One of my blog friends introduced me to this fun way of getting to dig deeper into who each of us are. It is called an interview meme. She asked me five questions to get me started, so enjoy...
1) What has been the biggest difference between Pre-STINT Chiharu in America and Post-STINT Chiharu in America?
I think this is one thing that I am still asking myself. I mean, I know I have changed, pegging down like an "Ah Ha! This is how I have changed!", I am still working through...(this and probably some of the other answers will be changed later, I promise. It's late, and I tend to just ramble thoughts at this hour of the night)
2) What is one thing about Italy that you can think of to bring to America and make it better?
The one thing off the top of my head is...SIESTA!!!! Those 3 hrs. in the middle of every day from 1pm to about 3pm where everyone just closes down shop and goes home to spend time with the family...now that's life! During my time there I have truly come to learn just how well Italians know how to enjoy life and cherish relationships and time with one another.
3) Where has your favorite place to travel been? why?
One of my favorite places to visit when I was living in Italy was our trips to the Fattoria Il Santo. To any other person it just looks like another old Italian farm. But to me, it is so much MORE! And it's not just because it's out in the middle of the Tuscan countryside. There are SO many sweet memories tied to that place...lots of laughter and funny stories, rich moments spent with the Lord and with friends, even hard times and sad times that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world! I could totally sit and write an entire blog entry just on this place alone.
And now that I am back in the states, my favorite place to visit is my second home, Florence. I left a part of who I am there. I LOVE the history there, how you are just surrounded by all the work of the great artists! It's the birthplace of the Rennaisance! And MOST importantly it is where my dear, sweet, friends who I hold close to my heart are!
4) Where was one place you wish you could go? why?
One place I wish I could've gone back and visited while I was there was Sicily. For those of you who don't know, that's where my parents and I lived for three years and that is where I graduated from high school. One city I would like to go back and visit in particular is Taormina. That was my favorite place to go when we lived there. During the summers my family and I would go to this one hotel there...I remember swimming in their pool, laying out on the beach, my friend and I getting our picture taken with our first Italian lifeguard, and an encounter with a jellyfish (story that will be told at a later time)...good times, good times.
5) What has been the biggest challenge in your life recently?
There have been quite a few challenges in my life lately. One has been working on my teaching certification...another is being patient in the Lord and waiting on His perfect timing with coming back to Italy long term. more to come later...keep getting kicked off the computer right now...
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Rocky Mountain High, Colorado
Okay, so it wasn't the Colorado Rockies...more like Mt. Redcloud, a 14,043 ft. mountain outside a little town called Lake City, Colorado....
This past week I went with the high school youth group from my church to Camp Redcloud. A Christian Moutain Adventure camp in Colorado. It was an AMAZING week in an AMAZING place! Lives were changed and God revealed Himself to each of us in everywhere we went, in every activity we did - from service projects, to high ropes courses, to our overnight camping trip, white water rafting, and to the peak hike of this 14,000 ft. mountain, where my story takes place....
I have to admit, I didn't think I was going to make it through the first 15 minutes. All that was running through my head was: "What did I get myself into!? I don't think I am going to make it all 6hrs!"
We were clear out of the woods and were walking along the rushing river of melted snow when I heard God sweetly whisper to me: "Chiharu, stop. Take a look around you. My beloved, I have brought you here. I want to show you my glory. I will be your Strength. Trust in Me. I love you."
That was when my attitude and my focus turned to that on Christ. Now, that's not to say that the rest of the uphill journey was easy. There were still parts of the climb that were difficult but the difference was my focus on the Lord. Knowing that He alone is my Strength, that I was dependent on Him with each step, made the journey so rich. This type of perseverance with every inch, the dependence I had on Him with every breath in the increasing altitude, revealed to me how I desperately need Him with every minute, every decision, every aspect of my life.
We were at about 13,000 ft. when the weather started to take a turn for the worse. The wind had picked up, snow was starting to fall, and the temperature dropped to below 30 degrees. We were cold. We knew we were not going to make it to the top that day. Being so close to the finish line, seeing the end, the goal, right in front of you was disappointing. But then I turned around and saw where the Lord had taken me. Breathtaking! Absolutely breathtaking! The trees, the valleys, the mountains, all covered with snow and a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds - God's glory was all around us! Tears, not from the cold or the wind, but tears of overwhelming joy and love slowly trickled down my face. This is what it means to be alive! This is what is meant to experience God's glory!!
"One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard; that you, O God are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. Psalm 62:11-12
This past week I went with the high school youth group from my church to Camp Redcloud. A Christian Moutain Adventure camp in Colorado. It was an AMAZING week in an AMAZING place! Lives were changed and God revealed Himself to each of us in everywhere we went, in every activity we did - from service projects, to high ropes courses, to our overnight camping trip, white water rafting, and to the peak hike of this 14,000 ft. mountain, where my story takes place....
I have to admit, I didn't think I was going to make it through the first 15 minutes. All that was running through my head was: "What did I get myself into!? I don't think I am going to make it all 6hrs!"
We were clear out of the woods and were walking along the rushing river of melted snow when I heard God sweetly whisper to me: "Chiharu, stop. Take a look around you. My beloved, I have brought you here. I want to show you my glory. I will be your Strength. Trust in Me. I love you."
That was when my attitude and my focus turned to that on Christ. Now, that's not to say that the rest of the uphill journey was easy. There were still parts of the climb that were difficult but the difference was my focus on the Lord. Knowing that He alone is my Strength, that I was dependent on Him with each step, made the journey so rich. This type of perseverance with every inch, the dependence I had on Him with every breath in the increasing altitude, revealed to me how I desperately need Him with every minute, every decision, every aspect of my life.
We were at about 13,000 ft. when the weather started to take a turn for the worse. The wind had picked up, snow was starting to fall, and the temperature dropped to below 30 degrees. We were cold. We knew we were not going to make it to the top that day. Being so close to the finish line, seeing the end, the goal, right in front of you was disappointing. But then I turned around and saw where the Lord had taken me. Breathtaking! Absolutely breathtaking! The trees, the valleys, the mountains, all covered with snow and a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds - God's glory was all around us! Tears, not from the cold or the wind, but tears of overwhelming joy and love slowly trickled down my face. This is what it means to be alive! This is what is meant to experience God's glory!!
"One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard; that you, O God are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. Psalm 62:11-12
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