Awaken, O Sleeper!

Desert sands and grasing flocks
Woven rugs and setting sun,
Will the dawn ever come?


Awaken, O Sleeper,
Arise from the Dead 
And Christ will shine upon you!
Awaken, O Sleeper,
Arise from the Dead 
And Christ will shine upon you!

Wagon wheels and horses hooves
Firesides and Roma songs,
Will the dawn ever come?


Awaken, O Sleeper,
Arise from the Dead 
And Christ will shine upon you!
Awaken, O Sleeper,
Arise from the Dead 
And Christ will shine upon you!

Stone crosses and Patrick's call
Celtic gigs and bardic harps.
Will the dawn ever come?

Awaken, O Sleeper,
Arise from the Dead 
And Christ will shine upon you!
Awaken, O Sleeper,
Arise from the Dead 
And Christ will shine upon you!

Many nations and many songs,
Many dances and many tunes,
Will the dawn ever come?

Awaken, O Sleeper,
Arise from the Dead 
And Christ will shine upon you!
Awaken, O Sleeper,
Arise from the Dead 
And Christ will shine upon you!

~ Traveller Gal, out!

A Goal: Holiday Work

 Snow hath come this Christmastide as of yesterday.  At last, we have good white snow.  The city looks so white and pure, thought that most likely will not last long.  Even my bike, "Meg", loves this... though I dont dare taker her out on the streets in this weather.  It looks as if tis finnally time to rest her for the winter.  Until we meet again in the spring, dear "Meg".  I am sure the bike shop will care for you well.



As everyone left for Thanksgiving, and is now preparing to leave for Christmas, Robby and I are being able to pick up a bunch of extra paid work.   And that is a good thing, as in January we are journeying to Dine Bikeyah for about a week, to do some ministry prep work.  I know the holiday season is normally spent in festive celibration, but the call to Dine Bikeyah is even stronger than the call of Christmastide celibrations.  Besides other than Aaron, Skot and Rachel, and a few other families, we are not close to many here.  Our Christmas was spent with Rob's family over Thanksgiving.

I love how they have made the L and other lines all festive.  In this busy busling city, it is nice to have some good will and spirit of cheer.  I just pray that everyone, whether traveling home, journeying through the city, or snug as a bug with their computer and a cup of fireside chai tea, never forgets the Babe born on Christmas morn.  We ought not celebrate Him one morn, but all 365 days of the year.  Let us not blought out the lesson we have learned on the journeys way, and share His love all the more with those about us.

~ Traveller Gal, out!

Reflections on Chicago

Chicago:

Here I am age 25, having just gotten done with my first summer working in Dine Bikeyah at Broken Arrow Bible Ranch...  Now I am in a city far different from the Pinon Pine and Sage Brush covered desert which I am in love with.  Here I can hear the lone coyote howling his lonely watches through the night in the near by graveyard where he lives.   Here I can here the ambulance bring the injured the the hospital 3 blocks away all hours of the night from my 5th story window.  Here I can feel the breeze from the water of lake Michigan 8 blocks away.  Yet my heart had no peace.   I am as always a wander in a strange land, far from the place I call home.

Robby and I have realized that we would never truly be home till our feet were firmly planted in Dine Bikeyah.  The more we talked with friends, some who wish we could stay forever in Chicago, and some who have been to Dine Bikeyah, and encouraged us to follow our callings... the more we know we just have no peace in the city.  By the time our 14 months living in Chicagoland will be up, we will be restless and trapped by the buildings....already are just 4 months in.  Still I love the city... but forever Dine Bikeyah is home.

~ Traveller Gal, out!

Do They Know?

As I am sitting here, working at the homeless shelter in Chicago, my thoughts wonder to all the homeless, the Roma, and the travellers of the world, especially those in dire situations...

I sit here in this room,
nothing but this bag to call my own
Why am I here?
What has happened?

They say I am a streetrat, 
an outcast, a vagabond.
What do they know?

I sit here praying,
Family's still on the move,
Why are we hated?
What have we done?

They say I am a streetrat, 
an outcast, a vagabond.
What do they know?

I sit here in this slum,
nothing but rot to call a home.
Why don't they care?
How could things change?

What do they know?
We have a history,
We have names.
We are humans.
We are everyone.


 ~ Traveller Gal, out!

Bardic Circle

Why is it that sometimes we get bumbed off course for a short time, only to find it again in the strangest places?  That was what happened to me at "Bardic Circle" this past week.  The Grovers were hosting, and this weeks theme was Native drum circle.   Aaron was there for it of course, as were many other of our traveller friends.   As we began to get started sharing music, songs, and stories, my heart began to cry.  These past weeks while we have been here at JPUSA I had tried to put Dine Bikeyah from my mind.  It hurt too much, but now I realize there is no way to put it out of my mind or my heart.  Tis in there too deep.  This past summer engraved too deeply that Dine Bikeyah and the Dine' are my journey-task.


What now?  We are here in Chicago for until at least next August or September, and after that I have even less clue where we shall journey.  God you have to be in this, because I have no clue what you are up to here.

~ Traveller Gal, out!

