Women Hold Up Half the Sky

Derek Bok, the former president of Harvard University once said that, "if you think education is expensive, try ignorance."  This is the mentality of our small team heading to Thailand.  Our time is short while we're there and one of our main goals is to learn about Thai culture in general, but also learn about the culture specifically related to the red light district.  Sure, we'll do mission work and share the love of Jesus, but as I've learned from my 4.5 years of counseling at our local crisis pregnancy center, often the women just want to be heard.  There's something special about listening, sharing stories and laughing together.  Aren't those qualities that set humans apart from all other creatures on earth?

Our small team met on Sunday as we will be every two weeks to prepare for our trip.  We're reading through an amazing book that I promise will change your world if you read it.  The book is called Half the Sky and it's  part of a larger movement world wide.  The book highlights true stories of women entrepreneurs, fighters and survivors who are able to rise above their circumstances (either on their own or through the help of others) to better themselves and those around them.  Here's a cool fact about women- they pull others up with them when they rise.

There's an African proverb that says, "You educate a boy and you're educating an individual.  You educate a girl and you're educating an entire village."  The United Nations and World Bank did studies in the 1990s and their studies were paraphrased this way: "Women's empowerment helps raise economic productivity and reduce infant mortality rate.  It contributes to improved health and nutrition.  It increases the chances of education for the next generation."

The Well in Bangkok is doing just that.  They focus on areas of education, social services and job training to help women who want to get out of the sex industry and make better lives for themselves.  These are women who want to be independent and integrate back into society (and often their families).  Our team had the opportunity on Sunday to meet two women, Corey and Jupe, who work at The Well who are in town for the Thanksgiving holiday.  They shared stories of hope and also told us more of what to expect on our journey, which will take place half in the city of Bangkok and half in the rural region, where we will be exposed to how The Well teaches women how to farm and create income for themselves.

With each meeting and through our readings, I'm becoming more excited about this opportunity to learn.  Thanks for your support, encouragement and for listening to my stories as I embark on this journey!

To give or follow my fundraising, check out my page and my teammates' pages as well!

Ms. Moore

I first saw Ms. Moore last week on my bus.  She looked sharply dressed wearing a pale green suit, white dress shoes and a green and blue headband to match her suit.  Her purse was also white and sat beside her cane.  Her skin was dark and her spine was slightly curved.   She had a smile on her face for anyone who met her gaze.  She seemed kind, gentle and grandmotherly.  I admired her spirit and thought I hope I dress that sharp at her age and give off vibes of kindness.  My bus stop approached and I exited, walking past her and leaving any thoughts of her on the bus.

Today was different.  Today I met Ms. Moore.

I saw her again this morning, in a baby blue suit and white beret.  She was (again) on the bus before me and I could see her a few seats in front of me.  She smiled at the oncoming passengers and the baby dozing beside her. I sat there and watched her and thought that if I were closer I'd talk to her.  But when my stop came, I exited without a word.

It wasn't until I saw her again at the bus stop this evening, however, that I felt led to introduce myself.  It was 9:30 and dark.  She walked slowly up the hill to our stop, leaning on the bus sign when she stopped.  She was wearing the same outfit as I'd seen on her this morning and I thought she's had a long day.  I almost didn't say anything to her, but then realized I was being ridiculous.  She's right here.  You wanted to talk to her earlier- now's your chance.  So, I walked up to her, introduced myself and complimented her attire.

I didn't know those words would be the first that we'd share for the next 1.5 hours.

Ms. Moore is 80 (as of April 2nd) and has lived longer than anyone in her immediate family.  She told me this with a grin on her face as she clapped her hands together.  When we got on the bus, I noticed that her eyes were a little lighter blue than her suit.  She's the only one in her family with blue eyes and blames someone "messing in her cabbage patch", which I translated as a white ancestor in the mix along the way through history.  "I have the darkest skin in my family and the lightest eyes.  It doesn't matter though.  One day, we'll all be the same race. In the Kingdom.  One day it won't matter."  I nodded.

She'd been at the hospital all day while her doctors examined her heart.  All she'd had was some cranberry juice and graham crackers.  "Denny's has the best salads.  I've been thinking about one all day.  They are SO good.  Fresh.  They have delicious tomatoes and onions.  Crisp yellow peppers too."  Her sparkling blue eyes were in another place... at a booth at Denny's with a fried chicken salad in front of her.

