Father

I don't know how to say this,

Don't know if you'd believe.

But somewhere 'neath this carcass I still desire to see

You. came and went like breezes, empty,

Where no caress was felt.

And now you're back into my life, the one that nearly fell

Apart. from all the lies you've told,

And all the rancid acts,

Apart from all of "could have beens", I know this is a fact

Of life. there is no limit

For He has conquered death.

It is His love that I can give, because in me's His breath.

Of what use is it to focus on what I do not have? On what wrong has been done? Can I alter anything but my own actions? Can I take a magical eraser and make it all go away? No.

Ask yourself: would you choose to have the hope of joy, or not know what joy is at all?

Me? I choose to hope.

Update #Whatever

*voice of Shirley Temple*  Oh, my goodness, oh, my goodness!!

Life has taken too many shots of caffeine and I can't seem to catch up!

Yet, I have had such fantastically wonderful experiences of late, that I kind of don't want to! I just returned from camping with the Becketts at the Wombian Caves. It was sooo fun! I did real exercise for four days straight! I know, I know... amazing. Mind you, there are many funny stories to be told with said trip, but you'll just have to wait until I see you in person.

I finally finished choosing my rep. for this semester (something I should have done 1 mo. ago), and I have to say, I think it's pretty good! I look forward to seeing what my teacher says about my choices. I'm so glad to have had Ms. Greschner for 4 years, with a wicked knowledge of repertoire and literature to help choose it!

A lot is going well, really well. But my heart longs to go home. I'm counting the days! Let's face it. I was at a different point in my life two years ago, when I first applied for this scholarship. Now, I want to settle down and cuddle with Brian for the rest of my life.

Sigh... it's just one of those nights where I really miss him. It's been one of those nights for a looong time...

Needed Reminders from Romans 12

Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse them.

Live in harmony with one another.

Never be wise in your own sight.

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Jamberoo, Woo Hoo!

I find myself in places and situations that are so far removed from reality that I think, "Am I real? Did I faint along the way and now I'm just having a crazy dream?"

I'm in Jamberoo, NSW, where I have just entertained a group of goodwilled guests who donated money to Rotary's charity funds.

If you could see this place!! (I'll post pictures later) I literally feel like I'm in a Jane Austen novel. I have come to a friend's estate to entertain guests, and I am surrounded by rolling hills, misty mountains and beautiful flora and fauna.

I was blessed to have a fantastic accompanist, David Vance, who tickled the ivories while I sang well-loved tunes and lesser-known, yet equally lovely, art songs. It's been a while since I've traveled to that "special zone" that I reach when I'm really entrenched in a performance, yet I got there today. It was during Samuel Barber's The Crucifixion. Ah! I just love that piece. It gives me chills every time.

I am so grateful for my voice. It's interesting. Ever since I decided that pursuing an opera career in itself was NOT what I wanted (this developed just a few months ago), I've dived into music like never before. I think the reason for this is because I no longer have this weight on my shoulders of needing to prove to anyone that I can do it. I don't care anymore. I just want to do what God wants me to do. And I love to sing. Somehow, the two are mixing, binding and fusing together to create a solid vision...a calling. I still can't see it very clearly, but I can sense it's there. My "giving up" the opera dream has helped it materialize. Now it's just a matter of taking another step towards the now-hazy vision.

For now, I see in a mirror dimly, but then, face to face...

Nerds Rock

Well, I finally had my "first day of school" this semester! The night of, I was tossing and turning like a five year-old ready for the first day of kinder-year. Ha!

I am taking two pedagogy classes, the first of which is Principles of Studio. The class is mainly online-learning, but we discuss a lot of stuff in class. My teacher, Dr. James Renwick, is really funny and very passionate about what he does. YES! There is nothing worse than taking a course from a teacher who feels obligated to be there.

My second class is Methods of Teaching 1, with Dr. Rowena Cowley. In this class, I will be learning about teaching solely vocal students--YES! The class is tomorrow. Yipee!!

Lastly, I'm taking from a new teacher, Anke, which happens to be Barry's wife. She is a fantastic teacher! Some things I'm like, "huh?" (i.e. she forces me down into a weird squatting position while singing, trying to get me to feel..I'm not sure exactly what lol), but for the most part, I feel like I'm already improving! Plus, I'm doing Strauss lieder, and the fact that she's German helps out tremendously! Get it from the horse's mouth, I say!

