Last week, I posted on Wednesday.. This week, I made it by Tuesday.. does that mean next week I might actually make my originally stated "I'll post on Monday?" - we shall see! hahaha :)
The funny thing is that I planned to blog yesterday, however my day didn't exactly go as planned. *chuckle* That's life for you, right? I have a TEAM Interpreter here this week: Her name is Lindsey and I met her in April up at a Christian Interpreting Conference in Iowa (Praise God from whom all BLESSINGS flow). The plan was that her flight would get in early Monday morning (think 1am-ish). Then my friends (Rich and Jess - who you'll meet later in this post) would pick her up from the airport, she'd stay the night with them, then I'd come get her Monday morning from Philly. Weeeelll, the weather in Denver did not get my memo, as her flight got delayed by an hour or so, she missed her connection and ended up having to try to get on a 7am flight the next morning "stand by" on 4 hours of sleep.
Lindsey = ROCK STAR! Praise the Lord a couple on that flight was late yesterday morning, so she got one of their seats! That changed her arrival time to 1:25pm. One would think, oh - instead of leaving for Philly at 9am, I could now blog first, then leave at 11 and have plenty of time to make it up there. Well, I ended up running errands, then thinking I'll leave a little early - get there, and then blog from the cell phone waiting area. OR *what really happened* I'll drive up there, think "I don't want to pay the Toll for the toll bridge", look on the map, "oh, there's a bridge 20 miles north of this one, sure why not".. only to get there an IT's a TOLL bridge too.. then I have to go 20 minutes BACK towards the airport *sheesh* get there in time for her to land *YAY* then driving home, think "we should be back by 3, she'll probably want to nap, so I'll blog then".. ONLY to get "semi lost" twice.. I say semi cuz I knew "ish" where I was, but we were having such a GREAT conversation (God send - truly, she is!) that I wasn't paying the utmost of attention.. The first time we "took a short cut" or so I thought.. The second time, I may or may not have checked to make sure we got on the highway wanting to go South *sheepish grin* 40 Miles NORTH later, I realized my inattention to detail, we had to pull a U-turn, and yeah.. So, what should have taken 2 hours -at the most - turned into 3.5.. We made it back in time for the evening meetings that I already had lined up.. hahaha, all that to say Today = delayed flight + flawed driver = FUN conversation!
I should also explain where I'm staying now, and how WONDERFUL it's been :) Last summer, through a friend of a friend, I met Rich and Jessica (they are a married couple who both had ties to the Deaf community before they met, and are now both interpreters in Philly). Rich interpreted once for me last summer, and has come down to interpret 3 or 4 times this summer. Jessica was in school last year, so wasn't able to come down - but this year, she is saving my tail - by covering for me during the last week of Project when I make my way back to Oklahoma for my Brother/Sister-in-law's wedding. Rich has also been a wonderful resource, getting me connected with other Deaf Christians in the area - and offering to let me stay at his parent's beach house for the first 2 weeks in July. The Project house is a mere 4 streets over, less than a 10 minute walk - so it's great location! This weekend, I'll be moving 20 minutes inland - back to my host family (from last year's) house - which I'm stoked about getting to live with them again, it just means a 20 minute drive for me each way.. that part I could do without. *grin* All this to say, I've been blessed by Rich and Jess and their service to me/Project that, for the most part, has been behind the scenes. Rich is a man of networking - and it helps me out tremendously! Praise the Lord for "a recommendation of a friend of friend" becoming MY Friends! :)
This weekend Kinna and I (with about 4 other Deaf female friends of ours) are going up to Philly and we'll be hanging out with Rich and Jess, attending a Deaf lead Bible study, and 2 Deaf churches. I am looking forward to our "Signing Weekend" as last year I did the same thing with Auzy and another friend and it was so very refreshing!
Speaking of refreshing - I love loVE LOVE it when God sets up Divine appointments. This past Saturday, some students on Project set up a "hang out/mini-golf/ice cream" afternoon for the goal of meeting more Deaf people in the community. A girl we met last summer, who is now going to be a sophomore in an interpreting program in PA, invited to of her Deaf friends. Jessica and Zoe both attend mainstream High School programs (this means they go to a public school, with an interpreter, all day). They seemed comfortable interacting with the hearing Project Students (all College students) - since most of them can't sign fluidly yet. The Project Students seemed to have a great time interacting with them too. We met up and played Mini-golf in 3 different teams. Jessica, who will be a senior in the fall, was on my team. She asked what our group did, and why we were here for the summer. I was able to explain about Campus Crusade for Christ, and what Summer Project was as we played. At the end of Mini-golf, instead of "swallowing" your ball on the last hole - the putt-putt place had this box that you "recycled" your ball into - like a "Plinco" game. If your ball landed in the "treasure box" you got a free game next time you came. The game also spit out tickets for "buy one get one free" Italian Ice. Many of us opted for that - and so the ice cream thing got delayed. The girl I mentioned in my last post - that I got to hang out with on the 4th of July - I had invited to play with us, but she had to work. She worked 15 min's South of where we were playing Mini-golf, so I suggested to the group (13 of us total) that we go to her place, and get some appetizers. They were all game, so we headed that way. Devin (my friend) was able to be our "hostess" and it was fun to see where she works. It's a sea food place - and this Oklahoma girl doesn't do a lot of sea food - however, I did learn that I LIKE Shrimp Poppers.. hmmmm! After Mike's Sea Food, we went to get ice cream. I finally got to chat some with Zoe and Jessica without having to interpret, as there were lots of small conversations going on around us. Some how we got on the topic of "could God eat a gummy bear" and from there God lead me to explain about the concept of salvation, and why Jesus came to Earth. Jessica has gone to church, and knew some things about the bible, but Zoe had never heard about God, about Sin which causes separation from God, and about Jesus taking the punishment of sin on himself, and offering us forgiveness. With wide-eyed attentiveness, she asked question after question about what all of that "Christian" stuff meant. She didn't want to pray in front of everyone, but said she would "talk to God when she went home". It was sooo very cool to be able to share the Gospel with her. We are planning to see her again on July 23rd when we host a bowling get-together for the local Deaf community! I'm excited to catch up with her and see what she has decided!
It's funny to me that God sets up these divine appointments. During sharing with Zoe, my wrist's didn't hurt at all :) Sadly, that night when I went to interpret the debrief, they did.. they hurt doubly, it seemed, thinking they needed to make up for not hurting earlier. I bought a "copper/magnetic" bracelet the other day (it says it helps with arthritis aches..) I'm not sure if it's working.. as my fingers are still tingling some.. I plan to go to the Chiropractor today or tomorrow.. hopefully an adjustment will help the nerves to calm down as well. If you think of me, please pray for my wrists to not be so "contrary" *wink*.. I am trying to make sure I'm stretching, and being a good steward of my health - but I also know that "this too shall pass, only what is done for Christ will last".. so I teeter-totter around the question of "how much is too much" when it comes to serving Kinna well and allowing her access to the project atmosphere? And I am trying to rest in what I do, knowing that a job well done is all He asks of me. :D
It's weird for me to think that I only have 3 weeks left here. But I am also excited to come back - see my favorite Bro-hair get HITCHED - and live life alongside all of ya'll! Thanks for your time, to read about the happenings in New Jersey!
Soli Deo Gloria!
:D
"I know I'm filled to be emptied again, the seeds I've received I will sow.."
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