Do Some Good

     If you are reading this, I challenge you to go ahead and read all the way through. I personally have a bad habit of clicking on blog posts and then just skimming over them. This topic seems to be one that is easy to overlook, but it shouldn't be. I think it's important.

     I mention Fair Trade a lot, and many of you see my posts relating to it, but do you actually have any idea what I'm talking about? I find that in all this talk about Fair Trade, many people miss the definition of what it IS.

Fair Trade

noun: Trade in which fair prices are paid to producers in developing countries
     There you go. There's the official definition. It means much more to me than this though. Fair Trade is a way to be a good steward of your money. It is an easy way to make an impact. By buying Fair Trade shoes I may be supporting a woman in Uganda and helping to provide a way for her to go to University when only 2% of women in that country ever make it there. By buying a fair trade scarf I may be supporting a single mother in Peru who was destitute until she was given a way to make a sustainable living and send her sons to school. By buying earrings from a Fair Trade organization instead of Forever 21 I may be supporting an adult in Kenya with special needs who would have little promising future, income, or hope without my purchase.
     Please just take a second to think about the significance of buying Fair Trade to the people who make it. It changes lives. I'm not going to go into the politics and particulars of Fair Trade because, quite honestly, I don't really understand it at all. What I do understand is that where your money goes matters.
     If you are not on board with this idea right now, then just give me a call and let me talk to you about it more. I'm being serious. I'll put my phone number at the end of this post.

     If, however, you now understand what an impact your purchases can make & you're ready to buy some Fair Trade goodies then I have some great news for you. Today is Fair Tuesday. (Also called Giving Tuesday) Black Friday and Cyber Monday have passed, but today is a chance to do some actual good with your money. Buy Fair Trade or ethical products today. Hats, shoes, journals, necklaces, coffee, soap, tea, bracelets, headbands, rugs, sugar, chocolate, etc. You can basically find anything you want Fair Trade. Go to this website for a list of over a hundred Fair Trade companies to get started: http://www.fairtuesday.com/index.php/about/
     So, now you know if you didn't know before. You have a basic knowledge of Fair Trade, and hopefully you understand how much good you can do just by shopping differently. Watch this video because it's one of my favorites & I think it illustrates the part of Fair Trade that I'm passionate about wonderfully. Thanks for reading!

Natalie

(432) 212-3616

 ** http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO_xhHf-OgM **

 

 

Some cool FT companies having sales/specials today:


http://www.matatraders.com/
http://www.cometogethertrading.com/
http://www.krochetkids.org/
 

The Hope on Earth

Church.

What thoughts or pent-up emotions are the first to enter your head when you hear the word? I’m curious. I think it’s an all too common occurrence that a person’s initial reaction to church is a negative one. (I was going to say that this was most common with young people, however I know far too many believing adults that struggle with the same thing.)

     If I’m being honest, which is something I strive to be on this blog, I have struggled with church quite a bit at different points in my life. I have felt like I wasn’t good enough to be part of the Church, I have felt rejected by the Church, I have felt lied to by the Church, and I have felt offended by the Church over the course of my 19 year involvement with it.

     Now, before I go any further, I want to make it clear that I have also been immensely blessed by the church bodies I have been part of over the years. I would not be where I am without the teaching, support, and love I have received there. So, if I have ever gone to church with you, know that I am not accusing you. You’re great. I will always consider you my family.

     I believe that there are some issues with the modern day church in America and there are of course things that could be done differently, but my reason for writing this post is that I do not believe that the negative feelings often associated with church are the fault of the Church. They are the heart-breaking result of sin and spiritual warfare and a lack of grace given.

     The church is run by flawed people. People who struggle with pride, hypocrisy, gossip, pornography, envy, homosexuality, and doubt. But guess what! The Church, the Bride of Christ, is also designed to be the hope of Christ on Earth. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lived a sinless life and died for humanity to pay the penalty for our sins. He suffered in our place and saved us because He loves us. He then defeated death by rising from the dead and He is coming back by the way! (Insert a Hallelujah or a toe-touch or whatever you do to celebrate the greatest news your ears will ever hear) Until He returns though, are we who are still chilling here left with no hope on the Earth? Absolutely not. That’s why Christ instituted the Church. We are His body. This means we are supposed to be a community and a family of believers acting as the hands and feet of Jesus to the rest of the world until He comes back for us. When the world seems black and discouraging with all of its chaos and hurt, there is still the Church. There is not only the hope of Heaven and of Christ’s return, but there is hope right here and right now on this planet.

