Memorial Day Weekend

Saturday, I officially visited the National Mall and saw the national war memorials for the first time. It was a fitting activity for Memorial Day weekend. I started with the Washington Memorial, which boasts of two different colors of bricks because the construction was put on hold during the civil war. I walked through the World War II Memorial and heard the crashing chaos of the fountains, which represents the chaos of war, as well as the tranquility of the star pond, which is in honor of those who died.

(Korean War Memorial)

I was moved to tears by the Vietnam Memorial, especially when some of the people that were visiting stopped and pointed to names of their lost loved ones. Each name represents a life and story, goals and ambitions, that were given in pursuit of the nation. Regardless of what people believe about the politics of war, these lives deserve our utmost respect and admiration. ""Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 This memorial was designed with a material that reflects to those walking by to serve as a reminder that it could have been many of us that died.

My favorite memorial was perhaps the Lincoln Memorial. I especially enjoyed the moving words of the Gettysburg Address and his second Inaugural Speech, which are recorded on either side of his statue. Now, as well as after the Civil War, we are experiencing times of great sorrow, sin, and injustice. I see this last paragraph as a beautiful call for how we should live, especially after times of great distress and depravity in our country and around the world.

"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."

Blessings and love to you all on this Memorial Day weekend.
Jess

McDonalds and Chess

I usually will not be writing multiple blog posts in one day, as I clearly demonstrated from Morocco... However I thought I had several stories to share that required a new post.

Today, in training, I was paired with another girl and went on an "Urban Plunge" where we were each given two dollars, a bus ticket and told to supply dinner for myself and another person who needs it. We hopped on the bus and headed to Dupont circle.

After wondering a bit, we made several observations of the Dupont area. I saw streams of wealthy people either wearing business clothes or else expensive workout outfits. There are Starbucks at every corner and Whole Foods and other health stores that permeate the area. On the other hand, there are many people in the neighborhood and hanging out in the circle that, by contrast, do not seem to be in a hurry to get anywhere. This is a place where many homeless people reside, lounging in the grass and playing chess to pass the time.

The first people we met were young men that were selling a newspaper that compiles articles written by homeless people. We spent our money at McDonalds, (hey, it's cheap!) and hung out and just got to know them. One of them told me about the years he has spent on the streets and the other one described how he survives off these earnings and from receiving disability from the government. These guys were so personable and down-to-earth that it was hard to imagine that one went from shelter to shelter. So many people fall on hard times and in a city like DC that suffers from ridiculous housing prices, hard times can destroy a person.

After we let the guys go back to selling newspapers, we headed over to watch some chess in the park in Dupont circle. Ali, an older man in his 60s, came up to us and invited us to play with him. Despite admitting how bad we would be in chess compared to these people that could rival professionals, we went with him anyway and asked for pointers instead. From there, he gave us advice on chess, life, boxing, karate, and even life in the 60's and 70's. He is perhaps my favorite person I have met so far, has lived such an interesting life, and now spends his time in the park playing chess. (THIS IS NOT MY PICTURE, SORRY!)

I pray that we would not be quick to pass people by, but instead take the time to get to know people in all walks of life.

"Jesus promises a life in which we increasingly have to stretch our hands and be lead into places where we would rather not go." Henri Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus

New Adventures.... WASHINGTON DC!!!!

Hey all,

I realized that I never really finished my blog from Morocco. So here is a quick update... the last week I was there I successfully climbed Mount Toubkal in the Atlas Mountains. I said my goodbyes and my host family was just wonderful, crying to see me leave and showering me with gifts. I might have cried a bit too. I left them with some American peanut butter, a necessity, and gifts for those lovely kids. I made it safely back and have been living back here in the states ever since...

I graduated on May 15th of this year as a Politics major with a Sociology minor. So now real life begins? Thankfully, God has led me to a new adventure for the summer, so I am delaying entering the workforce as of yet and have flown off to Washington DC.

I am starting up the blog stories again with this new adventure to DC. I will be here from May 22nd until the middle of August. I am working with an inner city Christian mission organization, Center for Student Missions (CSM). After my two weeks of training and a week of serving, I will be leading youth groups across the city in missions trips.

I have several goals and motivations for coming here.

1) I have been convicted with my lack of sacrifice and total selfishness of the past few years. I have been very concerned with my own affairs, my clothes, school, friends, family, and really only living to see the life that surrounds me. I have been blind to the afflictions of those around me and see this summer as an opportunity to see people as God sees them, those broken, afflicted, and desperately loved. As Christians we should be the leaders in caring for the needy and downtrodden in society. There is a worship song that I love which has a refrain that says, "and what we do in here, will fill the streets out there". This is one of my prayers for the summer.

2) I want to get involved with nonprofit organizations for possible career options at a later (I guess quickly approaching) date. I am currently researching graduate programs in Social Work and Nonprofit management. If you have any suggestions for me I would appreciate the input.

3) I love traveling and new adventures and experiences. So I will record a few for my remaining followers on this blog. :)

I love you all and request your prayers for the summer! The group of staff I am here with are great and I am already very excited for what the summer will bring!

Jess :)