If you don't laugh you'll cry

You know you're from the Gulf Coast when….

1. You have FEMA's number on your speed dial.
2. You have more than 300 'C' and 'D' batteries in your kitchen drawer.
3. Your pantry contains more than 20 cans of Spaghetti O's.
4. You are thinking of repainting your house to match the plywood covering your windows.
5. When describing your gutted house to a prospective buyer, you say it has three bedrooms, two baths and an open air feel to it.
6. Your SSN isn't a secret, it's written in Sharpie on your arms.
7. You are on a first-name basis with the cashier at Home Depot.
8. You are delighted to pay $3.50 for a gallon of regular unleaded.
9. The road leading to your house has been declared a No-Wake Zone.
10. You decide that your patio furniture looks better on the bottom of the pool.
11. You own more than three large coolers.
12. You can wish that other people get hit by a hurricane and not feel the least bit guilty about it.
13. You rationalize helping a friend board up by thinking It'll only take a gallon of gas to get there and back
14. You have 2-liter coke bottles and milk jugs filled with water in your freezer.*
15.. Three months ago you couldn't hang a shower curtain; today you can assemble a portable generator by candlelight.
16. You catch a 13-pound red fish - in your house.
17.. You can recite from memory whole portions of your homeowner's insurance policy.
18. You consider a vacation to stunning Tupelo, Mississippi.
19. At cocktail parties, women are attracted to the guy with the biggest chainsaw.
20. You have had tuna fish more than 5 days in a row.
21. There is a roll of tar paper in your garage.
22. You can rattle off the names of three or more meteorologists who work at the Weather Channel.
23. Someone comes to your door to tell you they found your roof.
24. Ice is a valid topic of conversation.
25. Your drive-thru meal consists of MRE's and bottled water.
26. Relocating to South Dakota does not seem like such a crazy idea.
27. You spend more time on your roof then in your living room.
28. You've been laughed at over the phone by a roofer, fence builder or a tree worker.
29. A battery powered TV is considered a home entertainment center.
30. You don't worry about relatives wanting to visit during the summer.
31. Your child's first words are hunker down and you didn't go to Ole Miss!
32. Having a tree in your living room does not necessarily mean it's Christmas.
33. Toilet Paper is elevated to coin of the realm at the shelters.
34. You know the difference between the good side of a storm and the bad side.
35. Your kids start school in August and finish in July.
36. You go to work early and stay late just to enjoy the air conditioning. *
37. Your garage smells like gasoline.
38. Your more concerned about someone stealing your generator then your car.
39. You get excited when you see a FPL truck in your neighborhood.
40. You get really excited when you see the cable guy.
41. You can create memorable meals wit h a can of SPAM and one gas burner.
42. You are prepared to wait in line at Starbucks for 2 hours to get a cup of coffee.

Same Kind of Different

Went to a talk tonight at Second Baptist given by the author's of a book about how relationships built on the love of Christ can transform lives, marriages, families and cities.

I hadn't read the book, I will, but right now the book burning a whole in my nightstand is my bible. I have, we have really been getting the wind knocked out of us pretty consistently since we got back from Budapest. Matt lost his job, my father nearly died, etc. Those things I have watched God redeem, especially my Dad's illness. I even swaggered home after spending 4 days with him, thinking "Ha, devil, nice try!" I thought surely all this is spiritual attack we are coming under because of what we were doing in Budapest. I guess I didn't think these things were gonna keep piling up. The Hurricane of course and now our neighbor is sending nasty and threatening emails to me about a wall she claims is mine, that my deed says otherwise. The wall of course is deteriorating and needs several thousand dollars of repair. This is a really good opportunity for me to love my neighbor with the love of Christ, right? Not to react and want to knock her out- I should be praying for her as she insults, accuses and berates me.

Well you can guess I haven't been doing that. And I feel like all this stuff - the traveling, constant traveling- the job stuff- has displaced me from a praying, talking, learning accountable community.

One of the author's of "Same Kind of Different as Me" said tonight that when he and Denver (the co-author, former homeless man) began being invited to bible studies to tell their story- Denver asked, "Do all white people have a bible study?" He said, "When they start a Bible Doing group I'll go." As profound as that is, I have been "doing" alot and studying way to little. I confess it, hold me accountable. I need to participate in a bible study, not lead one.

