Hospitality Request

My friends Joe, Vladi, and Vicki (Vladi and Vicki are Russian exchange students) are doing some east coast travel and are in need of a place to stay this Friday and Saturday night.  Anyone up for hosting them?  They are planning to do a bunch of site seeing in DC and are happy with couches or air mattresses or whatever makes sense.

Love and miss you all so much!!!

Scott & Sasha Send-Off

Hey guys!!!

So… Scott and Sasha will be back in town this weekend, and we’d like to give them an official send-off!

Here’s the plan… we’ll all meet at FPC (3846 King Street Alexandria, VA 22302-1993) in the parking lot at 6:30, and then we’ll all carpool over to Guapo’s in Shirlington. If you want to come, but think you’re going to be a little late or can’t meet at the church, leave a comment here, and we’ll know to add you to the tally at the restaurant.

Hope to see you there

We’ll all miss Scott and Sasha, but we sure are glad that we got to know them while they were here!

Converge Mid-Atlantic Community Gathering

This gathering brings together people from communities all over the Mid-Atlantic region to teach, conspire, and dream for God’s beautiful kingdom on Earth. A combination of seminars, practical skill shares, concerts, and plenary sessions will make this a great time together.

Join us at Eden Valley Center (edenvalleycenter.org), a beautiful 100 acre farmland just 45 minutes north of D.C. We’ll be camping out, so bring tents, stoves, rain gear…more info to come on what to bring.

We hope to draw co-conspirators from around the region to share in this wonderful event. We’ll gather at 7 pm on Friday, look for more details about arrival, set up, and departure.

We will have to close the registration at 100, so register today! Last day to register is July 23!

New Date for Visit to Pittsburgh Aug 13-15

Ok, after talking to many of you, I’ve changed the Pittsburgh trip date to August 13-15.  Can’t wait to have a bunch of you here.  We’ll hang out.  I’ll introduce you to the many great people I work with here.  We’ll have a party and it would be a complete blast.  Let me know if the dates work for you guys and if you’re planning to come so I can arrange sufficient accommodations.

Game Night!

Alright Kids… Since I’m pretty sure we haven’t been spending enough time together recently, and since Stephanie and John both have birthdays this weekend, and since it seems like a good idea, I think we should have a game night this Saturday (June 5).

For convenience, we’ll be commandeering the  basement at FPC. So what I’m thinking is we’ll start up the grill with some burgers and brats at about 6. We’ll have the grill by the back door to make things easy. Come and go as you’d like. We have the meat for the grill, but please bring drinks, sides, or desserts as you’d like.

We’ll have a Wii hooked up, so feel free to bring your Wii-motes with your Miis loaded if you want (if you have a Wii but have no idea how to take your Mii with you, shoot me or Josh an email and we’ll take care of you ). We’ll also have a lovely selection of board games and the like. Feel free to bring along your favorite games too

Ok, I think that covers it. So to review… Saturday, 6ish, basement, burgers, fun.

Be Ruthless in the Living of Call (House of St Michael the Archangel)

“Could Your Church Survive if There Were no Sermons?”

Don Miller made a post today about.  Thought you all would enjoy it!!!

Looking for Summer Housing

One of my sister’s best friends from UVA (Meikle Paschal) is looking for a place to stay for 1-2 months this summer.  He will be working for the Dept. of Homeland Security in Crystal City.  He starts work on June 7th and will work til the first of July or end of July depending on what housing arrangement is available; so he is flexible.  He will not be able to pay full rent because he will still be paying rent in Charlottesville, VA – anyone want to swap for the summer!!?? lol  But he could contribute some on rent; things are negotiable.  He is a super fun guy, originally from Boston, very outgoing, runs for the track team and will be a 4th year in the fall.  Let me know if you have any suggestions or anything availble for those dates.

If you have space or any ideas, e-mail him at mpaschaljr@gmail.com.

$9 Tickets to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

Hey guys, just got an e-mail about $9 tickets to Madame Tussauds (usually it’s $20).  I want to go sometime in the future, so I’m getting a couple.  Thought it might be a fun group activity.

They are only on sale today through this thing called a Groupon which I’ve been using a bunch lately.  Essentially you buy a gift certificate for a lot less than the face value.

Take a look at the Madame Tussauds deal.

Dinner Wednesday Night with Matt

I’ll be back in town for a couple of days this week and would love to grab dinner with you all!  I miss you all so much!!!!

Here’s the plan:
Guapos in Shirlington
6:30pm
Wednesday, April 7

Shoot me a text and let me know you’re coming so I can get an appropriately sized table: 434.962.4927.  Can’t wait!!!

Buy and Review Brian McLaren’s Latest Book “A New Kind of Christianity”

We got to share dinner with Brian McLaren last spring.  Brian graciously gave his time to us along with a bunch of books and CDs.  We asked if there was anything we could do for him and, after thinking about it a little while, he asked us to read and review his new book “A New Kind of Christianity” when it comes out.

I’m reminding everyone of this request as the book has been out for a couple of months.  Jan has a copy and so do I and we’re happy to allow you to borrow it if you want.  It’s good stuff!

