shaping experiences

While I lived in Texas, I had a lot of shaping experiences and they came in a variety of forms.

For a few years I spent most of my Saturdays in an inner city community in South Dallas. I was invited by some friends to go and serve and share life with people in the community there. Soon, I had families expecting to see me walk in their front door – without knocking – every Saturday. We were friends… family even… and we learned much from each other. I enjoyed seeing God’s work develop in this community through an organization called H.I.S. Bridgebuilders.

Before long, Laura, whose husband is the president and co-founder of Bridgebuilders, began mentoring/discipling me. We served together on Saturdays and met weekly and talked about God’s word, read through books together, and shared life – decorating for Christmas or just praying through struggles and joys. I was so very blessed that she was willing to share who she was and what God had done and was doing in the life of her and her family.

While I was in Texas the last few weeks, Laura and I were able to get together for lunch. She gave me a tour of the new Bridgebuilders facility and while I was there I was able to see a few of my old friends. It was such a blessing to see how our Father is working and blessing all that they are doing for His glory in a community of Dallas that became very special to me.

I am so thankful to know Laura and Mike and to have been influenced by their lives and by their ministry. Being there made me miss serving alongside them but also reminded me that we really are all in this together – near and far. I’m thankful for the way my time there shaped me and equipped me for things to come.

Check out this video [It's full of my friends.] and be encouraged and challenged to live intentionally, bringing transformation to communities.

So, here’s our world. What are we going to do?

Today is a day of remembering and so, I remember…

Ten years ago, I woke up early (because at the time I was a bit high maintenance and took at least two hours to get ready in the morning) and I grabbed my robe and shower stuff and walked down the hall of my dorm like I’d done everyday since starting college – two weeks prior. My friend Amy Mig saw me and said “Shanda. You need to go turn on the news. Something hit the World Trade Center… and there’s something about the Pentagon…” I don’t wake up quickly so I incoherently said, “Okay…” and kept walking. I turned on the shower, hung up my towel… And then it hit me what she’d said. “Wait, WHAT?” I turned off the shower, grabbed my stuff, walked BACK to my room, turned on the tv, woke up my roommate and we watched … and sat stunned trying to figure out what in the world was going on. We spent the day glued to TVs. Classes were canceled for the morning and in the afternoon we did nothing but talk about what was happening.

I was young – just beginning my “adult” years. I was unaware of the world in SO many ways, but I knew… This would change everything. And it did. It set the stage for the realities of the rest of my adult life. It’s surreal that it’s been 10 years already. But at the same time, ten years worth of life has definitely happened and changed me…

Today, as this different version of myself… 10 years later, I’m watching again as TV specials review and remember that day. But now, I understand the world a little bit better. And now I think about the world on a different, more global, scale. And I feel sad. Sad for the lives lost, sad for the friends and family it affected, sad for the kids who have never had the chance to know one of their parents… I know this day must be SO very hard for them… sad for the wars that have occurred and are occurring, and sad for all the lives that have been lost on BOTH sides of the world… for the BROKEN state of creation.

Yesterday, I saw this on a friend’s twitter… “Dear USA, Your 9/11 is our 24/7. Sincerely, Palestine.” That, my friends, is perspective and it makes my heart ache. Because it’s true. I can’t think about this day without thinking about people in other parts of the world too – because it isn’t just OUR story. There’s always another side. I’m learning more and more about our world… and it’s challenging to learn to love THE WORLD like Jesus does… And it doesn’t matter who we are, or which part of the world we live in, we’re all God’s creation and we’re all made in His image and for His glory, and Jesus came and lived and died and LIVES for people who have/do/will believe(d) – in ALL nations. And if we’re followers of Jesus, we have to face the realities of the WORLD and live passionately and purposefully to change it and to make His name known, among all nations – to bring his mercy and grace and love and truth and justice and hope to those who need it.

So, here’s our world. What are we going to do? 

“Shake the Dust” | see into stories

If you watched the TED talk I wrote about recently, you heard Nadia Al-Sakkaf talk about a documentary in the works called Shake the Dust.

I was intrigued – as usual. So, I did what she said and went to http://shakethedust.org/. And I loved it. A film maker who traveled all over developing countries around the world decided to make a film about the hip-hop sub-culture in places like Yemen, Uganda, and Haiti. (Places I’ve not been to… but I love!) And not only is it interesting to see into stories of people around the world and their love for the hip-hop culture but I LOVE the concept and motivation behind the making of the film.

The director shares his philosophy…

Upon returning from a trip to Uganda in 2006, I exhibited (along with another photographer) a series of images from my time backpacking through this volatile yet beautiful African country.  Although the exhibit was relatively well-received, one newspaper article claimed the show “lacked honesty.”  Their assertion was that very few of the images seemed to actually represent the reality of the suffering that was happening in Uganda.  “Where were the M16’s, the child soldiers, the poverty, disease, despair?”

The honest truth was this:  Suffering was indeed there, but it was not the majority of what I found.  Many filmmakers enter into a place of crisis, and, with a multitude of motives good and bad, endeavor to capture nothing but agony and despair.  Now, I believe there is certainly a place for that.  But if that is the only story that is told, then the subjects of our words, photos, and videos, are deprived of their humanity.  I believe we are called to empathize with suffering people– not just pity them.

When we are able to glimpse the whole of their experience– to taste their daily life, and seek to understand their culture– we will then begin to truly be moved to compassion for them– because we will not simply be looking at disturbing images– we will be looking at our brothers and sisters who are in peril.  People need to see the full truth– both the suffering, and the humanity.  This, I believe, will be the catalyst that truly stirs us to action.

