Archive for October, 2010

Weekends Are For…Pie

October 24th, 2010

Weekends are for eating homemade pumpkin pie for breakfast.

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

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Why we’ve Stayed in Prague For Almost 4 Years

October 22nd, 2010

Not too long ago I wrote a post about why we moved to Prague and about how we are existential migrants. Today I want to write a little bit about why we’ve stayed in Prague for almost 4 years now.

When we first moved to Prague we both agreed that we needed to give ourselves a minimum time commitment. We knew that if we didn’t have something set before going into the move then we could very easily just move back when things got hard and we didn’t want to do that. We wanted to push through and give Prague a fair chance. We agreed that we had to stay for at least one year and I’m so glad that we did. If we hadn’t stayed at least that long we would have never met a number of people who have ended up becoming some of our closest friends.

Since that first year we have been almost constantly reevaluating our time here. There are regularly days when things are hard and we miss our family and we wonder if Prague is really the right place for us. The first few years, in particular, though, every time we asked that question we felt very assured that Prague was exactly where we needed to be.

Why did we feel that way? What made us decide time and time again to stay in Prague?

The short answer is that in an odd way Prague felt like home to us, and we felt surprisingly comfortable here from the beginning.

We felt at home amidst the foreign.

It sounds like an oxymoron to say that we felt at home amidst the foreign, but it’s true. I can’t speak for my husband and his reasons, but I can try to explain to you a little bit about why I think I felt at home amidst the foreign. This article says that most Existential Migrants “leave their home cultures because they never felt ‘at home’ in the first place.” For me, that’s sort of true. I’ve always felt a little awkward and uncomfortable in general and I think for a long time before moving to Prague I didn’t really feel at home in my home country. Being surrounded by the foreign suddenly it was perfectly ok and acceptable to be a little awkward or uncomfortable, it was even expected. With that came a feeling of freedom, I could relax into my awkwardness a little bit and that made me feel comfortable. Maybe that doesn’t make sense to anyone else, but it makes sense to me.

Bryan and I also really value cultures and languages, and difference. We value people having different opinions and ideas, different sets of experiences from ours and different perspectives. Surrounded by people who are very different from us and who think differently than we do, we felt at home and comfortable sharing our own ideas and thoughts. I remember so many times leaving a group of people and exclaiming to each other how much we loved the time and conversation, how much we loved so-and-so for sharing their outlook which was SO different from anything we had ever heard before. We would remark about how the people we hung out with where people we probably wouldn’t have been friends with in the states, or even had the opportunity to meet in the states, because they were fairly different from us and our normal circles, but we loved them and loved being with them.

We love how being in foreign situations, and meeting people who are different from us stretched us and in that stretching we actually felt comfortable and “at home”. Of course there are a lot of places in the world where we would be surrounded by a much more foreign culture and atmosphere than Prague, but Prague is still so different from our home country that we felt there was lots we could learn from that difference and that made us excited. It made us want to stay longer and soak up all that we could of the foreignness.

We felt at home amidst a dream.

We moved because we dreamed about living a different sort of life. We dreamed about living intentionally and distinctively. We dreamed about welcoming adventure instead of fearing it. In moving to Prague we knew we were taking an active step to pursue our dream and become the people we wanted to be, and in that pursuit of ourselves we felt at home. We stayed to continue that pursuit.

But, soon after we moved here we also connected with another dream, a dream that took us out of ourselves and, at least for me, was a significant reason why I wanted to stay in Prague past the 1 year mark.

Soon after we moved here we got involved with a church plant here. It was a church that looked different from the typical church and a group that was equally different. I loved it. We met in people’s homes, coffee shops and art galleries, often we didn’t have a set sermon but instead all interacted with scripture together. It got me excited about church again and I felt like I jumped in with my whole heart. I wanted to stay in Prague because I wanted to be a part of what God was doing here and particularly what He was doing in this group. I wanted to stay in Prague because I felt like I had a home and place within this dream/vision.

These past few years have truly been a roller coaster ride, and much has happened with this group of people and this dream. I still want to see what God will do here in the Czech Republic, but I feel less and less certain and more and unsure about my place within that work. But, that’s for another post…

We felt at home amidst the expats.

Expats are a unique group. We come from all different backgrounds and experiences, and yet we find we bond quickly because we all have one shared experience which shapes us – moving overseas. We may come for different reasons, but we all feel the pull of the foreign to some extent. We may come from different backgrounds, but we all embrace a particular openness to the “other”. I find that really refreshing.

