On September 22, 2012, Aaron Richter and Jennifer Hall were united in marriage in Rothbury, MI at the Double JJ Ranch. It was a beautiful setting and very country-themed, which suits both of them.
Now they are away on their honeymoon, a cruise they won from the Bridal Show last year.
Congratulations to both of them and blessings for a happy marriage!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
New Job!
Right before classes started this semester, I received a facebook message from my professor and advisor, Zulema Moret. She needed an assistant for the Latin American Studies minor. This job would be for 20 hours each week and the duties would vary throughout the year.
Prior to accepting the position, I met with Professor Moret to discuss the fact that I couldn't devote more than 15 hours per week to the position and I would only be on campus certain days.
Turns out, she was cool with that.
So far, I've been doing a lot of presentations and a few poster designs, but I expect that my duties will continue to increase as the semester progresses.
Yet another thing to add to my increasingly busy schedule and professional resumé, but I'm enjoying it so far.
~Trazy Richter
Latin American Studies Office Assistant
Prior to accepting the position, I met with Professor Moret to discuss the fact that I couldn't devote more than 15 hours per week to the position and I would only be on campus certain days.
Turns out, she was cool with that.
So far, I've been doing a lot of presentations and a few poster designs, but I expect that my duties will continue to increase as the semester progresses.
Yet another thing to add to my increasingly busy schedule and professional resumé, but I'm enjoying it so far.
~Trazy Richter
Latin American Studies Office Assistant
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
It is with a sad heart that I update you.
A while ago I posted a prayer request for a refugee friend in Hungary who had been detained. I have a very sad update and still urgent prayer request to pass along.
On September 4, 2012, I received word that Ali was being deported back to Iran. On September 5, he was deported.
The email I received stated: "No one knows what awaits him upon his return. He is strong in his Christian identity, but we don't know, and he doesn't know, if he will find any support back in Iran, or if he will simply go under arrest, or what. Nor do we know if we will be able to have contact with him after he leaves here."
We have not heard anything since his departure.
To quote my friend, Enikö: "It is hard to accept a system where there is no mercy... where credibility and legitimacy are so narrowly defined. Please continue to hold Ali in your prayers as he is facing a very uncertain future."
Keep in mind all this went down 2 weeks ago now. I haven't heard anything, so please keep Ali in your prayers.
On September 4, 2012, I received word that Ali was being deported back to Iran. On September 5, he was deported.
The email I received stated: "No one knows what awaits him upon his return. He is strong in his Christian identity, but we don't know, and he doesn't know, if he will find any support back in Iran, or if he will simply go under arrest, or what. Nor do we know if we will be able to have contact with him after he leaves here."
We have not heard anything since his departure.
To quote my friend, Enikö: "It is hard to accept a system where there is no mercy... where credibility and legitimacy are so narrowly defined. Please continue to hold Ali in your prayers as he is facing a very uncertain future."
Keep in mind all this went down 2 weeks ago now. I haven't heard anything, so please keep Ali in your prayers.
Monday, September 17, 2012
To Canada and Back!
Last weekend proved to be a great adventure that I would love to relay to you, my faithful readers.
I'll start at the beginning :)
When I went to Hungary, many others went with me. One of my fellow volunteers was Kristy, a girl from the great country of Canada. You may have heard of it? You also might recognize Kristy's name from my stories and pictures.
Anyway, Kristy was getting married on September 2nd and all her American volunteers were invited to join in the festivities. Matt, Emilie, Lisa (and her husband) and I accepted the challenge and decided to take a roadtrip adventure.
On Friday, August 31st, I began my journey in Grand Rapids, MI following a meeting for my second job (another post on that to follow some day). From Grand Rapids to Chicago, the journey was smooth. I even stopped in Michigan City to do a little shopping since I was running a little early. Unfortunately, that turned out to be a bad choice... because I drove through Chicago... on a Friday afternoon around 3p... on a holiday weekend. I sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic for no less than an hour and a half... and I would dare say it took 2 hours to travel I94 through Chicago from the very south side up to the north side, where we were meeting. Instead of being early, I ended up being very very late. Fortunately, I have fantastic friends who waited patiently for me.
We headed out on our journey and our first stop was in Madison, Wisconsin. Our stay there involved fantastic Mexican food, giant air mattresses and lovely hosts that even made coffee and eggs for us before we began the next leg of our journey.
