Amen! When it rains, it pours. I have yet to be disappointed by life, by God, by forces in the universe conspiring to make my life better and good. Thank you, again and again, over and over.
The past few weeks, I have woken up praising and giving thanks. I can't imagine a better life than I have right now. Sure, things could be better - I could own a condo instead of renting in a co-op, I could have a bigger title for a job instead of managing a program that has provincial reach, I could be married instead of dating. Things could be better, but I must admit, they are pretty good right now and I am thankful for what I have right now. No matter how small or seemingly inconsequential, I think you have to be thankful for the little that you have or you won't appreciate the big things when they come.
What's new? Everything. And that is okay. I am okay with the new.
VIDES - My mission trip is a go. I have been telling you about this desire/calling I have to serve my community in some way for about a year, now I'm really going. I'm combining my love of travel and serving others and learning French in a mission trip with VIDES Canada - www.videscanada.ca I'm leaving in a few weeks and will be away for a few months. Follow my new blog on my experiences in Senegal volunteering with the Salesian community - www.MLGsVIDESmission.blogspot.com
Love - My love life is kicked into high gear. I've written a few poems and a couple songs now about how this experience is rocking my world right now. "I've been hit!" Cupid was somewhere I wasn't looking and now I'm hooked on a certain guy. I've rewritten Nat King Cole's popular hit "Orange Coloured Sky" to fit my circumstances. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-6QknAOsVo
Community - I've found community projects in my neighbourhood that I can get involved in before and upon my return from Senegal. CRC (http://www.tcrc.ca/) will have opportunities for me to work in Regent Park and build community and I'm on a board-ICA Canada (http://www.icacan.org/) for an organization dedicated to communty building, official at the AGM in May.
Finances - Ma encouraged me to save for the future, for my travel wants, for my future condo in the redeveloped Regent Park. It has been hard pinching pennies and such, but I've appreciated seeing savings grow and know that I am investing in myself. Budgeting is not my first love, but I'm coming around to appreciate it.
What's next? Everything. And I'm okay with it.
Now that my mission trip is official, consider this your official notice. It's on! And I need your help. I have planned for my trip and my expenses are mostly covered, but I would very much like to support the Salesian community that I am going to serve for three months. I need your help to provide the children and youth attending school in this Senegalese community with the supplies they need. Your support will help. Please see below for ways you can help.
How can you help?
Spread the word - follow this blog online - http://MLGsVIDESmission.blogspot.ca, tweet about it and add the hashtag #MLGsVIDESmission or #MLGsVIDES or #MVM
Donate - send cheques of any amount to VIDES Canada, amounts over $20 can be tax receipted, cheques are made to VIDES Canada and sent to Sr Jeannine Landry, 178 Steeles Ave East ON L3T 1A5
Donate online - http://www.indiegogo.com/MLGsVIDESmission from now until May 29, 2012
Support the fundraisers - Show up and bring friends to MLGs fundraisers - upcoming events are May 20, 2012 and June 10, 2012. Check out facebook for more info.Pray - your prayers for me on this journey are appreciated and for the community I will serve.
My advice? Keep dreaming, when you know what you want out of life, you can ask for it. And when you get it, don't forget to say thanks.
Thanks!
