Soul Surfer is the most amazing movie. It is a great example of perseverance and determination. This is a true story of how girl went through an amazing hard time but she fought through it and went back to surfing, she didn't give up She got back in the water . she was able to deal with trauma and move on. She was also a Christian which was cool it also showed how God helped her get through it. She trusted God even though she didn't understand. Her Youth pastor told her she didn't know why God always stuff to happen, and it's cool how God took her life and made her an inspiration to other people. She also went to Thailand and helped people, she helped a boy get back into the water after a tsunami. It's amazing how she was able to take a bad situation and turn it into good. "Life is tough, get back on the board and try again, you will be successful with what you do."
I have gone through some hard times in my life and God has helped my through, but this movie has really encouraged that I can succeed even when it feels like it is impossible. I think anyone can move through stuff and move on and succeed even in difficult situations. God can really help people get through tough times . This movie also made me really thankful that I have two arms. We complain a lot about life and how bad it is but most of us have two arms, and without an arm Bethany was able to do stuff we do with two arms, it's amazing. I think it's a good movie to watch if you want a pick me up and to feel thankful about what you have. Bethany was thankful for what she had when she went to Thailand.
Wednesday 31 August 2011
Precious and other thoughts.
I watched to movie precious. Its a novel about an overweight teenage her that is having her second child after being raped by her Father. She's also abused by her mother. It is a really sad story. Though I know this stuff happens to people around the world. Though the movie shows that people can get better even in the most desperate situations and I know that people can get better . This story reminds me of freedom writers which is another good movie which is based on a true story that talk about kids who get given a good education and a teacher believes and them and they are able to succeed, some of these kids went to college the first out of there families. I think people can be helped if they have people who really care, who will listen to them and care about them. People do much better when they have someone who believes in them that thinks they can succeed, and sadly not all kids grow up in an encouraging environment so sometimes they need encouragement from outside sources . Teachers can have a huge impact on a child or teenager. I thought of being a teacher or a social worker because I want to help people who are in need and make in impact in people's lives especially kids, because they are young and it's easier to make an impact in a child's life then someone who is older. Though I'm also really interested in working with children with special needs. I want to use my work to be able to help people who are in need. I still don't know totally what i want to do with my future but I know I want to be able to help other people.
Tuesday 30 August 2011
Book : Sarah's Key , etc.
I just finished reading another book. Sarah's Key. Though it's a fictional book it talks about an historical event that happened in France, the notorious Vel' d'Hiv Roundup in 1942. It was a really good book but sad. Now I really don't think I can come up with any positives about the holocaust and I'm not going to try. It just makes me think a lot about this world and how sad it is that people can be so evil to other people and hate them because of who they are. Though the only positive thing that happened during that time was the few people that helped the jews out like the couple from the farm in the story of Sarah's Key. Though a true story of someone who helped the Jews was Corrie Ten Boom. She wrote the book The Hiding Place that tells about her story and what she dealt with at the concentration camp. The amazing thing is that she was able to forgive to man who was so mean to her and her sister in the camp. So I guess I didn't see any positives at first but if you look at Corrie Ten Boom you can see that even out of the most devastating situations there can be forgiveness. There was a big difference been the character Sarah and Corrie in that way, even though Sarah's story was fictional I'm sure it has truth to it and similar stuff happened to someone. We have a choice we can let our past haunt us like it did Sarah or we can use are past to help others and forgive people like Corrie Ten Boom. Though Corrie Ten Boom was a Christian and that is why she was able to forgive just as God forgave us she was able to forgive her worse enemy.
"Even as the angry vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him....Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness....And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives along with the command, the love itself."
— Corrie Ten Boom (The Hiding Place)
"Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart."
— Corrie Ten Boom
"Even as the angry vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him....Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness....And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives along with the command, the love itself."
— Corrie Ten Boom (The Hiding Place)
"Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart."
