Weekend in The City of Roses (minus the Roses)

I had a great time visiting my friend Stephanie in Portland this past weekend! The sun came out on Saturday and we walked around the market, along the river and throughout the city. The Rose Festival had just started but because of the unusual coldness in the area, there were not many roses blooming. 

I thought the city had a certain charm and I liked its size and many green spaces. We visited Powell's books while we were there and I loaded up on some good reads for the summer. The bookstore takes up an entire city block and is one of the largest in the world. It reminds me just how many classics I have yet to read! We also found a great frozen yogurt place down by Pioneer Square which let us load our dishes with just about every kind of topping you can imagine. Yummy!    

On Sunday, Steph and I went with her family and some family friends to Silver Creek Falls State Park. We hiked around and saw six or seven different waterfalls. It may have been cloudy but the  cool temperature provided great hiking weather. It was also fun to meet the Swinsons and grill out at their home. 

I took the train back to Seattle this morning and have been gearing up for another week in the office. I am actually finalizing my travel itinerary to Alaska in mid-June so that provides some excitement. 

Thank you for all your prayers - I am establishing a kind of routine around here but 9 hours a day behind a computer still seems pretty long. My conversations with my host family and co-workers have continued to provide opportunities to talk about my faith and how it drives the work that I am doing with the EPA. I look forward to seeing what God may do through those relationships.

Happy Memorial Day and Happy (almost) June! 

Receiving in the midst of the Pursuit

Tonight at Community Group we talked about Luke 18:15-17 which is about Jesus calling all the little children to himself. It is a beautiful depiction of Jesus reaching out and loving on the smallest image bearers of God and instructing others to be like them. What struck me was Jesus' words to receive the kingdom like a little child. So often I think of pursuing the kingdom of God, to run the race seeking God's redemption in all things. And, this is something that I believe God very much calls us to do as agents of reconciliation. But, as we see in this passage, action should also be accompanied by an attitude of humility as we learn to listen and receive from others and the world around us what the kingdom of God is really like. Like a little child who has his eyes wide open to all that  he can glean from others, I was reminded of the importance of receiving from all sorts of people in ways that I might not expect. When we learn to listen, we can see the diversity in God's kingdom more clearly and learn more about God himself. This can also help us make sure our pursuits are consistently marked by a love for God and a love for others.

Interestingly I have been noticing a similar theme of listening and receiving through my work with tribal governments. Caleb Pungowiyi, a Siberian Yup'ik elder, said in reference to learning and teaching about the interactions between people and their environment: "Try to see the whole world, let them see the whole world, and not just things that are scientifically measurable." Pungowiyi has a wealth of traditional ecological knowledge which transcends the scientific data about climate change collected by government and university specialists. For generations his people have subsisted in the far reaches of the Alaskan tundra and they know the land so well that they can detect even subtle changes in the weather patterns. I love the idea of seeing the whole world as interconnected and full of relationships between people and creation the way God intended it to be when he instructed man to "keep and serve" the earth. Often we isolate issues as either completely scientific or completely cultural and we forget that people and their livelihoods are so very connected to the land. I think the native people have been good at listening to way the world works around them and that we could do a better job at listening to their observations and perspectives. 

As mentioned before, I had the chance to explore the greater Seattle area with some family friends this weekend. It is amazing how much more you can see when you can have access to a car!

On Saturday, the Verwys' and I had lunch at the top of the Space Needle which was very cool and the restaurant was on a turntable so that you got a full 360 degree view of downtown every 45 minutes. The food was also very tasty.

We also had a chance to visit a Japanese Garden in the Washington Park Arboretum and I wish pictures could depict how beautiful and vibrant the flowers were against the dew-kissed leaves. But, at the same time, it is just better in person no matter how great the picture is.   

  On Sunday, we traveled west to Olympic National Park! As many of you know, I will never pass up the opportunity to visit any part of the National Park System and I was not disappointed by the intricate and unique ecology of Olympic. I only wish I could have stayed longer. It is known for its' temperate rainforest and that was one of the things that we were not able to make it to (mostly because it would have taken an extra 5 hours to get there and back).

The flowers here were again all in bloom and came in all sorts of hues and shades. We made two hikes to waterfalls which were also a treat because we "had to" go through some of the oldest old growth forests in the nation to see them. 

 

As you can see from the picture on the right, I was pretty tiny in comparison to the Sol Duc falls. The whole forest seemed to be alive with spring well on its' way. It was rather cloudy and so we were not able to get many good shots of the mountain peaks but, the cool weather did make for good hiking weather. It was so great to be able to go and I had a splendid time.

