Ibdaa Cultural Center

had a chance this afternoon to watch 20 palestinian kids share history through dance. these kids from the dheisheh refugee camp near bethlehem are traveling through the u.s. to perform amazing dances with energy and joy. it was really special to be able to see them and learn just a little bit more about the Palestinian struggle in the refugee camps especially. i'm always so struck when i hear palestinian youth speak... even at 10 years old, they are very eloquent in talking about the struggles of living in camp and the justice they want seen. i groaned when i heard the first question out of the mouth of an audience member... "what do you think about america?" one young boy answered that he likes the american people, but he does not like the american government.... the room exploded in applause.....

www.dheisheh-ibdaa.net

Halloween 2005

can you name them all??
from l-r: fairy, business man, shooting star, 70's star, farm gril, pippi longstocking, red hot chili pepper, pumpkin, zorro, chalk outline


I think I can honestly say that Kendra W. is my link to Halloween.... she introduced me to this special day by including me to go trick or treating with her family a few years ago... this year was the first time in probably 16 years that I have dressed up for Halloween..... Kendra, I now have the costume ready to go.... next year..... that is, if your boys still go!

Comfort

ARE YOU REAL?

ARE YOU REAL?
by Kallistos Ware

The isolated individual is not a real person. A real person is one who lives in and for others. And the more personal relationships we form with others, the more we truly realize ourselves as persons. It has even been said that there can be no true person unless there are two, entering into communication with one another.

This idea of openness to others could be summed up under the word love. By love, I don’t mean merely an emotional feeling, but a fundamental attitude. In its deepest sense, love is the life, the energy, of God in us. We are not truly personal as long as we are turned in on ourselves, isolated from others. We only become personal if we face other persons, and relate to them.

let it.....

SNOW.... YES, friends.... today was the first day of snow in Brattleboro, VT!

life according to kacki - episode 1

... have you ever tried going down a flight of stairs without bending your knees? how about using your arms without bending your elbows? my dear suitemate, kacki, is helping me keep life in perspective (even though it's at the most random times!). tonight after dinner she started walking without bending her knees... which was accompanied by a five minute talk about the use of knees and an actually test of us trying to get downstairs without bending our knees..... HAPPY KNEE APPRECIATION DAY!!!

keene, nh pumpkin festival

Keene, NH is famous for it's annual pumpkin festival.... lighting thousands of pumpkins in order to break their own Guiness World record.... many of us braved the rain and cold just for a taste of pumpkin pie and pumpkin decor.

Conflict Transformation

Conflict transformation is to envision and respond

to the ebb and flow of social conflict

as life-giving opportunities

for creating constructive change processes

that reduce violence,

increase justice

in direct interaction and social structures,

and respond to real-life problems

in human relationships.

~John Paul Lederach

Conflict Transformation. That's my major here at SIT. It seems huge, doesn't it?? Want to read more about CT? I highly recommend "The Little Book of Conflict Transformation" by John Paul Lederach.

another year....

sometimes it's good to take a moment and reflect back on the last year... to see all the changes..... all the experiences.... all the travels.... all the people.... that have impacted your life and just be thankful for the good times and the bad times.

to all of you who have touched my life this last year - THANK YOU!

i was reminded in church this morning that GOD doesn't need you and me to fulfill his plan - his plan is not contingent upon us.... but he wants us to be a part of his plan and he invites us to participate.

Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt,
Who am I?
That the Bright and Morning Star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart,

Not because of who I am,
But because of what You've done,
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who You are,

I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind,
Still You hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling,
And You've told me who I am.. I am Yours.

Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin,
Would look on me with love,
and watch me rise again,
Who am I?
That the voice that calmed the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me,

Not because of who I am,
But because of what You've done,
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who You are,

I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind,
Still You hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling,
And You've told me who I am...
I am Yours, I am Yours.
I am Yours,

Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
'Cause I am Yours,
I am Yours.

by Casting Crowns

yuki = amy

not quite sure how i can explain what happened here..... it does involve my crazy suitemate, kacki, as well as my very limited japanese, which wasn't questioned by this good-hearted fireman. :)

life in vermont.....

well, folks.... it's been too long, i know.... i would love to say that my excuse is that i'm hitting the books and trying to be as studious as possible.... however, that is not quite the truth. the truth is that it's hard to get back into "study" mode... tackle all the wonderful reading assignments and get a head start on all the various papers and books. one of my suitemates is fresh out of college and let me tell you... that girl studies! she doesn't stop and she is making me feel like a slacker.... i had to set her straight though and tell her that if she wasn't going to slow down she was going to give me an ulcer just by being around her. so the deal is that several of us "older" folks will try to slow her down and remind her to have fun and she'll keep us on our toes in regards to studying.... sigh.... i love being back in school.

"stop the war - promote peace" demonstration
so, admittedly, this is a new experience for me...an important one, i think :) .... several of us decided to head down to the local brattleboro peace demonstration in support of the large demonstration in washington, d.c. that many of us weren't able to attend.... it was my first demonstration.... i can't remember having attended one in holland or for that matter actually having ever really seen one in holland, mi. indeed there were only about 35 of us down there.... and besides the occasional raised middle finger or upside down peace symbol, people honked and gave us an encouraging thumbs-up. needless to say.... it was a whole new experience for this midwestern girl! hahaha.... no worries.... at this point i don't plan on bringing these skills back to holland, though perhaps i should...