Update: I like social networking utilities.

Since I created groups on Facebook and on Virb, I thought it would be handy to index them for your current knowledge and future reference. Here, in one place, is everything you'd ever want to know about how to stay updated on what's upp in Uppsala. I promise never to use that phrase again.

Campus Crusade for Christ, International:
My Official Staff Site -- https://give.ccci.org/give?Action=ViewNewGift&Desig=0606254

Add this Blog to a Feed Reader:
Click Here -- http://swedenforachange.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Facebook:
My Profile -- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=44103866
Sweden, for a Change (The Group) -- http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19862361259

Twitter:
Follow me! -- http://twitter.com/transmuting

Virb:
My Profile -- http://virb.com/maleah
Sweden, for a Change (The Group) -- http://virb.com/groups/19564797

MySpace:
My Profile -- http://www.myspace.com/maleahpusz

E-Mail:
maleah [dot] pusz [at] uscm [dot] com

Snail Mail (Will be Updated):
Maleah Pusz / 641 East Fork Road / Sylva, NC 28779-7334

*nb - I also respond to carrier pigeons and smoke signals.

Update: I'm not dead, yet!

What a hectic week! My month of housesitting for a friend is at its end, I've made phone calls to friends and churches now numbering in the triple digits, and still I've managed to catch up with quite a few friends.

One major prayer concern I want to share with you is Virginia. You may know Virginia firsthand, or (hopefully) you'll meet her soon--along with me, that is. Virginia is my lovely, thirteen year old Lincoln Town Car. She is one sassy lady that I very fortunately inherited from my parents last year. Since I've been with her, she has served as my personal assistant, a portable sound system, and a spacious office on wheels. She is certainly a blessing to have and drive; she's real sweet even though she might qualify for this fine establishment. A photo introduction, if you haven't met before:

Poor Virginia has been suffering in this sweltering summer heat wave. So much so that she has been finicky about when she'll start. Guess you might call her a little cranky.

Obviously, my spiritual gifts do not include telling jokes.

The sad truth is that we (and several kind mechanics) haven't been able to figure out what exactly is wrong, but Virginia has got to last through this summer.

So, though it may not seem like much, would you pray for the logistics in my life to settle? It's difficult to make and meet for appointments when I'm nervous I'll lose a carburetor. Especially because I don't know what that is!

It's essential that I be able to meet with people so I can share personally how God has been drawing me to Sweden since I was voted best dressed in high school (more about that real soon!). In the meanwhile, I'll be posting some of my less rambling stories here. I'd still love to meet with you--let's set up a time, shall we? You can email me at maleah [dot] pusz [at] uscm [dot] org.

Update: Coming Attractions/Requests

This has been a week full of phone calls made, letters drafted, and struggle after struggle. I had no idea how much the process of finding partners would reveal things about my own heart.

There's a whole lot of growing going on. It feels a little like when I was very young and put on the same shoes for school every morning. Everyone had a favorite pair of shoes when they're in second grade, right? There was one morning, though, that I noticed that these sparkly sandals were really kind of tight on my toes. Instead of reaching for another pair, I squeezed by that day.

I kept squeezing by until finally, I couldn't get my feet into them. And then that was that. My life with the sparkly sandals was over--and my feet certainly felt better for it--even though I would have kept making all kinds of sacrifices to keep things the same.

It's hard to let go, especially a favorite pair of shoes, a favorite relationship, a favorite sin. It's so easy to keep squeezing into the same ways of looking at the world instead of jumping out for the great unknown and what marvelous things God has in store. Sometimes it takes a critical self-examination from me, a considerate word from a friend, or an insurmountable obstacle.

Please pray with me that I'll be open to change as God directs it. What can I pray for you?

In the days to come, I'll be posting more basic information--like, "Where in the world is Sweden?" and "Why in the world are you going to Sweden?"--and introducing the team of staff and STINTers who are going on this crazy adventure with me. En garde!