Instillers and parents,
Our summer has started with a bang with the Messy Olympics, All-Night Extravaganza and so far two Ozark Mission Projects just in the month of June. We also have had a kick off for Summer Sizzle Sundays and our summer sermon series Flip Flop Faith. This summer we are talking all about Faith; we began talking about what our faith is comprised off: scripture, experience, community, worship, tradition, and service. We will continue talking about faith throughout the summer.
I love summer so much, but in student ministries a lot of what happens in the summer is planning and preparing for the fall. I have been in prayer about where God is visioning student ministries to go this year. Our power team has already met and planned out some amazing sermon series that have the power to transform the lives of our students. Check out all the dates for the summer sermon series and all the other events taking place in July and August.
God’s vision for Instill 4:12 Student Ministries is that it is a place of movement. In God’s vision and power, we plan to take Instill 4:12 to a new place by this time next year. We believe God’s vision incorporates all areas of our ministry including worship, service, and relationships both with God and our friends. With this in mind, we are hoping two things from you. First is that you will join us August 28th for Vision Night. All families of First Church are invited to attend this night. Second, we ask that you be in continual prayer about what your commitment will be for Student Ministry this year. We would like to challenge everyone to volunteer in some way for Student Ministries. Student Ministry needs a strong volunteer base in order to be successful in working towards the vision that God has laid out. We want everyone at First Church to be connected to this amazing ministry where God is moving and changing lives.
Finally, the power team and I would like to request continual prayers as we continually plan for this school year. We want every event to in some way add to the movement that God is bringing to Instill 4:12.
In grace abundant,
Alli Kemp
Mystery Tour
Mystery tour is August 2-8th!
1) How do I sign up for Mystery Tour?
This year we are going through Little Rock Tours for Mystery Tour. Therefore, there are two ways to sign up, both of which are online. The first way is directly through Little Rock Tours through this website:
http://www.eventureamerica.com/conferences/details.aspx?id=130
Using this method, you have to pay with a credit card and you must pay the whole price all at once.
The second way to sign up is through the First Church Maumelle Registration Site:
https://secure.accessacs.com/access/memberlogin.aspx?sn=108721
Using the maumelle website you can pay installments until July 24th.
2) What is the cost?
The cost of Mystery Tour is $575. You now might be asking why is it so expensive, and the answer is expansive. We are taking chartered buses, because last year our church vans proved to not be so reliable in the long distance. Also, breakfast and dinner is included in the price. The out of pocket expense when your student arrives will be lunch each day and souveniers. The trip is really amazing and will be completely worth the money spent.
3) Who can go to Mystery Tour?
All students entering 7-12th grade are able to attend Mystery Tour. Also, we need parent volunteers for this trip. The trip will be fun for all ages. Parent volunteers will have to pay to attend, but we know that you will have a great time meeting new parents and the trip will be just as fun for you.
4) Are there any scholarships?
We will not have any scholarships for Mystery Tour. However, at each Summer Sizzle we will have give aways for small amount coupons for Mystery Tour. So come to summer sizzle at 6:30 on Sunday and you might win a small coupon for Mystery Tour.
5) Are we doing any fund raisers?
Yes, we will be doing fund raisers. Keep watch out in your email and texts for fund raiser dates.
WE NEED YOU TO SIGN UP ASAP because Little Rock Tours is trying to stay in contact with us and work out all the details and the better idea they have of how many people going the better they can plan for our trip.
Also you can sign up by calling Alli Mon-Thursday from 9-5 at 5014549858 or 5018512377. Or emailing Alli at alli@fumcmaumelle.org. You can also reach me at these places for any further questions.
Ozark Mission Project
First Church Maumelle will send a total of 54 youth and 14 adults to Ozark Mission Project this summer. As you are receiving this newsletter, one group is in Hot Springs working with neighbors from the area; fixing porches, painting houses, building wheel chair ramps. Ozark Mission Project is truly an amazing opportunity for our youth and adults of our church. In an effort to send more youth to this amazing week of service, we have discounted the price for the students. If you would be interested in ponsoring a student that went or will be going to Ozark Mission Project 2011, please contact the church office at 501.851.2377. In sponsoring a student, your student will send you a letter letting you know the projects that they worked on and about the neighbors that they had the pleasure to work with. Our theme this summer was Sustain from Isaiah 46:3-4, and we discussed, prayed and discovered that our God sustains us no matter circumstance. We are in continual prayer that this amazing opportunity of Ozark Mission Project for our students at First Church will be sustained, and we need sponsors, big or small, to create this experience. I hope you will join us in Ozark Mission Project, and the joy, love, and power of God that is experienced in its midst.
For Ozark Mission Project 2012, we will begin taking sponsors this coming September.
4:12 Ministries Under Construction
Beginning August 9th and lasting through August 27th, 4:12 Ministries will be undergoing a facelift of many sorts. During this time, the church areas connected with children and student ministry will be cleaned, organized, fixed, rearranged and made ready for the upcoming school year. We will then kickoff the school year August 28th with Vision Night! WE NEED YOUR HELP. Please sign up for a day or afternoon that you can join us in 4:12 Ministries Under Construction. Contact Michele or Alli at 501.851.2377 Monday-Thursday from 9-5.
Summer Sizzle
Summer Sizzle will continue through the month of July and August on July 10th, July 17th, and August 14th. Join us on these Sundays for our sermon series Flip Flop Faith at 6:30 pm in the Instillary.
Text Messaging
Our main method of communication in Student Ministry is through Text Messaging so if you want to receive texts from Instill 4:12 email your number, name and service provider to alli@fumcmaumelle.org.
Volunteers for the Fall
We are beginning sign ups for Volunteers for the Fall for Student Ministry. If you are interested in volunteering, please email alli@fumcmaumelle.org and she will send you an email with Job Description.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
June Newsletter
From the Instillary…..
Students, Families, Parents and Friends,
Everyone is finishing up with school and summer is here! We have so many exciting plans this summer and I have already started packing for all the fun adventures.
I know that many people take family vacations and have fun lake trips throughout the summer, but please keep you ears and eyes open about what happening this summer.
This summer we will meet on Sunday night at 6:30 with 7-12th grade. There are some Sundays that we will not meet so included in this newletter are the list of Sundays that we will be meeting. Our summer sermon series is “Flip Flop Faith”.
I will be praying for you and your families this summer as you travel, soak in some sun, enjoy the pool and the lake and grow closer to God’s goodness.
In grace abundant,
Alli Kemp
Summer Sizzle Kick-off Messy Olympics
Ready to kick off the best summer ever?! Well if you are, join us Sunday June 5th from 2-4 in the church parking lot. Wear clothes you don’t mind throwing away, bring some friends, and lets have a messy ole time!
Last Jump of the School Year
Join us June 5th from 6:30-8:30 for the last Jump of the year. We will have one last amazing message from our Instill Class of 2011 in our Stuck like Glue Sermon Series and we are ready to worship!
Summer Sizzle
Summer Sizzle is what we call all of our amazing summer events. Be sure you are signed up for Ozark Mission Project and Mystery Tour. Also, join us on Sunday nights (that we are not out of town) for worship and a great summer message. Our summer series is called Flip Flop Faith, and our first sermon will be “Cheeseburger in Paradise”.
Our first Summer Sizzle Sunday Night is June 19th 6:30-8:30. We will have dinner available for $5 from 6:30-7:15 and we will of course be having cheeseburgers.
All Night Extravaganza
Everyone needs to sign up for this amazing night of fun June 24th-June 25th. The night will start at 6:00pm and last until 6:00am. The cost is just $75 and includes fun at Playtime Pizza and Cars II at Rave Motion Pictures. We will also be having a junk food buffet!
Ozark Mission Project Training Days
The following are a list of Ozark Mission Project training days. Everyone must attend a training day in order to attend OMP (even if you have been before):
June 8th- 9-11
June 10th- 9-11
June 11th-9-11
June 22- 9-11, 1-3
June 25- 9-11, 1-3
July 3rd-1-3
If for some reason you cannot make any of these training days, call Alli will schedule a 1 on 1 training day for you. Alli 501.454.9858
Summer Sizzle Dates
June 19th
June 26th
July 10th
July 17th
July 31st
August 14th
August 21st
Students, Families, Parents and Friends,
Everyone is finishing up with school and summer is here! We have so many exciting plans this summer and I have already started packing for all the fun adventures.
