Word Arrives From Myanmar After Cyclone

Communication is slowly emerging from Myanmar after Cyclone Nagris slams Yangon…

We have spoken with Roger Oakland of Understand The Times regarding Bryce Lodge, which is only 30 miles north of the Delta region of Yangon. For those who are not aware, the Delta region took a direct hit causing a 4 meter upswell (12 feet of water wall) of the shallow waters just off the coast. Now fears are being raised that there are 200,000 or more dead/missing or will die without proper humanitarian supplies.

Roger said that he received an email from Bryce Lodge which stated that everyone at Bryce Lodge is safe. Several of the windows of the concrete building were blown out but those can be replaced. The main thing is that those who were sheltered in the building during the storm were safe. Many of the orphans housed at The 4 Bryce Lodges come from families whose huts were completely destroyed by the Cyclone.

In the email, they said that the biggest threat now is that rice has gone from $11 a bag to $100 a bag. Roger also stated that even though they are only 30 miles from Yangon, they had no idea of the utter devastation caused by flooding and high winds. The Junta government is not telling them anything. They are finding out that the destruction was much more intense than they first thought.

The biggest necessity, beyond prayer, at this point is going to be financial aid. Roger is setting up a fund and a link to donate will be availible on his website shortly. Please continue to pray for the people of Myanmar and if possible help the relief efforts by donating here.

And The Winds Lifted Up…

Bradley and I were sitting on the couch, when all of a sudden BAM!!!…

Hail starts pinging our windows and bouncing off of the yard. So, I grabbed the remote and turned on the news just in time to hear that we needed to take cover immediately because there was a tornado headed right for us.

Down went the remote and the computer for a race to round up the cats. As we hustled the cats into their taxis, the hail got larger and louder. We ended up with golfball sized hail. I thought it was going to break the windows. We put the cats into the bathroom and waited as the sirens howled overhead. I think that the horrifying sounds made the cats submit to our wishes of huddleing them together like furry sardines.

Once it was all over, I think that they were very greatful to have had their small surroundings to make them feel safe. Then, when it was safely past… out came the neighborhood to see the effects and socialize through their common ordeal, forgetting that in times past - tornadoes can form on the back end when you think all is well and good. Nothing happened however. You can bet that I was praying through the entire situation. Though this wasn’t a cyclone in Myanmar… it was scary none the less, God spared us… again.

A couple of years back there was another scary ordeal that hit the town on one side of us, lifted up over us, then came back down on the town just to the other side. My family thinks that we are crazy to live where we live, not realizing that they get worse weather than we do. So, all in all… it has been an eventful day as I suspect that many more will be in these last days.

The Effect of Music

It is amazing how music can effect us in our mood, thoughts and our outlook of the past, present and future. It can cause an openess of creativity or suppress our inner selves from being expressed. Sometimes we listen to certain types of songs to wallow in our melancholy or to distract us from the situations that we must face.

On My Fav Music page, I have listed some of the songs (which are clickable for your listening and viewing pleasure) that move me in one way or another. Some of them are melancholy types and some are more upbeat. There are others that I would like to list, but just haven’t had the time. I want to make sure that I make it so that you can listen to them also and don’t have to try and ‘find’ them yourselves, to see if you like them too.

Anyway, the first song I have on my favs page is probably my most favorite. I was thinking the other day of why it is that I like it so much. I do like the song for the words, because you cannot hear that ‘everything is going to be alright’… to many times, right? But it is more than that… the notes used, just seem to pull you in (or at least they do me) and keep you there. Even so though, when you combine that with the video, to me it’s a hit. I really love her Jamie’s voice and the cinematography is mesmerising. I think that everyone in a relationship could relate to the words, and the actions on the video. Needless to say, I have been listening to this song repeatedly over the last few days. I am addicted to it.

I wonder if we choose music to fit our moods more or do we choose music to change our moods. I would probably have to go with the first option. This could be a problem though. If someone is depressed and they only listen to depressing songs, then they probably won’t get out of that stage very soon.

I don’t know about you though, but I tend to get sucked into melancholy songs more than any other. Those types make my thoughts ponder and my creativity open up.

I think about how kids will do things and then blame music or movies on their actions. I wonder how far fetched that actually is. If a kid grows up with their only contact being movies or music because their parents, siblings, etc. are too busy or to self absorbed to pay attention to them… that is all that they can relate too. If they feel rejected, naturally they will listen/watch/create what they know and each has to top the previous one… so you end up with either really good stuff or really bad stuff and there is the next generation.

Anyway, just a thought…