— Corrie Ten Boom
Sunday 28 August 2011
Not Without My Daughter... Spoiler
Just watched the movie Not Without My Daughter. It's a sad but good movie. It shows the way in which Iran was like at the time and the way in which they treated women. Though it has been positive because some of this stuff has changed over the years and woman's rights have been developed more in Iran. It's really sad to see how little control women had over there lives and we think we are oppressed because we don't have enough money to buy the newest clothes. At least we have a choice in what clothes we wear, during the time of this movie they had to cover up when out in public and had really strict rules. I have nothing against women who want to wear the "hijab" or want to cover there heads, but i do think it's wrong if it is forced upon them to do so. People should have the right to choose the way in which they live and not be forced to wear something they don't want to wear. Though I do know however many people do wear the covering for religious reasons and I respect that.
The movie has a positive ending as she is able to escape with her daughter and come back to America, this shows that even in the toughest situations when things seem impossible good can come out of it. It's amazing she was able to escape and many women are not so lucky. It also shows that there are good people out there wanting to help others in need. It was interesting they took her passport and jewelry for safe keeping, so no one would know she was American when she was escaping through Iran. Though they gave it back to her once she reached Turkey... which amazes me because they could have easily kept it especially the jewelry and get money from it.
I like that this movie is based on a true story, I love movies like that because it feels real. Though I do know that it was filmed in America and therefore there is some bias , and I know there has been some criticism about the movie , I think I need to read the book to see how close it is to the movie, but if the book is close to the movie, then that's what happened to her and I don't see anything wrong with portraying that.
The movie has a positive ending as she is able to escape with her daughter and come back to America, this shows that even in the toughest situations when things seem impossible good can come out of it. It's amazing she was able to escape and many women are not so lucky. It also shows that there are good people out there wanting to help others in need. It was interesting they took her passport and jewelry for safe keeping, so no one would know she was American when she was escaping through Iran. Though they gave it back to her once she reached Turkey... which amazes me because they could have easily kept it especially the jewelry and get money from it.
I like that this movie is based on a true story, I love movies like that because it feels real. Though I do know that it was filmed in America and therefore there is some bias , and I know there has been some criticism about the movie , I think I need to read the book to see how close it is to the movie, but if the book is close to the movie, then that's what happened to her and I don't see anything wrong with portraying that.
Thursday 25 August 2011
Invisible Children, etc...
There are many organizations that are helping people in need. I have been looking at videos from Invisible Children. http://vimeo.com/invisible
" Invisible Children is an organization based out of San Diego, California. Named after the organization's 2003 film with the same title, IC's goal is to end a 22-year war that has been raging in northern Uganda. This war has forced families into displacement camps where many children are kidnapped and taken as child soldiers by the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army). The LRA is led by Joseph Kony and their main goal is to overthrow the government.
For more info visit www.invisiblechildren.com.
1. End the war in northern Uganda and change the lives of thousands in the region through education and economic opportunities.
2. Inspire youth culture to value creativity, idealism and sacrifice by becoming a part of the movement of advocacy and awareness.
3. Connect people to the war-affected children in northern Uganda through compelling stories and revolutionary programs. "
Taken from invisible children : causes
I'm not sure where I first heard about this organization it might have been through school but they seem to be doing good for the poeple of Uganda. They have started a Legacy Scholarship Fund which raises money to help children go to school. It's good to see causes out there helping children around the world.
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There is another cause that is good, and it's called Hope is Sold . This cause raises awareness about Sex Trafficking , it is just starting out but I know the poeple who run it Jay and Michelle because I went to school with them, I think it's great that someone I went to school with is trying to make a difference in this world and Raising awareness about an important cause.
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Another organization that I know is World Vision, my parents sponsor a child through them, it's nice to see people giving there money in order to help others who are in worse off situations. Another organization that sponsors children is Compassion Canada.
I know that there's lots of ideas about NGOs and if they are really helping, though i would like to think that some people are making a difference even if it's one person at a time.
" Invisible Children is an organization based out of San Diego, California. Named after the organization's 2003 film with the same title, IC's goal is to end a 22-year war that has been raging in northern Uganda. This war has forced families into displacement camps where many children are kidnapped and taken as child soldiers by the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army). The LRA is led by Joseph Kony and their main goal is to overthrow the government.
For more info visit www.invisiblechildren.com.
1. End the war in northern Uganda and change the lives of thousands in the region through education and economic opportunities.
2. Inspire youth culture to value creativity, idealism and sacrifice by becoming a part of the movement of advocacy and awareness.
