A Faith Journey

This past week I was off to Chicago (actually Kankakee) for I-fest . . . International Festival of Christian Puppetry and Ventriloquism. It was an amazing week. It was my 7th year to attend, and my 4th year as a CA (conference Assistant). We had somewhere between 600-700 people in attendance this year.

I flew into Chicago Sunday morning and ventured on the subway to the bus station (got a bit lost, but found my way rather easily), which took me to Kankakee. Abby (friend from Faith Academy) picked me up and I spent the evening with her family as we remembered our adventures in Manila. It was so fun and just what I needed. Someone to understand how I was feeling being back in the US.

Monday morning I headed into ONU for my official start to I-fest. It was going to be a busy week.

I usually work a variety of jobs from sales, to recording, to photocopies, runner, door/ticket sales, and what ever else needs to get done. This year I was given a new role, I was building supervisor for two buildings. Basically I needed to make sure rooms were unlocked, and supplies needed were gathered, deliver water to teachers, count participates in each class, and make sure rooms are clean and orderly when the day is over. It was a huge job and kept me over busy, but I really enjoyed it.

I also helped Leah each morning make sure sure water coolers were full with ice and water bottles and placed in there specific area on campus. It was a very important job and I think we got stronger as the week went on.

I loved helping at doors each evening collecting tickets from local people wanting to watch the evening performances. We had some great things happening at night. Thursday and Friday were some of the best. Thursday is also the black light competition, which draws a huge crowd. Our days started early and ended late. Not to mention that Leah and I usually stayed up even later talking.

I was one of several guest during International night. I spoke about my life in Manila, Faith Academy, the orphanage, and of course SPAM (Faith Academy's Puppet Team). I was so nervous but all went very well. I had many individuals come up and talk to me later about my time in the Philippines.

It was so exciting to see new and old friends, we had the best times. Leah (she traveled with me on the ministry team 7 years ago) and I are pretty much together for the week and do as many jobs together that we can. We only get to see each other once a year so we make the most of it. We laugh easily when we are together but add exhaustion and lack of sleep and we just can't stop. I must admit it has been along time since I laughed that hard (my stomach ached) but it was so great.

It was a physically and emotionally exhausting week but very much spiritually encouraging. It was like a Christian retreat with puppets and dummies. We had wonderful morning devotionals from Paul Morley, not to mention our pep talks/devotionals from Lee Nearpass (our CA leader). Each evening was filled with a mix of professional puppeteers and ventriloquist as well as some of the best church puppet teams.

Overall I had a wonderful week and was so happy to be a part of it all. For one week I knew exactly what was expected of me and where I belonged. For one week I was the one who knew what to do and I was known by name.

Check out my pictures on facebook!

It has been a month and I guess my Pappy was right, I am a 'rutch' . . . a Pennsylvania German word for someone who can't stay still.

I am mostly living with my sister in Philadelphia but frequently drive back to my parents house for various things. I am finally feeling somewhat unpacked though still have a lot more settling to do.

I am loving my nieces and nephew a lot. I have adapted to their schedules and all is running smoothly for a house with three under the age of 3. Down time is pretty much only during afternoon nap and only if all three sleep at the same time.

We try to get out at least once a week or more . . . zoo, park, grocery shopping. Each outing is a huge deal and exhausts us all.

I have made contact with a church in the Philadelphia area and hope to attend my first woman's study this week. I am nervous about meeting more new people, but also excited about the possibility of new friends. Unfortunately my Sunday schedule is pretty full for the next two months with speaking engagements but I look forward to a Sunday I might be able to visit the church.

Today I also went for a 14 mile bike ride with my pappy down the Lehigh Gorge. It was so wonderful to be outside away from cars and modern life and just enjoy the flowing river and cool breeze. I must admit that I was in awe of my Pappy, and hope that at the age of 79 I am able to bike 14 miles. We also did a bit of snake hunting, which is his real reason for going and he was pleased to locate a black rattle snake.

Thursday June 12th, was exactly 36 hours long for me. I awoke at 2:45am (Manila Time) and was at the airport by 4:00am. It took me 90 minutes to check in for my flight. I think I went through three security check points and payed an airport tax and exit clearance.

My flight left at 6:15am. We got breakfast . . . I had chicken adobo and watched "The Great Debaters" It was a good movie. I arrived in Nagoya, Japan about 4 hours later, it was a bumpy ride as we crossed many storms.

We got off the plane and walked through security one more time. Got back on the plane, this time we got supper . . . some more chicken stuff, it was gross this time. Then they turned off the lights, bed time. I watched "27 Dresses" and then tried to rest but after about 6 hours, I really was getting a bit antsy and I was so hungry and tired, but could not sleep. After about 8 hours of no lights, they turned them on to once again feed us breakfast. This time is was not so good. :( I decided not to eat. 12 hours after leaving Nagoya, I arrived in Detroit.

I claimed all my bags and went through customs, just to recheck my bags on the other side for my next flight. It all went so smoothly, that I was able to find some food before my last flight.

I took the train to my last gate(large airport). My flight left around 1:40pm (Eastern Time) and I arrived in Philadelphia around 3:15pm (Eastern Time) about 24 1/2 hours after I woke up Thursday morning in Manila.