Among expats I find a disproportionate number of people who are “like me” even though they may be ENTIRELY different from me. I find others who share my values for openness and diversity, for living creatively on purpose, for pursuing those things that really matter (because in a foreign country you quickly learn what is essential and what is not). Often expats are willing to go deeper more quickly and relationships develop at a sort of super speed out of necessity.

Expats are also a group of people with stories. They have done things, seen things, and been places. They aren’t content to just work normal jobs and raise their kids. They are often the kind of people who say yes to things instead of saying no and then see where their yeses take them. I like that. I love hearing people’s stories and I love the types of stories I get to hear in the expat community.

Bryan and I like being expats and we like the expats we meet. And so far we haven’t been ready to leave that community behind.
Staying in Prague has never really been an easy decision. As much as we may feel at home here, we also already have a home in the states and there’s a lot that we miss out on by being here. But, for the past nearly 4 years staying in Prague has always been a very clear decision. The reasons above are good, true, reasons for why we have stayed, but beyond them there has always been a less tangible more unofficial reason why we have stayed – something that can only be explained as a feeling or a still small voice saying, “Stay.”

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

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Blog Action Day 2010: Water

October 15th, 2010
Today is Blog Action Day 2010. http://blogactionday.change.org/#why-water
The topic this year is Water.
Today I got up and brushed my teeth, flushed my toilet and washed my hands.
“The average toilet uses 8 litres of clean water in a single flush.” Source http://matadornetwork.com/change/40-shocking-facts-about-water
“Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of diseases and kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.” Source http://www.charitywater.org/whywater/
“Currently, a staggering 2.6 billion people live without a safe toilet” source http://www.endwaterpoverty.org/the_issue/
Today I showered and gave my son a bath.
“90% of the 42,000 deaths that occur every week from unsafe water and unhygienic living conditions are to children under five years old. Many of these diseases are preventable.” source http://www.charitywater.org/whywater/
“An American taking a five-minute shower uses more water than a typical person in a developing country slum uses in a whole day” source http://water.org/learn-about-the-water-crisis/facts/#economics
Today I did the dishes.
“In Africa, women are predominantly responsible for collecting water. They walk over 40 billion hours each year carrying cisterns weighing up to 40 pounds to gather water for their community, which is usually still not safe to drink.” Source http://www.charitywater.org/whywater/
“On average, women in Africa and Asia have to walk 3.7 miles to collect water.” Source http://matadornetwork.com/change/40-shocking-facts-about-water
Today I drank more than 8 glasses of water clean tap water.
“Polluted drinking waters are a problem for about half of the world’s population. Each year there are about 250 million cases of water-based diseases, resulting in roughly 5 to 10 million deaths.” Source http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-pollution
“884 million people lack access to safe drinking water.” Source http://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/environment/the-coming-clash-between-water-and-energy/2
Today I turned my lights on, used a stove, and had power for my computer.
“In the United States alone, on just one average day, more than 500 billion liters of freshwater travel through the country’s power plants—more than twice what flows through the Nile.” Source http://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/environment/the-coming-clash-between-water-and-energy/1
“a single Google search takes about half a milliliter of water. Just a few drops, really. But the 300 million searches we do a day take 150 000 liters. That’s a thousand bathtubs of water to power the data centers that handle the world’s idle curiosity.” Source http://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/environment/the-coming-clash-between-water-and-energy/2
Today, like most days, I didn’t really think about the amount of water I was using.
A typical individual in the United States uses 500 litres of water each day… The recommended daily water requirement for sanitation, bathing, cooking and consumption is approximately 50 litres per person per day… Over 1 billion people use less than 6 litres of water per day.” Source http://matadornetwork.com/change/40-shocking-facts-about-water
Sort of puts things in perspective doesn’t it?
Honestly, though I see these numbers and the disparity between my water use and the water availability for the poorest of the poor and I feel lost as to what to do about it. I have a hard time seeing how me taking a shorter shower will really help. It seems like then the water plant in my area will have more water, but it doesn’t really help anyone who really needs the water. Here are some ways that I found that will help those who actually do need the water though:
Take a stand and support clean water everywhere by signing this petition supporting the United Nations work to improve water and sanitation for billions. http://blogactionday.change.org/sign-petition
Raise money to help build a well in Africa through Charity: Water. All of the money you raise goes to people in need and within 12-18 months they will send you a picture and other documentation about the well that was built with the money you raised.
Donate money to  bring clean water to those who need it most through these other great non-profit organizations:
water.org http://water.org/
The water Project http://thewaterproject.org/
Living Water International http://www.water.cc/
Here is a short prayer I wrote on behalf of those living with unclean water, or no water at all:
Living Water, Breath of God,
we all need water in order to live and prosper,
So, we ask you to send rain to those places which are in draught,
And send workers to those places which are in need.
Living Water, Breath of God,
teach us how each of us can bring your kingdom to those who are thirsty.
show us how we can give a cup of water to a stranger who needs it.
Living water, Breath of God,
we recognize that many die needlessly do to water issues,
And we ask that this would not continue.
May those of us who have abundant water not waste your gift,
but instead may we recognize that every drop is a gift and that there are many who don’t have it.
May those of us who have abundant water
seek out ways that we can provide water for those who do not.
Living Water, Breath of God,
make us into water bearers who carry life giving water into the world.
In Jesus name, Amen.
Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