Ah, I love school. :D

Change is Inevitable

Big update: I have moved out of my host counselor's home and into a new one! John and his family were very kind to let me stay with them so long! Ha ha... I was very blessed to have them in my life. For sure.

Story goes: I sang for a women's Gingerbread House-Making Night last semester, and a lady named Karen Becket was there. She inquired of my friend (also my pastor's wife), Margie, who I was and whether I needed a place to stay. At the time, everything was working out fine, so I didn't take her up on her offer.

Well, this semester, money became extremely tight. As in, in the negatives, tight. So I called Karen up and she and her family invited me to stay with them for the rest of the semester! They looked forward to having an "older individual from a different culture" around for the sake of their two girls, knowing it would be a good experience for them. Antonia, 9, is a character and just an all-around cool kid. Natlie, 13, is a lovely young lady with a somewhat mysterious beauty. If you ask me, it seems I'm the one benefitting! Karen and her hubby, Brendan, are hard workers with generous hearts. I look forward to the coming months!

I am also in a new curriculum at school. Instead of two ensemble classes (a class where I'm in a group of musicians whom I have no real choice to be with and we put on a concert), I am taking two pedagogy (how to teach) courses. I am sooo excited!! A bit uncertain about all the writing I'll have to do, but besides that, I'm stoked!

I finally posted videos on YouTube of me singing. They aren't really me in the act of singing, but just my voice. Same audio as the links I posted here on my blog, but now there's a picture of my face you can stare at too. :D

Please visit! Josmery's YouTube

A few not-so-good things have arisen as well, things that I have no real control over -- but what DO we control, in truth, anyway? I'm learning not to be anxious for ANYTHING, but to trust God and ask Him to help me out of the worry. One day at a time.

Life.

Short Vent

Sometimes I feel like Jekyl and Hyde. Or however you spell their names.

So many icky, sticky, fickle pickles of animosity lie beneath this lovely exterior, I surprise myself. Kind of.

So why rage? Why growl? Why wail at the moon when you know your real identity is hidden in lovely Love?

Oh, to tear off this dead carcass and be free of the struggle forevermore!! Let it come...

Rain

Do you like rainstorms? I love 'em. I get all squiggly inside when I feel the suspense before a downpour. Like when you're at the top of a roller-coaster, and you're weightless for a split second...except with a storm, all of creation is weightless for however long it takes the clouds to come, billowing and raging.

I couldn't fall asleep the other night, and decided to observe the rain instead. Crawling to the window, I looked and allowed my eyes to adjust to the unaccustomed darkness. Everything was gray and a very dark, dark green. The light from surrounding houses cut through the trees, giving the "ray" effect you see when walking through a forest. But the light was silver, drenched with newness.

I love the trees in Sydney. They are soooo BIG!! I gazed at them in the dark, their dusky silhouettes lurching in the breeze. It was a bit scary...

Such a tall, proud thing, with roots deep in the soil, its arms reaching towards the heavens! Yet for all its strength, it was being whipped around, forced to bend, forced to move along with the wind and the rain.

I thought about my life. I ask God to grow me, to shape me, to teach me to love. To renew my mind, to refresh my spirit. And He does. Sometimes, it is an unassuming mist of love. A comfort that surrounds and seeps into my skin. Other times, it is a kind, gentle sprinkle, each raindrop a whisper of promises. Yet, in other cases, it is a storm. It is an arch-my-back-lest-I-break wind. A power that calls me to bend, to humble myself and acknowledge that I am not in charge. And yet, all the while, the rain pours. It hits every nerve, it bleeds into every crack of me. And with it, comes life. With it, comes a strength to persevere amidst the turmoil.

After the storm, the dead leaves that were once caught in a tree are swept away. Dead branches tear off. Withered leaves disappear, allowing the new fruits to prosper. And the rain sinks deep, deep into the roots, allowing the tree to grow and provide shade, food and shelter to so many creatures.

The first verse of one of my favorite songs, How He Loves, says:

He is jealous for me

Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree

Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy

When all of a sudden, I am unaware

Of these afflictions eclipsed by glory

And I realize just how beautiful You are

And how great Your affections are for me

He loves. Oh, how He loves! I hope you can see how God loves you. It never makes sense while we're in the storm. Only hindsight provides us a clearer answer to "why". And sometimes, not even then. But God says He is good and that He will never stop doing us good (Jeremiah 32:40). He promises that. That's all we need to cling to, to dig our roots into.

