We're Kinda Different...

A few weeks ago I got to go to Camp. Yes Camp Spearhead, one of my happiest places. I love camp but mostly I love the people- those amazing campers (all of whom have special needs) who bring me such joy. I got to spend an entire summer after my junior year working there, making some incredible memories and even better friends. But going back somewhere is always hard, even more so when the camp itself is completely different. To say they're not a lot a like is the understatement of the century. The camp I worked at was well-worn, full of little trails and sidewalk cracks (not the best when pushing a wheelchair up a hill), paint covered craft tables, a mildly dangerous lake, the stuffy counselor area where we spent many a night watching dumb movies. It was so visibly well-loved and full of so many memories, for campers and counselors a like. I was so nervous to return, mostly because I knew it would be so different. I could not fathom how nice the new camp is, how much more accessible it is, the cleanliness of it, knowing that it was so obviously designed specifically for some really incredible people. But of course I miss the old camp- I always will. Its where I spent my summer and many weekends. Its where I met some amazing people. Its where certain campers changed my life forever. Its where my bed for a summer said "Miss Allison, that's a rat" (true story!). I got to see the Thursday night Talent Show, some of my favorite campers, friends I haven't seen in almost 2 years, got to get gas at the world's sketchiest gas station at 11pm, and mostly I got to go back to place where I feel home. Returning made me miss it so much but also let me turn a page at the same time. I got to see it, experience it, breathe in the mountain air, hug so many people, and take it all in. Even more, it made me see how glad I am for my life to be going in the direction that it is and why I'm doing what I'm doing. Going back is bittersweet, knowing that I won't again get to be a 21 year camp counselor but the reward of seeing campers grow up, of the many hugs I got to give and receive was so so sweet and so worth the 8 hour round trip.

But really visit www.campspearhead.org to read about how incredible it and how it changes peoples lives :)

"Now we're kinda different but we don't care..."

Preparing to sing "World's Greatest"

My sweet sweet girl

One of the most wonderful people ever

A new camp tradition

June Happened in6 Photos

How is it already July? Where on earth did the month of June go? And while I'm glad to be halfway through summer semester, I'm not happy that its halfway through the summer. Even though classes have not been as bad this semester and have left plenty of room for beach days and naps, I love summer and I never want it to end (except in August when its 100% humidity). I have loved these lazy days, reading at the beach (and not school stuff either!), just spending time with friends. This is really my last summer as a student and as nice as it will be to have an income, I cherish these easy summer days and time to relax.

So far, this summer has been wonderful. Filled with love, the beach, sweet friends, crafting, wedding season, and joy. I've gotten to celebrate weddings and engagements, being a year out from graduation, silly jokes, and wonderful friends. I can hardly believe that this time last year I was deep in anatomy class and overwhelmed with trying to learn everything. In a year, I've learned that you will never learn everything and that sometimes it is completely worth it to take the time, take a breath, and enjoy the moment.

So here is June, in photo form.

There has been much crafting.

Maybe you don't love Sullivan's as much as I do. But oh how I love it.

After seeing the one and only Stephen Colbert.

The best part of home.

Wedding.

Sweet, sweet friends

A Sentimental (Wo)Man

** Bonus points if you got the Wicked reference...

I am a sort of a sentimental person. I by sort of, I mean really truly. I still have every craft my campers ever made me from an entire summer of camp. I kept nearly all of my stuffed animals until my mom finally made me give them away. I detest changing out pictures because I love them all. My favorite things I own are all old things- passed down to me or from my childhood, that are ripe with memories. So this week when I found some of the kids from bible school from high school mission trips on Facebook of all places, I couldn't help but walk down that road.

There is no way when, as a high school freshman, I could have comprehended how much a little town called Pathfork would come to mean to me. Every year, for 6 summers, I would travel on a crowded church van to Appalachia- where Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee all meet and where a part of my heart will always be. I remember my big brother loving it so much but until you experience it, it simply cannot be explained. I love everything about these trips. The van rides. Decorating the vans. Kids tackling you they are so excited to see you. The endless basketball games. The inside jokes. The Bugaloo (of which my big bro is an expert). Ridiculous skits where you eat an entire cold can of Spaghettios in one mintute (true story). Playing kingfrog. Devotionals and growing so close with people. LMUs campus that has that sort of "I really wouldnt ever go to college here" charm. The sweet hugs. Seeing a child come to know Christ. The BBQ hotdogs that Jimmy Green makes on the last day. Sonic runs. Sharing God's love with the people there. It is simply an indescribable trip and always around this time, I get sad because I can't make it for the trip (silly grad school summer schedule).

