#dcjenna

As a child, I always dreamt of becoming a dolphin trainer; not because I liked the thought of entertaining humans, but instead for my love of animals, dolphins in particular. Reaching an all-time high, my soul searching proves pivotal to my future.  When asking myself, “What do I love to do and how can I make a career out of it,” I have only become more confused.  The consistent passions and desires of my heart sing of non-traditional career paths, but I believe in a God that works miracles.

1)            I love human beings:

I’ve tried social work case management, and I currently hold a position in social policy and implementation, however, my heart remains void in this area. I desire to see change in the way people treat one another and show compassion to the less fortunate. I don’t want to follow a set of guidelines to help someone, or talk about the possible options; instead I want to be in relationship with individuals to create change. Perhaps that is precisely why I am not cut out as a social worker. I struggle to keep boundaries because I want to give everything I can to help others. The missing piece to systemic change is relationship. Please pray that God provides me with ways to give in area.

2)            I love animals:

My mind spins with curiosity as to the ways God will intertwine my love for animals into my future. Animals don’t show judgment. Humans could take a lesson on how to treat others. God blessed me with nearly 24 years of pets (dogs). I’ve yet to see a human compare to the amount of unconditional love, forgiveness, and comfort that a dog provides. They are trustworthy and wonderfully cute lifetime friends that deserve every bit of money and time it takes to own one. I’d love to one day own a pet therapy company for youth recovering from trauma.

3)            I desire to serve in a hands on way:

I worked at two Christian summer camps my first summers out of college and it was certainly my favorite job. Looking ahead to my future, I’d love to one day co-run a summer camp with my husband, David. We both have great camp personalities and look back at our time as counselors and radiate with joy. I’m not the best at advice giving. I can listen for hours, be with you, comfort you, and show compassion, but I don’t always have the magic words to say to fix a situation. I will however do everything in my power to provide you with resources, and work my butt off to help you in whatever decision you decide is best for you. I like hard work, whether building a house, or  driving you to appointments, I enjoy the physical nature of it. Talking is a lot harder for me than doing. I get frustrated easily when I see opportunities or ways to fix things that are being done. It’s a strength and a weakness. I LOVE finishing things, usually really early, but I don’t always take my time. David helps me take a breath, take my time and enjoy the ride. I need that.

4)            I love prayer and meditation

Prayer and meditation are one of my favorite ways to relax. It helps to get my mind away from myself and focus on the ways in which God speaks life into us. Meditation takes me to a place where I am removed from my body and I am able to let my heart and mind rest in the quietness of God. I don’t say this to sound super spiritual, I say this because it is a true joy and passion of mine. Peace and calmness are natural parts of my being and it’s where I feel the most comfortable.

David and I created a bucket list together. You know the rest.

D.C. Specific:

Tour the White House

Tour the Capitol building

Visit the Supreme Court

Get a dog

Visit a new farmer's market

Attend Navy Barracks' concert

Attend a concert at the Kennedy Center

Visit Ocean City, Maryland

Bicycle around the perimeter of the District of Columbia

Attend an inaugural ball

D.C. and Beyond:

Kayak together

Attend a synagogue

See mountains in Colorado

Go to California

Do a wine tour

Begin writing a book together

Co-lead a Bible study

Try to write a song together

Create something to be sold

Find a new mutual hobby

Complete Introduction to Hebrew course together

Create wills

Watch an entire season of a show in one day (weekend?) together

Visit a waterfall

Visit an antique shop

Own a home

Have children

Visit Europe

Complete mission trip/volunteer together

Host a dinner party

Host a Passover seder

Climb a tree (and get back down)

Sled together

Experience New Year's Eve in Times Square

Shoot guns at a range

Attend a live jazz concert

Go to Israel

Visit a rain forest or do a safari

Learn introductory calculus

Learn how to solve a Rubik's Cube

Read the entire Bible in three months

Pay off a college student loan

Grow a garden

Ride a Segue

See the musical, "Wicked"

Attend a protest

See a live ocelot

Both read a book in a week

Get a photo with a famous person

Go camping

Today I just feel angry.

