There will come a time you'll see with no more tears
And love will not break your heart but dismiss your fears
Get over your hill and see what you find there
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair
-Mumford & Sons
The soundtrack of this place is the rain, and the timbre ranges from raucous to sweet. The only umbrella you need is a no-fear-attitude of getting wet (or your custom Solomon Islands umbrella made from banana leaves that triples as an umbrella, placemat for food, or sleeping mat - your choice).
Reading the Bible in a different language has been giving me a global perspective of God - how awesome is it that he understands every language, that he knows not only the names of every single one of us, but also our worries, our concerns, our needs, our joys? No matter if we live in a little village on the outskirts of Honiara, Solomon Islands, or in downtown New York City. He is God, and he cares for us. He cares. Doesn't it just make you wanna shout?! I am so humbled and blown away by His love.
People know so much pain and hurt in this life. I wish I could wrap each abandoned child up in a blanket of truth and hope, and pour words of love over the wounds of those I meet. I want my heart to be reflective - a mirror of Christ's heart.
This is all going by way too fast - sometimes I wish I could freeze time just so I could actually take the time to etch these pictures and these moments into my brain and my memory.
I love the Islands.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Ah! So much has happened since my last post - I'm not really sure where to
start. We spent last last week on the island/province of Malaita staying with
host families in local villages and running our workshop downtown during the
day. And then this past week we've been back in Honiara at our base in the
capital doing festival stuff and workshop stuff! Seriously, this is the
coolest. The coolest!!!!
For the sake of time I’m just gonna update about Malaita tonight --
We took a boat out to Auki, the capital of Malaita – the seas were surprisingly pretty rough both going and coming (had one girl on our team get sick on the way there, but not too badly) Overall, the boat rides were super awesome. We spent most of the time on the top railings because it was the coolest, temperature wise, had the best views (gorgeous sunrises and sunsets), and was the least rocky. Got to ride through the passage (through the Gela islands) on the way back and that was so beautiful. Little villages on the coast all along the way – we picked up several passengers through the Gela’s (In order to pick them up, they have to paddle out in a wood canoe and then jump onto the ship from those. Pretty fun to see!)
We were split up into 3 teams to stay in villages – one team of 3 downtown in Auki, one team of 5 in a big village a few kilometers out of town, and then me and one other girl named Sarah out in a village by ourselves called Fulikaomae.
We were the most blessed duo (in my opinion, haha) in a lot of ways because we were blessed and given the challenge of living in true village fashion – Fulikaomae is a ways up in the mountains so we had to hike quite a bit every day, but it was the most gorgeous hike. Beautiful views of sunsets and stars and full moons (never gets old...gets me every time).
We stayed in the small guest house/community center that was next to the church. Had no indoor electricity, but one hall light that was plugged into the church's one outlet and strung across the yard. We slept on mattresses on the floor underneath a mosquito net (wish I could post pictures!) Several girls and women were assigned to look after us, but really we felt like the whole community took turns. Everyone would come and cook our meals and sit in our house to talk with us/play games/ sing songs. There were always people with us. Literally. Haha, it’s a sign of care and love and respect in this culture – it would be unthinkable to leave anyone by themselves. They wouldn’t even let us go to the bathroom by ourselves (Haha! One time in the middle of the night I tried to sneak out to go to the “smallhouse” (outhouse about 20 yards away from the house) – I didn’t want to wake any of my friends up - but one girl, Florence, woke up and saw me and scrambled to walk with me. Haha! I got a scolding :) It was really sweet, their act of surrounding us and really caring for us, but being an introvert...it was really hard sometimes to never have a single second to myself. I wanted to soak it all up, but waking up to 9 girls sleeping next to you can be a real invasion of space! Haha) But, we really got the chance to be a part of the community fully and were able to build really deep, strong relationships. I especially got close to two girls about my age - Melicka and Florence. We would story for hours upon hours into the early morning.
We woke up each morning around 6 am when the bell at the church would chime for morning prayer (built-in alarm clock), but the roosters started crowing at 2 am, so sleep was hard the first couple of days, haha. During the mornings we went down to Auki for the workshop (the festival itself was on hold in Auki because the workers who were building the festival village hadn't been paid yet, so we actually didn't get to see any festival stuff that week like we thought we would...haha! Only in the Solomon's would they postpone a festival like this for a whole week!)