I suppose the soil is important as well, since a tree that is not well-rooted can easily be ripped up. But that's a whole 'nother analogy... :)

Money "Matters" (but shouldn't)

A few days ago I went wedding dress shopping. I don't know why, but I feel very vulnerable when walking into a store where one item costs more than I can make in a month. The main displays hung on headless mannequins mock me while I peruse their cheaper, forgotten counterparts. Yet buried beneath layers of chiffon, lace, silk and other materials dubbed "feminine", there are dresses that are quite lovely. Did I purchase anything? No. But I did find a couple that I looked very pretty in. I'm not being arrogant, just truthful :D

Who began the wedding gown phenomena? I'm convinced it's another consequence of the Fall, how things are today when buying a wedding dress. That must be it! Dresses were intended to be affordable, every style perfectly fitted to every body type, and shopping for a dress was never meant to take more than one hour. Ha! I wish...

But, even if I found "the dress" today or tomorrow or whenever, I wouldn't be able to afford it. Not because I don't have the money, mind you (technically), but because I don't have the money.

"Huh? Did she just contradict herself?"

No. I'm simply describing my current predicament. This is the first time in my life I have experienced the effects of America's changing economy directly, and I must say, NO BUENO!

When looking at living expenses for Sydney, I knew I would need to raise some "extra" funds from friends and family back home in order to make ends meet. Well, the response was more than enough to make ends meet!...so I thought. I never took into account the issue of the USD dropping so significantly in value, but, OUCH! It's amazing that just a few cents can make such a difference!!

So I began studying the "wanted" ads in the local paper lately. There is a shocking need for accountants and real-estate agents in Northern Sydney! Too bad I have no skills in either area! Haha

*sigh* It will all work out, I know it. Just kinda stinks to realize that my dress-shopping was in vain, since I'm not even sure how I'll get a ticket back home!

So...who needs a vocalist with wicked photo-editing/graphics design skills? Someone told me I was a good writer. Journalist? Editor? Toilet-cleaner? Anyone? Anyone?

BAM!

I was recently pleasantly challenged by a message focused on Psalm 69. The question asked was, "Are you finding yourself 'backing down' when you face spiritual oppression? Do you think, 'it will just be easier if I'm not so passionate'?"

Boy, have I ever!

I've discovered there's a fine line between being passionate about something and being dumb. Haha! Consider: When Emeril Lagasse cooks, boy, does he excited! Here is a clip of him doing his thing. His famous catch phrases are "bam!" and "kick it up a notch". Now, I think it's great. I get pumped when Emeril BAM!'s his way through lunch. But then, it got to be too much. They used him for a Crest Toothpaste commercial, and it was just....yeah. Unnecessary.

I have seen that my passion for Christ is very much the same. Now, I must give a forewarning that I am NOT saying anyone could ever have too much excitement for Christ. Ever! What I'm saying is that the passion for the Lord should be placed in the Lord, not in anything else. Like Emeril...his BAM should be in cooking. Not toothpaste.

Looking back on my time here in AU so far, I have to say that my passion for Christ, though unbeknownst to me at the beginning, was seeping into the cracks of other things. Self-praise. Pride. The fear of being an outcast. I was driven more by the desire to "prove I'm right" than by a genuine love for people and for them to come to know Christ. Big mistake.

But, thankfully, I see that God's not given up on me. His grace is enough!

No mistake is too big for God. He always turns our bad into His good. Always.

So, Emeril's show may not be as popular anymore, but he still has a restaurant that's booming. I may not have glorified Christ to the best of my ability in every circumstance, but I'm still here, and He's still using me. I see it. And boy, am I humbled by it.

What's wonderful about God is that no matter how little faith we have in Him being able to create good from our shortcomings, He never even blinks at "trials". He already sees the solution. And He revealed it to us two-thousand years ago on a wooden cross. Now, that is well-placed passion.

I Have a Personal Chef

It's as easy as pie, really.

Perfection will come, like the rise of the sun

Blinding illumination.

I am called to be perfect.

It's as easy as pie, really.

No greater love than to die, pour the blood

Crimson stains cleanse.

I am called to die.

It's as easy as pie, really.

As far East is from West, no grudge is possessed

Love isn't bitter.

I am called to forgive.

It's as easy as pie, really.

Pressing on towards the goal, no matter the toll

Bread reigns in deserts.

I am called to persevere.

It's as easy as pie, really.

But God knows I can't cook.

Fresh Start

At times one discovers they are dream-walking. You can almost step back from your body, observe the situation at hand and think, "This is my life? How did I get here? Is this real?"

