The Abts

Let us all pray for Devon, Jud, Jim, and all other family and friends who are mourning the death of Beth Abts. Let us remember Beth's life and let us surround Devon with comfort and support and listening ears. Hoping you all are well.
Heather

Get there??? I got there!

Well, I case you were waiting to actually "get there," learn from someone who actually "got there" and did it with God on his side in His own backyard!

Career aspirations...?

I remember writing a journal entry in my creative writing class my senior year of highschool of all the things I wanted to "be" when I grew up. Short of astronaut, everything's there -- I dug up the old journal entry (after looking through a dozen of my old, dusty journals).

*Scientist (I don't speficy which science)
*Anthropologist ("So I can travel to distant countries and live in primative cultures." -- I cringed as I typed that)
*Sociologist ("So I can evaluate social groups and write a book about it." -- this one is the most probable, I think)
*Psychologist (following in my dad's footsteps, perhaps?)
*Highschool English teacher
*Highschool theatre teacher ("So I can be the next Mr Hulan.")
*Linguist ("So I can travel to archeological digs and translate old, archaic texts." -- There was a while there when I was totally convinced I was going to study linguistics in college.)
*Wycliffe Bible Translator ("So I can travel to South America and live with native tribes..." -- I remember this faze well.)
*Priest (something about wanting to "defy social standards while serving God" -- not exactly the best motivation to go into the ministry.)
*Sociology professor (bizarre....because this has been a real, recent thought.)
*Photographer ("So I can take pictures of children around the world.")
*Radio DJ (This explanation is priceless -- "So I can have a nation-wide Christian rock station.")
*Stage director (something about "creating a play.")
*Actress ("So I can perform on Broadway.)
*Singer/songwriter (goes without saying, I guess).
*Senator (another priceless gem from my heavy-duty Evangelical days -- "So I can make Godly legislation.")

It's a bit more understandable why my mother is worried about me and the direction my life will take. I have a lot of lofty ambitions, but these rarely take shape. Grant it, I was 18 when I wrote that entry, and my head is somewhat out of the clouds now, but I still have lofty ideas. I've thought more seriously about becoming a professor, becoming ordained, working in some capacity with the Church, becoming a therapist/psychologist, doing aids work/community development overseas, writing and teaching, doing research, mentoring and counseling. I guess that means I can cross off actress and singer/songwriter. And radio DJ. But what can I add on? Could I really be a professor or a writer? I don't have the attention span for that (then again, my favorite professor has the attention span of a gnat and he does alright). Could I really be a therapist, when I'm already prone to taking on the burdens of the world? Could I deal with the hardships of development work in post-communist Eastern Europe, in resource-scarce East Africa? Could I stand in front of a congregation and break the bread when I know my heart is black as soot?

Get there. Get there.

i promise this is not the cover of my first book


something with substance soon....
;)
-ray grewe

Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front

I found this poem on Stina Kielsmeier's blog. She studies in Cairo and we often meet eachother unexcpectedly in random places in Cairo but also go to the same church. She is doing some excellent work with her refugee studies. Check out her blog: http://study-cairo.blogspot.com/ Here is a sweet poem by Wendell:

Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front
by Wendell Berry

Love the quick profit, the annual raise,vacation with pay.
Want more of everything ready-made.
Be afraid to know your neighbors and to die.
And you will have a window in your head.
Not even your future will be a mystery any more.
Your mind will be punched in a card and shut away in a little drawer.
When they want you to buy something they will call you.
When they want you to die for profit they will let you know.
So, friends, every day do something that won't compute.
Love the Lord. Love the world. Work for nothing.
Take all that you have and be poor.
Love someone who does not deserve it.
Denounce the government and embracethe flag.
Hope to live in that free republic for which it stands.
Give your approval to all you cannot understand.
Praise ignorance, for what man has not encountered he has not destroyed.
Ask the questions that have no answers.
Invest in the millenium. Plant sequoias.
Say that your main crop is the forest that you
did not plant, that you will not live to harvest.
Say that the leaves are harvested when they
have rotted into the mold. Call that profit.
Prophesy such returns. Put your faith in
the two inches of humus that will build
under the trees every thousand years.
Listen to carrion -- put your ear close, and hear
the faint chattering of the songs that are to come.
Expect the end of the world. Laugh.
Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful though
you have considered all the facts.
So long as women do not go cheap for power,
please women more than men.
Ask yourself: Will this satisfy a woman satisfied to bear a child?
Will this disturb the sleep of a woman near to giving birth?
Go with your love to the fields. Lie down in the shade.
Rest your head in her lap.
Swear allegiance to what is nighest your thoughts.
As soon as the generals and the politicos can predict
the motions of your mind, lose it.
Leave it as a sign to mark the false trail, the way you didn't go.
Be like the fox who makes more tracks than necessary,
some in the wrong direction.
Practice resurrection.

