Quotables

Me: "Did you know that Afghanistan has the second highest maternal mortality rate in the world? Seriously, it's because they marry them off at 13 and 14 and the terrain is mountainous and hilly. The villages are in the middle of the mountains and there are no doctors, so they die."

Kathren: "And Katie, that’s no surprise to God. He’s sovereign and He knows that, and He didn’t put YOU in charge of fixing it."

____________

Me: Walking in to Carlene singing Veggie Tale songs to her three-month old.

Me: "You're indoctrinating him at a young age."

Carlene: "Yes, isn't that why you have kids?"

Goodwill Hunting

It has been a few months since I have made it to the Goodwill 50% off sale, but last night was worth the wait. I've noticed that most shopping trips tend to revolve around one type of item. For example, some days I'll find tons of great dresses, other days lots of sweaters. Today was a pants day. Here is the break down:

21 pairs of pants for seven different recipients

2 pairs of capris

1 pair of shorts

1 vintage dress

1 pair of Nine West shoes

1 top from Theory

1 glass bowl tinted beige

1 glass vase with a painted gold rim

$59.25 total

Friends, I do not jest. Lest you think I am foisting rags on my friends and family, I will share that the brands included: 7 for All Mankind, Ann Taylor, Apostrophe, Banana Republic, Billy Blues, Club Monoco, Coldwater Creek, Express, Gap, J Crew, Levis, the Limited, Lucky, Lux, Mossimo, Old Navy, and ZD.

Today at work

Me: Focusing on transferring the McElroy's application to Peru-Arequipa from 2010 to 2011. Slowly becoming aware that there is a conversation taking place about a marvelous, life-changing, essential office product that I probably should acquire.

Tony: Oh, I was just looking for them. Are there any left?

Bill: I'm not sure if there are any in there, but I keep some in my drawer so that I have a supply. Here, do you want some?

Tony: Oh, yeah, these are great. So, you keep your own stash?

Bill: Well, yeah. 

Tony: That's a good idea.

Me: Wait, what are you guys talking about?

Tony: Smarties.

--Pause--

Me: Ohhhh....

Bill: We're having a manly conversation, Katie. So bug off!

____________

Me: Reading a 2010 application to the Guatemala outreach.

Question: Describe a stressful situation and how you responded.

Applicant: I was a pastor's wife for 26 years and survived.

Can't?

Brief thought for the night before going to sleep: lately I've told God, "I can't do this, so You're going to have to do something" when actually I know that I am capable. He reminds me of this, and I have to admit that what I really mean is that "this" -- whatever emotional feat or task -- is more draining or painful than I want to sacrifice. I basically think I will be a wreck at the end. Thus, failing, "can't." So there is a difference between genuinely "can't" and "can't without collapsing." I do think He can help us with both, but I need to be more honest about the really, really don't want to's because it seems indecently hard. Silly M.O. with God.

Sorry this is so incoherent, but sleep has been elusive. I know I'm putting it badly, but I guess I'm trying to capture the difference between asking God for help and wimping out. Sometimes I ask God for  help, and He tells me, "You know you can do it, but it's going to be hard." However, by and large, He helps out. I do not want to be one of those people who waits until they come to the end of their own strength before asking God for help, but neither do I want to be someone who does not stand and fight and believe God's promises.


The end for now.

Brighter Days

I really love this Leeland song and have had it much on my mind. However, when I went to YouTube to look it up, I found out that it was on the "Fireproof" soundtrack. Okay, that was a setback, but I can get over that. I mean, yes, "Fireproof" was super cheesy, but it had a good message. Then I find a YouTube video that is NOT from "Fireproof" and the submitter put this: 

"this song is about like if our mom tells us that we need to clean our room how we always say 'O, I'll do that when I aint tired or when I'm feelen beter' but then we dont do it... and then it aint perty our mom comes in there like the next day and says 'uhh!?!... i told ya to clean the room up last week and you still havnt done it'...that we need to just do what were told insted of complainen or geten upset and kusing a buch of exuses and just obey our mom like GOD wants us to and it make you happy and it'll make your mom SUPER happy."

Hello? Vastly different interpretation. Way to ruin my emo moment! So I had to laugh.

Time keeps moving on
Through the sunshine and the storm
And my dreams are set in stone
And someday I'll be who I want to be
For now I'll wait
For the sun to shine again
And for now I'll wait
For the rain to pass away

And I'm looking for the brighter days
When all my hurts seem to fade away
I'm looking for the brighter days to come my way

Faces come and faces go
But none seem to look my way
And walls have stood and walls have fallen
But my heart seems to wait
For now I'll sit at the end of the road
And for now I'll wait
At the end of the pathway

I'll see the sun one day shine upon me
I'll see the sun one day
And watch the nighttime turn to morning
But for now it all comes back around

How I drive myself crazy...

