a pause in the push

Our Spring semester students begin arriving in just a couple days, and we are in the midst of a no-holds-barred push to get everything together before the school begins. Working through dinner, working late at night, meetings while we are driving around running errands... its kind of a free for all the last couple days. It would be wearing if it wasn't such an exciting time- so instead of weariness, there is the energy of pushing against a challenge together. And yet, we know better than to go blazing into the school without stopping to breathe - so we finished this mornings meetings by packing our whole base staff into vans and driving to the beach for an afternoon barbeque! We paused from our push - one last time before we throw it back into gear and try to pull everything together to kick off the school. From here on out, its go time.

a blessing in blue

Just wanted to show you my new car- an '03 Honda Civic. I'm starting to get used to it:)

Most of all, I am thankful and blessed that this car became available- the options were so bleak my generous dad was going to ship a vehicle from the mainland to make sure I had a good one at a fair price! I felt discouraged whenever i looked at what was available out here and just kept remembering that the Lord knew what i needed - it wasn't just up to my own effort. Then this car came around when i least expected. So I am very grateful to have a reliable & economical (and rather cute) car to drive... and not a day too soon. My schedule has involved quite a lot of driving this past week, with frequent commutes to our base office and various meetings- i have put the car to good use already!

Praise the Lord for finding me a suitable car!

personal electronic accomplishment #186

I actually have no idea how many personal electronic accomplishments i have to my name. Perhaps it is far fewer than the randomly assigned value above. (Though i would argue that the surplus of malevolent invertebrate slayings i am credited with could be called to account to compensate any miscalculation. They are rather different categories, but not unrelated: both are daunting undertakings and both are followed by a sense of relief and triumph.) Anyhow, tonight's accomplishment stems from a circumstance which arose late last week when i bought a car.

Having sold my trusty old Corolla before outreach, my generous friends (THANK YOU Paul & Mandy!!!) loaned it back to me upon my return while i tried to find a new vehicle . I finally found and purchased a respectable little Civic that seems reliable (and is from this last decade- an upgrade from my dear '98). Enter drama. Said car was fitted by the previous owner with an aftermarket stereo- the source of my electronic dilemma. (Okay, ultra minor drama, but still.)

One would think that setting a stereo's clock would be a straightforward affair, would one not? But nay. This simple task proved to be a great and fearsome undertaking. Like the sword in the stone, many a man (and woman) tried their hand at the challenge... but lo, none succeeded. I sought a manual in the far reaches of the glove compartment, but found only tire warranties. I began to fear myself doomed, bound to drive all my days timeless- with only irrelevant numbers mocking me from the glowing display. But i fought to keep such fears at bay and did not relent in my pursuit of well bounded time ...and tonight, with stalwart perseverance (and the inestimable aid of Google) I triumphed! Excalibur is mine.

I am basking in my victory.

rested and settled in at last

This travelogue has had its sabbath rest these past 2+ weeks, and now i am somewhat settled into life and willing again to take up my pen (or keyboard, rather). That said, i will be writing on a much more limited basis than when i am out traveling, as is always the case when i am back in routine life. If, that is, you can use language so loosely as to call my life routine :)

I have unpacked my suitcase finally...and unpacked my storage to refurnish my old bedroom down in the half-basement(ish) level of this old house. Usually i have these tasks done within two days of arriving home, but the housing situation while all our teams were back for debriefing and graduation was such as that the room i was intended to move into was occupied until this past week. Now i am moved into it at last and its gone a long way toward making me feel like i am really back...and better than that, back home.

I didn't realize how exhausted i was from this recent trip until i was back and slowed down a little. I have been trying to catch up on sleep, and just get rested... then little by little taking on things like taxes and such before my schedule goes into full swing again. And when will that be? Well, pretty much that is now. As of this last week i have my hands full again, doing administrative prep work for the Spring semester of the SBFM course. There is a lot to do before the new students arrive in about three weeks, and a full schedule once they are here.

The new class sounds awesome from what i read in their applications- I am really anticipating the upcoming months participating in their lives. The privilege of investing in young people in this way always amazes me. I am so grateful that God continues to draw young men and women here to Maui to be strengthened in their faith and to respond to His call on their lives.

Yep. It's worth it all. No question.