This talk tonight confirmed for me that ministry is about relationships. But the relationship at the core of my ministry is being neglected- it's in the pages of that pocket bible with my name engraved on the cover.

What I do logically surmise, and I may be wrong here, is that the door to Budapest is open. Not that God is kicking us out of Houston - but he's not allowing us to get too comfortable here. That is for sure.

Ladies Night?

There seems to be alot of interest in a bible study, all from my favorite ladies. I am wondering if the Thursday night Brasil idea would work as a "ladies night" bible study. We could meet at Brasil, eat and do a study.

Any takers?

The problem of course is who has energy to create a curriculum and/or lead? If we could get our hands on a good curriculum that's easy to follow I would be thrilled to fascillitate. What about the idea of making it a bible study/ book club- but the books are like The Shack, Purpose Driven Life, etc?

I am open to ideas. So far Kelly, Christina, Lauren P. and Claudia have expressed interest. With me that's a perfect sized group- we could even take a few more. Ladies, if your out there and you are interested, let me know. We can start as soon as we get a curriculum.....

Bring it!

Believe it or not

You can take a look at this handy dandy map and figure about 1/2 these folks still don't have power. I am worried about my friends and neighbors who are ready to blow a fuse, so to speak. I can't believe how merciful God is with me. Seriously. I am almost a little embarrassed about how this hurricane has revealed to me the depth of my own high maintenance-ishness. But I guess I shouldn't be embarrassed. God knows me better than I know myself, right? Embarrassment suggests the revelation of something before hidden. Strange to think nothing is hidden from him and yet his love for me never changes. Hard to believe sometimes, isn't it? Or maybe hard to believe any of the time if you are like me. I can't say it enough read The Shack. Right now. Log off, sign off, shut down, whatever you need to do, go get this book and read it.

We are really trying to figure out the Budapest piece of our lives. Matt is going to apply to Central European University to get a masters degree in nationalism. He wants to eventually do a PHD around the subject of ethnic conflict in the Balkans- something that we feel we need to know about to do ministry in that region. We are working on the terra firma part of it- but we need the Holy Spirit part of it too. My friend Jane said God woke her up and told her "Cameron needs to be in a bible study." I am sad to say it has been a long time since I have really been in one. Anyone know of a good one I could join? Maybe in the mornings before work?

Please pray that Matt gets into the right graduate program. Please pray that he would really hear God's voice on the right direction to take our family. It's a big decision!

Hope you are all well powered and airconditioned but I know you are not. Let me know how I can pray for you.

Love, Cameron

News

So we just heard that powers' been restored to my next door neighbors and we think it's safe to assume that we have it as well. Still in Austin and figuring out when to hit the road for home again. We are definitely experiencing survivor's guilt and I think it will feel better to at least be around to try to help folks.

I've heard that the Grace staff is going door to door checking on people's needs. That makes me feel so good about our community.

I am going to surf around and check in on folks with the few minutes we have online at our friends David and Lisa's house.

Hey- if you're out there- and if your praying- and not overwhelmed with all the many needs you need to be praying for - please pray for my mom. She is really worried about something that I can't even really explain. But hopefully will be able to soon. I know that's cryptic but more later.

I am generally feeling down, sluggish, low energy. I know the 1-2 punch we've been feeling since we got home from Budapest is the enemy. I know that. And before this storm I felt more than capable to weather it and remain focused. I am struggling, as I am sure many of you are, right now. Let's remember Romans 8 is it...

Love, Cameron

On the road again

Well we are getting ready to move on to Austin as my aunt and uncle have graciously offered to lend us their place there for a few days. It's pretty weird. It feels like a holiday or vacation and then I remember that my city is a warzone. I am definitely experiencing survivor's guilt for not being there and struggling through it with our friends and neighbors. I also am so uplifted by stories I've read in the Chronicle about neighbors helping neighbors. What can we do? I suppose there will be plenty of needs to meet when we do get back. My prayer is that God will use us, show us how and where to go to help.