When I learned that she'd be waiting for a connecting bus to take her home after a full day at a stale hospital, I knew that wouldn't do.  This lady needed some Denny's!  Call me crazy, but I told her I'd drive her there.

And I did.

Our bus dropped us off, we slowly walked the three blocks to my house (she wouldn't wait at the stop though I offered to come get her) and got in my car shortly after ten p.m.  Crazy, right?

Anyway, I learned about her grandchildren, the "mother-in-law from hell" that she had for three years, about her "baby sister" who is a survivor of skin cancer and her church, the first black Lutheran church in DC, which was established by her mother who didn't want to christen her baby (Ms. Moore) in the YWCA where they used to meet.  We chatted about Denny's, the waiters and waitresses there who have come to know her and bring stuff by her house.  More about her great-granddaughter who looks like a little doll.  She told me about "friends and family" day at her church and said she wanted me to come.

She asked me my name again.  "I'm related to some Duncans.  They intermarried with the Fergusons."  She said this like I knew the Fergusons as well.  I nodded.  Maybe one of my distant relatives messed in her family's cabbage patch?  Maybe we were even related.

After Denny's, I had to stop for some gas on the way to my new friend's house.  A homeless man approached me and asked to pump my gas for cash.  I handed him some cash, dismissed his offer and he walked away.  I turned back around and saw that Ms. Moore was standing on her side of the car.  She was looking in the direction that he had gone.

"I was going to hit him on his head with my cane if he tried anything," she said solemnly as she met my gaze.

I smiled with raised eyebrows. "You were going to protect me?"

"I'm not really much of a fighter.  I prefer to negotiate.  But sometimes you have to fight.  I was ready."  I looked at her face and saw her determination.  She could probably mess the wrong person up with her cane!

I dropped her off at her house and made my way home, feeling blessed by her company.  We exchanged numbers and she insisted I call when I got home to let her know I'd made it safely (which I did!).

"I want you to meet my grandchildren," she said.  "I'm going to call you for friends and family day."

I hope she does.

A Plan for Thailand

Since the spring I've been looking forward to hearing about the mission opportunities that my church is doing.  I love my church and am blessed to be part of one that is so purposeful about community and helping others.  Last month the leaders announced all of the trips for the upcoming fall and spring.  Check out all the options!!

I have never done a mission trip that's taken me abroad.  I've done local ones through the years, but nothing that has taken me truly out of my element and forced me into a completely different world.  Before they announced the trip options, I knew that I would be looking for that kind of experience... something raw, totally new and one where I can reach out to those who don't get much love.

I've identified some of my heart cries.  And by heart cries, I mean the people, causes and movements in every day life that stir within my being.  They make me pay attention and listen and they prick my spirit.  My heart cries are for the voiceless, the looked-over and picked-on.  The forgotten and abandoned.  The poor.  The single moms.  People suffering from HIV/AIDS.  Women.  The less educated and the abused.  My prayer lately has been for my heart to break at what breaks God's heart.  You know what?  There's a lot of brokenness out there.

It was by these heart cries that I narrowed down my search for a mission trip and on Sunday I went to the first information meeting about it.  My attraction to this trip: brokenness, but the hopefulness of transformation.  The trip is to a land where I've had no intentions or desires to ever visit: Thailand.  The people we are hoping to reach are the girls and women who are working in clubs and brothels in Bangkok.  Our desire is to approach these women as Christ did the woman at the well in John 4- with love, without judgment and with truth.  We want to connect them with an organization called The Well, which provides an escape for women who want to get out of the sex industry.  The Well provides counseling, education, job training and love to women who dream of a better life.

This 10-day trip basically wraps up all of my heart cries into one amazing opportunity.  It seems SUPER intense and even a bit scary.  The idea of approaching women in the red light district of Bangkok is not something I would have ever thought to do.  Aren't these the women that society tells us to ignore?  Yet these are the women God is calling me to.  My desire is to share the love of a God who gives second chances (and third and fourth!), to show the love only He can and to provide a glimpse of the mercy that He wants to shine upon them.  He's not a God of doubt, disease, addiction, low self-esteem or abandonment.  His plan is one of hope and a future, of prosperity and safety.

So, that's my plan: Thailand.  I'm really excited about this opportunity and look forward to sharing more details as they unravel.  I hope that I will be able to even write about my experiences as they come to fruition. 