But the workshop went great! So awesome. Since the festival itself was on hold, we were the main attraction in town, which was an interesting twist of events. We had people from lots of different language groups come! So neat to the see the differences in culture just in neighboring language groups and neighboring villages. Overall, I'm just amazed at how open these people are, how hungry they are to bring change to their people, and how creative! They were coming up with extensive lists of arts, needs, etc. And! They would write full songs on the spot! They created tons of dramas, presented special traditional dances, traditional feasting rituals by the women (they brought in their banana leaves and bamboo with food cooked in it!) Super cool to see, listen, and take in. We made so many new friends - I just love how friendly everyone is. I wish every place was this friendly and this excited to create and invent and work towards positive change.
The afternoons we spent debriefing for the most part - figuring out what worked best that day and deciding on stuff for the next day, waking around Auki going to the market and such. One day we went to a really cool waterfall in our friend Malcolm’s old village a ways up in the hills and played all afternoon! It was so awesome to just relax and hang out. There were several jumps of different heights (how often do you get to cliff jump over a waterfall in the Solomon Islands?!?!) and a bunch of the village children came and joined us which was really fun. My team is awesome - just so blessed by them.
We usually got back to our village around 5 or 6 and went for a “swim” (usually a bucket shower or a swim in the river to bathe), ate a dinner of local food (usually fresh fish with rice or noodles), and then spent time singing songs, in Pijin and in their native language Kwara’ae (I was able to learn a lot of basic Kwara’ae phrases while I was there! It was so cool to learn – wish I had time to stay and learn more…it really is true that immersion is the quickest way). We played games with the tons of kids in our village and storied for hours about life and family.
The last night we were there, the village had a big Potluck feast and they presented us with all kinds of gifts and trinkets – tons of beautiful shell necklaces, lavalavas (wraps), t-shirts, and our friend Florence even sewed us pillowcases! These people. They are just so wonderful. Some of them even came to the worship service in Auki that we attended Friday night, and to the wharf to see us off on Saturday! Just so full of love - I miss them already. I will never forget their love and hospitality. It's cool to think that we all look at the same moon every night.
Malaita was a cool, powerful experience but definitely hard at times. Being an introvert… about midway through the week I got pretty discouraged and tired by the constant presence of people and no time to myself to regroup and re-energize. I would crave the 2 minutes that I could spend by myself in the bathroom stall – haha. But God is so good and this time was a true time of stretching and refining. He really provided me with blessings in solid relationships and deep, meaningful conversations to give me energy and purpose – I was super encouraged by the workshop. Again, just blown away by the creative minds of these people. But more importantly, by their openness and willingness to just jump in and do it without inhibitions.
And that was Malaita! And my internet time is up. I’ll update what’s been happening this past week at the Festival here in the capital hopefully in the next couple of days! IT'S SO EXCITING!
Love and hugs to you friends – I miss you all so much. Praying for y’all daily!
For the sake of time I’m just gonna update about Malaita tonight --
We took a boat out to Auki, the capital of Malaita – the seas were surprisingly pretty rough both going and coming (had one girl on our team get sick on the way there, but not too badly) Overall, the boat rides were super awesome. We spent most of the time on the top railings because it was the coolest, temperature wise, had the best views (gorgeous sunrises and sunsets), and was the least rocky. Got to ride through the passage (through the Gela islands) on the way back and that was so beautiful. Little villages on the coast all along the way – we picked up several passengers through the Gela’s (In order to pick them up, they have to paddle out in a wood canoe and then jump onto the ship from those. Pretty fun to see!)
We were split up into 3 teams to stay in villages – one team of 3 downtown in Auki, one team of 5 in a big village a few kilometers out of town, and then me and one other girl named Sarah out in a village by ourselves called Fulikaomae.
We were the most blessed duo (in my opinion, haha) in a lot of ways because we were blessed and given the challenge of living in true village fashion – Fulikaomae is a ways up in the mountains so we had to hike quite a bit every day, but it was the most gorgeous hike. Beautiful views of sunsets and stars and full moons (never gets old...gets me every time).
