Monday, May 26, 2008

Leaving a Legacy

In the past few months, I've been able to see a pattern of how I operate, and the things that really make me who I am. It's been interesting, because I've never seen it as strong in myself as I have recently, though as I look back on the last 26 years of my life, I see it weaved throughout my past. I am a fighter. I fight for things that are right, I fight for people I love, I fight for friendships I care about, I fight for what I believe in. Things that are important to me, things that I care about: these are the things I'm willing to spend the rest of my life trying to make right, in whatever capacity needed and possible. And I'm struck with this thought:
what if everyone fought for things that were important to them?

We spent our entire lives fighting to make wrong things right? We stopped caring about material wealth, and started caring about millions of people all over the world who have no access to clean water. That we would start caring about the millions of young girls who are sold into sex trafficking each year. Or that we would care about the people who live in our own city, who live in poverty because of the circumstances of their life? A few weeks ago, I was sitting on the front porch with a friend of mine who looked me in the eye, and asked me this: "Why Africa? Why not Kansas City?" And let me assure you, this question still haunts me. It causes me to look at my life, and wonder what I can do to make sure that I'm fighting for people around me. This friend has no issues with me going to Africa, but it's clear that her heart is about here. And shouldn't mine be, too? It's incredibly beautiful that I have an opportunity to spend the summer in Ethiopia, and I hope to continue going back to Zeway over and over again, but there are at least nine months out of the year that I'm in Kansas City - and what am I doing here? Is it enough? Not enough by my standards - but enough to really make a difference in the life of one person. Am I spending my energies fighting for those that live in poverty, for those that live under the bridge at I-35 and West Penway, for those that just need a meal? Or am I consuming my energies in myself? Let me assure you - these are incredibly overwhelming thoughts and questions, but I believe if we dare to entertain them, and even more so dare to act on them - we will begin to see not only our lives radically change, but those lives that we are fighting for will begin to be different. And as we only hope it could, an entire domino effect could begin around our city, around our nation, and eventually, around our world. I am called - WE are called - to be difference makers. Whether that is as a christian or humanitarian, there is a world out there who need us to begin the fight. Who need us to stand up for them, who need us to live radically different than everyone else. I don't know about you, but I want to leave a legacy that means something for generations to come.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Flying Time

I leave for Ethiopia one month from today! I can't believe how quickly time has passed - it seems like only yesterday I was sitting in Dunn Bros with our Food for the Hungry rep, expressing my interest in this trip, and wondering if it were even possible. Since then, things have been happening so fast. When I began raising support, the countdown was somewhere around 150 days. Now, 120 days later, life is quickly passing by, and my heart grows more and more excited to live in community with the people of Zeway. There have been times in the past few days where I've sat in utter amazement at the ways God is using this trip, both in my life, and in the lives of friends around me - and it's all happening before the trip. I'm not ready to be back, but I can't wait to see how He continues to use it after it's all over.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Little Things

On the desktop of my computer, I have two weather widgets. One is for Kansas City, and the other is for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I just looked over at it, and realized that the highs and lows for both cities today were the same, as well as the current temperature. I love that even the little things like weather can cause me to sit here and smile.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Partly Cloudy
65 °F
Partly Cloudy


Kansas City, Missouri
Mostly Cloudy
65 °F
Mostly Cloudy

Friday, May 9, 2008

Days Go By

I must admit, I like the facebook counter better - it tells me I only have 41 days left, rather than the 42 on this one. In either case - I can't believe there are only 40-something days until I leave for Zeway. The time has flown by so fast! Support is continuing to trickle in - I have currently raised a little over $2800. My budget is set at $3,700, so I still have $900 to go. I have debated on posting anything about how to financially support me on the blog, but I have finally decided to do it. I know that there are people that didn't get a letter, but want to support me, or hopefully people have caught the vision and excitement of my trip through reading the blog, and want to give. In either way, if you want to support me financially, here's where to send it:

Heartland Community Church
c/o HEMI* - Becky Miles/Ethiopia
8301 Lamar Ave.
Overland Park, KS. 66207

If you send $$ via check, please put Becky Miles/Ethiopia in the memo line. If you'd like a copy of my actual support letter, feel free to post a comment or email me asking for it!

*HEMI is the missions mobilization ministry of Heartland Community Church in Overland Park, Kansas. Funds that we raise for HEMI are used to cover expenses directly related to our trip and to help further the overall ministry of HEMI.

Your gifts are tax deductible, as allowed by law.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Food for the Hungry


check out this ROCKSTAR video!!! Made for Food for the Hungry's Community to Community (C2C) partnership, it describes what our church here in Kansas City is doing to partner with our community in Zeway, Ethiopia. The video captures footage from our trip in 2007, as well as hearing interviews by our trip leaders, Alissa & Jordanne, and our worship leader, Jon. It's definitely worth the three minutes it takes to watch it. Major props to Mike Varel Media for creating such an incredible video!