super cool runnings

And to continue our series on funny movie answers with my class, "Cool Runnings."

Let me first say that the class found the Jamaican people hilarious, and it was awesome.

What did you learn from the movie?

"The Bob Sled team was a funny team."

"There is thing I can.  There is thing I can't."

"When you believe, you're here to fight."

"They are make many accident."
"Sometimes can be difficult on beginning and become easy often experiment."

"I have to work for getting what I want to be in life."

"I did learn to have in this movie, the perseverance."

"We have to fight, never give up."

"The characters in the film are fictional."

"It's forging that one become blacksmith."

pizza = happiness

Some people said it was stupid to bring a cupcake maker to Haiti.  After all, I could have brought more clothes, more craft supplies, or more M&Ms.  I held on to the cupcake maker though, and this post shall prove the naysayers wrong!

Not only did we make delicious cupcakes with peanut butter frosting (and undelicious cupcakes with a failed attempt at nutella frosting), but we have conquered PIZZA in the cupcake maker!

So, Agape (who brings in our mail) does this thing where they bring Thanksgiving dinner to all their missions.  Shannon never used the hot roll mix she got from them last year.  That + pizza sauce + cheese slices = good eating for us

Pics or it didn't happen

four weeks

Tomorrow, I will get my mail for the first time!  I'm so excited!  I don't think I've ever met anyone who loves getting a letter as much as I do, but if you think you're a contender, I'd love to geek out about letter-getting with you.  =]

So, if you ever would like to send me a package - don't forget to include a note!  But here are some things you could send, if you ever happened to feel like it.

Stuff for the orphanage:
- Crayons
- Candy
- Bubbles
- Construction Paper
- Disney Movies that have French capabilities (Message me to check if I already have it!)
- Safety Scissors
- Glue/tape
- Any other craft materials you have laying around (literally anything!)

Stuff for me and my family:
- Fun activities for Lena's school (or any sort of materials that could be used as such)
- Lara bars for Shannon
- Toothpaste (You can never have enough, and it's really expensive to get here!)
- Salty snacks (I'm a huge fan of Cheez-its, Goldfish, etc.)
- Mac and Cheese for ALL OF US (Seriously, we love it.)

And of course, anything that you can think of would be very appreciated.  The only thing I love more than letters is surprises!!!



Anyway, that was longer than I meant it to be.

I just wanted to give an update on how everything is going.

1. Lena and I have been going to the orphanage every week, and I would like to work out our schedule so that we can go like 3 times a week.  
2. My class is hilarious!  Yes, I have to be firm with them and attempt to assert some sort of teacherly authority, BUT they are generally respectful.  I can already see them a lot.
3. Lena's school is going great as well!  As of this, the 4th week, she has lost some of her enthusiasm for school.  She would rather play than do school, but she's mostly good after we get started.  
4. Overall, I'd say that I'm adjusting pretty well.  Some things still scare me - like driving a moto.  No, I haven't done it yet, but I'm a bit scared when I think about it!  
5. I'm good and healthy, and I haven't really been sick, except for one night.  
6. I have been in Haiti for four weeks, but it feels like I just got here!  Crazy!  

Lastly, I'd love to do a Q & A about Haiti, my life, orphans, etc sometime soon.  Send in some questions, and you'll get an answer on the blog before too long.  

Love you people!

Shoutout to everyone who helped me get the money for my scooter.  I should be purchasing it in a week or two!  I'm especially grateful for a good friend from college who gave the majority of the funds for it!  I'm so humbled by my peers who love and follow Jesus.  You know who you are, and you're awesome.

soul surfer

I'm showing a movie to my class every Friday.  Last week, we watched "Soul Surfer."  One of the questions they had to answer was: "what did you learn from this movie?"  For those of you who haven't seen it, it's about Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack and went on to be very awesome and successful and "embrace more people than [she] ever could have with two arms."

"We should go love the handicapped."

