When I attended the Greek mission conference last weekend to promote HD to the northern half of the Greek Evangelical Church, I expected to be refreshed from the fancy food and living that I have come to associate with Greek conferences (discussed here and here). My battery was already running low; I spent the first half of our five-hour roadtrip with earbuds in, and sneered, “You don’t know what a podcast is?” when my sweet friends attempted to engage in a conversation with me. So when we showed up to a campground, to a room with four beds, to a dirty bathroom, to a cafeteria full of strangers…I had nothing in me to pretend to be happy. Continue reading
Personal
A Week in Greece #24: Got My Passion Back
I’m writing this blog on my phone, so it will be short!
Basically, I’m feeling rejuvenated! This was our second Celebration Week at HD, and we had a team from North Caroline come to teach our program participants how to make leather bracelets. It was so great to talk with Americans (so fast, without worrying if they could understand my vocabulary), and it was lovely to get a break from teaching and catch up on office work.
In particular, Dina shared a dream with me that made me GIDDY. I don’t know if I can share it yet, but it epitomizes my love of providing extravagantly good gifts to women who have grown used to abuse. I want to do everything possible to make this a reality, and it reminded me of why I love working with HD so much.
I also got to hang out with “A2” a little more, although we can only communicate through broken Greek (for both of us). We all had a big lunch after the program, and she snuggled into my side, tired of our guests, I think. But it meant so much to me that she’s starting to feel comfortable. And a couple days later just the two of us went out for a hamburger, and it was so fun (and exhausting) to communicate as best we could.
Yesterday was the graduation ceremony, and once again I was blown away by how much they’ve learned, and how deeply they are internalizing their lessons. “A” made a leather plaque that says “Lack of Trust >> Anger >> Fear >> Lack of Trust.” These are three different classes, and she personalized them and put them all together on her own.
“D” told us what she’s learned in our Self-Esteem class, and she confidently told a room full of people that she is kind, giving, and spontaneous, good qualities that took forever for her to identify two weeks ago, because she’s so unused to thinking she has good qualities.
“A2” made a beautiful painting, but even more touching was how she ushered Luciana and I into her room after the ceremony to show how she’d hung her certificate and medal on her wall, and also she had painstakingly arranged some knickknacks on her desk. She’s making the room her own, and it’s so lovely to see.
I’ve still got culture shock running through my veins, but I feel SO grateful to work for HD. I honestly love it, and I am NOT ready to leave anytime soon!
Now… A weekend in Turkey with Roy and Idil! But you can read more about that later!
Rory’s 5th Birthday (w/ VIDEO)!
My perfect cat turns five today, and I am not even in the same country! Who will give him extra snuggles and coo, “You’re the most perfect creation on the entire planet,” to his blank little face? Well, my mom, who is the best long-term cat-sitter I could have asked for. She sends me regular picture updates on how cuddly he is with her or with their dog Riley, assuring me that he’s still living his best cat life. Continue reading
A Week in Greece #23: Still Barely Holding On, but A New Girl in HD!
I met our newest participant in HD on Sunday. As (I think) I mentioned before, she is literally right off the streets, and agggghhhh I want to tell her story so badly, but I won’t. Because it’s her story to tell or not tell, and I won’t violate her privacy so publicly. Even though I am a selfish person who wants to very badly.
Anyway, she only speaks Romanian, but she painted my nails on Sunday and it was nice.
Then I met up with Natasha, and we hung out downtown for a few hours, eating souvlaki, having coffee with Irini, and buying Greek sandals. I actually took some pictures, which is why the header is actually unique again this week!
Aaaaand, that was the last time I was social!
I’m dying. Continue reading
God’s Perfect Timing
A new woman joined us at HD, and although change always makes us freak out a little, I am overwhelmed by just how good God has been at bringing us new participants at just the right time (for them and for us).
“A” joined us first, and she was the perfect first participant for a bunch of women who desperately wanted to help sexually exploited women but weren’t sure if they were cut out to do so. “A” escaped from her trafficker years ago, and she joined us out of a hope that she will someday help other women like her. This means she’s already grown a lot and developed a really healthy sense of self-awareness, so classes went smoothly and our confidence grew in our abilities.
