Hidden within...

Today at school I was reminded of how much we push down inside ourselves and of how thick the walls are that we build around our hearts. A colleague of mine shared something that a student wrote about one of their parents having PKD (Policystic Kidney Disease). The father of this student (from what I gathered) is currently on Dialysis in the home awaiting a kidney transplant. I was immediately thrown when I heard this for various reasons. First, he seems to be such a happy kid during class. Definitely your typical 8th grade boy, who enjoys laughing and chatting with his friends. Secondly, because PKD is the disease that has plagued my family as well.

I grew up in a home where, for as long as I can remember, my grandfather passed away from PKD when I was only a little over one and my mom was diagnosed with PKD a few years later. I remember when my aunt found out she had it, and when one of her cysts burst. I remember the pain she was in until they regulated her body. I remember how my mom was exhausted earlier than anyone else's parents. I remember how less than 10 years ago she couldn't make it through a meal without having to head to the bathroom to vomit everything she just ate. I remember the look in her eyes and the weakness she felt as we prepared for my brother's graduation party, and the eleven surgeries that followed the year after his high school graduation. I remember the cold January day roughly six years ago when that year of surgery ended with a final surgery, when my mom's oldest brother donated one of his kidneys to her; giving her a new level of energy that we hadn't seen in a long time. I remember a few years later when my uncle (mom's youngest brother) was told that he would have to have a transplant as well. It's been just over one year to the date that I sat with my high school aged cousins in their parent's hospital rooms after their mom donated one of her kidney's to their dad.

Today at lunch, I sat back in my chair and the first thing that came out of my mouth was that I needed to tell the student simply that 'I get it". I get what he's going through, and I get that it's such a weird disease that you rarely find someone else who absolutely gets it. So, after I started class today, I pulled that student out into the hall and told him what was shared at lunch. He just kinda looked at me...I bet he was wondering where I was going to go with it, but when I told him that my mom had it and that she had a transplant a few years ago after being on dialysis and that my uncle had one a year ago, he just looked at me with big eyes and said "really?". I nodded and told him that I just wanted to let him know that I get it.

We turned and walked back into the room. He went on to work on some lovely pythagorean theorem problems and I went to my desk to take attendance and give out some test grades. About ten minutes later, he was standing before me, and he asked the simple question that everyone wishes they had the answer to..."How long? How long did they have to wait before they got the call?" I explained that we were lucky in both situations. That my mom and uncle both had family members that were matches. He told me that his dad is on the list, and they're just waiting. We chatted for another minute or so before he went back to his work, and I flipped through some papers tucking the tears that were beginning to brim onto my eyes back where ever they came from.

All I have been able to think about since is the feeling that I had when he came to my desk. I felt as if I were able to see straight into the soul of that young man for just that one moment. The kid who I would definitely label as one of my talkers or goofballs (I do teach 8th grade!) let down his wall standing in front of my desk today. He let me have the privilege of seeing all that he was holding within. I don't know where his family stands with their beliefs, but I have found myself praying for them today. Praying that they know, or will get the chance to know Jesus because it is only through my relationship with Christ that I was able to get through the dialysis, surgeries, and all that has happened to my family over the years.

The "Letter"

I am totally blessed to be able to enjoy each and every single summer just like they were meant to be enjoyed. Hanging by the pool, reading a good book, and staying up late watching movies (and reruns) never grows old. However, I recently received the "letter". This letter tells us what we need to know for the first week or so of the school year. Well, mainly which day to report, and which meetings to attend for the week. Yup, just I thought too! Sounds like fun!

I'm actually ready to go back I think on some level. However, I am excited to see my house coming together (finally), and I'm enjoying my time at home. More on that later...with pictures!

Ummm...I'm going back to the Olympic coverage, but I'm planning to post before and after pictures of my house updates tomorrow :-)

Croatia Recap

Our flight there was absolutely amazing! We flew on the longest day of the summer (solstice), which meant that the sun never actually set while we were in the air. Some of our team members took pictures of it throughout the entire trip. After a six hour layover in Frankfurt, and another hour and a half plane ride we finally arrived.

My first impression of Croatia....HOT! We were blasted with 95+ degree weather as we walked out of the airport that never seemed to go below that mark for the entire time we were there.

We were dropped off at our host family's house, and within an hour we were whisked away to the Activity Center (where we would be holding camp) for dinner. The church was hosting a Youth Conference the weekend we arrived for Christian teens from all over Croatia and some of the surrounding countries. It was so fun to see teens worshiping together from all over Europe on our first night there.

Camp began on Monday. We were banking on 100 kids, and praying for 120. We definitely hit our goal for the year! My small group consisted of 6-9th grade students (with a 4year old, 2 year old and first grader tossed in for fun!). Together we worked on memorizing daily Bible verses, discussing the large group message, completing crafts together, and simply building relationships. My group was the best! It was so fun watching the group work together during the week. It always amazes me how students can live so far apart, and yet act the same no matter what continent they are on. Here is a picture of me and one of the girls in my group (who is also one of my newest Facebook friends!) during the ice cream social on the last day of camp. One of the most amazing things during the week happened on Thursday. After our large group drama, Boris was giving a message about Christ's love and forgiveness for our sins. He mentioned something about reading the New Testament and seeking the Truth of Christ (it was in Croatian...so I don't know exactly what he was saying!) After he was done speaking, a little boy from Michelle's group asked him where he could get a copy of that New Testament thing. There is a picture of him (and some others of the group) on the church website under the outreach page (global, Croatia).

