Saturday, September 20, 2008

I'm in Europe?

Hey Hey. 

So, I am notoriously bad at updating this thing. Its a love/hate relationship here.

I'm in Salzburg for the fall 2008 semester. 

I have been posting photos here.

http://picasaweb.google.com/chrismwarren

Enjoy. More photos up every Monday (ish).

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Austria

Yawn...

It has been a great summer. Things in my life have changed quite drastically since last I wrote here. I worked at Starbucks up the road from Judson for the summer and tried to save as much money as possible. That included me biking to work, taking the bus, and begging my co-workers for rides. I made it a whole year without a car! Currently, I have been 13 months without a car, car payment, insurance or gas... I think I chose the right year for that.

I made the Dean's List this last semester. An achivement that my mother is quite proud of - I gave her the certificate. Right now I am in West Virginia gearing up for a semester abroad in Austria. There are 12 of us in total (including the professor who is going with us), and we come from four different colleges throughout this region of the U.S.

I'm taking two history classes (a WWI, and a post WWII), elementary German, and digital photography as part of the program. The other main component of this study is a large travel element. We have 11 free weekends to travel anywhere in Europe that we can get and get back by rail. The program includes an unlimited EURail pass.

I hope to post pictures and regular updates here. I depart the US tomorrow morning. Cheers.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Midterms, Some papers from the DR, and a photo link...

I promise that I haven't been simply sitting around since I got back from the Dominican.

Here are a couple of papers turned in this week related to my trip:
La Republica Dominicana (ANT271)
9 Pages from an ethnographic position.
SLEX 1 - Dominican Republic (SSC355)
Borrows from the other paper, but here I use some concepts explored in my Cultural Diversity (Sociology) class to try and examine the community a bit.

Midterm grades were solid:
SPC120 Foundations of Speech: B+
BST102 Intro to New Testament: A
SSC355 Cultural Diversity: A-
MAT111 Mathematical Investigations: A
ANT271 Cultural Anthropology: A
Chapel: F (Apparently, my exemption from last semester doesn't carry over, just some paperwork and that will be fixed.)

Here are some photos of my trip, thanks to Kids Around The World.

(I'm in one, keep scrolling)

4 weeks left. Pray for my sanity.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Lets go build a playground!


Right. That is going to be me in just a few days. I depart in a couple of hours. So, I thought I would post to tell you that I love you too - even if I'm not coming to build you a playground during Spring Break.

Its been a hard week, so pray that I have some energy - mental and physical.

* Mar 8th- Depart for DR
o 4:30am, Leave Judson, travel to O’Hare
* Mar 9th – La Romana
o Church and Softball
* Mar 10th- La Romana
o Building Playground
* Mar 11th- La Romana
o Building Playground
* Mar 12th- La Romana
o Visiting churches in other Batey’s (communities)
* Mar 13th- Santo Domingo
o Excursion Day in Santo Domingo
* Mar 14th- La Romana
o Playground Dedication
* Mar 15th- Depart for Chicago

Friday, February 29, 2008

bokardo.com, I laughed.


Occasionally I read Joshua Porter's blog about social networking.

He occasionally posts little comics. Above is one that I enjoyed.

Monday, February 25, 2008

My IT Family.

The following entry is copied over from our Soroti, Uganda team's blog. Its pretty terrible, I found out last Friday, and was shell shocked the rest of the weekend from it. I know that the team is responding in love, and for that I am grateful. I am still processing it... well... I'll let you read it for yourself. -CW

[Link to the original entry.]

"February 25
Major Tragedy

We want to inform you about something tragic that has happened on our team and ask you to pray with us. On Friday, February 15 our teammate and friend was brutally raped. She had been in Soroti with us for two months to do some grass-root work for a new area of ministry our team desires to get involved in – counseling traumatized children. She was also here for the purpose of doing a vision trip to look at the ministry with hopes to come back and join our team in a year. She is a counselor and has a passion for helping traumatized children. We are extremely saddened by what has happened to her.

