Diversity

It's funny... Growing up overseas, you would think diversity would be a huge part of my life, and in some ways it is. I am used to having people of different races and cultures around me, and, quite honestly, I barely notice what color someone's skin is. But the thing is that at RFIS we kind of had our own culture. It was a melting pot of all of these different cultures, so while we were diverse in the different cultures that were represented, in a lot of ways it was as if we were only one culture. That's why they call us third culture kids, because we have our own little culture in the midst of the two cultures that we are each representing. So in a lot of ways I've dealt with diversity less than a lot of people here who have only come in contact with a few people of a different culture. I've used to us just all being the same culture, so sometimes I think I can be insensitive to people as a culture because I do not think about the fact that they really do have a different culture than I do. I don't judge people on their race. Instead I almost go to the opposite extreme and just ignore their race, which really can be just as bad if you think about it because I'm not really respecting their culture then. It's not that I don't like different cultures, I'm just ignorant of the differences a lot of times... Though I will say this, maybe I'm racist because I almost feel MORE comfortable sometimes hanging out with the international students, especially the Africans and Koreans because they're what I'm most used to. I love different cultures, but sometimes I'm quite ignorant to the racism that is here, or the fact that other races are disadvantaged, so I can see people getting frusturated with me.

Globally Minded?

Well, this week I WAS a bad girl and skipped beginnings... but I do have a little bit to say about Global Vision :) See as an MK it's pretty hard not to be globally minded, after all, I was BORN in another country... For me it's weird that people need to be taught this stuff at this age... I don't know, I think that's an MK's biggest struggle... Not to be judgemental of those who have grown up differently from us... For me, my whole life has been ab out global mindedness... My parents were in Africa before I was born, and I know they will be out there doing the work of the Kingdom for a long time... I don't think that anyone can be truly happy in one place after they have had a truly global experience. For me, it doesn't cut it to be with people who have my same culture all the time. I need to be with those who speak different languages, who eat different foods, who wear different clothes, who experience different hardships, and who worship God in different ways. The thing I love most about the global community is worship... There is nothing quite like worshipping God in a language that you barely understand, or don't understand at all, but somehow knowing that you are worshipping God nonetheless... Contentment is found in this...

I don't think this week had a huge impact on me, because I was not unaware of missions and everything, yet I did enjoy seeing others get into it. One of my friends has decided that she wants to go somewhere in the world, she doesn't know where, but she's waiting for God to lead her. Seeing her face when we walked out of chapel and she looked at me and said "I want to go!" that was a special moment. The world is constantly on my heart. The hurting yes, but also just the culture and what we can learn from it. As my friends go out into the world I know that they will gain much more than they give, and this gives me great joy. In my own life, I have felt a strong call to service. I would love for that to be overseas, even back in Cameroun. But I do not know where God is leading me. For now it is enough to take one day at a time knowing that God's word is being spread throughout the worldand that He will show me where to go!

LOVE THE WORLD!!!!!!

The Holocaust

This topic was of great interest to me for several reasons. First of all, last year I worked on a scholarship application that was for the Holocaust Rememberance Project. Basically, all I read and talked about for a month of my life was the Holocaust. I was writing a paper about how the Holocaust effects us today, but in order to do it I read a HUGE book on the Holocaust. It was very hard to read, but well worth it. Never again will I take the Holocaust lightly.

The other reason that I identify with the Holocaust is because of current genocides. In many ways, the genocide in Rwanda is what caused the civil war in Zaire in the late 1990's. Rwandans fleeing their country poured into Zaire, and they brought with them a great deal of unrest. In the end the man who took over Zaire, President Kabila, was a Rwandan refugee. This war, a direct result of genocide, forever changed my life.

Because of all of this, I greatly appreciated the opportunity that we had to hear from Elane, a Holocaust survivor. Very few people in this world will ever have that chance, and so I count myself blessed. I am doubly blessed because after class I joined a few other students in eating lunch with her. This was once in a lifetime opportunity, and I learned that not onliy is she a Holocaust survivor, she is one of the smartest and most engaging people I have ever known. She knows something about practically everything, and she has stories that really do match her lifetime. I even appreciated the fact that she is not a Christian. I think a lot of Christians would like to convince themselves the Holocaust's purpose was to cause all of the Jews to come to Christ. While some certainly did, we are fooling ourselves if we think that was the overwhelming effect of the Holocaust. Elane is a truly vibrant person who has overcome much in her life, and it was a HUGE blessing to be able to spend just an hour of my life in her presence.

Self Image

Hmmm.. It's funny how we complain about the pressure that guys put on girls to look good, and then we in return have unrealistic expectations for them... Just a random thought that doesn't relate too much to this, except that a lot of girls do base their self image on what they think that guys think about them... Interesting how yesterday Nick said in chapel that if we put others down, we are putting down God's creation... A different perspective then the one we often take... We just think if someone is goodlooking or not, we don't stop to consider that they are God's creation...

I think every girl has struggled with body image at one point or another... However, I always felt a certain amount of guilt for the fact that I really didn't feel that badly about my body... Sure, I'd love to be a size two, who wouldn't? But while my friends sit around talking about how fat they are and how much they hate their bodies, I always thought I was fairly good looking :) I carry a few extra pounds, no denying that, but for some reason I could always see that God had made me beautiful... It's kind of weird... The only reason I ever really want to change is that I know that I am unhealthy, and if I'm unhealthy at this point it does not bode well for my future. Diabetes is common on both sides of my family, so I know that I need to be careful for the rest of my life. However, I know that God has made me beautiful in my own way, and I don't really care what others think... Someday there'll be a perfect guy for me who maybe won't be soo goodlooking in the world's eyes, but I'll think he is... and he'll think i am too... and that's all that will matter...