Went to Whole Foods today to look for Fair Trade chocolate. It's more expensive, but still in the range of See's, Godiva, etc. Came home and found this blog post about Cadbury going fair trade in the UK but being unable to justify the expense in the USA because they use Hershey's as a manufacturer. Oh, snap.


P.S. I could see myself as a Whole Foods customer if it wasn't so expensive. They had a scrumptious mango/jicama/basil/red bell pepper/red onion/jalapeno/Serrano pepper/lime juice salsa (yes, I memorized the ingredients) in the corner of the display case. My longing expression conjured up a generous sample. I think it would be marvelous with Shrimp sprinkled in. I'm almost motivated to cook, but not quite.

P.P.S. On the way out of the store, I passed by a woman collecting donations for the homeless. I did not contribute, but I spent the next several moments wondering why I was bothering to spend extra money on chocolate to avoid contributing to slave labor when I was unwilling to spend that money on the homeless. Every time I think I'm being radical, I realize that I am not being radical enough. Yes, this is partially due to my perfectionism, but mostly because being "radical" is not really as difficult as you imagine if you're doing it because you love God. I mean, giving up Peppermint Patties was definitely not fun, but it's not really that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. The next step of buying less chocolate and giving away more money may seem like a sacrifice now that I have several chocolate bars sitting in my room, but once I implement the change, I'll probably find that it's not so difficult after all. My habit of getting rid of one thing a day has been so illuminating, largely because I hardly ever remember the things that are daily discarded. See, not that big of a deal.


And now you have a taste of how I drive myself nuts because it will become part of connected thoughts both linear and circular. Fair trade chocolate-->homelessness-->materialism-->exploitation of the Congo-->depravity of mankind-->why do we exist?-->do what you can-->fair trade chocolate-->etc.

Story from my work

Taken from the April 2011 Joni and Friends Newsletter:

At the age of 3, Satit contracted polio. Living in Chiang Mai, Thailand, he was the eldest son in a Christian family that loved God's word and believed in the power of prayer. Even though he could no longer walk, Satit prayed for God to use his life to bring others to Christ in Thailand.


At 16, Satit felt God's call to ministry and applied to many seminaries, only to be turned away. Pointing to his weak legs, he was told over and over again, "God can't use you." Without a wheelchair, it seemed they might be right.


But Satit's faith and prayer never wavered. Even though he did not have a wheelchair, "I attended as many Bible studies as I could," said Satit. "God has called me to be an ambassador for Christ. I prayed for strength, for God's provision of a wheelchair ... and for souls."


Today, Satit and his wife work tirelessly to rescue children from the streets, where they are used in drug trafficking, slavery, prostitution, and unfair labor. "We bring them to live with us," said Satit. "We show them God's love and teach them His word." Living all together in a renovated church basement, Satit and his wife have rescued 42 children who now call him "Papa."


Recently, your love and faithfulness sent a Wheels team to Thailand and Satit joyously received a beautiful, custom-fit wheelchair. This gift you provided brings special joy and hope to 42 rescued children in Thailand ... because Papa now sits in a wheelchair that proves God answers prayer!

I find it a bit irritating that the story is not clear on whether or not Satit never had a wheelchair prior to the Joni and Friends distribution or received a replacement. Either way, he received a custom-fitted wheelchair,and that is tremendous in a developing country. It's great to be a part of something like this, and these sorts of stories remind us that we're not unparalleled Americans saving the world but rather simple humans choosing to be part of what God is already doing. Satit has done far more with his limited resources than most Americans will in their lifetimes.

Parents and Progeny

Giving, for better or for worse?

As a person who is self-educating on the extensive field of international relief and development work, I am sometimes wearied by the vast amount of factors that contribute to this work. In order to be an effective aid agency, you have to consider economics, politics, culture, ethics, psychology, etc. of both donors and recipients. In addition to education and intelligence, as an agency and individual, you have to be an excellent with communication and relationship building. 

Perhaps at times I come across as someone who believes that we should simply observe and respond. While I do believe that Christians have a clear Biblical mandate to serve the poor and oppressed in tangible ways, it would be absurd for me to dictate "ideal" responses. For goodness sakes, I still have a weekly struggle with how to best respond to the local homeless! People with much more experience than I spend their careers arguing about best practices and ethics. This discussion (one of many) about Toms Shoes and the BOGO model or this post about giving unsolicited aid to Japan show some of the topics minds like mine consider. Much, much harm has been done through the good intentions (or even nefarious intentions) of the West.

