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| I did it. I created a new blog. I have thoroughly enjoyed this blog and site, but I really like the layout and format of blogspot. So I've decided to go with a change. We'll see how it works. The new site is: http://chialphanmir.blogspot.com/
I decided to keep the chialphanmir part the same just to help. And honestly Chi Alphan Mir describes me perfectly. I hope you'll join me over at the blogspot and keep up with my adventures and so on. Oh and I'm pretty sure on the new site you can leave comments without having to be a member. So come on over and leave a comment and let me know what you think.
Until then .....
 Mir
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| I hate change, but it is inevitable in life. I'm trying to learn to be a bit better with change. I'm trying to learn to let go of things and just go with the flow. I think two years on another continent has done me a lot of good in this area. I'm getting better. For a long time my quote when it came to change was from the movie 'You've Got Mail.' When Meg Ryan's bookshop closed down she was saying that people always say change happens, but what they are really saying is "that something you didn't want to happen at all has just happened to you." For the longest time that is how I felt.
More recently I've been trying to adapt more to a quote from a Rob Bell Nooma video. I'm paraphrasing here because I don't remember the exact lines, but here's to the best of my memory. It says "life isn't static. It ebbs and it flows. People come and people go. People get married and people have kids. Some people get divorced and some get cancer and some die." I think it's a great description of life. Not to be negative, but things happen. It's life and so there is no use in sitting around and trying to keep things from changing. That would be like sitting around and trying to keep life from happening.
I went for an eye exam yesterday (good news, my eyes are very healthy. I am a bit farsighted and have astigmatism, but the health of my eyes is quite good) Anyway, I went for an exam and am getting new glasses. I decided it's time for a change because I've had the same ones for a few years now and plus I needed new lenses anyway. My current ones are scratched and my eyes have changed just a bit. But with my whole resistance of change, I'm even apprehensive about new glasses. My new frames are very different than my current ones. Whole new style and so on. I won't get my new ones until next week so since yesterday I keep looking in the mirror and thinking, do I really want new glasses. Talk about indecisive and resistant to change. But I'm trying to persevere.
Another thing that brought about this post is that I am thinking about changing my blog site. I've been reading quite a few people's blogs in the blogger way of life. I really like their format and set up and it also seems that more folks are going that way than xanga these days. But again me and my resistance to change and so on, looks at my xanga and thinks I've had this site for four years and am not sure if I'm up for the change. But watch this space because I may make the move over soon. We'll see.
In other changes, I'm moving back to America in a week and a half. Crazy stuff I know!!!!!! Seriously!!!!!! But it's all good. I'm looking forward to new things and exciting challenges!!!!
until then......
Mir
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| For the past two years i have been a part of a ladies fellowship group at Cornerstone. Every Wednesday morning a group of ladies meet at the church to have prayer, fellowship, and Bible study. It really is an amazing group! I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this group. It's been a very interesting experience since I have generally been the youngest one in the group by about forty years. Yep, nearly forty years. Since it is in the middle of the week in the morning time, it's mostly older ladies. Since I started working here we have built it into my schedule to be able to go to the ladies meeting. It's been great and a whole lot of fun too!
This morning our group went out for breakfast. When someone in the group turns seventy we go out and celebrate. This time we were celebrating the 70th birthday of two of our ladies. And one of the other ladies was saying she's about to be seventy-seven! They are amazing ladies! So fun, so full of life, so much wisdom, and so willing to share!
Here's a group picture from breakfast this morning and a picture of me and Lynne. Lynne is the lady who leads the women's ministry at the church. She is simply amazing!
I only have two more Wednesdays with these ladies and our end of the year function. I really will miss their smiles, laughter, wisdom, and fellowship!
Until then.....
Mir | | |
| If you've ever moved to another city, state, country, or continent, then you can relate to how I am feeling at the moment. There are the crazy thoughts of 'is this the right move?' And 'how do I start all over again?' And 'how do I say good-bye to what has become home?' All questions running through my mind lately.
Exactly three weeks from today I will be back in Ruston. I am moving back to Ruston. I'm excited about family, friends, home, food, etc. But at the same time I am torn. I love South Africa! I do. I love Pietermaritzburg! I love Cornerstone Assembly of God! I love Glenallan Flats (where I have lived for two years)! I love UKZN Chi Alpha! This place, the people, the church, all of it has become home for me. Two years in a place is more than just a trip. It's more than just time spent somewhere. It's a chunk of my life. And it's hard to leave.
