My Burning Passion for Coffee

Did you know that coffee has been around for over than 1,500 years?!? Have you ever thought of how people discovered the beverage? Imagine yourself on the high Ethiopian planes where coffee first grew. Lightning strikes a tree filled with coffee cherries. A rich, smoky perfume rises from the burning shrub and grabs your attention. Or maybe you've plucked some of those ripe, red cherries to enjoy their tantalizing sweet pulp, then tossed the seeds into a campfire. You can't believe the aroma that bursts forth!

    Ive been drinking black coffee ever since I was two years old (In Africa they would give the mothers coffee with cream and suger and the kids black bitter coffee) I have a cup every morning at breakfast and every night after dinner!
     

But my favorite part of the beverage, even more than the flavor, is the social aspect of it! I go out for coffee with my friends at least once a week. I love the talk that comes with it! I also love sitting around my living room with company or family and talking and laughing with a mug in my hand!


I also LOVE snuggling up with a blanket, a great book, and a strong cup of coffee!


















I pretty much spend all my money on Starbucks (not totally proud of that fact) Its my favorite place ever!

I went to Seattle for 4 days and drank a starbucks for
my meals, and then some!

As I ate my crème brulee with a strong Americano, on the plane, heading back to America, I pondered my life over the last month! Four new countries that thoroughly changed my life. Doing what I had just done was a dream-an item on my bucket list! But going first class-that was indescribable!

A doctor in our church, who turned out to be our travel companion, offered to pay for my family to travel first class to London. That was the most comfortable 13 hours of my life. From over 50 movies to choose to the chairs reclining into beds to the lobster and steak served to us…it was like a dream! I didn’t want to get off.
But as soon as I felt the 4 degree chill creep up my face. I knew this was the place for me. We retired to the “First class lounge” where we took showers, got massages, had a choice to read Newspapers from at least 25 different countries, and helped ourselves to every style of food imaginable!




As I got off the subway, all bundled up, I was surprised at how diverse and beautiful everyone was. Everyone had poise and sophistication! There were many occasions that I stared back at a stranger walking by.

We had our share of European food and shopping in boutiques but we got to do something that I never thought I would ever be able to say! I saw the ‘Phantom of the Opera’ in Her Majesty’s Theatre! Dressed up and ready to go, I walked hand in hand with my Dad down the busy street, anticipation and anxiety gripping at my gut. Throughout my most cherished play, I was crying, laughing, and gazing at the glowing stage in wonder.






My last day in London I got to ride a train, with a Starbucks in my hand, while it was snowing! All things I love! I may not remember a lot of the details about those three days but I sure will never forget what I felt. Truly Blessed!

One year ago I was in Africa

One year ago, we had just landed in Nairobi, Kenya feeling excited, nervous, and in awe that we were actually there. So much has happened since then. I remember leaving Africa a different person and its stuck with me this whole year. I STILL to this day don't take toilets for granted. But more importantly, I am a lot more conscientious of the world surrounding me.


So here is a journal entry from when I stayed in Doro, Sudan. Note: it is a liiitttle bit dramatic but that just adds flavoring.

"The sun burns hotter. The days longer. As a day goes by it feels like a week. Its hard to believe that we have only spent two days here. I am still sick but was able to go into the village for the first time. I wasn't able to try the 'boon' (coffee) because of my stomach. The villagers just stare as I walk by. They rarely, if at all, see a white skinned, blond haired, blue eyed, person.


The village consists of huts, pigs, goats, dust, and that's pretty much it. There was this baby named Dr. Rob who was sleeping on a blanket surrounded by pigs. Everyone is so poor and dirty here. I look at the church and hospital that have dozens of bullet holes from years of war and I see the black fields that were burned by vicious soldiers and this is as close to hell as I have ever seen. It tears my heart to see girls my age who don't have families. Who have to worry about survival. Then I think about how stupidly selfish I am ALL the time. I have gone through nothing compared to these people. I am so glad I am having this experience because it shows me that many people are hurting out there. And it motivates me to do something about it. I want to spend my life helping and reaching out to these people. Living among them, teaching them, showing them Christ's love."


I want to go back to Africa more than anything. But in the meantime God is giving me opportunities to share my faith right where I'm at. I cannot wait to see how the Lord is gonna use me this upcoming year. Even though I'm still in high school the possibilities are endless. All I can say is BRING IT ON!

The huts we stayed in



                   The bucket shower                    



I was petrified to take a shower in this thing especially when I saw a rat scurry across the ground. But by the end of the week I lived for this shower because it meant three minutes of relief from the 110 degree weather and the ONLY time I got to myself...literally. It was a lot of work to actually take a shower as well!

     

My brother just married my best friend on December 29, 2010! It was an amazing wedding and I'll write more about it when I get the pictures. Being with people who were older made me feel kind of discontent with where I am right now in high school. I feel like I should be in college or, as every seems to be doing, engaged! But I don't want to live my life like that. I want to be content with where I am right now and to have Jesus romance me. So I spent a long time just praying about it.