My Favorite City at Night

Sometimes I go for rides when I want to clear my head. When I was a teenager, this involved long stretches of back roads and blasting my radio to whatever music was appropriate for my mood. I found myself needing one of those rides this weekend... something to clear my mind.

When the mood hit, however, it was no time to go in search of long stretches of roads in VA or MD. I also knew that I didn't necessarily need those long roads. I've found a lot of therapeutic places in DC. There's something magical about some of the gardens and memorials (or cemeteries!) here. For me, they are peaceful and I usually feel a bit more centered and at ease when I leave them.

It was about 1 AM when I set out... I'd decided to head for the Lincoln, which is my favorite memorial. It's been a while since I drove there. I'm more likely to run or walk since it's not far from my house. Seeing how it was well past midnight, however, the smarter side of me took to my car for the 4 mile journey. I drove, past the regal Capitol and the darkness-piercing Washington Monument with her tall flags waving in the wind. The parking got scarce and the options were limited as I neared the Lincoln. I wouldn't be able to safely park somewhere at that hour and walk to the memorial. So, I kept driving.... around the Lincoln and back down Independence Avenue which parallels the memorials. I drove past the new Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial and felt my hopes of stopping dissipate since there was no parking there either. Argh. Where was I going to park? I really wanted to walk, but not compromise my safety.

So, I parked near the Capitol. It's been about two years since I've gone there late at night. By the time I parked and started walking around it was close to 1:30. In my time of walking the Capitol grounds and visiting the reflecting pool to the west of it, I had barely seen a dozen civilians. It was the first time I'd seen more guards than regular people at the Capitol. I felt safe there and it was peaceful.There's something incredible about walking along and then seeing the Capitol building. And I don't think it ever goes away. I've heard people who have lived here a long time all voice similar thoughts: "I love looking up and seeing the Capitol. I never tire of it." It's so true. It's awe inspiring and beautiful.


As I walked around I couldn't help but be thankful for my freedom to do so. It was almost 3 AM when I left the Capitol grounds for my car. I'd been walking, praying, reflecting, crying and clearing my head for over 1.5 hours. But when I was done, I felt fantastic.

Feeling recharged and lighter, I got in my car and drove the short 2 miles to my front door. There's something special about this city; my rear view mirror framed a small piece of it as I left for home.

Out with the Old and In with the New

Last Wednesday night I crept back to my office while no one was there. It was time to bid it farewell. The halls were dark and quiet. Not a soul stirred while I organized files, shredded old papers, threw away miscellaneous items and straightened things up for my predecessor.

I was saying goodbye to an era and a transformative time in my life. It was my first "real" job in DC. I wasn't a temp passing my time at the Library of Congress and I'd felt a calling to the work there. I worked my way up from an administrative assistant to a manager with cross-team experience and historical knowledge of the company. I made lifelong friends there and also learned a lot about leadership.

Nearly five years was spent there and I worked for four different bosses. It took me about three hours to organize and pack up my office. Two trips up and down the stairs to empty out trash and recycling bins. And the night ended with one snap of a picture... my abandoned desk.

Cheers, Council... I had a blast.

Harry Potter and a Snuggly Kitty

I've jumped on the bandwagon that I'd for a long time resisted. Now that all the movies are out, I figured it's high time I checked out the Harry Potter series. Thanks to a "supplier" friend, I've turned into a junkie. I'm rolling through the series and picking up the books during free moments when I'm home.

Sometimes I find an attention-craving, loving kitty in my lap too. Not that I'm complaining.

My Secret Garden, er, Dog Park

There's a magical place that's only about eight blocks from our house: the Congressional Cemetery. First established in 1807 by private citizens, it now spans 35+ acres, has 14,000 headstones and is the final resting place for 55,000 people. The middle has a quaint, beautiful chapel surrounded by different bushes of flowers. Large trees grace the grounds, some with trunks larger than any I've seen in DC. Oh, and it's also a dog park... which means playful dogs run among the headstones and bring a sense of cheer to the hallowed grounds.

I first visited it about two weeks ago before the heat got oppressive. I went there to clear my head, pray and discover the cemetery I had only passed by while in a car. There were quite a few benches that had called my name last time, but my agenda was one of walking rather than relaxing.

