apples

Well, I'm battling a sore throat. I've been doing the salt water thing and got a prescription for penicillin. I tested negative for strep throat, which is good. I'm not typically this attentive to being sick, but I leave for Mexico in two days. I don't want to be really sick in Mexico with no prescription drugs. It's been a few days since I ate an apple, so I blame that on why I got sick. I was following that apple a day advice and then just lost track. Oh well.

Mexico will be awesome. I'm heading down there with other staff from Rhodes and over twenty students. We're going to build two houses in a week. Talk about efficiency. I think it took my parents about 9-12 months to get their house built. I suppose it's worth noting that the houses we build versus houses constructed in the US are quite different. But this experience, it's worth more than a new US house.

kenya...to nicaragua

Over the past month I had to face the fact that going to Kenya in June was less likely. Continued violence forced our team (and church) to make the decision that we were not to go in June. This was really rough for me. I often, too often, think that nothing bad will happen to me. I mean, there's violence everywhere, everyday. Nothing is for sure. I think more in terms of faith than doubt. However, my parents seemed quite relieved to hear that the trip was postponed for a while.

So, knowing that I need to go somewhere and do some type of service, other things started to fall into place. In the same week that the Kenya decision was being made, my friend Jana called to say that she was heading to Nicaragua in May with some of our other friends. Vera Cruz, Nicaragua holds a Remar orphanage with the cutest little boys ever!

So, I've decided to go to Nicaragua from May 12-19. What's great is that the timing of this trip is perfect. It falls right after Rhodes has graduation. So, I'll get to finish my semester-ly responsibilities and then head off to Central America. I'm so pumped!

And, next Friday I leave to go to Mexico for a week to build houses. I'm excited about being able to serve and the fact that it's going to be warm. It's too cold right now.

My mom flies in tomorrow and I'm excited. Memphis is buzzing right now. We're hosting our #1 Memphis Tigers vs. the #2 Tennessee Volunteers. I'm excited because one of them will lose, which will make the UNC Tarheels move up in the polls.

still here...

So, the past week has taught me how much I love crisis management. It started about ten days ago when I was returning to my apartment, only to be stopped by Campus Safety and have them tell me that there were armed robberies within a block of school. News reports (Click Here) exaggerate the situation a little, but there was still concern. The suspects in question were caught a week ago.

Then, on Super Tuesday, we faced a series of dangerous and deadly storms racing across the midwest and into the southeast. (Here are blog accounts from two of our students: Tyler and Sarah.) Union University, which is about an hour from us, suffered a lot of damage. Reports are indicating that 80% of their residence halls were damaged or destroyed. (Pictures worth looking at here!) Watching the radar, with the circular winds indicated on the screen can freak you out. I thought we were sure to get swept up a few times. My colleague, Traci, was driving home to Mississippi and looked through some trees to see a funnel cloud headed at her. She was on the phone with her husband who was telling her to calm down. I don't think she appreicated that as she was litterally watching a tornado heading for her car. She's okay and was at work the next morning.

Regardless of the threat, I think that I'm at my best in these high pressure situations. My parents will tell you that I need to destress and talk through my emotions after the crisis has passed. But, in the moment, that's when I'm at my best.