Prayer Requests Prior to Trip

Hi All,

Thank you so much for all the love, support, and prayers you've offered to me in preparation for this trip.  This past week as been extraordinarily busy, so I'm very grateful for a few hours of quiet this morning (as well as some time to pack!).  It's been an incredible blessing to see all of the ways that God has provided in preparation for this trip - so many details worked out, all of the funds came in, a great team of women going, and all the arrangements both the missionaries and nationals have made on our behalf.  As we get ready to depart in just a few hours, I would love to share with you some ways you can be praying the next week if so led.  The dates of the trip our Sept 27-Oct 1 in Sofia, Bulgaria and Oct 2- 5 in Athens, Greece. 

-Travel plans and logistics (luggage weight with lots of supplies for the team, tight layover connections, workers on strike in various countries)

-Good health for our team

-Protection from danger or evil

-Open hearts and minds to receive what God has for us on this trip

-For good, strong relationships to develop quickly amongst our team

-And most important - for Light and Truth to shine forth in powerful ways in the lives of women and men trapped in the trafficking industry.  

Thank you again for your support and prayers.  I look forward to sharing with you all the ways that God has worked!!

Update on Mission Trip

Hi Friend,

All of the details are coming together - packing lists are being worked on, funds are coming in, hotels are being arranged.  Each day brings our team one step closer to this trip to work against sex-trafficking in Bulgaria and Greece.  There are so many different pieces that need to come together in order for this trip to happen, and little by little we're seeing them accomplished.  As one of the leaders on this trip, that's part of my role- to make sure things are arranged and organized and prepared for what's about to come.  

I wonder at my heart, though.  While it's great that our team is prepared for data plan coverage no matter our wireless carrier, is my heart being prepared?  Am I each day praying, and nurturing, and laying the ground work in my own heart for the places of darkness and despair and hope against all odds that I'm about to expose it to?  It's so easy for me to focus on the details, even to hide behind the work involved in coordinating this trip. 

And yet, at the same time, each day I'm reminded again and again that this issue is real - through our pre-trip reading assignment Girls Like Usor a newsletter from a friend in India who knows a 15 year old sold by her family to cover her uncle's debts, or even to my very own street where a pregnant young woman leans in and out of various cars and comes in out of apartment complexes with different men.  

As this trip draws closer, I would love your prayers for the details that still need to be arranged like our lodging in Greece, the remaining $400 in support I still need to come in, and for our team to be unified, but more than anything I would love for you to pray that my heart would be soft.  I fear that I will hide it or harden it in defense of what we may hear or in fear of what we may see.  Please pray that I would view those we minister to with the eyes of Christ.  And that my heart would be broken for the things that break the heart of God.  

I remain incredibly grateful to have you by my side in this endeavor.

Here are the options if you would like to give financially –

1.     Click this link  https://donations.mtw.org/donate/AddDesignation.aspx?No=EV5359 to donate online to EV5359 Bulgaria & Greece

2.     Send a check to the following address with EV5359 in the memo line

Mission to the World

1600 North Brown Rd

Lawrenceville, GA 30043

Learn Something New: A Cause to be Passionate About

I've mentioned before that in my 30s I started a plan to Learn Something New each year.  Year 1 was knitting, year 2 was gardening, and year 3 was, well, I wasn't sure what it was going to be because all of the things I really wanted to do (take a creative writing class, learn to play an instrument) cost money which isn't something I had a lot of to spare, what with also being in year 3 of crazy, random, drive-to-Charlotte-to-get-a-diagnosis (expensive) medical problems.  I found myself increasingly interested/horrified by what I was learning about the trafficking industry.   

What started out as watching a movie on trafficking at work and participating in a 5k, turned into going through training to volunteer with anti-trafficking ministries and showing that film I first saw to others in my community.  More recently, it's turned into outreach on the streets on Atlanta and now this opportunity to increase the vision for mercy in this issue in women across the southeast by seeing what God is doing in the world.  Read more below to see how "learning" about something new isn't always enough.  Some things require action.


