MiSURA

Can you believe it!?
In just a few days, Case IV and Koinonia will put on an event like never before. We've invited Stuart McAllister to come and speak on the importance and relevance of Jesus Christ in the academic world. I think advertising was incredibly successful and there isn't one person who doesn't know about the event that will be happening. Flyers such as the following were put ALL over the campus:









This is incredible because so many of my friends are asking about this event. Even though it's on a Monday night, I don't doubt that people will come.

Please pray for revival. Pray for Stuart McAllister as he teams up with the Holy Spirit to speak the truth. We will also be doing an altar call so pray for strong convictions.

So exciiiited!!!

I reeeally enjoy making powerpoint backgrounds.
I don't even really use them bc they're (some of them) kinda girly. haha. but i just like making 'em.
here are some that I made today:







how did i make it, do you ask?
well, first i make the background on photoshop. the swirls you see are all photoshop brush presets that i've downloaded from various places. the pixels size you want for a powerpoint background is 960x725. and then just let your imagination run wild. i always make at least two diff. ones for each theme because the title background is a slight variation.

if you're not good with colors... go here and it's self-explanatory. this site is great esp. for website designing. play around with the different schemes such as light pastels, gray medium, less/more contrast, etc.

the possibilities are endless!!!!!!!!!! =)

there is a whole playlist devoted to songs to listen to while walking to and from classes. this one in particular has been on repeat:

these survey things are really making their way around. and i got tagged for this as well.

the countries that i've been to overseas are south korea, kazakhstan, italy, france, germany, and switzerland. kazakhstan is the only place that i've been to recently and for a substantial amount of time so most of the stuff will be about kazakhstan.

1. spontaneity. if you know me, you'd know that i am not a spontaneous person. but something about being removed from my comfort zone and being displaced makes me more free.

2. the people. especially in karaganda where everyone spoke their native language and didn't understand a single drop of english. seems more real that way. but anyway, take away the fact that you can speak the same language and it all comes down to body language, facial expressions, hand gestures, etc. Work on these because it will help your everyday conversation as well.

3. seeing kazakh women wear tight, bright yellow pants in 3.5inch red heels.

4. lack of humidity in kazakhstan. oh, how i abhor humidity.

5. freedom to wander. i still feel like i have a freedom to wander here in the u.s. like when i explore downtown chicago, i don't mind walking around by myself (during daylight, of course) and finding myself at odd places. but something inherent says that i shouldn't be doing that and do something "productive" intsead.

6. sloooooooooooooow down. esp. in kazakhstan, we walked everywhere. we didn't have a car. we had to wait for the bus. we had to carry our groceries. we didn't always have the internet. the pace of life was so slow. but i loved it. my life wasn't "cluttered" with a things-to-do list. it wasn't jammed with places to be and meetings to attend. i could take my time shopping, reading the Word in the morning, even sleeping!

7. Confusing Kazakh with Russian or the other way around rather.

8. Not being afraid to use the camera. People look at me funny when I take out my camera on campus or around my house. like i'm being creepy or something. but it's not that! i just like to document, i suppose.

9. hearing "meess oh-duh-ree"

10. going to the bazaaaaaaaaaar

11. not knowing. this, similar to #1 is the beauty of being outside the comfort zone. just freedom. altho i don't want too much of not knowing, being in kazakhstan esp. had just the right dose of the unknown.

12. the FOOD. not american processed food. i even tried horsemilk and horse jerky while i was in kazakhstan. the cheese and chocolates just tasted richer. or maybe it's all in my head. i lovvvve french bread. gelato. the plov. blinis. flat pizzas with just tomato sauce and sprinkled cheese. fresh fruit from the market. tiny strawberries the size of your toes.

13. lonnnng summer nights in kazakhstan. if you didn't know, the sun doesn't fully set in kazakhstan until about 10:30pm or 11:00pm. it's so awesome. because if the lights go out around 9pm don't worry about it! there's still daylight for another hour or so.

14. electricity and water going out. the first time was around 8pm i think. it was actually good because i realized how much i depended on it. i remember looking out the window to the center of the apartment complex and there were so many children playing around. even w.o electricity, they could have fun. why couldn't we? i remember a second time the lights went out, the other two teachers and i went for a walk around the neighboring apartment buildings and watched the sun set. it was quite memorable. and by the time we got back, the electricity was still out.. but none of us seemed to mind.

15. partaking in their customs/traditions: whether it be cultural/religious rituals, drinking tea and eating cookies between classes, carrying brightly colored bags, etc.

16. marveling at God's creation and thanking Him for the opportunity to experience it.

i wish i were an artist.
i have so many... "visions" if you will.
and i don't know how to express 'em.
maybe i'm just too lazy to really learn photoshop/illustrator. haha.
but even drawing. i wish i were gifted in that area.
how am i supposed to express what i see?

o well.
somebody wanna be my full-time artist? =D

"The elements of museography (art history) are highly coded rhetorical tropes that actively "read," compose, and allegorize the past (rather than simply reflect a preexisting past). Museological allegories constitute the verisimilitudes of museography. Art history as board game of causalities, perhaps; and a never-ending one. It is the game's hidden end point which has the most powerful explanatory power, as an ideal limit in which it may be imagined that all things will be revealed."

--from Donald Preziosi's "Museology and Museography"

The latter half of this quote totally defines why I love art history. the hidden end point... makes me wanna read more! Which is shocking because if you saw me in the 3rd grade.. you never woudl have found me with a book. I think it was my way of rebelilng against my parents for making me come to America and learn this new language. But anyway, I digress. The point is, I can't get enough of learning about art.. from all sorts of angles: sociohistorical, economic, biographical, visual culture, conservation, etc. Just think about how many works of art there are. And then think about how many different aproaches there are. Think about how many artists and their works that are still unexplored. It's unending!!! Kind of frustrating when you think about it too much, but it always gives me motivation to keep on reading (even tho my comprehension is low) and writing (even though I have a long way to go in this field as well).

And in a way, this is like the Christian walk, too. EXCEPT we know the end point. It's not hidden for us. I really enjoyed last night's Bible Study. We studied Colossians 1:15-29.

It keeps on talking about this mystery that was hidden for ages... but now it is disclosed to all. We know the hope and the glory that awaits us in heaven.

Now this would be frustrating if we didn't know the ending. We'd be living all our lives trying to make sense out of nothing.

large group tonight! whoo-hoo!!

The retreat was amazing. I say this after every retreat I go to... but I honestly believe that this is the best retreat I've attended. Why? Because God broke me down so hard that I couldn't pick myself up. And three friends had to intercede for me on my behalf and pick me back up, embrace me into the community, and assure me that I only need to please God. that is true community.

Even in my mistakes, failures, and unpreparedness, God used it for good. Even in free time, mealtimes, and the mornings, He used it for good.

Here are some pictures that I took.. but the rest are here. Feel free to comment!

inspired by one of the powerpoint backgrounds =)

encouragement bags!!

janice, me, hannah

of course, basketball!

Jesus, my heart must know, I'm pleasing to You...