I know that many people take family vacations and have fun lake trips throughout the summer, but please keep you ears and eyes open about what happening this summer.
This summer we will meet on Sunday night at 6:30 with 7-12th grade. There are some Sundays that we will not meet so included in this newletter are the list of Sundays that we will be meeting. Our summer sermon series is “Flip Flop Faith”.
I will be praying for you and your families this summer as you travel, soak in some sun, enjoy the pool and the lake and grow closer to God’s goodness.
In grace abundant,
Alli Kemp
Summer Sizzle Kick-off Messy Olympics
Ready to kick off the best summer ever?! Well if you are, join us Sunday June 5th from 2-4 in the church parking lot. Wear clothes you don’t mind throwing away, bring some friends, and lets have a messy ole time!
Last Jump of the School Year
Join us June 5th from 6:30-8:30 for the last Jump of the year. We will have one last amazing message from our Instill Class of 2011 in our Stuck like Glue Sermon Series and we are ready to worship!
Summer Sizzle
Summer Sizzle is what we call all of our amazing summer events. Be sure you are signed up for Ozark Mission Project and Mystery Tour. Also, join us on Sunday nights (that we are not out of town) for worship and a great summer message. Our summer series is called Flip Flop Faith, and our first sermon will be “Cheeseburger in Paradise”.
Our first Summer Sizzle Sunday Night is June 19th 6:30-8:30. We will have dinner available for $5 from 6:30-7:15 and we will of course be having cheeseburgers.
All Night Extravaganza
Everyone needs to sign up for this amazing night of fun June 24th-June 25th. The night will start at 6:00pm and last until 6:00am. The cost is just $75 and includes fun at Playtime Pizza and Cars II at Rave Motion Pictures. We will also be having a junk food buffet!
Ozark Mission Project Training Days
The following are a list of Ozark Mission Project training days. Everyone must attend a training day in order to attend OMP (even if you have been before):
June 8th- 9-11
June 10th- 9-11
June 11th-9-11
June 22- 9-11, 1-3
June 25- 9-11, 1-3
July 3rd-1-3
If for some reason you cannot make any of these training days, call Alli will schedule a 1 on 1 training day for you. Alli 501.454.9858
Summer Sizzle Dates
June 19th
June 26th
July 10th
July 17th
July 31st
August 14th
August 21st
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Mission Opportunity
Today!
Saturday, April 30
As many of you know, one of our neighboring church's was destroyed by this week's tornado. The church building is a total loss and the graveyard next door has extensive damage. This morning, their congregation is there trying to clean up the grave yard and remove the debris from the church. THEY NEED OUR HELP! Please join us this morning and help our neighbors begin the process of rebuilding.
Bring your gloves, chain saws, trailers, trash bags, etc. The church is located on Hwy 365 north directly across the street from Palarm Liquor, and Sody's Liquor Store. Let's BE the church that God has called us to be today!
Saturday, April 30
As many of you know, one of our neighboring church's was destroyed by this week's tornado. The church building is a total loss and the graveyard next door has extensive damage. This morning, their congregation is there trying to clean up the grave yard and remove the debris from the church. THEY NEED OUR HELP! Please join us this morning and help our neighbors begin the process of rebuilding.
Bring your gloves, chain saws, trailers, trash bags, etc. The church is located on Hwy 365 north directly across the street from Palarm Liquor, and Sody's Liquor Store. Let's BE the church that God has called us to be today!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
from THE INSTILLARY
FIRST AND FOREMOST: The youth room has officially changed its name to THE INSTILLARY
This Sunday is Senior Sunday. Come celebrate our amazing Instill Class of 2011 with us at 9:30 in the Family Life Center!
Get the 4.1.1 on Instill 4:12
Summer is almost here and we want to make sure we can stay in touch with you! Get plugged in to one of these “Top 4 ways to communicate with Instill 4:12”:
1) TWITTER: Follow @instill412 or @allikemp for constant updates on Instill 4:12
2) FACEBOOK: Become a fan of both Instill 4:12 and First United Methodist Pages and check their newsfeed.
3) BLOGSPOT: Follow allimkemp.blogspot.com.
4) EMAIL: Starting May 2nd. Weekly INSTILL 4:12 Emails will be sent out about upcoming events. Sign up at the front desk today for these weekly emails
BONUS: Check out the bulletin every week for exciting new updates!
Morning with Mom
May 7th from 9-10:30, 4:12 Ministries is hosting Morning with Mom. The cost if $5 per person and reservations can be made at the front desk. Breakfast will be served. There will be door prizes, crafts and surprise entertainment.
Summer Sizzle Registration
All summer sizzle registration is online! Jr High OMP sign up deadline is May 12th so please hurry and register! All of these events are going to be awesome so don’t forget to sign up!
Stuck Like Glue
Stuck Like Glue sermon series starts tonight May 1st at 6:30 pm in the Youth Room for [SR]High and Wednesday May 4th for [JR]High. COME WORSHIP and HEAR A GREAT MESSAGE EACH WEEK THIS MONTH!! Also, there is an Instill 4:12 Family Scripture Guide for Stuck Like Glue Series. The messages this month will be rooted in Isaiah 43:1-7.
Bags-R-Packed Fund Raiser
We are hosting our last Honduras Fund Raiser next week May 8th. We will be collecting money and supplies for our trip to Honduras to House of Hope. Suitcases will be placed in the main lobby of the church where supplies and money may be given to the Honduras Mission Team. Please be in prayer this week about making a donation to this mission team.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Instill 4:12 May Newsletter
Instill 4:12 and Families,
April has been an amazing month of service and community. We started with Madhouse and have continued to grow in our understanding of being the church throughout this month.
As May begins, I ask that you continue to be in prayer with us as we enter into a series called “Stuck Like Glue”. In this sermon series, we will be talking about sticky faith. The glue of sticky faith is comprised of scripture and our identity. Scripture, or God’s word, allows us to continually be connected with God and grow in our understanding of who God is and what God wants for our lives, or our callings. Our identity is continually being changed, but one thing that is for sure is that from scripture we can gain a more complete understanding of who we are by gaining a deeper understanding of who God is. So this month, the Instill Class of 2011 will be preaching what it means for them to be “Stuck Like Glue”. However, we want this message of scripture and identity to not end at church. We are asking that all Instill 4:12 families will covenant with us this month to study scripture and learn about God’s vision for our identity. In order to make this simple and enjoyable, we have provided a list of scripturally based identities with bible passages connected to them. We ask that you and your family make a commitment to plan out when you will read these scriptures and further understand God’s identity for our lives.
There is also a list of calendared events listed below as a reminder of all the Instill 4:12 activities we have planned for the months of May, June, July and August.
In Grace Abundant,
Alli Kemp
Instill 4:12 May – Stuck Like Glue Family Guide
God’s Vision for My Identity
Below is a list of names that describe God’s vision for your identity from Scripture. Some of them may make you uncomfortable. Some of them may make you laugh. Good. Take time as you’re reading to hear God say them about you, and about the Church.
