The latest considerations

I spent some time Saturday researching different graduate school options for the coming spring or next fall. I won't find out about being accepted to Columbia until late October or early November, and I don't want all my eggs to be in that basket, so I looked at a few other places to find out what is offered. This search also emerged from some of my thoughts about ambition. As I returned from checking the mail Friday afternoon, I was thinking about the extent of my ambition in the opportunity that lies in front of me. Am I reaching as far as I could? Am I considering a big enough dream? Is there something I long to do that I should begin working on now instead of later?

I'm finding that most of the desires and dreams I have as far as work goes includes teaching in some capacity. From a classroom setting to the world as the classroom, I'm drawn to attempt to be challenging, inspiring, and motivating in mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual realms. Most of my online searching involved graduate schools of education. Though I browsed through the Harvard Medical School pages (if I'm going to dream big, might as well dream beyond what I'm qualified for), after watching an episode from the first season of Lost (I've borrowed it from a friend to help with the summer vacancy) in which Jack pulls out a knife from Sawyer's arm and holds the artery with his fingers, I don't think I could handle those types of situations. But, thanks to my roommate Fouad, I did spend a lot of time at Harvard's different offerings.

Fouad graduated from Boston University with a Master's in Biology recently and is a big fan of the city. He's a big proponent of a move to Boston and going to Harvard Law or something else there. One interesting program I found was at the Harvard Graduate School of Education: MA in School Leadership. It's designed for those who are interested in independent, charter, or private schools and being involved in education outside of being a teacher or principal. It seems to fit with an idea I have about a traveling university; it might be a good background for me to possibly pursue that idea someday. Along that same thought, New York University has an independent studies graduate school. Basically, you submit a plan of study to them and explain what you would do with that degree or how it would benefit you and others to spend time studying there or abroad and they decide if you can pay them money to pursue it or not. Of the 40 hours necessary for that master's, only 14 is assigned; the rest is determined by the student's interests and plan. Another consideration is getting interest in Organizational Behavior. Harvard offers a Ph.D. in it, but only a small number are accepted each fall. The vastly intriguing aspect of it is the automatic, regardless of need, tuition and fees scholarship awarded to each student, as well as the living stipend, which was $27,000 last year. I don't think my heart is too drawn to that program, but I am drawn to that type of payment plan for a degree.

Going back to ambition for a bit -- I don't want to sound like I believe getting a teaching degree isn't ambitious. The ambition question comes from the thought that if I'm going to spend a few years (and a bank's or some other institution's money) shouldn't I challenge myself as much as possible and be in a place with as many big dreamers as possible? Of the schools I've mentioned (Harvard, Columbia, NYU) each is a hotbed for intelligent and creative people -- if I can get in to almost any program there, I'll be doing very well. I want to make sure that I'm being as open and as ambitious as I can with the opportunity and talents I've been given.

Like in Spades, you don't get the chance often, but when your cards seem right, you shoot the moon. Here's hoping it's a full one...

A few pictures from Brasil

Luke, Anna, and me in front of the library named after Dad


Luizihna, our former housekeeper/nanny


Dona Francisca and Pedro, a couple very close Mom and Dad and our family; they've been married 65 years


A jump shot on a boardwalk with a few of the teens

I had a little trouble this weekend with the internet at my house, so I wasn't able to post any Brasil pictures, but I've not forgotten about that. I'm headed in a little bit to Fiesta Texas, the Six Flags park in San Antonio, with middle school students. I haven't checked the weather, but I'm sure it's going to be several degrees above scorching; luckily, there's a water park there as well, so I'll spend some quality time in the lazy river I'm sure.

It's been great to be in town and not have any trips to make. I've stayed busy for the most part, but it's nice to return to the house and hang out with my roommates. We've each done a bit of traveling: Malachi going to Iowa a couple of times with work, Chad just returned from a week-long mission trip to Mexico, and Fouad was in Honduras while I was in Brasil celebrating his grandmother's 90th birthday.

