Taking steps

The neighborhood kids were playing soccer in the road when I turned into the driveway. I changed my shoes and went outside to play. I noticed they couldn't tell today was my last day of classes and minus two exams I am a graduate….of my Masters. I went for a walk by "the lake" as I call it, I walked around and around it thinking about the last two years of school.

Our professor had let us out of class early this evening and like someone pulling off a bandage quickly, I felt the sting of it all being over. I am supposed to be excited, but this ending has been hard. Things in life are starting to cost more than they did before. I wonder if my title means anything of what I deem worth.

I think about my life, the Africa orphans, I think about the friends and family who have died, I think about saving lives versus saving hearts versus saving souls, I think about what I do each day that matters at all…I think a lot. I ponder jumping into the lake with all my clothes on, because maybe that will mark today different than all others. I contemplating crawling through the drainage pipe because I have never done it before, and I want to live daring.

Instead, I sit and I am still and I watch the water ripple. I think about the quote I read today and I wonder if I could possibly live this way, never actually graduating just taking the next step……


People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.

--On the wall of Mother Theresa's home for children in Calcutta

Getting Ready for Africa

It is a month out before leaving for Africa. I am tying up loose ends on the East Coast and preparing to be away for 5 months. In two weeks, I will graduate with my Masters in Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary.

I will keep this blog updated throughout my trip overseas. Please feel free to contact me by responding to this blog or emailing me at christyav@hotmail.com

In Africa, I will be working with an organization called Children of the Nations - I will live with 15-20 other American girls a village working with orphans.

Please pray for me! Stay tuned for an exciting adventure!