Last week I started at USAID. At first I didn't want to tell anyone because it was almost too good to be true. I guess I'm kinda funny that way, that when good things happen suddenly, I don't think they could actually be happening for real, so in my crazy mind I think if I tell someone then it might not work out....or something... :)
But it really happened! I. work. at. USAID. This really has been my dream for quite a while. I don't think I've ever actually articulated it to anyone (probably again for the reason stated above...we've established I'm quite strange). It is amazing to me to think that I have, for so long, wanted to work where I knew I was helping people. Each day, in some way, I help to improve the lives of people who are living with HIV/AIDS...... If that's not cool...I don't know what is.
I've come to know that Heavenly Father does know our dreams and desires, and even though they may not be of eternal consequence, He wants us to be happy, and if achieving a dream or goal makes us happy, He will help us achieve it. It's hard for me to believe one of dreams has actually come true, and I know that it has not been through my own efforts alone. I know that He helped me to come to the place where I am and placed people in my path, then worked out some miracle so that I could get this job over someone else.
My life is far from perfect. No one's is even close. I have my own trials and challenges (and sometimes it is only through the power of the atonement and lots of faith that I can make it through). I know that everyone of us has our individual sets of trials in this life. But I am so grateful for the path my life has taken thus far. I know that it has been guided by the hand of the Lord as I have chosen to keep His commandments. His way is the way of peace and happiness. His way is the way of success and fulfillment of dreams.
The world, every day, tries to tell me otherwise. It tries to tell me that I don't need faith, I only need me. It tries to tell me that I don't need Christ, I only need the glory of men. It tries to tell me I don't need to keep God's commandments, I only need to please myself, or even worse, others. But I know what is right and true. I know that God's way is about so much more than momentary fun or power, it is about eternal joy and everlasting life. I know that true light leads one to follow Christ and attempt to emulate Him, instead of emulating a super model or a pop star. I know that I do need faith, I need it every day of my life. I know that I have felt the power and Spirit of God, teaching me and leading me in so many instances. How can I refute that? I cannot. God loves us. And so because of that He sent His Son to show us the way to live to find happiness. And that is all that really matters.
So today I am grateful for the following sources of JOY in my life:
-Jesus Christ...my Savior and Redeemer
-the scriptures...that bring His words into my life each day
-dreams...if you don't dream, How can God make your dreams come true?
-trees...the trees out here on the East coast really are beautiful
-good people...there are good people everywhere who are trying to make difference and help others
-fall!...I absolutely LOVE fall in DC! everything about it is just fabulous (which means that the next couple months of posts will probably be consumed with thoughts/images of fall :) )
PS: if you do not know what USAID is...google it. Just kidding! Its the United States Agency for International Development. I work in the office of HIV/AIDS...and its just like it sounds. http://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/global-health/hivaids
Monday, September 24, 2012
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
you can't step into the same river twice
Yesterday in celebration of the decisions of our employers to allow us a paid holiday called "Labor Day" across the country, as well in celebration of the continued denial of the ending of summer, we ventured out to the Shenandoah Valley once again to float down the Shenandoah River. I have been wanting to do this for months! The weather threatened rain and thunder, but this deter us? Of course not...(once again my stubbornness refuses to let something as small as rain, ok maybe lightening would, stop me from having fun) It was overcast pretty much the entire day, but we did not witness a drop of precipitation nor a rumbling of thunder. (see, now if we had cancelled prematurely due to the forecast of inclement weather it would have been in vain :) )
We found our launching spot and began our 3.5 hour-long journey down the shallow, mellow river. I had faith our journey would be without incident, and I was mostly correct, despite 3 popped tubes we all made it in one piece! The shallow depths of the river combined with random angular ridges of rock along the river bottom made for some gentle rapids (really you can't even call them rapids) but also made for some possibilities of fissures in the cheap plastic of Target-bought tubes as a human body attempted to traverse the ridges of rock supported by the tube and only buoyed by inches of (hardly) flowing water. A few unlucky souls did not make it very far before the underside of their tube was punctured and air began to escape, thus decreasing their level of flotation on the water.
I in fact felt my tube flatten towards the end of our journey and prayed that I would be able to last till the landing site as we already had 3 people straddling a one-person cane. (which, by the way, made for a very interesting sight and some amusing capsizes) I almost made it....in fact I was within sight of the landing spot and was inching closer due to the aid of my fellow river floaters who were dragging me along...until I capsized and they let go.....then the slippery rocks of the shallow waters got the best of me. Ok so it really wasn't that bad but I'm sure I looked pretty funny trying to trudge through water, falling and sliding as I went coming up to the shore. Really it is pretty difficult when these large ridges of slippery rock protrude upwards. We met a couple of local friendly (redneck) fishermen who helped me not make a complete fool of myself...ok so really I did, but one amusingly helped me up the shores nonetheless.
It was quite a long journey down the river, most of us did not anticipate us lasting over 3 hours, but it was great fun! The river is so calm and peaceful. It is surrounded by thick forest on each side and the gentle flow almost puts one to sleep...almost, but not completely due to the need to navigate around the large rocks that appear every so often.
