Gray Matter

Its been a long time since I have blogged. To be honest, kind of forgot about it. The semester got moving, and just got busy, and totally forgot about blogging. Was reading a friends blog tonight and thought that it might be a good time to get back into it.

I am currently sitting on my in laws couch. A couch that I have moved 5 times today by the way. But anyways, I am sitting on the couch. On the other couch, my father in law has fallen asleep as we watched some re runs of "The Office". Heather and her mom are in the kitchen backing. Its what they do best. Lets be honest, they can bake their tails off. We have been up in Redding for the past week, and will be here till New Years. I haven't done much. And that has been great. I have had a week to relax, be away, and spend time with my wife and her family. A lot of people dread the "in laws". A place where you are always on edge, and have to worry about pleasing people. Every time we go up to Redding, I just get to have fun and relax. It is a great place to do that. We have some friends up here, and it just is awesome to step away.

Life gets so crazy sometimes. I love my job, I love my life, and I love where Heather and I are going in life. Hopefully at some point in the somewhat near future we can buy a house. That is next on the list. But in the busy life that everyone leads, it is great to have a place and a time to just relax, and be with people. With no plans, no agenda, no schedule. It has been a great Christmas. A time to recognize the little things.

I read an article today about teachers. It was an article that talked about and explained about the idea that all teachers care. And that the reason that they become a teacher is because the care (I know you all have that teacher you are thinking about that never cared about you. And it was probably true. They never cared for you.) And out of this article, came this concept that goes beyond a classroom, to everyone, as long as they are in some kind of relationship.

Here is the main idea: That Showing you care for someone has nothing to do with you. That you can't care for someone unless they let you. That you are not really in charge of whether you care for someone. Yes you have to make the first effort. But if someone doesn't take that care, and allow you to see what they need and how to care for them, then you can't. It was an interesting change of mindset. The article went into what this means for a classroom.

But the idea goes to any relationship. I thought you could care for anyone you wanted. But you really can't. You can only care for those that allow you to. So allow people to care for you that will take you to the places you want to go.

Summer is gone. So sad. The weather is still fantastic, but school has started. I am teaching the exact same students this year. I moved up in the sequence with them. Good and bad come with that. It is a little weird. But will be fine. Just need some time.

Getting back into the routine is a little difficult. But again just need some time. My life is now run by bells and schedules. Have to wait to go to the bathroom. Can't eat when I am hungry.

This summer was the summer of traveling. It is a bug, because I just want to travel now. Want to visit friends and places I have never been. I have this list of places to go. And the list is longer than my pocketbook. So sad. But I will get to them all. Someday.

Heather is glad I am back at work. Glad that she is home before I am. She wasn't a huge fan of getting up before me and getting home after me in the summer. And that is if I ever left the house. So she is glad school is back in session.

Will update the blog more now that I am back in a routine. Hopefully.

Have spent the last week and a half here in Africa. It has been the best experience of my life. (Experience, not moment. Marriage takes that award.) This place is amazing. The amount of joy that just comes out of the people despite the situations that they are in baffles me.

Hands down the highlight of the trip that has been speaking to two people about their experiences with the LRA and running from the Rebels. First I talked with George for about 4 hours. He told me all about the 3 years that he spent running from the LRA. How they had to crawl through the bush, hide in the trees, and dig holes under the swaps to sleep. Just an inhuman way to live. Couldn't believe the stories that he was sharing with me and how he survived.

The next guy that I talked to was named Stephen. He was abducted and forced to work for the LRA for 8 months. He met with Joseph Kony twice while he was in the LRA. He escaped one day in the middle of a battle. His stories were even crazier. By the grace of God he was never asked to kill anyone. Which is a miracle. That doesn't happen in the LRA. I can't even imagine being forced to do the things that he was forced to do. I can't even explain the stories he told. It wouldn't do it justice.

I am in debt to these two men for opening my eyes. You can watch the Invisible Children video as many times as you want. You can feel like you know what has gone on up here. And then you talk to George and Stephen, you realize you don't even understand the surface of it. I am blown away by their strength and courage. They are amazing men. They have seen more than I ever want to know. I am sure they haven't even told me the worst of it. I hope that their stories stay with me. Because their stories change me. They have to. They make me a better person. They have to. They make me realize my place in this world. They have to. They make me understand the grace and mercy of God. They have to.

We are in airports right now. Had an interesting night last night. My name was spelled incorrectly on my plane ticket so they wouldn't let me on the plane. Had to make a lot of calls and do a lot of smooth talking to get them to let me through security. Once I was through security, everything worked out. But it was an interesting couple of hours in the San Diego airport trying to get them to let me through security. A little stressful. But it all worked out. Hopefully they let me fly home. That could be bad. Heather wouldn't like that very much.

We are in DC right now and about to get on a plane for the next 14 hours. DC to Rome to Ethiopia. Change plans again, then head to Uganda. Long couple of days of traveling. But A fun experience with my group. Getting excited to get there and start working. After last night, Uganda will be relaxing. Should be able to post more later. You can follow the whole trip on the group blog.

www.sfcmedical.blogspot.com

Leaving on Wednesday night for my trip to Uganda. Very excited, and a little nervous. We have 30 hours of traveling to get there which should be interesting. But a good group and fun times. I will post as much as I can about what we are doing over there. Check in and see what we are doing.

I am going to Uganda. CRAZY. Never thought I would ever get the chance to do something like this. About two weeks ago, a friend of mine (fellow teacher), called me saying her male leader on the trip couldn't go any longer. She was stuck. No male chaperon for the trip that left in 6 weeks. They were buying plane tickets the next day. She said I didn't have a choice, that I just had to go with her and the team. Lucky for her I wasn't doing anything this summer, lucky for me, I get to go to UGANDA.

I am very excited, I have always wanted to go to Africa, but haven't really ever thought it would happen. And it is. I am scared, and a little nervous, but very excited. I am really looking forward to it. Janelle is a great friend, and I am excited to lead a trip with her. And we are taking some fun kids. Should be a great trip. We are going to be working in a medical clinic in Gulu, a city in northern UGANDA. Hang out with the locals, play with kids, and help some doctors that are going over with us take care of some people that could really use the medical care. Crazy to think that somehow, GOD has a purpose for me to be on this trip. That somehow, it is a good thing that Ryan can't go, and I can. That something incredible is going to happen while I am in UGANDA for that two weeks. Can't wait. Hopefully I will have Internet while I am over there and can post some updates from the other side of the world.