"I can say she does everything by herself.  She cooks, she goes to the market."

"When someone goes to take a bath in the sea, lots of problems can arrive."

"I can be what I want to be."

"The sea is something very dangerous."

"I was surprised to see Bethany in the ocean his problem."

"Many people shouted at other people swim." (I had a hard time decoding that one!)

"By this movie I learned that everything is possible if you are courageous, diligent, and have faith in God."

So there you have it.  Don't take a bath in the sea.  =]

spending time with Jesus

I've been thinking a lot lately about the importance of spending time with God, which has been a recurring theme in my life because I just can't seem to get it right.  Even when I sort of get on a schedule of 15 minutes a day or so, I realize that I need more, that I never seem to get enough!

And I was thinking about heaven, and how it's going to be so awesome to worship Jesus all day long.  Yet I wonder, why do some people work so hard to get there without spending any time with Him while they're on this earth?  That's like working all year to go camping without ever taking a moment to appreciate the beauty of your backyard.  Spending time with Jesus is a taste of heaven, and I just wonder we don't make it more of a priority.  Maybe the truth is that many of us are enticed more by the streets of gold and no-more-tears thing of heaven.  Maybe we just want to get there for selfish reasons.  When all along, the real prize for our labor in the harvest is simply to BE with Him.

Not to mention (wait- I hate that phrase!  You say that you're not mentioning something as the transition into mentioning it.  Somebody explain that!), there is no point in anything you do for God without giving Him ample time to fill you up.  Seriously, you're not giving a single thing that is worth receiving, if you're not giving it out of the love, joy, peace, and hope that God has given to you.

I'm talking to me.  Because the truth is that I need Jesus every day, every hour, every moment, or what I do here is in vain.  I might as well be living it up and focusing on myself in every way.

So I will seek God, every day, because it's worth it for so many reasons.

the difference

The difference between me and the people I'm serving - it's staggering.  It's not fair.  It plagues me.  I think about it often.

Because I can choose to live in Haiti, but they can't choose to live in America.
I can choose to fast, but they can't choose to eat 3 square meals.
I can choose to live closer to their level, but they can't choose to live closer to my American life.
I can choose not to have so many things, but they can't choose to have them.

Sometimes, I hope to leave you with a question rather than all the answers.

But just maybe, this is why Jesus says it's so hard for the rich man to make it into heaven.

And I am the rich man.

why i love you a whole lot

This one's for you, sitting on your computer, going out of your way to take the time to see how I'm doing.

I sit here, and my prayer is that you know how much you mean to me, that I pray for you every day.  Do you know that I wouldn't be here without you?  Supporters play such an integral role in missions.  Not just supporters who give money, though it is appreciated.  But every single thing you can do, it means the world to me.  Can you imagine how much it means to me, here in Haiti, to remember that so many people back in the states helped me get to be where I am, that they pray for me, that they take time to read my blog?  Maybe you can't.  Maybe you have to be on the receiving end to understand how humbling and how beautiful it is.  I know that I never thought that my support played a huge role in the life of any missionaries.  Maybe if I were more eloquent, I could really explain it to you.  All I know to say is that you, each and every one of you, are precious to me.

Here are some things that have been done, or could be done in the future, that are a HUGE blessing and encouragement to me!

1. Comment on my blog.  I love blogging, but it's hard to be consistent when I feel like no one reads all of my silly ideas and rambling!

2. Pray for me.  And let me know how I can pray for you.  I want to stay updated on your lives!

3. Send me a letter!  

Shelby Bollar

c/o Agape Flights CAY 27525

100 Airport Avenue

Venice, FL 34285

http://www.agapeflights.com/send-a-packageletter.html

4. Talk to me about ministry.  I'd love to hear your heart for ministry and help you get plugged in somewhere or sort through any questions you might be struggling with.  

