Emily, Evan and I have finished our four (!) final examinations and are preparing to head back to Michigan. I'll fly out on Sunday afternoon for France. This was a really amazing experience - it's opened many, many new doors. I'm very much looking forward to using my new medical skills in Palestine and hopefully for the rest of my career as a minister. After everything that's happened this month I can confidently recommend NOLS as a phenomenal school with some truly inspiring instructors - Gates, Ed, Liam and Brian were all fantastic teachers and I hope more people take advantage of the programs Wilderness Medicine Institute has to offer. Lander, WY is a beautiful town with some very cool folks as well - I hope my band can swing through here at some point when we develop a tour for this part of the country.
On to France!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Finals Week
I'm entirely exhausted - we have four exams this week. Classes are just about wrapped up and my head is swimming with medical information. I feel incredibly well prepared by my instructors here at NOLS - they've taken great care to work with each EMT student individually to gear them up for the finals. First, the Wilderness exam, then the EMT-B urban course final, the Wyoming practical exam and finally the National Registry exam. I'm doing well in the course (though my pre-med sister and cousin are doing very well).
Lately I've been thinking hard on why I'm here. I've also been thinking about Bonhoeffer and "wish-dreams" - about building playgrounds in Palestine and about why, exactly, I want to be an EMT. Then I was able to read these ten crushing, heart-breaking stories about the quake in China.
Hopefully I will never again remain so comfortable here in my privilege while so many thousands suffer and wait for rescue. Luke 10:1-9
I'll be sure to get some videos up soon, along with more pictures.
Lately I've been thinking hard on why I'm here. I've also been thinking about Bonhoeffer and "wish-dreams" - about building playgrounds in Palestine and about why, exactly, I want to be an EMT. Then I was able to read these ten crushing, heart-breaking stories about the quake in China.
Hopefully I will never again remain so comfortable here in my privilege while so many thousands suffer and wait for rescue. Luke 10:1-9
I'll be sure to get some videos up soon, along with more pictures.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Update
It's really incredible how much we've learned in such a small amount of time - Emily and Evan and I have been on emergency-care overload. I'm excited to begin working in the Lander emergency room with my sis tomorrow - we'll be in on Friday and Saturday. Next week is filled with finals - both practical and written exams - and then on Sunday I depart for Taize.
I'm incredibly excited to be completing this training - I think emergency preparedness is important for everyone but especially for those individuals who plan on doing work in developing countries. Also, it's stressful and fun and fast-paced - three things that seem to appeal to me at some basic level. I look forward to continuing my EMT education and possibly working as a volunteer medic at the clinic in Beit Sahour - we'll see what happens when I get there.
Hope all is well stateside! Wish you were here.
I'm incredibly excited to be completing this training - I think emergency preparedness is important for everyone but especially for those individuals who plan on doing work in developing countries. Also, it's stressful and fun and fast-paced - three things that seem to appeal to me at some basic level. I look forward to continuing my EMT education and possibly working as a volunteer medic at the clinic in Beit Sahour - we'll see what happens when I get there.
Hope all is well stateside! Wish you were here.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Pictures up!
I've added some pics - click on the slideshow on the lower right to view them all. Hopefully this google-blogger-picasa arrangement will work out well. I'll update the albums as I go. Hope all is well wherever you are, the weather is beautiful in Lander!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Lander!
And so it begins!
My sister Emily, my cousin Evan and I have all arrived in Lander, Wyoming, to begin our Wilderness Medicine Institute course here in the mountains. I'm preparing for overseas work; Emily and Evan are both medical students who are excited to learn about practical medicine in extreme environments. We're studying for WEMT certification through National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and today was our first day. Completely awesome. We arrived to relatively hot, dry weather - now it's begun snowing and there'll probably be a foot on the ground by morning. NOLS is a wonderful organization and I'll be here until June 6. (I leave for overseas on June 8).