We stayed in the small guest house/community center that was next to the church. Had no indoor electricity, but one hall light that was plugged into the church's one outlet and strung across the yard. We slept on mattresses on the floor underneath a mosquito net (wish I could post pictures!) Several girls and women were assigned to look after us, but really we felt like the whole community took turns. Everyone would come and cook our meals and sit in our house to talk with us/play games/ sing songs. There were always people with us. Literally. Haha, it’s a sign of care and love and respect in this culture – it would be unthinkable to leave anyone by themselves. They wouldn’t even let us go to the bathroom by ourselves (Haha! One time in the middle of the night I tried to sneak out to go to the “smallhouse” (outhouse about 20 yards away from the house) – I didn’t want to wake any of my friends up - but one girl, Florence, woke up and saw me and scrambled to walk with me. Haha! I got a scolding :) It was really sweet, their act of surrounding us and really caring for us, but being an introvert...it was really hard sometimes to never have a single second to myself. I wanted to soak it all up, but waking up to 9 girls sleeping next to you can be a real invasion of space! Haha) But, we really got the chance to be a part of the community fully and were able to build really deep, strong relationships. I especially got close to two girls about my age - Melicka and Florence. We would story for hours upon hours into the early morning.
We woke up each morning around 6 am when the bell at the church would chime for morning prayer (built-in alarm clock), but the roosters started crowing at 2 am, so sleep was hard the first couple of days, haha. During the mornings we went down to Auki for the workshop (the festival itself was on hold in Auki because the workers who were building the festival village hadn't been paid yet, so we actually didn't get to see any festival stuff that week like we thought we would...haha! Only in the Solomon's would they postpone a festival like this for a whole week!)
But the workshop went great! So awesome. Since the festival itself was on hold, we were the main attraction in town, which was an interesting twist of events. We had people from lots of different language groups come! So neat to the see the differences in culture just in neighboring language groups and neighboring villages. Overall, I'm just amazed at how open these people are, how hungry they are to bring change to their people, and how creative! They were coming up with extensive lists of arts, needs, etc. And! They would write full songs on the spot! They created tons of dramas, presented special traditional dances, traditional feasting rituals by the women (they brought in their banana leaves and bamboo with food cooked in it!) Super cool to see, listen, and take in. We made so many new friends - I just love how friendly everyone is. I wish every place was this friendly and this excited to create and invent and work towards positive change.
The afternoons we spent debriefing for the most part - figuring out what worked best that day and deciding on stuff for the next day, waking around Auki going to the market and such. One day we went to a really cool waterfall in our friend Malcolm’s old village a ways up in the hills and played all afternoon! It was so awesome to just relax and hang out. There were several jumps of different heights (how often do you get to cliff jump over a waterfall in the Solomon Islands?!?!) and a bunch of the village children came and joined us which was really fun. My team is awesome - just so blessed by them.
We usually got back to our village around 5 or 6 and went for a “swim” (usually a bucket shower or a swim in the river to bathe), ate a dinner of local food (usually fresh fish with rice or noodles), and then spent time singing songs, in Pijin and in their native language Kwara’ae (I was able to learn a lot of basic Kwara’ae phrases while I was there! It was so cool to learn – wish I had time to stay and learn more…it really is true that immersion is the quickest way). We played games with the tons of kids in our village and storied for hours about life and family.
The last night we were there, the village had a big Potluck feast and they presented us with all kinds of gifts and trinkets – tons of beautiful shell necklaces, lavalavas (wraps), t-shirts, and our friend Florence even sewed us pillowcases! These people. They are just so wonderful. Some of them even came to the worship service in Auki that we attended Friday night, and to the wharf to see us off on Saturday! Just so full of love - I miss them already. I will never forget their love and hospitality. It's cool to think that we all look at the same moon every night.
Malaita was a cool, powerful experience but definitely hard at times. Being an introvert… about midway through the week I got pretty discouraged and tired by the constant presence of people and no time to myself to regroup and re-energize. I would crave the 2 minutes that I could spend by myself in the bathroom stall – haha. But God is so good and this time was a true time of stretching and refining. He really provided me with blessings in solid relationships and deep, meaningful conversations to give me energy and purpose – I was super encouraged by the workshop. Again, just blown away by the creative minds of these people. But more importantly, by their openness and willingness to just jump in and do it without inhibitions.
