I am the adventurer. I go to far-off lands to meet far-off people. I have experiences that most people only dream of. I build character across culture. I cross boundaries and color outside the lines. My stories paint pictures in technicolor. I seek the unknown and go beyond it. I am brave, aren’t i? Hmm...
But beneath the rad façade is a little girl in the fetal position. I am no great adventurer! I’m freaking scared to cross the road! In this new place I find myself scared as often as excited, uncertain as often as certain. Sure I’ve only been here 5 days, but it seems that this pattern of up and down is sure to accompany me throughout this year. I get excited about new food but then scared of sickness. I have a great desire to go out and experience the city but then see my life flash before my eyes every time i get close to the insane traffic! I get pumped up for my new job but then deflate when i realize how unprepared i am for such things. I am interested in meeting new people but then fear for my safety. I am passionate about helping people in heinous need but then am overwhelmed by the staggering reality of bonded labor (FOR INSTANCE: many bonded laborers here are forced to work 20 hours a day, 7 days a week, with no food. They are starved and thrown out like trash. One woman was forced to have her baby without a doctor and continue working…).
Clearly i must learn balance. Before me is an experiment in mellowing out and calming down. This is a character building opportunity, as my dad would helpfully point out. I can feel it beginning: adjustment, flexibility. Long fears of what it would be like and what it first seemed are coming to rest. Some fears are proven true, while others are quite wrong. In some ways i’m more scared now, in others i’m less afraid. I suppose this makes about as much sense in writing as it does in my head- that is, very little. Adjust to my stream-of-consciousness if you’d like, or not- whatever works best for you. But this blog might be painful if you don’t like my scattered heart in print.
One thing i do know, in the midst of my mind mess, is that i’ve started this journey in such a different manner than Uganda. Uganda had a blissful beginning with all the trappings of the honey moon phase of culture shock. I loved everything and everyone. The first weeks were dream-like and easy to love. My maiden voyage to South Asia, on the other hand, started with many unpleasantries…
I began the trek on a gray day in groggy dreariness. My goodbyes hit me harder this time (especially one very painful goodbye) and my preparedness was arguably pathetic. I traveled alone and wallowed in that fact. I got sick on the 15 hour plane ride to Mumbai and then sat rotting in the airport by myself all night. I felt sick, alone, unsure, and quite possibly depressed. I caught my next plane at 6:00 am, not one of my favorite hours of the day. Upon arrival at my destination, i was driven to my temporary housing. On my ride from the airport i thought i might get into about 50 accidents, give or take a few. But, you may be relieved to know that the misery of my journey subsided quite a bit when i got to the place i wanted most: a bed. After 48 hours of little to no sleep, my bed became my best friend for 7 hours (in the middle of the day! Oops). And my misery all but disappeared when i went to my boss’ house for dinner with many other interns and fellows. I realized what is going to make this year insanely amazing and entirely worth it: PEOPLE!! Silly me for forgetting that meeting new people is one of my favorite activities! How could i dismiss the wild array of people around this crazy globe that restore my soul and make my life a real thing?! PEOPLE! People are my reality. They live and breathe and teach me to do the same. They have stories to tell and hearts that beat. PEOPLE! One of the reasons we can approach our Lord and Savior the way we do is because he became human to be with us – Immanuel. He came to show Himself as God and man and He came to relate to PEOPLE. This world is entirely filled with new people to meet and love. I’ve only begun to scratch the surface, but this town is yet another example that awesome people exist in every place, in every time, and every circumstance. I encourage every one of you to go meet someone new as soon as possible (Preferably someone who doesn’t look/act just like you). Listen and learn- Ahhh yes, and remember that Christ uses PEOPLE! Little ones like you and i, if we would but uncurl from our fetal positions. And i feel encouraged to do just that by the people here. The people in my office have already touched my life by welcoming me as a new family member, by reminding me to smile & laugh, by assuring me that it’s okay to miss home, by showing me the alternative-style beauty this city has to offer, and by revealing to me that this truly is a great adventure!
So while i may not be the bravest soul there ever was, i did choose to travel to the other side of the world to have “other-worldly” experiences. I want to taste the spice of South Asia, whatever the intestinal consequence. I want to sprint across the treacherous street if it means i can venture our on the town. I want to succeed at my job and learn to do my best, even if i make a mistake or two (or 200). I want to experience this city inside and out. I have fears- yes, plenty of them. But i will lay them aside- NAY, i will stomp on them if it brings me closer to being a true adventurer (for description of such a lofty term, see beginning of this overwhelming, overloaded post).
PRAYER REQUESTS: that us girls will make a closing deal on an apartment we found, that my new friend Amie gets her visa so she can join us, that my job becomes easier for me to understand/approach, and for continued health and safety (especially on the streets,,, i really mean it. The traffic is insane- i almost got hit today by an auto while I was standing still on the “sidewalk” tonight. I’m having trouble adjusting to the driving here)!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
This is the beginning...the beginning...the beginning of our story
And so it begins…the most intense experience of my life. Picture this: Lauren Peffley walking the streets of DC in a suit…? Haha, doesn’t that just scream INTENSITY?!?! I assure you that what I set out to write is much more intense than a recent college grad trading in her sweats for suits. What I write about here and now is the story of a young girl trading the familiar with the UN(familiar). A girl jumping head first into the biggest adventure yet- an internship with International Justice Mission.