(Picture from www.sagalradio.org)

         The issue of child sex trafficking continues to draw political and media attention. “It is estimated that 293,000 American children are currently at risk of commercial sexual exploitation,” (Rights4Girls). Now if this number doesn’t alarm you, I’m not sure what will. Victims from this horrendous act are too often involved in the child welfare system, not through choice of their own. A study done in Connecticut and Florida found that 98% of sex trafficking victims were involved in the child welfare system. Many of them told stories of the abuse taking place within foster homes, others the trafficking began as run-aways in need of love. Unfortunately pimps so often manipulate girls into thinking they “love them” and belong.

       I have heard stories from girls who were lured in by group home bus stops. The man acts interested in the young girl and promises her money, food, a place to stay and most importantly love. Often, this births the relationship. The pimp then alienates them from any connections they have and things start to go sour. It can start by him saying, “I don’t have enough money to pay the light bill this month, can you help out?” Before they know it, the young girl is posting on sites like “Craigslist or Backpage” because of the pressure from the pimp. The results of saying no to such a request often mean punishments such as beatings or ice baths. The same goes for running away. “The average age at which girls first become victims of commercial sexual exploitation is 12-14 years old,” (Rights4Girls). The predator then drags these young girls around different cities in the US (LA, DC, Chicago, Las Vegas, etc.) to have sex with multiple men a night.

       After these women find safety in law enforcement, they are often put into the juvenile justice system and seen as “bad girls.” These are children. Even if they wanted to, they could not legally decide to make the decision to have sex. In every other situation, this is rape. Society needs to change the lens in which it sees victims of child sex trafficking. These are victims, not delinquents. The need for quality services should be on the top of our priority list. Any person who has dealt with the hell these women were forced to go through, would need quality services that are knowledgeable about treatment in this specific area.

       Get involved if you can. Volunteer your time, pray, write a letter to the government…I don’t care but the time to act exists now. This issue shines as the political light shifts towards it and the wheels need to keep spinning.  

    Reference: 

As I grow older I realize more and more that living life means facing trials. Everyone experiences different challenges and wrestles with their own demons. Emotional pain and physical pain, while different, can impact our quality of life.

My story begins at the end of high school. I started to notice sharp cramping pains in my stomach followed by an immediate need to use the restroom. Thinking that this illness would go away on its own, I didn’t go to the doctor. I didn’t have a stable doctor throughout college and didn’t know how to start the process or if it was even worth it. As years went by the pain grew worse and worse. Sometimes I would feel fine and other days I would feel afraid to leave the house in fear of getting sick.

The obvious warning signs throughout the years couldn’t be missed causing a daily awareness of the seriousness of the situation. My sophomore year of college I had a bad “flare up,” so bad that I needed to be taken to the hospital. One of my closest friends, Tauri, so graciously drove around Grand Rapids trying to find the nearest one. When I arrived they took my vitals which indicated a problem. They put an IV in and gave me morphine because of the constant pain. I could not leave the bathroom. They ran several tests but didn’t reach an accurate diagnosis without a colonoscopy. I left the hospital knowing that my symptoms would return sooner or later. At that moment, I lost faith in doctors and my hopes of figuring out my health issues diminished.

For the next three years I dealt with the agonizing pain on a weekly/monthly basis. It took control of my life. Fun trips turned into stressful situations because I would get sick a lot of the time. My husband (bless his heart) has sat with me through all the pain and embarrassing moments and on top of that, he stays home with me on the weekends if I am too sick to leave the house.

Realizing the issue was not only affecting my life, but now someone else’s, prompted me to seek a diagnosis. In December of 2012 I started eating gluten free which removed 75% of my symptoms. My GI doctor believes that I have Celiac’s disease but unfortunately I would need to eat gluten on a daily basis for over a month to test positive.  She advised me not to undergo testing if I would continue to eat gluten free regardless of the findings because of the sickness it causes me. She also said my symptoms are in line with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis). A diagnosis of IBD is only attainable through a colonoscopy which I will undergo in July.

I would describe my journey with two words: long and taxing. I am ready for answers, regardless of the process. I don’t want to worry about where the bathrooms are constantly and wake up every day wondering if I will struggle through my day with horrible cramping. The impact extends beyond me to my family and husband. I limit the number of outings with friends because of my symptoms. It’s time to figure it out. I am afraid of the colonoscopy but I would risk almost anything to get rid of the flare ups I encounter.