Image of God Genesis 1:26
God’s Delight Isaiah 62:4
The Redeemed of the Lord Isaiah 62:12
Sought Out/Desirable Isaiah 62:12
Not Forsaken Isaiah 62:12
Salt of the earth Matthew 5:13
Light of the world Matthew 5:14, Ephesians 5:8
Beloved John 15:9
Temple of the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19-20
New Creation 2 Corinthians 5:17
Chosen 1 Peter 2:9
Royal Priest 1 Peter 2:9
The Holy People/Nation 1 Peter 2:9, Isaiah 62:12
Child of God 1 John 3:1, Galatians 3:26
Bride of Christ/God Revelation 19:7,8
UNITED NIGHT WORKSHEET Identity That Sticks
Imagine yourself a year from now. Write down words or phrases that describe who you hope to be in the following areas…
In my relationship with God, I want to be…
In my relationship with my family, I want to be…
In my relationship with current friends, I want to be…
In my relationship with new friends, I want to be…
In the way I think and feel about myself, I want to be…
In my job or studies, I want to be…
Based on the words and phrases you’ve jotted above, write a 3-5 sentence description of who you want to be a year from now:
A year from now I want to be…
May 2011– Stuck Like Glue Sermon Series
1-Senior Sunday; No Sunday School; Jump 6:30 pm
4-Lift 6:30 pm
6- 4:12 Ministries Morning with Mom 9:00-10:30 $5 per person
8-Mothers Day; Jump 6:30 pm
11- Lift 6:30 pm
13-14 Relay for Life
15- No Sunday School; Confirmation Sunday
18- Lift 6:30 pm
20-28- Honduras
22 – Jump 6:30 pm
25- Lift 6:30 pm
29- No Jump; Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon 12-1:30 pm
June 2011– Flip Flop Faith Sermon Series
1-Movies in the Park TBA
5-SUMMER SIZZLE KICKOFF 7-12th MESSY OLYMPICS 2-4 pm
12-16-OMP JR HIGH
18-4:12 Ministries Father/Daughter Crazy Cotillion 7-9 pm
19-SUMMER SIZZLE 6:30-8:30 pm
22-Movies in the Park TBA
24-25 All night EXTRAVAGANZA- Dropoff – 6:30 pm– Pickup 6:30 am Church 7-12th
26-2 OMP SR High
July 2011– Flip Flop Faith Sermon Series
3-No Sunday School; No Summer Sizzle
4- 4:12 Ministries Maumelle Parade Float TBD
6-Movies in the Park TBA
7- Travelers Baseball Game Meet at the Church 6 pm
10-16 OMP SR High
17-Last Day to Register for Mystery Tour
21-23 VBS Work Day- Instill 4:12 Volunteers Needed
23– VBS Volunteer Meeting 3pm
24-VBS Begins at 6:00-8:30
24-29 VBS 6:00- 8:30 Instill 4:12 Volunteers Needed
30- VBS Cleanup day
31- SUMMER SIZZLE 6:30
August 2011– Flip Flop Faith Summer Sermon Series
2-8 Mystery Tour
9- 20 4:12 Ministries Under Construction Volunteers Needed
21- Last Summer Sizzle 6:30- 8 pm; Volunteer Training 2-4 pm Location TBA
28- Vision Night 2011-2012 5 pm; FLY MISSION TRAINING 9-12th 7 pm
Sunday School – 7th-8th- 9:30-10:30 Every Sunday unless stated otherwise
Jump– Sunday Nights- 6:30-8:30
Lift– Wednesday- 6:30- 8
Fall 2011 Preview
September 4th- No Sunday School
September 9th- 2nd Annual Wacky Tacky Back to School Night
September 10th- Back to Sunday School Bash
September 11th- First Sunday School
September 11th First Jump
September 15th- First Lift
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Oh May Oh MY!
Instill 4:12
May is going to be an amazing month and I just want to keep you updated on all the things we have coming up!
APRIL 27th is UNITED NIGHT
May 1st starts our new Sermon Series " Stuck Like Glue". We are talking about how God's love has nothing to do with circumstances and that we are loved through situations with a love that sticks to us like Glue. I am chilled by the power that God has placed on this sermon series has to share God's amazing grace and love. We have been praying about this sermon series since January and we hope that you will pray with us as we continue to prepare for it.
SUNDAY AM
1) May 1ST IS SENIOR SUNDAY! 9:30 SERVICE IN THE FAMILY LIFE CENTER.
2) MAY 8TH IS MOTHERS DAY! WE ARE HAVING MORNING with Mom day on May 7th from 9-10:30
3) May 15th is Confirmation Sunday (No Sunday School)
4) May 22nd. I will be in Honduras. Please pray for the group as we prepare for this amazing adventure.
May is going to be an amazing month and I just want to keep you updated on all the things we have coming up!
APRIL 27th is UNITED NIGHT
May 1st starts our new Sermon Series " Stuck Like Glue". We are talking about how God's love has nothing to do with circumstances and that we are loved through situations with a love that sticks to us like Glue. I am chilled by the power that God has placed on this sermon series has to share God's amazing grace and love. We have been praying about this sermon series since January and we hope that you will pray with us as we continue to prepare for it.
SUNDAY AM
1) May 1ST IS SENIOR SUNDAY! 9:30 SERVICE IN THE FAMILY LIFE CENTER.
2) MAY 8TH IS MOTHERS DAY! WE ARE HAVING MORNING with Mom day on May 7th from 9-10:30
3) May 15th is Confirmation Sunday (No Sunday School)
4) May 22nd. I will be in Honduras. Please pray for the group as we prepare for this amazing adventure.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Transparent
Quickly enough the days often turn over into nights and nights into days. And yet our overwhelming thoughts that turn in our heads just create for one lump sum of time in which things are stagnant and overwhelmingly transparent. They spew from us like liquid truth. When we are alone we can often clean up the mess and hide the remnants. But the truth is, we all spew and those truly amazing people in our lives are the ones that can be transparent with us.
Spew: We pray over and over for a break in the consequences and yet despite our best effort to please we are overwhelmed with the reality that we screw up. We are left with our shame, our guilt and again our minds with no comfort to speak of. Why does life have to be so prize seeking? From diplomas to rings to the big checks, we are all after something. Yet when we meet people who are seeking an alternative goal we are quick to run fr them because they might be in our way to the goal we are currently after. Sometimes goals are stereotyped to our age and gender, so much so that people will run from just the thought if what we might be after. Get over yourselves. I am here to live my life not according to your rules. Yes I am lonely but I do not want your ring. I want your company. I want your honesty. I want your hand in mine on nights like this when the world is quiet and my thoughts resonate. I want fun and skating rinks. I want your company to musicals and I want to be your company to the big game. I want your kiss but then I want you to linger not in lust but in purity. I want you to long for me and wait for me. I want to give the same to you. I want to be persued. I want you to make me a priority and I want you to be my person. Give me your love. That's all I want. And I'll give you lavender.
Spew: We pray over and over for a break in the consequences and yet despite our best effort to please we are overwhelmed with the reality that we screw up. We are left with our shame, our guilt and again our minds with no comfort to speak of. Why does life have to be so prize seeking? From diplomas to rings to the big checks, we are all after something. Yet when we meet people who are seeking an alternative goal we are quick to run fr them because they might be in our way to the goal we are currently after. Sometimes goals are stereotyped to our age and gender, so much so that people will run from just the thought if what we might be after. Get over yourselves. I am here to live my life not according to your rules. Yes I am lonely but I do not want your ring. I want your company. I want your honesty. I want your hand in mine on nights like this when the world is quiet and my thoughts resonate. I want fun and skating rinks. I want your company to musicals and I want to be your company to the big game. I want your kiss but then I want you to linger not in lust but in purity. I want you to long for me and wait for me. I want to give the same to you. I want to be persued. I want you to make me a priority and I want you to be my person. Give me your love. That's all I want. And I'll give you lavender.
Monday, July 19, 2010
She stood up and it made a difference.
She put on her organic cotton top and threw her hemp bag over her shoulder. She was giving those pseudo leather mary janes a run for their money as she made her way to the bus stop. She waited patiently, because the earth was her passion. She stood up against the sign, and it made a difference in someones life.
She passed that bus stop and caught a glimpse of the lady standing with recycled pants. It touched her heart; the passion she saw and she drove to work with her on her mind.
She put up a picture of a young 12 year old face on her 9-5 desk. It was her baby sister who had been diagnosed that weekend, with a syndrome that would kill her. Its something they will face together; she made that promise last night. She put up a picture, and made a difference in someone's life.
She passed her desk and saw the innocence face. She went back to her cubical. It touched her heart; the love she saw and she drove to the hotel that night with her on her mind.
She woke that morning in her favorite place. His arms were around her, but the band of promise to another glittered in the fresh sun light. He kissed her good morning and then jumped in the shower. She got out of bed, and made a promise to her self and to his wife. She had made up her mind, so she made up the bed and slipped out the door, and made a difference in someone's life
She checked her out from Room 23 and saw the pain in her eyes. She had seen them here before and knew that this was the goodbye. It touched her heart; the sadness she saw and she clocked out of her shift with her on her mind.
