NEW BLOG

I changed my email address and could no longer access the admin on this blog... so I've changed to a new URL... check it out!!! Thanks for following!


http://barefootintheslums.blogspot.com/p/aprils-bio.html

Gardening and New Beginnings

It's Monday, it's also my month - April! April means "new beginnings" or "opening." Rightly named for our spring season (in the USA) of new, fresh things like blooming flowers and spring babies! I generally get a lot of rap for my name during this month, but that's okay - I'm pretty used to it after 25 years of being hassled... ;)

I love that my name means new beginnings. I feel as though it describes my life purpose. One of my passions is to help bring restoration to woman who have been trafficked and abused and I love that with God's power and strength in me, I can be part of the new beginning that these women are seeking.

I don't have my own garden right now (I live in an apartment complex) but I had the chance last weekend to help one of my friends prep her garden for spring. It was so wonderful to feel the dirt between my toes again and get my hands dirty readying the ground for growth. How awesome would it be to have a community garden where many of us could come together and plant, grow, nurish, harvest and share the food. Thinking I would like to do this soon... I'll have to refresh my memory on gardening again... it's been awhile, but I love see communities come together and start new things, start developing their land and life for the better. Do you have any tips on community gardening? Has anyone on here done it before?

Volkswagon Vans & House Searching

After traveling around the world for the past 5 1/2 years, I'm on the search for a new home, a place where I can live and semi-settle down (at least in the same town!)  I've looked at a handful of places, and passed over hundreds of ads on Craigslist... there's definitely some interesting people on there...

 I'm realizing that I'm a bit picky about who I live with and where I live. Most people are, I think that's pretty normal, but I just didn't think I was because I've lived everywhere from grass huts to Indian slums to beautiful houses; with best friends and family and complete strangers. But its different when you have a choice. When you get to CHOOSE where you live (you don't always get to do that as an overseas volunteer.)

So I have this dilemma where I know what I want, but I can't find it, and so I started thinking that maybe I should just get a good old VW Van (I've always wanted to live in one for a summer...)

It could look like this... :)

 Or this...

 and this...

Risk: How Far Can You Go?

So I've been thinking a lot lately about risk.. about stepping out into new things... about pushing new ideas and concepts and thoughts. It's scary. Really, it is a scary thing. Because whenever you try something new. Whenever you step out. There is a possibility of failure. A possibility of making the wrong choice. A possibility that your great idea won't be so great after all. I remember as kid when people asked if there was anything I was afraid of, the answer was always failure. I think it's still my biggest fear. It's easy to conquer heights and spiders, but failure? I have to keep reminding myself that my idea of failure and God's idea of failure can be quite different, and to keep aligning my views of success and failure with what God thinks.

My life right now looks quite different than I ever imagined it. I never thought I would be in this place, doing the things I'm doing. As a kid I didn't grow up thinking I wanted to live a missional lifestlye, or work with girls rescued out of trafficking, or start coffee houses in foreign countries. It's very interesting how the choices we make in life, and the people we are friends with, can totally change who we are. For the good or for the bad.

I've always been a risk-taker. It seems like its ingrained in who I am. I like pushing things to their limits, always trying to change things and make them better. I want to be the best me that I can be, and that means pushing myself, challenging myself, and stepping out even when the thought is terrifying. But I don't want to settle for good enough, I don't want to get so comfortable that I no longer am willing to create new things and take those risks. I believe that God has called us to big things, and that means we have to get past ourselves and what people might think of us... AND the possiblity of failure.

This is how the dictionary defines risk: "Exposure to the chance of injury or loss; a hazard or dangerous chance."

I love how it is defined as a "chance." To me chance means opportunity. Risk is an opportunity. An opportunity to create new things, step out, change yourself, change the world.

What are some risks that you are taking or have taken? How have they affected your life?

Purpose in Business

It's a classic Saturday... I love the weekends! Slept in and then went to brunch at a friends house. Coffee, mimosas, waffles, laughter, and good friends... mmmm. So fun, great way to start a day!

My mind is forever filled with ideas, and business and marketing and how I can be a better person in all that I am doing and bring glory to God through my everday life. I've been reading this book and it's amazing. It's overflowing with ideas and passion and new ways of doing things.



What is the point of business if it doesn't help you reach a goal? Or have a specific purpose? It's so good to be challenged by talking with people, reading books and discussing new ideas!

My main goal in business is to see people restored. To give them a hope for the future, replacing despair and fatalism with hope in God. To help people realize their dreams. I am working towards starting a (or several) coffee houses with the goal of working with at-risk woman. To show them a new way of life. So that they don't have to work in the sex trade to provide for the families.

What are some resources that you recommend on business and entrepreneurship? What are you dreams for your business?

Discipleship Training School

Can't believe it's the weekend again... and it's been way too long since I've written. We graduated one of our Discipleship schools this weekend. They just returned from spending three months working with non-profits and locals in Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, India, Turkey and Greece. So proud of them all and shall miss them greatly around here as the are heading off on the newest ventures! The good news is that a handful of them are coming back to work and be get training here in Colorado Springs. Yay! I love hearing about their dreams and goals and what each of the students plans to do next, and how they are taking steps to serve God with their whole hearts and lives. It's a beautiful thing!

Some of the things they are planning to do:

Get training in Counseling to help trafficking victims, orphans, etc.
Start their own businesses.
Take a Bible school that studies through the whole Bible 5 times in 9 months.
Move to China to serve and teach there.
Get trained in barista work and business skills to start coffee houses in Thailand.

These are just a few of the plans that I heard about before the students left... I know there are many more out there! I feel very privileged to be a part of their lives and watch God at work in all of it.

Random Adventures of the Weekend

The weekend has been a crazy one, but oh so good! Great friends and great fun. It all started with a fabulous cup of french press coffee and some quiet time. The best way to start a day in my opinion! Then I did a 5 mile hike with six friends... filled with exploring, climbing trees, climbing rocks, photos, stories and more than plenty of laughter. Such a great time. I realized I need to do that more often, just be in the great outdoors with friends, enjoying time together and gazing at the beauty of God's amazing creation. Loved it. A great morning! In the afternoon I drank more coffee... then helped some friends move chairs for their new office and get started on painting. Always an adventure!

Today (Sunday) I slept in. Started the day with coffee, (of course!) and finished the second Hunger Games book that I was reading. If you haven't read that series yet then you should. So well written, and continuously intriguing. Not a lot of novels hold my attention, but I am loving this series. It's one of those where you can't put the book down and you stay up 'til all hours of the night reading. Those are the best ones!

I also caught up on some much needed work, and then it was back to painting in the office! I'm painting a tree on the wall... its super fun. Simple and classy and cute. Nothing crazy, but its so refreshing to just be creative and design and paint and enjoy. These are the kinds of things that bring me life. I'm not quite half done yet, but I'll post pictures when it's finished!

What is your favorite way to spend the weekend?