Training week was an overwhelming, yet fulfilling experience. The baby IJMers got to hear from an experienced and well-spoken staff that looked something like super-heroes to my eyes. We were reminded of the mission that we are now on: the mission to “seek justice, to encourage the oppressed, to defend the cause of the fatherless, to plead the case of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:17) It is one thing to say this casually to a friend, but I assure you it is entirely different to see it being acted out by the brave souls at IJM. They have truly taken up this cause. It was refreshing to see people so devoted to serving the poor and following God’s heart.
We got the chance to hear about each department and its function. We learned the importance of stories. We became familiar with IJM’s four fold purpose (victim relief, perpetrator accountability, structural transformation, and victim aftercare). We witnessed an organization that is entirely Christian, entirely professional, entirely attentive to detail, and entirely devoted to a cause. We joined in daily prayer for ongoing operations. We met our amazing fellow interns. We read casework methodology. We deployed pepper spray! And I’m telling you, we swallowed an insane amount of information! I cannot tell you how much it meant to let it all sink in. Over the summer, I told people over and over again what I’m about to go do and it became my scripted story on repeat. Only this week did I begin to realize the importance of this story. This is real and it is happening now! I’m leaving for South Asia today and it is a big deal! Hearing the staff of this incredible organization tell us that we were going to make a difference- that we are Christ’s hands and feet in this world- really made me stop and wonder…Are they crazy?! The answer is NO. They really do believe that it is both our duty and our privilege to serve the poor. When Moses heard from almighty God that he was to go and rescue his people, Moses said “Who am i?” God did not give Moses an easy answer. He didn’t say “Well, Moses you are qualified for this job in SO many ways and let me tell you what I mean…” No, instead He said “I will be with you.” Now GO. (Exodus 3)
The question “Who am i?” has been occupying my brain space since I got this internship. Who am I and how can I ever do this? We all have times where we ask the question, even spiritual giants like Moses voiced their doubts on the matter. But we must realize that no matter who we are, we are called by God to GO seek justice and He will GO with us. So who am i? I’m Lauren Peffley! I’m GOing to South Asia. I’m GOing to be an intern with International Justice Mission. I am GOing to do significant work. And dangit, I am GOing to affect lives.
All in God’s hands. Peace
lauren.susan
Prayer Requests: Safety in travel. Health in arrival (so I don’t get pegged for a Swine Flu victim- ee gads). That I find the women who are picking me up from the airport! And that the city welcomes me with sights and sounds to remember!
Training week was an overwhelming, yet fulfilling experience. The baby IJMers got to hear from an experienced and well-spoken staff that looked something like super-heroes to my eyes. We were reminded of the mission that we are now on: the mission to “seek justice, to encourage the oppressed, to defend the cause of the fatherless, to plead the case of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:17) It is one thing to say this casually to a friend, but I assure you it is entirely different to see it being acted out by the brave souls at IJM. They have truly taken up this cause. It was refreshing to see people so devoted to serving the poor and following God’s heart.
We got the chance to hear about each department and its function. We learned the importance of stories. We became familiar with IJM’s four fold purpose (victim relief, perpetrator accountability, structural transformation, and victim aftercare). We witnessed an organization that is entirely Christian, entirely professional, entirely attentive to detail, and entirely devoted to a cause. We joined in daily prayer for ongoing operations. We met our amazing fellow interns. We read casework methodology. We deployed pepper spray! And I’m telling you, we swallowed an insane amount of information! I cannot tell you how much it meant to let it all sink in. Over the summer, I told people over and over again what I’m about to go do and it became my scripted story on repeat. Only this week did I begin to realize the importance of this story. This is real and it is happening now! I’m leaving for South Asia today and it is a big deal! Hearing the staff of this incredible organization tell us that we were going to make a difference- that we are Christ’s hands and feet in this world- really made me stop and wonder…Are they crazy?! The answer is NO. They really do believe that it is both our duty and our privilege to serve the poor. When Moses heard from almighty God that he was to go and rescue his people, Moses said “Who am i?” God did not give Moses an easy answer. He didn’t say “Well, Moses you are qualified for this job in SO many ways and let me tell you what I mean…” No, instead He said “I will be with you.” Now GO. (Exodus 3)
The question “Who am i?” has been occupying my brain space since I got this internship. Who am I and how can I ever do this? We all have times where we ask the question, even spiritual giants like Moses voiced their doubts on the matter. But we must realize that no matter who we are, we are called by God to GO seek justice and He will GO with us. So who am i? I’m Lauren Peffley! I’m GOing to South Asia. I’m GOing to be an intern with International Justice Mission. I am GOing to do significant work. And dangit, I am GOing to affect lives.
All in God’s hands. Peace
lauren.susan
Prayer Requests: Safety in travel. Health in arrival (so I don’t get pegged for a Swine Flu victim- ee gads). That I find the women who are picking me up from the airport! And that the city welcomes me with sights and sounds to remember!
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