Birthday Blessings

I celebrated my 26th birthday on Wednesday and it was a wonderful day! God blessed me with friends and family who called, sent emails, chatted, sent gifts and cards and helped make my day special. My co-workers also provided me with a birthday lunch in the office. Here a few pictures:

Lessons from Grad School

Over the last three years I have had the opportunity to attend Dallas Baptist University and am two weeks away from receiving my Master’s degree in Global Leadership/Missions. I didn’t really picture myself attending grad school and if God had not thrust open the door, I don’t think I would have headed in this direction. I'm so thankful, however, for the lessons I have learned, the people I have gotten to meet and opportunities I have had while attending DBU. Here are a few things I am thankful for in my graduate school journey:

1. Interaction with students from around the world: DBU has a huge international student population and I have had the privilege of meeting many of them in my classes over the years. These students amazed me with their desire to pursue their education in a foreign country, in another language, in order to be more effective in their work back in their home country. They often added a insight to our discussions that helped me see things from another point of view.
2. Practical Professors: Many of the professors that I have had at DBU had not spent their life in the world of academia. Many were passing along their practical experience from ministry or overseas work. When the professors could back up their points with personal stories, I understood better and will remember more of what they were saying.
3. Good Challenges: I enjoy having my mind stretched and thinking about things in a new way (most of the time anyway). I appreciated the challenge that grad school brought as I completed the assignments, listened to the lectures and discussions in class and looked at my own way of thinking in a new light. I'm not sure that I have radically changed any of my values or philosophies, but it so helpful to be pushed to think about things differently.
4. Fun Stories: One of my favorite classes was Biographies of Outstanding Missionaries which I took last spring. I loved reading of missionaries throughout the centuries who served under all sorts of different circumstances. Some of them were not the best example but there was something to learn from each one.
5. Defined Calling: When I started graduate school, I knew that I would one day serve in missions overseas but I didn’t know any details. Not only did school give me more time to listen to the Lord’s calling, but He used my Global Leadership Practicum in Cambodia last year to help define what He had next for me.

My Chains Are Gone

This last Easter Sunday in church, we sang the song “Amazing Grace/My Chains are Gone”, by Chris Tomlin. This is a special song to me because it was played at my grandmother’s funeral, but it also took on a new meaning on Sunday. The chorus is:

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

I started thinking about many of the people I have met and prayed for in Western Cambodia. Khru Map, the teacher in Ou Thmaa, who has had visions of Jesus and is finally seeking but hasn’t committed his life to following Jesus. Meng, the young man who does not want to become a Christian because it means he will have to forgive those who have wronged him. Many other men and women who are addicted to alcohol or gambling, who are not able to find adequate work or who struggle to provide for their families. All of those who have not had a chance to hear about Jesus and find TRUE release from the bondage they are in. As we sang the song in church, their faces flashed before me and I thought about them being able to one day sing this song. Not just one day to be free from bondage on earth, but to be around the throne of God worshipping Him with all of their hearts. Would you pray with me for that to happen?

History and Art

A couple of weeks ago, a friend came to visit and we did an Art Walk in downtown Dallas. I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, but the variety along the 3 ½ mile walk was so fun! There were 30 stops along the walk that exemplified the unique history of the Dallas area.

One of my favorites was the design of the Dallas City Hall and the Dallas Public Library which sit across the street from one another. The city hall was a very different design as the top of the building is wider than the bottom. The architect designed these two buildings to look like they are “dancing” with each other. The city hall “leans” forward while the library looks like it is leaning back.

I also enjoyed Pioneer Plaza. Some of the oldest residents of Dallas are buried there, but unfortunately many of the stones are broken down or unreadable. Also in the park is an elaborate collection of statues representing a Texas cattle drive.

I never knew many of these places existed! It made me appreciate the heritage of Dallas more and it was exciting to find these places as we did the Art Walk.