     SO, how come people like me sometimes feel so offended by this so-called “hope on earth”? It sure doesn’t seem hopeful a lot of the time with all of its hypocrisy and judgment.

     I asked a number of you guys what pops into your mind first when you think of church. The overwhelming majority of you believers I asked answered: “Family” or “Community”

     I think that answers the question right there. I, like most of you, view the church as my family. It is my support system and the group of people I am closest to and most encouraged by. This means that when I feel the church has wronged me in some way, the offense is worse. My own family did it to me. The hurt is deeper because it feels like betrayal. Odds are that if you have consistently attended a church for any extended period of time, you may have experienced this feeling however severely and you know what I’m talking about. Unfortunately, this will continue to happen because the church is made up of sinners. It’s out of our control.

     What we can control though is how we respond when our Biblical community offends us. I suggest a combination of forgiveness and grace. I wish this is something I had been told years ago when I first remember feeling hurt by my church. I have seen several believers leave the church and then turn their back on a God they once trusted in, and I am just thankful that, by the grace of God, I was never allowed to take it to that extreme. We should forgive the offender and realize they need grace too. It’s simple and it’s crucial.

     Hear this: When you are upset by the church and respond by distancing yourself from it or becoming bitter, you are purposefully separating yourself from the greatest hope Christ left us on Earth. You are only hurting yourself, and separation from hope is a terrible place to live. You will be living in bitterness instead of community.

     I understand all of this now, and I am able to move on when the Church makes mistakes. I will never leave “Church” as a whole because that is a dark place to be. If you are reading this and your church offended you maybe years ago or maybe just last Sunday, take a moment to pray about it and see if perhaps forgiveness is your next step. If a Church fails you, remember that it is not God who failed you.  I don’t want you to make the mistake of distancing yourself from a body of believers who is the Bride of Christ. Give church a chance. And plenty of second chances after that. Like a friend of mine said, “a lot of us love Jesus, but hate the church.” Don’t let that be you. The best remedy I know for hate is forgiveness. Choose to live in grace and not bitterness because church is a gift and it truly is the hope of God on this earth.

Thanks for reading. 

*Cue “Build Your Kingdom Here” by Rend Collective Experiment, Campfire album*

Natalie

P.S. If you want to talk about church or your experiences with it, contact me. I’d really love to hear, no matter your religious views. And if you want to get plugged into a church but don’t know how, I’d love to encourage you in that as well.

Food for thought:

Most common answers when I asked what words people associate with church…

Believers said: Community, family, and service  

Non-believers said: Judgment, contradiction, and obligation

"Fight for Your Right to Party"

      I realize that this blog started out as something completely different, but from now on I will simply be using it as a tool to communicate what I am passionate about whether I'm reaching an audience of just a few friends or my entire community. Thank you for reading.

      As you may know, I am a proud student at the University of Oklahoma. I'm well into my second year here, only lately, I'm far less proud of my university and the people here than I used to be. In the past few days, many of my fellow students have banded together around a cause and are pursuing it with a passion that I haven't seen on campus before. Normally, this display of dedication and excitement from a student body would be inspiring. Honestly, that is my DREAM for my campus- to see students banding together and putting all of their passion and energy into a cause. In this case though, the cause is utterly disappointing and I have never been so ashamed of my peers.

