Psalm 102 (Listen)
Do Not Hide Your Face from Me
A Prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord.
102:1 Hear my prayer, O Lord;
let my cry come to you!
Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress!
Incline your ear to me;
answer me speedily in the day when I call!
For my days pass away like smoke,
and my bones burn like a furnace.
My heart is struck down like grass and has withered;
I forget to eat my bread.
Because of my loud groaning
my bones cling to my flesh.
I am like a desert owl of the wilderness,
like an owl [1] of the waste places;
I lie awake;
I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.
All the day my enemies taunt me;
those who deride me use my name for a curse.
For I eat ashes like bread
and mingle tears with my drink,
because of your indignation and anger;
for you have taken me up and thrown me down.
My days are like an evening shadow;
I wither away like grass.
But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever;
you are remembered throughout all generations.
You will arise and have pity on Zion;
it is the time to favor her;
the appointed time has come.
For your servants hold her stones dear
and have pity on her dust.
Nations will fear the name of the Lord,
and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.
For the Lord builds up Zion;
he appears in his glory;
he regards the prayer of the destitute
and does not despise their prayer.
Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:
that he looked down from his holy height;
from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,
to hear the groans of the prisoners,
to set free those who were doomed to die,
that they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord,
and in Jerusalem his praise,
when peoples gather together,
and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.
He has broken my strength in midcourse;
he has shortened my days.
“O my God,” I say, “take me not away
in the midst of my days—
you whose years endure
throughout all generations!”
Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you will remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
but you are the same, and your years have no end.
The children of your servants shall dwell secure;
their offspring shall be established before you.
This morning i woke up with a huge headache, so, i stayed in from our weekly church meeting at the Crusade house. Later, though, i felt better, so i swept the apartment and uploaded pictures we took yesterday on our trip to the orphanage in Cartago. This is a place we've frequented this year quite alot. It isn't really an orphanage as much as a home for the kids who live there. Dona Melba (Ms. Melba), is the mom of the house, and her husband, Don Victor, also. They take care of the kids as if they were their own, and there are around 25 of them. Her story is one of God's providence. When her own son was sick, and near death, Dona Melba asked God, "if you would only let my son be healed and live, i will promise to take care of any abandoned kids that come to me." So that, is what God did! :) He healed her son, and one by one, children began coming to her door, in need of love, someone to take care of them, and food. Most of the children in her home have learning disabilities or some other type of social deficits as well. But as they get older, and the more i go there, i see more and more improvements! :) Here are just a few of the faces we see.
These kids are cool. There are also many more, who's photos i'll put under the photo file here...We've made it a monthly thing to go and visit Dona Melba's place and play with the kids, help her with folding clothes, or just be there for any other needs. I've really enjoyed this part of my experience. Well, that was yesterday...today is the birthday of our friend, Danny, and tonight we're going to see a Costa Rican film in the cineman, Gestacion...i can't believe there is so little time left here. I am praying that God would reveal exactly what He wants my next steps to be. Will you pray for that too? Also, my friend, roomate, and teamate, Laura left for the States yesterday morning because her grandmother recently died and she had to attend the funeral. Would you please keep her and her family in your prayers during this time? Thanks to everyone out there taking an interest in what's going on in my life right now!! You guys rock! :)
Grace and Peace,
Jodie
Since I graduated in May, I haven’t really been that interested in writing with words. I’ve thought a lot about words and written some, spoken a bunch, sang some. I also use words in electronic messages every day – in text, email, Facebook, whatever device. Most of my creative energy is centered on being trained by a former professor of mine, growing my skills in Final Cut and shooting in verite documentary style, being connected to the power of thought conveyed in images, spoken words, and music combined to make what we call a “film.” Digital storytelling is a very current approach to disseminating information, and it’s also a lot of fun, for the maker and the viewer alike.