She stayed up all night writing that letter. She hadn't seen her friend in years and to think what had ruined their relationship made her cry. They had met when they were three, and now at 24 she wept for what they had lost. That morning she put on her scarf and hat and ran outside to the mailbox. She held the letter with both hands and kissed it goodbye in hopes of another hello. She stayed up, and made a difference in someone's life.
She reached in her P.O Box for the very last time. Piled among the final bills, was a familiar script of her beloved friend. Tears began before she even read the words, and the bottle she held so tightly began to loosen her grip. After reading the letter, she knew she needed to make the call. She picked up the phone, said she'd like to check into their facilities, and made a difference in someone's life.
She passed by with her stroller running down the road. It touched her heart; the apology in her hand and in her voice and she kept on running with her on her mind.
She had spent all day and most of the night with her on her mind. She rolled over to her husband around 2 and whispered can we talk. He knew that this was important because normally she was like a log, and so he wiped the sleep from his eyes and listened to her words. She said she wanted to go do mission work, because she pained for the babies she saw. He said I feel this too and Ive been meaning to talk to you. She cried and he cried, and they held each other through the night. Over coffee at the bagel shop that morning the discussed their future. She woke up and it made a difference in someones life.
She passed by her while on route to her daily morning brew. She saw their hands intertwined and the calling on their lips. It touched her heart, their hands outstretched and she was on her mind while she sipped her coffee and placed her finger on James chapter five.
She stood up that following Sunday with that same book at her side. All the hers were on her mind and she decided it was time. She spoke up for them all and gave them a glimpse of Her grace. She spoke to all the yous and all the I's and she's and we's. She spoke to all the they's and even the he's and the me's.
She wanted to know that he gave up his whole life and it made a difference in someone's life. So that all the hers and all the shes can stand up, sit up, shut up, listen up, speak up, put up, wake up, stay up, chin up, write up, take up, give up, run up and live up the lives we were given that day.
She passed that bus stop and caught a glimpse of the lady standing with recycled pants. It touched her heart; the passion she saw and she drove to work with her on her mind.
She put up a picture of a young 12 year old face on her 9-5 desk. It was her baby sister who had been diagnosed that weekend, with a syndrome that would kill her. Its something they will face together; she made that promise last night. She put up a picture, and made a difference in someone's life.
She passed her desk and saw the innocence face. She went back to her cubical. It touched her heart; the love she saw and she drove to the hotel that night with her on her mind.
She woke that morning in her favorite place. His arms were around her, but the band of promise to another glittered in the fresh sun light. He kissed her good morning and then jumped in the shower. She got out of bed, and made a promise to her self and to his wife. She had made up her mind, so she made up the bed and slipped out the door, and made a difference in someone's life
She checked her out from Room 23 and saw the pain in her eyes. She had seen them here before and knew that this was the goodbye. It touched her heart; the sadness she saw and she clocked out of her shift with her on her mind.
She stayed up all night writing that letter. She hadn't seen her friend in years and to think what had ruined their relationship made her cry. They had met when they were three, and now at 24 she wept for what they had lost. That morning she put on her scarf and hat and ran outside to the mailbox. She held the letter with both hands and kissed it goodbye in hopes of another hello. She stayed up, and made a difference in someone's life.
She reached in her P.O Box for the very last time. Piled among the final bills, was a familiar script of her beloved friend. Tears began before she even read the words, and the bottle she held so tightly began to loosen her grip. After reading the letter, she knew she needed to make the call. She picked up the phone, said she'd like to check into their facilities, and made a difference in someone's life.
She passed by with her stroller running down the road. It touched her heart; the apology in her hand and in her voice and she kept on running with her on her mind.
She had spent all day and most of the night with her on her mind. She rolled over to her husband around 2 and whispered can we talk. He knew that this was important because normally she was like a log, and so he wiped the sleep from his eyes and listened to her words. She said she wanted to go do mission work, because she pained for the babies she saw. He said I feel this too and Ive been meaning to talk to you. She cried and he cried, and they held each other through the night. Over coffee at the bagel shop that morning the discussed their future. She woke up and it made a difference in someones life.
She passed by her while on route to her daily morning brew. She saw their hands intertwined and the calling on their lips. It touched her heart, their hands outstretched and she was on her mind while she sipped her coffee and placed her finger on James chapter five.
She stood up that following Sunday with that same book at her side. All the hers were on her mind and she decided it was time. She spoke up for them all and gave them a glimpse of Her grace. She spoke to all the yous and all the I's and she's and we's. She spoke to all the they's and even the he's and the me's.
She wanted to know that he gave up his whole life and it made a difference in someone's life. So that all the hers and all the shes can stand up, sit up, shut up, listen up, speak up, put up, wake up, stay up, chin up, write up, take up, give up, run up and live up the lives we were given that day.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
The purpose of roosters
Im having a hard time finding a place to start in order to update you all about my life in Honduras. There have been so many new experiences and things that have happened since Ive gotten here that have been life changing. The stir of emotions ranges from fear to anxiety to anger to impatience to joy to sadness and to happiness. It seems however that ever event that has occured has seemed to have one thing in common. I am learning constantly and often times I learn unexpected things from completely unexpected places.
I will start with my disgust of the rooster. Every morning starting around 4am the roosters around Casa de Esperanza start crowing. Its like a stadium wave of rooster crowing for three hours of essential sleep time. I was talking to the nanny yesterday and was trying to tell her about my disgust for the rooster in my broken spanish. This lady has become one of my best friends since I have gotten here and I find amazing peace and joy in her presence. When I told her my disgust for the rooster, she different offer any advice to either get over it or buy some earplugs. She started talking about the bible and how the rooster is an important reminder that we belong to God just as it was a reminder to Peter in the bible. For some reasons her words struck an chord with me. In other words, she was saying turn your frustration into hope. Turn your anger into joy. Remember that God uses all things to show us of his presence.
Another one of those occurances was yesterday. A baby came in to Casa de Esperanza having been burned over much of her body by a pot of boiling water. I was put in charge to bathe the baby and give her its medicine. At about 830 last night the mom wanted to take it to the hospital because its feet were swelling. And so we trecked out on foot in the dark to the hospital, the mom, the baby, the grandmother, kimberly and me. We waited there for about 3 hours for the mom to see the doctor and for the baby to be given more medicine. The mom told us she needed to go pee and walked to the back of the hospital. Kimberly waited a few minutes and started walking to the gate. There the gateman told us that the baby, the grandma and the mom had took off running. I asked Kimberly why and she said because we are Moskito and we have many believes. I dont know what made the lady take off running, but I do know that I last night after waiting three hours I learned both a lesson of patience and a lesson in the understanding of culture.
These are only a few incidences that have made an impact on me here in Honduras. I never thought to imagine that I am entering into the lives of an entire city in another country. A country with a different language. A different culture. Different believes. I am experiencing life with these people for an entire year. I am going to their weddings and to their funerals. I experience births and deaths. I am here to wipe their tears and to laugh at their jokes. I am here to love them unconditionally. I am here to learn about a new people, a new culture, and a knew lanuage. I am also here to learn more about myself and to gain an independence I never thought I could own. I am trying to find hope and joy in all of these places. I am trying to live in hope. I am trying to see God always in front of me and to know that he is always at my right hand. I still know that I have a lot of growing to do. I know that I dont want to eat anymore rice and beans. I know that Gods grace is everpresent and ever moving. I know that perservenance is key. I know that I love to Lord with all my heart and my faith has grown tremendously.
Thank you for supporting me on this journey. Thank you for helping find purpose in all of lifes many experiences. Thank you for loving me 1,200 miles away. Thank you for your prayers.
I will start with my disgust of the rooster. Every morning starting around 4am the roosters around Casa de Esperanza start crowing. Its like a stadium wave of rooster crowing for three hours of essential sleep time. I was talking to the nanny yesterday and was trying to tell her about my disgust for the rooster in my broken spanish. This lady has become one of my best friends since I have gotten here and I find amazing peace and joy in her presence. When I told her my disgust for the rooster, she different offer any advice to either get over it or buy some earplugs. She started talking about the bible and how the rooster is an important reminder that we belong to God just as it was a reminder to Peter in the bible. For some reasons her words struck an chord with me. In other words, she was saying turn your frustration into hope. Turn your anger into joy. Remember that God uses all things to show us of his presence.
