Internship

Hey, all!

I finished my senior internship two weeks ago, ending my time in Rochester, NY, with Interpretek. Because the nature of this work is fraught with confidentiality, I don't have very much visual documentation of the work that I did over the last three months. I do have a couple pictures and one video I'm going to attempt to share here.

Perhaps one of the most fun experiences I had during my internship, one of the few in which I actually got to be a full fledged interpreter, was interpreting at the Rochester Red Wings' baseball games. The RWs are a minor league team that are feeders for the Minnesota Twins. Interpretek provides interpreters for all home games. This doesn't mean that we interpret everything that is commentaried during the course of a game; we interpret the opening comments, national anthem, and during the 7th inning stretch, Take me Out to the Ballgame and God Bless America. This experience was VERY exciting, and I got some free ballgames in the process! Below are pictures of opening night. Normally, there would only be two interpreters, one on each side of home plate (where I'm standing in the pictures). For opening night, we had 16 interpreters: four on each dugout and four 1st and 3rd baselines! It was super cool!

That's me on the right.

I'm between the Army band and the kids' choir.

It was FREEZING that night. It was mid april and the game temp was about 36. YUCK. It's extremely hard to interpret when you can't feel your fingers. I have three layers on, and if you know me, I'm NOT a layer person. But it was necessary.

I tried uploading the only video sample I have of my work, but I think the video was too large. The video was taped in a Master's level Social Work program that I got to interpret with my mentor all semester. I loved this assignment because it was a challenge for my interpreting skills and I got to learn tons of cool stuff without having to do the homework! If only we could end up with the degree....hmm ;-)

That's the update from here! Countdowns: 10 days till I see Rob, 11 days till I become a college graduate, and 254 days until I become a wife!
Blessings!

The Immigration Journey Begins!

As we near the 9-months-to-wedding mark, Rob and I have begun the arduous task of navigating the red tape of immigration. I'm moving to Canada after our wedding at the end of January, and ideally, we'd like it if I could begin working soon thereafter. That is not to say I have a job lined up or even that I know what the Lord wants me to do--I have no clue! That makes this task even more intimidating, as it's hard to know where to start!

I find myself with several fears which are all unfounded as I remind myself of the supremacy and sovereignty of God! He is bigger than any bureaucracy or application process. We believe he wants us living in Calgary, so he will make the way clear, legal and otherwise. I still find myself fearful, though, in my typical human distrust of anything out of my control (and what isn't?!).

We've looked into several possibilities, and at this time, it's seeming as though I won't be able to work until my permanent residency visa gets processed and approved (we're trusting the Lord that this will be the outcome--too unsettling to fathom the possibilities otherwise! Why borrow trouble?). This is feasible for several reasons, the biggest of which is that the Lord is already providing by having granted Rob a full time job starting the first of next month. We can survive quite fine on his salary, but as a new couple starting out, we'd like to both be working. Not only that, but what will I do with myself for 6 months?! However, maybe that's God's blessing of time for me to get acclimated to a new country, new city, new husband, new home and role, new culture....

Which brings me to something else I've been thinking about today. How much of what I know about the world around me--that gut, instinctual knowledge that I have simply by being born and raised in this country--is just that? How much will change? How much will I have to relearn? Yes, I realize that our nice neighbor to the north seems rather congruent with us, yet I have it on good authority from a friend who's Canadian immigrated to NY that it does have its own unique culture. What cultural faux pas will I commit as I learn to navigate their country?

Moving out of the US was never in my life something I dreamed of doing, yet here I am. I've never contemplated traveling the world, seeing the sites--I've always been content to stay close to home. It's not that I'm particularly patriotic--I'm a citizen of heaven just visiting here, so what do I care what "nationality" is attached to my name? This feeling has been brought into sharp relief as we embark on this immigration trek...it is as though everything possible is done to prevent me from becoming a part of the Canadian landscape. How grateful I am that Jesus threw the borders of heaven wide open to me!

Well, the process has just begun. We serve a faithful God. He has made all the pieces fall into place up until now--we trust that he will continue to open doors for us to walk through!