Working in documentary merges the new media angle with a conscious effort to tell a true, “verite” as it were, story. Being aware that documentary portrays a real life event, I often have to take stock and wonder – what gives me the clarity or good sense to sift through the mundane events of an extended period of time and piece together a story that makes sense, is compelling, and develops a character? This medium asserts that something must happen. And to become a focused editor, you must be as concerned with the larger piece as you are with the single frame. To do that well, you must understand the way life works. There is a surge of meaning, a moment that you realize is too long. Something must come to pass, pacing takes hold. The pace of things on screen is not the same as the pace in life, because it is shortened and taken into the editing system. The pace of film is the pace of your thoughts. You must be able to feel the roll of the moment, and know when it is coming to an end.
What I’ve been doing at Rutgers by documenting academic stories through the voices of the very people who are inspiring new generations of marine biologists, female scholars and activists, and storytellers whether on word or on screen has taught me that a lot of a non-fiction writer’s perspective has to be bonded in trust with the people whose story she is telling. Even if the trust is as simple as a smile while I hold the camera or concern over how their voice or image is portrayed, there has to be a relationship there. An interview, especially, requires a lot of trust from people when they would not otherwise be willing to tell their point of view to even one person let alone an indefinite public.
helped me to see that the world is always changing, the lapse of time on video is the same as it is in real life and ours is a documented culture like none other has ever been. Will this help us to come together? In documentary, I’m forced to take stock of a person as a character – which means they must potentially be able to grow.
I don’t know what the climax of this kind of media will be
or what can come beyond it. It’s hard for me to see how telling a story in 2
minutes can get any shorter, but I’m sure someone will find a way.
Check out our documentary team below:
http://wh.rutgers.edu/component/jvideo/watch/75/the-making-of-atlantic-crossing
Hola Todos!
Recently I have been spending my time thinking more about what i will do next year, than focusing all of my attention on outreach on campus. With about 7 weeks left now, its kinda hard not to do that, but i know that i also can't waste the few days i have left with STIINT. So, today i took some time off campus to spend with the Lord and try to refocus. Also, i sent my resume to more schools around the area in hopes of finding something!! I remain hopeful.
Lastnight we had a good night of just hanging out with friends. There's a house full of German students right beside the Crusade house on our street. Two of the girls who live there came over last night and we got to hang out and chat a bit. They're so cool! Makes me want to visit Germany. Maybe one day! We as a STINT team are heading up to Portland, OR on Dec 27th to Jan. 4th for the Campus Crusade winter conference there and for debriefing of our STINT year. I can't believe it's almost over. Sheesh. Time is going by ever so quickly now especially since we only have a matter of weeks more. I feel like i'm going so fast...but need to slow down. On Nov. 1st we're doing an outreach here in our apt. for women, showing the Magdalena movie, and doing a study that goes along with it. Also, Halloween is just around the corner! Costa Rica en general doesn't celebrate Halloween because its a North American holiday, and Costa Ricans dont want to share it. However, there is a party with the art students of the UCR and i think we may be able to participate in that. All of the students create their own costumes! It should be a very unique experience should we go!
As more things happen, i will update you! As for now we must be going!
Good morning!
Buenos Dias Amigos! This morning i'm sittin here in the apt, planning for the week ahead. This past weekend we had un “retiro”…retreat for the students involved in the ministry to encourage them and give them the tools and encouragement they need to share their faith with their peers. We spent most of lastweek planning for it, and Laura, Meghan, and I spoke about the book, Questioning Evangelism, written by Randy Newman. Laura and I spoke each for 30 minutes only in Spanish! J Afterward we realized how much Spanish we have really learned in the past 7 months. It’s pretty cool! There were about 25 students there both from UCR here in San Pedro, and the Tech University in Cartago, where our friends Philip and Shirley work as missionaries too with Crusade. It was really cool to see a group of students who all had an equal desire to share Christ with others and also to learn more about God for themselves!
There’s one student in particular who really captures my attention. His name is Jonathan. He has such a big desire to learn more about God’s word, and spends so much time reading it daily. It is an encouragement for me to see a student so thirsty for La Palabra de Dios! With Jonathan, and one of his friends, we have a study of the book of Romans every Friday afternoon.
