I really love that I live in an LDS dominated culture, work at a church among Christians, work at a restaurant with some of the most anti-"anything having to do with God or religion" bunch I've ever met, and work for a non-profit with a Christian Indian man born a Hindu in a Hindu and Muslim nation.
There is not a lot of diversity in Salt Lake City, but I feel like I get to taste a little bit of it in all my different arenas of work and play. And as for Amitabh, my boss at Calcutta Mercy Ministries, I got to spend some quality time with him this morning, and that forced me to think about a lot of this.
Today, I watched a video that Amitabh was editing for the website in which he told of his story of coming to know Christ as his Savior and of his wedding to wife, Susan. Amitabh mentioned in the video that when he became a Christian a friend said, "What will your Christian name be? Maybe it should be Phillip." And Amitabh replied, "But I like my name. My parents gave it to me and I like it." I thought... stupid westerners. We think Christianity means being western, but the absolute glory of Christianity is that it is relevant to everyone, everywhere. No particular nation can claim that Christ is most relevant to them. Except maybe Israel (but aren't we all heirs now?) - but definitely not America. I'm glad Amitabh was smart enough to realize that he was a Christian, his name was just as "Christian" as Phillip and that he could love Jesus and still hold on to his roots as an Indian. Stupid westerners...
Also, the description and pictures from his wedding were beautiful because they embraced both the Hindu culture in which Amitabh was raised as well as the Christian background that Susan came from. The fusion was pretty awesome!
Pray for: my sister in Guatemala, my upcoming trip to Michigan, the prospect of me living abroad for a few months, and please visit Stop the Traffik to see what you can do to stop human trafficking!
Peace,
Cat
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Update
So I had decided to move back to California in August, but after a lot of rethinking, prayer, and listening to those who know me best, I have decided to stay in Utah indefinitely. Everyone keeps asking me what "indefinite" means. Indefinite means "lasting for an unknown or unstated length of time." So I am in Utah for an unknown length of time! And I'm SO excited!
I'm still going to pursue graduate school in the fall of 2009. I am hoping for either Portland State or the University of Utah. I am nervous right now about PSU's program though. I'm not sure it's specialized for what I want to do. There are a couple things up in the air regarding the coming winter/spring. Depending on those things I may look for a job at the U or Westminster College to get my foot in the door and get some experience working at a university.
With all of these question marks hanging over my head, I feel like I'm on the verge of an all out anxiety attack. But God has been (as always) extremely faithful. And for the past couple of weeks he has been speaking to me through his word.
1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety up on him because he cares for you."
Philippians 4:4-7 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Matthew 6:25-34 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Psalm 37:7a "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him."
So I feel like I've been asked to let go of a lot of my anxiety, my stress, my worries and embrace patience knowing that God knows what I need, what I want and he will answer. Jill has encouraged me to wake up everyday and ask God: "What would you have me learn today? Who would you have speak into my life? Whose life would you have me speak into?" I'm trying to do that, and I'm learning that God answers. We just have to listen.
Sooooo.... California was so much fun, but I still know I can't live there for a long period of time. In two weeks I go to Michigan for a week, and then I'm taking the month of August off of PF Chang's to refocus, regroup and get my head right while enjoying time in Oregon, weddings, hanging out with my students, and lots of other stuff!
Peace,
Cat
Mari and Max's (cousins) new baby Tonindeye. He is just 3 weeks old!
Jordan playing in his little pool. He's a year old now and still as adorable as ever!! Love him!
Me and Robyn outside of the Pantages when my mom took us to see Wicked. SOOO good!
Me and a few of the AC girls when I was in Pasadena. Love them!
I'm still going to pursue graduate school in the fall of 2009. I am hoping for either Portland State or the University of Utah. I am nervous right now about PSU's program though. I'm not sure it's specialized for what I want to do. There are a couple things up in the air regarding the coming winter/spring. Depending on those things I may look for a job at the U or Westminster College to get my foot in the door and get some experience working at a university.
With all of these question marks hanging over my head, I feel like I'm on the verge of an all out anxiety attack. But God has been (as always) extremely faithful. And for the past couple of weeks he has been speaking to me through his word.
1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety up on him because he cares for you."
Philippians 4:4-7 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Matthew 6:25-34 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Psalm 37:7a "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him."
So I feel like I've been asked to let go of a lot of my anxiety, my stress, my worries and embrace patience knowing that God knows what I need, what I want and he will answer. Jill has encouraged me to wake up everyday and ask God: "What would you have me learn today? Who would you have speak into my life? Whose life would you have me speak into?" I'm trying to do that, and I'm learning that God answers. We just have to listen.
Sooooo.... California was so much fun, but I still know I can't live there for a long period of time. In two weeks I go to Michigan for a week, and then I'm taking the month of August off of PF Chang's to refocus, regroup and get my head right while enjoying time in Oregon, weddings, hanging out with my students, and lots of other stuff!
Peace,
Cat
Mari and Max's (cousins) new baby Tonindeye. He is just 3 weeks old!
Jordan playing in his little pool. He's a year old now and still as adorable as ever!! Love him!
Me and Robyn outside of the Pantages when my mom took us to see Wicked. SOOO good!
Me and a few of the AC girls when I was in Pasadena. Love them!
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