3. Connect people to the war-affected children in northern Uganda through compelling stories and revolutionary programs. "
Taken from invisible children : causes
I'm not sure where I first heard about this organization it might have been through school but they seem to be doing good for the poeple of Uganda. They have started a Legacy Scholarship Fund which raises money to help children go to school. It's good to see causes out there helping children around the world.
------
There is another cause that is good, and it's called Hope is Sold . This cause raises awareness about Sex Trafficking , it is just starting out but I know the poeple who run it Jay and Michelle because I went to school with them, I think it's great that someone I went to school with is trying to make a difference in this world and Raising awareness about an important cause.
--------
Another organization that I know is World Vision, my parents sponsor a child through them, it's nice to see people giving there money in order to help others who are in worse off situations. Another organization that sponsors children is Compassion Canada.
I know that there's lots of ideas about NGOs and if they are really helping, though i would like to think that some people are making a difference even if it's one person at a time.
Random stuff I'm thinking....
Well I'm back from holidays. Just finished reading the book " I miss mummy" by Cathy Glass. It is a really good story , kind of sad, and talks about a girl who is in foster care, it has a good ending and its based on a true story it shows me that even in tough situations positive stuff can come out of it. Even if it's not fun in the process. It could have been better another way but the way it happened happened and well it's good people were able to make the most of the situation and have a positive outcome in the end. Though it also points out some of the negatives about Social services, but know organization is perfect and yes there are problems with social services and mistakes being made, it has to be a really hard job for the social workers and other people who work in that field. Taking kids out of there homes and into foster care must be a really hard thing to do. Though also many kids get into good home situations and get adopted . Though being adopted has it's own issues and problems.
I'm applying for work study job at the University, I've emailed people for working with children in different areas but most wanta work with kids with special needs, I also emailed the library and disability services, I'm hoping I can get one, because it would be much better to get a job that pays and something I'm interested in. I'm just hoping it will work out for the best, and that if I get an offer the one I want will show up first so I don't accept the offer for one and find out later I could have got another job that I liked better.
It's interesting, I tend to worry a lot about the future but I need to trust God that he will work it out. I worry about whether I will take the right courses, whether courses will get offered in the future, whether I will get a job, get into grad school etc. I am trying to be positive but sometime anxiety gets in the way. Anxiety can get in the way of life and functioning.
Just saw a commercial for sending money for a drought in Africa, that's one thing I wish I had was money so I could give it to charities and stuff. Like there's so many stuff I would want to give to if I had some extra money. Last Christmas I asked for part of my Christmas present was money towards clothing for children through World Vision. My parents sponsor a child and I hope once I have a stable job that I can sponsor a child too. If I can's send money I want to help people out any way I can. I have been looking into volunteer stuff but I also have to keep in mind of my time and not stress myself out to much, because if I get sick then I won't be able to do anything not alone help other people. I have a passion for people who struggle with stuff. I love working with children , teenagers, adults with special needs because they are such special people and I want to help them. But even though I am helping them I find that these people also make an impact in my life. I also love working with people from other countries, especially those trying to learn English because it's something I can help them with. Plus you can learn a lot from them as well, I love learning about other people's culture. It is so interesting. I think if I wasn't taking sociology and psychology I would take anthropology. Luckily I can take some SOAN ( Sociology/Anthropology) courses because the soc and anthro are in the same department. Heck if I could go to school for more i would probably do anthropology or even like East Asian studies.
I love studying there is so much I would love to study. It's going to be weird when I finish school, that's part of the reason I want to get my Masters is I love studying and learning stuff. I just hope that someday I can put what I learn to use and be able to help other people with what I have learned. I'm still not sure what i want to do after i graduate I am still thinking about doing my MSW (Masters in Social Work) but I'm so terrified about prof references , especially if I'm going to take time off in between. Though if I wait for 5 years after I graduate I won't need a prof reference but if anything I will go away for like 2 years before I go to grad school. I have been looking at the options of going to Kairos for a year with Reign Ministries, or teaching english as a second language with English language institute ( most likely China), or my most recent interest working at an orphanage for 2 years in China. Though Kairos has an age limit so if I want to do that I have to do that right after I graduate so I really need to think and pray about it. It's weird there is so much I can do that I don't know what to do. Graduating soon is getting exciting but also nerve racking as well ( back to the whole anxiety thing.)