Today is Blog Action Day 2010.  The topic this year is Water.

Today I got up and brushed my teeth, flushed my toilet and washed my hands.

“The average toilet uses 8 litres of clean water in a single flush.” Source

“Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of diseases and kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.” Source

“Currently, a staggering 2.6 billion people live without a safe toilet.” Source

Today I showered and gave my son a bath.

“90% of the 42,000 deaths that occur every week from unsafe water and unhygienic living conditions are to children under five years old. Many of these diseases are preventable.” Source

“An American taking a five-minute shower uses more water than a typical person in a developing country slum uses in a whole day.” Source

Today I did the dishes.

“In Africa, women are predominantly responsible for collecting water. They walk over 40 billion hours each year carrying cisterns weighing up to 40 pounds to gather water for their community, which is usually still not safe to drink.” Source

“On average, women in Africa and Asia have to walk 3.7 miles to collect water.” Source

Today I drank more than 8 glasses of clean tap water.

“Polluted drinking waters are a problem for about half of the world’s population. Each year there are about 250 million cases of water-based diseases, resulting in roughly 5 to 10 million deaths.” Source

“884 million people lack access to safe drinking water.” Source

Today I turned my lights on, used a stove, and had power for my computer.

“In the United States alone, on just one average day, more than 500 billion liters of freshwater travel through the country’s power plants—more than twice what flows through the Nile.” Source

“A single Google search takes about half a milliliter of water. Just a few drops, really. But the 300 million searches we do a day take 150 000 liters. That’s a thousand bathtubs of water to power the data centers that handle the world’s idle curiosity.” Source

Today, like most days, I didn’t really think about the amount of water I was using.

“A typical individual in the United States uses 500 litres of water each day… The recommended daily water requirement for sanitation, bathing, cooking and consumption is approximately 50 litres per person per day… Over 1 billion people use less than 6 litres of water per day.” Source

Sort of puts things in perspective doesn’t it?

Honestly, though I see these numbers and the disparity between my water use and the water availability for the poorest of the poor and I feel lost as to what to do about it. I have a hard time seeing how me taking a shorter shower will really help. It seems like that just makes it so that the water plant in my area will have more water, but it doesn’t really help anyone who really needs the water. Here are some ways that we can help those who actually do need the water though:

  • Take a stand and support clean water everywhere by signing this petition supporting the United Nations work to improve water and sanitation for billions.
  • Raise money to help build a well in Africa through Charity: Water. All of the money you raise goes to people in need and within 12-18 months they will send you a picture and other documentation about the well that was built with the money you raised.

Here are some ways you can donate money to  bring clean water to those who need it most through these other great non-profit organizations:

Here is a short prayer I wrote on behalf of those living with unclean water, or no water at all:

Living Water, Breath of God,
we all need water in order to live and prosper,
we ask you to send rain to those places which are in drought,
And send workers to those places which are in need.
Living Water, Breath of God,
teach us how each of us can bring your kingdom to those who are thirsty.
show us how we can give a cup of water to a stranger who needs it.
Living water, Breath of God,
we recognize that many die needlessly because of water issues,
And we ask that this would not continue.
May those of us who have abundant water not waste it,
but instead may we recognize that every drop is a gift
and remember that there are many who don’t have access to clean water at all.
May those of us who have abundant water
seek out ways that we can provide water for those who do not.
Living Water, Breath of God,
make us into water bearers who carry life giving water into the world.
In Jesus name, Amen.