And that was Malaita! And my internet time is up. I’ll update what’s been happening this past week at the Festival here in the capital hopefully in the next couple of days! IT'S SO EXCITING!
Love and hugs to you friends – I miss you all so much. Praying for y’all daily!
Friday, June 29, 2012
This is my first post from an actual computer! I've been updating via my smartphone that gets wireless - feels weird and awesome to be able to actually type.
I thought i'd give a logistical update since my last few have been a little vague and sensory-filled, haha.
Typical day right now:
I get up about 6:30 (when the sun rises), usually have about an hour to myself...to read, watch the sunrise, wash-up, etc. (Tomorrow Lee has decided he's gonna start his exercise routine up in the conference room, and I think some of us are going to join! Should be fun.)
We have family devos at 7:30 - getting ready to go through the book of Philippians right now, each taking a chunk to lead on. We eat breakfast around 8:15, 8:20...hang out together, all crowding around one big table. We are becoming family, in the truest sense of the word. It's so fun to all live together. I just love them. I can't believe this is only the end of our second week together...(and already the end of our second week! Time is funny.)
Right now our mornings and afternoons have been pretty flexible during the day because the festival starts next week - it's been a lot of shopping trips around town...to the market, little side shops for food and miscellaneous stuff...just stocking up for our month here in Honiara. This has given us a lot of chances to interact and story with people - so awesome. Again, I can't reiterate how much I love these people. They are the most friendly and welcoming...you ask one question in Pijin and it just opens up the door for hours of conversation. If they had their way and there was time it would be hours (which is awesome), haha. I'm learning a lot about openness and trust from these people. They're breaking down these walls in myself - I'm learning by osmosis how to trust and be open with my team, my new family. It's pretty awesome. Challenging at times, but so good for me I think. Already so rewarding.
We've also been doing a lot of language and culture learning as a team - practicing Pijin nonstop. Today, we sat down and talked in a small group for about an hour straight in just Pijin. So fun! Our whole team is really starting to get the hang of it.
It's also been fun to meet Solomon Islanders who know my parents and knew me/met me as a small girl - (Mom, Rosina says hi! I also met Joseph today who knows you Dad!) It's cool to "story" with them and have long conversations in Pijin now as an adult. I'm starting to think in Pijin...it's happening. It's taking over, haha. I just love it! I want to only speak Pijin.
We usually eat dinner around 5 or 6 (or later...Solomon time nao ya :) and do more team stuff - debriefing from the day or hanging out with games and other family stuff. We've been fortunate to have dinner with two missionary families here this week - Uncle James and Aunt Karen (a family that was here when I grew up here! They've come back...so cool to all be back together), and the Pierces! The Pierces have the cutest children, Joshua and Anna. Babies/kids just make everyone happy :) It's been neat to fellowship with them and learn from them.
Tomorrow we have a mini-storytelling workshop and we'll work on our presentation for FOPA. Sunday we'll go to church at St. Barnabas, and the plan is to go for a swim that afternoon (I'm excited, to say the least), and Monday we head out to the island of Malaita for the first week of the festival! We'll be staying with host families in the village - so excited for village life, and so excited to create art alongside these people!
Just a simple glance around and it makes me chuckle. I can't believe I'm here.
There's just so much I want to write! I feel as though each post is only skimming the surface of what is happening and how I'm feeling. Not sure if it's even a true "update", but I feel as though I could talk for hours about each experience, each feeling. I hate feeling limited to a couple of minutes on the computer...but I think it'll help me remember the little details later.
Here's a verse from the Bible in Pijin I've been working to memorize line by line:
"Tingting blong yufala hemi kamap strong moa bikos yufala joen wetem Kraes an hemi lavem yufala. Yufala stapgud tugeta wetem Holi Spirit, an yufala kaen an filsore long olketa pipol. So mi askem yufala fo falom diskaen wei wea hemi save mekem mi hapi go moa. Yufala evriwan mas stap wanmaen nomoa an yufala mas lavem yufala evriwan, an laef an tingting blong yufala hemi mas wankaen nomoa. Yufala mas no tingim yufala seleva nomoa an no trae fo haemapem yufala seleva. Bat yufala mas hambol an tingim olketa nara pipol olsem olketa nao gudfala winim yufala. An yufala mas no tingting long wanem hemi gud fo yufala seleva nomoa, bat yufala mas tingting long wanem nao hemi gud fo nara pipol." -Filipae 2:1-4
(English translation :)
"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." -Philippians 2:1-4
Love and miss you all!