I would give anything (and I know there are others who've graduated and are working and feel the same way) to be on a church van Saturday morning. I couldn't help but think how much I missed Appalachia when one of my dearest kindergarteners (who is certainly not in 5K anymore) friended me on Facebook. Sure Facebook sucks up so much time and is such a distractor, but its moments like that that make me not want to delete it ever. To have my sweet, sweet girl tell me that she missed me and wanted me to come back brought tears to my eyes. How could you not miss that? This little girl (and a few others in her class) touched my life in an incredible way and mean so much to me. They're still plastered on my walls in pictures and are present in my prayer requests; they will always be my girls.

So sweet girl, I am coming. Maybe not this year or the next. But I will. And until then, you and the rest of Pathfork are always on my mind and in my heart. And try not to give the new guys too much trouble... :)

A trip to Africa in Photos

What some cheese with that Whine?

A month ago today, I would have been on plane somewhere over Africa sitting beside a man from Chad who had to wake me up because I was sleep-tea drinking. Nothing wakes you up quite like pouring hot tea all over your sweet Ethiopian Air blanket. Tea-drinking aside (Ugandan tea, by the way, is absolutely delicious), my time in Uganda is still drastically affecting the way I live my life here. A good thing I hope. I feel like the stereotypical thing to mention is American affluence and the way we spend our money. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking differently about my money. Seeing how far American money goes in Uganda definitely changes how you view your expenses. An example, I went to home this past weekend to head to a wedding with my parents. Friday night we to Target (a crazy life I tell you) and I had to get a few things for my apartment. A bath mat for me is pretty necessary given how clumsy I am but I also got a surprise new Crock-pot. This was so exciting to me but at the same time twinged with bitter sweet. Its hard to think of buying things – even if they are useful and sometimes need- when I know that what I spend would go towards so much in Uganda. Clothes is an even harder battle. My mom loves to go shopping with me- its bonding even if we don’t buy anything but its made me think about where I put my money. Do I really put it where my passion lies or do I throw it away on things that won’t matter in 3 months.

But I digress, the money things have weighed on my mind surely but recently I have held a different focus. That focus? The blatant negativity of our American culture. Maybe its because I'm in grad school with 40 other people and school brings stress, but I can't help but notice how quick we are to whine and complain when truly we don't have much, if anything at all, to complain about. Maybe its because we're in the middle of a 40 hour class week that they appropriately call "an intensive." Either way, the circumstances don't always justify our negative attitudes. None of this is to say that I am perfect in keeping a positive attitude- far from it. Over the past few weeks, I have noticed how quick I am to complain, to be frustrated by circumstances that truly are not that bad. This happened the other day when people in my class were talking about getting rotation placements- complaining about not yet knowing, worrying about where they would be, being negative about the entire situation. I had to stop myself from echoing their sentiments because I am so prone to worry, but it struck me how commonplace it is to make those sorts of comments. Even driving I am so quick to get frustrated and complain about the car in front of me or the person checking out my groceries.

None of this is to say that we should be all happy go-lucky, pooping rainbows sort of culture because its completely unrealistic (and pretty annoying). But rather, that we (myself at the top of the list) need to re-evaluate our priorities in life and what we complain about. Sure it might be annoying or frustrating, but is it worth spending our time on? That answer is probably not. That time would be better spent doing something about it or even thinking about how blessed we are in our culture and what we can do for others with those blessings. Should we sit there and whine or move on and do something meaningful with that time, something to further our minds and our ability to serve others? Whenever I find myself slipping into a negative mindset I have to sit back and put myself in Uganda, surrounded by a beautiful country in so much need. I think of the sheer joy and positivity I experienced from the people. Even waiting for hours to see us, they were so grateful to see any sort of doctor and spend time with us. I think of the positivity I felt when I was there, the way I was encouraged in the midst of need because there is something we can do, ways we can help. So I challenge you to stop the complaining about silly little things and take in the moment, breathe, and be thankful.

