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christyherman
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Name: Christy
Country: United States
State: South Carolina
Metro: Columbia
Birthday: 6/17/1981
Gender: Female
Interests: Friends, family, basketball, teaching, reading
Occupation: Education/training
Message: message me
Member Since:
11/12/2004
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| I began writing this while in Africa and have finally completed some of my thoughts:
Wherever you are… be all there… Jim Elliott
The past couple days I have realized that I feel a bit like I'm living in a foreign film sometimes right now. I can feel very dissociated, because of my inability to speak the language. At times, I zone out and walk around while seeing things, but not truly allowing myself to feel or experience life fully. The Lord kind of broke through this state recently as I observed a little boy, Abubakhar, post-surgery. As they changed his dressing, his face contorted in agony. The universal language of pain connected with my heart. I couldn't stand to watch him and left the room, which led me to reflect on the dissociative state where I occasionally find myself. I had watched his surgery, and multiple surgeries before that. I had seen terrible looking things without nausea or much thought, because I didn’t have to watch people consciously experiencing pain. However, leaving the room gave me a good opportunity to go spend some time grieving for a world in pain…
For the woman dying of AIDS
For the girl hurting with cancer
For the little boy in intense pain
For the woman who is valued only in proportion to her ability to bear children and work for the family
For the man searching for meaning
For all of us who seek to understand the suffering that cannot be understood…who desire answers when there are none… for now
I found myself seeking a balance. I cannot possibly walk around feeling the intensity of the pain of living in this broken world all the time. I fear this could cause a loss of the will to live, or at least, to continue functioning. We are taught in the counseling program that there is a healthy compartmentalization necessary in order to help people. You cannot let yourself 'feel' and 'experience' all that your clients have felt and experienced- the result could be secondary post-traumatic stress disorder. But I also want to be aware of a tendency that can develop- the tendency to compartmentalize more of life and my way of living than is necessary or healthy.
So how much do I allow myself to feel and what can I do? This question takes me to the gospels, to understand in the best way I know how what Jesus would say in response to me. I see Him hurting for people, showing His compassion by touching and healing people. He does not allow their pain to cripple Him, but is compelled to act on their behalf and to reveal Himself to them. He changes their lives. I know this, because He has changed my life. I know Him as healer.
I hope to be His hands, feet and ears to the hurting while I am here on this earth. There is only one hope- He is the healer- His name is Jesus -Yesu ye an Keneyaba ye.
    
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| I have been wanting to write more about my experiences in Africa since the day I arrived, and yet, it is one of the life experiences where words seem insufficient to express all that I see, hear and feel. However, as the days go by I realize that though I may never feel able to fully express these things, I do not want to miss the opportunity to communicate at least a bit of it in the best way that I can. Africa is beautiful. From the brilliant night sky teeming with stars to the open plains offering unobstructed views of sunrise and sunset, warthogs and donkey carts frequenting the streets, it is clearly worlds apart from Columbia, SC (my current home). Despite its differences, I am amazed by how much this experience reminds me of my childhood in Manila. Whether it is being different (in skin color), the poverty, riding on the top or backs of cars, the warm weather, or great times with family, it has brought back wonderful memories of my utopian childhood. Pictured below: L-the village of Koro, R-African children at play  
I spent the first week with family in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. I had incredible family time there. I ran the streets of red dirt each morning with Paul and David, played basketball with all four of the boys, learned to ride the moto (moped), played Epic Duels, enjoyed family meals and braiding Rebekah’s hair each day. I had the privilege of seeing my aunt and uncle’s work at the seminary, radio station and in many other venues. They also gave me some wonderful cultural experiences: hiking the rocks, touring the village of Koro, watching a Burkinabe baptism, swimming in the Guingette, Arabic tea in an African courtyard, and seeing a family of hippos! Pictured below: L-the Hippos, R- with cousins at a Korean restaurant in Bobo Dioulasso  
After the week in Bobo, we met up with Jessica at the Mali/Burkina border where I joined Jess. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to observe many surgeries and some deliveries at the hospital. It has been life-changing to see her amazing work at the hospital and to observe Malians and their way of life (I will post further reflections on this later). Thursdays are market days, so on the way home from the hospital, we had a market experience. We bought a bit of street food and fruit as we walked through Koutiala.  It has been such a gift to have this time with Jessica. We have had a fablous time catching up, celebrating birthdays past and those yet to come; laughing, remembering and dreaming. It is a beautiful thing to have a sister and best friend wrapped up in one. Pictured left: On New Year's Eve at Teriya Bugu To see more pictures of Africa visit: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=71437&l=ee1fe&id=565125964 | | |
| I haven't had access to internet the past few days, but just wanted to post and mention that I made it safely to Africa! It has been a wonderful experience so far and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be here. I hope to continue to posting (and post pictures too) when possible.
