Awesome God

This weekend, I was pretty bummed about the computer theft, worried what the thieves would do with it, upset at myself because I didn't move it when I should have, etc. I knew it wasn't my fault; these things just happen. Friday and Saturday night, I couldn’t sleep well. Before I stretched out on Laan’s couch, I opened my bible to Matthew 6: 19 - 21, 25 - 30:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”

I read this Friday and Saturday night, trying to take comfort in the words, in the assurance that God has given us: He will indeed take care of us. I walked across the street to church; it was a beautiful day, and I wanted some extra time to myself. Service started as usual: praise & worship, greeting, announcements. Then before Pastor Gil got up to speak, the trailer for “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” played on the screen. Then Pastor Gil started talking about the treasure in our life (to listen, go to http://www.bfaog.org/ME2/Audiences/dirsect.asp?sid=0185D531972842E784EB001B8B4734D6&nm=eSermons and find the sermon on July 16, 2006) … the sermon was based on EXACTLY the same scripture I had been reading all weekend!

I took comfort in this. I knew that God was looking out for me and he would protect me from harm in all forms, if I just believe. How amazing is our God!?!

When It Rains...

Well, if you haven't read my previous blog, do that first before reading this. It's good background info.

For those of you who don't know, I am staying in a hotel this summer as I work far away from where I live. I so desperately miss my safe and semi-secure apartment.

So I stayed in Laan's room last night on her couch. Before she and Malu went to work (I decided to go in late if I could get back in my room), they came back to the room. Malu wanted to tell me that she talked to the manager and I may be able to get back in my room. So I went down and talked to her, got a key for my room, and started to get ready for work and pack up some things. I was in my room for a couple of hours (deciding it would be easier to shower in my room) and heard the building inspector in the hallway talking to the manager. He didn't really have any new information, so I went back to packing. Before leaving at noon, I looked at my computer. Should I leave it, or take it down to Laan's room? Well, her room is a small one, and I thought this would only be for a few days at most, so I decided to leave it in there. I grabbed my external hard drives so if I wanted to listen to some music I could. I dropped some stuff off in Laan's room, went back to mine for a second load. I left the hotel at noon to go to work.

It was the longest day at work I'd ever had, even though I usually work 8 - 5 (today was 12 - 4:30). Malu wanted to go back with me, so we left Laan there to work just a little longer. We talked to the manager again, and found out more information. The sprinkler "accident" was not. Someone had intentionally ripped it out of the wall, causing the system to activate. Also, the half of the 3rd floor above the flooding was also evacuated, and the power was turned off to prevent electrical fires... meaning Malu was out of her room now too!!! So, tonight, we're having a slumber party.

Well, Malu and I dropped our bags off in Laan's room and went to our own rooms to gather some more things. I opened the door to my room and my heart fell to my stomach. My computer was gone. After closer examination, my monitor, keyboard and mouse were also gone. I went downstairs and asked Kathy (the manager) if anyone had access to my room today. She said, "just the guys who came in with the blowers to dry out the floors." "Well, my computer was stolen." A policeman was already here about the vandalism, so he took my name and told me he'd contact me when he finished. So, a little while later, he came up to Laan's room (now my & Malu's room as well) and I told him everything I could.

It was here when I left my room at noon to go to work, and at 4:45 when I came back, it was gone. I gave him a value estimate, told him it didn't look like forced entry, and we walked down to my room to check it out. We looked at some cords & the dust on the table for fingerprints; if it had been a homocide, they would have combed the place for fingerprints, but since it was a (small) felony theft, and the surfaces weren't conducive to fingerprinting... While we were there, he said since the room was locked, the hotel should be liable for the theft.

I talked to Kathy again; she was waiting to hear back from the corporate office about the insurance, and she said she'd definitely mention my situation when talking with them.

I heard some people in the room right next to mine, and I figured what would it hurt to ask? I knocked on the door, and a short, young hispanic man answered the door, pulling his ipod headphones out of his ears. I explained the situation, but I'm not sure if he understood. He dragged his friend out of the shower. This guy stuck his head around the door and I repeated my questions: "Were you in your room between noon and 4:45 today, and did you hear anyone in my room?" He said no, he hadn't been here that time, but the doors were left open for a time today to allow the men with blowers access to the rooms. I thanked them and apologized for disturbing them, and was momentarily glad to know that the hotel was indeed responsible.

I hope whoever took it feels guilty about it. Not for me to feel better, but maybe that they'd stop stealing. I'm upset and I'm sure my blood pressure is elevated (mostly because I just got that computer a few months ago and I hadn't backed up my data yet), but it's just a computer, I keep telling myself. I guess I won't be working in the hotel during the weekends & evenings as my advisor wanted me to.

The Roof, The Roof, The Roof Is On Fire

Well, unfortunately I am having a grand week (sarcasm) here in Ohio. My former** advisor came back from spending 5 weeks at the university, and I was stressed in general. I hadn't had much of my work done, so I figured he'd be angry with me.

Tonight, the fire alarm went off at 11:00 PM. It kept sounding intermittenly for the next 45 minutes. The fire escape instructions on the door say that unless you have a fire in your room or smell smoke, stay in your room. So, I was in my room, angry with people outside my door because they were being loud, and then they started knocking on my door. I wasn't going to answer the door to a group of men, so I stayed in my room, attempting to call the front desk to find out what was going on. No answer there, unfortunately. Then I heard a woman running down the hallway yelling, "everyone out of your rooms!"

Okay, okay. I grabbed my book and room key, and left my room while talking with B on my cell. To the right of my room, the hallway was flooded. When I got to the bottom of the stairs, two women were coming out from the first floor. One said that everyone needed to leave because the roof may collapse. Wowsers. I walked around the entire building, looking for Laan and Malu*, my friends who are also staying here, but I didn't see them. I went to my car since my cell phone was about to go dead and locked my doors while talking to B. I spotted Laan and Malu, so I hung up with B and went to talk with them.

One of the managers came out and decided to let us know what happened. Apparently someone had tampered with the sprinkler system, so it went off and flooded one third of the building. Unfortunately, I am located in that one third. Laan and Malu both said I could stay the night with them, so I went back to my room and gathered some essentials (phone charger, book, toothbrush, wallet...sadly forgetting my crochet) and tried to leave my room, but I couldn't open my door! The firemen had roped off the hallway, using my door handle for an anchor for the tape! Well, I got out of the room, stretching the tape and complaining. Just my luck, the two women were coming down the hall and heard me. "Do you need to get back in your room?" "No, I'm good," I replied. So, I trooped down to Laan's room where Malu also was.

Malu and I took a video of the hallway; I acted as narrator. I tried to get back in my room then, but they had locked all the rooms that were near the flooding.

I don't have any clothes for tomorrow, and I'm sure they wouldn't want me to show up on base in my workout clothes, with my hair a mess, no makeup, and flip flops!! I really didn't mean to leave clothes in my room, but the lady said that they were planning to have all the mess cleaned up tomorrow. I guess we'll see when I get to go back in my room...

I'm just thankful for my wonderful friends that are willing to put up with me!!

* again, names changed...
** I say "former" because, well, due to the previous blogs, he's not really my advisor any more.