Did you know that Atlanta is one of the top 15 cities in the US for most individuals trafficked in the US? Or that the average girl is trafficked at age 12-14?  The statistics may be horrifying but putting names and faces to this reality is even more devastating. In the past year I’ve been privileged to work alongside a local ministry to those who have been trafficked sexually. And while the situation is bad here in Atlanta, this is a global problem, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a single country not involved in either the supply or demand side of this equation. Mission to the World (MTW), the organization that I work for, has become increasingly involved in human trafficking ministry around the globe.    

It’s everywhere. And once your eyes have been opened to what’s going on, it’s hard to turn your back on the seemingly hopeless situations unfolding before us.

It is shocking to realize how prevalent this issue is in our very own communities.  Even though I’ve been involved in what’s going on in Atlanta for over a year, I was still surprised to learn that one exit up from my home is a hotel chain frequented by prostitutes and their customers.

Due to the widespread nature of this issue there is much we can learn from others fighting this battle. To that end, I have been invited to co-lead a mission trip through MTW to Bulgaria and Greece from September 27 – October 5.

In Bulgaria, where many women are procured for trafficking, we’ll be walking alongside full time missionaries and their ministry to give trafficked women a place to recover and a hope for their future. In Greece, we’ll help with street outreach and with ministries that train women to have sustainable skills once they are freed from prostitution.  There, brothels are not only legal but actually an integral part of cultural history.  While the ancient temples may be relics, the brisk trade for purchased sex remains woven into the fabric of modern Greek culture.

Our goal is to learn from others, increase our global understanding of this issue, and work together to figure out how we can mobilize our communities at home to fight this evil on both a local and global level.

Ideally, I'd love to invite you to join me on this trip. Imagine if you could personally come and we could learn together what it means to love some of the most-used and least-loved among us. (This trip is now full, but let me know if you'd be interested in a future trip).

However, if physically coming on the trip isn’t possible, would you be willing to join me in spirit through prayer?  This is daunting and scary and big, but God is in it! And your prayers are so very important.

Finally, another way important way to participate is by giving financially towards the cost of transportation and lodging. I’ve been asked to raise $2500 by September 14 to participate in this trip (only $600 remaining!), and having your partnership in this endeavor would be an enormous blessing.  Knowing you are united with me on this mission to those who are immersed in such darkness will bring hope and courage to a seemingly overwhelming situation.

Thank you for prayerfully considering how you can be involved!  

Here are the options if you would like to give financially –

1.     Click this link  https://donations.mtw.org/donate/AddDesignation.aspx?No=EV5359 to donate online to EV5359 Bulgaria & Greece

2.     Send a check to the following address with EV5359 in the memo line

Mission to the World

1600 North Brown Rd

Lawrenceville, GA 30043

How I became an accidental vegetarian

For Lent this year I tried something called The Plan (super original title, huh?).  You can check it out here on Amazon.  While I didn't find it too practical for the long-term, I did learn some pretty neat things from it.  One of those things was how to incorporate more vegetarian protein into my diet.  

I've been hypoglycemic since high school (I used to pass out all over the place - not fun) and so meat was an easy way to make sure that I was getting enough protein.  I used to eat meat easily twice a day and would usually have other animal based protein (cheese, milk, eggs) at meals when I wasn't eating meat.  However, following the menu on the plan, I learned lots about nuts and seeds in particular that could easily take the place of some of these animal products.  Throwing a handful of pumpkin seeds on a salad was a lot easier than grilling up a chicken breast and seemed to be just as helpful at keeping my protein levels up.

Even after I'd fallen off of The Plan (which really is very interesting and I would like to experiment with again at some point, it's also just very time intensive with the shopping and the making everything from scratch), I hung onto a lot of the foods that had been introduced.  Making salads with chickpeas, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds was faster (and cheaper!) than using meat or eggs or so that was an easy habit to pick up.  I bought a lot less meat and even the meat I did have was biding its time in the freezer.

One day in June I was out to eat and as I was ordering my meat-laden dinner I realized that it had been awhile since I'd last had meet.  "Awhile" as in 5 days ago.  I hadn't even noticed!  It wasn't any intentional decision, apparently I just don't ever cook meat at home anymore and I guess I hadn't eaten out for those five days.  

