General:
Archer is off to an Intercultural Conference with the University of Michigan for a week. Lily and Mom will be home hanging out and trying to do some projects while Dad's away. Archer is getting close to finalizing his reading list for his field prelims, so that's GREAT! Once he is examined on his mastery of the material he has chosen, all that's left is the dissertation! (By all, we mean, he has to propose what the dissertation is, how he's going to do it, actually do the research, write the paper, and defend it to several of his advisors. Takes a couple of years, actually. But the field prelim is a big milestone. If he doesn't pass it he gets no PhD. :)) He also has a paper accepted to an infrastructure conference in San Jose in September!
Africa:
- We are not going to the Conference in Dakar, Senegal.
- Archer has applied for a couple of other grants to do research in Kenya/Uganda, as either supplementary to the Fulbright or instead of it. These grants don't fund an entire year, more like a couple of months, but could be good alternatives if Kenya is unstable or he doesn't get accepted for the Fulbright.
Lily:
Lily is almost ONE! She's walking a couple steps at a time (if she forgets she's not holding onto something), eating tons of solid foods (she especially likes bananas, and hates spinach). She's babbling a lot (well, to Mama it's babbling, but I'm pretty sure Lily knows what she's saying!), and asserting her independence more and more. Almost a toddler! ACK!
"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." Proverbs 19:21
Monday, February 25, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
(Matthew 25:31-26)
I have recently become aware in a more personal way that much of the world is starving, homeless, and/or angry and living in fear. Following the recent events in Kenya has become more personal for us as we anticipate living in Nairobi for a year. Archer was told by the US Fulbright-Africa liaison that so far no Fulbrighters have been affected and that he need not attempt to change his application (to possibly switch to Uganda), but just wait and see what will happen. So we pray for wisdom for ourselves, for safety for the people in Kenya, and for God to work in the corruption and anger and soften people's hearts towards each other.
Also, as Archer and I have discussed the possibility of adopting a child more seriously, we have become aware of many ways to help needy children (and their families) other than through adoption. Medical or educational short-term mission trips, sponsoring a family to be given animals or other means of feeding and supporting themselves, sponsoring a child to have food, medical treatment, and education, building orphanages, or 'family' houses for orphans and their supported mothers. In our own country, there are food pantries, pregnancy counseling centers to protect the unborn and their mothers, shelters, after-school programs, foster parenting, child advocacy, and many other ways to contribute financially or as a volunteer.
This isn't going to become a solicitous blog, but World Vision has a ton of ways to help people who need food, shelter, health care, education, and eternally, Christ.
I have recently become aware in a more personal way that much of the world is starving, homeless, and/or angry and living in fear. Following the recent events in Kenya has become more personal for us as we anticipate living in Nairobi for a year. Archer was told by the US Fulbright-Africa liaison that so far no Fulbrighters have been affected and that he need not attempt to change his application (to possibly switch to Uganda), but just wait and see what will happen. So we pray for wisdom for ourselves, for safety for the people in Kenya, and for God to work in the corruption and anger and soften people's hearts towards each other.
Also, as Archer and I have discussed the possibility of adopting a child more seriously, we have become aware of many ways to help needy children (and their families) other than through adoption. Medical or educational short-term mission trips, sponsoring a family to be given animals or other means of feeding and supporting themselves, sponsoring a child to have food, medical treatment, and education, building orphanages, or 'family' houses for orphans and their supported mothers. In our own country, there are food pantries, pregnancy counseling centers to protect the unborn and their mothers, shelters, after-school programs, foster parenting, child advocacy, and many other ways to contribute financially or as a volunteer.
This isn't going to become a solicitous blog, but World Vision has a ton of ways to help people who need food, shelter, health care, education, and eternally, Christ.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Kenya?
Good News:
- Archer made it through the first round of selection for a Fulbright grant to do research in Africa next year. This means that he is now one of 15-20 students recommended to the Kenyan government for them to select which ~10 US students they want to have doing research in Kenya next year.
Bad News:
- Selecting Fulbright scholars probably isn't super high on the Kenyan government's to do list at the moment. We're trying to keep abreast of the latest developments and will plan our year accordingly! Pray for peace in Kenya and restoration and safety for its people.
- Archer made it through the first round of selection for a Fulbright grant to do research in Africa next year. This means that he is now one of 15-20 students recommended to the Kenyan government for them to select which ~10 US students they want to have doing research in Kenya next year.
Bad News:
- Selecting Fulbright scholars probably isn't super high on the Kenyan government's to do list at the moment. We're trying to keep abreast of the latest developments and will plan our year accordingly! Pray for peace in Kenya and restoration and safety for its people.
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