Just Say No

All these pop songs I listen to go on about how hard it is to say those three little words, but I just struggle with saying one word – No. One thing we all heard as kids was to “just say no.” It’s a shame that the only time I was told to do this was when it was in response to drugs and alcohol. I had no idea how useful this lesson would be later in life. It seems that I had no problem putting this lesson to use when I was offered these things, I just never learned to say no to anything else.

I really suck at saying no. It’s barely in my vocabulary. I discovered that it’s even harder for me to say no when it’s church/ministry related. I feel selfish whenever I say it, so I try no to, but then I end up getting worn out and no one wins. I’ve been attending Deep Water for almost 3 years and in those 3 years I’ve been part of the media team, the set up/tear down team, I’ve helped set up and tear down the well, I was on the connection team,  and currently I’m on the prayer team, I’m a teller and I help set up and tear down communion. I’m also involved in the luvHali and luvHaiti ministries. I got involved in almost all of these ministries by saying yes and agreeing to fill in for someone. I’m not complaining by any means, and I’m glad that I am seen at Deep Water as someone who is willing to step in when someone needs help. I like being someone that they can count on.

I also like going to church and maybe just once in a blue moon be able to sit in the back and not have to worry about getting here or there at a certain time during the service or making sure we don’t run out of this and that. It can get distracting sometimes.

Is it selfish to want to take a break sometimes or take a step back from a few things? Those extremely rare times that I do say no to something I’m racked with guilt for hours. Sometime it probably would have been easier for me to just do whatever it was, but then if I don’t have servant’s heart while I’m doing it, is it really helpful?

I feel that this is an important lesson to learn and something that God has been trying to teach me for awhile now, but I’m still really struggling with it. I really need to know and believe that it’s okay to say no sometimes and that it doesn’t make me a jerk to do so. I’ve still got a ways to go though.

Best For Last

This semester I had the pleasure to take a course called Integrated Marketing Communications. Even though it was on Mondays and Wednesdays at 8:30am, it was by far my most enjoyable class of the semester and possibly of my whole degree. It was taught by a part-time professor, Ed McHugh (he’s often on CTV news at 6, so keep an eye out). Let’s just say that SMU should be trying to find more professors like him, but I realize that’s not an easy task. Professors like this guy are few and far between.

He’s incredibly funny, smart and the amount of joy he has for teaching was obvious from day one. We spent the majority of our classes watching YouTube videos and laughing our heads off. It was time well spent.

This morning’s class was our last class and he took the last 15-20 minutes to show us a video and to say a few words that I’ve never heard a professor say to a class before. He went on to say how he considers teaching a privilege and a honor and something that he feels incredibly blessed to be able to do. He gave us a few wise words telling us to make sure we find joy and success in whatever it is we do and wherever we end up, whether that is measure by the kind of car we drive or how big our wallet is or by serving people in Zimbabwe.

I’ve never been interested in keeping in touch with any of my professors, except Ed. I’ve also never been in a class that applauded a professor at the end of the semester.

The video that he ended with was of Randy Pausch on Oprah giving a trimmed down version of his “last lecture” speech. It was a good way to end the class, the course and the year.

 

Prayer Partners

One of the few things I can do before orientation and training in May is start putting together my prayer partners. I’ve been told to get at least 50 people praying for this ministry and I don’t think that will be a a problem.

As a prayer partner, I ask that you commit to praying for me at least once a week, but feel free to pray more if you would like. I would also keep you updated on what’s going on with this ministry and give you specific things that you can be praying for.

I don’t have any concrete date for when I’ll finally touch down in Haiti, but I’m expecting it to be early next year. There is much to be done before then and it’s just getting started.

If you would like to be a prayer partner, feel free to comment below, tweet me, facebook me, text me or email me at holly.churchill@gmail.com and just make sure I have your email, too so I can keep you in the loop.

One for One

One of my classes this semester is Integrated Marketing Communications. For our big project, we have to pick a company or make our own and basically promote it. We can do pretty much anything we want. He just wants us to have fun with it.

The company that I suggested for my group to do is TOMS Shoes. If you’re not familiar with TOMS, for every pair of shoes that you buy, they donate one pair to a child in need. One for One.

I’ve been looking through the TOMS website and I’m really impressed with what they have been able to do. It’s really encouraging to see a company whose sole purpose is to help those in need. In September 2010 they donated their 1,000,000th pair of shoes and they are operating in 23 countries all over the world, including Haiti.

I spent a good hour or so yesterday looking through pictures of kids getting and wearing their new TOMS and it’s pretty awesome to see their faces and to know that they are over the moon with their new pair of shoes.

I don’t own a pair of TOMS… yet. I’ve been trying to decide on a color for awhile now. I’ll most likely buy myself a pair in the next week or two.

30 Days

For basically my entire life, I’ve been in a hurry. Before I started school, I was in a hurry to turn five and start primary. When I was in primary, I was in a hurry to get to grade 1. When I was in grade 6, I was in a hurry to get to junior high. When I started junior high, I was in a hurry to get to high school. When I started high school, I was in a hurry to graduate and go off to university. When I started university, I was in a hurry to get to my fourth year and graduate. My entire life, I’ve been in a hurry.

Sitting here right now, I am currently 30 days from writing my final, final exam. I’ve finally made it to the end of my fourth year. I’ve been waiting for this to happen for years and now it’s finally here. For the first time in four years, my mind is not focusing on the following September. I don’t have to apply for residence for next year. I don’t have to start figuring out my class schedule. I don’t have to worry about finding a job that ends the last week of August.

I’ll be free!

… Hurray?

The last few days I’ve been trying to remember why I was in such a hurry. I think it’s going to be a little bitter sweet. I’m really looking forward to finishing up, but it’s going to bring in a whole new era with it.