Modern-Day Slavery

Over the past 6 months, I have become increasingly aware of what an enormous problem slavery continues to be in our "modern and enlightened" age...including in the United States.

It is estimated that more than 27 million people in the world are enslaved today.

Recently, I had the opportunity to hear the founder of this organization, David Batstone, speak about the issue:

http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/

Mr. Batstone is a Christian, and he said many profound and powerful things that night, including:

-As followers of Christ, we are to be agents of change, redemption & justice in this world, just as Christ is and was in His ministry on earth.

-Why do we have the presumption that our gifts are for our own benefit & wealth?

-Your vocation should be to use your passion and skills to meet the needs of the world (which includes your own community)

*****

Houston is one of three major hubs for human trafficking here in the U.S., but the chances are high, that wherever you live, people are living as slaves: http://www.slaverymap.org/

A recent article in CNN about the issue and another organization that is working to combat it:

www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/02/08/cambodia.wus.child.sex.trafficking/

There is opportunity for all of us to take action on this horrific issue...starting with becoming aware of the issue. Even further by then letting that knowledge influence how we live, for example as consumers. One of the projects the Not For Sale Campaign is working on is: http://free2work.org/

In their own words, this website is "a strategic tool to bring justice to people in labor bondage and empower individuals to be conscious consumers." (They hope to eventually develop an app for all cell phones where you could scan the item's tag in the store, and get information on how the product was made, the policy of the company regarding child labor, etc.)

We should all be appalled by the reality of this issue...I hope we don't continue to pretend it doesn't exist or is worlds away. How will the knowledge of this reality impact you?

January's Exciting Events

-jake completed a half-marathon...in under 2 hours no less

-erin circumcised 2 baby boys

(this is quite an accomplishment in a hospital with a predominately Hispanic population; I had zero opportunity for circumcisions my first month on newborn)

-we paid off our car

-we started paying back student loans

- jake preached: http://kaleohouston.com/mp3/Kingdom%20Demonstrations.mp3

-erin finally purchased a fancy new sewing machine, after looking and saving for 1 year +...and now that the material has also arrived, i hope to furiously sew jake a university of utah blanket in the next few days before i start a very busy rotation

-we were invited to sit courtside at a rockets game (for one quarter), and saw former Ute Andre Miller play up close

Hiking

Another winter adventure from our trip to Utah...hiking in Milcreek canyon with my family...pictures from the summit of our hike...sadly it was not a good day for viewing the city

the lovely inversion that gets trapped by the mountains and blankets the city in the winter

Hanging with the Allen's

What happens when there is a baby around...we apparently didn't take pictures of anyone but Elli at Christmas

This was among the first gifts she received with other clothes...but she decided she really like this outfit in particular and walked around with it for a long time. We finally had to hide it to get her to open anything else.

We finally got her to start opening other gifts...and as soon as she saw the picture of the baby on the box she became very excited.

Elli with her new baby

Hanging with the Umbriacos

Getting to meet Andy
Jonathan & Christina

Amy & Joe

Joel & Amy

Jake learning to hold a baby
the children
and a very rare picture of Joe & Maureen together

Elli with Santa

Another trip to Utah meant more time with the niece! We took her to meet Santa Clause. She didn't scream, but she really wasn't sure what to think :)

Christmas in Utah

I was among the lucky few residents who got time off for Christmas AND we were able to go home to Utah to spend time with family! One of the highlights for me was that I finally convinced Jake to try skiing! So Jake took a lesson and Josh & I hit the slopes of Brighton.

Joshie & I riding a lift
Jake skiing
My mom came along to hang out and take pictures. The day was complete with a fist fight between a teenager and a man approximately in his 40s in the lodge.
The best part is that Jake said he would go again!

St. Louis

To finish out my first week of vacation during internship, we headed to St. Louis to visit Jonathan & Christina, who have recently moved there to attend Covenant Theological Seminary. We of course went to see the St. Louis Arch...the Gateway to the West. We first visited the museum and then all crammed into a tiny claustrophobic elevator and went to the top to view all of St. Louis.
We then went to see Martin Luther and beautiful Concordia University...because they find it prettier than the one they actually attend...
In addition, we went shopping at the large Galleria, had dinner with some of Jake's cousins I had yet to meet, ate at Blueberry Hill and just did a lot of hanging around--which was very nice!

Jake's parents and Joel came to visit for Thanksgiving...and we had a nice time doing a lot of shopping. Well really them more then me as I was working...and not crazy getting up at ridiculous hours! Sadly it seems we didn't take any pictures.

Since then we have returned to the grind. Jake has just finished his first semester at Rice and is now taking finals and I have returned to the public hospital for several rotations--including newborn nursery and the wards, which I am enjoying very much! Sometime in there we also made a very very quick trip back to Utah for my friend Jessica's wedding. Though a quick trip, it was great to again get to see my niece and catch-up with many of our college friends and at the wedding I had the honor of watching Texas win a big game along with their truest fans the Tottenhams! In addition due to being on call, staying up way too late catching up with friends, and going right back to being on call...I caught a cold (likely RSV) from all my sick babies :( Thankfully I am now getting better....and I think we are now caught up.

Milcreek Canyon

One of the joys of getting to go home is getting to hike...in the snow! And to top it all off there were still a few trees with beautiful fall colors still in the city

Elli's 1st Birthday

Little Miss Elli turned 1 a couple weeks ago, and during my vacation, I was able to go to SLC and celebrate with her.
She enjoyed all the attention she received, but wasn't quite sure what to make of the cake...

Her very favorite present was a baby doll with a bottle Sydney gave her

She also got to hang out with the family

The baby doll remains a favorite...she likes to feed the baby, then burp the baby...as well as give her hugs and kisses

She also really likes to read, especially this nursery rhyme book
and ride her rocking Caterpillar
I can't believe how fast she's grown!