Since Friday our lives have been consumed with medical visits; police investigation; contacting International Teams, her home church and her insurance company; and caring for our friend. On Tuesday, Richard Ojola, the man who attacked our friend, was arrested. Our friend had to go and identify the man. She, along with us, is very concerned for the man as this is a high-profile capital case and he will most likely receive the death penalty. We have never faced something this hard. The whole thing has been terribly traumatic. Amazingly, our friend is doing fair.

Currently, Angie is accompanying our friend back home for two reasons: first, our friend is unable to function properly because of the side-effects of the anti-HIV drugs; and second, the trauma has not yet hit her and could at any time. At home, she will be able to have the care and support she needs. Her insurance company is covering all of the costs, including business-class airfare for both of them and Angie’s hotel. It is very difficult for her to leave like this but we know it is best for her.

A few things you should know. First of all, WE ARE NOT IN DANGER! The attack happened at night and we do not go out at night. The people here have shared with us that it is dangerous being out after dark, which is why we stay in after dark. There is no danger in the day time; besides, we are almost always with other people. Secondly, we have been so thankful for the support of the other missionaries here, the medical help, the work and kindness of the police, our Ugandan co-workers, International Teams, her home church, her insurance company and the love of our neighbors and friends here.

Third, please pray with us:
  • for our friend and the healing she needs. Pray for peace as she says good bye to her friends here and as she faces everyone at home.
  • that Richard is HIV negative and if he is positive that the medication our friend took will prevent her from getting HIV.
  • for Angie and our friend’s travels.
  • for Richard Ojola. Although we know justice needs to take place, we also want to see this man forgiven by Christ. We hope to witness to him while he awaits the trial. We do know he was a child soldier and not right in his mind. This doesn’t excuse him but it does make us sad. Jesus told us to pray for our enemies and that is what we need to do. Our friend was able to give him a note and The 4 Spiritual Laws in Ateso, and he did respond with a note requesting forgiveness from her and from God.
  • for the future weeks as court matters need to be resolved (our friend may very well be summoned back to testify in court – they assured us her travel expenses would be paid for by the Ugandan government)
  • for us as a team here: Josh and Mandy, Angie and myself, and our children. We have all been under a lot of stress. We are tired and weak emotionally and physically. In addition to this tragedy, our children have been sick. Grace now has dysentery. Avalien has been throwing up and keeping a fever. Our water was out, our power was out, our internet is in and out…these are all little things, but when we are already under this much stress it adds up. We are thankful we have each other.
  • that the outcome of all this will be for the people of Soroti to come to Christ. We need to be a witness through this situation. The police thought we were crazy for not wanting him to die, for giving him a tract, and bringing him bread and water later that night after he was arrested. They wanted to know why we would do such things. They are amazed we want to share God’s love with this bad man. We pray our witness in this difficult time will transform this community. God can do all things. We pray that His kingdom will penetrate this area to the point where nights will no longer be a time of danger, but of peace.
We know evil is in this world but it does not have the victory. God rules over all and is above all! He is here with us helping us and giving us peace. We are so grateful we can trust and believe in Him. We hope you do not over react from this letter, but we really thought you should know and be praying. Again, our friend is doing fair and we are safe. Thank you for all of your prayers."

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Kenyan Violence

This came in today... I have refrained from publishing previous emails I have received on this topic because of details which may be too specific, but this one is 'sterile' enough. If you don't know what is happening in Keyna, navigate to your favorite news site online and it will slap you in the face there.

International Teams has been touched by the violence directly, someone connected to one of our teams was killed about a week and a half ago.

Here is the latest from Stephen Freed, the Director of International Teams/ International.

Dear Fellow IT-ers,

We are requesting continued fervent prayer for our workers in Kenya,
their families, and the entire nation.

As previously written to you, Kenya is in a condition of violent
reaction following the December national elections. Old wounds of
tribal, land, and disadvantage issues have arisen following concerns
over fraud in the election.

As of February 4, estimates are approximately 350,000 persons have been
displaced from their homes, with many homes being burned, and fear and
threats spreading. Approximately 1,000 people have been killed in a
wide variety of locations. With the potential cycle of revenge and
retaliation for acts of violence, there is much to pray for. Asking God
for the power of His restraining Holy Spirit to stop the evil of greed,
hurt, and revenge.