Prior to arriving here in Wyoming I had an opportunity to finally meet the folks from Playgrounds for Palestine at the Friends of Sabeel Conference in Philadelphia. I was only in the city for one day but it was heartening to finally meet Susan Abulhawa in person - she is every bit as courageous and inspirational as I had imagined. I was also able to attend speeches by Marc Ellis from Baylor University and Jeff Halper from the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions. These are two more of my greatest heroes and they gave me some incredible ideas regarding the Israel/Palestine conflagration.
My last Sunday at Park Church was awe-inspiring and powerfully uplifting. I was commissioned by Rev. Petty and so many people came forward to lay prayerful, gospel hands upon me - I feel called and sent, beckoned and pushed forward by my gracious faith family. Strengthened by their prayers, I am sure that we will bring some new, precious light to this place of conflict and division.
Pictures to come soon!
My sister Emily, my cousin Evan and I have all arrived in Lander, Wyoming, to begin our Wilderness Medicine Institute course here in the mountains. I'm preparing for overseas work; Emily and Evan are both medical students who are excited to learn about practical medicine in extreme environments. We're studying for WEMT certification through National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and today was our first day. Completely awesome. We arrived to relatively hot, dry weather - now it's begun snowing and there'll probably be a foot on the ground by morning. NOLS is a wonderful organization and I'll be here until June 6. (I leave for overseas on June 8).
Prior to arriving here in Wyoming I had an opportunity to finally meet the folks from Playgrounds for Palestine at the Friends of Sabeel Conference in Philadelphia. I was only in the city for one day but it was heartening to finally meet Susan Abulhawa in person - she is every bit as courageous and inspirational as I had imagined. I was also able to attend speeches by Marc Ellis from Baylor University and Jeff Halper from the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions. These are two more of my greatest heroes and they gave me some incredible ideas regarding the Israel/Palestine conflagration.
My last Sunday at Park Church was awe-inspiring and powerfully uplifting. I was commissioned by Rev. Petty and so many people came forward to lay prayerful, gospel hands upon me - I feel called and sent, beckoned and pushed forward by my gracious faith family. Strengthened by their prayers, I am sure that we will bring some new, precious light to this place of conflict and division.
Pictures to come soon!
Monday, April 14, 2008
New Friends for a New Playground!
March and April have been exciting months for the PfP Bethlehem project! I received a wonderful invitation to journey up to Traverse City during the end of March. I was a guest of MidEast Just Peace. I spoke at their meeting as well as offering a presentation to Immanuel Lutheran Church and the Potter's House, UCC. I was impressed and deeply moved by the stories I heard - there is so much solidarity for this cause in Traverse City! I was able to raise over $1500 toward the construction of the playground. Thanks to Gina and everyone else in Traverse City, I very much look forward to visiting again soon.
We also hosted a concert at Park Church last week to raise some money - thanks to Bates and Foote, High Five and Who Hit John? for playing some great music for a good cause.
As I begin to finalize the summer's plans, I'm becoming more and more excited - we're getting closer to our financial goal and the playground is moving closer to becoming a reality.
We also hosted a concert at Park Church last week to raise some money - thanks to Bates and Foote, High Five and Who Hit John? for playing some great music for a good cause.
As I begin to finalize the summer's plans, I'm becoming more and more excited - we're getting closer to our financial goal and the playground is moving closer to becoming a reality.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Moving closer!
Over the past two weeks we have accepted special offerings at Park Church to assist with the costs of the playground - so far we've raised over $2700! This is absolutely incredible - words cannot express my joy at this outpouring of generosity on the part of the members and staff at Park. I hope to bring our message to a few more churches throughout March and April - the Adult Education class on Bethlehem was a great success and we'll take this presentation on the road as we move closer to June.
The official construction of the playground will take place between July 14 and August 17 - during the month prior to this we will be examining the placement and working with the people on site to prepare for its arrival.
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