Once you’ve read it, review it on Amazon.com, your blog, or anywhere else you can.

Love and miss you all so much!

Wendell Berry Speaking in Arlington May 4th

Arlington Reads 2010: Literary Legend, Farmer Wendell Berry

• “The Memory of Old Jack” is featured title
• Berry, urban farmer Novella Carpenter to speak
• Book club kits available

ARLINGTON, Va. — Our food takes center plate this spring as Arlington Reads 2010 looks at the movement away from industrial mass production back to safer, healthier meals grown through local, sustainable means.

Arlington Reads is Arlington Public Library’s annual one-book, one-community initiative to promote discussion and the joy of reading throughout the County. It is made possible through the generous support of the Friends of the Arlington Public Library.

This year’s featured Arlington Reads author—literary legend, essayist, poet and Kentucky farmer Wendell Berry, who declared that “eating is an agricultural act,” — is widely credited with inspiring the “food movement.” Making a rare public appearance, Berry will discuss his life’s work and vision of people honoring and reconnecting with the soil at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 4 at Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., Arlington. This special event is free and open to the public.

“Wendell Berry actually began the national conversation about food, agriculture, the environment and health decades ago,” Library Director Diane Kresh said. “Without him, we probably wouldn’t have a vegetable garden on the White House lawn or Wal-Mart selling organic produce.”

This year’s Arlington Reads celebrates not only Berry’s “remarkable career as a writer of more than 30 novels, essays and collections of poetry, but his prescience in encouraging readers to ‘think globally and eat locally,’’ Kresh said.

Cornerstone Benefit Concert-this Saturday

HG Women’s Small Group dinner & planning mtg.

Chirilagua Women’s Group Fundraiser

sarahedale (at) gmail.com

Matt’s in Town, Crystal City Sports Pub Tonight at 6pm

I’m here for a couple of days and was hoping to hang out with some folks tonight at the Crystal City Sports Pub.  Hope to see you there.  Shoot me a text and let me know so I can get a head count.

Matt

Update from Joanna!!!

It’s about 5:00 PM on Sunday as I make my way across the property to my cottage.  The weather has cooled to the perfect temperature and soon will get rather cold but now it’s calm and comfortable.  I’m followed by one of the dogs but whether it’s Turner or Hootch, I haven’t got a clue.  Actually I wonder if any of us residing here at Baan Nam Jai (Home of the Open Heart) really know which is which.  I was just at the girls’ house celebrating a short term volunteer’s birthday.  It’s hard to believe that I have already been here for over one month.  I love sitting outside at this time but it comes with quite a risk as the mosquitoes start swarming at this time.    One of the moms is raking leaves and soon will start burning them.  I’ve come to love that scent.  It’s a good time to reflect as the sun starts it’s decent and I sit here in my kitchen, which is outdoors and doubles as a back porch, and look at the garden I think about my move to Thailand.

Thailand… Chiang Rai… Baan Nam Jai… It’s a place of tremendous beauty.  Located outside of the city I’m surrounded by gardens, rice paddies, smells and feels of the country in Asia.  The property itself is rather large hosting three large houses, and then an adjoining property with 5 small cottages and the hospice which is still under construction.  One of these cottages is what I now call home.  Thailand has riches for all of the senses and while it can delight the sense it can weigh you down with challenges.  It’s almost hard to explain how you can be totally in love with a place and totally frustrated at once.

The adjustment to Thailand is nothing and everything that I expected.  There have been some things that had I really thought about them they probably wouldn’t have taken me by surprise.  For instance, Google has gone from being a verb to a noun.  I used to use Google maps for helping me get around any new place.  I can’t read the street signs so Google is useless.  Getting used to riding on a motorbike has also proved to be a challenge.  Traffic here is really crazy, I don’t know where I’m going and I’m SOOOO not an experienced rider to be smart and able to react to my situations around me.  All this adds up to, quite literally, a deadly equation.  The language has also proved challenging but that was one challenge that I was prepared for.  I haven’t started learning the language because I’m not ready to get on the death trap highway.  However, all that to say that God’s grace is amazing and have found some things easier then expected.  The kids speak English and there are several “farang” (foreign) staff.  There have been several lovely short term volunteers come that have eased the transition.  However, I have left everything that I do know and many times I feel totally helpless and dependant, which is probably good for me.

Although I still feel like a fish out of water I have hit the ground running when it comes to work!  I have used my past Executive Assistant skills to assist Paul, the Northern Regional Director.  He is new to the position and I’m helping him get organized in his role and help support him as he provides direction to the 11 ministries here in Chiang Rai.  He is also over the whole northern region which includes Chiang Mai and Mai Sai which is much bigger then Chiang Rai.  I haven’t even gotten into that portion.  I am also managing the office here at Baan Nam Jai and working a little bit in the boys’ home.

