Father's Day should be everyday.

Daily Dabbles.

Life here is becoming so normal to me that sometimes I forget to share the little things... so, here are a few little normal things. 

This is the view from my balcony. Oh, I love mornings out there. 

I work with an NGO as an Education Strategist... and this is how I get to work in the morning:

 This is my office. Sure, I've got a desk, but I like to spread out my little work station on the rug. 

This is one of the village schools I'm working with. Teacher training, ESL camps, and even health camps are on the horizon. 

The ole pizzeria is quaint... and my friends here are BALLER. 

Sometimes I have a "Shoot... I really do live in India" moment... like when I walked by this little guy. 

"We're just people"

When I was saying goodbye to my grandma before I left the States, I told her I'd miss her, and she said, "We're just people. There are people everywhere." Hmm. It's hard to think about the ones that hold chunks of my heart in their hands as "just people," but the more I travel, the more He provides people to love on me and encourage me. It blows my mind that He uses "just people" to remind me of His love over and over again. 

"Just people" sent me out and promised to love me forever. 

"Just people" do life with me.

"Just people" come visit me. 

"Just people" let me live with them for 6 weeks in Thailand. 

"Just people" Skype in just to say hey. 

        

But, you know what? They're just people. It's true, but the One who sent me on this journey is with me every step of the way. 

"It is God to whom and with whom we travel, and while He is the end of our journey, He is also at every stopping place." 

— Elisabeth Elliot

May: in journal snippets

5/1- A part of me feels like I just got to India, and the other part feels like I've been here an eternity. 
5/2- Because of His love: I'm changed. Different. New. Shattered. Altered. Transformed. 
5/3- Oh, let truth sink into my head and heart today. 
5/4- I was in survival mode- I definitely needed time in Thailand for restoration. 
5/5- If we're not having problem people attracted to us, we need to ask why. 
5/6- Our God id higher than any other. 
5/7- I learned to drive stick shift today. Right side of the car. Right side of the road. Right side of the world. 
5/8- I'm broken, yet you chose me. Me. It blows my mind. 
5/9- My Thailand visa expires tomorrow, my passport is still in the US, and I'll soon be jail bait, but I love it here. 
5/10- Ruth made it to Africa. I absolutely love her and wouldn't mind being attached at the hip from this point on. 
5/11- The amount of time I spend in coffee shops with a journal in my lap directly relates to my sanity. 
5/12- I currently have traffic lights painted on my big toe nails. 
5/13- Line dancing with Thais is freakin hilarious. 
5/14- Friends. Unstoppable. Though we're scattered, we stand together. 
5/15- "Are you ready to head back to India?" Yes. No. Yes & no. I don't know. Yes?
5/16- This is the day that the Lord has made. 
5/17- You carry me when my own steps would just get me in trouble. 
5/18- Transformation. 
5/19- Turns out, I just had a run-in with the Royal Thai Police. I'm an "alleged offender" for overstaying a visa. I don't recommend it. 
5/20- His creation declares. Proclaims. Pours out. Reveals. 
5/21- I sobbed on the way to my flat from the airport... mostly because I saw on the road as a soul who desperately needs Him. I'm broken to pieces. 
5/21- I want to be ready. 
5/22- Sunday. Free to breathe. 
5/23- I'm ready to follow if someone else leads. 
5/24- I press on. 
5/25- Forget not all his benefits. 
5/26- Early mornings in the Word. 
5/27- Stronghold of my life. Lifter of my head. What I seek. 
5/28- Noise is overwhelming.
5/29- The quiet. 
5/30- Strength. 
5/31- I want chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.

To be cool.

The #1 rule to being cool is to appear to be un-phased.


I'm not very cool. 


There's no way to be un-phased in this place. 

My Mother.

In honor of Mother's Day, I couldn't decide whether to write a poem or tell some 'your mom' jokes (like... your mom is so poor your family had to eat cereal with a fork to save milk), so I'll settle with telling you about a stunning woman named Eva Jo Wilson who means more than the world to me. 

Beautiful. 

Selfless. In every way. 

Compassionate. 

Hospitable. 

Kind.

Witty.

Sassy.

Passionate.

Lovely.

Strong.

Brilliant.

Humble.

Faithful.

Hilarious. 

Nurturing.

Spontaneous. 

Mom.

And... she's pretty much encompasses every part of Proverbs 31. Read it. I'm not kidding.

BAM. April Acclimations.

From India to the ole UAE, Oman, and Thailand... my ability to acclimate to new cultures has been officially tested and tried over the last month.  

Somewhere along the way, it hit just like that. The dreaded “wall.” I had been warned, but I guess I thought I could avoid the flow of tears and sense of paralyzation that comes with it, but no, I am not above the “wall.” 