Another one of those occurances was yesterday. A baby came in to Casa de Esperanza having been burned over much of her body by a pot of boiling water. I was put in charge to bathe the baby and give her its medicine. At about 830 last night the mom wanted to take it to the hospital because its feet were swelling. And so we trecked out on foot in the dark to the hospital, the mom, the baby, the grandmother, kimberly and me. We waited there for about 3 hours for the mom to see the doctor and for the baby to be given more medicine. The mom told us she needed to go pee and walked to the back of the hospital. Kimberly waited a few minutes and started walking to the gate. There the gateman told us that the baby, the grandma and the mom had took off running. I asked Kimberly why and she said because we are Moskito and we have many believes. I dont know what made the lady take off running, but I do know that I last night after waiting three hours I learned both a lesson of patience and a lesson in the understanding of culture.
These are only a few incidences that have made an impact on me here in Honduras. I never thought to imagine that I am entering into the lives of an entire city in another country. A country with a different language. A different culture. Different believes. I am experiencing life with these people for an entire year. I am going to their weddings and to their funerals. I experience births and deaths. I am here to wipe their tears and to laugh at their jokes. I am here to love them unconditionally. I am here to learn about a new people, a new culture, and a knew lanuage. I am also here to learn more about myself and to gain an independence I never thought I could own. I am trying to find hope and joy in all of these places. I am trying to live in hope. I am trying to see God always in front of me and to know that he is always at my right hand. I still know that I have a lot of growing to do. I know that I dont want to eat anymore rice and beans. I know that Gods grace is everpresent and ever moving. I know that perservenance is key. I know that I love to Lord with all my heart and my faith has grown tremendously.
Thank you for supporting me on this journey. Thank you for helping find purpose in all of lifes many experiences. Thank you for loving me 1,200 miles away. Thank you for your prayers.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Greetings from Honduras
Hola everyone! Well I made it to Honduras. I flew into San Pedro Sula with Dr. Brian last on the 21st of August. There I was met by Dr. Marienne. Dr. Brian, Dr. Marienne and I all drove to La Ceiba that night where we stayed for the night. That next day we got on a place to Puerto Lempira. The plane was very small and we flew into a dirt air strip. At the airport I was met by lots of smiling faces: Katrina, the missionary, Mary, the physical therapist who was here a month, a lot of the kids from House of Hope and Tara another volunteer. They grabbed our bags and put me in a truck. The roads are all dirt with lots of pot holes. Im making Arkansas proud by showing all the Honduras how well we can drive four-wheelers lol. I actually drive a little boy to kindergarden every morning in a fourwheeler. Anyways, they showed me to my room which is in the guest house. There is no air conditioner, but I do have a ceiling fan when the electricity is on. The electricity goes out about 3 in the morning and stays off until about 10 in the morning. I have a toilet, a shower, and a sink. My room also comes with an alarm clock: a rooster. Every morning around five the rooster starts its song telling me its time to start my day. In the downstairs of the guest house is a small living room/ kitchenette area where I teach all my classes. I am teaching three classes a day. In the morning I homeschool the missionaries daughter. Around 11 I teach a preschool class, in spanish, and in the afternoon after lunch I teach an english class to students who can speak english but can not read or write it. I also help cook and serve the meals some. I made tortillas from scratch the other day. I also washed my clothes on a board and hung them on a line to dry. It took me pratically all day, but Im hoping I will continue to get faster.
The first couple of days I was here I was doing great and loving everything. I think thats what they call the honey-moon period lol. The next couple of days I got really sad and missed home a lot. I would start to cry in the middle of my classes. Im doing a lot better now. This year will be hard but I am going to persevere. I think Josh said it best. I said I would really just love to have someone here from home. And he said well when your home youre going to want someone from there. I was able to use the internet today in the missionaries house. I dont know how often I will be able to use it but I hope I can give you updates about once a month.
Im going to have to leave you but I hope you will continue to pray for me. I love all of you dearly. My visa runs up in February and I will be home then for a few days. I will then return here for another six months and leave.
I love my life here and the people. God continues to bless me everyday and show me that this is where I am meant to be. Its not easy by any means, but I guess He never said it would be.
I love you and God bless
The first couple of days I was here I was doing great and loving everything. I think thats what they call the honey-moon period lol. The next couple of days I got really sad and missed home a lot. I would start to cry in the middle of my classes. Im doing a lot better now. This year will be hard but I am going to persevere. I think Josh said it best. I said I would really just love to have someone here from home. And he said well when your home youre going to want someone from there. I was able to use the internet today in the missionaries house. I dont know how often I will be able to use it but I hope I can give you updates about once a month.
Im going to have to leave you but I hope you will continue to pray for me. I love all of you dearly. My visa runs up in February and I will be home then for a few days. I will then return here for another six months and leave.
I love my life here and the people. God continues to bless me everyday and show me that this is where I am meant to be. Its not easy by any means, but I guess He never said it would be.
I love you and God bless
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Off like a herd of Tortugas (turtles)
As most of you know, I am headed off tomorrow for a great, grand, amazing wonderful adventure to Honduras. I will be there for a year working at an orphanage for physically disabled children and malnourished babies. I have been planning and preparing for this trip for almost a year now and cant believe it is finally here. These last two weeks while making my final preparations have been filled with laughter and lots of tears. I will be leaving the best friends and the best family anyone could ask for. I wish the best for all of you in this next year. I hope that it is filled with joy, peace, and lots of adventure. I will be praying for all of you and want you each to know I will be thinking about you everyday.
This blog isnt going to be very long. I just wanted to let all of you know how to get a hold of my this next year.
I will have email so please please please email me and let me know how things are going. My email address is amkemp12@gmail.com
Also, check my blog and leave comments. I love comments and I extra love it when people read my blogs.
Third, if you would like to send me some paper mail (which I love-who doesnt love a good letter) you can send it to my moms mailing address at
14 Masters Place Cove
Maumelle AR
72113
Please update me as much as possible. I am excited about this next adventure, but yall will always be my home!!
God bless and keep safe.
I will update asap!
Love always and forever,
Alli Marie
This blog isnt going to be very long. I just wanted to let all of you know how to get a hold of my this next year.
I will have email so please please please email me and let me know how things are going. My email address is amkemp12@gmail.com
Also, check my blog and leave comments. I love comments and I extra love it when people read my blogs.
Third, if you would like to send me some paper mail (which I love-who doesnt love a good letter) you can send it to my moms mailing address at
14 Masters Place Cove
Maumelle AR
72113
Please update me as much as possible. I am excited about this next adventure, but yall will always be my home!!
God bless and keep safe.
I will update asap!
Love always and forever,
Alli Marie
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Philosophy at the Kitchen Table
Philosophy at the Kitchen Table
Recently I arranged a dinner party. The guests were invited to my house for sumptuous food, good wine, and good conversation. The guest list included Virginia Woolf, Michel de Montaigne, David Hume, Rene Descartes, and William Wordsworth. Unfortunately, Mr. Montaigne was unable to attend. He claimed to have some business to attend to in his tower. William Wordsworth also sent his regrets because he would be vacationing in the Alps. He wished that we have a splendid “spot in time” although I am still not exactly sure what he meant by this statement.
Descartes was of course the first to arrive. He always seems to be the forerunner.
As I placed his coat in the parlor, I asked, “ How was your week?”
He replied, “ God, I’ve been doing a lot of meditating and I think I have finally proved God’s existence. Perfection don’t you think?”
As I was about to say that was quite a large undertaking for a week, Virginia walked in the door. She had heard what Descartes had said and replied, “Even in the clearest light, I find it impossible for you to claim that you have proved the existence of God. I would find that impossible to do, well ever, much less in a week!”
Descartes kept his mouth shut for the moment; perhaps he was taking in her words. I was certain that the conversation would continue later on in the night.
Hume was running late, so I went ahead and served dinner to my two other guests.
When Hume arrived, Virginia said, “It seems that no matter where I am, at least one or two of the guests always seem to run late.”
Hume replied that, “ Time can only be measured by cause preceding the effect, wouldn’t you agree Virginia?
She rebutted, but with a smile, for the wine finally seemed to be taking its course, “Why yes of course, but much later you might have had to picture us at the kitchen table while you ate because we would no longer be here.”