What was more shocking than anything was how EASY it was.  So easy that I didn't even notice it!  I tucked that info away and went on with life.  I noticed the next time I was eating meat was when I was out to eat again.  As I thought more about it, I decided that I'd become an "at home vegetarian."  I don't know it that's an official thing, but it's what I've decided works for me (see: cheap and easy).  

It's not a decision I made out of any particularly strong ethical stance (although the type of meat and meat products I'd prefer to eat as I learn more about how animals are treated is increasingly expensive), but I'm excited to see how life looks with a more plant-based diet.  You may not notice my at-home vegetarianism because when eating out all bets are off.  I like meat and enjoy eating it, but am just realizing I don't need as much of it as I thought I did.  This doesn't mean I won't totally enjoy my Chick-fil-a or order the filet mignon when out to eat (that may or may not have totally happened earlier this week).  

Next up, I'm actually flirting with the idea of being an at home vegan.  Through the same Plan, I learned more about how my body reacts to dairy and have eliminated most cow-based dairy from my home (Hey, tub of ice cream!  How'd you get in the freezer!?!).  I use rice milk now.  My cheese (when I have it) is goat cheddar (who knew they have all the kinds of cheese in goat?  It's not just that strong tasting soft stuff!).  I still have a container of (free range, no antibiotics, organic) brown eggs in my fridge, but what used to be dinner 3-4 times a week, is now dinner more like once every 2-3 weeks.  

Like with the meat, when I'm eating out or at a party I'm not worrying about it.  In fact, I may be found hunkered down by the palmetto cheese spread getting a dairy fix.  For me, it's not about getting rid of it completely, but about seeing if I can make do with less and what that looks like for my body and my life.  

Have you tried any dietary changes lately? Got any recommendations for yummy vegetarian dishes? 

P.S. I'm obviously not a very good vegetarian because spell check had to tell me how to spell it correctly.  

How to Get Ready for a Date

I've been told (more than once) that my life resembles a sitcom.  Here's the story of a previous episode that's just now making it up on the blog.

1. Realize you've been playing the hidden objects game on the ipad too long and you now have exactly one hour to get from sweaty post-gym to dinner and a movie.

2. Go to pull date outfit out of closet (or off desk chair). Realize the shirt you planned to wear is dirty.  Realize back-up shirt for that outfit is also dirty.

3. Madly sort through laundry and pull out whites to do quick load because surely an hour is enough time to wash and dry a small load.  Right?

4. Jump in shower while washing machine starts.  Decide it's too hot for blow-dryer/curling iron and it's going to be a curly hair night.  Do curly hair prep shower routine (no shampoo, lots of conditioner, scrunch dry with old T-shirt).

5. Freak out because washing machine is still going. Frantically search for Plan B outfit.  Decide you hate all of your clothes except for the shirt in the washing machine.

6. Start on hair.  Curls are not behaving.  Abort hair plan.  Switch course to straight hair.

7. Run downstairs to turn AC down three more degrees.

8. Pull shirt out of washing machine mid-spin cycle and throw in dryer.

9. Angle box fan over floor vent and point directly towards self while blowing hair dry.

10.  Check shirt in dryer.

11. Start sectioning off hair for curling iron.  Realize not shampooing your hair is a REALLY bad idea if you actually need to touch your hair at any point.  Head is one giant grease ball.  No going back.  Also, coincidentally, no need for additional hair product as extra grease is filling that role quite well.

12.  Wash hands A LOT.

13.  Check dryer.

14.  Hair actually looks awesome.

15.  Sit on exercise ball in skirt, sandals, jewelry and make-up (and no shirt) in front of box fan reading book on introversion while trying not to freak out because the sentence you just read says introverts are more likely to get nervous before dates.  Not helpful.

16.  Check dryer approximately 17 more times.  Wonder if dryer is like crock pot and you lose 30 minutes worth of heat every time you open it.