Saturday brought us through Wisconsin, through Minnesota and into the edge of North Dakota - to Fargo. Here we picked up a friend of Matt's and fellow YAGM (the ELCA program that sent Matt, Emilie, Lisa and Kristy to Hungary/Slovakia). Her name was Jen and it was such a delight to have her join us. Another hour and some later, we landed in Grand Forks, North Dakota. We met up with Lisa and her husband, Danny, and her parents (they were all on vacation). We stayed the night at a friend of Lisa's mother's home, even though she was actually out of the country. Kinda funny, but it was a great location and allowed for everyone to actually sleep in a bed. No air mattresses that night!
We were even joined for dinner by another YAGM volunteer living in that area. He served in Mexico just last year and it was so so so great to talk to him.
Bright and early in the morning, we were up and at 'em and headed northward. We crossed the Canadian border without any issue, but unfortunately, no stamp was received. Bummer, eh? Continuing still northward, we arrived in Winnipeg, Manitoba around noon. Lisa and Danny checked into their hotel room and then opened up that space so that we could change. An hour and a half later, we headed to the church.
Random funny moment: as we were walking up to the church (remember, we are in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada), a lady exclaims "It's TRAZY!" I had never seen this woman in my life. Turns out, she is Kristy's mom and had seen so many posts and pictures, and had heard so many stories from our time in Hungary, she instantly knew who I was. It was just a little shocking, though.
The wedding was a quaint, private ceremony in a cute older church with so much character. As Kristy walked down the aisle, arm in arm with her dad, I couldn't help it - I cried. Kristy and Hartley are so in love and she looked so beautiful and I was so happy! Something about weddings always makes me cry so much. Again, not out of sadness, but out of true joy.
Following the wedding, we headed outside to blow bubbles and send them off to take pictures. We headed to the location of the reception. The reception maintained it's cute and quaint theme and took place at a nearby cultural center. The building was nestled in the woods near many trails and a monastery ruins site. We visited the meditation grounds and played among the ruins. There was even a pond nearby! It was so picturesque!
Prior to the formal dinner, there were some snackies and lemonade. The lemonade was served, uniquely, in mason jars with lids that had perfect straw holes and everything. Everything was so... well... Kristy! It was wonderful :)
We had a wonderful meal with a delicious Hungarian appetizer called "Gombás palacsinta," complete with a variety of other dishes and courses. Following dinner, there was DANCING!!! We danced and had a blast, then we gathered outside to enjoy some live music on violin, bass and mandolin. After a sparkler send-off to the newly wedded couple, we headed off to the home of Quintin.
Quintin served with Phiren Armenca, formerly known as Roma Gadje Dialogue Through Service, in Hungary while we were there. What a small world that he calls Winnipeg, Manitoba home! While I passed out rather early, apparently it was a long night of fun reminiscing. In the morning, we gathered at a quaint breakfast place and enjoyed a fantastic meal, along with the presence of several hundred bees, which provided free entertainment. After our meal, we began our long journey home.
Southward we drove, back across the US/Canada border. Without any issues, we were back in the United States and driving through North Dakota. After a couple hours, we dropped Jen off at her car and continued our journey. Somewhere in Canada, I picked up a migraine. After finding my medicine and popping my pills, somewhere in Minnesota, I lost my migraine. After a couple stops for gas and food, we were in Wisconsin.
Within a matter of hours, we were driving into Chicago. Upon our arrival to Chicago, I hopped into my car and drove the rest of the journey back to Grand Rapids. Due to lack of traffic, which allowed me to actually go the speed limit, I was home in only 2 1/2 hours of drive time.
What a whirlwind trip!
I'll start at the beginning :)
When I went to Hungary, many others went with me. One of my fellow volunteers was Kristy, a girl from the great country of Canada. You may have heard of it? You also might recognize Kristy's name from my stories and pictures.
Anyway, Kristy was getting married on September 2nd and all her American volunteers were invited to join in the festivities. Matt, Emilie, Lisa (and her husband) and I accepted the challenge and decided to take a roadtrip adventure.
On Friday, August 31st, I began my journey in Grand Rapids, MI following a meeting for my second job (another post on that to follow some day). From Grand Rapids to Chicago, the journey was smooth. I even stopped in Michigan City to do a little shopping since I was running a little early. Unfortunately, that turned out to be a bad choice... because I drove through Chicago... on a Friday afternoon around 3p... on a holiday weekend. I sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic for no less than an hour and a half... and I would dare say it took 2 hours to travel I94 through Chicago from the very south side up to the north side, where we were meeting. Instead of being early, I ended up being very very late. Fortunately, I have fantastic friends who waited patiently for me.