Descartes, straying from the conversation, turned to Virginia and said, “I would like to discuss further your opinions on God.”
Virginia said, “I find the idea of such a thing preposterous. Once, I got lost in my thoughts, and I actually considered the possible existence of God.”
Hume interrupted “From what impression was that supposed idea derived? I’ve always thought that to be the most important question to ask.”
Virginia replied, “Well, I was sitting in a dark room when the lighthouse beam rolled through my window. I was staring into the light, considered the possibility of God and then went as far to say it out loud. I was incredibly angered with myself when I did though”
Hume spoke, “Ah yes. I too have had similar experiences. I have often thought about what happens when we bring our ideas into so clear a light we may hope to remove all disagreement about their nature and reality.”
Descartes rebutted, “But there is a natural light. A clear and distinct perception of what I am asserting. It happens to be the center of our conversation, the beginning of our conversation- God.”
Virginia supposed, “You cannot possibly think that our perception of everything is based on a divine, perfect being.”
Descartes replied, “But I can. Because how can we perceive everything, which is imperfect, without perceiving the perfect? You cannot enter into a valley without understanding a mountain.”
Hume choked, “You give way too much credit to your experience. You cannot experience a mountain once and expect it to be the same in the rest of your experiences. If Wordsworth were here, he would agree with me. He is both an expert on mountains and the imagination. He knows the importance of imagination and the forming of our ideas. I mean, of course it is exceptional for someone to extrapolate something like a missing shade of blue, but our society has done amazing things with our senses and our imaginations. Unicorns, man, unicorns!! He would also agree that not every mountain top experience is the same, so how could you possibly say that either all are perfect or that the subsequent valleys will all be alike”
I interrupted, hoping that their conversation would become less stiff, asking, “How is the wine?”
Descartes said “I can only base my opinion on the wine by my senses which I cannot trust. Therefore, I’m not even sure I can say that the wine exists prior to further evaluation.”
Hume then said, “ I have an idea about what I think about the wine, but that idea is solely based on memory. My impression of the wine is that it is pleasing to my senses and my emotional state. Therefore, because my impressions are more palpable than my ideas, I would have to conclude that the wine is good.”
Virginia nodded and replied, “ It is very good. I do believe I remember it from your party about 10 years ago. ’52 chardonnay? I don’t know. My memory may be a little fuzzy. There is nothing like time passing to change someone’s perspective”
At that, Virginia said that she must be leaving. She expressed her sadness that as soon as she left this most enjoyable evening would be in the past, but she said that she would be rising early in the morning to go to the lighthouse and therefore must leave.
I told her we would have to do it again sometime.
First, however, she said that she had brought me a picture. It was one that she had been working on for a while. She said it was fuzzy at first, but she believes she finally had had her vision. She said that if I didn’t like it I could just put it in my attic or something, and that it wouldn’t matter. I thanked her and said that it was more than enough. She responded kindly, “It is enough! It is enough!” Those were her last words, she grabbed her shawl, and she was gone.
After Virginia had left, Hume, Descartes and I retired to the parlor where they spent some time analyzing the picture. I was thankful that Virginia had gone so that she would not hear their critique. I had heard from a fellow friend that she was not a big fan of critics.
Descartes pointed at the triangle. He said, “ I have spent some time thinking about triangles.”
Hume had a puzzled look on his face. I’m sure he was thinking that this man (Descartes) not only wastes his time proving the existence of God, but also spent time thinking about triangles. Hume was too much of a skeptic to understand Descartes, but Hume, although a closet atheist, could not say much since he had spent part of his own book contemplating the existence of God.
Descartes, seeing Hume’s puzzled face, quickly began to explain. “You see”, he said, “ I was meditating on the existence of God for a second time, and I came across the idea that even if something does not exist outside of me, it still cannot be called nothing if it is something. It was then that I began thinking about triangles. There are many qualities of a triangle that are essential. Three sides, three angles, largest angle across from largest side, etc, etc. Anyways, see it would have been impossible for Virginia, even if she wanted to, to remove one of these characteristics from the triangle she remembered because it could not have been invented by her.”
“Is that a matter of fact?” Hume replied.
Descartes responded, “Your words, not mine”
Hume was the next to leave, and as Hume gave his goodbyes, he told me he hoped that this chance encounter would arise more frequently than others. I told him the probability of that would be high. Hume corrected me and said “ We can’t predict the future from our past experiences”. I smiled and he was gone.
Descartes was the last. I told him “You know I will always think of you like a father”. He thanked me for an enjoyable dinner and left.
I sat down at the kitchen table. Dishes and wine glasses slung about the room. The painting Virginia had left me. The smell of burning thoughts coated the air. I wondered what I was going to do when I left this place. I wondered after our delightful conversation how I would fair in a world that Hume says is left to my own free will. A free will that is decided by my own determination. I would be leaving this place tomorrow, this place that I had called home. I stared out my window and saw the blinking neon sign welcoming graduates and their families.
I found myself most like Virginia, and wondered what she would do in this situation. I would imagine she would have me picture this kitchen table when I’m not there. I, too, was sad like Virginia, knowing now that the event was in the past. My only comfort would be the passing of time, and bracketing off the most powerful moments. They were the ones that would bring the most emotion.
The other two (Hume and Descartes), although they would most likely confuse me, would also have an opinion about the experience. Hume would say that my recollection of the table would be fuzzier than my experience of actually having the impression, and it would be hard to understand the depth of the experience.
Descartes would first question the existence of the experience and the table and only prove that it existed after a full understanding of God (and who knows how long that would take).
But I suppose Descartes is right about one thing. I know I am not perfect, but this night was perfect, and therefore must have arisen from a perfect being. Speaking of which, too bad Montaigne wasn’t here.
Recently I arranged a dinner party. The guests were invited to my house for sumptuous food, good wine, and good conversation. The guest list included Virginia Woolf, Michel de Montaigne, David Hume, Rene Descartes, and William Wordsworth. Unfortunately, Mr. Montaigne was unable to attend. He claimed to have some business to attend to in his tower. William Wordsworth also sent his regrets because he would be vacationing in the Alps. He wished that we have a splendid “spot in time” although I am still not exactly sure what he meant by this statement.
Descartes was of course the first to arrive. He always seems to be the forerunner.
As I placed his coat in the parlor, I asked, “ How was your week?”
He replied, “ God, I’ve been doing a lot of meditating and I think I have finally proved God’s existence. Perfection don’t you think?”
As I was about to say that was quite a large undertaking for a week, Virginia walked in the door. She had heard what Descartes had said and replied, “Even in the clearest light, I find it impossible for you to claim that you have proved the existence of God. I would find that impossible to do, well ever, much less in a week!”
Descartes kept his mouth shut for the moment; perhaps he was taking in her words. I was certain that the conversation would continue later on in the night.
Hume was running late, so I went ahead and served dinner to my two other guests.
When Hume arrived, Virginia said, “It seems that no matter where I am, at least one or two of the guests always seem to run late.”
Hume replied that, “ Time can only be measured by cause preceding the effect, wouldn’t you agree Virginia?
She rebutted, but with a smile, for the wine finally seemed to be taking its course, “Why yes of course, but much later you might have had to picture us at the kitchen table while you ate because we would no longer be here.”
Descartes, straying from the conversation, turned to Virginia and said, “I would like to discuss further your opinions on God.”
Virginia said, “I find the idea of such a thing preposterous. Once, I got lost in my thoughts, and I actually considered the possible existence of God.”
Hume interrupted “From what impression was that supposed idea derived? I’ve always thought that to be the most important question to ask.”
Virginia replied, “Well, I was sitting in a dark room when the lighthouse beam rolled through my window. I was staring into the light, considered the possibility of God and then went as far to say it out loud. I was incredibly angered with myself when I did though”
Hume spoke, “Ah yes. I too have had similar experiences. I have often thought about what happens when we bring our ideas into so clear a light we may hope to remove all disagreement about their nature and reality.”
Descartes rebutted, “But there is a natural light. A clear and distinct perception of what I am asserting. It happens to be the center of our conversation, the beginning of our conversation- God.”
Virginia supposed, “You cannot possibly think that our perception of everything is based on a divine, perfect being.”