This morning I will meet with a girl named Anna. I hope for Anna that her eyes would be opened to the relevance of God in her life, and that she would not only believe in the traditions of the Catholic church, but would feel the love of God in her heart and see how he works in all areas of her life. I'm looking forward to out meeting today.
In other news, my own heart has been really encouraged, esp this weekend. Just being with Ticos makes me feel encouraged, speaking Spanish, but also being in the word! Lately, I've been feeling a little but far from God in my own heart. Sometimes we desire things of the world, more than Christ, and i know this is the cause of the way i've been feeling lately. However, it is one thing to know in your head what's going on, it's another to feel it in your heart. And oftentimes this heart of ours is oh so deceitful and senseless. Although we need our hearts to know how we feel about things, often our feelings deceive us. I think this is one way Satan can have a foothold in my life. If i'm not spending consistent time in the word with God, and in prayer, talking to him , how am i to know what He's telling me? and what the difference is btwn what he's telling me and what my heart is telling me? :) Yeah. I had an encouraging talk about this topic lastnight with one of my friends here! It was good! Now my heart feels a little less heavy! Gracias a Dios for his blessings!
One goal for the next two months we have here for me is to get better at Spanish, memorize more verses, and maybe verses in Spanish tambien (too.) I'm excited about all the things God has already done in my life so far these 7 months, and am excited to see what he does in the future, even in the next 5 months. We'll see! :)
My friend Kevin Olitan started a traveling music video site about New Brunswick featuring local bands and/or poets, artists, etc. plus everyone else on the street.
Here is his site. Please check it out! Lots of good things happening in da Bruns.
And here's the Wanderer session that Kevin and Christine Tram did with me. I did a Sufjan cover and one of my own.
ENJOY!
<3 to you
Hello Vox friends! Just got back from a wonderful day at El Mirador, a park in Cartago where you can look out and see some of the most beautiful mountains! But what you’ve missed since our Visa renewal trip to Panama has far surpassed this beautiful day in Costa Rica.
More recently from Panama, we celebrated Costa Rica’s Independence Day! The official holiday was this past Tuesday. The Monday before, however, we had a full day on campus, then in the night headed out to our fav city recently, Cartago! There we saw cool fireworks being shot out of the top of an old church that now looks like ruins, but isn’t actually ruins because it never was an actual finished, built church. Well, so it’s just ruins. Nothing mysterious or historical really happened. Just an earthquake, and it was never able to be completed.
After that night, when we had the best burgers in Cartago, we made plans to have the best day off from school since the age of 13. AMUSEMENT PARK! Here, there’s an amusement park called Parque De Diversiones. I was there from 12 (medio dia) to 5 pm in the night! Whoohoo! Until it began raining, as normal here in the afternoons. It was me, Laura, Andrey, Douglas, Isaac, Hector, and Carolina!
On a more serious note, we’ve had some really CHIVA (cool) news lately! A week ago today, and I wrote this in my newest newsletter as well, our friend Douglas, pictured above in some photos, accepted Christ as his Savior! We were sitting in our normal, every week meeting, but were studying Ephesians. We discussed how some people only have a head knowledge of Christ, but not a heart knowledge, and all of sudden he left the room for about 15 minutes. When he came back, he had tears in his eyes. Afterwards, he explained to me what had happened. Turns out, he realized that he had never actually asked God to come into his heart, only made a mental, intellectual decision to trust Him, and believe in Him. SO, he felt a strong urgency to do that and couldn’t wait, and is now our new brother in Christ! J YAY!! We’re going to worship forever with Douglas in Heaven! Things that God does in our hearts when we least expect it! J
Our last Friday night Fiesta consisted of the differences between men and women. Sort of a heavy topic, but we played Battle of the Sexes, and it was interesting how competitive the guys were with their knowledge, or lack of, about women! The women were sorely outnumbered, which contributed to our defeat in the battle of the sexes. Hmm. Lastima! J Maybe we’ll have a chance to redeem ourselves someday.