Once camp ended, our team headed off to the coast (about 3 hours away) for a few days of sight seeing. Croatia is absolutely one of the most beautiful countries I have ever had the privilege of experiencing. We stayed in a beautiful coastal town that I still cannot pronounce properly, but we had the most amazing view of the Adriatic Sea from the balcony of our room. We spent one whole day touring cities on the other side of the bay. There is so much history, and culture to explore in the country. We even visited a Roman Coliseum in the town of Pula. Many of my team members had previously visited the one in Rome, and they confirmed what Boris, the Croatian missionary and very knowledgeable tour guide, told us. The one in Croatia is better preserved than the one in Rome. It was an amazing site. Hannah and I had an amazing time laughing and having a private photo shoot while we were there. (Those pictures will be posted later!)

Lastly, I have to admit that I can't find words to express how absolutely amazing our host family was! Angela H. and myself (yes, the two Angela's were together...) had the priveldge of staying with Rahela, and her parents (Anna and Ivan). They were so hospitable, and loving, which made it very difficult to leave. Rahela and I decided that we wouldn't say good bye. A simple "see you later" worked fine for us. I really enjoyed our late night talks, and I really miss watching American Blue Grass Gospel greats with her dad! (Someone gave him the Dvd and although he doesn't understand any of it, he watches it all the time!)

There is so much more that I could blog about, but in all honesty I could be typing for ever! I would love to share more pictures with you, and talk more about our trip. So, if you're interested, please ask!

Overall, God is amazing! His artwork never ceases to amaze me! Croatia is some of His finest work!

Croatia

It's hard to believe that another school year has ended, and the first week of summer vacation is almost over as well! In addition, I can barely believe that at this time tomorrow I'll be in a plane somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean!

That's right folks! I'm a traveling girl once again! For those of you who haven't heard, I have an opportunity to go to Croatia for almost two weeks. While there, we will be working (Monday-Friday) at an "English Camp" which is in all reality Vacation Bible School in English (with the assistance of translators). While at the camp we will be helping the kids improve their English skills, but more importantly, we'll have the opportunity to share the story of Jesus Christ with them.

The camp will run from 10-1 each day, and then I, and a few other team members, will be heading over the the "Bim" to hang out with the high school students from the church. We will be having some devotional time, and we will also be simply hanging out and playing games.

The rest of the time we are there (Saturday-Tuesday) we will be traveling to the coast for some sight seeing. Croatia (from what I'm told) is one of the most beautiful places on the earth. I'm very excited to see it, because I know how gorgeous S. Africa was last summer, and if Croatia even comes close I know we're in for some amazing scenery!

However, one thing that is slightly weird for me, is that this is not a "construction" trip. I know...most people don't think of me when they think of a construction trip, and this Croatia "Camp" trip seems more up my alley, but I really enjoy the work aspect of the construction trips. It's simply a different type of work than I'm used to in my daily life. I am also very curious to see the difference in how God shows up. This trip will be WAY more relationship based.

On a side note, I am realizing more as the day goes on that there are things back home that I am really going to miss not being a part of. I'm 100% sure that what I'm doing is God's will for me, but I'm definitely going to miss not being at my friend Shannon's wedding. This is the first time that all of us haven't been together for a wedding in the group of my high school friends! I'm also going to be missing the Velocity trip to North Carolina! I'm positive that God is going to work in amazing ways during that trip, and I can't wait to hear all about it when I return!

If you want to follow our travel, there will be a blog posted on the NorthRidge Website. (www.northridgechurch.com) Click on OUTREACH, then GLOBAL, then CROATIA BLOG. Once we send something it should appear, but we're not sure of the computer access we'll have once we're there. So check it often :-)

Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go!" Joshua 1:9

School's Out...*Sigh*

This past Friday officially marked the end of the school year. It's hard to believe that the year is over! We were so worried that we would go crazy with Easter being so early, which meant that we would have to finish the last two and a half months of the school year without a break. However, those ten weeks went by so fast, I'm not sure I honestly believe that I'm done for 10 weeks!

In just a few short days I leave for Croatia! For now, my plan was to finish watching season three of 24. What an amazing show! I came home tonight, watched two episodes, and when I went to switch the dvd I was totally bummed to realized that I had finished the season! I have to borrow season four now from someone! Jack Bauer is definitely my hero!

I'm currently reading A Thousand Splendid Suns. It's by the same author as The Kite Runner. It's a really good book and I'm about half way finished with it. It's better than The Kite Runner, even though it's another historical fiction novel set in Afghanistan. It's quite interesting to read about how much that country has changed, and how much the culture has been affected over the years. I think it's time for me to log off this computer, and go read :-)

On a side note...I can't believe that Tiger won today! It was one of the best golf tournaments I've ever watched! I was rooting for Rocco. He's gone through so many injuries and other stuff that I thought it would be fun for him to win...Plus, our house up north is on Mediate Dr. Named after him :-)