drumroll please...

In the middle of alllll the craziness with school, I've been fantasizing with my friend Dahlia about meeting somewhere during the winter break. She wanted an internship, and I really just wanted to go back to Uganda, but I was willing to go wherever if the door opened. Dahlia and I haven't seen each other since the beginning of the year, when we met while she was visiting family in Cairo, and she's been one of my dearest friends since. We both have the same crazy obsession with Africa, she more with west africa and me more with...well you all know...Uganda. :) Turns out, she scored an internship in Uganda...soooooo, I'm going to meet her there!! Yep, I got the ticket and everything. This will only be my third time back, but I feel like that place is my home, and the people are my family. I can't believe I get to share it with her, especially after the last trip when my MOM! came. Really, Uganda and Joshua and his family and the kids, they're the only thing in my life that makes sense right now. How is it possible that I get to go back again so soon? And that Dahlia is coming? wow. Feels weird to be blessed.

i need a place
thats hidden in the deep,
where lonely angels sing you to your sleep,
when all the world is broken.

a lone thought

there's something to be said for waiting until you're ready.

i heart ketchup

Three tomatoes are walking down the street, poppa tomato, momma tomato, and baby tomato. Baby tomato starts lagging behind. The poppa tomato gets really angry, goes back and squishes him, says: "catch up!"


french fries anyone?

7 things you never knew...

Lazo "tagged" me in order that I may give up seven random things about myself. This may be a bit self-indulgent, but today is Eid (celebration of the end of Ramadan), the party of all parties, so...cheers.

1. I hold the record for the mile (5:13) and the two-mile (11:06) at Carpinteria High School, since 2002. Yes, I was a runner (aka crazy person).

2. When I was six years old, I prayed and asked God for a little sister, and that's how Bethany happened.

3. I've climbed 6,000 steps to the top of Tai Shan, one of China's five holy mountains.

4. I prefer to sit on the floor, and eat with my fingers.

5. My favorite sound is made when the librarian opens a library book and stamps it with the due date. I love the smell of libraries too...of all books really. I loooove books.

6. I love to sing, especially when I feel awkward, or when I'm trying to memorize something in Arabic.

Actually, in fact, my life is a musical.

7. I genuinely enjoy doing the dishes...you can take the rest of the house. ;-)

Aight...time to pass this on, even though I dont think I even know three other people that read my blog...

Katie!!
Aubrey!!
Lisa!!

Haha.

the rights and the violence...

I wonder how a Christian can believe in the promises of God to Israel, especially regarding their right to the land, and reconcile that with the forced displacement of Palestinians and the continued violance against them?

Many things I have read recently have prompted this question, including this article. There is a strong sympathy for Palestinians among my friends and classmates here in Egypt, contrasted with the pro-Zionist perspective back home in the states. At this point, I'm rather disgusted with both sides of the struggle really. But I really hate what I see happening to Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza...and I almost feel guilty about that because I believe in Israel's rightful ownership to the land based on the promises of God.

Is there a biblical Human Rights perspective that can properly address this issue?

I went into a mosque with a friend the other day so that she could pray. I sat down and waited somewhat awkwardly while she performed her prayer, quietly praying under my breath because I didn't know what to do with myself...as I looked around at the huge ceilings with ornate patterns, I was torn between a strange feeling of peace and a strong sense of conflict in the spiritual realm. It was really quiet and cool, and relatively empty of people, but imagine when it's full of devoted muslims on their face in prayer, what is really going on there in the spirit? Is the Holy Spirit there, duking it out with the forces of darkness?

I almost got this sense that it was empty of the Lord's presence up until the moment I took off my shoes and tiptoed in, and then I asked Him to come, fill the place, surround us with His loving kindness and touch my friend's life.

and I wondered...can I even spend time communing with the Lord in a place of false worship?