… go here for the rest of the story …

It all goes along with the idea of needing to take the time and make the effort to KNOW the world if you really want to LOVE the world and seeing various sides of pictures/stories/realities. I just love it.

They are still in the process of traveling around the world and making the film a reality. For now, follow the blogumentary and follow along with the stories. But start with this:

become a part of their story | Emily/Ember/Uganda

The more I walk down the road of getting to KNOW the world better, so I can LOVE the world better… the more I am learning to LOVE WOMEN in hard places, going through hard times… But also, the more I see dreams for these women, their families, and their communities – dreams filled with hope, healing, and transformation!

So, back to my friend – Emily. You know, the awesome one I was talking about a couple posts ago. The artist. I want to tell you, like I said, about what she’s doing TODAY (and for the next 6 weeks).

Uganda is one of those places that, though very very beautiful, can be very hard at times. But it’s also a place where there are some really good things happening. And some of those things have to do with awesome and talented people, like Emily. Emily works with Ember, a company that has a vision for seeing hope, healing and transformation in Uganda – through art and, more specifically, through making jewelry with recycled paper and plastics.

Emily loves art. She IS an artist after all. And one of her favorite forms of art is making jewelry out of recycled or reused materials. She loves breathing new and beautiful life into what some might think is useless trash. (Gosh, I am SUCH a fan of that sentence!!!) Emily also loves Uganda. For a few years now, she has considered the country one of her homes. Through Ember – Emily is able to combine those loves!

Ember has hired – I want to say 27/28, but I’m not certain of the number – women to make jewelry that is then sold in the US. Emily goes and spends time with the women, training them on new designs. You see, Ember has given them jobs, not handouts, and they want these jobs to be totally legitimate. They want people to buy the jewelry these women make, not to just to help some poor people become less poor but because they think that the jewelry is BEAUTIFUL and worth their money. So, Emily’s job – well, one of them – is to help them create things that women in our part of the world are going to WANT to buy because they really do want this work to be sustainable and dignifying. They want to pay the women well and for a long time – not JUST to the point that they are able to feed their families and send their children to elementary school, but – to the point that they will be able to save and send their children to COLLEGE and start businesses! They could have hired twice as many women and paid them less, but they’re dreaming long term. They want to see these women and their children learn and grow and dream and become empowered to improve the realities of life in their communities.

Just look at them…

… aren’t they beautiful?! The women. Their dreams. Their art. Just… lovely.

I love that buying a piece of something these women make allows me to become a part of their story – a small part, but a part. Check it out at emberarts.com. Maybe you can become a part of their story too!

Dear Emily,
I hope you don’t mind that I’m talking about you. I just really think you are soooo cool!
When I grow up, I kinda want to be like you.
Love,
Shanda
P.S. Let’s skype soon!!!

I think I’d like to be her friend | TED: See Yemen Through (Nadia Al-Sakkaf’s) Eyes

A few months ago, I shared a story I had read about a girl in Yemen. ONE of the many things I love about stories is that one story makes me hungry for more stories – more knowledge – a wider, more accurate view of the world. Reading Nujood’s story back in April made me start paying more intentional attention to Yemen. So, when I saw there was a TED talk by Nadia Al-Sakkaf – I actually knew who she was (the Editor of the Yemen Times) and I was eager to “See Yemen Through [her] Eyes” (the name of her TED talk).

And, of course, I think you should SEE too!

(If the video does not show up… click here!)

I think I’d like to be her friend. Obviously, our stories are quite different but I actually think we have a lot in common (and that’s another thing I love about stories. There’s usually SOMETHING you can SOMEHOW relate to). Here’s why…

In her story, she shared:

I studied in India. And in my third year, I started becoming confused because I was Yemeni, but I was also mixing up with a lot of my friends in college. And I went back home and I said, ”Daddy, I don’t know who I am. I’m not a Yemeni, I’m not an Indian.” And he said, “You are the bridge.” And that is something I will keep in my heart forever.

I’ve shared with you before the analogy of “being green” (a life of not fitting in) and if you’ve spent much time with me, you’ve probably heard me talk about it many times. I’ve spent time overseas in a few different places. I’ve been changed by all the places I’ve been. I JUST got back from 13 months in Asia – and I’m more GREEN than ever before. And just like Nadia said, sometimes that can get a little confusing. Who am I really? But her father was so wise in his answer. A bridge. We get to be bridges. People who live between cultures and help (somehow) to link them together – to better understand each other a bit more, or at least to CARE more.

I also relate to the influence her father had on her believing she could be an agent of change in the world, and a bridge. She says at different points that her father always told her she was equal to men. He always affirmed her ability to be a strong women who influences the world. I was thinking about this just recently… If I hadn’t had a father who believed in my abilities… I wouldn’t be me. I can think of several strong memories of my own Daddy telling me he believed I was going to change the world. He told me I was going to do greater things than he ever did. And I believed him. He gave me courage to try. And maybe even courage to fall on my face a few times in the process.

[Note to Men: If you ever get the chance... Be this kind of a Daddy. Tell your daughters they can change the world and make it a better place. And they just might.]

She also has a passion to be an educator about various sides of realities in her country and in the world, and she’s in a great spot to do that as the Editor of the Yemen Times. She talks about the need to go beyond stereotypes, to realize that Yemen is a place with more than just Al Qaeda and terrorism, and that it’s not fair for the world to see Yemen in one single frame (like Chimamanda Adichie talked about in her TED talk about the dangers of a single story).

So basically… if you didn’t already, you should stop reading what I have to say and watch/listen to Nadia Al-Sakkaf…

Dear Nadia, Can we be friends? Let’s have coffee. :)