Our workers in the Rift Valley area have gone through much trauma and
direct threats and losses. Our teams in the Molo area near Nakuru have
had neighbors homes burned, are often sleeping outside at night to be
safe from a possible sudden burning of their own homes, have had to flee
on numerous occasions, and are desperately trying to protect those they
are serving. At the same time they are having to make difficult
decisions about staying in their immediate towns. We honor and respect
their incredible hearts of service as they minister to hundreds of
displaced persons.

Our teams in the Nairobi area are also being forced in numerous
instances to move from their own homes out of fear. Belonging to a
certain tribe, and living in an area where another tribe is in the
majority has led to threats and great risk. These teams have endured
the fear of losing contact with loved ones, and the difficulty of moving
from place to place.

Currently Nairobi is in a state of uneasy calm. Circumstances change
from day to day. Violence has decreased in recent days as opposing
party leaders are finally beginning to talk and negotiate. Our teams
are ministering to many internally displaced people who have gathered at
certain locations waiting to see how events will turn.

As of today we continue to plan to hold an East Africa Regional
Conference right in Nairobi. Some of our new African partners and
workers may be unable to travel to this conference because of safety
issues. We welcome your prayers.

Across other nations in Africa we rejoice (as we do in Kenya as well) at
the development of powerful mission movements. Please pray with us as
we welcome many new workers and partners, and find a whole new "IT"
emerging in East, Central, and Southern Africa - as well as Sudan and Egypt.

Warm regards,
Stephen

Monday, February 4, 2008

Where are all your assignments?

Yeah, I'm not sure. This semester has been pretty easy so far. A bit of light reading... but nothing too earth shattering.

I have a paper for Thursday due for my New Testament class (Which is significantly better than my OT class was... Sorry Erickson, but you're boring!).

So, in the mean time... here are a couple of things for my Speech class.

Introductory Speech (SPC120). It is only an outline... I don't have audio of my actual speech.

Bonus Assignment (SPC120)
. I had to relay notes on a speaker that I heard publicly for some bonus credit. While I nailed my actual speech, I apparently have problems memorizing vocabulary terms. Grrr. I'm still fairly confident that I will do well in this class.

I have probably had the most homework from my Math class... But, I'm not going to make scans of that or anything crazy for you. How about I simply relay my test scores. I have a major one coming up Thursday.

I went to the Faith and International Development Conference this past weekend at Calvin College in Grand Rapids. It was good stuff. Maybe another post to follow... for now, I need some sleep.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Forgotten Ways, The


It's been a while since I was in the habit of knocking out a few books. So here is an update of one that I am tracking with.

[Taken from my moleskin] 20 Jan 2008
Reading: The Forgotten Ways, Alan Hirsch.

"I've had good intentions of reading this book since it came out -- and now, coming off of Exiles by Frost; it only seemed fitting. Alas - I do not read nearly as much as I should - nor do I finish all of the books that I start.

I had this book for the entire Winter break, and simply had not read it - I renewed it from the library without reading a single word.

I cracked it on my flight to PDX last Friday, but didn't make it very far. I ended up chatting with the guy next to me. Today on my return flight I am sitting here with a mix of emotion. First, excitement, joy, wonderment, awe; but all of that is tempered by a tepid fear and a creeping anxiety.

I remarked to Jake [a fellow mobilizer here at ITeams] that this book is going to change my life, and I truly believe that after reaching about a third of the way in."

... So there you have it [minimally edited] straight from my personal journal. I'm only to about page 70, and there are 295 pages [includes table of contents, and addendum's/glossary/bibliography - btw, I hate when publishers do that!].

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Creation.

These guys had showed me how to stencil. [Jake B and Matty S]

These guys gave me the tutorial, gah! I love teh interwebs1!

So - I created. Here is my offering.


[first some photoshop fun, i grabbed a pic of some church doors that snapped in voronezh russia and put it through the process. came out with this, and added a couple words in stencil friendly font.]






[therapeutic]







[orth. cross stencil... yes, i understand that this design almost defeats the purposes of stencil. i get it you crazy 'scene' kids... i'll step it up on the next one, so bugger off.]


[final design]








[front]












[back]


So what do you think?? I will get another up soon, this weekend is crazy busy.