I wonder if Sydney will remember any of this. Miraculously she slept through the worst part of the storm, and didn't really seemed fazed by the sound of the two dozen or so tornadoes that were terrorizing the Heights. My own denial rationalized through all of it . I kept thinking, "oh, it must just be the wind." And "our front door is not sealed very well." Basically it sounded like a freigh train pounding through our front door.

Well I am going to send a text messsage to friends and fam to let them know they can follow us here if they want to. And we're off. Lord, thank You for your provision and protection for us, please provide comfort and shelter for our neighbors in Houston, show us how we can be your hands and feet on earth. We love you Lord. Amen.

Love, Cameron

Waiting

So we are safe and cool in College Station by what feels like a miracle. We realized yesterday afternoon that considering how high maintenance we are it would be best to leave town until the AC comes back on. All kidding aside it feels like a big roundhouse kick to the gut and we were spared the worst of it. By another miracle the giant, dead tree next door to us did not fall on our house, when hundreds of young, healthy trees fell all over our neighborhood.

I can't help but feel like I have personally been in post traumatic stress since 9-11, or maybe earlier. But it's too soon to start with such melancholy. I will try to pray instead for my adopted city.

Love, Cameron

Eek & some potential heresy but here goes

Please do pray for us because this storm is about the size of Texas itself. I keep going back and forth about whether or not to get up at the crack and drive to College Station to stay with my aunt and uncle. Trouble is it's not the best situation for our cat, Steve, because my aunt is allergic and he would have to kinda stay in the garage or somewhere. Hmmm. I think that could be really stressful but I also think it may be better than being in the house when a hurricane hits. I am without a clue as to what to do.

I was struck by something I read last night in The Shack. Jesus is talking to Mack and explaining to him why he doesn't trust God. Jesus says something like "it's because you don't believe we are good". We or me- not sure which "he" meant. God is portrayed in the book as three distinct people- the Trinity. When I was pregnant with Sydney I went through a particularly dark week where some tests had indicated that something "may" be wrong with her. Without a doubt I can say that was the hardest thing I had ever been through at that point. All my crippling fears showed up and insisted on staying for dinner..and breakfast...and lunch...and dinner...for about a week. I went to see my friend Patsy over at the Houston Vineyard for prayer. She gave me Psalm 139- "you are fearfully and wonderfully made"- and asked me if I believed that God is good. I guess I had assumed I believed that but I really didn't. I lived with a sense of anticipation of the hammer coming down. Of punishment. Of some kind of lesson I'd have to learn. Not consciously, but unconsciously. It was so much a part of my thought life that I didn't even know it was there. It wasn't until she told me that morning, that God is Good, did I really think it could be possible for me to believe that.

So that brings us to Ike, or Eeeek as I would prefer to call it. Are hurricanes a part of the Fall? I mean the thing in itself with all it's strength and fury could be seen as quite beautiful- something God may have created. But perhaps the wickedness of how we humans have stewarded his good creation - pollution, global warming, etc- has resulted in turning the majestic thing that may have been intended to act as some kind of oceanic scrub brush- into the monster that it is.

Just a thought.

Please pray for total peace and security for Sydney. My biggest prayer is that she will not be afraid. She's been really cranky since we got home from Budapest and I think she is just mad because life has been so unpredictable- all the travel- new year- Daddy's job thing, new school, mommy's job thing, etc. She's probably just overwhelmed. And two. There's that of course. Nonetheless we covet your prayers and know that you friends in Houston- we are praying for you too.

Love and blessings,

Cameron

Ike

Argh. What really sucks is that it makes you think that the Gulf Coast isn't really liveable. Which, really, just the bugs and humidity alone might make you think. Should we board up our windows? We went to Target tonight and got some "Hurricane Supplies", thanks to Brian Mann who printed up the list from ready.gov and handed it out today :-)

Well here's an image that I love. Sleep tight.
Cameron

The Media Milkshake

So I am doing more "communications" stuff at Grace, which means I am dragging my PR hat out of the closet once more, blowing the dust off and rolling up my sleeves. After attending a "seminar" on web stuff I am a born again public relations person, but not really. Because what I've decided is the term public relations is completely last century. The idea of communication for me is about evangelism. Seriously. It has to be. Wanting to share with everyone something that has honestly changed your life for the good. I am just so grateful that I don't have to share "widgets"- I can share about the things I really care about.

