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run2cross
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Name: Faith
Gender: Female
Interests: Running, wakeboarding, playing guitar, and writing.
Expertise: A work in progress...some level of expertise in social work with refugees and children. Some say I'm gifted at sports, so perhaps!
Occupation: Education/training
Industry: Nonprofit
Message: message me
Member Since:
2/18/2004
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| I spent my entire Saturday reading the Kite Runner, thanks to my friend Kelley's suggestion. She didn't suggest that I read it all in two sittings, but that I just read it. I have to say it's an incredible read. I thought about 1000 things as I was reading. I thought about my refugee clients and how they could relate to the story. I thought about those Afghan clients that I've had in the past and was thankful to get a small glimpse into their world. I thought about myself and my own childhood. I thought about my best friend growing up, Jennifer Mills and how our lives were separated. I thought about the memories of running up and down Little John Lane with a street full of kids and the awesome adventures we had. I thought about how we were blessed that our adventures did not get interrupted by war. Although, I do remember them getting interrupted for Hurricane warnings and other such natural disasters. I thought about faith and how through all cultures there is a trust in a higher power and there are people who embrace it and people who don't. I thought about racism and the divided country in which we currently live. I thought about socio-economic status and how very divided our nation is in this realm as well. We are blind to those in poverty who live right around the corner. So obviously this book made me think and be challenged. It made me remember that my clients who are now working in housekeeping and warehouse jobs, used to have status and purpose in their country and how now they are just fighting for respect. Respect from their families, from their children, from those who were left behind. And my thoughts just kept coming. Needless to say, I also highly recommend this book. It's not daisy and roses, but it won't disappoint you. | | |
| Well, I keep meaning to write and have even logged on and then off a few times over the past few months. It seems like life has taken over once again. My emotions have been all over the place and my thoughts even more out of control. Luckily God gave me an incredible weekend away to seek Him and His will for my life. I was able to be honest, cry and give Him control over my life once again. Since then, I continue to struggle, but there are glimpses of breakthrough around every corner. He is sufficient for all of my needs and knows my every longing and hears my every sigh. He formed me and created me just the way He wanted. Of course there are some flaws and sin that I need to adjust, but knowing that I am who I am because it's what He wants is a refreshing reminder. All that matters is that I glorify Him in who I am and in what I do. Sounds easier than done. Well, the title of this post is soccer, so I guess I should write some about soccer. I'm actually playing soccer; thanks to my friends Bonnie and Frank! Our church has a team that plays Sunday evenings and I absolutely love it. I've always like watching soccer, the World Cup and the Olympics, but know that I am playing it, wow, I like it even more. Thanks Sara for teaching me a few moves at the YMCA. They are certainly paying off! There is just something about running around, working together as a team that exhilarates me. I love competition. I love sports. I love it! I forget about everything good or bad in my life. I forget about my job and the stressors that are there. I forget about my failures and insecurities. And for a brief moment in time, I'm a part of a team, with a common goal and a common enemy. I was thinking about this on my drive home tonight. Why can't life be like a soccer game. Obviously the goal in life is to glorify the Lord and enjoy Him forever. We should be striving towards this with our teammates, the church (body of Christ). We should be supporting each other, passing the ball to each other, subbing in and out of the game for each other, and encouraging each other along the way. In soccer, the enemy is clear. They all wear the same jersey's. In this life, it's a bit more challenging. We don't always know where the enemy lurks, we don't know who's being used to stop the glorification of God. We know that Satan is the enemy, but he likes to hide himself. And at times, like soccer, we are our worst enemy. We make the wrong decisions, pass at the wrong time, or don't take the offensive move like we ought. Well, I guess that's enough ramblings, but I thought I'd post. I'm so grateful that the Lord has given me a love for sports and a love for people. I pray that I can use it for His glory. Oh how fun it would be now to go back to Ethiopia or some other country and use soccer as a means to make friends and share the gospel. Perhaps that's next for me! Okay, I'm getting a little ahead of myself, I need to get a little bit better :). Hopefully, I'll post more often and let these thoughts come out for others to enjoy or ponder. Until then. Godspeed. | | |