I've had that happen many times these past few weeks! A Christmas without my family has left me remembering all the times I used to wish I had something else to do than spend the holidays with them--was that really me? Did I really think those horrid thoughts about my own flesh and blood?

I spent the holiday season with the D's and their family in Melbourne. It was a fantastic Christmas present :D I was often at table with three generations of Italian heritage. There they were... Immigrants from long ago, who worked and sacrificed most of their lives to bring their children better opportunities. Their children, now grown, having experienced similar circumstances, yet with far more "freedom" than their parents had been offered. And then, my generation, reaping the benefits of both and wishing to burn a path of their own making.

Each one thinks the other could do things better. It's so interesting, when I sit back and observe a situation, instead of jumping in and trying to "fix" things. It's a dangerous thing when the first words out of your mouth are, "Well, I think..."

I never knew my grandparents. My grandmother passed away when I was five or six, so the "age-old-wisdom" of my ancestors is pretty much gone. It was wonderful hearing another's take on life and how to live. Such passion, in the Italian family! Nothing is said without much conviction. A simple reference to the weather can make one feel as if the question of whether it's "cloudy" or "partly-cloudy" is a life-and-death situation. Reminds me some of my own family. :D

We are all just trying to make it, trying to show each other what works and what doesn't.

I'll curb the stories of Melbourne for the one I truly wish to write of. On January 1, Brian David Mulvahill came to Sydney! He brought with him all the joy and positiveness that makes him him. *sigh* He makes everything better. I mean, Sydney's beautiful, but with Brian, it's gorgeous! I accomplished more sight-seeing with Brian than I have all by myself! Sad, but true.

On the day before he left (Tuesday, January 12, 2010), he and I had a wonderful time enjoying one another's company. Most of his stay's agenda had been arranged by both of us, but Tuesday was his especially. That evening, he took me to a restaurant at the edge of the harbour, called Sails. I have never tasted such fantastic food!!!!!! Exquisite. Then, we began to walk along the water, through a tiny park. I wondered at his knowledge of the area (he has a not-too-good sense of direction), but felt safe and happy. We walked up the stone steps and looked at the view, the wind blowing cooly, the night sky winking with distant stars. He held me, whispering beautiful words meant only for me. Then, he said my name in the most loving way I'd ever heard it spoken: "Josmery, (bends down on one knee) will you marry me?"

The rest is a blur of tears, laughter, questions, encouragement and above all, grace. I had the notion, the hope, that he would propose, but...it actually HAPPENED!!

I stepped back from myself and looked. Was this my life? How in the world did I end up in Sydney, Australia with the most wonderful man in existence asking for MY hand in marriage?

Grace. Grace!!! I am the future Ms. Brian Mulvahill. Josmery Mulvahill... (still gotta get used to that haha)

A new year, a new life. Something I've learned is that looking towards the future is great, but the danger is that you overlook what's going on now. When I was young, I looked so forward to being "grown-up". I didn't relish my childhood as much. I am now looking very much forward to returning and being with my beloved and all my loved ones! But I don't want to miss what God's placed right in front of me now. Live for today! That's all we can do.

I leave with words of great joy...

Isaiah 61:10-11

I will rejoice greatly in the Lord! My soul will exult in my God, for He has clothed me in garments of salvation. He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness as a bridegroom decks himself with garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

Reflections

What an emotionally mixed-up last few days!

I've heard it said that "getting control over one's emotions" is something we should strive for--an emblem of true maturity, in a sense.

I would agree, to some extent. However, I find it excruciating to force myself to appear one way when I'm clearly not. Of course, certain times call for composure. I try not to lose my composure, but, more often than not, I fail. I've been told many a time that I wear my heart on my sleeve. It gets me into trouble. But, sometimes, I think it's HEALTHY to show our emotions. To say, "Here I am world, I am alive, and I feel!!"

I just discovered a few days ago that my friend Seye's (pronounced shay) mother passed away. Seye is also an Ambassadorial Scholar here in AU. He's from Nigeria and is a Neurologist. I've grown quite fond of him, as he reminds me of a lot of my close friends back at home, all rolled into one. I feel so, for him and his family. I'm glad God doesn't mind us asking "why, God?"...

Then, completely on the flip-side of my emotion-o-meter, I got to sit with friends and be in awe of a fantastic performance of Wicked. It was sooo good. No, great!

I can't help but feel somewhat guilty for having a good time while my friend was on his way back home to grieve the loss of the woman who gave him life. I feel even stranger just typing about it...