Its a Sheesha, not a Bong!

Hey friends.
I have endured the 22 hour flight back to the States, honestly declared my few possessions to the customs police (the sheesha I bought for Evan gave me a bit of a hangup...Son, have you ever smoked pot? What is this bong for then?)
Anyway, I am home, for a few weeks, and then I will jourbey back to Egypt for the summer. I was originally planning on studying arabic pretty intensely but have now accepted a chance to intern at the Arab League which fell into my lap accidently. Our director wanted to get students/alumni to have the chance to work in the political structures of the Middle East and the A.L. offers summer internships. We organized one but only found out about it after our students left so I was the remaining candidate. It should be intersting to say the least. I might have a chance to work either in the NGO, Aid relief, or disabilities branch. This would be awesome not just because I would work with Egyptians and other Arabs and speak arabic-english but also because I could really get the top-down perspective on working for these areas of social issues. My only hold ups about this opportunity is that the Arab League really hasn't done too much to help the people like the AU or EU have, the organization is littered with a papertrail of overpaid officials, and there is always the chance that I will become what is better known as a "gerbel". I don't mind test piloting a new opportunity but hopefully I will be given some sort of purpose or responsibilities greater than photocopying and folder filing.
Anyway, I am in NH and MA for the time being, life is good. America is such a great country with so many grat freedoms. I do emphasize this though repeat the fact that great responsiblity comes with great freedom and this is where we drop the ball. But all and all, life here is great, especially when you can have your bong and smoke it too.
Much love friends, be well, I will see most of you soon.

Steve

Feeling at home...

Well...I felt like it was finally time to add some thoughts to this page again. First let me say, yes to Steve and Lex. Totally agree with your thoughts on the VTech incident. Man you guys have some great thoughts! It only makes me miss being around you guys that much more. And Heather...you definitely have a full-time job, and a full-time life...but I have no doubt in you, because you have proven to be one of the most capable people I know...as all of our friends are.

Things are well down here in Tampa, and as I've titled this entry, it's actually starting to feel like home. Up until recently Tampa just felt like the place I lived in because I was in school here. But things have started to change...I can actually say that I like it. Not only have a developed a great group of friends, but I've also found a wonderful episcopal church that is very connected to the house population down here. It is not uncommon and actually a regular Sunday thing, to have your typical church going congregant, all dressed up with their hair done well, and a homeless guy kneeling at the alter together, sitting together, singing together, and having coffee together afterwords. I really love the church and am glad to be back in my episcopal home. The rector is great as well! I'm still leading the Friday night service at my dad's church, and that service is still growing and in popular demand, but I no longer attend there on Sundays. Geoff, my dad, totally understands and is just glad that I've found a place I really enjoy. I also just moved into my own place!!! So now you guys definitely have to come down for a visit. Well, I'm not totally on my own. My friend Bryan has moved in with me, but we're having a ton of fun. We've got a pool and we're two blocks from the bay. It's in a great location and I actually can bike almost every where. In fact the only times I use my car are to get to school and the grocery store...trying to reduce my carbon footprint! The people in my office think it's kind of funny but they've gotten use to seeing me walk into the office with my bike over my shoulder.

So, yeah, Tampa is starting to feel like home. Never thought I would have said that. Definitely don't see myself here for the long haul, but at least until school is over, which will probably be another year and a half to two years.

Blessings all and I love reading all your updates. Know that you are loved and prayed for. Samuel