containing the universe...

So I was home today battling the stomach flu and after sleeping most of the day I decided to check my email as I had not yet received word on my acceptance to attend a summit in London in April on human trafficking. I logged in and found the following email...

Dear Christina,
Thank you for applying to our Bringing the World Home: Stopping Human Trafficking conference. We apologize for the delay in responding to your application. We received a record number of applications and it took more time than expected to go through them all! However, we are delighted to inform you that you have been selected for the summit and, based on your outstanding application we have also decided to award you with a Young Global Leaders scholarship, which will cover the complete cost of your registration, which includes tuition and five meals. We have chosen you based on your remarkable background and your commitment to global awareness.

The conference is taking place at the Syracuse Centre’s Faraday House at 48 Old Gloucester Street in downtown London on Friday April 27th through Sunday April 29th, 2007. On Friday, April 27th, registration and light refreshments will run from
1:00pm-1:30pm, with the conference starting promptly at 1:30pm and running until 8:15pm. On Saturday, April 28th, it will run from 9:15am (with breakfast from
8:00am-9:00am) until 5:00pm, when we will depart for guided walking tours of
London. On Sunday, April 29th, we will have breakfast from 9:00am-9:30am and the conference will end at 2:00pm. You can click here to see a picture of this building and a map or click here to see additional information about the Centre. The closest Tube stop are Russell Square and Holborn. At the conference, high-achieving, young American leaders living and studying abroad and their international peers will learn strategies for talking about global issues with the public, techniques for organizing town hall meetings on America’s role in the world, and have the opportunity to discuss methods for dealing with "reverse culture shock" after living abroad and postgraduate opportunities in international affairs. The summit will also feature high-level panel discussions. Click here to see the conference schedule. (Speakers are still being confirmed for some panels.) Our goal for the summit is both to engage in deep and well-informed conversation about human trafficking and to equip you with the skills to bring these conversations back to your campus. To prepare for the summit, you may want to take a quick look at several guides that we'll be going over during the course of the conference.

First, our organizers’ toolkits are kits of online materials that will help you to put together a town hall discussion on your campus as part of one of our global town hall series. We change the topics slightly each semester, but our current
initiatives are: (please note that they are directed towards U.S. students but are easily applicable to international students)
Hope Not Hate: The Future of U.S.-Muslim World Relations
Fighting for What’s Right: Reforming the International Trade System
Securing the Future: Oil Dependence, Climate Change, and You
A Better, Safer World: Stopping the Spread of Deadly Weapons
Being a Good Neighbor: The Future of U.S.-Latin American Relations
Global Governance for a Changing World: U.S., U.N., I.C.C.: U.N. reform & U.S. relations with the I.C.C.?

Second, the U.S. in the World Guide is a guide that will prepare you to discuss global issues with your peers and other Americans in the U.S. We’ll be going over this guide
briefly at the conference, so feel free to take a look at it now!

If you require accommodation in London we can recommend the Ashlee House hostel or the Generator Hostel. Prices range from ?11-?37. Please book with them directly.

We hope that the above materials get you excited about the retreat. We’ve selected you because of your extraordinary background, and because of your commitment to raising global consciousness within your university community and around the world. We are very excited to work with you in that effort. If you have any lingering questions or concerns, please visit our frequently asked questions page, e-mail me here at kchristie@aidemocracy.org or call me at +1 203-773-1202.

We are looking forward to seeing you in London for what is sure to be a fun and
energizing weekend of events.

With our best wishes,

Americans for Informed Democracy
45 Court Street
New Haven, CT 06511 U.S.A.
AIDemocracy.org

So it looks like I will be going to London at the end of April. I am so thankful for this opportunity that God has given me. It is my prayer that he will be glorified in all things that I am involved in while there. Since the scholarship does not cover travel and lodging, I need to get some fundraising done. I already have over $100 from a couple different people coming to me. I am a little nervous about the idea of fundraising. I have never been good at or comfortable with asking people for help when I need something, let alone want something. On the other hand, I know that if God wants me there, I have nothing to worry about. He will make a way for me and provide for me sufficiently.
Thanks to all of you for your steady prayers. Keep them coming! I love you.

"The heart that breaks open can contain the whole universe." ~ Joanna Macy