I thought i'd give a logistical update since my last few have been a little vague and sensory-filled, haha.
Typical day right now:
I get up about 6:30 (when the sun rises), usually have about an hour to myself...to read, watch the sunrise, wash-up, etc. (Tomorrow Lee has decided he's gonna start his exercise routine up in the conference room, and I think some of us are going to join! Should be fun.)
We have family devos at 7:30 - getting ready to go through the book of Philippians right now, each taking a chunk to lead on. We eat breakfast around 8:15, 8:20...hang out together, all crowding around one big table. We are becoming family, in the truest sense of the word. It's so fun to all live together. I just love them. I can't believe this is only the end of our second week together...(and already the end of our second week! Time is funny.)
Right now our mornings and afternoons have been pretty flexible during the day because the festival starts next week - it's been a lot of shopping trips around town...to the market, little side shops for food and miscellaneous stuff...just stocking up for our month here in Honiara. This has given us a lot of chances to interact and story with people - so awesome. Again, I can't reiterate how much I love these people. They are the most friendly and welcoming...you ask one question in Pijin and it just opens up the door for hours of conversation. If they had their way and there was time it would be hours (which is awesome), haha. I'm learning a lot about openness and trust from these people. They're breaking down these walls in myself - I'm learning by osmosis how to trust and be open with my team, my new family. It's pretty awesome. Challenging at times, but so good for me I think. Already so rewarding.
We've also been doing a lot of language and culture learning as a team - practicing Pijin nonstop. Today, we sat down and talked in a small group for about an hour straight in just Pijin. So fun! Our whole team is really starting to get the hang of it.
It's also been fun to meet Solomon Islanders who know my parents and knew me/met me as a small girl - (Mom, Rosina says hi! I also met Joseph today who knows you Dad!) It's cool to "story" with them and have long conversations in Pijin now as an adult. I'm starting to think in Pijin...it's happening. It's taking over, haha. I just love it! I want to only speak Pijin.
We usually eat dinner around 5 or 6 (or later...Solomon time nao ya :) and do more team stuff - debriefing from the day or hanging out with games and other family stuff. We've been fortunate to have dinner with two missionary families here this week - Uncle James and Aunt Karen (a family that was here when I grew up here! They've come back...so cool to all be back together), and the Pierces! The Pierces have the cutest children, Joshua and Anna. Babies/kids just make everyone happy :) It's been neat to fellowship with them and learn from them.
Tomorrow we have a mini-storytelling workshop and we'll work on our presentation for FOPA. Sunday we'll go to church at St. Barnabas, and the plan is to go for a swim that afternoon (I'm excited, to say the least), and Monday we head out to the island of Malaita for the first week of the festival! We'll be staying with host families in the village - so excited for village life, and so excited to create art alongside these people!
Just a simple glance around and it makes me chuckle. I can't believe I'm here.
There's just so much I want to write! I feel as though each post is only skimming the surface of what is happening and how I'm feeling. Not sure if it's even a true "update", but I feel as though I could talk for hours about each experience, each feeling. I hate feeling limited to a couple of minutes on the computer...but I think it'll help me remember the little details later.
Here's a verse from the Bible in Pijin I've been working to memorize line by line:
"Tingting blong yufala hemi kamap strong moa bikos yufala joen wetem Kraes an hemi lavem yufala. Yufala stapgud tugeta wetem Holi Spirit, an yufala kaen an filsore long olketa pipol. So mi askem yufala fo falom diskaen wei wea hemi save mekem mi hapi go moa. Yufala evriwan mas stap wanmaen nomoa an yufala mas lavem yufala evriwan, an laef an tingting blong yufala hemi mas wankaen nomoa. Yufala mas no tingim yufala seleva nomoa an no trae fo haemapem yufala seleva. Bat yufala mas hambol an tingim olketa nara pipol olsem olketa nao gudfala winim yufala. An yufala mas no tingting long wanem hemi gud fo yufala seleva nomoa, bat yufala mas tingting long wanem nao hemi gud fo nara pipol." -Filipae 2:1-4
(English translation :)
"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." -Philippians 2:1-4
Love and miss you all!