“D” joined us next Continue reading
NEW House Tour (with furniture this time!)
A Week in Greece #22: SA Visit Leaves Me Proud But Overwhelmed
I need a vacation! I’m running on a tank that is constantly on the edge of empty…not that work is so hard, necessarily, but I’m realizing that it’s very difficult to start a new organization while simultaneously adjusting to living in a new city in a new country with new friends. I’m tiiiiiired of living abroad, is what I’m complaining.
(Also, it’s summer, and every summer I am not in Peoria makes me extremely homesick, because all the trips! and events! and random parties! ugh)
Not in the sort of way where I’m going to change any of my plans, but in the sort of “life is not easy” way. Just. For anyone who is worried/hopeful that this means I will be returning to the States. I’m just complaining, nothing more!
Complaining, but honestly? This week was pretty okay! It’s just overwhelming (oh man, this post is going to be so one-note emotional, I apologize if that is not your jam). Continue reading
One Night Visiting the Streets
Last week, I went downtown to an area where “hotel” is code for “brothel,” and policemen watch men solicit women on the street without caring.
HD partners with an organization that works in two particular blocks – an organization that is mostly one woman. Olivia (not her real name) has been working and praying in these streets for two and a half years. She offers daily programs to prostitutes and gives away baby formula, diapers, and food. She takes women to the hospital when they have been beaten severely or contracted an STD. She knows and is known by all the prostitutes, pimps, and madams in the area. She has been trained by Scotland Yard, and she continually impressed me by confidently going wherever she wanted, cooing, “Oh, I just love the girls and I want to help them however I can!” in a sing-songy helpless little girl voice before getting in the car and growling to us, “I wanted to punch him in the face!”
Why was I experiencing this?
Dina has started going downtown with Olivia weekly so that she can get to know the women on the street. She told the rest of our staff that we would each join her at least once so that we could see where our participants are coming from. The first to participate, I can whole-heartedly affirm that this was a wonderful idea. Although nothing unexpected happened, it was still such a shock to my system to realize that this was REAL LIFE to these men and women. Their everyday experience was walking the streets, propositioning and being propositioned, wondering if someone was going to bash your head against the wall, and dodging the woman with the stick. Continue reading
Let’s Talk About…HOT MEN THROUGHOUT THE DECADES (1960s-2010s)
Yesterday Elizabeth enlightened me on the hottest men from 1910-1950. Since I have very little knowledge of the hottest men of yesteryear, she got very little pushback. Today…I have some opinions!
[Click HERE to read our earlier conversation and what led to Elizabeth saying…]
Elizabeth: Just to splash some cold water on you
Elizabeth: For the 1960s I have again chosen Cary Grant, because his perfection cannot be contained by one decade.
Tricia: HAHAHA
Elizabeth: I realize this is cheating, and I don’t care.
Tricia: I approve of your cheating.
Truly Hot Men are Always Hot Continue reading
Let’s Talk About…HOT MEN THROUGHOUT THE DECADES (1910s-1950s)
The most important thing we have ever contributed to the Internet.
Elizabeth: OKAY.
I am prepared to submit my Definitive Dudes of the Decades Report, complete with illustrative gifs, whenever it is convenient for you.
Please advise.
Tricia: I’m ready! Hit me with some hot men!
Elizabeth: Okay, so here’s the situation:
I know we usually do jokey discussions for the blog, but this is a very important topic that is close to my heart.
What happened, just to recap, is that yesterday you confessed to me that you didn’t know many crush-worthy movie stars from the decades prior to 1980. And this is sad!
Tricia: It is sad.
I am eager to be educated about hot men from all times.
I will not joke at all.
Elizabeth: Let us begin.
1910s
Tricia: wait wait
Elizabeth: what?
Tricia: What is my role? How am I supposed to respond?
Elizabeth: I mean, how does your heart want to respond to these gifs?
Tricia: Ah, okay, I can listen to my heart and then immediately verbalize it without forethought. Continue reading
It Is Trish 