      #FreeOUGreek

      Have you seen the hashtag circulating social media? I've seen it on twitter, FaceBook, posters, and written in chalk on the sidewalks around OU's campus. Out of curiosity, I looked it up and was honestly confused by the whole thing. There were dozens of tweets using this hashtag, but none actually explained the issue to me. What does OU Greek need to be freed from? I could tell that my fellow students were worked up about something but I didn't know about what until this evening when I read an article in OU Daily explaining the whole issue.
      (Go read their article, but I'll try to summarize) Essentially, the Interfraternity Council and Student Conduct offices on campus are starting to crack down a little more and enforce OU's Student Alcohol Policy. This could mean things like undercover Student Conduct authorities going to bars on the weekends looking for underage drinkers, or IFC authorities going into frat houses and giving the fraternity or sorority strikes for having alcohol. IFC can demand the I.D.s of people attending a party who are drinking underage. So basically, the Greek community at my school is making a big stink about not being able to get away with getting drunk at their parties when they know they are underage.
     After reading this information, I was blown away that that is the big issue everyone was tweeting about. That is the cause that my fellow students have chosen to be involved in. Now, I'm not saying that it was the majority of my university or even the majority of the Greek community saying these things. I am saying that I have heard more about and seen more people get involved in this issue than most other issues on campus. Here are some of the tweets I saw:
(the two that I find most unbelievable are found in the bottom-right corner)
    

 

      I'll give you a second to soak all of that in and cry for our country's future...

 

      Here is my problem with all of it and the reason I am writing: what a (frankly) DUMB thing to be passionate about! It makes me genuinely sad to see so many people worked up and excited about a cause that is so worthless. We have about 4 years at college and we get to choose how to spend them and where to use our voices. I'm incredibly disappointed that so many of my peers have chosen to pour themselves into demanding the freedom to break the law just because they want to have fun. "Fight for your right to party." What a stirring call to action...

      Why not fight for the 27 MILLION people being trafficked right now? Why not stand up against bullying and violence in schools? Why not speak out against self-harm? If you want to change your campus, why not use your voice to cause your university to purchase Fair Trade products? THAT is something worth fighting for. I have hope that someday my school will support sustainable economies by buying its products for fair pay from people in safe working conditions. That will only be accomplished if the student body speaks out. If students used their voices for something like asking their university to go Fair Trade ? Wow. That would be amazing.

      My generation is extremely passionate. We get worked up easily. Social media contributes to this. We see a hashtag trending worldwide and we want in on it. We want to make an impact and we want to be heard.

People, make sure that what you say is something worth saying.

      Whining about the fact that you might get busted now for drinking is not inspiring. Let's try again. Let's make National news for a movement on campus for GOOD this time. Be passionate. I absolutely love that about our generation. Just watch what issues you choose to fight for. There is so much potential for my campus and my generation in the years to come.

Boomer Sooner, ladies and gentlemen.

 



Where is God?

     When tragedies happen it never fails that some people's first response is to say, "Where is God?" People accuse Him. People question Him. We, in our low state, are prideful enough to wonder if the God of the universe somehow lost control of His creation. Christian responses to these kinds of questions vary, and if you had asked me a few weeks ago where God is in the face of devastation I probably would have had a solid Christian answer or two and a Bible verse to match. If you asked me now... my response would be different.
     May 20th. 3:00 in the afternoon. As many of you watched on the news, a large tornado ripped through Moore, Oklahoma about 15 minutes from my University's campus in Norman. I was able to spend several days in the area after the tornado and see for myself what went on in the city. I packed my car with supplies & gifts and arrived in OK three days after the tornado had touched down. My church in Norman partnered with a larger church to offer supplies & relief to the affected families, and that is where I started spending my time. I got the opportunity to ride in the church van packed with sandwiches, cookies, & gatorade to go to "ground zero" and refresh the people working there. I had no idea what was in store.
     We were gone for almost six hours handing out food & drinks to these people and I was amazed by every second of it. I was amazed by the devastation. Houses and neighborhoods just...gone. I was amazed by the professionals out there working. Policemen, electricians, and construction workers spending all day doing their job very well to get the city up and running again. Most of all, I was amazed by the people. Seriously, y'all... I'm from Texas and we tend to give Oklahomans a hard time, but after spending this last week in Moore I am now very proud to call myself one of them. These are the kindest, most selfless, Jesus-lovin' people I have ever been around. I could go on and on about how honored I was to work alongside other students, OU professors, and my church family. Every person I handed a cold drink to thanked me from the bottom of their heart. Some wanted to tell me their story. Some wanted help cleaning up the rubble where their home used to stand. Some just wanted a hug.

     Driving through the destroyed areas of Moore had me in tears. These were places I recognized and used to spend time at. I saw city blocks that were completely leveled and still can't imagine the pain that the families are feeling. Where was God when this tornado hit?