I am trying new foods, learning a bit of Bombara, seen lots of animals and have a Malian name now: Christine Dembele. Just like my friend, Carey, told me, I received my first marriage proposal on my first day in Mali. I wish I could videotape the entire experience because I am in awe of God's creation here. Needless to say, it's been a terrific experience and it is going too fast already! :)
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| 时间过的太快乐。很奇怪！（Time goes so quickly- how very strange). J I find it hard to believe that I have been in Columbia, South Carolina for over a month. Transitioning tends to be something that I think I should have down by now… but I don’t. I still find it hard to leave people and places that have found their way into my soul. As I felt homesick this week, I realized that what I longed for was not a place, but the people that I love. However, I must take this opportunity to mention that living in the South is not without its charms. The day after I moved to Columbia, Kelly flew down and Melissa drove down (best friends from college). We had the opportunity to travel to Charleston. A couple of weeks later, Heidi (my cousin/apartment-mate) and I traveled to Savannah on her birthday. What beautiful cities and what an incredible time to be making memories with these girls that have blessed my life more than I can ever express.  
 
 (I even got to meet Paula Deen... kind of...)
Heidi and I have been able to set up our apartment enough to host guests three of my five weekends here so far! We are enjoying regular trips to Katie and Will’s (in the apartment upstairs) and are feeling pretty settled. We often enjoy a delicious cup of coffee together as we process life, loss, grieving the limits of our humanity, hope and dreaming big. I am so thankful for Heidi!!! She has been a fabulous friend and fellow traveler on this journey. With weekend guests...  
 Mary, Don and Joel visited! We were able to celebrate Joel and Heidi's birthdays. This past weekend, my dear friend, Jenn visited. We had fun in downtown Columbia... and at Claire's... a return to our childhood?! :)
I have also met some truly amazing people at CIU. Within the first week of classes, I realized that I had come to a place where I would truly experience community. Whether playing basketball, talking to friends after my crisis counseling class, processing the DSM and Psychopathology homework, or praying and worshipping wholeheartedly in groups, I have been blessed deeply. Counseling classes have required some in-depth soul-searching which is not always pleasant (it can be painful and ugly). But I am daily reminded that the Lord has redeemed me and desires to have a relationship with me. How completely mind-blowing! His faithfulness to love me beyond what I will ever comprehend compels me to go deeper into this love and this journey of becoming who I am supposed to be (which may not always be safe, but is always good). I am learning to trust in new and necessary ways. “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’” Lam. 3:22-24 “Oh no… He is not safe, but He IS good!” (says the Beaver when asked if Aslan is ‘quite safe’) C.S. Lewis | | |
| Hmm… here I am trying to play a little
bit of catch- up because I have not been making the time to write about
things that are definitely noteworthy!
Three weeks ago I had the fabulous
opportunity to travel to IL and Michigan to see dear old friends of
mine!
Lianne and I calculated that we have
been friends for 14.5 years now! Wow! It made us feel 
a bit old, and
extremely blessed. J It has been a divine 14.5 years th at we have
had as friends. From the moment I asked her to be  my best friend (in
7th grade- she said yes!)  she has been true to her word and
has been with me through the best and worst times of our
lives. It was
so wonderful to reunite with her and her wonderful family. I had the
opportunity to meet Jaelle Marie, her’s and Bill’s beautiful daughter.
We spent time cooking and baking some of our favorite things, shopping,
walking a lakeside path, eating Chicago pizza in Millenium park and
catching up on a lot of things! Missy cam e a nd picked me up in Chicago.
As a fellow China sister, it was good to feel that I had a bit of China
back with me. J
I was able to meet her man, Josh. I also met her sweet nieces and spent
time at the beach with them and helped her pick out patio furniture
for her ‘deck’ area. We reminisced about China, processed the transitions
that we have made back to life in the USA and enjoyed life together
again. Kelly picked me up from Missy’s and
took me back to Kalamazoo, where I made many a college memory. J Only
this time, I was able to see her’s and Rick’s house, and meet some
of the additions to her family! We caught up over coffee dates, a jog
down E Avenue, and a day in Chicago. She did her research and got us
into Shedd’s Aquarium for free with our teacher ID’s. We also witnessed
a parade, walked 
along the lake, through rose gardens and took too many
pictures (well, that was me)! 
Oh the divinity of friendship…   | | |
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