Sharp in Greece

I know it has been way too long since I actually wrote something on this blog of mine but trust me, I don't plan on it being this way once I go abroad. I promise to update it every week with at the very least some pictures that will help me share this experience with all of you (whoever is following). And don't fret, your boy has some MAD photography skills! Now, that could be MAD as in slang term for sick, awesome, totally impressive photography skills or MAD as in these pictures are so horrible my day just got ruined because I looked at them, MAD. I guess you will just have to tune in weekly to find out which MAD it will be.

Since the last time I made a blog post some big things have happened but to no surprise to say the least. 1.) The Euro was as high as $1.35 and crashed as low as $1.19 on June 8th due to an immediate loss of confidence in the country's stock markets until the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and all the other countries in the European Union - with Germany and France carrying a majority of the burden - came to Greece's rescue with some immediate stimulus to prevent complete fall on your face bankruptcy. The rescue package has bought Europe time and nothing else. 2.) LEBRON JAMES is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier! Yup, you heard it here first (or for the umpteenth time) folks, LeBron James is a "runaway slave" to Dan Gilbert as put by Rev. Jesse Jackson. 3.) the oil spill in the Gulf had just started and has yet to stop. We have spillionaires scratching their heads in hopes that the light bulb will all of sudden turn on with an idea of how to actually put a stop to this catastrophe. I can imagine the CEO's of BP and Deepwater Horizon's reaction being something similar to that of Steve Urkle's "Did I do that"? Bottom line, it has been too long and the real reasons for not getting around to putting my thoughts inside this "tabernacle for words", if you would, are... 1.) Its summer. 2.) I've been reading more than ever before in this young life of mine, AKA nerdin' it up, AKA giving my best impression of Cornell West (the dude sleeps 4-5 hours a night)! 3.) I'm in the best shape of my life. Something to the comparison of my glory days riding the Southport High School basketball team's bench! And 4.) I have been surrounded by and have become close to some of the best friends/ counsel/ leaders/ encouragement/ brothers and sisters of faith/ "scholars" (in my own opinion), a young person my age could ever ask for. This summer I have had the opportunity to live with a man named Nick Buck (who is a force to be reckoned with) and his wife (an even fiercer force to be reckoned with, especially on a theater stage near you), oh and their dog Desmond Tutu (not really his picture)! This young lad and a few other inspirational pioneers have begun to really lay a strong foundation this summer for the church they have started, Poiema. This is a church - minus a building currently, while we allow God to demand that in the near future with growth of his ministry - in Indianapolis. Poiema is "A community of Jesus followers working to join God in the restoration of heaven and earth". Next time you're in the Indianapolis area please let me know and surely we can get connected! However, for now check them out online @ PoiemaINDY.org

Finally, here is the low down on what is new with, originally the only purpose for this blog, studying abroad! I received my flight itinerary last week and my plane departs September 19th. I'm set to return December 18th. The plane ticket cost a little more than I originally budgeted for, $1477! I have everything ready to go minus my Visa now, which I am traveling to Chicago two Mondays from now to get because for some dumb reason (terrorists) you must apply for this in person. Overall, I am anxiously counting down the days until I step on a plane for the first time but more importantly the first time a foreign country gets to experience JOHN SHARP (as America sits back with a sigh of relief) haha! In the coming month and a half I have a lot more reading to do as well as A TON of overtime at work to put in because trips like these don't pay for themselves!

Another SHOUT OUT to all the donors who have contributed to my Greece Fund. THANK YOU for any thoughts, prayers or donations you have made recently! You all can be expecting a postcard, although I know that is only a mere tease! Sorry but I don't know how to say THANK YOU enough.

Signing off here,

Your favorite Blue Collar Visionaire,

John Sharp

On Tuesday I was announced as a recipient of one of the 2010-2011 Kauffman Awards! This scholarship award was made possible by a generous gift from Manchester College graduates Mark and Janis Johnston to pay special tribute to their friend Bruce Kauffman, class of 1968, a man whose life represented a rich integration of the humanities and the arts with business acumen. Bruce's untimely death in 1996 ended his brilliant career as a financier, but his love for music, languages, philosophy, and study abroad continues through these awards. This award makes off-campus study possible for students who are not likely to be able to undertake such study because of financial constraints, especially those like myself who have dreamed of studying abroad. The Kauffman scholarship award I received is for $1,000! One of the wishes of the donor is that these funds be used to open doors for students, doors that might be closed without the award. I know this award is the key to that door for me. For the most part it will take care of my plane ticket and more importantly a huge chunk of my fundraising goal. A big, no better yet a HUMONGOUS, SUPER COLOSSAL, WALLOPING, GIGANTIC, COMPLETELY NECESSARY THANK YOU to the Kauffman and Johnston family!


"Christians are to "labor," which refers to hard, manual work. Hard work is honorable. As Christians we should work hard so that we will have enough to give to those in need, not so that we will have more of what we don't need." - John MacArthur

First, I want to thank anyone who visits my blog as well as a special thanks for anyone who decides to make a contribution towards my overseas excursion!

Slowly but surely pieces are beginning to fall into place making this dream one step closer to a reality. Last week I was notified by email that BCA had accepted me into their program! For more info on BCA and some reasons why I chose Greece, take a look for yourself at http://www.bcaabroad.com/. Currently, I am in the process of filling out the proper paperwork for my passport which will take roughly 6 weeks to arrive! As you're probably already aware of, fees are associated with obtaining a passport and Visa. $100 for the passport & $75 for the Visa. The hopes of trying to squeeze these seemingly inexpensive fees into my budget is similar to the hopes of the New Jersey Nets making the playoffs this year, its not happening. Now I can say my future chances are greater than that of the Nets. My hope is in you guys, friends and family, their slim "hope" is in the hands of next years NBA Draft Lottery and landing Mr. John Wall from Kentucky in New Jersey or if Jay-Z (co-owner of the Nets) has his way, they'll be in Brooklyn sometime soon. The "Brooklyn Nets", yea it doesn't even sound good but I'm sure Jay-Z could make a rap about it and a 12th number one album.

Anticpation, eagerness, expectations, uncertainty, enthusiasm, hope, belief. These are all the mixed emotions I feel right now, awaiting my turn to experience and explore the world. Patiently waiting for my opportunity to tackle a lot of "firsts". The foremost of these "firsts", flying on a plane! I'm 19 (20 on April 25th) and this has yet to happen! Although, I can't say my favorite part will be airport security as I have been forewarned. I plan on stepping foot off the plane and diving head first into Athens, exploring and connecting with people of the community. I want to connect with local students quickly, who can assist me in finding student organizations or volunteer work away from campus. Once I take these initial steps and appreciate the multicultural work environment, doors will open on the professional side! I will hopefully meet with professionals in the business world, who wouldn’t mind sharing wisdom with an enthusiastic business major. Before jetting off to Greece, I’ll get my resume in tip-top shape to share with employers in Athens, improving the likeliness of acquiring the professional international experience I hope to grasp! Greece is currently going through a tough economic period due to policy elites who pushed Europe into adopting a single currency before the continent was ready. This is a real life situation I could learn from while overseas and use to complement a major in economics.

As a first-generation college student, this is my chance to set a new path for the cousins, nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters of generations to come in my family. Let this be the experience that gets them to challenge the question, "if he could do it, why not me?!"

Once again a big THANK YOU for all your thoughts, prayers, and ANY financial donations towards my overseas studies! This definitely would not be made possible without your support :)

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity." - 1 Timothy 4:12