With all of the debates about the most effective methods of aid (and, believe me, there are divided opinions even on how to measure effectiveness), I have come to two main conclusions. The first is that we should pray about the causes that God is specifically calling us to support. James 1 tells us that if anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God in faith, as God dispenses the stuff liberally and without reproach. At times, we may be called to support a charity that we may not even view as efficient because God's economy does not work as ours. Conclusion two is that we should start small and research. Scattered approaches do not do as much long term good. It is better to research a charity (say, International Justice Mission) or cause (for instance, human trafficking) and stick with it than to dabble here and there without much thought. Being an educated, committed supporter means that you will be able to be a better advocate for your charity/cause and also that the charity/cause will not waste as much money in trying to solicit your donations. Be aware of the difference between donating and buying products, as well as the differences between charities (non-profit) and social enterprises (could be either non-profit or for-profit).


Finally, my thoughts as to artisan-made products boil down to the concept that if you are going to consume anyway (i.e. birthday and holiday gifts, jewelry, etc.), you might as well buy something that will help someone even if part of your purchase price is mismanaged. You would not complain if Target or Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf mismanaged their business costs, right? You just hand them your $5.00 in exchange for their product. However, if you are buying a product solely because you care about the cause motivating the product's existence, you would perhaps be better off just donating your money to an effective charity that supports that cause. (Note: Fair trade is another issue that I have covered elsewhere as I am trying to move away from buying products tainted by slave labor. This is exceptionally difficult to do, but I already have a head start since I am predisposed to shop at Goodwill and eat dark chocolate.)

UN Hoax

My favorite April Fool's post this year: http://aidwatchers.com/2011/04/un-revealed-to-be-gigantic-66-year-old-hoax/. Carlene, I think you will especially appreciate this.

More life at home

After hearing five Disney previews in a row drifting up from downstairs...

Me: "Mom, why are you watching all those ads?"

Mom: "I'm doing homework so that I can get to 'The Princess Diaries.'"

Me: "I'm speechless."

Mom: "Don't be. I've been known to watch 'Winnie the Pooh.'"


In other news, on the drive home today I was thinking that it would be really cool to expand my thrifting and clothes re-gifting habit into a free clothes closet that would be available to anyone. How cool would it be to accumulate beautiful clothing for little cost just to spoil people? However, at the moment I have neither the budget nor the space to expand my efforts, so I'm going to continue at my current pace. Maybe someday when I have a guest bedroom? Sometimes I find great items but do not know anyone in that particular size, and it did occur to me that even now I could collect those things on a small scale and give them to a local clothes pantry. Life is only going to get more expensive as gas increases and the dollar decreases. In God's economy, being generous is a good savings plan.

Quotes from my brother

When I was complaining about my life:

"Well, you could start write depressing poetry like me. There's always material."

After describing his run-in with a fat, grotesque spider that narrowly eluded death:

"Of course, the spider probably went home and told his wife, 'I just saw a giant, ugly monster!'"

$$$

According to World Bank data, the world's population of 6 billion earns an individual average of $5,000 annually. This means that with my new salary, I am in the top 5% of wealthiest people in the world! What percentage are you? Check it out:http://www.globalrichlist.com/. It takes 14 seconds. Now, my disposable income is low by American standards, and if I had children I would probably have to apply for government assistance. Yet, in terms of material wealth I am one of the world's elite. It makes me want to donate to a microfinance program! (Well, I always want to donate to a microfinance program. Hmm, maybe that can be my birthday cause this year.)

So great a cloud...

Just returned home from a STEM conference in Bloomington, Minnesota. My favorite quote was from Loren Cunningham, founder of YWAM. He described some of the benefits of technology that are assisting to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. He believes that we are living in an unprecedented, amazing time in  history: "Sometimes I look up to heaven and say, 'Paul, eat your heart out.' I know he wishes he could be here right now, but I'm here living it. Let's pray." One of the best closing lines ever! As you may surmise, Loren has a refreshing sense of humor, abundant passion for evangelism, and a lifetime of fun stories. He very much employs the "God room" principle by stepping out in faith towards things beyond human ability.

Habits

Lately I have been contemplating discipline in my life, and this has led to a contemplation of daily habits. What actions are so essential that they merit daily repetition? Really, there are quite a few things I strive to complete daily. Swishing mouthwash and getting rid of one thing a day are two commendable habits I have (mostly) managed to master. Yet, is dental hygiene really more important than reading my Bible? Is tossing an old pair or socks preferable to encouraging a friend? Our habits reflect our priorities.

Celebrity Crush/Curls/Chocolate

The title of this post was a weak attempt to be alliterative. My apologies.

