She had the chance to travel to Rwanda twice and this year she’s doing a double-whammy…she’s organizing a class trip to Rwanda AND China. Since she’s low on budget, she asked me to help design these fliers. Click on both (PDF docs) and read the info.

I’m not sure if you have to live in New York or attend the school she’s at, but if you’re interested to learn about the trips and more, let me know and I’ll find out, or feel free to ask her yourself on the contact information provided on both fliers.

china trip flier PDF

Rwanda flier trip 3

I took that key ingredient for granted when something I did years ago came back to haunt me. I can’t specify, but what I can tell you is that communication could have saved me from the struggle I’m in as a result.  In particular I wasn’t communicating to the person involved as much as I should have.

Since 2012 came, it was on my mind to talk and get things off my chest. I didn’t know how I would engage in discussion, so I wrote a card ending with a, “Can we talk?” When the person had time to talk and gave their undivided attention, I spoke (of course, nervous and fumbling over words) but I spoke on the things that I had kept bottled inside me. I had the sudden urge to release tears, but staying proud, I kept them back until the person (after listening) forgave me.

Never had I felt such relief mixed with an outpour of shame that the tears I tried holding back, flowed and kept falling. I embraced the person and clenched them with a hug as tears kept rolling from my eyes. They in turn affectionately accepted that embrace. The pain I had caused this person for so long was melting. They told me that if I had spoken with them years ago, the talk we had would never have happened. I agreed and hoped I never had a talk like it again.

This was the beginning of transformation for me and declaring 2012 as my year of progress, taking the courage to communicate was the start.

I implore you reader that if you’ve done something spiteful, malicious, have been ungrateful, or turned a blind eye to someone…be the one to talk to them and seek forgiveness. You really don’t know how a person feels until you speak up and talk with them. I learned the hard way after the fact and I regret not communicating as I should.

Take the courage to talk more with your loved one, have a discussion with your child, take more time to spend with them. It matters…it really does.

Apart from getting involved with my church ministries, I have been looking to work in the communications/PR sector, specifically healthcare. I also look to being more content with the things I have rather than be needy for things I wish to have (though nothing’s wrong with that), I feel that I have a lot of things and need to be satisfied and grateful for the little I do have. Some people in this world I realize don’t have things for which I do have.

I also plan to take a course either to learn graphic design or maybe internet marketing to enhance my communications skills. I’m so focused on my career that I believe that I need to push myself to do things I keep saying that I “could’ve, would’ve, or should’ve.”

So, the countdown begins and I’m ready to start the journey to progress in t-minus 10…9…8…7…6…5….well, you get the idea .

May 2012 be your year of progress.

Though all this shopping has gotten to me, I ask myself: Is it worth getting? *I pause* Of course it is! Though December might be considered the month for booming business, I look at it as an opportunity to show a loved one, a  friend or even a stranger that you thought of them. I can’t help but think of the reaction on the person’s face when they unwrap and open their gift. I love that, “Oooo” or “Ahhhh” gesture that sends the message back non-verbally communicating “you got the right gift” and “thanks for thinking of me.”  That’s what I look and hope for.

I also think of the true meaning of the Christmas holiday. You know whom I speak of: Jesus. I don’t believe December 25 was the day He was born, but I do believe He was born in a real place called Bethlehem and it’s nice that we as humans celebrate that piece of biblical history. Sometimes I have to stop and think, “What God would ever come down from His throne to become human and die for me?” It’s unheard of! But when I think about it, that’s the meaning of love. It’s a gift. A selfless act of love. 1 John 4:8 reads, “If you knoweth not love, you knoweth not God, for God is love.” Ask any human in this world if they would want to be spat upon, accused of wrongdoing, falsely condemned, be stripped entirely naked and then be nailed on a piece of wood where you are strung up for hours until you suffocate and die and do all this to die for you so you can live. They’d say no, but Jesus did it. Not only for me, but for you. That’s love.

I’m pretty sure Jesus “shopped” around the consequences of having to save you and me from sin, but he made his decision and the result is priceless. For that I’m ever grateful to Him who thought enough of me to give me such a wonderful gift.

This Christmas, let the reminder of love, the greatest gift from heaven, enter your heart. Once it’s in there, share that love, give that love to others and it’ll be the sweetest emotion you’ll ever feel.

I’ll be taking on Communications ministry, Music ministry, Health ministry, and Singles ministry….a lot, I know, but I decided to take on things I’m passionate or have a strong interest in. For the Communications ministry, I’ve already compiled a list of e-mail addresses to send weekly news of our church’s activities and started sending out birthday e-cards to members. I found, while at my church that the “love thy neighbor” factor was missing. Meaning, though our church does a fantastic job reaching out to visitors and guests, I didn’t think members within the church were being thought of as much or remembered and I wanted that environment to change.  Somehow I wound up being voted to serve as the Communications Secretary (assistant) for 2012. It’ll mean a lot of work, but I really look forward to the ministry. As far as the other ministries, that’ll be work in progress, but work I’ll enjoy.