Tonight I returned, this time armed with bug spray and a book. I plopped on a bench that's under one of the largest magnolia trees in the cemetery and read for about an hour with only a few friendly puppies (and their owners) to act as interruptions.

Can you see my reading bench nestled under the tree?

As the evening began to cool (yay!) and the wind picked up a bit, I decided it was time to explore some more. I snapped some pictures with my new camera phone (which apparently doesn't have much better picture quality than my last). Enjoy my new hiding place!

The best last name I came across this evening...

John Smilie (who was also a Congressman from PA)
The most unfortunate name I came across in the cemetery this evening...
Fugitt

The only vice president buried in the cemetery

who was also one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence!
Elbridge Gerry, VP to James Madison

The headstones of Mary Hall and her sister, who were madams of a house where
"elite citizens" and government officials frequented.
Now the Museum for the American Indian sits where their home used to be.
Some beautiful headstones and sculptures...

A fairy?

Random Summer Memories with the Family

We checked out the new AMC Fork & Screen Theater in Orlando, FL

Universal Studios with Dad and Becky
Butterbeer in Harry Potter land!

Our home away from home... in Orlando Lakes!

We checked out a Winston Salem Dash game, where James is interning over the summer!

Childress Vineyards, Lexington, NC

A Family Affair

Last weekend was filled with some really lasting memories as mom, grandma and Dean came to visit Mal and me in our new home. Though I was booted from my apartment (aka "bomb shelter") all weekend (where the three of them stayed), I was thrilled to give up my space and host them.

On Friday night, we spent the evening hours at the Marine Parade in Barracks Row, which was very entertaining. Mallory and I have wanted to go since we first arrived in DC. The parade is held every Friday night during the summer and visitors can make free reservations see it. The music was beautiful, the history shared was interesting and the silent drill team was mesmerizing. The parade lasted just over an hour, but the time went so quickly. To top it off, the full moon appeared over the field just as the parade was ending and Taps was playing in the air. Perfect.
Our Saturday was filled with very "touristy" activities. We took a DC Ducks tour around the city. It was my fourth tour, but I still learned new trivia about the city. I really enjoy the Duck tours. Each tour is split into two parts, with the first being a ride around the city filled with facts about the history, memorials and Monument. The latter half of the tour is spent on the water, where the street-friendly vehicle glides gently into the Potomac with only the flip of two buttons. One engages the propeller and the other shifts the transmission. The vehicles were created for WW II and built mostly by women. Our guide, Captain Franklin, shared that the battle on the beaches of Normandy wouldn't have been the same without the Ducks. They supplied 80% of the gear to the soldiers during the fight and were a complete shock to our opponents who had never seen such vehicles.

As a bonus while we were on the Potomac, our guide let anyone who wanted to "drive" the Duck have an opportunity to sit in the driver's seat for photo ops! Mal, grandma and I all took advantage of it!
That evening, after returning from our tour and dinner, we rode to Georgetown where we went to the famous eatery, Georgetown Cupcake. I had never been, but had wanted to try it. Well, apparently we weren't the only ones with the idea to hit up GC. It seemed like all the tourists in DC were there. The line snaked down the block and the quoted wait time when we arrived was 45 minutes. People snapped pictures of themselves in line and of the bakery as we waited. Thankfully, the weather was as perfect as the company and the line moved pretty fast. Plus, the staff was very friendly and even served water to their customers who were waiting outside for their treats. The shop is small inside and smells delicious. Cupcakes call from tiers and their colors are bright. I walked in with my selections in mind and it took all my willpower to only get two. There were so many flavors and they all looked delicious!

We bought our cupcakes and took them home where the evening ended with polished-off glasses of milk and engaging conversation. Sunday morning came quickly and we bid ado to our loved ones. Their visit was fun and went by way too quickly.

Messy Kitty

I found this mess for me when I got home from zumba class tonight:
As I was taking about the 10th picture of Charlotte and her mess, I thought to myself, "I've become her... a cat lady."

So, what does that say about me now that I've taken the pictures AND posted them to my blog? My only hope is that I don't die alone with more than 100 cats surrounding me.

I exaggerate... I have other hopes.

Who, me?Then Charlotte pranced around the mess and sniffed it like she'd never seen it before.

And walked away from the crime scene...

How can one be too mad at this face?

Another thing I discovered tonight... I'm not a fan of zumba.