A visit to JPUSA

What an adventure the past few days have been!  Robby and I journeyed up to Chicago, on a scouting trip to JPUSA to see if we wish to do their year long internship called Project 12.  This is also to be our honeymoon trip!  True Chicago in the winter is not where most people would go, but when have Robby and I ever been most people?  The loft we are staying in is glorious, though cold, but it is winter and to be expected.  We are enjoying the them alone.... not in his parents home.

After some scouting, a tour of JPUSA's buildings, working with Skot and Rachel at the shelter, and shopping at the Free Store and Unique Thrift Store.  Robby and I went with Skot and Rachel, plus alot of friends to drive around Chicago.  First stop, with Skot driving, was the cemeteries of course!  LOL.  But our friend the Trickster, a lone coyote was waiting in one.  We quickly moved on, and ate at a tasty vegan cafe as some in our party are vegans.  Then it was off for more driving around Chicago. I am nearly sure Skot knows where nearly every movie here was shot, at least that is important to him or interesting.  LOL!

~ Traveller Gal, out!

Journey of Celts and Subcultures...

Of Celts and Subcultures

Since I was 8, and learned both my birth and adopted families are of Irish blood, I have been fascinated with all things remotely Celtic.  For nearly as long as I have studied the history and cultures of Native America, have I poured myself into the History of Celtic Ireland, and then the Celtic history of Europe.  By age 15, I had found Celtic Christian music, and fell in love with the music of artists such as Moya Brennana, Iona, Eden's Bridge, and the likes.  Then I began studying the lives of Patrick of Ireland, Brigid of Kildare, Columba of Iona, Aidin of Northubria, and many others... their lives began to encourage and shape my own.  Their faith in the Trinity grew mine, and their constrant striving to live simple lives, disciple others, and always show hospitality began to echo in my hearts desires.  Their callings began to melt into my own calling in, where ever I would be able to minister.

At 18 in New Orleans on my missions team, I met my first Christian subculture folks.  This got me thinking, was I also subculture?  I had never fit with the main stream cultures.... and among them I found a home.  The March I was 19, I began to dress like a subculture gal, though through time which one would morph.  This was before all the death and sorrow had flooded my life.  For the next 8 years, I would call the subculture community my home, and to this day many of those who still minister among the subcultures are counted among my family and friends.  Some say that time in my life I was side tracked from my true calling.  I would tend to disagree with that.  While ministering among the subcultures, I met my now husband, Robby.  While working among them, I learned to deal with the issues of putting our faith and lives in Jesus, above what is culturally the norm.  I learned how to divide the good from the bad in a culture, and to focus on the good while slaying the evil parts.  All of this I would need to know once I become a missionary.

As always, God knew what He was doing on my journey-task... where He was taking me, and where I was going... even if I could not see how each twist and turn, and some of the dark things which happened to me, of which I do not speak... would work together to get me ready for the future.

 
~ Traveller Gal, out!

Of Illness and Death...

The Years of Illness and Death

The fall I was 16, I became very ill.  I went to doctor after doctor, and while they could treat some of my issues, not all could they figure out.  Thyrioditis was what they said I had, but the medican was making it worse.  For nearly 2 years, except for a few good months where I got to do things like camp, I was stuck in bed or on the sofa.  Weakness and the fear of death were two of my compainions, and I was just 16 and then 17 years old.  By the May I was 18, the symtoms eased, and I thought I was well for good.  I went both to camp and then to my second missions trip, this time to New Orleans.  While my illness never laid me as low as it did those first two years, it kept haunting me.  Then finally at 21, I learned I had a immune disregulation, that most likely is a cousin to lupus, but not full blown lupus.  The doctor said, since I had such issues with the medicans over the years, to try taking a green tea capusal every day, drinking alot of green tea too, and then eating alot things like brocally and melons.  Not a bit of that hurt my feelings any.  During that whole time I had nearly given up on working in missions, except for short visits.... I thought it would kill me.

During this time, the summer to winter I was 19, death came visiting my door.  Not my own death as I had so long feared, but the death of many close to me.   It began with the death of a dear friend and mentor, Samuel Meadows, then continued as my uncle Bob (my dad's sister's husband) died, then my mom's cousin, who I called Uncle Phil, then a lady at church who's son I carried for in nursery, then my cousin Bobby-Jo (my dad's sister's daughter; same one who lost her husband).  The death of Samuel had shattered my world, as he had been a teacher, a mentor, and to me, in my strange ways, a father figure.  Then with the other deaths compounded upon it, I entered a fog.  For a time, sharing it with my beloved Elk Hound, Wolfy, aided me, but then she died from cancer during the middle of the human deaths, and I was alone....

While both of these events happend while I was still a teen and into my early twenties, they grew and shaped me in many ways into the woman I am today.   I could not be able to face much I do now, had I not gone through those things when I did. 

~ Traveller Gal, out!

Journey to Cincinnati

Wow, just wow... We, Robby and I, are on the road to Cincinnati, OH via bus.  As the bus rolled out of the bus station and Wichita fades from view... I wondered, will I ever see you again city of my childhood?  I know most likely I will, but it will never be long term liver in this city.  We left with little warning as we had to get out before the next round of ice storms... We actually planned to leave last week, but could not pull it off.  It most likely will be a long journey... it was standing room only on the bus between Wichita to Kansas City.  It was about as packed as we headed out to St. Louis too.  Cincinnati and marriage here we come!

~ Traveller Gal, out!

Didean is No More...

Didean will have to close her doors before she ever officially opened.  *La sigh*  And we only hosted 3 travellers, not counting Robby or me... prior to closing!  Why might you ask, because Jo and my jobs are both no more.  Her husband works as does Robby, but their limited janitorial work does not come close to paying the bills.
*Cries* And all this is while Robby is in Tennessee still!  What to do? What to do?!  What to do?!?

Maybe this means it is time to begin the road to Robby and my journey-task.... is Dine Bikeyah calling...
Some of our family in Tennessee has offered to give us a place to stay, but there is no chance we will do that before we get married... so then... We must move our wedding day up.  I have the dress... the rest... that is up to Him.  ^_^  The open road is calling, and at last I can go forward!

~ Traveller Gal, out!

Dine Bikeyah Calling?

 Robby called his good friend and mentor, Dino, today to tell him about our engagement...
What a surprise that was...
Little did I know Robby's strong ties with the Navajo... I mean, he is an answer to prayer that he has a heart for Native America... but the Navajo?  Daddy, this is too good to be true!

Come to find out ever since Robby was lead to the Lord by a Navajo man in 1996, Rob has had a heart to go out to Dine Bikeyah to serve as a missionary...
That is 3 years before God called me to Dine Bikeyah in 1999...
Both of us had given up on the dream, our journey-tasks.  The how and when of getting there neither of us are sure of.  God has a good since of humor waiting till the day AFTER we get engaged to share this with us... Who, but God, knows how this journey will end???

 "And I hear Dine Bikeyah calling..." ~ Canticle of the Plains

Engagement!

Robby took me to the Wichita Historical Museum yesterday afternoon,  I knew something was up as we had talked of marriage for a while now... When we got up the Victorian parlor, he sat me down on a seat and got down on one knee... and ask if I would be his wife... I said yes!  Then I surprised him too... and had him sit down... I had been carrying around a ring for him for a while, just waiting for him to ask me... lol.  We both have engagement rings...  He is going to Tennessee for thanksgiving... We have so much plans to make before next May!

~ Traveller Gal, out!