| God did it once again today. He answered my prayers in little ways and once again I was blown away. I'm not sure why it surprises me so much. It's almost like I asume when I pray that the prayer won't be answered or that it won't be answered right away. I had dinner with a friend from work this week who talked about what God was doing in her life. She said that it really had hit her that God really was for her and not against her. She kept saying that to me throughout the rest of the week. And I'm think, "Yeah, yeah, I know God is for me and not against me, so what?" But today, I really saw him for me. With the whirlwind of my older sister's wedding and my younger sister leaving the country, I've been on an emotional and physical roller coaster. One minute I'm a joyful sister watching on as she beautifully walks down the isle to marry the godly man that we have been praying so long for. The next minute, I've in the pits of self-pity wondering if my turn will ever come and being reminded of it by the hand full of people who had the guts to ask me the same thing at the reception. One minute I'm the proud big sister of my little sister who has come along way over the years and is walking by faith into a whole new adventure. The next minute, I'm crying my eyes out because I had to let my little sister go not really knowing when we will get to see each other again. In the midst of it all, I had been sick off and on. So, this week I am back trying to figure out what my next big thing is and hoping for that more than you could ever ask for or imagine to come true. The tears continue to come more than usual, but in those tears are prayers sent up to the Lord. Prayers of all sorts, but the prayers that were answered today were quite simple. Lord, surround me with friends these days. Surround me with physical bodies of people who will live and laugh with me. So I spent the day with friends, saw a few Reno friends after church, and got a call from a friend who needs me tomorrow. The second answered prayer came on the way to church today. Lord, I'd really like it if they sang "Mighty to Save" in church today. I got there and the song wasn't in the bulletin, so I was dissappointed. Nonetheless, in the service, they sing it! Call me crazy, but God answered my prayer and he still cares. He is for me and not against me even when I'm against myself more than anything else. Thank you Lord for hearing me even my tiny little requests that mean so much! | | |
| Last night was a refugee Christmas experience to remember. I was in a scrooge kind of mood and didn't technically feel like going to deliver the gifts that my single's group, Access, had collected for some of the refugee kids. However, I was being a good sport and going to be their cultural broker for the night. After locating the apartment, we went upstairs and met the Burmese family. There were the parents and four precious boys. My group brought in some boxes and set them down. I began talking to the parents and they with their limited English would respond when they were able. As we talked, some of the other group members went to get the bicycles out of the car. Before they could even get it up the stairs the boys were running down to look and grab the bike. It was a site to see, huge smiles on their faces. We opened their bike helmets and they tried them on. Then I decided to ask Heather, one of the girls in the group who I know has an incredible voice to lead us in singing a Christmas Carol. She chose Silent Night. As we sang, I was almost to tears thinking about how true the song meant for this family, who like Mary and Joseph, had traveled to a strange land to flee persecution. And like on that silent night so long ago, this refugee family could sleep in heavenly peace. They have bills to pay and a life to learn, here in the US, but they also have the freedom to worship Jesus Christ without the fear of persecution. They have hope that their boys can get an education, and they know that their new country will embrace them. Needless to say, I left last night fulfilled, thanking the Lord that He would allow me to be His hands and feet for at least one night this Christmas season! | | |
| I've got the marathon itch right now. I'm hoping it passes overnight. I ran the White Rock Marathon relay today with one of my old Baylor friends, Emily and her crazy friends :). I ran the first leg which is 6 miles and then decided to keep running the next 4 to make my long run of 10. The first 3 miles were tough, probably because I was running fast. Then I got into my rythm and it felt good the last 7. I don't know what it is but I saw all of those marathoners keep going and I wanted to keep going too. I thought, "why am I stopping, it's marathon day!" There is just something about the crowds of people cheering you on and the band around every corner playing who knows what and the random crazy runners who say the strangest things to make you laugh and the random runners you meet and talk to along the course. There is just something about the challenge that is addicting. I sure hope I sleep this marathon itch off because I don't have the time or the energy this year to scratch it! | | |
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