Costa Rica Pt 2

Ok. In case anyone is interested in looking at the organization I will be working with and the write up about the Costa Rican program, please go to www.worldteach.org and yes, I will be doing some fundraising. This week some letters will be sent out, but if you are able to contribute (I am trying to raise about $3,000. dollars) let me know and I will give you an address as to where checks can be sent (my grandmother's). I'm getting very excited, I am ready to go (almost!). I will be sending my acceptance packet in within a few days and hopefully will get more information from there. The only things in the welcome packet was more questionairres, information about the insurance policy, and some writings from returned volunteers. Oh, i know this has nothing to do with leaving, but if you have never seen DIARIOS DE MOTOCICLETA/Motorcycle Diaries, I do recommend watching it, its very good and funny! I must get back to work, but I wanted to chime in. Oh, also, my going away party at work is scheduled for August 4th, and then I only work for 1 week after that. I'm leaving the cubicle!!!!!!!!! And I can't say I ever want to return.......

COSTA RICA BOUND!!!!

Well, ladies and gentlemen, it's official...I have been accepted to WorldTeach and I am moving to Costa Rica!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) I will receive an information packet in the next few days so I will update after I have learned more myself. As for now, the best info I have is that I am leaving the first week of January 2006 and will be gone a year (more like 16 months since I'll be in Honduras from 9/3-11/29) .

Updates soon. I am one of the happiest girls in the World right now! Oh, and new tid bit for you (if you didn't already know). "Costa Rica" received its name by the "wonderful" (sarcasm) Christopher Columbus after arrriving to the beautiful Coast and seeing the abundance of riches (literally Rich/Weatlhy Coast) it had to offer (which he of course took with him after nearly decimating the indigenous population..of which there is apprx 1% remaining to this day) Of course, RICA also doubles as "sumptuous, adorable, and lovely."

~*~ ME ~*~

Stanford's Graduation Speech

I HIGHLY HIGHLY Recommend that you follow the link to read the ENTIRE speech... http://go.sojo.net/ct/871vei61BjYR/
"For some reason, the most vocal Christians among us never mention the beatitudes. But, often with tears in their eyes, they demand that the Ten Commandments be posted in public buildings. And of course that's Moses, not Jesus. I haven't heard one of them demand that the Sermon on the Mount, the beatitudes, be posted anywhere."> > - Kurt Vonnegut> Hearts & Minds> +++++++++++++++++++++>
Building global justice: We are the ones we have been waiting for> > by Jim Wallis> >

The following is excerpted from the baccalaureate address Jim Wallis delivered at Stanford University on June 12. +

When I was growing up, it was continually repeated in my evangelical Christian world that the greatest battle and biggest choice of our time was between belief and secularism. But I now believe that the real battle, the big struggle of our times, is the fundamental choice between cynicism and hope. The choice between cynicism and hope is ultimately a spiritual choice, and one that has enormous political consequences.> More than just a moral issue, hope is a spiritual and even religious choice. Hope is not a feeling; it is a decision. And the decision for hope is based upon what you believe at the> deepest levels - what your most basic convictions are about the world and what the future holds - all based upon your faith. You choose hope, not as a naive wish, but as a choice, with your eyes wide open to the reality of the world - just like the cynics who have not made the decision for hope.> > And the realities of our world are these: Almost half the world, close to three billion people, live on less than $2 a day, and more than one billion live on less than $1 a day. And every day, 30,000 children die due to utterly preventable causes such as hunger, disease, and things like the lack of safe drinkingwater - things we could change if we ever decided to.> > For the first time in history we have the information, knowledge, technology, and resources to bring the worst of global poverty virtually to an end. What we don't have is the moral and political will to do so. And it is becoming clear that it will take a new moral energy to create that political will. > > Malcolm Gladwell in his best-selling book, The Tipping Point, talks of how an idea, product, or behavior moves from the edges of a society to broad acceptance, consumption, or practice. Along the way there is a "tipping point" that transforms a> minority perception to a majority embrace. Today, a sizable and growing number of individuals and institutions have identified the deep chasm of global poverty as their central moral concern and have made significant commitments to overcome the global> apathy that leads to massive suffering and death. But we have not yet reached the tipping point - when the world demands solutions. I believe the religious communities of the world could provide the "tipping point" in the struggle to eliminate the world's most extreme poverty.
So let's turn to you, the graduates. You are a bright, gifted, and committed group of students. There are probably many people who tell you about your potential, and they are right. You are people who could make a real contribution to a movement forglobal justice.> In that regard, I would encourage each of you to think about your vocation more than just your career. And there is a difference. From the outside, those two tracks may look very> much alike, but asking the vocational question rather than just considering the career options will take you much deeper. The key is to ask why you might take one path instead of another-the real reasons you would do something more than just because you> can. The key is to ask who you really are and want to become. It is to ask what you believe you are supposed to do.> > Religious or not, I would invite you to consider your calling, more than just the many opportunities presented to graduates of Stanford University. That means connecting your best talents and skills to your best and deepest values, making sure your mind is in sync with your soul as you plot your next steps. Don't just go where you're directed or even invited, but rather where your own moral compass leads you. And don't accept others' notions of what is possible or realistic. Dare to dream things and don't beafraid to take risks.> You do have great potential, but that potential will be most fulfilled if you follow the leanings of conscience and the language of the heart more than just the dictates of the market, whether economic or political. They want smart people like you to just manage the systems of the world. But rather than managing or merely fitting into systems, ask how you can change them. You're both smart and talented enough to do that. That'syour greatest potential. Ask where your gifts intersect with the groaning needs of the world.> The antidote to cynicism is not optimism but action. And action is finally born out of hope. Try to remember that.> > One of the best street organizers I ever met was Lisa Sullivan - a young African-American woman from Washington, D.C., who went to Yale and earned a Ph.D. But Lisa felt called back to the streets and the forgotten children of color who had won her heart. She was in the process of creating a new network and infrastructure of support for the best youth organizing projects up and down the East Coast when, at the age of 40, she died suddenly of a rare heart ailment. > > Lisa's legacy is continuing through countless young people she inspired, challenged, and mentored. But there is one thing she often said to them and to all of us that has stayed with me ever since Lisa died. When people would complain, as they often do, that we don't have any leaders today - or ask "where are the Martin Luther Kings now?" - Lisa would get angry. And she would declare these words: "We are the ones we have been waiting for!" Lisa was a person of faith. And hers was a powerful call to> leadership and responsibility and a deep affirmation of hope. > > Lisa's words are the commission I want to give to you. It's a commission learned by every person of faith and conscience who has been used to build movements of spiritual and social change. It's a commission that is quite consistent with the virtue of humility, because it is not about taking ourselves too seriously, but rather taking the commission seriously. It's a commission that can only be fulfilled by very human beings, but people who, because of faith and hope, believe that the world can be changed. And it is that very belief that only changes the world. And if not us, who will believe? If not you, who?After> all, we are the ones that we have been waiting for.> > Stanford graduates, you are the ones we have been waiting for. > > + Read more commentary by Jim Wallis:> http://go.sojo.net/ct/ip1vei61BjYF/