So for me, it's not a matter of a poor self image... But sometimes I worry that I'm not extremely bothered by my extra weight when I know that it is unhealthy and could lead to problems in the future...

And that's my blog for the week... Hopefully that's kind of what it was supposed to be....

My Strengths Relating to Alcohol

Well, I'm not sure exactly what we were supposed to talk about this week... :) Oh well, I think I'll discuss how my strengths can relate to alcohol... How's that sound?

There's really not that much to say... But I'll try to drag this out for an obnoxious length of time :)

Belief- Well, this one's kind of obvious to me. I strongly believe that drinking before 21 is wrong and that getting drunk is wrong no matter how old you are. So, I guess I'm saying that this strength will help me to stand firm against drinking, even though it might make some people mad at me.

Empathy- Hmm... I can be the person who tucks them into bed. In this case I might not be such a good empathizer, cuz I don't really understand the temptation... But I can do my best. Also, maybe if I empathize with people before they drink, they'll less likely to do it in the first place. That could be a good way to use it!

Developer- I'm not sure how this one really relates... I guess if i try to make people more confident in themselves and educated on alcohol, they'll be less likely to drink... Cuz they'd have a better self-confidence and all...

Connectedness- It hurts people when you hurt yourself. My friends that have drank have definitely hurt me, so I know what that's like. I can encourage people not to drink from that angle, that they don't want to hurt others. And that will also be another thing that keeps me from drinking, because I know that what I do affects others and I do not want to hurt other people...

Adaptability- Again, not a huge one that relates... But I guess I can deal with stuff without having to go to alcohol to console me... Not really sure :)

Well, there's my take on it... and hopefully that blog will fulfill my duty for the week :)

My Strengths In Action

Belief- Belief has often beena liability to me because I hold soooo strongly to what I believe... This often makes me unwilling to compromise on issues, and sometimes I offend people because I believe in something so strongly. However, I can also use this in many good ways. One way that I can use it this semester is to hold strongly to my beliefs in classes, but at the same time I am interested in strengthening my beliefs with a more firm foundation, and that is somethind I can do in my classes this year.

Empathy- Sometimes empathy causes problems for me because I feel so deeply for others that it effects my emotions and I cannot function properly, but I can also use this strength in good ways. One example of this is that when my friends are having hard times I can be there to encourage and help them, which is something I love to do and hope I can do this semester.

Developer- Sometimes people get annoyed because I want so badly for them to excel, it can become a little bit overbearing and that is hard for people to handle... and it can start to become an issue of me trying to control them. However, I can use this during this year to teach people how to do different things, not anything big, but just little things like when new people come to work in the caf I can help them out.

Connectedness- This can sometimes give me trouble because I get soooo upset when people do something that hurts someone else. I am SO incredibly aware of how everything people do effects everyone else that I often get angry with my friends when they do something stupid that hurts me or someone else. But I think I can use this strength this year in that it helps me to govern my actions. I am careful to try not to do anything stupid that will have a bad effect on someone else because I am aware that the things I do effect other people besides just me... so I can use this strength this semester to keep me from making stupid mistakes that will hurt others as well as myself.

Adaptability- Sometimes I drive people crazy because I do not really care when my plans are changed. i love for something new and different to be thrown in the works, and other people do not... so when I try to change something last minute people get annoyed... But this is a good strength for me to have because it helps to balance out the fact that i like to get everything done and am something of a perfectionist... it helps me to relax a little bit :) also, in this tought time for me transitioning into life in the states, it does help me not to miss my home in Cameroon sooo much...this is the strength that will keep me sane this semester...

My 5 Strengths

So these are apparently my top five strengths

Belief- I have a strong belief system that causes me to be very family oriented and my beliefs are the core of most of my relationships. People know where I stand and can trust me to stay there. My beliefs give my life meaning.

Empathy- I intuitively know how people are feeling. I can be a listening ear to them, even if I do not completely agree with what they are saying, or with what they have done, I can still be a support to them becasue I can look at things from their perspective.

Connectedness- I believe that everything happens for a reason and that the choices we make effect the world around us. For this reason, I believe that it is important for everyone to be careful of what they do. This also gives me a sense of purpose, that somehow God is guiding us, even in the difficult times.

Developer- I see potential in others and I desire to help see that potential fulfilled. I challenge others to grow and try to help them in that process. I see the small steps of growth in people that many other people would overlook. It is this act of helping others to grow and develop that gives me great satisfaction, for this reason people come to me to help them in times of need, especially for encouragement.

Adaptability- I do not have my whole life planned out. Yes, I have plans, but I know that life will most likely not turn out just how I have planned it, and I am okay with this. Detours are a part of life and something that I do not resent taking part in. Plans change and that is okay with me.


I do see these strengths in me, although I have not developed many of them fully. However, they are there, and I am excited to develop them more. What do you think of these as my top five strengths? Do they fit me? Do you have comments about where you do or do not see them in me. Please respond :) Thanks!