My Dear Friends!

Hey all!
I thought I'd drop a quick line with a few thoughts, some updates and the like.
First, I am so excited for all of you who are getting married! Emily and Anna, you both will make beautiful, beautiful brides and wives and my heart literally swelled I was so happy when I read your posts. Alissa, Julianna, Becka, Tory, Kirsten, Micah, Jon and Phil...(is there anyone else), I am so so so jealous and excited for all of you! You get to go back and have all these experiences that hopefully will make our experience make more sense and bring clarity to your lives. Sarah and Kaitlyn, EUROPE is crazy awesome! Congrats! I wonder about the rest of you who haven't blogged in a while...how are those crazy Gruelkirks, Margie? Matts? Hermerding? Heidi is going to Egypt...what about Miss Dena!? Please, update me on your lives! I need it!

I know a lot of you have been thinking and praying for me lately, I appreciate it more than you know! For those out of the loop, my dad has been in some poor, poor health. He had another heart attack, two heart surgeries and a stroke and is currently in a rehabilition center in Cleveland learning how to lift his right arm again. It's strange. I know when people go through these kinds of things they are supposed to feel far from God, or close to God, but I don't really feel anything about it. I mean, I am upset about my dad, I cry a lot these days, but I don't really feel emotive at all toward my Maker. Any Psych majors out there? =)

I ended up taking that job I was telling you all about. I'd love to tell you all about it, but they have searches out there on google and the last time I posted, they found it and my boss hounded me mercilessly about blogging about not wanting the job I took...thus, I cannot say much about it. Although, I will say it's not really enough for me. It's an AmeriCorps position, and that's cool--I work for an organization that promotes and convenes colleges toward the end goal of creating civically engaged and socially responsible students and people. That's great, right?! I mean, that's what I wanted my whole time at Spring Arbor...and I am resourcing and overseeing 12 people who directly work on college campuses and work toward that same goal. But I sit in a cubicle and help some people with their payroll, others I help find more service-learning opportunities in their area, but it's different than what I thought Iwould be doing. I thought I would be doing this great, big thing that worked this great, big idea and had a great, big impact.
My time is up in July, and I'm looking to the next step already. Maybe grad school, maybe Egypt, maybe moving home to take care of my dad--although I can tell you what I'm hoping for... =) We'll see.

I love you all and thank you for all your thoughts and prayers, and cannot wait to hear what all ya'll are up to!! Much love from Lansing, Habibiim! (I think, I can never remember...)

Hey!

So I've been in the West Bank for the past month and a half studying Arabic and doing campus ministry. It's been awesome and crazy and I totally miss you guys but realize more then ever how awesome our experience together in Cairo was. Anyway, last night a Christian village near us had an Oktoberfest festival and I went with a friend of mine. And, my friends, I saw dabke and table playing that kicked ours in the butt. Holy cow, it was AMAZING!!! And it brought back such sweet memories of dancing on the roof. Guys, I really wish you could have seen it. My friend and I committed to enrolling in a dabke class in Ramallah next week it was so good. So now I get to experience dabke again, and believe you me, I will be thinking of you whenever I do.

I will be in Cairo at least for the begining of December, and then will probably be back in the West Bank after that. I look forward to seeing everyone in Egypt then! Insha'allah I will get to meet up with the MESP group when they come through Jerusalem--Austrian Hospice bread anyone?

Love you guys!

England!

I have been in the UK at the University of East Anglia for the last month. I am here for the next year working on my Master's in Museology. If any of you will be anywhere nearby, it would be great to get to see you!!!

-Kaitlyn