After collecting my luggage, my parents picked me up and we headed to my sisters where I got to meet my nieces (Hazel and Iris) for the first time. I also spent some time with Ward, my nephew. We ate some dinner, then headed to my parents house. I arrived at their house by 9:30pm and watched TV and opened Christmas gifts. I went to bed around 11:30pm (Eastern Time), only about 32 hours after waking up. It was still Thursday!

Amazing!

As I looked into my departure from Manila, I must admit that in years past I flew out as soon as I could knowing how short time would be before I would return for another teaching year. This time however, knowing that a year away is a long time and not sure I was completely ready for all that was going to change, I made my departure just short of two weeks past schools end.

What a great choice that was!

I am having such a great time as I make memories with friends. I am enjoying doing things I have wanted to do but just not had time for during a busy school year. I am loving orphanage kids, spending time at a medical clinic meeting some cute little kids and handing out clothes, and just enjoying some wonderful people God has placed in my life.

Sunday I went to a kids birthday party. I understood very little, picked up a few words I recognized but overall was lost. It was so much fun. Jerry and Crystal said that when I return they will take me to a wedding and an 18th birthday party too. I look forward to those adventures.

Just tonight . . . I went to a movie with two lovely ladies. We were going to see Indiana Jones and so we got tickets, food, and went to the theater. The lady that took the tickets said something that I just could not understand, so I asked again, still didn't get it, so I looked at the ladies behind me and was like, I don't understand. She repeated for them and it clicked . . . "Indiana Jones." She was confirming that we were entering the correct movie. I just laughed and laughed. I thought she was saying something in Tagalog.

Tomorrow I head out with three great ladies as we just enjoy each others company for a night away from Manila. Who knows what adventures await us and I am sure the laughter is sure to brighten our day and evening.

"To have a friend you need to be a friend."

"A friend is someone who knows the song of your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."

"A friend is one who believes in you when you cease to believe in yourself"

"A friend is the one who knows all about you and still likes you"

There are many quotes on friendship and I guess trying to define 'friend' would be impossible considering each persons view is different. I think you can be a 'friend' to someone who is not a 'friend' to you. I think I define most people in my life as a 'friend' but 'best friends' are those who know my heart and they don't come along anywhere.

It is funny cause someone mentioned to me the other week that they felt they knew me quite well and I had just be thinking early that day the complete opposite, that person really has no idea who I am. They see the part of me I allow them to see, they never see the 'real' me. They have no idea when I have a bad day or when I go home and cry. They have no idea who I talk to on a regular basis or who I miss most of all.

Here is my thought, we all have a person we are when we are with people and we have a person we are when we are alone. My true close friends are those that know me when I am alone. They know me when I cry, they know me when I am sad, they know me when I am happy, they know ME! They are the friends who I can get silly with. They are the friends I can call up at 3am when I am having a bad night. They are the friends that know my real feelings about a person, good or bad.

I can remember some defining moments in my life when I got to see 'best friends' shine. Thinking back to my transition to college, my 'best friend' Becky knew I was really missing home and so she came out with my mom to visit me and brought a book she had made. It was full of pictures of all the people I missed and little special message to me. That is a 'best friend.'

I remember when Matt died and I was not a great person to be around . . . I cried a lot, didn't talk much, withdrew, and sometimes was just mean because I was not sure I wanted people in my life anymore. 'Best friends' sat with me while I cried, 'best friend' Emily came 6 hours just to be at a funeral for someone she had never met, 'best friends' walked with me in the years that followed as I processed and went through grieving. They didn't judge me or say I should get over it. They cried with me, walked with me, they noticed when I was missing and found me.

I remember the ministry team and the five members I lived with for 10+ weeks in close quarters and 'best friend' Leah who never seems to miss a beat, she could read my days and my mood. We can lose touch and get busy for months at a time and reconnect in seconds. We have flown and drove around the US to see each other. I have called her at 3am (by accident . . time change) and she doesn't get upset or mad.

I think of right now as I deal with the transition of moving back to the US and processing other things happening in life, 'best friend' Linda is by my side each step of the way. She is the one that texts me, just to say she is praying for me or ask me how I am doing. She is the one who says she will go with me even when she is completely exhausted and should stay home. Sometimes we just cry together. She knows my heart.

I am not a person who cries in public, learned at a young age that crying (and being sick) meant you were weak and I was not going to be seen as weak. However, I have found those few 'best friends' allow me to cry. I feel safe enough to cry with them, when most others only get part of me.

I pray that I am a 'best friend' to someone in my life. I pray they find me a safe person. I know that I live by the idea, once a friend, always a friend. So if I lose touch with someone and they call me up in 10 years, I will be there for them.

I got to be that person for one of my 'best friends' this past summer. I got the call, drove 6 hours, and sat 18 hours in the hospital before driving the 6 hours back home. I am glad I was a 'best friend' at that moment.

"Friendship is what gets you through the bad times and helps you enjoy the good times"

"Friends are angels following you through life"

"A friend is someone that reaches to your hand but touches your heart."