We headed out on our journey and our first stop was in Madison, Wisconsin. Our stay there involved fantastic Mexican food, giant air mattresses and lovely hosts that even made coffee and eggs for us before we began the next leg of our journey.
Saturday brought us through Wisconsin, through Minnesota and into the edge of North Dakota - to Fargo. Here we picked up a friend of Matt's and fellow YAGM (the ELCA program that sent Matt, Emilie, Lisa and Kristy to Hungary/Slovakia). Her name was Jen and it was such a delight to have her join us. Another hour and some later, we landed in Grand Forks, North Dakota. We met up with Lisa and her husband, Danny, and her parents (they were all on vacation). We stayed the night at a friend of Lisa's mother's home, even though she was actually out of the country. Kinda funny, but it was a great location and allowed for everyone to actually sleep in a bed. No air mattresses that night!
We were even joined for dinner by another YAGM volunteer living in that area. He served in Mexico just last year and it was so so so great to talk to him.
Bright and early in the morning, we were up and at 'em and headed northward. We crossed the Canadian border without any issue, but unfortunately, no stamp was received. Bummer, eh? Continuing still northward, we arrived in Winnipeg, Manitoba around noon. Lisa and Danny checked into their hotel room and then opened up that space so that we could change. An hour and a half later, we headed to the church.
Random funny moment: as we were walking up to the church (remember, we are in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada), a lady exclaims "It's TRAZY!" I had never seen this woman in my life. Turns out, she is Kristy's mom and had seen so many posts and pictures, and had heard so many stories from our time in Hungary, she instantly knew who I was. It was just a little shocking, though.
The wedding was a quaint, private ceremony in a cute older church with so much character. As Kristy walked down the aisle, arm in arm with her dad, I couldn't help it - I cried. Kristy and Hartley are so in love and she looked so beautiful and I was so happy! Something about weddings always makes me cry so much. Again, not out of sadness, but out of true joy.
Following the wedding, we headed outside to blow bubbles and send them off to take pictures. We headed to the location of the reception. The reception maintained it's cute and quaint theme and took place at a nearby cultural center. The building was nestled in the woods near many trails and a monastery ruins site. We visited the meditation grounds and played among the ruins. There was even a pond nearby! It was so picturesque!
Prior to the formal dinner, there were some snackies and lemonade. The lemonade was served, uniquely, in mason jars with lids that had perfect straw holes and everything. Everything was so... well... Kristy! It was wonderful :)
We had a wonderful meal with a delicious Hungarian appetizer called "Gombás palacsinta," complete with a variety of other dishes and courses. Following dinner, there was DANCING!!! We danced and had a blast, then we gathered outside to enjoy some live music on violin, bass and mandolin. After a sparkler send-off to the newly wedded couple, we headed off to the home of Quintin.
Quintin served with Phiren Armenca, formerly known as Roma Gadje Dialogue Through Service, in Hungary while we were there. What a small world that he calls Winnipeg, Manitoba home! While I passed out rather early, apparently it was a long night of fun reminiscing. In the morning, we gathered at a quaint breakfast place and enjoyed a fantastic meal, along with the presence of several hundred bees, which provided free entertainment. After our meal, we began our long journey home.
Southward we drove, back across the US/Canada border. Without any issues, we were back in the United States and driving through North Dakota. After a couple hours, we dropped Jen off at her car and continued our journey. Somewhere in Canada, I picked up a migraine. After finding my medicine and popping my pills, somewhere in Minnesota, I lost my migraine. After a couple stops for gas and food, we were in Wisconsin.
Within a matter of hours, we were driving into Chicago. Upon our arrival to Chicago, I hopped into my car and drove the rest of the journey back to Grand Rapids. Due to lack of traffic, which allowed me to actually go the speed limit, I was home in only 2 1/2 hours of drive time.
What a whirlwind trip!
Friday, September 7, 2012
I've moved!
I'm sitting here in my new living room and enjoying not only a very beautiful orange color around me, but also my "own space". Tinka is all sprawled out and enjoying her new home quite well.
My new address is:
Trazy Richter
917 Nevada St. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
I am living in the upper half of a beautiful, quaint home in a peaceful neighborhood known as Alger Heights. I am quite happy :)
My new address is:
Trazy Richter
917 Nevada St. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
I am living in the upper half of a beautiful, quaint home in a peaceful neighborhood known as Alger Heights. I am quite happy :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)