It has been a very long few days. The Club re-opened on Thursday, which is really good! Friday was games night at St. Peters and yesterday was Harvest Festival with two services and guest preachers. Needless to say the past few days have been lots of preparation, lots of running around, and still completing my usual daily tasks. Along with work, activities at the house are constant and there are always issues to resolve. So, it's been a little crazy.
Amidst the craziness, lack of sleep, excitement for new endeavors, and a little stress it seemed appropriate that there would be some times of complaining. I think complaining is a natural activity for humans. We always find something wrong, we are never completely happy, and we always want something more. It is so natural and easy to complain!
The other day I was at the bus stop with one of my housemates; we were headed to the church office. We were fortunate to have one another to complain to. It was early, we were tired, and each had extremely long lists of things that needed to be accomplished by the end of the day. We took turns venting and complaining to one another for about 10 minutes when this little, old lady, who was also waiting for the bus, interrupted. She apologized for listening in and interrupting, but she wanted her turn to complain as well. It was too perfect! She was elderly, lived by herself, and has been having issues with the other people in her building. She just wanted to complain to someone about it, so she wouldn't have to think about it anymore. We all smiled, laughed, and swapped complaints together. As we got on the bus she told us how grateful she was that we had waited together that morning, because she really needed it. She said that now she could let it go and move on with her day.
The woman touched my heart. As I sat on the bus heading to the office for what was going to be another very long day, I knew that it was going to be a good day. I couldn't stop smiling and I knew that I had seen God in the woman. He was there saying, "Yes, it's okay to complain, I hear you, I'm with you, you are not alone, and everything is going to be okay." It was exactly what I needed. I felt a sense of calm and peacefullness that can only come from moments like those. It helped me to let some things go and move on. It also reminded me that after complaining the important thing is to be able to move past it, to let it out, let it go, and move on with the day. Nothing ever goes perfectly, many times it won't turn out how we want it to, but we just have to remember that through all of it, we are not alone. Friends, family, co-workers, people we meet at bus stops we all have parts of our lives we complain about, but God hears us, He listens, He is with us, and with Him, everything is going to be okay. Blessings.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Sunday, September 30, 2012
A man, A woman, and One Big Brazilian Wedding
Yesterday there was a wedding at St. Peters, the church where I am doing some of my volunteer work. The couple were not members of the church, but rented it for their ceremony (it really is that beautiful!). As a volunteer I have found that sometimes I am given jobs that no one else wants to do and I'm okay with that, especially when it means I get to attend a wedding! They needed someone from St. Peters at the church to help with all the little things that would surely come up, and trust me, they did. I was more than happy to help with the wedding and very excited to see the ceremony in such a gorgeous setting.
I had been told by the bride when I met with her the week before that there would be two pastors presiding over the service. They were going to have their pastor, from the place they attend church now, but were also going to have a pastor who speaks Portuguese, as guests from both sides spoke the language. I had never attended a wedding done in two languages so it was going to be a greater experience than I thought.
Both pastors were at the front of the church for the prayers and readings towards the beginning of the service. The English speaking pastor led, while the Portuguese speaking pastor translated. I was witnessing the coming together of two cultures. At times, the pastors were over lapping as they spoke creating a cultural experience I hadn't had before. Then it came time for the vows and the exchanging of rings. The English speaking pastor stepped off to the side and the Portuguese speaking pastor stepped in front of the bride and groom. An English translator then came up to the front and said that the couple had decided they would exchange vows and rings in Portuguese and that the English speaking guests would hopefully catch on.
My initial response was surprise. They weren't going to translate any of what the Portuguese pastor was saying? I had no clue how I was going to be able to tell what was happening or when they were officially married or anything. I thought that I was going to be lost for the remainder of the service. Then the bride and groom turned towards each other, held hands, and the pastor began to speak.
I had no clue the actual translation of what he was saying. I couldn't tell the words he was using, but it was beautiful. Knowing the basis of what marriage is built on and what is pledge to one another in a ceremony before friends and loved ones, I completely understood what was happening. The religious practice of marriage spans cultures and links us together. People all over the world get married and most have some type of ceremony that binds two people together before God. I didn't have to know what the pastor was saying because I knew that the bride and groom were sharing their love for one another and promising a lifetime together. Their gestures, their expressions, the act that was taking place was obvious and was a beautiful union to witness.
I could see the love; between the bride and groom, from the guests on both sides. The love of God was in the ceremony and is a great display of how it doesn't matter what language it is done in, because regardless, the love is there. Blessings and love to all of you!
I had been told by the bride when I met with her the week before that there would be two pastors presiding over the service. They were going to have their pastor, from the place they attend church now, but were also going to have a pastor who speaks Portuguese, as guests from both sides spoke the language. I had never attended a wedding done in two languages so it was going to be a greater experience than I thought.