Having less than three months left now on STINT, I’ve had a lot of opportunity to think about what the next year holds. There are a few opportunities to teach here in private elementary schools, teach English to adults or children, or study more to become certified to teach English or even study for a Master’s Degree. I’ve been spending some of my time lately sorting through these options and trying to think and really seek what God would have my next move be. Money is one factor. If any of you know anyone who needs a tutor or teacher from December from February while I’m in Nashville, let me know! I would love to do that, and will need to work when I’m at home before the hopeful return here to Costa Rica.
play the new song here on myspace page: jesus
lyrics:
Jesus
I'd go all night just to see you
I'd take a boat on the water
I would meet you on the other side
I am the one
you want to know
I bet it's got to hurt a little
just to know
I'm around
You brought me gifts
I brought you gifts
We'll bring eachother gifts
Of that I'm sure
You're the one I want to see
Cuz you take good care of me
You, me and Jesus
that makes three
What a friend we have in Jesus
What a friend we have in Jesus
"Us" is not a word
I've really ever known
how to use
Do you know?
It's way to big for me
Can you explain it?
I'd go anywhere with you
to the desert, even the zoo
I'll go if that's what you want to do
As long as we can go with
Jesus
I'll go anywhere you want to go
as long as I can go
with you
and Jesus
I'm pretty terrible at keeping up with this thing. Maybe if my blog had more direction, if I had a constant topic to bring information to I could write more. I don't think anyone reads this, and even if they did they've probably given up on me and my inconsistent habits. The lull of summer kept me removed from my computer, so coming back to write something is sort of like starting all over again. I should keep a real live journal again and bring some intimacy between me and my own thoughts back into my life.
I was thinking, the only Panama City i've ever been to before lies in the Gulf Coast on the panhandle of Florida! :)
Although not the United States, this Panama City was also on the coast, but much different than anything you would see here in Costa Rica.First of all, we left here in San Jose at 12 in the afternoon on Saturday, and arrived there to be picked up from the bus stop at 3:30 in the morning! AGH! i was dead to the world, but we were able to get to the house of the people we were staying with and rest well before the next morning when we would be visiting their church!
To the left is the nice couple that let us stay at their house during our stay in Panama City. They have been working with Campus Crusade for Christ here for years now! Leanzo, on the right, was our "guide" for the week, and would show us all around the city when he had the opportunity! We were very much taken care of during our stay here! :)
The first day, we went out to lunch with some of the students who are involved with the ministry, the second day, Monday, we spent seeing a little of the city, and shopping at the local mall. Prices are so affordable on clothing there, not like here where every name brand is twice as expensive, so we took advantage of that and bought a few things. We had plently of time to rest and relax as well. On Tuesday, Laura and I had the great opportunity to see the Panama Canal! It was huge! Stretches 50 miles and splits the country of Panama into, making it possible for trade routes to be made shorter, and countries all over the world to have their products imported easier!
We spent a couple of hours here, waitng to see a historical movie about the building of the canal and how Panama benefits from it. It took about half an hour for this ship to finish going through this part if the canal because they have to lower the water on the side you see here, and raise the water level on the other side in order for the ship to pass.
More pictures are on my profile page of that process, and i will explain! Altogether, we met some really cool students who are so in love with the Lord, and excited about who He is, and sharing their faith as well! It was a very encouraging time to spend with fellow believers and learn a little bit about the culture of Panama and how it differs from Costa Rica! Also in my pics you will find historical buildings we visited and the friends we made that we hope to see here in November if we can plan a week for them to come help us with our ministry here! :)
Panama was a BIG city, and reminded me alot of the States. I would like to go back before we leave here, but we'll see. Our next trip out of the country is scheduled for mid November, which is oh so close to my leave date on STINT. AGH, what a terribly sad day that will be! I don't want to leave! Sorry, mom and dad, but it's the truth! :) I love this place, and the people we're meeting here, what i'm learning, the things God is doing, and just the whole bit. I'm confirmed by the Lord that i'm supposed to be here this year. What i should do after December, is still yet to be determined, but i'm sure i will know in due time! :) Thanks for reading, and Dios Te Bendiga a todos! Love you!
