fall season of portrait photography.

I took some self portraits, but holding my camera out with my arm doesn't have quite the same feel. I may need to coerce a teammate or two to let me photograph them. :)

These guys love to sit on the sidewalk at the IOC once the sun goes down...

I decided that I am going to work on sketching. I just ordered a sketchbook and some new pencils and pens, but here is something I worked on yesterday and this morning...

I like to draw from a photo like this one, but I want to work more on perspective and drawing what I see. I bought a book on kindle with some exercises in it, I'll let you know how it goes.

 

 

"the egg" and pie time.

I give you "the egg".....

It sprang up a couple days ago, one morning it was just there. It has been growing larger every day since. It lives right outside our dorm, and the joke has been that any time now something is going to hatch out of it.

The climate seems to be perfect for fungi right now- there are mushrooms all over in the grass. This one looks like a softball though. Rose and I went out to document it today:

It's been a cool weekend. It was 50 degrees today and I am soaking up the cool fall weather while I can. :)

We had spiced cider with our chili dinner today and it really felt like fall. This evening was pie time- Krystal is from Ontario and tomorrow is Canadian Thanksgiving. In celebration she baked pecan and pumpkin pies, and Nicole baked a GIANT apple pie. I tried all three (of course!).

It 's been a nice weekend. :)

 

Visitors today! :)

My Aunt, Uncle, cousin + family came for a visit today! They live here in Texas and made the drive to come and say hi today. I had a wonderful visit, and got to meet Kristine and Geoff's beautiful little girls!!! :)

We visited for awhile in the gym so that little Lilly could play after a long car ride.

To my family at home... be very jealous- I got to cuddle this little one today:

Earlier in the day we visited the rose gardens in Tyler- this area grows beautiful roses and they are sold all over the U.S.

To my Texas family: thank you so much for making the trip to come see me today! Love you all!

 

Just photos today

There are butterflies all over here at the IOC- I wandered around after class today and took some photos.

If photos of butterflies are of no interest to you- disregard this post.

:)

 

Class time week 3: personal and interpersonal development

Weeks of class time are slipping by quickly here at the IOC. This week we talked a lot about different personality types, strengths, spiritual gifts, conflict resolution, and how all of these relate to ship life. The staff explained that relationship challenges aboard the ship are the same challenges we face anywhere, but under the pressure cooker of living, working, eating, and socializing together every day. It is a small town of about 400 people all living in one vessel.

One of our wonderful speakers from this week included lots of quotes in his powerpoints. He taught about finding our strengths and seeking to put them to use. Below are a few of my favorites:

"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"

"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.

"I don’t much care where--" said Alice.

"Then it doesn’t matter which way you go," said the Cat.

 

"If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there."

 

Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865)

 

"I want to be thoroughly used up when I die."

-George Bernard Shaw

 

I am only one,

But I still am one.

I cannot do everything,

But still I can do something.

And because I cannot do everything,

I will not refuse to do the something I can do.

-Edward Everett Hale, clergyman and author (1822-1909)

 

Myself and my roommates Romina and Erin!

Romina's lovely braid, and Krissy and I

My spot- my name is a smaller font size than everyone else's so that it fits on the card :)

We get pretty great snack breaks...thank you Nancy!

Nicole likes snack break too...

In the last week Nicole and I found out we like almost exactly the same types of music, down to the most random artists. Nicole also played a significant role in organizing the official "Family Dorm Dance Party" we had last Saturday. :)

A few of my notes from today's discussion on confrontation:

-Confront specific actions- not attitudes in general.

-Believe the best in one another.

-Carefully choose one confidant who can objectively be a sounding board.

-Realize that only rarely do we see the whole picture.

James 1:19

My dear brothers, take note of this:

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

Using scripture to find guidelines for conduct, and Yfke making her tea...

And lastly here's me- really enjoying my coffee.

Oh, and this random photo of a lasso hanging on the mirror of a car in the parking lot. There was also a bridle on the rear view mirror inside. I am definately in Texas.

 

 

Study time

new- at the top of the page I added a contact info page with my email address

Went for a coffee + study session at the Anchorage Cafe this evening. This week we are talking about personal and interpersonal relationships, conflict resolution, and spiritual gifts. All of us did a DISC personality profile before we came to the IOC, and we had a great discussion about those today. The teaching was very clear that the profiles are not a way to categorize people, but to help us recognize the strengths and gifts in each other's personalities and recognize that we problem solve differently. God loves variety in all His creation, personalities included.

It was a cool evening so I sat outside

We are reading the book "African Friends and Money Matters"

This book is opening my eyes to how African culture and values affect their view of life. I am thankful that Mercy Ships has us read this book- there are so many ways that westerners can come across as too blunt and impolite. African culture is very relationship focused, and this affects business, finances, friendships, etc.

A nice picture of the chimes next to my table...nothing to do with the topic at hand.

Anyway, learning lots and it's only Monday. Next week (week 4) is called "working with those we serve", and the following week is BST (basic safety training) then it's off to our Guinea field service on October 23!

 

Perspective...

The size of Africa is often distorted on world maps.

Example:

We looked at this last week and the image really stuck in my head- it is a massive land: