Heavy and light

nbcparksandrec: National Splurge Day is real. Treat Yo’ Self.

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:12:10 -0400

nbcparksandrec:

National Splurge Day is real. Treat Yo’ Self.

This pretty much sums up my life

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:18:28 -0400

This pretty much sums up my life

A Room with a View: My Summer Home in Morningside: So a few of...

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 15:34:44 -0400

Photos and postcards across from my bed to help make waking up a little brighter.

The view I wake up and fall asleep to

My bed--a place I don't spend enough time in. The room can get pretty cold at night and I've been freezing the past few weeks but got a nice comforter (under my quilt) and stuffed pup yesterday.

My desk which is usually messy--guess some things never change no matter where you are.

Instead of closets we have wardrobes with full length mirrors. Holla!

Bought this poster from a random man at the Times Square subway station. I love maps and I love NYC so it was a pretty good fit. Can't wait to hang it up in Birmingham!

No matter how many miles seperates me from my friends and family, they still are on my mind and in my prayers...and on my wall in photographs.

A Room with a View: My Summer Home in Morningside:

So a few of you may be interested in my living accommodations for the summer so here’s a little photo-blog about it. I reside on the East Campus on the Morningside of Columbia University.Each suite consists of four rooms (three single rooms and one double-occupancy room making for five persons per suite). The suites have a kitchen with gas stove and dishwasher, a pretty spacious living room, and a bathroom (maybe I’ll post photos another day). The bathrooms are cleaned by Columbia housing on Mondays!

I’m definitely not in Blount hall anymore (residence hall at UAB). You can actually walk around in my room and no longer do I look at some sketchy apartment building and a Subway restaurant but instead get to see some beautiful skyline. The suites are two stories with living room and kitchen upstairs with bedrooms and bathroom downstairs.

So I can’t really complain about my housing situation…except when the elevator breaks (I live on the 20th floor).

I feel like a child In a world that seems shapeless

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 22:50:17 -0400

This week was a hectic one. Started my internship and GRE prep classes. No more nights out on the town during the week…just long days and lots of coffee.

To be honest, my internship is not what I expected. Basically I will be working on a paper based off of the research of my mentor. She focuses on injury prevention for elderly people, specifically in the population of the New York City Housing Authority. I was able to see a little of the groundwork of the study by watching some folks take surveys about it. But they also didn’t speak English… So that was sort of an issue. I’m kind of bummed that most of my work will be in an office and consist mostly of reading articles and attempting to analyze data (which I’ve never really done). It may not directly relate to my future interests but I know that it’s a valuable experience. My mentor is pretty nice and insanely smart and wants to help me publish what I write using her data—which would probably help me with graduate school applications. So I want to keep it positive.

And as I was reminded by a very wise person, “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). So yeah, I may not absolutely love what I’m doing at the time, but it will somehow work out in the end. I have to pray to “do all things without complaining” (Phillipians 2:14) because my hope, my contentment does not ultimately lie in my work, my schooling, etc—it lies in the work that Christ has done for me. It rests in the fact that He loves me and the world without fail. And that’s pretty encouraging to hear when everything else sucks…not that everything sucks here!

In fact, it’s great to be here and not paying rent. It’s pretty awesome to develop relationships with people from across the USA and be close to particular persons. It’s cool to go to All Souls Church and a small group that includes a woman who is going to become a midwife! Yeah midwifery! Also having unlimited subway rides and being able go to Chinatown and sip bubble tea and buy cheap stuff is pretty radical.

Speaking of the subway—today Jasmine, Melvyn, and I got terribly lost on the metro after hitting up a fly thrift store in Harlem (for real, got an Express little black dress for $7 and they have new stuff that Target, Old Navy, and other stores couldn’t sell!). We ended up being an hour late to class. Not a good way to start the weekend but we made up for it when we hit up Chinatown.

New York City is definitely an incredible city. Sometimes it’s hard to believe I’m here. It’s like a bunch of worlds wrapped up into one. There are so many innovative people here. And so much to do! But it’s also nice to have a sense of normalcy while here. Yeah, it’s a pretty famous place, but in the end, it’s just that—a place. And any place can become mundane or trite. The things that make places great are the people and sharing it with others. Sometimes going to a seniors’ luncheon, playing basketball, and running can be more fun than spending a day sight-seeing because you’re spending it with a fun person (Though I don’t want to discount having time alone and enjoying it because that is good too! ). I’m just blessed enough to have two great things this summer—a neat place and even neater people to explore it with!

Ben!

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 08:16:30 -0400

Ben!

Why I Love Public Health

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 18:56:48 -0400

So seeing as I’m in a public health program this summer, I thought I’d discuss a few things that I love about it (and am learning about it!).

Public health presents a challenge: no case is exactly the same and there are numerous solutions to each problem. What works for one community may be completely disastrous for the next. For example, a complex pipe system that needs expensive parts probably won’t work in an African village but collecting rainwater does. That also leads to my next point:
Public health is listening. If you don’t listen to the people and population you’re trying to help you cannot understand the complexity of the issue and possible, sustainable solutions. Sometimes it involves stepping back, asking questions, and taking time to hear the answers.
Public health is prevention and focused long-term. Best way to treat a disease? Not get sick. Public health looks at factors to prevent illness. And this also makes it more economical. Why not save all that cash spent on medical bills by doing some low-cost things like putting on sunscreen and not start smoking?
Aims to close health disparities. Public health is about just that—the health of the public. And when a part of the public is facing unequal infirmities, morbidity, and mortality, then something’s up. And that means
Public health is a form of social justice. When one group is discriminated against, it hurts the overall health of a population. It can be tied to discrimination, broken structures, etc. and therefore improving public health sometimes means attacking these unjust structures.
Although there are probably a million other reasons public health is awesome, I’ll close with this: Public health is biblical. Let’s just take a gander at Leviticus. God knew what was going on. I believe that not only was He setting His people apart spiritually, but God was also protecting His people physically. Priests not only attended the spiritual needs of the people but also were kind of like old school public health community workers. For example, Leviticus 13:29-37 goes into an entire process of examining people with skin diseases. If they’re unclean, the priest has them go away from the people and be pronounced “unclean”. Sounds kind of like quarantining—one way we keep infectious diseases from spreading. Pretty radical, right?

nbcparksandrec: It’s science.

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 18:31:26 -0400

nbcparksandrec:

It’s science.

NYC: First Week Recap

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 18:03:11 -0400

New York. The city that never sleeps. A muse to countless musicians, artists, and poets. Last year I fell in love with it while I was in Queens and now I’m blessed to be back (albeit in a very different borough, Manhattan, on the Upper West Side). This past week I’ve gotten oriented to the public health program at Columbia University. It’s been the 9-5 grind and now I understand a bit more about the whole “never sleeps” part because that department has definitely been lacking. Here’s a few high-lights from the week:

Sunday: Midtown with Jasmine, Song, Geanna, and Christie. The Strand (amazinggg used bookstore). Stumbled upon a CitiBike promotion and got my photo with the Mets mascot. Drank some bubble tea and ate some delicious pizza. Got some house-ware at Goodwill and carried all of our stuff back on the Metro.

Monday: Got a surprise visit. Celebrated Melvin’s 21st birthday at Sylvia’s soul-food in Harlem. This place had some amazing cornbread and the waitress told us that we were sitting at the table that President Barack Obama had once dined at. Holla,

Tuesday: Went to Brooklyn to get cheaper groceries because the prices in Manhattan are out of control. Exhausted. So so exhausted.

Wednesday: Finally found a vase for my flowers after two days of searching. Saw the amazing Lauren Bouchard for dinner at The Smith and ate an amazing salad. Thought I walked into the men’s restroom but it was just an awkward set up.

Thursday: Went to Madison Square Garden with Jake and ate a burger and fries. Saw some really precious squirrels and thought it’d be a good idea to see if the pigeons would eat food out of my hand. Well they actually tried but I freaked out and then they somewhat attacked us. Did a lot of walking and talking & had a great time but still exhausted after so many days of little sleep.

Friday (today!): We were supposed to take a walking tour of Washington Heights but it was pouring out so I got to go back to sleep for a few hours. Picked up my check and had stats class. It’s still pouring which makes me really sad and cold but also made me write this. Gotta keep it positive.

Overall the program has been pretty swell. I’ve met some great people like Jasmine and Symone and have been pushed to think a lot about issues of health disparity, my future, public health, etc. It’s been a little overwhelming at times. I feel so, so blessed to be here in the city, learning about public health, and learning from other peoples’ stories and why they’re passionate about public health.

