the beauty of community

i was reading The Cry, the word made flesh journal, and an article that talked about community said... well why don't i just let you read it...
community is not perfect, but i have a deep belief that God uses community to change the world. yes, community is a risk. however, it is a risk we are asked to take so that God can love us and others. it will expose us, strip us down, drive out our fears, change us, mold us. but in the end we are called to community so we know we are loved- so we know that we belong.
i see my community group and close friends in this so much, and it is why as i'm excited to leave for boulder, i'm sad. we have beautiful community. i belong to my community and they love me. there is an innate need in us to belong and it is so good to know that i belong to fifteen-ish people who genuinely care about me and who i care about. and as we break up i can still see God's hand in our community. if there has ever been a network built up to send people out we have one, in fact it is so strong that people don't want to leave. and i pray that as we all go out that we would sent each other in love and hope that our community will remain across states and continents because we belong to each other. i mean just look how God is sending us to people who have nowhere to belong.
whitney- tibet
erin- tibet short term then denver
jones'- tibet short term
stu- mexico
james and adam- austin
compstons- boulder
callan- chicago
meredith and cara- public schools
john- u of a students
gennie and brian- china (eventually)
imagine how great those places will be when God extends our community. i'll end with another quote from the cry.
i was there, as well. i didn't have anyone- not family, not brothers or sisters who understood. but they, they won't leave you. we are family. we are community- that's how we are.

SHARP TEETH FOR SALE

not really, but it's a catchy title. we just have two cars for sale.

1999 Honda Accord- $7,000 it's a chick magnet and a sassy 1998 Ford Escort- a low $2,000.

i know you all need another car so feel free to contact me and purchase both cars.

- but really, please spread the word and let us know if anyone is interested.

thanks

INCREDIBLE

i'm copying and pasting excerpts of a post by a friend who lives in kolkata and works with red light workers, trying to get them out of the trade by teaching them to sew old saris into blankets. they just took in a new group of girls to train.

"i don't know if i wrote about this lady earlier but a new trainee, A, was diagnosed with active TB. we arranged for her to go to this free TB hospital. the day she was supposed to leave all the sari bari ladies and sarah prayed for her. to make a kinda long story short.....there were no signs of active TB in her lungs when she went back to the doctor. she was healed.

A was telling us through tears how happy she was about this because now she gets to work at sari bari. it was so so cool.

so i think God healed someone. i am a skeptic at heart but i saw the first doctor's report. he said she had blood clots and wanted to admit her immediately. then there was only a fibrous piece in her lung. no signs of any active TB. I love being silenced in my skepticism by the love of God." -Kristin Keen-

INCREDIBLE

I'M DONE!

goodbye spring semester, hello summer school.
i handed in my last thing today, so i'm officially finished with the semester from hell!
what a feeling of completion.

i'm doing this strictly for my own benefit

assignments due this week:

• Personal Practice Evaluation paper-Field Seminar I-DONE!
• Group Proposal paper- Practice II- DONE!
• Informative and Resource Manual for students interested in international social work- Independent Study-DONE!
• Assertive Communication and Conflict Resolution Modules completed and ready to teach- Community Development in a Global Context- DONE!
  
• Take home final- Practice III-DONE!
• Comprehensive Final- Community Development in a Global Context-DONE!

this post is strictly so i can feel like i've accomplished somethings and not feel too overwhelmed by what i still have left to do. hope your week isn't as busy as mine!

*edit* it makes me feel good to come and edit this and add on when i finish things. i'm such a dork.