 

Where was God when two elementary schools were hit & children died? As the children's pastor at my church put it... Have you not seen Him? Honestly, this is my best answer to the question that believers & non-believers alike ask when bad things happen. When absolute tragedy strikes, God is right there. When we are hurting, God is there. All of this used to sound cliché to me, but not anymore now that I have experienced it for myself. God is in the thousands of donations piled up. God is in the countless volunteers from all over the nation. God is in the children who miraculously walked out of those schools alive. I have never felt the presence of God so powerfully or seen the Church so wonderfully execute being the "hands & feet" of Jesus.
     Maybe all of this was a "had to be there" thing, but I hope that some of what I learned can still encourage you. The next time I experience tragedy, my eyes will be wide open looking for how God chooses to show up. There is no hopelessness or despair in Moore. I saw no one cursing God. I heard no one question His goodness. He is being thanked and praised and glorified in Moore, Oklahoma. There is no way that someone could go there & see the people's faces and still ask, "Where is God?"

Do you not see Him? He is everywhere.

 Psalm 34:18

 

 

 

 



 

I Am Pleased to Announce...

For those of you who haven't heard...
After 2 years since my last trip, I'm finally going back to Uganda!
The flight has been booked, arrangements have been made, and I am gearing up to leave the U.S. with my sister on July 11th. Praise Jesus!
This time in Uganda, I get to be involved with something very near and dear to my heart which I know will be a wonderful learning experience. I will be volunteering/living at the Komo Centre for Understanding Autism located in Entebbe, Uganda for a month. This center is very unique in Uganda which, (those of you who follow my blog already know) has very limited options and opportunities in the way of Special Education. The Komo Centre has an integrated classroom of regular ed and special ed students combined which is practically unheard of in that country. In addition to education, this center offers counseling and support to families of children with autism and is also actively advocating and raising awareness of autism in the community. Their mission is awesome and is just what the country of Uganda needs to change the popular misconceptions about people with disabilities.
I will be flying to Entebbe with my sister and then we will part ways for the month as she goes to Mbale and I stay at the center as an assistant teacher. I could not be more excited! I really have no idea what exactly lies in store for me, but I know it will be a great experience. I want to be permanently involved with furthering special education in Africa after I graduate, and this is the best baby step I could come up with to get started. The opportunity to live and work at a special needs school in country is something I have been praying for for months and am so blessed to finally have.
So, now that I am officially set to go, all of the details start to become more important. As I look through pictures of the beautiful students I get to meet in 2 months, I have to think about what I'm going to wear, what I need to bring, what vaccinations and medicine I need, and how to pay for the trip.
Please be in prayer for me and my sister through this part of the process. If you would like to support either of us financially, message me on facebook or post your email address below. Also, I would absolutely love to have letters from friends, family, or anyone to read while I am alone over there. If you send me a letter now I will keep it and wait to read it until I am in Uganda. Thank you so much for reading and for all of the encouragement I have already received from so many of you. I really cannot describe all of the feelings I have or how incredibly thankful I am that this is all happening!
Have a wonderful beginning to your summer!
Natalie

If you want to check out the Komo Centre for Understanding Autism and learn more about it you can see their website here:
http://www.komolearningcentres.org/initiatives/komo-centre-understanding-autism
or look up their page on facebook

Why April is a Big Month (+ 3 ways you can make yourself useful)

What's happening in April, you ask?
A LOT is happening let me tell you. I'm really excited about everything that's going on and at the end of this post I'm going to give you 3 ways to get involved!
    
     Did you know that April is Autism Awareness Month? April 2nd, 2013 will be the 6th annual World Autism Awareness Day! Autism organizations and families around the world celebrate by fundraising and awareness events. Famous buildings and monuments around the world will be lit blue for autism this year. 1 in 88 children are affected by autism (1 in 54 boys). It is a disorder that is affecting many lives not only in our country, but in places all over the world...including Uganda.
     I've been chatting with an amazing woman who started a center for understanding autism in Uganda. She's been telling me all about their plans for Autism Awareness Month and will hopefully be sending me an email telling me how it goes, complete with pictures, so I can tell you all about it here in the States! I am THRILLED that there are already people in Uganda that are working hard to raise awareness of this issue and hopefully dispel the cultural myths about autism by providing the facts. Keep checking back here and be on the look out for a super fun post about the center in Uganda sometime in the near future! :)

Why else should you be excited about the month of April? Well...    