Photo

Thu, 30 May 2013 21:56:08 -0400

Here's the Thing About "Not Being Good Enough"

Thu, 30 May 2013 21:40:49 -0400

*The Bible is filled with messed up, broken people. Just read a few chapters in Genesis and this will be pretty evident. But that’s one thing I love about it. These are real people and real people are broken, make mistakes, and sin andreal people are loved by God.

One of those people is Moses. You know, the guy who parted the Red Sea, helped deliver the Israelites from Egypt, and brought down the Ten Commandments from Mt. Sinai. Moses also killed a man, had a speech impediment, and was generally kind of scared. First, he was a bit concerned about the fact that the Israelites wouldn’t believe God had sent him. I’d say that’s pretty valid seeing that he was raised by pharaoh’s daughter and, again, killed a man. But here’s the thing—God sends people who are people and people have a past but that doesn’t necessarily discredit His calling on their present and future.

Another thing Moses wasn’t too pumped about—his speech impediment. “Oh my Lord,” he said, “I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and tongue. ” Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him ute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?” (Exodus 4:10-11). The Lord wanted Moses. He knew that he had speech problems because He created Moses. And He created us, too. And pursues us. And wants us. And wants us here and now with our problems and our fears because He works through those and redeems us.

I’m afraid of a lot of things—open heights, falling down stairs, people thinking my voice is weird. I’m afraid that I’m not good enough or of what other people will think. I get anxious that I’m not following Christ wholeheartedly or that I’m just not doing it right. Not to say that we shouldn’t strive to be more through Christ and earnestly seek a relationship with Him because we should but because of that we should know that He loves us. That it is not how “good” we are but because of how good He is. He loves us where we are. He loves us despite our mistakes and our limitations because in our weakness we rely on His strength and He is glorified. That’s why I like Moses— It wasn’t about him or what he could do. It was about what God wanted to do through Him. How the Lord still loved him and used him.

*I would like to mention that that phrase “here’s the thing” did not originate with me. An amazing person, friend, missionary, blogger, Suzanne Seidell did and writes a lot about great and sometimes controversial things (with refreshing grace and perspective). Check it out at http://1timothy112.tumblr.com/

Photo

Wed, 29 May 2013 21:08:36 -0400

So excited and so blessed to spend my summer in this beautiful...

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:45:05 -0400

So excited and so blessed to spend my summer in this beautiful city. Can’t believe I’ll be there in less than 2 weeks!

Photo

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:43:10 -0400

Joel Busby: But the scriptural texts are not inert matter, words on the page...

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:28:25 -0400

Joel Busby: But the scriptural texts are not inert matter, words on the page...:

joelbusby:

But the scriptural texts are not inert matter, words on the page simply waiting for verbal activation, or “ideas” asking for our intellectual assent. Scripture, so Christians confess, has the ability to effect change in the reader for the sake of the kingdom of God, to exert directive pressure…

Leaves, Bugs, and Other Tasty Treats this Week

Sun, 19 May 2013 17:29:57 -0400

This week at SIFAT we’ve discussed the structural and underlying issues behind hunger and malnutrition like war, famine, unjust governments, and disempowerment as well as practical ways to combat the problem. Part of this has involved sitting in a classroom and hearing people talk but other times we’ve gotten our hands dirty learning how to make rooftop gardens and make leaf powder and use it in recipes. It’s been such an amazing experience and opportunity to meet people around the world who are passionate about the same things that I am. Here are a few highlights from the week:

Learning how to fight micronutrient malnutrition through utilizing nutritious and abundant leaf sources from Leaf for Life. We made some delicious treats with leaf powder like homemade pasta and dinosaur cookies!
Eating bugs. They’re sustainable, ya’ll. The biggest obstacle is making them “sexy” and overcoming cultural stigmas that they’re “gross” and “dirty”. They’re full of protein and readily available.
Freaking Bhuvana out by eating bugs.
Conversations about life with all sorts of folks!
Milking a cow—a lot easier than I thought.
Trying to speak French with Lillian and Marie.
Planting gardens and wearing my overalls.

Bhuvana told me today that when we do the slum experience tomorrow she wants to be in my family...

Sun, 19 May 2013 17:10:40 -0400

Bhuvana told me today that when we do the slum experience tomorrow she wants to be in my family because I seem tough. She said that’s a survival strategy—team up with an intimidating individual.

Tu parles francaise?