The kids are incredibly precious and melt your heart the moment you meet them.  One of the youngest boys was very timid about me coming into the house to work with them and was very distressed about my first shift.  I came over the night before to get introduced and just get to know them just a bit before I spent the night in the boy’s house the next day.  The youngest of the boys cried and cried.  He didn’t want me to come and work with them!  When I got back to my cottage I prayed that God would give us both grace.  As I was praying my heart broke for these kids.  It struck me that these kids shouldn’t need to have caretakers in their life.  If everything were as God intended it to be they would be with a Mom and Dad in a loving home.  But we find ourselves in a fallen world and here I am to help care for these kids who have suffered so much.  As I’ve started to work with them more they are very unsettled as several of the caretakers they have had for the past couple years have left and I’ve come in.  I try to put myself in their shoes as they get used to me.  Please pray for God’s grace and that they will start feeling settled, safe and secure with me.  Many of the volunteers have told me that they will keep me at arms length because they worry about how long I’ll be here.  It breaks my heart.

Financially, I am still in need of support.  I need about $600 USD per month to cover my expenses.  Please prayerfully consider supporting me.  If you’d like to support me please send a check made out to “YWAM,” with a separate piece of paper indicating it is for me, to YWAM Montana, 501 Blacktail Road,
Lakeside, Montana,59922 U.S.A.

Thank you so much for all of your support of my ministry.  I truly could not do this without your prayers, encouragement and financial support.  I will send pictures soon!

I pray that you are all blessed richly!

Joanna

If you’d like to pray for me please let me know and I’ll put you on my prayer needs list!

New Mailing Address:

Joanna Geiger

P.O. Box 121

Bandu,

A.Muang,

Chiang Rai, 57100

Thialand

My new mobile phone number is +66.0899.513.044

Prayer calendar for Lent

Hi HG,
As you may know, Lent tends to inspire me to start up various activities for spiritual growth. This year I am moved to further developing the prayer life — both individually and collectively. I am creating a prayer calendar for our community — extending to Fairlington’s morning service as well — a calendar containing our worries and fears lifted up to God, one for every (remaining) day of Lent.

I am enlisting you to fill this prayer calendar with me. Please send me by this Saturday two or three prayers you would like to share over this season. Be specific, not just “pray for my friends and family”, but also concise so that I can fit it in a little box in the calendar. I may or may not have room for all your prayers depending on the responses. Hopefully I will get this calendar out by Sunday or early next week.

peace & blessings–

Karen Vroom
kareniw@yahoo.com

Casa Chirilagua needs volunteers

Hi everyone,

Casa Chirilagua (http://www.casachirilagua.org) is looking for a few good men & women! We are looking for volunteers to help us with the Mujeres de Virtud meeting on this Saturday, February 13th from 10:00 AM to Noon at Commonwealth Baptist Church. Read more of Dawnielle’s email below and email me (sarahedale at gmail.com) if you’d like to help.

“…This is our “Dia de Amistad” or “Friendship Day” Celebration. We are having a breakfast for the ladies followed by our regular meeting time. This will be a great way for a small group to do a service project together.

We need:

1)  A group of people to buy decorations and decorate the night before (Friday night)
2)  A group of people to organize and cook breakfast for 30 ladies on Saturday morning.
3)  Childcare for the morning of the meeting. 
4)  A special gift for the ladies (a calling card for central america or a flower)

I have also listed out our needs for March (below) as well as Mujeres de Virtud dates for the rest of the year. Put it on your calendar now so you can make it a priority. It’s only once a month! Just let me know when you want to help out and how many people you will be bringing.  

Blessings, Dawnielle

Upcoming meetings and needs: 

March 19-21
2nd Annual Mujeres de Virtud retreat to Lake Champion, NY!
Pray for us!   Last year we had 19 ladies attend from Alexandria and Arlington. 
The ladies worked very hard to make and sell tamales as well as organize a yard sale; however, we are still in need of some monetary resources.  

We will need:
-Donations for the scholarship fund:   $100 can send a lady to the retreat for the weekend
-Donations for the Transportation fund:   We estimate about $2000
-People to volunteer to watch kiddos for the weekend to allow single moms to go
-Borrow Mini-vans to cut transportation costs (Let us know if you or your church have one available.)
-Volunteers to drive the vans and volunteer with the camp ground for the weekend (kitchen crew).  

Mark these dates on your calendar, Mujeres de Virtud dates for the rest of the year:
April 17
May 8 (Annual Mother’s Day Celebration)
June 5
(Lay low for July and August)
September 18
October 16
November 13
December 11  (Year End Christmas Celebration)

Free turkey tonight!

Hey everyone,

Just a reminder… we’re back on our “normal” Holy Grounds schedule tonight with a potluck at the church at 6pm and a discussion lead by Corey, starting our series on Spiritual Practices.

If you’re going to bring food, please bring only a small side dish since we’ll be having a 20 lb. roasted turkey (courtesy of Sarah Dale’s parents). Be prepared for some juicy goodness… John, Matt, Sarah and Rachel (yes–she’s visiting from Iowa!) created the marinade it’s been soaking in for two days. Mmmmm!

PS-No, it doesn’t take 4 people to create a marinade, but everything’s more fun when it’s a communal effort, right?

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