Rejoicing in the journey -

Bethany Stedman

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If you like this post please consider buying me a cup of tea (Suggested: $3 a cup)



October 13 Synchroblog – Same Sex Marriage

October 13th, 2010

The Christian Synchroblog that I am a part of is tackling the issue of Same Sex Marriage today as the topic for October.

I’m sitting this one out, but here are the links from the bloggers who are participating. I haven’t read any of them yet, but I look forward to reading through what everyone has to offer on this hot button topic.

Kathy Baldock at Canyonwalker Connections – Marriage “I Do” For Who

Dan Brennan at Faith Dance – Sexual Difference, Marriage and Friendship

Steve Hayes at Khanya – Same Sex Marriage Synchroblog

Sonja Andrews at Calacirian – In Defense Of Marriage

John C O’Keefe – Exactly What Is Gay Marriage

Liz Dyer at Grace Rules – Nobody knows why or how same-sex marriage is harmful

Herman Groenewald at Along The Way – Same Sex Debate

Margaret Boelman at Minnowspeaks – What Have We Done

David Henson at unorthodoxology – ban marriage

Erin Word at Mapless – Synchroblog: Legalizing Same Sex Marriage

Joshua Jinno at Antechurch – The Church Is Impotent

Kathy Escobar at The Carnival In My Head – It’s Easy To Be Against Equal Rights When We Have Them

Peter Walker at Emerging Christian – Synchroblog – Same Sex Marriage

K. W. Leslie at The Evening of Kent – Mountains, Molehills and Same-Sex Marriage

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany

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Autumn Beer Risotto

October 9th, 2010

This isn’t your typical risotto. This fall risotto is made with beer instead of wine, and uses Edem cheese instead of parmesan. It could be called an Autumn Inspired Czech Risotto.

IMG_7126This risotto was inspired by a trip to a local farm where they grow LOTS of pumpkins and squashes. We had a great time exploring the different types of pumpkins, checking out their chickens and petting their rabbits. It was a perfect fall outing and I came home wanting to make an equally perfect warm and hearty fall meal. As soon as I saw the package of risotto which had been sitting in my cupboard for who knows how long, I knew it was just the thing to satisfy my autumn craving. And so Autumn Beer Risotto was born.

IMG_7175 IMG_7219

Autumn Beer Risotto (or Czech Risotto)

  • 1 package (500g) Risotto
  • 1 Butternut squash
  • 3-4 Carrots (depending on the size)
  • 2-5 small (to medium) Onion (how many will depend on how big they are and your taste preferences)
  • 1 small parsnip
  • 2 cloves Garlic
  • 1 inch piece Ginger
  • Butter (for sautéing)
  • 1 cup Beer (I used Czech Kozel, which is a sweeter dark beer)
  • 3 cups homemade Chicken stock
  • ½ cup Edem cheese (or any other run of the mill white cheese – Jack would work I think)
  • Pinch of nutmeg
  • Salt and pepper to taste

First, peel the butternut squash and carrot and cut them into bit size pieces. Place both in a roasting dish and roast in the oven at about 350 degrees F until they are soft.

While the squash and carrots are roasting, chop the onion, parsnip, garlic and ginger. Place all of those things in a pot with a bit of butter and sauté until soft and slightly caramelized. Add the risotto to the pan.

Stirring constantly add the beer about ¼ a cup at a time. Next add the chicken stock about a ¼ cup at a time. Continue stirring the risotto all along. Then add the squash and carrot, still stirring all the time. Next add the Edem cheese, still stirring all the time. Are you catching a theme here? The theme is STIRRING. Risotto should be an arm work out.

Add a pinch of nutmeg and plenty of salt and pepper to taste, and continue stirring until the risotto is softened but still al dente. You don’t want your risotto to be mushy, but you do want it to be cooked.

That’s it. We personally really liked how this turned out. It was a great autumn risotto that was definitely warm and filling.

NOTE: We tried something different with the leftovers this time that I also wanted to recommend. I shaped the cold risotto into patties and fried it in a frying pan with a little butter. We then served it on a bed of kale with a squeeze of lemon – yummy.

IMG_7160-2

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

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