Today I had the pleasure of getting my hair cut by Kim Myles, a New York City hair dresser who won Design Star and then moved to Los Angeles to host her own show ("Myles of Style") for a few seasons. It was the only TV show I watched until unemployment had me resort to a few episodes of "Monk" and "What Not to Wear." Kim is a super talented--and sweet--lady, and I am disappointed that her show was cancelled. However, the cancellation prompted a return to hairdressing, and you can visit her at Luxe Salon in Silverlake, Los Angeles.

Also, friends, I have to share that there was a bowl of Hershey Easter candy sitting on the counter at Luxe, and I almost grabbed a mini-Krackel bar. Then I remembered in the nick of time--no on Hershey chocolate! For those of you who might wish to join this boycott, remember that Hershey chocolate products include the following: Reese's, Almond Joy, Peppermint Patties, Mounds, Kit Kat, Cadbury, Heath, Mauna Loa, Milkduds, Mr. Goodbar, Payday, and Rollos. They also produce Dagoba chocolate, but it's probably not tainted with slave labor because it is organic. Other non-chocolate Hershey products can be found here. Realistically, it may take some time to wean yourself off of these products, but in the end everyone benefits. Fair trade chocolate generally tastes better and is better for you! (Gosh, that sounded cheesy, but it's true!)

Fans Unite

Ivan has suggested (and I use a light verb lest I should be thought to capitulate under peer pressure) that reinstating my followers gadget will lend credibility to my blog. I responded that most people follow through RSS feed and know me personally. Thus, credibility is not an issue. However, I "followed the suggestion" more from the wish to include those who do not utilize RSS feed. Please follow me if you are so inclined.

Slave labor ---> Peppermint Patties ---> Thinner Katie

Today I realized that I have fallen off the wagon from my boycott of chocolate that is not fair trade. Sadly, my addiction to Peppermint Patties has to go. Hershey, the producer of Peppermint Patties and the dominating chocolate company in the United States, has consistently refused to be accountable for their cocoa bean sourcing for the past nine years. This means that, despite its record of community involvement within the United States, its products are most likely contaminated with slave labor. 

Since about the turn of the millennium, it has become widely known amongst those who are interested in such topics that 1.) most cocoa beans come from the Ivory Coast of West Africa and 2.) cocoa plantation owners often use child slave labor. Human trafficking and fair trade organizations have continued to pressure the major chocolate companies for the past decade. 

In 2001, the U.S. government became involved in--what else--creating legislation that was supposed to motivate chocolate companies to make their products slave free by 2008. A documentary called "The Dark Side of Chocolate" came out last year revealing that slavery is still very much alive in chocolate production. Even though Hershey has cornered over a third of the chocolate market in the United States, it has demonstrated the least effort to change. There is even a campaign dedicated solely to making Hershey fair trade. The campaign wrote a 42 page report last fall in response to what it felt was lacking in Hershey's first "Corporate Social Responsibility" report.


Personally, I have written to the three major chocolate companies and plan to become significantly stricter about my chocolate consumption. I have read a bit on this specific topic over the past year, and lists of fair trade chocolate are scattered over the internet. This is an extensive list I have found useful. Also, the summary below is helpful. Green and Black chocolate comes highly recommended by my friend from the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force and is available for purchase at Target. Whole Foods has a wide selection, and Trader Joe's also has some fair trade chocolate.


There are in fact many chocolate companies who according to company correspondence use cocoa that has definitively not been produced with slave labor. These companies include Clif Bar, Cloud Nine, Dagoba Organic Chocolate, Denman Island Chocolate, Gardners Candies, Green and Black’s, Kailua Candy Company, Koppers Chocolate, L.A. Burdick Chocolates, Montezuma’s Chocolates, Newman’s Own Organics, Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company, Rapunzel Pure Organics, and The Endangered Species Chocolate Company.

At present, no organic cocoa beans are coming from Ivory Coast, so organic chocolate is unlikely to be tainted by slavery. Newman’s Own Organics is one of the largest of the slavery-free companies. The company’s chocolate is purchased through the Organic Commodity Project in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It comes from Costa Rica where the farms are closely monitored.

Happy endings?

So maybe I'm turning into a total downer of a person, but hysterical dialogue aside, this is how I think of Jane Austen's works--pain plus improbable happy endings. I've read that Persuasion was her favorite work and wonder if she hoped its plot to come true for her.

Cretinizer

I think these exist! Happy Monday.

Psalm 56

⁸ You have kept count of my tossings;
    put my tears in your bottle.
   Are they not in your book?

 ¹² I must perform my vows to you, O God;
   I will render thank offerings to you.
¹³ For you have delivered my soul from death,
   yes, my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of life.