ACCEPTED!!

Yes, I am accepted into AIM now!! However, I do not have an assignment yet.
I am excited about going and look forward to getting my assignment. When I find out where I'm going and what I'm doing I will be sending out letters and setting up presentations so that I can raise the money to go to wherever I am sent. I thank people for their prayers concerning the raising of salary.

consider the lillies...

Lately I have been wondering if I should minimize my term to six months. The thought of raising $15,000 might as well be $1 million billion dollars in my eyes! Although, God does say consider the lillies and all their beauty; and look at the sparrows that are only worth 2 for a penny, they never toil or sow; and yet we are cared for mor than these. What I need to do, whether I go for 6 month or a year, is stop worrying.
Today, after church a couple that I have never met before asked me about my "i africa africa" shirt. They asked if I had been to Africa, and so I told them I had and that I was currently preparing to go back, except to East africa and that I need to raise my own funds. They said that they'd be glad to help me out and that I should keep them informed! So, there you go--lillies! Everything will be taken care of and I need not stress.

side note- another funny thing that happened at church today was what I said to the pastor from my church at home, who never remembers my name, and for the hundredth time was apologizing after service. I watched "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" last night and it was still fresh in the mind, so I told him "remember meghan, which means precious gift from God, coming from the greek word "mega", so, "mega" or "omega", God--Meghan... so there you go, its greek!"

This weekend I had an interview with the regional recruiter for Africa Inland Mission. We have spoken before, but this was the official interview. We'll see what happens. I'm not sure if all my references are in yet. Then I'll find out exactly where I'm going...

The new year begins!

Well, the Christmas season has come and gone again. People are paying their credit card bills for all those precious gifts that I'm sure everyone loved and appreciated. riight.
I have trouble enjoying the whole Christmas spirit, in fact I tend to forget it exists for the most part because I am oblivious to the chaos, except when I walk into any Wal-mart or engage in random small talk. It is then that everyone is embracing the birth of Jesus with a swift wave of the Visa...dna dna dnaaa.... CHARGE!!! Yeah, that is exactly what God was thinking when he became flesh in the form of a vulnerable baby human. I know this all sounds soo sarcastic, but I can't help but express my feelings on the subject. Of course, its not like I didn't over spend my budget in any way (which is not hard to do)... my family would cry if I didn't buy something. However, I do not get lost in the rush. The internet is a wonderful place and so is working at a store over Christmas. www.beadforlife.org click and click...I've helped women and children in Uganda and got presents for my Mom and sister. Work for two weekends at the Outfitter in Harper's Ferry and BAM!, my Dad 's presents are bought, at an employee discount. My Friends? www.worldvision.org and they have given schooling and medical care to people in developing countries. As for everyone else, while I was getting orange juice at the Grocery store, I happened upon a display of Christmas cards for buy one box get one box free. All together I probably spent an hour worrying about the consumerism side of Christmas.
Still, I had trouble focusing on the REAL part of Christmas. I don't why, but this year came and went, and left without saying hello or goodbye. It saddens me for it to be that way. I feel like, at Christmas, I should be in awe of all that God has brought to us and what Christ endured to be our sacrifice. This year, was weird. Although, there were the little things that made me think about the real Christmas. It sounds lame, but at First Baptist in Martinsburg, I received a little devotional booklet that has 30 days, and loved it! Another little thing was on Christmas day I had a dream that my Grandma was alive for a day and we talked about her childhood in Guatemala the whole time. It was a great present. How did she know that's what I was asking for for Christmas?
So, that's the end of my shpeel for now, and for all who read this, feel free to comment on this post. Maybe you feel differently, maybe you can add to my opinion.

jot for the day

One of the things to always remember: Call or email your references before sending in your application. One thing that I was taught in every business of art class, but did not follow through with when the time came. It has definitely been difficult to get a hold of one of my references and the questionaire is probably at his house by now. So, I would just like to pas that on to others so that they know how not to do things. The six "P's" is always a good rule: Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance. Something that I should have thought to do.

Not much more to update for now, except that I'm at home with my little family in Maryland for the week of Christmas. I need to break it to my Mom that I'm probably going back to Africa this fall. I have been holding off on it until I felt like it was likely...now's the time. The reason why its not an easy task, is because she gets really scared for me and so I have to reassure her that God could take me as a sit on the couch eating chips just as easy as in Africa. My Dad knows that I applied, but probably doesn't know that I'm serious about it yet. Before I left for Mali, my Dad was really upset about me going, but eventually, he supported the idea.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!! <><

One thing I left out in yesterday's blog was my internship at the U.S. State Department. There, I was able to learn a lot about East Africa and specifically, refugees. It was there that I realized that my mom was either a refugee or an IDP (internally displaced person). My Grandfather is a Serb, and lived in Germany because he couldn't go back to his country after the war; and my Grandma was a German, but an IDP. So, my mom was one of the two, but I do not know how they identified her. It is interesting how things connect like that.
Yesterday, I left off with going to WVU. Last spring I graduated, and worked at a boarding school for teenagers with behavior problems. There, I learned and then taught survival and search and rescue skills, as well as doing a form of therapy with them. Currently, I am substitute teaching and in January, will take over as a guidance counselor for 3-5 graders, until the end of the school year.
It is in September, that I will most likely leave for Africa to teach for a year. I am excited to go and ask for your prayers as I prepare mentally, spiritually and financially for this trip.

my thoughts

To those who read this, but do not know me well, I have a passion to work in Africa. three years ago I went to Mali, West Africa, with Drew University and the African Art Museum of NY, through my college, Shepherd, and with the lovely assistance of my prof. Rhonda Smith. While I was there I felt completely at home. The only problem I had was that everywhere I looked, the women were doing all the work to care for their family. So you might say, "ugh! Feminist!" But no, I'm not actually a feminist, but I am against women having to give up their dignity to feed their kids, while the men folk play chess. Now, there were some men working, and power to them, but mostly I saw women.
So, you might think that, that is where it all started, but not exactly. When I came home from Mali, I didn't know if I'd ever be going back to Africa. I had a heart for the developing countries and could see myself in Latin America just as soon as Africa. Also, I looked into seminaries to get a Master's degree in Christian Counseling and Discipleship, with a focus on Women and their families. While all that was happening, my new friend, at the time, Rachel, was preparing to go to Namibia and was studying Poli sci. at Shepherd. Talking to her about her passion really gave me the desire to study more about Africa. So then (and this might sound crazy), I went to West Virginia University for 2 years to get a SECOND Bachelor's degree, but in International Studies with a focus on Africa. During that time my passion grew, and even narrowed down to East Africa. Through the books I have been reading about Sudan, and Northern Uganda, and Rwanda, and the DRC, I have made a personal connection with those areas.
Well, in an effort to keep this post brief, I will divulge more history and anecdotes later...
until then, may God bless your week!