Other than the emotional and ever begging question of 'is this the right move,' I'm plagued by the thought that I am starting over in America. Yes I have a mother who will welcome me home with open arms (you should try moving to a foreign country for a while.... it makes the parents seriously happy to feed and house you again!!), but I have no car. I have no cell phone. I'll have a very small income for a while until I can raise my budget for Chi Alpha in the States. I feel like I'm winding up somewhere with nothing. Here in South Africa I don't need a car. I walk everywhere. Which works perfect when you live next to campus, across the street from the grocery store, and two blocks from church. But in Ruston my mom lives on the outskirts of town which is quite a few miles from campus. And even in town things are still spread out a bit. I'm thinking about a bicycle for a while, but honestly the idea kinda scares me. It's crazy far and I don't know if I'm up for the challenge. So I'm thinking maybe get mom to drop me at a friend's house in the mornings and stash my bike there. Then I can bike around town all day and get someone to drop me at home at night. This could work. Not long term, but for a while until I'm established again and can get a car. But even then riding a bike in town scares me a bit. Do you know how long it has been since I've been a 'bike rider?' Yeah, way too long!!!
So there are all these crazy thoughts and ideas and emotions running through my mind. It just makes me want to hide, but it doesn't matter if I hide or not because I will still be there and my thoughts will still be with me. But as I sat down to read last night this is what I got:
Isaiah 44:1-5
"But now listen, O Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen. This is what the Lord says - he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you; Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring. and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by the flowing streams. One will say, 'I belong to the Lord'; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, 'The Lord's,' and his name will be Israel."
All thoughts, emotions, worries aside.
A big sigh of relief.
I am chosen by God.
He made me and will help me.
I am not to be afraid.
I am chosen.
I am the Lord's.
I'm excited about the future. The near future does scare me still, but the future future is exciting. God's planting some big dreams and ideas in my heart. I'm totally excited! Big things! Big things!! And everywhere I turn lately I feel like God is saying 'Big things!' and encouraging me to pursue these dreams He is starting in my heart. So yes there are fears and doubts and many many mixed emotions, but I am chosen. I am the Lord's.
Until then......
Mir
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| So the past week has been non-stop for Chi Alpha and I'm loving it. I'm super tired, but it's been awesome! Really the past three weeks have been hectic, but in the best way. Last Thursday was our end of the year formal dinner. It was awesome! We had 40 students who came for dinner, testimonies, student farewells, slideshows, lifegroup awards, and a lot of fun! It was great!
Saturday we hosted a volleyball tournament on campus. There were about thirty students who came out to play or watch. We had a great time. My team came in second and a bunch of first years who named their team 'Losers' actually won the tournament. We had a blast though. I was sun burnt, bruised, and worn out by the end but it was a fabulous day!
Last night we had a Chi Alpha movie night at the church. It's study week and so we were inviting students to take a study break and come de-stress with us. There were about forty students who came. It was a nice laid back evening with snacks and pop-corn (I won't mention the number of pots they burned before they got the pop-corn right).
Today will mostly wrap up our Chi Alpha-ness on campus for the year. Students start writing exams on Friday and so from there they are scarce and hard to find. Today we are having a prayer/chat thing in the middle of campus. Basically we are going to hang out on the library lawns and offer to chat with and prayer for people for whatever they want prayer for. Mostly exam related stuff I'm sure is what people will request. But we just want people to know that we are here and we care. It should be great!
I've also been doing lifegroup leadership interviews this week. I have one more this afternoon and that means I've done twelve in all. I'm really excited about this group I've interviewed. They are mostly first years and are excited and enthusiastic. I think it can be a great time of refreshing and growing for Chi Alpha next year. Seriously exciting times!! (So incredibly sad I won't be here though.....)
So yeah. All that along with the normal Chi Alpha workload and preaching in some form for the past few weekends has made for a hectic time. No wonder I'm tired and have this weird crick in my neck that hurts like I don't know what! So this Friday I'm taking the day off and one of my lifegroup girls and I are going to hang out at the beach! Wahoo for the beach!! And for the fact that it is going into summer time here right now. I got a good start on my tan at the volleyball tournament so now I'll further it with a day of chilling on the beach and frolicking in the Indian Ocean.
I'll post pics soon from the past couple of weeks. Until then.......
Mir
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