Watching Oprah , talking about prison about women getting put in because of something boyfriend did, but that's a whole other topic, I could talk about that too, the prison system and how they treat people, but that would mostly be negative. Though woman in jail are like any other woman and many of them have made just one simple mistake and it can screw them up for life, it's interesting. Though I do know someone who has had a record made the most of a bad past and using it now to help other people.
Anyways I will stop writing stuff.. watching Dr. Oz right now, kind of odd medical stuff but interesting.
I'm applying for work study job at the University, I've emailed people for working with children in different areas but most wanta work with kids with special needs, I also emailed the library and disability services, I'm hoping I can get one, because it would be much better to get a job that pays and something I'm interested in. I'm just hoping it will work out for the best, and that if I get an offer the one I want will show up first so I don't accept the offer for one and find out later I could have got another job that I liked better.
It's interesting, I tend to worry a lot about the future but I need to trust God that he will work it out. I worry about whether I will take the right courses, whether courses will get offered in the future, whether I will get a job, get into grad school etc. I am trying to be positive but sometime anxiety gets in the way. Anxiety can get in the way of life and functioning.
Just saw a commercial for sending money for a drought in Africa, that's one thing I wish I had was money so I could give it to charities and stuff. Like there's so many stuff I would want to give to if I had some extra money. Last Christmas I asked for part of my Christmas present was money towards clothing for children through World Vision. My parents sponsor a child and I hope once I have a stable job that I can sponsor a child too. If I can's send money I want to help people out any way I can. I have been looking into volunteer stuff but I also have to keep in mind of my time and not stress myself out to much, because if I get sick then I won't be able to do anything not alone help other people. I have a passion for people who struggle with stuff. I love working with children , teenagers, adults with special needs because they are such special people and I want to help them. But even though I am helping them I find that these people also make an impact in my life. I also love working with people from other countries, especially those trying to learn English because it's something I can help them with. Plus you can learn a lot from them as well, I love learning about other people's culture. It is so interesting. I think if I wasn't taking sociology and psychology I would take anthropology. Luckily I can take some SOAN ( Sociology/Anthropology) courses because the soc and anthro are in the same department. Heck if I could go to school for more i would probably do anthropology or even like East Asian studies.
I love studying there is so much I would love to study. It's going to be weird when I finish school, that's part of the reason I want to get my Masters is I love studying and learning stuff. I just hope that someday I can put what I learn to use and be able to help other people with what I have learned. I'm still not sure what i want to do after i graduate I am still thinking about doing my MSW (Masters in Social Work) but I'm so terrified about prof references , especially if I'm going to take time off in between. Though if I wait for 5 years after I graduate I won't need a prof reference but if anything I will go away for like 2 years before I go to grad school. I have been looking at the options of going to Kairos for a year with Reign Ministries, or teaching english as a second language with English language institute ( most likely China), or my most recent interest working at an orphanage for 2 years in China. Though Kairos has an age limit so if I want to do that I have to do that right after I graduate so I really need to think and pray about it. It's weird there is so much I can do that I don't know what to do. Graduating soon is getting exciting but also nerve racking as well ( back to the whole anxiety thing.)
Watching Oprah , talking about prison about women getting put in because of something boyfriend did, but that's a whole other topic, I could talk about that too, the prison system and how they treat people, but that would mostly be negative. Though woman in jail are like any other woman and many of them have made just one simple mistake and it can screw them up for life, it's interesting. Though I do know someone who has had a record made the most of a bad past and using it now to help other people.
Anyways I will stop writing stuff.. watching Dr. Oz right now, kind of odd medical stuff but interesting.
Wednesday 24 August 2011
New day...