What makes us keep going? What gives us the ability to not be consumed by every grievance in this world, and to smile? Sometimes it's selfishness. We're too self-absorbed to have any real empathy. Sometimes it's detachment. I've no personal acquaintances with those across the seas, so it's hard to understand what war must be like. Many times, though, for me, I know it's God. He keeps me going. This battered, beaten ol' carcass of a woman. He uses me. *shakes head* Hard to believe, isn't it?

"To love your brother as yourself", then, is quite a serious business. Do we cry for one another? Do we comfort? Not just a sad, "I'll keep you in my prayers", but a real, step-out-of-the-comfort-zone sacrifice?

I want to do that more. I need to do that more.

I'm such a selfish creature. Since I came out of my mother's womb, I've been crying for things my way! Love never takes...it gives. And gives. And gives.

God, help me love.

This is Wicked Awesome!!

I get to see Wicked tomorrow night!!!!!!!!!! Wooooooooooo!! A friend had an extra ticket! I'm so blessed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spread the joy. :D

I'm Still Alive!

So, a VERY quick update on life in AU...

So much has happened since my last entry, I can't catch you up on everything! But I'm done with Uni for the semester, I've been speaking and performing at various clubs, and I've made some really great friends!

I've made a little "triangle" of travel. So far, I've been as far North as Newcastle, as far West as the Blue Mts. and as far South as Wollongong. I've been encouraged to travel by myself to parts of AU that are worth seeing, but I really don't want to do it alone. I'm hoping that, somehow, someone will want and be able to come with me. And this person must be a girl. Stipulations such as this make it a bit hard to say it will happen, but I am choosing to stay positive :D

Newest insight? It saddens me to no end to see my country from the other side of the hemisphere. I read and watched Obama's Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, and it made me...less than happy. He's good with words, I'll give him that. But the problem is that his words don't match up. It all sounds good, it's glazed with a nauseating sugar-coating of sweet-talk, but when you really look at it...it's crap. Force is necessary to promote peace? That's like getting angry and screaming at your child that they shouldn't be angry about something...it's hypocrisy. The real issue is that Americans don't want to give up the throne of power. No, Al Quaida isn't being peaceful, and yes, we have a right to defend our loved ones... but when's the last time anyone tried loving their enemy? I know it's complicated, I know it sounds like I'm saying we should all let people walk all over us, but... I just can't see how we can say we should fight for freedom, because every human being is precious, yet choose to kill some people who just aren't as precious as the rest. Something's just not right. And no, just war will never exist.

God help us all. Not just the Americans.

Also, if you've had trouble listening to my recital bites in the last entry, download iTunes. You'll be able to open them with that.

Lastly, but certainly not least...the most amazing news to ever reach my ears...Brian is coming to visit me!!!!!!!! I know, I know. I can hardly believe it myself! My beloved has worked so hard this semester, saving every penny (literally) so that he can come to visit! He's landing on January 1 and leaving the 13.

It's so surreal. I've been wanting to see him for these past five months, and here is the chance that he will come! I say "chance" because his passport is to come in THREE DAYS before he leaves. That's cutting it quite close, so I'm leaving room for disappointment. But 90% of me wants to cry with hope and joy! My love... coming all that way, to see ME!?!

*jumps up and down without reserve, giggling all the while*

Sound Bites

Here are some clips from my recital. Enjoy! (note that these are .m4a files. Please download iTunes now, and you can hear them. It won't take but a second!)

Selections from Dominick Argento's Six Elizabethan Songs

Sleep.m4a


Winter.m4a


Dirge.m4a



Selections from Hugo Wolf's Italienisches Liederbuch


O war dein Haus.m4a


Ich hab' in Penna.m4a

Selections by Reynaldo Hahn

Le Rossignol de Lilas.m4a


L'Enamouree.m4a


Selections from Fernando Obradors' Canciones Clasicas Espanolas


La mi sola.m4a


Al Amor.m4a


Corazon, porque pasais?.m4a


El majo celoso.m4a


Con amores, la mi madre.m4a


Dos cantares populares.m4a


Coplas de curro dulce.m4a



Free file hosting from File Den

District President's Meeting

I went to the District 9750 President's meeting a few nights ago. My two friends (and fellow Ambassadorial Scholars) are wrapping up their time in AU and gave some amazing speeches. It blows my mind how gifted some people are. And how SMART. Geeze. They are both focusing their studies on human/social rights (sorry I can't recall the exact titles), and their perspectives on justice is inspiring. Who doesn't love a person who's out to make the world a better place?