This holiday weekend I am going to Portland, OR to visit my roommate Stephanie which I am very excited about! I plan to take the train - so that should be another adventure :)

Uggianagtug

My project at work is to understand the impacts of climate change on tribal communities in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest and find tangible and practical ways to help these communities adapt to the changes. The word "uggianagtug" is a North Baffin Inukitit word which means "unexpected behavior" or "unfamiliar way." The traditional ecological knowledge and way of life that has been passed down for generations in many of these tribes tells a story which is becoming more difficult to carry out. The environmental changes described by many of the tribal elders, are putting enormous strain on the ecology and culture of these communities. This week has been primarily one of research on what exactly is affecting these communities and the realities are sobering. I have always tended to be someone who sees the complexity of big picture problems but has a harder time focusing in on their practical tangible solutions. This project is going to help me do just that! One way or another I am going to hunt down case studies of work already being done globally and see what might work in the tundra. Climate change is no joke.

During my lunch hour I have been exploring the city and have had my own share of uggianagtug. However, the connotation here is much more positive. I am always surprised by the mountains when I catch a glimpse of them along the horizon and it often makes me smile. Today was an unusually sunny and warm day (for Seattle that is) and so I walked down to the waterfront.

So, my camera is not so great (I am actually in the process of upgrading) but this is a picture of the Cascades across the sound. Although the image is not real sharp, the distinctness of the mountains on the horizon was apparently a rarity since it is often very cloudy. They really are beautiful.

 The city also afforded a nice shot - this one looks back up towards the market place. It is actually a rather hilly city so you can get quite a workout climbing back up to the main streets.

The building in the center of this picture is where I work on the 8th floor. I like this shot because even though Seattle is a urban center, there is a lot of green around - both literally and figuratively. This picture is actually in what they call "Freeway Park" which is a pretty little park right in the middle of downtown above one of the main highways. It provides a good escape place for  eating lunch and there are even waterfalls throughout the area.  

 

Of course, one of the mandatory places to visit in Seattle is the Pike Place Market. It is a hoppin' place with lots to see and do there. I think I will be a frequent visitor.

It has been a good first week at work, at the house, and  through the church. I did end up finding a community group to get plugged into through Mars Hills and so every Tuesday night I am meeting up with 7 other college age girls for prayer and devotions. They seem like a fun group of people and great accountability partners!

I thought I would also throw in a picture of my two new little friends Erin & Billy. They definitely cause quite a few laughs. 

Looking forward to the weekend - some family friends are coming to town and so I get to go see more of the city with them! More pictures are sure to be on the way.

First Day = Great

Well today was a great introduction to the next 13 weeks of life. And, I am really excited about it! 

Commuting to downtown Seattle via bus only takes about 20 minutes and the bus stop is literally around the corner from my house. Speaking of my house - I have enjoyed getting to know the Li family a little better this weekend. They have quite the "extended" family with 2 ducks, 7 baby chickens, and 2 Chihuahuas! The kids are also fun, Erin is 8 and Billy is 4. I think Billy and I have already become great buddies and it is fun to hang out with them a little bit in the evenings. Michael, the dad, has been away on travel with the EPA (he works there too) but I have been able to spend some time with his wife Annette and hear about her life. She spent some time in the Peace Corps and has done a fair bit of traveling. 

I arrived to work this morning by 8am after wandering around for a "few" minutes downtown trying to find my skyscraper. Once I found it, the check-in process was pretty straight forward and reminded me of my work experience with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Finger prints, ID badges, cubicles and all. But, the view of the city from the 8th floor is unlike any other work place environment - on clear days you can see Mt. Rainer out the window!

My boss, Sally, is really cool and passionate about what she does with the Tribal Trust & Assistance Unit. I learned so much from my co-workers today about why they do what they do and it is refreshing to hear from people who believe so strongly in the mission of the organization and their own role within the unit. The mission of the Tribal Unit within the EPA is have an in-depth understanding of Tribal environmental needs, advocate for Tribal environmental needs and perspectives at all levels, and assist EPA employees and others to understand the unique culture and status of Tribal governments. If you don't think this job is important, you will be surprised to learn that there are 275 recognized tribal governments in Alaska alone! These groups are often on the margin and economic drivers have put significant strain on their communities.  

My project is one that the governments specifically asked the EPA to help them with so the end product will tangibly be meeting the real needs of those who have limited resources to address them. These tribal communities are feeling the effects of climate change right now and are in desperate need of adaptation strategies to help them adjust. My supervisor has already begun to connect me with professors, organizations and research groups who have been working on addressing some of these issues and I will hopefully be able to sythesize the material and come up with some practical help and strategies for implementation. 