     Did you know that there is an easy way for you to help alleviate global poverty and help ensure a livelihood for poor communities? Buy fair trade!
      Most of you probably know that I am involved in Sooners for Fair Trade at the University of Oklahoma (Boomer Sooner!) and I absolutely love it! We are a campus group that's all about raising awareness of fair trade products. When you buy something that's fair trade certified you're supporting people who live in poverty and giving them the chance to work in good conditions and receive fair pay for their work. Coffee, chocolate, jewelry, purses, journals, shoes. All these products can be purchased as fair trade.
     For the month of April, an awesome fair trade fashion company, Mata Traders, has chosen us, Sooners for Fair Trade, as their charity of the month! This means that a portion of their profits go to us as a group! Anything purchased from Mata Traders with the code: SOONERS will end up benefitting Sooners for Fair Trade. How cool! We are so excited and honored that they chose us. They seriously have some awesome products! I especially love their dresses and earrings and plan on purchasing some things myself in the month of April:)

   So, there it is! Some really exciting things going on in April that you can get excited about too! And, as promised, three really great ways to get involved and make an impact:
1) Raise awareness of autism and give support to the individuals/families affected by it. Change your cover photo on facebook like I did and wear blue on April 2nd! You can also visit www.autismspeaks.org to learn more about the disorder and order an autism speaks tshirt to raise awareness.
2) Buy something fun, ethical, and fashionable items from Mata Traders using the code: SOONERS
     www.matatraders.com (Remember to wait until April!!)
3) PRAY. Ask God for the word to be spread about autism in Uganda so that people there would learn the truth about it. That families of children with autism there would not be ashamed anymore and would strive to help their child succeed!
Also, pray for Sooners for Fair Trade as we take on some really huge projects this year. That we could be successful and influential in making fair trade products widely used.

Thanks for reading and for getting excited with me! Just 5 days until April!
-Natalie


Want to know even more?? Thought so. Check out these videos & links:
Light it up blue for autism video:

My favorite fair trade organization in Uganda: (buy some, they're great!)

"Like" Sooners for Fair Trade on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/SoonersForFairTrade?ref=ts&fref=ts

 

Here's the Plan

Want a better idea of what in the world I want to do with my life? Check it out:

 

 

Music: On Top of the World by Imagine Dragons

My Brightest Hope & Joy

"It is, then, because Christians do not know their relation to God of absolute poverty and helplessness, that they have no sense of the need of absolute and unceasing dependence, or the unspeakable blessedness of continual waiting on God. But when once a believer begins to see it, and consent to it, that he by the Holy Spirit must each moment receive what God each moment works, waiting on God becomes his brightest hope and joy." -Andrew Murray

 

     Since age 13 I have had a passion for special needs children. I believe my interest in special education and the talent I have in that area are God-given blessings.

Since age 15 I have had a passion for the people of Uganda. I went on a mission trip there with my church and was forever changed by what I saw and experienced there.

 

At age 16 God gave me vision for a ministry that would unite the two passions.

 

 

     After first seeing a Ugandan child with special needs it hit me that there must be an incredible need for special education there. Since then, I have come to learn that special education is nearly unheard of in rural parts of Uganda. The culture teaches that if a child is born with disabilities, the mother must have committed some sin. The disabled child is isolated, ignored, and not given the basic rights they deserve.

What can I do to help change this?

Honestly... I have no idea. I'm still working on that and waiting on the Lord to see what He has planned.

All I know is that I have never been so passionate about anything in my life. I want to give love and education and a second chance to special needs kids that would otherwise never see it.

      Currently, I'm corresponding with several Ugandans who are also passionate about special education there. My hope is that I can spend some time at a special needs school in country this summer to learn more about how things work there. It would be the experience of a lifetime.

For now... I'm just waiting.

Waiting for a response to an email.

Waiting for the Lord to show me the next step.

Waiting until the day that I am in Uganda finally living out this crazy dream of mine.

I pray though that in the meantime, like Andrew Murray said, waiting on God would become my brightest HOPE and JOY.

 

  Thanks for your interest in what I'm passionate about and what the Lord is up to,

Natalie