17.  Check dryer again.

18.  Pace.  Because that helps.

19.  Hear doorbell ring.  Jump up. Grab still damp shirt out of dryer.  Frantically glance back to room in case the perfect (dry and clean) outfit has magically appeared laid out on the bed.

20. Pull on damp shirt.

21.  Take off damp shirt that's inside out and put on the right way.  Door bell rings again.  Idly wonder how transparent still damp white shirt is.  Whatever, the damp part is in the back.

22. Running downstairs to open door realize there's an awesome stain right in the middle of your chest.  Where the *$%! did that come from?

23. Commit to spend evening with hands clasped at chest level.

24. Open the door and go have a great night!

Totally not based on real events.    

My Bedside Table

I'm REALLY good at starting books...

Really, REALLY good.

International Women's Day (It's a real thing)

You may or may not know that March 8 is International Women's Day.  I didn't know this until I moved to a foreign country.  The conversation went something like this:

Student: Miss Miller, what do you do in America to celebrate International Women's Day?
Me:  Eh...ah...what's International Women's Day?
Student:  It's an INTERNATIONAL holiday.  How do you celebrate?
Me: Well, uh, we don't do that in America.
Student: WHAT!?  It's INTERNATIONAL.  Everyone must do it.

That's basically where the conversation ended.  It's really not a very exciting conversation. American holidays were somewhat confusing for my students who had been taught that "Fool's Day" (April 1) was an American holiday on the same par as, well, at least Halloween if not July 4 or Thanksgiving.

During my time overseas I celebrated International Women's Day in a variety of ways.  One year there was a fancy banquet at a hotel downtown (not as fun as it sounds).  Sometimes there were compulsory lectures (exactly as fun as it sounds).  But, by far, the best March 8 celebration was that of 2008.  And by "best" I obviously mean "most horribly awkward."

To celebrate IWD (it's just too long to keep typing out) that year, the Foreign Language College was honoring women by taking the whole department (men and women) to a hot spring.  Yay!  Nothing like being the only white girl in a bathing suit with your entire department of Asian coworkers!!

We all take a bus to the hot spring which is really like a fancy pool complex that's just fed from a hot spring.  It's not at all nature-y or what I had imagined a hot spring to look like from my vast knowledge based on movies.  Fortunately, unlike in the movies, everybody wore a bathing suit.

Then, we break off to our respective locker rooms where there's no privacy.  Zilch.  So, you know, I get to the be the only white girl changing.  I had a super cute suit with a little skirt because it's important to be modest when you're the sole focal point of attention... and about to go swimming with your male colleagues on a work trip. Some stranger ladies complimented me with a "Oh, I very like your bathing costume" which made me feel totally fashionable in a 1890s kind of a way.

First, we hit the super hot pools.  Then we went to the pools where the little fishies nibble on you.  (New idea: they should totally combine those two pools and then WE can nibble on the little fishies while we relax - this has to be in practice somewhere in China).  I was pretty freaked by the little nibbly fishies.  Especially because you're like submerged with them.  And what they don't tell you in fancy travel magazines is that all those little fishies poop.  So in addition to you sitting in your bathing suit talking about your hometown to the dean of your department while little fish nibble at you, there's also little fish poops floating about.  See how fun this is!!!

I didn't last long in that pool.  Give me a pumice stone or those skin scraper things at the pedicure place any day.  Next up, I did some laps and idly (dare I say awkwardly) floated about and attempted small talk with acquaintances (none of the other foreign teachers  nor any of my close friends in the department were on this trip. Perchance they were better informed ahead of time).

That lasted for a couple of hours.  I kid you not.  It was long.  So long.

And then it was time to leave.  Yay!  Except that required changing and showering.  A giant room with lots of shower heads and not a shower curtain to be found.  Show time, folks!  I just stared at the wall and showered very quickly.  Still, I think my biggest public restroom performance is when I had to change a tampon in the super busy Xi'an bus station. Trough style.  No walls or doors.  They don't use tampons in China.  Poor corrupted children waiting in line. (Sorry for using the "t" word twice and with no warning!!)

So that's the story of my most memorable IWD celebration.  Now picture your office going on a trip like this.  Fun times, huh?  :)