Once I got to Thailand to apply for a new visa, I had enough time on my hands to process life in India, and honestly, thinking through my experiences was more overwhelming than the experiences themselves. The intense spiritual darkness. The heartbreaking stories. Poverty. Overcrowded streets, shops, homes, temples, and mosques. Beautiful friendships. Bold believers. Oppressive noise levels. Dysfunctional school system. Abundant need. 

I didn’t realize how worn out I was until I had time to rest. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until I had time to breathe again. I didn’t really think I needed a break, but who is in control here? Good thing it’s not me. I’m SO thankful that “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.”  Though I felt like I came kicking and screaming (well, I’m not that dramatic), He is using this time to restore my spirit and to renew my focus. 

Why do I love Him? Because He loved me first. Why do I follow Him? Because He told me to. Why does he love me despite my flesh and pursue me even when I’m lost in my own world? I have no idea, but I wouldn’t trade this relationship with the King for anything.  

Foreign to Familiar.

It just takes one step to go from foreign to familiar. One step off a plane into a country you call home. One step into the arms of someone you love. And today, one step into the local Starbucks. 

One second, I was in Thailand, and the next, I was somewhere so familiar that I stopped dead in my tracks. From tuks tuks, elephants, and idols to muffins, mugs, and the sweet smell of coffee. The menu was the same... well, except for "Coffee Jelly"... ? ... and the barista greeted me in Thai, but everything else was the same.

I've never loved franchises so much in my entire life. For a second I felt like I was sitting in the Starbucks on Kingwood Drive... just 5 minutes from home. Home. Familiar. Not foreign. 

Oh, by the way, Foreign to Familiar is a legit, practical book that has nothing to do with this post, but is a must-read before spending time overseas. 

Oman. Oh man.

I know, I know. Not many people would choose to vacation in the desert of Oman, but not everyone has friends who live in Afghanistan and jump up and down at the freedom found in this particular Middle Eastern country. After living in India for a while, this less-populous land was just what I needed to detox and process the last few months of my life.   

From overcrowded to desolate.

From endless colors to sand and sea. 

From to-dos to sweet vacation-induced oblivion. 

My heart raced as I rushed through the Dubai airport to find my sweet friend Allie Brill. Along with some of her fellow teachers from Afghanistan, we rented a sweet minivan... I mean, megavan... and headed down into Oman. Armed with a roadmap and somewhat keen sense of direction, it took about ten hours to conquer a six hour drive.

Mountains. 

Castles. 

Camels.

Dunes. 

Beachfronts. 

We arrived in the quaint little village of Fins that we called home for the week. A legit front porch. A five minute walk to a secluded beach. A ten minute drive to an intense sink hole. Surrounded by 'wadis' that are perfect for hiking and swimming. Sweet Omani fishermen share their day's catch as a "Welcome to Oman." Therapeutic walks along the shore looking for fun shells and dying of laughter as Al was "crab hunting."   

Refreshing. 

Delightful. 

JustwhatIneeded.

Monstrous March.

Let's face it. 


I'm 5'9", and I live in Asia, so I feel a lot like Elf some days.


Turns out, we have a lot in common.


When I wear my hair in a high bun (my personal favorite), I can't stand up all the way on the bus and my poor bun SMACKS into doorways. In my mind, I say, "High bun slapppp" every time it happens. 

I don't blend in very well... so I get stared at a lot... mostly because I'm white... and partially because I'm HUGE....

I have to concentrate HARD when conversing in my newfound language, so sometimes, embarrassingly enough, I bend down to listen. 

The owner of a guest house I stayed at last week was REAL worried because he thought the beds would be too short for me... "Sir, I'm big... but I'm not THAT big."

I don't take it personally. Really. But sometimes lately I have felt awkward... like there's no where to hide... or like there's a raccoon CLAWING at my face. 

So... I press on. Even though I'm taller than the next guys, and sometimes I sit in seats that are a tad too small...

...I love it here. 

Untold Stories.

Just the mere thought of human trafficking has always been something that has got my blood pumping.

But now, my heart no longer just beats faster because of trafficking statistics or news stories.

 

They're real people. Real friends.

Real tears. Real fears.

 

I hate sin. So bad. 

Families, misled. 

Boys, sold. 

Girls, raped. 

Hope, lost. 

Hearts, broken. 

Stories, untold. 

Safari.

This morning...

I rode an elephant out into the woods. 

And got to see dozens of rhinos. 

I discovered that elephants have these cute little hairs. 

I got to hang out with these crazy girls. 

And chill on the back of this Dumbo. 

 

I'm one happy camper.