I got to see my cousin Tim last night. He lives in Austin and plays in a band called The Recliners. They played at Sam's Burger Joint, which hosts swing dancing every Monday night. This was The Recliners first time at Sam's, as well as mine and Chad's first time there. It was a little odd how it worked out: Tim left me a message about playing there and Malachi came downstairs shortly after with an idea. "Let's be a little adventurous and go swing dancing tonight." So it was a no-brainer for me to get ready and go. We woke Chad from his nap (actually, I let Mal do that) and he joined us too. Fouad got home as we were leaving, but was meeting his grandmother for dinner (she's in the States for a bit). I know the basic East Coast swing step and the lessons beforehand taught me a few turns, so it made for a great evening. Tim and his wife are expecting twins at the end of the year; she's in grad school at UT-Austin, hoping to finish her experiments so she'll only have the paper/dissertation to write after the babies are born.

Alright, kids are starting to show up, so time for the fun...

It's been so nice to not be on the move this week. I got to lead morning shout at Northside for the children's ministry Day Camp to start my day, which proved to be a lot of fun and a nice little work out. With all the motions, jumping, turning, and singing, my breath was gone after ten minutes. Yes, it's high energy stuff, but it's sad that I'm not in better shape.

It was also good to spend time with Travis and Erin. With my Brasil trip being postponed, I'm really excited that I won't be bailing on them next week and will get to finish out the summer with them. They're both incredible young people and have such beautiful hearts. I've been extremely pleased with the way they've done their jobs this summmer, how they carry themselves, what they think and pray about, and the depth of their love for God. Wow, two great interns.

Luke sent me a copy of his pictures from Brasil, so as soon as the internet connection at my house resumes working, I'll post some of those. I've been working on our summer video this week, as well as brainstorming ideas for the wedding video I'm doing for my friends John and Sarah. I get bothered with myself when I hit roadblocks in creativity, so this week has helped relieve some of that with me getting a grasp on what I'd like to do.

I got a surprise call yesterday from some good friends who were coming to town. Jacquie and Spruce are meeting some friends at a camp near here tonight, so they drove in from Houston yesterday afternoon and we got to have dinner at Alamo Cafe. Jacquie and I interned together at Northside the summer of 2002 and have been good friends since then. I usually stayed with them when I went to Abilene the past few years. We'd been keeping up with each other through our blogs, so it was nice to spend quality time with them over tortillas and queso. Also, they were a huge help to Luke a few weeks ago when he had to fly to Houston and get his Brasilian passport expedited. Picking him up from the airport, dropping him off at the consulate, entertaining him along with other guests they had -- thanks again!

I've got a meeting this morning that's going to be a little sad, I think. It probably be the last time the current youth ministers from Sunset Ridge, MacArthur Park, Northside, and Northwest get together. Eli, Richard, and Deryk have been great friends and co-workers. We've done work camps, lock-ins, retreats, praise nights, built ramps, and several other projects together; it's been a special group to have. I have so much respect for them and I'm sad about not getting to work with them any more. Richard is staying at Mac, but will transition from Youth to Congregational Life minister; Eli is moving to Knoxville, TN to study towards a Ph.D. in Communication; I'm leaving without plans as definite; Deryk is staying at Northwest, which means he's pretty much getting the raw end of the deal. We've shared a lot of great times, frustrations, laughs, highs and lows, and other ministry-related struggles and victories. What a blessing it's been to be in relationship with those guys.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Blessings...

...jiggidy jig.

And for the final time this summer, I'm back. After quite an ordeal to get back from Camp Cornerstone in Oklahoma, our bus pulled into the parking lot at 11:15 pm Friday evening. The 12-hour trip included a 1.5 hour stop in Ft. Worth to repair a wind-damaged rearview mirror and a stop in Austin after our bus hit another vehicle in heavy traffic due to a sudden stop. The accident didn't cause any injuries or visible damage to either vehicle, an incredible feat considering the bus was a 57-passenger behemoth and the car we hit was an Isuzu Rodeo. We pulled off at an exit, the couple in the Rodeo were fine (they left before the police showed up for the accident report), talked with the police and went on our way.

The headaches from the trip home did not in any reflect the fantastic week enjoyed at Cornerstone. I loved it and our kids loved it; it was so fun and encouraging. The middle school students love this camp. Our group comprised 39 people: 31 students, 4 incoming-seniors who were counselors, my 2 interns, Karessa, and me. I got to spend time with the teens as well as several youth ministers I've become close with the past four summers working at camps together. What a great group of guys; I hope that whatever lies ahead for me will include Zenith or Cornerstone, if not both.