Both pastors were at the front of the church for the prayers and readings towards the beginning of the service. The English speaking pastor led, while the Portuguese speaking pastor translated. I was witnessing the coming together of two cultures. At times, the pastors were over lapping as they spoke creating a cultural experience I hadn't had before. Then it came time for the vows and the exchanging of rings. The English speaking pastor stepped off to the side and the Portuguese speaking pastor stepped in front of the bride and groom. An English translator then came up to the front and said that the couple had decided they would exchange vows and rings in Portuguese and that the English speaking guests would hopefully catch on.
My initial response was surprise. They weren't going to translate any of what the Portuguese pastor was saying? I had no clue how I was going to be able to tell what was happening or when they were officially married or anything. I thought that I was going to be lost for the remainder of the service. Then the bride and groom turned towards each other, held hands, and the pastor began to speak.
I had no clue the actual translation of what he was saying. I couldn't tell the words he was using, but it was beautiful. Knowing the basis of what marriage is built on and what is pledge to one another in a ceremony before friends and loved ones, I completely understood what was happening. The religious practice of marriage spans cultures and links us together. People all over the world get married and most have some type of ceremony that binds two people together before God. I didn't have to know what the pastor was saying because I knew that the bride and groom were sharing their love for one another and promising a lifetime together. Their gestures, their expressions, the act that was taking place was obvious and was a beautiful union to witness.
I could see the love; between the bride and groom, from the guests on both sides. The love of God was in the ceremony and is a great display of how it doesn't matter what language it is done in, because regardless, the love is there. Blessings and love to all of you!
Sunday, September 23, 2012
No Club!
The past week has been very different from most that I will have here. The Club, which is one of my placement sites, has been closed for just over a week. The Club is a place where children and young adults spend time, mostly in the evenings, so they are not wandering the streets. They take lessons in cooking, music, play sports, hang out, and attend mentoring sessions. It is a light in the community that many of the youth gravitate towards.
For the past week the Club has been closed for health and safety reasons. There was a lot of work that needed to be done in cleaning and making sure the Club is in good condition for the people who come. Over the past week my days at the Club have been spent sorting, organizing, throwing things away, and cleaning. It has been a long week. It is amazing how much can accumulate in a couple of years!
During this time, everyday, we had kids coming to the door asking if we were having Club that day. Each day we had to tell them "No" and you could hear the disappointment in their voices. When I would run into the kids on the street they would ask why we aren't having Club and when it would be open again. They are looking forward to coming back. They miss it.
It's funny because most of the kids who come to Club don't have the best manners. Rarely do you get a "thank you" or any acknowledgement for the time you give up to spend with them and to teach them. At times it can seem like they are taking the Club for granted, but they definitely are not and this week has been proof of that. Even with the signs on the doors and us telling them all week we won't be open, they come back each day just to be sure.
Part of me thinks that it is not just about the activities that they are missing, but also the interaction with the people who work at the Club. Yes they like to play games, but I also think that they like seeing us everyday, talking to us, having us check to see how their days have been. They like engaging in the relationships we have with them. We aren't their parent or a sibling, but we are people who care about them and many of them need that. For them just knowing that we care is enough. For us, we don't need them to say "thank you" all the time because we can see it in their smiles and this week hear it in their disappointed voices, how much we mean to them.
There is more work to be done at the Club before we can open again. We want the Club to continue to be a good and safe place for youth to come. Hopefully we will be up and running again by midweek so the kids can have their Club back!
For the past week the Club has been closed for health and safety reasons. There was a lot of work that needed to be done in cleaning and making sure the Club is in good condition for the people who come. Over the past week my days at the Club have been spent sorting, organizing, throwing things away, and cleaning. It has been a long week. It is amazing how much can accumulate in a couple of years!
During this time, everyday, we had kids coming to the door asking if we were having Club that day. Each day we had to tell them "No" and you could hear the disappointment in their voices. When I would run into the kids on the street they would ask why we aren't having Club and when it would be open again. They are looking forward to coming back. They miss it.
It's funny because most of the kids who come to Club don't have the best manners. Rarely do you get a "thank you" or any acknowledgement for the time you give up to spend with them and to teach them. At times it can seem like they are taking the Club for granted, but they definitely are not and this week has been proof of that. Even with the signs on the doors and us telling them all week we won't be open, they come back each day just to be sure.
Part of me thinks that it is not just about the activities that they are missing, but also the interaction with the people who work at the Club. Yes they like to play games, but I also think that they like seeing us everyday, talking to us, having us check to see how their days have been. They like engaging in the relationships we have with them. We aren't their parent or a sibling, but we are people who care about them and many of them need that. For them just knowing that we care is enough. For us, we don't need them to say "thank you" all the time because we can see it in their smiles and this week hear it in their disappointed voices, how much we mean to them.
There is more work to be done at the Club before we can open again. We want the Club to continue to be a good and safe place for youth to come. Hopefully we will be up and running again by midweek so the kids can have their Club back!