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ..."
Philippians 3:20

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Ephesians 3:20-21

WOW!

Life changes so fast!

My little brother is now engaged!! He and Courtney will marry in August and move to Nashville together. I'm so excited for them!

It's rather strange, though. I can hardly fathom that in less than 6 months, I'll have a sister-in-law! She's such a blessing, though. She's really great for Wesley, and I've seen her do so much growing in the last year! I can't wait to have her for a sister; what a wonderful addition to our family!

So congrats, Wesley and Courtney! Can't wait to see where God takes you!
Much love <3

Here goes nothin'

I've come to a place in my life where I know I will be leaning hard upon the Lord. Not that this is in any way bad, quite the opposite--I just wasn't expecting such a culture shock moving here to Rochester.

I've always considered myself a city girl, but I feel like a veritable country bumpkin here. I'm living with my Deaf professor and her husband in Rochester proper. From what I could tell on the way in, this neighborhood/part of town is primarily black. I've never been the minority. Not comfortable...I feel so vulnerable, and I feel like everyone around me knows it.

At the risk of sounding incredibly.....I don't even know what.....I'm scared...scared to look at people in the eye. scared to look around while i'm at a stoplight. I don't want to live in fear! I'm just so out of my element.

Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore! Ps. 105:4

I'm going to be learning a lot more than interpreting this semester. I pray that I let God mold me and teach me to rely on His strength and not my own. It's so tempting to wish that I even had another friend here, because wandering in unfamiliar territory is always easier with a friend. But I've got to rely on my Best Friend. He's not sent me out and just wished me good luck. He's walking beside me. Leading me. Carrying me. Please pray that I will let Him have his way in me!

Blessings.

That time again...

So, it's about that time again. Dun dun duuunn....the new year's resolutions post!

Today in Breakthru, Joe Skillen gave a very challenging sermon on this idea. He talked first about how he has tried to make a Spiritual, Intellectual, and Physical goal. I liked this idea, and the tips/suggestions he made for reasons why we should make these goals really drove home to me. More than anything, I was really challenged by his comment that we should "Do something that cripples you so you must cry out to God." I'm so often unwilling to attempt anything at which I might fail.

I spent some time really praying this afternoon about what he spoke on, and here's what I've come up with. He said make them public, so here I go. The four of you who read this: feel free to ask me how it's going!

Spiritual: Spend 30 min/3x/week being still and learning to listen for God's voice.

Physical: Run 1/2 mile/4x/week with the goal being able to do a consecutive mile by graduation and 2 consecutive miles by Christmas 2010. Not much to some people, but a big goal for me!

Intellectual: This one is an either/or goal. I either want to finish The Collected Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer or spend the time to go through each book of the Bible and really understand each books overarching purpose. Hopefully, God will help me accomplish both!

So that's mine. What about you? Let God challenge and push you this year. May Jesus be your impetus and the Spirit be your strength!

For Jazz

Here is a new post for my dear sista Jasmine. She checks my blog every day and I never have new posts up.

So here's to you, dear Jazz. New post duly put up. :D

LOVE YOU!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Update?

So, for the five of you who read this little bloggy thing of mine, here's an update on my life!

I'm 4 weeks from the end of my last semester of college classes! Holy cow, it seems rather unreal! Next semester I will be living in Rochester on a futon in my professor's attic while doing a 336 hour internship with Interpretek, a sign language interpreting agency. Then I graduate the last weekend in May!!!!!!!

Last week, I started a new job at a bookstore in town. I love it! Totally my kind of gig. Also, it's a wonderful blessing because they'll give me weekend hours next semester so that I don't have to work part time during the week on top of my internship. This also means I'll be back on campus over each weekend and get to hang out with Jazz and Jane, my "sistas".

Other than that, I hope to head back for one more summer at Summit after graduation. Not sure what I'm going to be doing job-wise post-grad. God knows, though! I'm praying for revelation in His time. Same story with plans for Rob and me. We've started discussing wedding stuff, but we're not ready to settle on a date yet. Still just praying for His will!

That's the life here in NY! God is good, I am blessed, and this is the day the Lord has made!