The next day I went to the beach and was utterly amazed! God had answered my prayer the previous night and was romancing me. He painted me the most beautiful sunset and it was like a sweet kiss from Him. For the first time, really since I can remember, I was so content to be alone. I wasn't imagining someone elses arms around me sharing in on the moment. I was content having it be just me and the Lord. That felt amazing! I am just in awe of how soon God had answered my prayer for having him pursue me. I was to the point of tears. That night I was sitting by the roaring fire, sipping my Teavanna tea and listening to "Romantic Movie Love Themes" and it felt amazing to have that much peace.

My favorite quote sums up what I feel:

"What are your favorite things? Are they the first snows of the year, the fragrance of the air after a summer rain, curling up with a great book after a tiring day? These are all whispers from the Lord, notes sent to awaken your hearts longing.
Every song you love, every memory you cherish, every moment that has moved you to holy tears has been given to you by the one who has been pursuing you from your first breath in order to win your heart. Gods version of chocolates and flowers and candlelight dinners come in the form of sunsets, falling stars, moonlight on lakes and cricket symphonies; warm wind, swaying trees, lush gardens and fierce devotion."

-Captivating

The sunset that God made just for me. Really, this
picture doesn't do it justice.

Where is our money really going?

Imagine, who would have such taste and live in such opulence?

                                                                    An American Billionaire?

                                                                  Saudi Prince?

                                                           Louis XIV of France?
 
 
 

This Mansion is in Harare and belongs to:

Presiden Magabe of Zimbabwe

                                               
And while he and his family in this mansion, his people live like this...

 


Mugabe, the president of Zimbabwe, is one of many African leaders who are corrupt. These men were not always rich, some of them grew up in abject poverty and when they came into office, they had every intention of relieving the poverty of their countrymen; and they promised to do so. But once they tasted power and wealth they became intoxicated by self indulgence.
The pictures we see of poverty on the news pull at our heart strings and compel us to want to dig into our pockets to help. It also compels governments in countries like ours to allocate enormous amounts of money to help these needy people.
As long as there are corrupt leaders in developing countries, it is pointless to pour money into those countries because it never trickles down to those who really need it.

There needs to be strict accountability in how foreign aide is so distributed so the people who really need it actually get it!
Sad pictures arouse our compassion and sometimes we give money without thoroughly investigating the entities to which we give. Tribalism, corruption, greed, and endless bureaucracy prevent the money from going where it was intended to go. As long as these things exist unchecked, the real needs will never be touched.
I have some very dear friends who live in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. Levi has been unemployed for two year along with 40% of the population of city. The average wage in Kenya is $1.25 a day, and has been for 20 years even though the cost of living has risen steadily. Meanwhile government leaders drive Mercedes and BMW’s, live in mansions and are some of the richest men in the world.
I’m not telling you all this to make you feel sorry for the Africans. I’m telling you this to inform you and beg you to be responsible with where your money is going.

We can make a difference in this cycle of corruption.

"What are your favorite things? Are they the first snows of the year, the fragrance of the air after a summer rain, curling up with a great book after a tiring day? These are all whispers from the Lord, notes sent to awaken your hearts longing.
Every song you love, every memory you cherish, every moment that has moved you to holy tears has been given to you by the one who has been pursuing you from your first breath in order to win your heart. Gods version of chocolates and flowers and candlelight dinners come in the form of sunsets, falling stars, moonlight on lakes and cricket symphonies; warm wind, swaying trees, lush gardens and fierce devotion."
-Captivating


That is such a great concept to ponder! God wants to bless us with the beauty He has made, instead of seeing it all as 'mundane'. So take a moment to pause and gaze at a sunset, smell the fragrance of a freshly picked flower, and observe stars in a midnight night sky as diamonds on a velvet blanket...seeing the world as it was meant to be seen. In GLORY!!

Trip around the world; London

In January/February I had the privilege of going to London, Dubai, Kenya, and Sudan. I kept a journal for my English class and I'd like to write a few entries on here.


Entry Date: January 11, 2010

 Today was my first day in London and it was amazing. The sights, the smells, the people. I could hardly believe I was in LONDON!! At first it didn't seem any different than Portland or San Fran. But then I heard something. "Dong" and when I rounded the corner I saw something I've wanted to see my whole life. The most beautiful image...Big Ben. There he was, in the middle of the huge city, standing so ginormous. Telling me not only what the time was by his huge face but by the magnificent bells that go off every hour.

The buildings in London are breathtaking.

My very first train ride...in the snow...in London!

London at Night

Now on to the most important part....the people. I have never seen so many nationalities in one spot before. The men and women are gorgeous and so much more ahead in style than Americans. Everyone wears fancy boots and long trench coats.

Its freezing here. This morning when I went outside my heart almost stopped beating. The chill literally took my breath away.

Ive been talking in an English accent all day. I sure hope this continues.

Till next time, Love..