Meta Conference 2019

Second Sunday!! So you might be wondering the meaning of my title. This week I have been blessed to have friends who have cared for me, and it's all been through food. I have been reminded of the beauty of friendship and it has taught me things of myself and of being a better friend.

After a hectic Tuesday, we were able to start our first day in the office Wednesday. However, because of all the orientation we had, Thursday was our first day working. Up to this point, all our meals had been provided for us. I was excited that the moment would come where I would prepare my first lunch. I had the easiest cook-in-the-microwave meals to try-out. The day before, I made sure to have everything put into containers and then stuffed into my lunchbox. I was ready to start right! It was Thursday morning and as I was ready to go outside, I realized it was raining. I ran to get my coat and in all the hectic movement of things, left the lunchbox by the front door. I only realized when I got to the office that something was missing. Once lunchtime came around, I saw many of my friends going out of the office to eat with their managers and thought, "Hmm… that would work perfectly!", however, as nothing occurred I convinced myself that I would  fast for lunch. After a while, my manager came around and asked if I had eaten. I said that I was going to eat later. Pause, in my previous job that answer would've sufficed if they had thought to ask. Anyways, that didn't convince her. After sharing with me how to scan and do other technical things, she asked if I had brought my lunch to which I said no. As I kept assuring her that it wasn't a big thing, that I was going to eat later (when I got back home), she came back after 5 minutes and told me, "Aisha I want to take you to Panera." I realized then that she wasn't going to let me skip lunch. After agreeing to meet with her in a couple minutes, my eyes couldn't help but water. I can be hard on myself. What's worse is that I have learned show that I can, that I am capable, even when I am not. It reminded me of the reaction my parents told me I would have when I would get lost in the supermarket as a little girl. Instead of screaming to the four winds and letting the store know that I was lost, I would maintain my casual walk and act as if nothing had changed, even though I was frantically looking all around to find them. I am so glad that I went, and that my manager was persistent. I was able to learn from her experience and to also share my own.

Then came Saturday. Saturday was super special because my friend Anna and her family were coming down to see me. Anna is one of my close friends at FIU and is back home in Ohio for part of the summer. When she heard of my internship in Lancaster, she asked if it would be ok for her family to come during Memorial Day Weekend. We got the details and began planning. Sadly, because I hadn't had too much time to adventure around, I didn't have many ideas. We agreed that we would walk around downtown and find things on the way. When she arrived, I walked around the car and then she popped the door open and jumped out to give me a huge hug. In that moment I had 100 things going on in my head. I remembered how I had met Anna and all the things we had done together. I realized that this was a friend that was willing to travel 5+ hours to spend the day with me. And I also realized that after hugging my dad a week ago, I hadn’t hugged anyone. In my family I am not the biggest hugger so I don't know if it was necessarily the hug. However, it did remind me that I was in a foreign place and that I didn’t have people I could call close. The rest of the day was an adventure. We went to a free Art Museum and then walked in the park nearby. We got lost multiple times but were able to find a coffee shop, free galleries, and nice antique shops on our way. We ended the adventure by having dinner at Oregon Dairy with her family. It was encouraging to talk and laugh together, with people that knew and cared for me. Shout out to Anna and her family for a great day!!

Today, I was able to go to Laurel Street Mennonite Church, a church recommended by a friend back home. It was a welcoming community and a place of rest. After church I was approached by a Dominican lady named Jannat who invited me to the ladies lunch after church. I was glad to meet another Hispanic and said yes. Although it was a potluck and I hadn't brought anything, we had food leftover. As our conversation came to an end, we went around sharing our prayer requests. After praying for each other, Jannat came and asked if I wanted to come with her to a family party she was having. I was able to go and enjoy great Dominican food, music and conversation. When I was about to go back home, Jannat walked back to my car with me and gave me some leftovers. She ended by letting me know that I was welcomed whenever I needed a family, was alone, or just wanted to hang out.

It's amazing to see how God uses friends and people around us to care for us. Although I feel at times distant and lonely, I am grateful to see that God is with me. Sometimes being surrounded by family or close friends can block the ways that God cares for us because we are in a safe a comfortable scene. I've been reminded of God's love and care in each of these interactions. I've also learned to depend on him and that he will provide. Not only have I been fed, but I've been given leftovers, and was given extra bread and vegetables the church had for members to grab on the way out.

As I finish this blog, I ask that you pray for me. Pray that I find friends that I can be close to and be challenged by. Also keep my family in your prayers as they are also going through many events with the end of the school year. Finally, pray that I may do well in my second exam for Accounting as well as on our group project.

I want to finish by sharing this passage that I have been meditating on this week, thanks to our "Arias Family Bible Challenge":

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

3     He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

    for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

    I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

    your rod and your staff,

    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me

    in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

    my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

    all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

    forever.