Speaking of widgets I have added some "bling" to my blog, the twitter feed. Check it out. I am just now really getting the hang of it. You can add it to your phone, you can choose people to follow (follow me, follow me!), I think you can comment? I am not sure. But check it out.

On another note I am reading The Shack (of course I am) so I am going to get to that. The protagonist is in a log cabin somewhere in a perfectionized version of Oregon, having tea with The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Aka "Papa"- an Aretha Franklin type character who represents Father, "Sarayu"- an ephemeral Asian woman with commitment issues- meant to be the Holy Spirit, and Jesus- a less than handsome Middle Eastern handyman with a Jewish nose. http://theshackbook.com.

I am torn between thinking it brilliant and ridiculous. Have you read it? Chime in. I'd love to start a discussion about this one. Here is the author's blog

Night night again,

Cameron
PS. I just changed my laptops clock back from Central European time. It's 5:51 am in Budapest right now. Crazy.

Little Chicken

As she always is, a burst of sunshine. Sydney's 2nd birthday party at Nick and Nanny's in Southhampton. Get a load of the boat and the impossibly green grass. It really is heavenly there. Up early for worship tomorrow. It has been a long time since we've done that. Looking forward to being back. Night, Night, Cameron

Locks and Locks of Love

I cut my hair. 10 inches! Yeah! I am sending it to locks of love tomorrow. I feel like a new person! Hooray. I just got wind of a million amazing new techie geek website-y things that are going to be mainstream in about 5 minutes. Like google mainstream. Big. Really, really big. I signed up for twitter and you should to. My handle is 'missionarymama'. I know it's not a handle, but that's just a funny word and makes me think of smoky and the bandit. Ok, night, night off to read the trashy vampire novel set in Eastern Europe I bought in the airport. Can I be an Eastern Europe-o-phile? I met a Russian today and almost cried.

Love, Cameron

Re-Entry

There is a book somewhere in my house, maybe in one of the new baskets that I bought in a feeble attempt to organize my house. The book is on loan from some of our favorite people- Brian and Andrea Mann- folks who lived in Sweden as missionaries for 3 years. The book is about coming back home after a mission trip- short or long- what to expect, etc. I don't know if it quite covers all that we've encountered upon coming home though- from the immediate death of both our refrigerator and disposal, to my own father's literal near death experience to...well the rest of it.

But here is what's amazing. And here is what we have learned in Budapest. God is in the middle of it. God is doing something. God has and will provide and we have no doubt. We want to be a part of what He is doing even if it means a bump in the road. Or a crater. Whatever it is, He is in it and personally I am kind of giddy about seeing what He is up to.

I cut my hair off today. Well not completely but quite short. 10 inches shorter! When we came back from Budapest it just felt like nothing really fit. Our furniture, our clothes (maybe that was the Hungarian food), my hair, etc... We became different people in those 3 months. We've truly been changed.

I had a great talk with Melissa Brown today, who is Grace's missions director, and in her no nonsense way she framed it perfectly. She said "You are convicted, you are being called to the mission field, and the enemy doesn't like it." Our hearts have been completely broken for Hungary, Hungarians and the city of Budapest itself. For different reasons but with equal seismic consequences. Our hearts grew to include this tragically beautiful country and it's proud/sentimental people-- but the swelling could not be contained resulting in a fissure, a true break. Never to be the same again.

All the while we were there I kept saying to people, who would ask if we'd come back, "Well God would have to really do something, really open a door, make it obvious, because we really love our life in Houston." Perhaps that is what is truly happening. Who knows. All I know is that in Budapest life was in color. Brilliant, vibrant, heart breaking color. Back in Houston, we are experiencing black and white. We love Houston still, but it's just...different. I just pray we have the guts to follow where He is leading. To discern and follow.

Our friend Dani had a t-shirt last summer that on the front said, "Send me." On the back it said "I'll go."

Love y'all,

Cameron