5. Help me get a scooter!  Okay, it sounds like a small thing, but it would mean so much to me!  Today is day 1 of my scooter campaign, and I already have over 10% of my goal thanks to an anonymous donor!  If I get this scooter, I will be able to visit the orphanage more often, and we all know that's where my heart truly is.  It will also just open up more possibilities and opportunities in general!  So please do what you can, even if you think it's small.  http://www.gofundme.com/4b868c

6. Spend some time today alone and ask yourself what you are doing to make believers in all nations.  Are you happy with what you're doing?  Would you like to do more?  I'd love to talk about any of this with you.  I'm ALWAYS ready and willing to talk about things that matter.  Just shoot me a quick message.  

Thanks for reading, and Happy Monday!

Love you all so much more than you know!

the last couple weeks in pictures

When I got here a couple weeks ago, we spent the night at Servotel in PAP.  Good days of swimming and french fries.  The next day we took the bus to Les Cayes (pronounced O Kai), where Shannon and I BOTH saw our house for the first time!  

 And this is the room that I share with Lena and a three year old Haitian named "Papou."  In this picture, you can see a lot of things that are precious to me including: a card from Lovingtsky, a Disney calendar, a prayer white board, pictures of my friends at Asbury (including a very dear friend, soon to be married!), one of the best gifts I've ever gotten - Chuck, and a wooden decoration from Honduras.  What I love about not having too much stuff is that everything I have is either extremely useful or deeply cherished.

 Lena and I painted a fan!

 It didn't turn out quite as exciting as I had hoped.  The pictures is cooler than real life.

 We also did some face painting as part of a Girl Scout Try-It.  Since when are they called try-its?  I miss badges!

 Perhaps my favorite part is the green and blue eyebrows.  New fashion trend?  I hope so.

 We also went to Saut Matherine.  Go to Shannon's blog and check out her pictures.  They're much better than mine!!

 Chacos.  Fit for adventure.

 This is me, ready for my first day of teaching University!

 And this is me, more accurately portraying the nervousness of teaching there!  I mean, only 1% of Haitians make it to University, and I don't feel worthy to teach them!

 On Thursday, there were no desks in my classroom!! I awkwardly asked my students to get get desks, and it worked.  Yet, I must wonder if the exact same thing from another teacher is what got my desks lost in the first place.  Ha!

 This is Papou, when he got new underwear from the states!  You can't really tell in this picture, but he's wearing about 6 pairs of underwear at once!

Coming soon: pictures of Lena's freshly-painted classroom and pictures from the orphanage where we volunteer.

Woohoo!!!!

P.S.  Please send me letters and packages!  Letters are the song of my heart.  All you have to do is mail it to Florida, and it will get to me!  And with packages, you need to make a small donation to the flight ministry, which is called Agape!  They are the BEST people ever, and they are giving us a free Thanksgiving meal in November.  Crazy!  Here's my address!

Shelby Bollar
c/o Agape Flights CAY 27525
100 Airport Avenue
Venice, FL 34285
http://www.agapeflights.com/send-a-packageletter.html

preparations!

Yikes, this is delayed!  I so kept meaning to write about this when I was about to leave the states.  

My goodbyes were oh so beautiful.

From the Hogans to Crossroads Church to my Asbury friends, everyone was praying for me and offering up praise about my calling and my life.  It was so amazing and so humbling.  Standing there, hearing what I've meant to people and the difference I've made in their lives, only to know that absolutely 100% of it is because of Jesus.  

Every single thing that people love about me is Jesus in me.

To see so clearly how He is shining in my life, it was really reassuring.  It was just the perfect experience to prefix my life in Haiti with.

Here's a theme that's been in my heart lately.  Our bathroom has no light, so I bring a flashlight in with me at night.  If I'm trying to get a good look at my face, I have to shine my flashlight on the real thing.  If I shine it on the mirror, I will barely be able to see myself.  And in the same way, I'm a reflection of Jesus.  But focusing more on myself will not brighten that image.  Only focusing on Him can do that.  (Okay, so I know that's totally random, and I hope at least one person out there can follow my train of thought on this one.)  