We then commandeered a picnic shelter to begin our BBQ feast.... cuz, well, we were all starving. The tray of veggies and cookies didn't even make it to see the hot dogs done as they were easy and ready fodder. Definitely the best way to spend the day celebrating how we "eat (our) bread by the sweat of (our) brow." (does anyone else think it's funny that we have a holiday to recognize that we work?)
Sadly....very sadly....I do not have any pictures to document this excitement as I did not think it prudent to bring my camera while floating down a river...of water. But here are a couple of pics I found of the river that accurately represent what we experienced:
This girl was a happy camper. :) The whole day was one big feast of joy.
Saturday was similarly grand. Mary and I went to the National Cathedral in the morning and then enjoyed authentic Italian pizza (once again) at 2 Amys. The cathedral of course is magnificent and I fell in love all over again. The stained glass is amazing, I love how every window is different in style, theme, and color scheme. Due to the modern time of its construction, the cathedral is a bit more eclectic and accessible.
It was so peaceful and we enjoyed not only the architectural and artistic gems, but also the whisperings of the Spirit as we observed Bible scenes in the glass, as well as the quoting of scripture as they began the noon Eucharist. And although I appreciated this good feeling and faint presence of the Holy Ghost, I felt it poignant to note that it did in no way compare to the power and strong stirrings of inspiration I feel at church during the Sacrament, or most especially, in the temple. It was a further witness to me that while all who preach of Christ are good and strive to follow what light they do have, they do not have the whole light and truth. There is so much in the Lord's restored church that so many do not even realize they are missing. God has given us so much more!
The views from the observation level of the cathedral were very notable, and the gardens surrounding were beautiful, quiet, and a bit mysterious. This trip actually produced pics as I was not endanger of ruining any electronics in water :)
We found our launching spot and began our 3.5 hour-long journey down the shallow, mellow river. I had faith our journey would be without incident, and I was mostly correct, despite 3 popped tubes we all made it in one piece! The shallow depths of the river combined with random angular ridges of rock along the river bottom made for some gentle rapids (really you can't even call them rapids) but also made for some possibilities of fissures in the cheap plastic of Target-bought tubes as a human body attempted to traverse the ridges of rock supported by the tube and only buoyed by inches of (hardly) flowing water. A few unlucky souls did not make it very far before the underside of their tube was punctured and air began to escape, thus decreasing their level of flotation on the water.
I in fact felt my tube flatten towards the end of our journey and prayed that I would be able to last till the landing site as we already had 3 people straddling a one-person cane. (which, by the way, made for a very interesting sight and some amusing capsizes) I almost made it....in fact I was within sight of the landing spot and was inching closer due to the aid of my fellow river floaters who were dragging me along...until I capsized and they let go.....then the slippery rocks of the shallow waters got the best of me. Ok so it really wasn't that bad but I'm sure I looked pretty funny trying to trudge through water, falling and sliding as I went coming up to the shore. Really it is pretty difficult when these large ridges of slippery rock protrude upwards. We met a couple of local friendly (redneck) fishermen who helped me not make a complete fool of myself...ok so really I did, but one amusingly helped me up the shores nonetheless.
It was quite a long journey down the river, most of us did not anticipate us lasting over 3 hours, but it was great fun! The river is so calm and peaceful. It is surrounded by thick forest on each side and the gentle flow almost puts one to sleep...almost, but not completely due to the need to navigate around the large rocks that appear every so often.
We then commandeered a picnic shelter to begin our BBQ feast.... cuz, well, we were all starving. The tray of veggies and cookies didn't even make it to see the hot dogs done as they were easy and ready fodder. Definitely the best way to spend the day celebrating how we "eat (our) bread by the sweat of (our) brow." (does anyone else think it's funny that we have a holiday to recognize that we work?)
Sadly....very sadly....I do not have any pictures to document this excitement as I did not think it prudent to bring my camera while floating down a river...of water. But here are a couple of pics I found of the river that accurately represent what we experienced:
 |
| GORGEOUS |
 |
| Yes we drove across this 'bridge' to get to our launch site... |
Saturday was similarly grand. Mary and I went to the National Cathedral in the morning and then enjoyed authentic Italian pizza (once again) at 2 Amys. The cathedral of course is magnificent and I fell in love all over again. The stained glass is amazing, I love how every window is different in style, theme, and color scheme. Due to the modern time of its construction, the cathedral is a bit more eclectic and accessible.
It was so peaceful and we enjoyed not only the architectural and artistic gems, but also the whisperings of the Spirit as we observed Bible scenes in the glass, as well as the quoting of scripture as they began the noon Eucharist. And although I appreciated this good feeling and faint presence of the Holy Ghost, I felt it poignant to note that it did in no way compare to the power and strong stirrings of inspiration I feel at church during the Sacrament, or most especially, in the temple. It was a further witness to me that while all who preach of Christ are good and strive to follow what light they do have, they do not have the whole light and truth. There is so much in the Lord's restored church that so many do not even realize they are missing. God has given us so much more!
The views from the observation level of the cathedral were very notable, and the gardens surrounding were beautiful, quiet, and a bit mysterious. This trip actually produced pics as I was not endanger of ruining any electronics in water :)
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