In other news, I found out when I got back in town that the Natal, Brasil trip I'd been making plans to go on from July 25-August 2 had run into some problems due to our airline going bankrupt. We met this evening to discuss alternatives and spend time praying about it (the prayer time was originally scheduled to be a prayer send-off). As it turns out, as our team looked at calendars, the last half of September is the next-best time for us, which works out so well for me. With the original dates, I was going to be missing my interns' going-away party and a few events with the youth group; now, I'm here for the duration of my time at Northside, which will conclude August 30. And it means I don't have another trip for a while, which is a great relief. This also helps me answer the question, "What are you going to be doing after August?" Partial answer: "Going to Brasil for nine days."

I still don't have plans for the fall. The Natal trip will most likely be during the third week of September. I'm also going to Washington, D.C. over Labor Day weekend with a few of my friends -- most of whom went to Boston last fall. Outside of those two trips, I'm open. Any suggestions? I've got a couple of offers to be a nanny/pool boy in San Antonio; I've considered traveling the States, Australia, or Europe, working on a cruise ship, finding a job in Alaska, moving back to Florence, working on the River Walk as a riverboat tour guide, and moving in with Luke (who will be in Auburn). I'd love to hear your thoughts about what I could/should do (and how you might possibly help make it happen).

Beyond that, I'm now waiting to hear from Teachers College-Columbia University about acceptance into one of their Master's programs. I've applied for admission to pursue a Masters of Arts in T.E.S.O.L. (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). I plan to apply to a few other schools and programs this fall to get a few other options. But I really love the idea of living and studying in New York for a couple of years. That program would also give me a degree and skill I can directly use, whether teaching K-12 or at a university, or possibly internationally. I like those options. It's quite an investment and expense, but I'm also in position to apply for (and hopefully be granted) scholarships, teaching assistantships, and grants. Loans are an option and likely probability as well; while not the ideal, I think it's worth it. I've tried to approach this decision to move on without being constrained by what would be fiscally prudent and/or responsible, which emerges from my belief that if I'm being led by God somewhere else, things like money, job, food, housing, etc. will get taken care of; if it's through loans so be it...but who knows how it will come to be.

I appreciate your prayers and thoughts, kind words and encouragement, and continued support. I'll be sure to keep you posted with the happenings and developments. It's an exciting time, one I hope continues to stretch my faith and love. I hope, too, that what I'm doing encourages you to live boldly by faith, to suck the marrow out of life, to dwell richly in the abundant life Jesus gives and to step out of the boat as the Master calls. I pray our eyes look past the waves and wind, the howls and storms, and into the piercing, gentle eyes of the Savior.

Back in San Antonio

As of 10:40 am this morning, the Northside group was back in San Antonio, Texas after a great trip to Fortaleza, Brasil. I caught a ride back to my house with the Andersons and have sorted through my mail and email, though I haven't begun to reply to any of it -- that's what tomorrow is for, I guess.

I do get to catch my breath for a bit; I don't leave until Sunday for Cornerstone, our middle school camp in Oklahoma. It will be nice to catch a few hours in my own bed.

The mission trip finished very well. It was incredible timing for the Christians at the downtown church for us to be there with them. Though we merely showed up and spent time with them, the encouragement that gives is unspeakable. And the encouragement we receive is just as overwhelming; it always seems more is brought back with us than we give and leave. It's very special to be treated as an honored guest by (sometimes) mere strangers -- but that is a gift of unity in Christ.

I almost got to fly back a little later from Dallas. They'd overbooked our flight and requested volunteers to depart this afternoon at 1:40 if available to do so. I went to the ticket counter and told the lady I'd be glad to change flights; she let me know that if needed I would be given a $300 travel voucher as a thank you. So I waited as our group boarded the plane, not knowing if I which flight to San Antonio I'd be on. After everyone boarded, I was called up and told it wasn't necessary for me to wait, but because I was so nice to volunteer, not only would I get on the flight departing then, I would be bumped up to first class. Though only a 45 minute trip, it was nice to have a little more space than usual and to drink water out of a real glass and not a plastic one.

Now, time for a shower and a nap...