Basically, I am going to like the job. Also, I get to set my own schedule so I am trying a 8am-6pm schedule which gives me every other Friday off!!! I am so going to take advantage of those 3-day weekends. My co-workers made me feel welcome today and one of them even took me out for lunch. I don't think spending time in the office will be all that bad as long as I can explore the city a little bit during the lunch break :)

One final praise I wanted to mention was that I found a really cool church a few blocks from my house called Mars Hill U-District. It is one of the campuses of Mark Driscoll's church and there is a lot happening there. They are passionate about reaching the city and preaching the word. They are also located close to the University of Washington and have quite a few outreach programs to the students there. I am also going to try and join one of the community groups that meets in the evenings during the week. I am really thankful to find a strong Christan community to get plugged into! 

So, all in all, thank you for the prayers. God has already been doing some pretty amazing things.

Goodbye Grand Rapids...Hello Seattle?

Yes. Finally!!! After multiple delayed flights, a cancellation due to fantastic thunderstorms in Chicago, a re-route and subsequent overnight stay in the wonderful city of Memphis, and a flight to Minneapolis.... I am here in Seattle. And, the snow covered mountains, beautiful sound, and dark evergreens give a warm and royal welcome. Well, I think I have ridden enough planes to last me awhile (thanks for the bonus frequent flyer miles) and I am ready to check out the city and of course go on hikes with some Wheaton friends.

I am getting picked up shortly from the airport by my new "host" family and the adventure begins. I guess it has already kind of has. Work starts Monday morning and I will be getting my badge, training and meeting the office. I'll let you know how day 1 goes - should be fun.
 
I spent about a week at home and was able to catch-up with friends and family. It was quick to be sure but I tried to make the most of it. On Thursday, Michelle and I went out to Grand Haven to enjoy Lake Michigan and the pier one last time before 2012. The rain held off long enough to enjoy a walk down the beach.

Okay, off I go!

Lots of Lasts with Fantastic Firsts just around the Corner!

Junior year is officially done. It has been one crazy year but full of so many fun experiences and great relationships. There is never a shortage of things to do on campus and in the community and my plate was certainly loaded with good things. The hectic schedules do not last forever - thank goodness - and over the last couple of weeks everything has been winding down and finishing up. No more A Rocha Wheaton, no more tutoring, no more small group, no more classes! I suppose it feels like the end of every other year of college except there is a twist: I won't be coming back for 8 months!

This terrific twist in the storyline is the real reason for this blog and probably the reason why you are following along. Next Friday my grand adventure begins as I fly to Seattle to start my 12 week internship with the Environmental Protection Agency. Wahoo! Here I come Pacific Northwest. I will be working with the Tribal Trust unit at the regional headquarters and will have the opportunity to fly to Anchorage, Alaska to work with the office there for a couple of weeks mid-summer. If that does not sound exciting enough, I also get to fly to Kona, Hawaii for a week to attend an interdisciplinary environmental conference in late June/early July. By the beginning of August I will have added 3 new states to my "visited" list and will have hopefully hiked around in some beautiful national parks.

Mid-August life goes through another transition as I fly to Lima, Peru to start my four month internship with A Rocha Peru, a chapter of an international conservation organization. This experience is part of Wheaton's Human Needs and Global Resources Program which sends students to the global south to be challenged holistically and to learn from others through transformational ministry. I will be working with A Rocha to develop a new ecological restoration project outside Lima near the sprawling slums. I finish just in time for Christmas - December 24th to be exact - and then go back home to Grand Rapids before my final semester at Wheaton College begins in January.

What a ride! I cannot wait to get started. Praise God for everything that he has done and everything that he will continue to do throughout the next summer and fall. He has amazingly opened up these doors of opportunity and it is my job to walk through them with eyes wide open to the work he is doing throughout the world. 

So, enjoy the blog. I'll be sure to post pictures and amusing stories along the way and share part of my journey with you. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers and don't forget to shoot me an email once in a while to keep me updated on what is going on in your life!

Spring semester in a few pictures looked like this:

My roommates have been such a blessing and we have certainly enjoyed ourselves thoroughly :)

Halimeh and Sabir are my new Iranian parents! Every week I tutored Halimeh in English and I learned a little Farsi along the way. She would always make something special to eat and we had our fair share of laughs as I tried to cook and eat Iranian style! 

 Hope and I enjoyed Spring Break this year in the Bahamas on a cruise. It was the first time for both of us and we made sure to soak up the sun. We also learned how to pick grapefruit in Jacksonville, Florida with my Aunt Janice and smuggled them back to IL with us.  

For Easter the roommates, plus Emily, Mark, & Chris, went to Hope's house in Minnesota. We enjoyed long car rides, delicious food, excursions around the twin cities area and a nice break before the end of the school year.