Descartes replied, “But I can. Because how can we perceive everything, which is imperfect, without perceiving the perfect? You cannot enter into a valley without understanding a mountain.”
Hume choked, “You give way too much credit to your experience. You cannot experience a mountain once and expect it to be the same in the rest of your experiences. If Wordsworth were here, he would agree with me. He is both an expert on mountains and the imagination. He knows the importance of imagination and the forming of our ideas. I mean, of course it is exceptional for someone to extrapolate something like a missing shade of blue, but our society has done amazing things with our senses and our imaginations. Unicorns, man, unicorns!! He would also agree that not every mountain top experience is the same, so how could you possibly say that either all are perfect or that the subsequent valleys will all be alike”
I interrupted, hoping that their conversation would become less stiff, asking, “How is the wine?”
Descartes said “I can only base my opinion on the wine by my senses which I cannot trust. Therefore, I’m not even sure I can say that the wine exists prior to further evaluation.”
Hume then said, “ I have an idea about what I think about the wine, but that idea is solely based on memory. My impression of the wine is that it is pleasing to my senses and my emotional state. Therefore, because my impressions are more palpable than my ideas, I would have to conclude that the wine is good.”
Virginia nodded and replied, “ It is very good. I do believe I remember it from your party about 10 years ago. ’52 chardonnay? I don’t know. My memory may be a little fuzzy. There is nothing like time passing to change someone’s perspective”
At that, Virginia said that she must be leaving. She expressed her sadness that as soon as she left this most enjoyable evening would be in the past, but she said that she would be rising early in the morning to go to the lighthouse and therefore must leave.
I told her we would have to do it again sometime.
First, however, she said that she had brought me a picture. It was one that she had been working on for a while. She said it was fuzzy at first, but she believes she finally had had her vision. She said that if I didn’t like it I could just put it in my attic or something, and that it wouldn’t matter. I thanked her and said that it was more than enough. She responded kindly, “It is enough! It is enough!” Those were her last words, she grabbed her shawl, and she was gone.
After Virginia had left, Hume, Descartes and I retired to the parlor where they spent some time analyzing the picture. I was thankful that Virginia had gone so that she would not hear their critique. I had heard from a fellow friend that she was not a big fan of critics.
Descartes pointed at the triangle. He said, “ I have spent some time thinking about triangles.”
Hume had a puzzled look on his face. I’m sure he was thinking that this man (Descartes) not only wastes his time proving the existence of God, but also spent time thinking about triangles. Hume was too much of a skeptic to understand Descartes, but Hume, although a closet atheist, could not say much since he had spent part of his own book contemplating the existence of God.
Descartes, seeing Hume’s puzzled face, quickly began to explain. “You see”, he said, “ I was meditating on the existence of God for a second time, and I came across the idea that even if something does not exist outside of me, it still cannot be called nothing if it is something. It was then that I began thinking about triangles. There are many qualities of a triangle that are essential. Three sides, three angles, largest angle across from largest side, etc, etc. Anyways, see it would have been impossible for Virginia, even if she wanted to, to remove one of these characteristics from the triangle she remembered because it could not have been invented by her.”
“Is that a matter of fact?” Hume replied.
Descartes responded, “Your words, not mine”
Hume was the next to leave, and as Hume gave his goodbyes, he told me he hoped that this chance encounter would arise more frequently than others. I told him the probability of that would be high. Hume corrected me and said “ We can’t predict the future from our past experiences”. I smiled and he was gone.
Descartes was the last. I told him “You know I will always think of you like a father”. He thanked me for an enjoyable dinner and left.
I sat down at the kitchen table. Dishes and wine glasses slung about the room. The painting Virginia had left me. The smell of burning thoughts coated the air. I wondered what I was going to do when I left this place. I wondered after our delightful conversation how I would fair in a world that Hume says is left to my own free will. A free will that is decided by my own determination. I would be leaving this place tomorrow, this place that I had called home. I stared out my window and saw the blinking neon sign welcoming graduates and their families.
I found myself most like Virginia, and wondered what she would do in this situation. I would imagine she would have me picture this kitchen table when I’m not there. I, too, was sad like Virginia, knowing now that the event was in the past. My only comfort would be the passing of time, and bracketing off the most powerful moments. They were the ones that would bring the most emotion.
The other two (Hume and Descartes), although they would most likely confuse me, would also have an opinion about the experience. Hume would say that my recollection of the table would be fuzzier than my experience of actually having the impression, and it would be hard to understand the depth of the experience.
Descartes would first question the existence of the experience and the table and only prove that it existed after a full understanding of God (and who knows how long that would take).
But I suppose Descartes is right about one thing. I know I am not perfect, but this night was perfect, and therefore must have arisen from a perfect being. Speaking of which, too bad Montaigne wasn’t here.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
my mother is pro-choice and im alive
Everyday I pass by people holding signs saying "Fetus are babies too" and "Right to life". The people holding their signs hold their rosaries and pray to God that this "injustice" will stop.
I pray to God that this judgement will stop.
Although, I have never had an abortion, I can only imagine that it is not a fun experience. I bet never has there been a woman who has skipped into the abortion clinic like a child into Chuck E. Cheese ready to trade in her golden ticket for the chance of a lifetime. I bet most women if not all go into the experience scared to freakin death. From what many women refer to as a pregnancy scare, to holding a positive test in their hand, to walking through the doors of the clinic, I would imagine their is absolutely no joy in the occasion. I don't know the stories of all the women who have ever had an abortion, but I would imagine the consensus would be that they felt alone, scared, crazed, out of control. For those women who have had numerous abortions, Im sure that they feel numb. Absolutely and utterly numb. Being numb has never been a feeling I have enjoyed and it is often accompanied by loneliness, depression, and other not so good feelings. They, despite their personal convictions, Im sure feel shame pouring down on their head. I would imagine that it would be something along the lines of being stoned in the middle ages, although I have to say I have never experienced that either. The absolute last thing I would want would be more stones thrown at me while Im trying to bade myself into making absolutely the hardest decision that I have ever made in my entire life.
I would imagine that the folks who are standing on this corner think they have their hearts in the right places.
But if I were the one walking into the abortion clinic, I wouldnt want someone standing on the street corner praying for me. I would want someone to hold my shaking hand.
What about you?
Its official
http://www.send-hope.org/
Here is the website to where I will be. I will be leaving August 21st 2009 and will be gone for a year in mission work. Please be praying for me.
Here is the website to where I will be. I will be leaving August 21st 2009 and will be gone for a year in mission work. Please be praying for me.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
I wish to be...
I wish to be a happy accident. Not by birth, neither bastard nor unsuspected, nor in death an occurance by bus, plane or car which leads to fortune under a roof in which I endear. I wish to be a happy accident in life. A person by their mere luck or happenstance arrives at moments in which they could not be welcomed more warmly or upon better occasion. A person that flows throwing flowers upon the walls creating masterpieces and lives as if with each movement of her cloak sends waves of delight upon the rest of creation. This happy accident does not fiddle with plans or date books because she is arrives at always the correct moment and if she were to stumble it would only create blessings and never destruction.
This happy accident is often creating what some might see as messes and yet many who understand the nature of happy accidents would see the beauty that would manifest from her doings and undoings.
Her slightest movement of tying her shoe or scribbling with a child creates radiance like the sun. From her mouth flows only truth, because truth is the only accident which could bring happiness.
She is loved by all, and hated by many. But despite everything, it is her summit that brings most clarity. For when she happily and accidentally leaves this world, she leaves a little less chaos behind, much happiness, and much more peace.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Without a clear path....