Journey To Chicago

Here we are in Chicago and my head is spinning.  It was a little over a month ago we were resting against our bags at the St. Louis old Union Station, waiting for our bus and the call came.  "We have a room and an opening for you in P12! Can you be here by weekend of the 8-12th?"  Umm...sure.  Thankfully we packed most of our stuff BEFORE leaving for camp, as that gave us 3 days to pack and head out.  After I got off the phone, Robby and I laughed.  So the journey continues....

As soon as we could get a van, we packed up.  There were only two seats, so we unfolded our dorm chairs behind the driver and passenger seat.  Thankfully Robby's dad is good enough driver, no one even looked twice.  So we arrived in Chicago, on a misty, hot, humid afternoon.  Our host family, Skot and Rachel, had been ill, but Skot did his best to help us get settled.  The room 505 is just a small studio with the shared kitchen down the hall, but it does have its own bathroom.  So after a quick paint job and a matrice pulled in, we were ready to go.  And go we did, Robby has a job as a janitor and I am overseeing the computer lab at the homeless shelter.  My favorite things: Unique Thrift Store and the Free Store!  Like that is really a big surprise.

So, we headed to Wildwood Lake and P12 began middle of September. It was a blast!  The second day I swam the lake from one beach to the other.  ^_^  The cool water and fishys nibbling at my toes was soooo refreshing.  The bible training was so good.  It was just wonderful to be preparing for what ever journey God has before us.

~ Traveller Gal, out!

A wedding...

Today dawned bright and beautiful.  After the departure of our campers, I headed down the the lodge to get ready for Adrian and Anna's wedding day.  Thanks to a friend, I have a green bloose to go with the gypsy skirt grandma bought me prior to her passing.  That with all my Dine' jewlery is perfect!  Robby on the other hand thought that wearing an all black shirt with skull and cross bones was wedding attire.  "What?  In the mountains of the Kentucky, most guys have one good shirt, and it goes for church, weddings, and funerals."

I just rolled my eyes.  "Grandpa Fred, help!"  So once he knew what was going on, Grandpa Fred teased, "What am I going to do with you boy?  Come down to my house." Thus Rob was equipped with a nice grey dress shirt (that isnt black) and a bolo.  He looked so nice, I loaned him my pinstripe fedora.  Then it was off to the wedding.  And what a beautiful wedding it was!  Afterwards, all of us from BABR headed to Pizza Hut for our own party.  Twas a grand day!

~ Traveller Gal, out!

Journey to Broken Arrow Bible Ranch

 So just a few days ago, we boarded a Greyhound in Knoxville, TN.  So we were in Nashville then on to Memphis.  Next lay over was in Dallas, TX, and after 3 hours sitting in the terminal, the bus fums late at night caused me to throw up.  Not only that, but bags had not shown up having loaded on the sister bus heading in to Dallas.  Finally, just as we were boarding the bags arrived and got loaded on the next bus.  Then it was on to New Mexico.  We grabbed lunch in Tucumcari, and 37 hours after starting we arrived in Gallup, NM.  We quickly crashed in bed, content to be done traveling for 2 months.

Robby had gotten sunburned our second day there, so he crashed in the lodge.  I on the other hand was restless.  I told Robby I would be back in time for supper, as I was going on a walk.  Slowly I walked up the end of the road, then continued on down to Joe Milo's Trading Post.  There I found a cedar wood flute for Robby's 39th birthday coming in July.  I also bought myself a mini Navajo cradle board, until I can get a full sized one for my future children.  After browsing around for a while and buying a can of ice cold Dr. Pepper, I headed back to BABR.  By the time I returned, Robby was all worried.  " Were were you?", he asked.  I smiled slyly, "Hunting gifts."  He scolded a wee bit, but then let it rest.

After we finished the main part of training, we headed up to Mt. Taylor, the Turquoise Mountain, to go camping.  I was excited, as I never had been camping over night.  Of course, we nearly never got our tent up, thank goodness for friends.  After a good night sleep, we hiked to the top of Mt. Taylor, and may then biked down...sadly my ankle was acting up and Robby had stabbed his knee on a yucca plant while taking pictures, so neither of us rode.  It is a great start to the summer!

~ Traveller Gal, out! 

Spring... And a Passing...

Spring here in Tennessee is strange to me.  After 23 springs in Kansas, and one in Michigan, spending one in Tennessee is a change.  Easter has come and gone, with a cool, cloudy day Easter Egg hunt with the nieces and great-nephew (I married into be a great aunt, his mom is my age!)  Work is going well, though it is hard to convince our families that neither Rob nor I want fancy cars, homes, or stuff... ministry comes first to use.  Though a few gypsy lamps and pirate chests are a great addition to our one room.  ^_^

April has brought the passing of Robby's grandma, Sylvania.  I so wished I could have known her more, but she was to frail by the time I joined the family to talk much.  Robby says she would have loved me, I know the one time I got to braid her hair she fell asleep, a sign of deep trust. I wish I could have learned more from her, Robby says she had so much to share.  Where ever we head, I know her memory will travel with us.

~ Traveller Gal, out!

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!