Another Year Older and Proven Tough

I'm turning another year older today.  Considering what all I've done in the last year, I feel like I've proven tougher than what I might realize.  I feel that I've been laid low especially lately  (farmers/ranchers from home might use the phrase, "rode hard, put away wet"), and hopefully it's only leading to me being built up stronger in the end.  God will surely take my ever-apparent weaknesses and use them for good. 

I thought that the episode with my knee would be the last of the unfortunate incidents that have put a pinch in my daily activities.  But that wasn't all!  We're also getting essentially evicted from our apartment this week.  When they talk about this thing called the "mid-service crisis" during the life of a PCV, I knew that this season of my life could be tough.  But they never put warnings like "beware of immobilizing injuries, cancellation of epic vacations, mental breakdowns, and crazy landlords calling for evictions" alongside the phase title.  On the other hand, the good news is that I almost expect some other type of explosion (of the chemical kind or otherwise) at any point now, so really I'm in a good position.  Anything is possible to happen.  Nothing is impossible to overcome. 

Last week, I spent the whole week in Chisinau resting my knee and going to physical therapy every day.  By physical therapy, I mean electro/ultrasound/magnetic/some type of compression therapy.  This week, I will begin officially the kinesthetic portion of it.  I have never had to forcefully remind myself to walk slowly and carefully as I have the last few weeks.  I'm a very patient person, but when it comes to this, I am tested at a whole new level.  The good news about the knee is that it's nothing more than a sprained MCL and a bruised lateral meniscus, and that has the ability to heal itself.  About that marathon I signed up for already in Athens, Greece in November?  I've got a long ways to go in a very short time.

Before this focused knee care regimen began last week, GLOW/TOBE facilitated a successful Camp Empower bringing together 6 regional teams of Moldova.  Please read about the event and also check out some photos here from our facebook page.  Twenty-four motivated individuals shared and collected information and ideas on Day 1 on topics such as gender issues, domestic violence, human trafficking, and HIV/AIDS.  Day 2 was devoted to planning a GLOW/TOBE event in their communities, using the planning structure that GLOW/TOBE offers and also using the information presented on the first day.  After hearing some positive feedback from participants and also hearing what plans each of the teams have for activities in their communities in the future, I feel that our hard work as a GLOW/TOBE team of directors paid off, even with the stress and exhaustion of planning and leading the event (in addition to my aching knee).  These are the events that make my service worth it.  I may not have felt 100% or on my A game, but we could see very positive results nonetheless which is exciting and relieving.  And hopefully, we've helped build a few community leaders, and they'll help do the same in their respective communities.

If you find yourself wondering how to wish me a happy birthday now after I've given you the ups and downs of my last few weeks, I'll give you a big hint.  You could donate to the next event I'm helping plan that could play a pivotal role in positively impacting the youth of Moldova.  It's the Innovation Camp set to happen in September!  We are relying on funding from outside of Moldova to help cover the costs of this event, however.  Thus, I don't need you to send me any Peanut Butter M&M's, almonds, Cholula, or tahini sauce (save those for Christmas perhaps!).   What I would suggest is to donate to the Camp Innovation fund here.  It's easy; the effects will far outlast any effects of the items mentioned above; and you'll be paying it forward.  Thanks for your consideration! 

Here's to a week of finding a suitable place to live, an ever-healing knee, and general stable living at the youthful age of 26!  Is that how old I am?  I can never remember.