Some observations I made during the meeting were:

1) I find it ironic to speak about social justice over a fancy meal.

2) Australian humor is quite dry. Someone told me "If someone keeps making fun of you, feel honored. That means they like you." The District Governor, Glenn Wran, was really poking fun at the scholars before they came up to speak. Like, a lot. But I know he really admires them and supports them. I think showing affection through playful banter is also ironic, in a way...

3) I have often felt overwhelmed by a sense of "Does ANYone else in this world care about anyone else but themselves!?!" But I see individuals' passion for peace and love in the world spark up every now and again, especially at meetings such as these. You can see it in someone's eyes, when they truly want to make a difference, versus just wanting to gain recognition for how many good deeds they're doing. We can't allow the voices of truth to be drowned out by the world's excuses. Period.

Below is a picture of the Scholar group. Left to right: Me, Cathrine (Scholar from Europe), Elizabeth Michard (Scholar Committee Chair), Frank (Scholar from Germany), Frank Lowe (Scholar Committee Chair), Seye (Scholar from Nigeria) and Rosi (Scholar from South Africa).

My Recital Program

It's good to know that you guys are interested in my recital!! :D

Here's the program info. If you're REALLY keen, I can send you the entire program via email! But only if you reaaally want it ;)

Technical 2

For those who are confused and/or irritated with technology, I've tried to make it simple by writing out the following steps.

If you wish to leave a comment on my blog, simply:

Go to my blog site. At the bottom of each entry it says "posted by Josmery Ramirez / time / # comments" Click on the link that says # comments. You will see a white box. That's where you type.  On the option "comment as" choose Name/URL. You'll have to fill in a security thing, the instructions will pop up. Click submit, and that's it! 

Also, if you would like to be notified via email that I've posted a new blog, you can subscribe to my blog by entering your email at the top left of the main page. You should see a box that says "Subscribe via email." This will allow you to be notified of when I post a new blog! You'll only get emails when there's a new blog...pretty sweet!

Hope that helps everyone. And please, do leave comments! :)

Rolling Along

So much has been happening here in Sydney! Most pressing, however, is my recital, which will be Tuesday, November 10 at 4:10pm. (Do the math to calculate when that is for your time zone!)

Let's see...where do I begin? Well, last Saturday evening was the Rotaract Club of Sydney City's International Dinner, hosted at the D'Alessandri residence. Honestly, I thought it was going to be boring. Just speaking truly! But I am SO, so happy I was a part of it. We had about twelve different countries represented, and each attendee brought a dish from their homeland. The food was beautiful, but the company was definitely the highlight of the evening! Such amazing, interesting people! We decorated the house with streamers (which have yet to be taken down, although I like the Casa-Ole-look myself) and printed off people's national flags and had them color them in. We also had a fun trivia game with questions about various countries. My team didn't win that part, and I still think Frank Lowe, who won first prize, cheated (he's on the Ambassadorial Scholar committee! Of course he knows facts about various countries!!) =D

Then on Sunday I visited a church with a friend and met some really great people. I hadn't been to a morning service since I left the States, and it was really great to worship in a congregation again. The church reminds me somewhat of Lamar Baptist back in Beaumont, but it's not the church's actual building. See, the church used to meet in a school, but the school now has a new principal and she immediately stated she didn't want the church to meet in her school on Sundays anymore. It's quite sad, since the church also contributed to children's educational programs and such. However, I'm reminded that "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12)

Sounds very Lord-of-the-Rings-ish, doesn't it? But it's so true. We often get irritated or angered, hurt and embittered against people, but we forget that there are influences invisible to the naked eye that influence us. Asking the Lord for the ability to see others as God sees them helps correct our myopia, and it's amazing how one can love the unlovable when seeing them through the eyes of Christ.

Speaking of seeing through different lenses, I was treated to an afternoon at Sculptures by the Sea in Bondi. It's a showcase of artwork on the shores of the ocean, and it was very neat! I'll post pictures later, but I highly suggest you visit the link and check out some of the works!

It was interesting to me, however, that hundreds of people walked along the shores gazing at the works fashioned by the hands of men, while God's beautiful creation surrounded it all. Of course, I think most people appreciate the beauty of nature, but the work of man was augmented above that of God's in this particular show. I dunno...it was just an interesting point to me. :)

Oookay. I'm off to complete my program notes. I hope. I had on my Facebook status that Josmery Ramirez should win first place in the Procrastination Contest...but she'd probably arrive too late to enter it. HA!