I’ve been managing the church’s Facebook. Please take a moment to view it at http://www.facebook.com/qftsdachurch.

Hoping that 2012 will be the year of progress.

Today, they face the Baltimore Ravens and I’m not too hopeful about this game. So far the Colts have lost 12 games straight with no wins to break that pitiful record. Well, today is the day I hope they get one win. I’m out of strategies to think of that could help them. At this point, with Peyton Manning or not, it’s high time, the Colts get a win.

Let’s go Colts!

On Dec. 4 (Sunday) I was told that my car was hit into by a family friend. The family friend had to pick up a member of the household I live with who had to go to the airport. It was 7 a.m. (as I happened to be sleeping around that time) that the family friend came and as they were backing out the driveway, they had sided right into the side of my car, which was parked as far to the side of the driveway as possible, leaving enough space (or so I thought) for another car to easily pass through. The hit left a very unnoticeable dent (from far away until you’re close up) with visible scratches.

Later that day, I got the news of the accident. I went to check it out and was (I’ll be honest) upset. The relative I live with (and who witnessed the accident) came back from the trip and has not said a word to me about it, neither have I received communication from the family friend who hit my car.

The dilemma is the culprit is a family friend, should I overlook the mishap and think nothing of it? My car is gray so the mark is not that visible, but at the same time if I wanted to sell the car I’d be the one paying for the cost of that mark. My question is: What should I do?

• It’s okay to take a break from “online” when being “offline is as productive. With no access to the Internet, I felt unproductive. I couldn’t get access to e-mail, view videos, or social network. Without those things for six days, I took to reading and found myself enjoying it.
• Adjust your feeding routine. Without power, meant no stove, no microwave, no oven, nothing to cook on but used the grill to cook or warm up food. That only lasted for awhile until we started driving into town to get good, hearty meals (meaning, Chinese takeouts).
• Time with family skyrocketed. Every evening I came home after work into the dark, my family and I huddled in the living room to talk. That’s all we did, but I was engaging in discussion and having a good time.
• My sleeping habits became easier. My neighborhood was so peaceful and quiet that you could hear the crickets talk, but despite the darkness I had wonderful rest and actually slept better.
• Get a generator. Didn’t realize that until our lights went out.
• Cold water became my enemy. Ohh, I disliked taking baths in the cold water…worse, I was getting over a cold, so you could imagine my fear, but as they say “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
• I began to experience what my parents went through in their early years. When I think back to the days of my dad, his experiences were far intense. At times, he had to go to a lake to bathe, and to use the toilet he had to go outside, and sometimes his siblings (of eight) would have to sleep on one bed.
• I am privileged and blessed to have the things I have. I don’t always realize it, but I am a rich person. Meaning, I have running water, I have a fridge to keep my food fresh, I flick on a switch for light, I have a car for transport, and a thermostat to keep the place cool or warm. Some people don’t have those things and I feel blessed that I do.

Irene left an impression those six days, and though I count my blessings there are some people who still don’t have power. My thoughts and prayers go out to them. It’s one thing to have a home and then another thing to lose it to mother nature. I just hope another hurricane doesn’t come to NY again. If it does, I’ll be ready.

I am deeply saddened and share this story because for one, the school system is Seventh-day Adventist, to which my Christian faith is based so ultimately I feel tied to the system because of my affiliation and second, a murder has never occurred in the SDA school system since its beginnings in the 1800s.

I had gotten off the phone with a colleague, currently a superintendent of schools in New York, and his reaction was one of remorse and concern. He added that security would have to be taken into consideration, in essence, stricter screening of students who apply to the school system. But he concluded, we must extend care and support of the family of the slain, school faculty, and especially students, including the accused killer and his family.

I can’t understand why this happened, though, to a woman whose love for children was all she knew and instead of receiving that love had her life taken from her because “she wasn’t liked or made the student angry.” I just can’t fathom it.

Right now, I will keep thought and prayer for the family of Principal York and the Memphis Junior SDA Academy. At a time like this, it isn’t God we should be angry at for allowing this to happen. I believe God didn’t cause it or would want this to happen, instead I believe it was a result of sin. In Exodus 20:13 it reads, “Thou shalt not kill.” Yet, I’d like to think that the sin was not the killing, but the thought in this young man’s mind that turned into planning, that turned into action that killed Principal York.

It is my prayer that we show and continue showing love to everyone. Despite the heartless event, deep down, I think I would find it in my heart to forgive this young man. It might not bring Principal York back, but the anger in this young man might heal and maybe, just maybe he’ll realize his actions, seek forgiveness, and do no more harm. Ultimately though, I leave the judgment to God.

CNN covered the story in length, which you can read here.