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:40:00 -0400

Somehow I’ve managed to get a minor in French but am atrocious at communicating in that language. Somehow I always have confidence to try and engage French speakers with my infant speaking skills, however. Like here at SIFAT. There’s an amazing Haitian woman, Marie, who cannot speak a lot of English so when they asked if anyone spoke French, I opened my fat mouth and said “Je parle un peu francaise”. It’s such a great experience, though, trying to break through that barrier and get to know someone. To show them that you’re trying, that they’re totally worth listening to (even if they have to repeat themselves a million times), and to attempt to joke with them (I use a lot of hand and facial gestures). It’s also incredible to be with people from around the world and the USA who are passionate about fighting malnutrition and poverty around the world through empowering others and building relationships. Like Marie, she’s a nurse in Haiti who wants to prevent all these children from becoming sick in the first place due to malnutrition. She’s smart, passionate, but gentle. Then there’s Lester from Zimbabwe who works in Zambia in agriculture. Knows a million times more than I do about anything green and is always smiling. He wants to use agriculture to not only feed peoples’ stomachs but to also feed their spirits by sharing Christ with them. It’s humbling and it’s encouraging to see all the gifts and talents represented in one place.

shouthallelujah: Seeds coffee with @rebeccagraber before we...

Sat, 11 May 2013 22:31:51 -0400

shouthallelujah:

Seeds coffee with @rebeccagraber before we depart for summer.

Found another little coffee shop in Birmingham. This is by far the most hospitable and welcoming one I’ve been to in the area. Coffee is relatively inexpensive as well. Also they cubano coffee which is basically raw sugar and espresso shots. Super sweet stuff. Also it has a real sense of community—there was actually a community group meeting there and eating a meal. Pretty neat place!

Summer, Seniors Sail Off, Saying Goodbye (or Seeya Later)

Fri, 10 May 2013 15:01:03 -0400

Summer is here! Finals are finished and I’m almost done packing up room 501A. Last year living in the dorms and I can’t say that I’m sad about that. Too many rules, not enough “home-iness”.

Becca and I celebrated our freedom last night with a bike ride around Birmingham and dinner at Makario’s. We talked about next Spring Break—hopefully a trip down the California coast—and getting tattoos (maybe at the same time?). 3 years. That’s how long I’ve been at UAB, since I’ve known Becca, since I’ve grown from a scared, confused freshman to a scared, confused junior.

Tomorrow a lot of people I’ve known over those three years are graduating. Like Julia. She’s the best. Really sorry if you don’t know her. This girl is so cheerful and laughs more than not (sometimes at inappropriate times, haha). 2ish years ago we bonded in Haiti. We’d known each other before then, but through the Lord’s sovereignty (in a lot of ways, but that’s another story) He had me spend a week there with UCF. It changed my life but not in the ways that you probably think. It was less about trying to save the world and more about building community & loving the folks around you. That may mean when you’re spending a few days, weeks, months, years, etc. overseas or it may mean loving your family and living at home after graduation. It showed me the amazing community and fellowship at University Christian Fellowship. And one of the folks is Julia.

Next year, I’ll be the one setting sail. Maybe across oceans or perhaps just across town (or nowhere at all). I can’t think of that right now. Can barely handle all the goodbyes that have to be said (or maybe will go unspoken) at some time. But here’s the thing—goodbyes don’t have to be permanent. Things change, people move away, but we live in an age where you can literally talk to someone face to face via Skype and be halfway across the world. It takes effort, yes. It takes scheduling and planning and staying in on a night where everyone else may go out, but it can work. Or it can be a handwritten letter. And ultimately, in Christ, no matter where we go on this earth, we are still united, we are one body, a big, diverse family. Ultimately, too, we will be reunited with Him and with one another. And that’s gonna be one sweet party—not like those awkward family reunions that I always hear about.

"Terrible. Unforgiving. That’s how I saw God. Punishing us in this life and committing us to..."

Fri, 10 May 2013 09:22:33 -0400

“Terrible. Unforgiving. That’s how I saw God. Punishing us in this life and committing us to purgatory after death. Sentencing sinners to burn in hell for all eternity. But I was wrong. Those who see God as angry do not see Him rightly. But look upon a curtain as if a dark storm cloud is being drawn across his face. If we truly believe that Christ is our Savior, then we have a God of love. And to see God in faith is to look upon His friendly heart. So when the devil throws your sins in your face, and declares that you deserve death and hell tell him this, ‘I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it?’ For I know one who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ Son of God. Where He is there I should be also.”

- Martin Luther

(via hislivingpoetry)