For the babies.

Brodie baby.

There's a song by Damien Marley that I listened to a lot over the summer at Leoni. It's called "For the Babies" and it's not exactly a nice song, and I don't even really know if it's message is "good" or "bad"-- I can't tell! Mostly cause I just haven't thought about it too much. But when I was really tired on days at camp when I didn't want to be with the kids, I rolled that line around in the palm of my brain-- "this one's for the babies." Doing it for the kids, no matter if it's hard or not.

Most of the research I do- mostly out of curiosity- has to do with human rights. Those that violate them, those that are victims of those violations, people who are trying to fix the problem, those who are ignorant, shocked or indifferent because of lack of hope. Nick and I watched this TED Talk the other day that sank deep down and cemented itself in us. Photographs and descriptions of what it is like to be a slave. Not just a slave to other human beings, but to a broken system of poverty, corrupt government and of fear and silence.

It came at the right time, as we just decided to focus in on Fair Trade practices for Amnesty this year. Where do the products you buy come from? From slave labor? Are they American-made? I was riding my bike home and thinking "where did my tires come from, all the pieces?" And I burst into my apartment, running word-circles around Nick of how we could change the way people are treated by being aware of how our products are made and perhaps giving up some of the things that are produced under poor working conditions and low wages in order to encourage change. I'm not sure what that looks like or exactly how that happens- but I do think there is a way. A way for each of us to do something small (perhaps every day with a cup of coffee) that will grow into something big that will change the lives of mistreated people. If you watch the TED talk and take a look at the IFOAM website, you'll have a basic understanding and I encourage you to do so.

Disclaimer: I also realize that this is not easy. Buying Fair Trade is really inconvenient in a fast-paced society like ours- when we need something, we need it now. But if I truly believe that each person is made in the image of God and worth dying for, I want to think about what I'll change, what I'll give up- for the babies...

"And papas locked in cages
And mamas lackin wages
And this what they're faced with
Upon a daily basis"

maps and things.

tired of running my fingers over the edges of maps
on the walls; making pretend that we're
there in Thailand and Africa.
Or even just Oregon.

sick of putting the maps on the walls;
instead of pulling them out
as we're lost on a road in Mexico.

milagros.

How I am beginning to feel, every day. Thank God. 

Courtney and I are on a week-long adventure. Last year around this same time, I hit up all four corners of the Northwest and thought I'd do it again- see the same people and new ones too. 

It's so good to be in motion! It's refreshing, dodging off and on the grid, losing cell service, sleeping on floors, hugging people! New Year's Eve, we somehow managed to get all NINE of us on FOUR ice blocks and slid down the hill at Overlook Park in Portland. It's so good and I wish I had a better adjective rather than "good" cause it just doesn't do it justice!

But this is not what I am excited about most. What I am excited about is miracles and learning to believe in them more than ever before. That good things can come from struggle and perseverance and God coming through even before you ask Him to. His constant lovelovelovelovelove.

Okay! So! Miracle numero uno!:

School is expensive, and each quarter my parents and I are scraping the bottom of the barrel to come up with a down payment so I can start school. My phone buzzed last week with my mom saying "Do you believe Jesus answers prayers before you even say them?" "Yes, I do!" "We have all the money you need to start school!" I didn't even ask how or where it came from. 

Miracle numero dos!:

After multiple sobbing breakdowns, constant work, three tutors (Sean, Armelle, and Tom Mann: Saints), endless cups of coffee, and two overnighters studying for a final, I finally had the guts to check my grades yesterday at my friend Emily's house after posting all the money for my down payment. And I passed accounting!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was dancing and fist pumping, as were Emily's mom and Courtney. I imagine Jesus was, too. 

Miracle numero tres!:

Have you looked around today and seen the incredible beauty of the earth that is rushing at you!? We made it to Kootenai last night on some icy roads, safe and sound. And woke to the clearest and coldest day with fresh snow on the tops of all the mountains. Take time to say hello to Mother Nature and thank God for doing all this for you. It is a miracle. 

Perseverance. Love. Joy. Hard work. Thankfulness. Hope. Prayer. All these are bursting out of my heart today.