Letter from Courtney, In Honduras

""Awesome!!! Thats good to know, as long as youre gonna be in Copan and Adrienne (my partner here) is leaving a week early, I might ask if I canleave a week early too and then come back at the end for a week to visit you and a bunch of other friends there. Im in Tela for the weekend visiting the other project, but Kristen and I hooked up the night before I left. We have REALLY good stories for when I see you. We drunkenly convinced her to go with a friend to Antigua instead of going to athe finca, so I think shes in Guatemala right now. She has a calling card andI think she wants to try to call you so send her your number!!! (Id call you too, but I cant justify spending money on calling friends, when I havnt called my mom) When youre hear, go to Viavia right away because its one of the favorite long term volunteer hangouts and thats where a lot of our friends go. Also, our awsomely amaizing host mom (who runs a little 6room hotel) usually has 1 student from your school so if your family isnt exactly what you want for that long of a stay, ours is amaizing and shed love to have you too. Ill tell you more about Copan when i gets closer,but Ialmost want to stay longer its that good! ciaocito.""

It's IN

Everyone, please take a moment a do whatever you do when you're thinking positive thoughts for someone (pray, meditate, cross fingers, consult cards.....) Today I sent in my application for WorldTeach and by monday morning, someone should begin the review process. I really really want this position, and i am terrified of being rejected! I hate waiting, and I know this could take a month or so for a response...the thought kills me already...i can only hope that I get my interview sheduled, completed and scored soon and that my references arrive in a timely manner so that a decision can be made. The deadline is in October so I'm three months early, but who knows how many people have applied already... Oh well, ENOUGH worrying. On to some inspiration from the beautiful and wise Maya Angelou
*** "I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life'."
*** "I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back"
*** "I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."
*** "I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."
*** "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
*** "I've learned that I still have a lot to learn!"

Along for the ride

Alissa Dewaele
April 7, 2005
Journal: God is a Verb
Ok, it’s official now, my brain is preparing for shut down. I am at that point that most of us seniors reach where our will to go on is weakened, our ability to focus on our studies is almost non-existent, our worries about graduating have subsided only to be replaced by a strong need to just get the hell out, and our brains…our brains are thoroughly overwhelmed with so many competing thoughts, obligations, desires and fears... For many of us there are so many things that we are still unsure of when it comes to our post-graduate lives, you could say that we are treading the sometimes unstable waters of ambiguity.
When we were watching the short video the other day, the man said ever so calmly to “settle in to the ambiguity”. I am rather certain that at any other point in my life I might have said “WHAT! That makes absolutely NO sense! How can you just settle into the ambiguity? I need answers, I want clear paths…” But, that day, it really made sense to me, it seemed so obvious. Have you ever heard the phrase “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em”? Now, I’m not very sure where this quote ranks on a lot of peoples lists, seeing as there are some inherent problems with this statement, but I’m tired of fighting to get to solid ground, if I continue in this manner for too long I will inevitably lose all strength and be consumed by the water. So, why not set myself up comfortably, relax in the sunshine (because in my waters there will always be sunshine), enjoy the new views, and float along until I see an appropriate place to get out? I’m not giving in, I’m not abandoning my quest for answers and paths, I’m simply not letting myself by burdened by things that are momentarily unclear to me, and waiting till I see a good place to get out.