These are the words...

I just can't get these lyrics out of my head.

My mom gave this song to me right before I left for Uganda, most likely because actually saying this would leave us both in tears. These lyrics are so sweet and powerful and how I feel so often about my dear friends. For some reason, song lyrics have always spoken to me and this song just sticks with you. Hopefully you all will find as much meaning and encouragement in them as I do.

These are the Words- Sidewalk Prophets

Three in the morning,
And I'm still awake,
So I picked up a pen and a page,
And I started writing,
Just what I'd say,
If we were face to face,
I'd tell you just what you mean to me,
I'd tell you these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

Last time we spoke,
You said you were hurting,
And I felt your pain in my heart,
I want to tell you,
That I keep on praying,
Love will find you where you are,
I know cause I've already been there,
So please hear these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

From one simple life to another,
I will say,
Come find peace in the Father,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
Thank God for each day,
His love will find a way,
These are the words I would say

Allison's African Adventure- Recap

• There is SO much need. I was just blown away by the need there and for this trip we saw just how much medical need there is. There is just so much sickness and its heartbreaking because so much of it is preventable if people get behind Africa and support it. Things won't get better unless there is long standing education and dedication to improving health care. Even the electricity there is so unpredictable and usually goes out for days at a time. There is so much need but there is also so much potential and so many ways to help.
• Africa is seriously beautiful. America just doesn't compare to its wildness and wonder.
• The hotel was not only nice but the staff was so sweet to us. They made us delicious food and were so welcoming and gracious in teaching us things about Uganda.
• The guards, oh the guards. Each day we have 5 Ugandan police drive with us and stay at the clinic for protection. Its a pretty sweet gig though because really they just have to stand and watch the Americans for a whole week and hang out with us. Its funny that at first they were so intimidating with their guns but they were the ones checking on me when I was hopelessly sick, sleeping in the van. One of my favorite times was sitting in the van driving for an hour (on scary unpaved dirt roads) and talking about life, religion, culture with one of the guards. It was so awesome.
• Driving in Uganda looks a lot different, besides the whole drive on the left thing. The roads were mostly unpaved and dirt, there are no posted speed limits, the whole time you just know you're going to get hit, and the horn is so useful in telling others that you're about to pass 2 inches from them. Also there are no lights on the roads- exactly why we had to get back before dark. But our drivers were wonderful guys who we all got to know so well and became so special to us.
• The luggage. So I didnt get my bag until Monday night- never have I been so thrilled to get old tshirts and scrubs! At first I was irritated definitely because how it happened and got left just seemed so ridiculous. But then God did something really cool (as he frequently does) and really convicted me to take left luggage not as just something inconvenient but a way of seeing just how much we have in America and how spoiled we are. It was so convicting to think of how much I have in a world where there is so little- it was such a perfect lesson for the trip.
• You will be stared at because you are white. You will stick out. They called us Muzungu and even one is cause for staring much less 50 of us. The kids also really liked my skin (maybe because its so white?) and were constantly waving at us from the road and jumping up and down to greet us.Its a very weird sort of celebrity type feeling.
• So.much.love. Maybe its because I just adore children, but nothing brought me such joy as getting just to love on the kids there, to hold them and play with them, to give a kid hope for the future with adaptive equipment. I cannot even put into words how sweet it was to go to the orphanage and just get to spend hours with the kids. The people of Uganda are such a beautiful, loving people who have changed my life forever. They are people of great perseverance, strength, and joy and they can teach us so much about how to live our lives and serve others.

Stats:

- over 15,000 miles travelled

- 6 flights

- 6 movies watched on planes

- Times fish was served on the plane- at least 6

- 51 volunteers

- 12 trips in the 15 passenger vans

- 5 sites visited

- 5 wonderful drivers

- 5 hilarious guards

- 1600+ patients seen at clinic

- over 250 patients seen in OT/PT- this is huge for us!

- a ridiculous number of Fantas had

- hippos, elephants, and crocodiles seen: I stopped counting.

- over 800 photos taken

- songs sung to our drivers: you don't want to know

- sunscreen used: 85+ spf

- 7 splints made

- 1 awesome adventure