As of late, with the introduction of blogging into my life, I have used blogging (my substitute journal writing) to get a point across. I, however, began journal writing as a way for me to breathe. Assured breathe of healing and peace, that secluded me from the rest of the world even if it be for only minutes. I can depict very distinctly the healthiest time of my adult life, and this was a time when journal writing was a like a drug to me. Anything I felt, I did not leave bottled up inside, but rather it exploded like dynamite onto the page. I miss the roughness of it all with a distaste for correctly spelled words or proper grammatical punctuation. I did not set out on this journey to be a good writer. I set out on this journey to be writer up to no good. I simply have a passion for life. A peaceful, elegant, nature-filled, journey-filled life. I have escaped from my passion and I want to get back to my roots. I want my feet to be grounded deep in the soil soaking up water, pure and sweet, and nutrients, strong and medicinal. I want my core to be strong and able to hold up the weight that this world throws at me. I want my arms reached to the sky filled and my hands will with love and service for the father that has made me greatly and gracefully. I have a song that has been stuck in my throat creating for phelgm and congestion. I want to scream from the very tops of my branches creating music, perhaps not note-appropriate, but beautiful none-the-less. I want to take these broken branches and learn to sway again in the breeze. I want to dance to the wind and in the rain. I want to soak up the sunlight and not grow weery in the winters. I want to take these opportunities granted to me and soar with them. Although grounded, I want to be free to fly.
I longed only for my journals to be read (as I believe any person with a passion for writing does), and this is why I extended by journal journey on to the world wide web.
So hear I am, at a point in my life when healing even from a single deep breathe my bring peace into my life.
I am two days out of the death of my grandmother and staring straight down a tunnel of empty conversations with people who have seen me since I was this big and mundane catholic services full of empty words, misunderstood promises, and gloom over the alter rather than rejoicing in a Savior who did in fact rise from the grave and is not still on the cross. I do have an amazing family and set of friends who have been there for me and in making this situation less awkward.
I have continously wanted to make vows to myself over these past few weeks. To do this better or to do that better. I know now what the problem is. I DO NO KNOW what is best for myself.
I am two months shy from graduation and I am freaking out. I have know plan, and if I start flying now it would be haphazardous and pure luck, or maybe grace if I landed anywhere much less where I would want to be.
I am completely out of my head, body, spirit. I NEED TO GET BACK TO MY ROOTS. I need to resort back into a seed. I need to cultivate my spirit and create balance once again. How can you dance if youre body is made to tumble? How can you sway when you are built to fall? I need to learn about myself. I have gone through so many changes these past few years, but have not had the time to develop them. I need to know myself in order to make correct descions for myself. I need to love myself, but how can you love something you do not even know.
I am searching for peace, but you have to start from an X marks the spot. If you do not know where you are starting from, how do you go in the right direction?
My father used to stay to me when entering a busy place to "stick to him like glue". God, father almighty, pass the Elmers! The sap of my core is overflowing and I am hear to stick to you like glue.
I longed only for my journals to be read (as I believe any person with a passion for writing does), and this is why I extended by journal journey on to the world wide web.
So hear I am, at a point in my life when healing even from a single deep breathe my bring peace into my life.
I am two days out of the death of my grandmother and staring straight down a tunnel of empty conversations with people who have seen me since I was this big and mundane catholic services full of empty words, misunderstood promises, and gloom over the alter rather than rejoicing in a Savior who did in fact rise from the grave and is not still on the cross. I do have an amazing family and set of friends who have been there for me and in making this situation less awkward.
I have continously wanted to make vows to myself over these past few weeks. To do this better or to do that better. I know now what the problem is. I DO NO KNOW what is best for myself.
I am two months shy from graduation and I am freaking out. I have know plan, and if I start flying now it would be haphazardous and pure luck, or maybe grace if I landed anywhere much less where I would want to be.
I am completely out of my head, body, spirit. I NEED TO GET BACK TO MY ROOTS. I need to resort back into a seed. I need to cultivate my spirit and create balance once again. How can you dance if youre body is made to tumble? How can you sway when you are built to fall? I need to learn about myself. I have gone through so many changes these past few years, but have not had the time to develop them. I need to know myself in order to make correct descions for myself. I need to love myself, but how can you love something you do not even know.
I am searching for peace, but you have to start from an X marks the spot. If you do not know where you are starting from, how do you go in the right direction?
My father used to stay to me when entering a busy place to "stick to him like glue". God, father almighty, pass the Elmers! The sap of my core is overflowing and I am hear to stick to you like glue.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Definition.
I am not a christian. I am not a jew. I am not a buddhist, a hindu, a muslim, a witch, an atheist or or a pagan. I am neither male nor female nor transexual, asexual, trangender or hermaphrodite. I am not gay or straight nor bisexual.
I am a christian, jew, buddhist, hindu, muslim, witch, atheist, and pagan. I am male, female, transexual, asexual, transgender, and hermaphrodite.
I am gay, straight and bisexual.
Oppression- (op~pres~sion) noun- allowing the way you define yourself or the way others define you to make you feel as though you are less of a person.
War- the conflict between a person or a group of people because the way they are defining themselves is conflicting within themselves or another person.
I will no longer allow myself to be defined. I will no longer allow myself to be defined by others. A war should be fought against oppression with love for people and hate for injustice.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
5 noble truths (for my chris- hahaha)
1) My name is Allison Kemp
2) Im sometimes, well, always revered as the coolest that has ever existed.
3) The majority of people outside of the continental U.S. take time everyday around 3:45 (right before daily tea and shag) bow down to a personal shrine of me hidden deep in the depths of their largest closet.
4) Because people have done this for centuries they have known the greatest pleasure to have ever existed. No there is no after life or individual rewards. The pleasure comes from the gift of being able to worship me for a time everyday and sending me large quantities of chocolate.
5) You too can experience this joy. Take a knee. :)
Friday, January 23, 2009
somedays I hate the Sun.....
a small ray of Sun peeks through under the curtain in my bedroom. i squint my eyes and peer in the other direction. the light still permeates to the opposite side of the room in which it enters. i curse at its brightness. i curse at it saying "its too bright. my head hurts.". somedays i hate the Sun.
i stepped out of my house yesterday only to be attacked by a streaming ray of light. it was early. too early. i tried to escape reality the previous night but as i stepped out of my house it peers down on my like a hammer. it sends spikes through my eyes forcing them closed. its sends piercing pain from the front to the back of my head. i have no time to be concerned with the sun so i curse its existence, and carry myself Gracefully down the stairs.
the Sun still stares at me as i race down the road to make it to work on time. i feel as though i escape from the Sun for a moment in my windowless office at work. im handed envelopes to carry to a building across campus. DAMNIT! the Sun. the Sun.
it rains down on me showing the holes in my skin. it rains down on me forcing light through me. around me. under me. it embraces me entirely.
leave me alone!! i just want to be alone.
i know what ive down. i know where ive been. You know too. You followed me there. You held me when i fell to the ground keeping your light piercing.
You show too much of my weakness. You show too much of my pride. You are so persistant. so damn persistant.
why? whats the point? i know You were there before me, after me, and always. i know You were there streaming light all day. a moon mirror in the night. a beakon. a shiny, peristant, piercing, constant, bright, forceful, beakon.
i cant run from You. i cant hide from You. i am forced under Your presence everyday. my hold world turns black. my body takes on heat. my heart picks up speed. my mind races in greek. my hands turn to clams and my feet to stones. every mark. every scar lies naked before you. every joint burning under my skin. every drink solid under my tongue. my arms are forced outward with the piercing pain of everything being driven in my hands. the weight of it all is terrifying. trees ache. every hope absences itself from my being. my legs dangle. my feet still made of stone. screeches nailing through my ears. the clouds roll in. thunder strikes. lighting streaks. the screams i make can not be heard about the ripping shrouds and falling castles of broken dreams. casts made of broken mirrors given to me by cinderella, Queen of Cheetos, drunken sailors and tired mothers. i scream and no one hears. i scream but no one sees. where did you go? you are absent from my sight, Sun. You abandoned me, because im naked? Drip. Drop. the rain hits the marks and scars on my body forcing them open into pools of red beneath my feet. it falls to the ground and i scream out to those who around. giving for-th to them my last words of hope although most has drained from me. i bow my head towards the ground and the water streams down my hair and my neck to my feet. my body feels limp.
I lay motionless on the ground, You are there. holding Me. embracing Me.
Gracefully, I carry Myself back up the stairs. I look at the sun and realize that you are there. the sun. it shines bright. a beakon. a shiny, persistant, piercing, constant, bright, forceful, beakon.
up and down the stairs i go. Gracefully. Gracefully. washed by the rain. cleansed by the light.
covered in the Sun. embraced by the Sun. sometimes cursing at the Sun. always passionately in love with the Sun.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