Well it's a new day at the cottage. I'm doing good been reading. I like reading. Starting school soon. Getting excited to start school, but I hope the courses will work out. I'm planning on taking Community Mental Health, Woman Work and Public Policy and Intro Chinese. I'm only taking it part time, which is ok but sometimes I feel stupid but like I tried taking four before and couldn't handle it, I hope some day in the future I will be able to handle stuff full time because I want to be able to work full time and be normal like everyone else. I'm doing a lot better with stuff so maybe I can handle more, but I don't really wanta chance 4 courses because last time I did that I had to drop and lost tons of money. I have three more semesters left if I take 3 courses a semester. I might take it in the summer but I might do it next fall too, I'm considering going to China to work in the orpahange during part of the summer, and getting a job for the rest. Well time to sign off the computer. I hope everyone is having a good day!! Even though it's raining today it can still be positive. Don't forget to look for the positives.
Tuesday 23 August 2011
On holidays...
well I'm on holidays been reading a lot of books. ONe boos I read was Boy Alone, good book but a little sad I wish it had a happier outcome but the cool thing is the author imagined what it could have been like so he had some positive thoughts. I'm now reading embracing the wide sky. It's really interesting and about the brain. I love that kind of stuff. It's sad Jack Layton died he was a good man.
"Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world." -Jack Layton.
The cottage is nice reading and sleeping and stuff before school starts. Get home on thurs and have to register for my mandrine course. I hope that it works out. The other two courses I'm planning on taking is Community Mental Health, and Woman Work and Public Policy. I have been looking into volunteer stuff. I have a bunch of replies and going to fill out some applications. We will see what happens. If I could work with kids with special needs that would be great or people from another country or just kids in general. I applied again to colunteer with Best Buddies so that's working with an Adult with special needs. I need to fill out my application for the orphanage in china I wanta go back there. They say I can go back for 2-3 weeks to try it out before making a longer term commitment for like two years. Still not totally sure what I'm going to do after I graduate, still thinjking of doing a MSW if I can ever get my references, but we will see what happens.
"Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world." -Jack Layton.
The cottage is nice reading and sleeping and stuff before school starts. Get home on thurs and have to register for my mandrine course. I hope that it works out. The other two courses I'm planning on taking is Community Mental Health, and Woman Work and Public Policy. I have been looking into volunteer stuff. I have a bunch of replies and going to fill out some applications. We will see what happens. If I could work with kids with special needs that would be great or people from another country or just kids in general. I applied again to colunteer with Best Buddies so that's working with an Adult with special needs. I need to fill out my application for the orphanage in china I wanta go back there. They say I can go back for 2-3 weeks to try it out before making a longer term commitment for like two years. Still not totally sure what I'm going to do after I graduate, still thinjking of doing a MSW if I can ever get my references, but we will see what happens.
Friday 12 August 2011
Wednesday 10 August 2011
Post Pals
I came across this website through another blog I was on. http://www.postpals.co.uk/ I have been looking at the children. I think at some point if I have time I will write some letters and send some emails. I have just been reading up on some of the children. Give me people to pray about. It's cool that the public can send encouragements to kids who are sick. I wonder if they have something like that in Canada. I will look into it.
Sunday 7 August 2011
When I was in the airport in Chicago I bought a book called " A stolen Life," it is a great book I read it in one day, it fits along with the theme of this blog. It is about this girl who was kidnapped at age 11 and lives 18 years in captivity and she had 2 children. It is a sad story but also really good because it gives hope in a horrible situation. No matter what the situation that someone is in there is always hope.
I have also been watching a movie called "I am David" it is a fictional story about a boy who escapes a concentration camp in Bulgaria, which was run during the Cold War. I love stories like this that talk about humanity and hope, and that their is hope in the mist of even the darkest situations.
I have also been watching a movie called "I am David" it is a fictional story about a boy who escapes a concentration camp in Bulgaria, which was run during the Cold War. I love stories like this that talk about humanity and hope, and that their is hope in the mist of even the darkest situations.
I'm back...
Hey I'm back, I went to China for a month it was amazing. God worked in amazing ways, it was cool to work with Chinese teenagers and kids. I also got to visit an orphanage it was really cool, I am considering going back there for a time. I love working with kids, and those with special needs , and also with people from other countries so it is perfect. It was really cool how people were helping those in special needs, in China they are really not taken care of their was so much hope in the orphanage for the future. 16 kids have been adopted from this orphanage. Maybe in the future I will adopt a kid from China.
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