Or in a more poetic way, one of my favorite songs by Vicky Beeching is "Captivated," which is about standing in awe of Jesus.  

"Beholding is becoming, so as You fill my gaze.  I become more like You, and my heart is changed.  Beholding is becoming, so as You fill my view.  Transform me into the likeness of You."

beauty

About 6 years ago, I wrote an essay about how anything is beautiful if you love it.  Which I still think is true.  Yet, I lament that we, as people, tend to love so little, when our capacity to love is so large.

I sat in front of a waterfall, perhaps the most beautiful thing I have ever EVER seen.  As I was captivated by that beauty, I couldn't help but think of the beauty that is around as all the time.  When something becomes commonplace, we tend to stop admiring it.  We sat in front of the waterfall for hours.  But what if we lived next door to the waterfall?  How long would it be before we hardly gave it a second glance?  Probably not long at all.

So I guess the moral of the story is to appreciate the beauty around you and love the place you're in.  The things you see every day might be someone else's beautiful waterfall, and you don't want to miss it.

7 things i'm glad i packed

1. Chuck, my bear in a tux.  Not only do the kids love him, but he is a present reminder of friends back home who love me and are praying for me.

2. My Cupcake Maker!  We've used it already, and it's super handy when one doesn't have an oven!

3. My Craft Stuff.  Gotta love expressing my non-artsy self through art!

4. My copy of "Oh The Places You'll Go."  Lena loves it, and I've found that every day can be summed up in a page from that book.

5. Two lightweight rugs.  They stir things up in this all tile or concrete or dirt environment.

6. Earplugs.  Besides the general Haiti noise of goats, thunderstorms, and motos; I share my room with a 3 year old.  Enough said.

7. Myself.  It's good to be here, finally! =]

well hello there!

Hey folks!
I apologize for the lack of updates. Hopefully, you're following my facebook page, and you already know that I have indeed arrived safely! (www.facebook.com/shelbyloveseverywhere)

So far the transition has been harder than I thought it would be. On the plane here, I felt it for the first time - the weight of the things I'm giving up, like a heavy burden on my shoulders. The entirety of what my life could be right now, but isn't. It's compounded my countless posts about my peers in happy apartments, going to school, being with friends. I'm bright. I could be in seminary or grad school or have a high-paying job. Some people my age are married now. The people that I've invested in during my life are all left behind. Doing the things I could have chosen, occupying the space I filled in their lives (though maybe not the space in their hearts).

 I can't say with 100% honesty that there's no pain involved with this. Some people I know wouldn't risk the pain at all. When you think about it, does it make that much sense? Giving up everything I have known, everyone I have loved, to pursue a dream, to pursue God, in a country where I can't exactly speak the language, where I don't have any friends? I can see how such a concept might be out of the ordinary. In the last week (would you believe I've been here a week already?), the weight has lifted slowly but surely. I remind myself that everyone I have ever loved was once a stranger. Every place I've ever lived was new in the beginning. There's something so comforting, so joyful, about needing less to make me happy. I still have a lot more than some people - about 175 lbs of stuff, much of which is craft stuff and food. Maybe someday I can whittle it down to a bit less. I kind of hope so. There's something liberating about it. I don't need electricity all the time to keep me happy, though it sure is nice. When I moved into Asbury, the whole car was full. Now it's just a trunk. What did I even take?

Life is full of choices, and perhaps one of the most important ones is how much you're willing to risk. I'm not talking danger; I doubt I'm in much more danger here than I have been the rest of my life. What would you risk? Would you risk having friends? Would you risk having convenience? Would you risk looking like a fool?

[I'd love to continue this conversation in the comments, if anyone wants to put their two cents in! Also welcome: what you want to see on the blog.]