Thursday, June 28, 2012
This is home. I've realized I tend to be pretty bad at processing things intellectually as I go along - It usually takes me a few days, weeks of sitting down and thinking about an experience thats just happened in order to be able to speak intelligently about it and process what I've learned. But, I've learned I immediately process senses and feelings. Those are gut reactions that make sense to me in the moment, which is why I can talk to you all day about how I catch my breath every time I get a glimpse of a Solomon Islands sunset over the ocean. Or why the smell of a frangipani flower is the reason I love to pick and wear flowers in my hair. How touched and overwhelmed I am by the reminder of the pure friendliness of Solomon Islanders. Walking down a street where everyone says hello and no one is shy of smiles. A raise of the eyebrows (standard Solomon Islands greeting) opens the door wide open, people are ready to share and "story" with each other for hours. My love for stories...it runs so deep to my roots. All the way back to the red clay and the smiles of "The Happy Isles" as it's affectionately nicknamed.
I don't know how many people get this chance...this chance to look with fresh eyes, the eyes of a child all grown up, at the truths, the experiences, the life, that have shaped you into who you are. The chance to be on sensory overload...it's pretty awesome. Unparalleled in my opinion.
The water here sparkles so much its like a diamond mind exploded. And the water is so blue you can feel its coolness from a mile away.
The Solomons is home. I am just feeling so blessed.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Saturday, June 23, 2012
It's Christmas Eve again. We fly out tomorrow for the Solomons! I'm so excited I could cry (or burst into a giggle...or both, hahaha) That seems to be the general mood of our team - just ready to be there. We'll be traveling for about 3 days - flying to LAX, on to Fiji, then to Brisbane, Australia (where we'll actually have a day layover to enjoy and sightsee!) and then to the Sols.
These last few days of training have been awesome - lots of working/prep for our workshop that we're facilitating at the Festival, lots of cool opportunities for sharing and enjoying one another's gifts in the arts (including an "Artluck" instead of a "potluck"..we all brought food, and then shared pieces of art with each other - a really neat, special time. Didn't make it through a single one without tears, but you know me... :), lots of team bonding! Today we got to field trip over to the stockyards and the watergardens - definitely did the maze, ate texas barbecue, and splashed around. So fun. Can't believe we've only known each other for a week. Excited for these next two months!
I'm really missing my class tonight though - shout out to the Lookers. Prayin for y'all, and thinking about you always. Knowing you're putting the fun in dysfunction.
Speaking at my old home church tomorrow! Really humbled and excited for the chance to share, praying that everything I say and do will be a direct reflection of, and expression of Christ's love, and that my broken story can somehow be used for good in his purposes. Just in prepping for it - I am constantly reminded and amazed by how God never gave up on me. How he constantly pursued me, chased after me with his love, even when I was trying to sprint in the opposite direction just this time last year. I think about being in that dark place...wondering if Id ever know joy and hope again, if that season of sadness and loss would ever end. And he came in to gently (and sometimes not so gently) thaw my heart out, layer by layer, until it was vibrant and alive again. How he nudged me and cradled me with his constant love. He desires us - he is jealous for a relationship with us. With me. Ha, I'm just overwhelmed by that. By his example of love. I want to love like that.
I've been reading Song of Solomons tonight, just soaking in the richness of this love described. It's just beautiful:
Song of Solomon 8:6-7 - "Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised."
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.
Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.
Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.
-Shel Silverstein.
This sounds like what heaven might be like. I can't wait.
We got to spend time writing poetry today, composing and dancing Ohuokai (a traditional Sakha dance and song), eating ice cream all crammed together in a big booth, challenging ourselves to only speak Pijin during our car rides, and playing some mad ping-pong.
2 more days of training! Tomorrow we start figuring out what we're exactly going to be sharing in our workshop at FOPA. Super pumped! Praying we're able to figure out just exactly how to relay this information in a way that is relatable and exciting to all of the different people and cultures we'll be sharing with and helping facilitate.
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