Monday, September 17, 2012
Ohhhh Technology.
Technology and I do not get along too often. We have a love-hate relationship that goes both ways. Technology is extremely frustrating for me to navigate and rather than make itself easier, it senses my frustrations and acts up more because it knows it is annoying me. In many ways it is like a brother or sister who knows just how to drive you crazy, so does it intentionally, because it can.
My google account, email, blog, everything, has been down for days. Me, being the technology disabled person that I am, couldn't figure out the very simple way to fix it. It senses unusual activity, it needs codes, it needs a cell phone number to send codes to, it needs me to verify my identity. How do you tell a computer who you are? If it knows who you are, how do you convince a computer that it really is you?
Eventually I was able to fix it. I think the "unusual activity" it was detecting was my being in the UK. I don't know how computers know these things, but they do. My google account had stopped working after I sent an email at work. The email was not unusual, but computers know where they are and my account was set-up in the US, not the UK. It is the only explanation that makes some sense. It also got me thinking.
"Unusual activity has been detected." Although I didn't find this statement true about sending an email, it is very true for me and what I am doing. Being in London is very unusual for me. Packing up parts of my life and fitting it in two suitcases to travel across the ocean for a year is unusual for me. Venturing to a place where I don't know anybody and finding my way around an extremely large city is unusual for me. Being able to see Buckingham Palace or Big Ben everyday if I want is unusual for me. There is a lot of "unusual activity" that I have taken part in since my journey began.
As unusual as all of it is, unusual doesn't mean it is wrong and my reasons for being here are not unusual. It is an experience, a learning process, an opportunity to do God's work. Jesus walked with, cared for, and spent time with the "unusual." He didn't accept the norm as the way to live, but rather did what was unusual to share God's glory with all of us. The unusual can be very good. Within it are blessings both clear and hidden. It can also be scary, with fear for the unknown. It can be exciting with the prospect of the possibilities and opportunities that could come. Unusual isn't bad, its just different. I think that with time, the "unusual activity" that has been detected for me will be my usual.
My google account, email, blog, everything, has been down for days. Me, being the technology disabled person that I am, couldn't figure out the very simple way to fix it. It senses unusual activity, it needs codes, it needs a cell phone number to send codes to, it needs me to verify my identity. How do you tell a computer who you are? If it knows who you are, how do you convince a computer that it really is you?
Eventually I was able to fix it. I think the "unusual activity" it was detecting was my being in the UK. I don't know how computers know these things, but they do. My google account had stopped working after I sent an email at work. The email was not unusual, but computers know where they are and my account was set-up in the US, not the UK. It is the only explanation that makes some sense. It also got me thinking.
"Unusual activity has been detected." Although I didn't find this statement true about sending an email, it is very true for me and what I am doing. Being in London is very unusual for me. Packing up parts of my life and fitting it in two suitcases to travel across the ocean for a year is unusual for me. Venturing to a place where I don't know anybody and finding my way around an extremely large city is unusual for me. Being able to see Buckingham Palace or Big Ben everyday if I want is unusual for me. There is a lot of "unusual activity" that I have taken part in since my journey began.
As unusual as all of it is, unusual doesn't mean it is wrong and my reasons for being here are not unusual. It is an experience, a learning process, an opportunity to do God's work. Jesus walked with, cared for, and spent time with the "unusual." He didn't accept the norm as the way to live, but rather did what was unusual to share God's glory with all of us. The unusual can be very good. Within it are blessings both clear and hidden. It can also be scary, with fear for the unknown. It can be exciting with the prospect of the possibilities and opportunities that could come. Unusual isn't bad, its just different. I think that with time, the "unusual activity" that has been detected for me will be my usual.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
I Have Arrived!
As I write this I'm looking out my window at another gorgeous London day! I'm not being sarcastic, I thought it was going to be cold, rainy, and windy all the time, but there has been nothing but blue skies and sunshine since my arrival last Thursday. I'm told this is very unusual and that it won't last long, but I'm enjoying every minute of their sunny and 70's weather!
I arrived in London last Thursday, the 6th, at around 11:00 in the morning London time. Since then life has been a whirlwind! Settling into the house, working at the club, working at the church, trying to get a lay of the land, sightseeing, getting over jetlag, and drinking more tea than I have in my entire life; the past five days have been crazy! They have been good crazy though. I'm still trying to take everything in, process, and figure things out. I've been working without a schedule as my supervisors and I have not had the chance to all sit down and figure it out, but soon enough I will know when I'm supposed to be where. I'm definitely enjoying it though. The work, the people, the sights, I think I'm going to have an incredible year!
I received a great welcome to London and so far the city seems amazing! The people have been extremely kind, patient, and willing to answer any and all of my questions. London seems like a great place to be. I even saw part of the firework show for the closing ceremony of the paralympics over the Thames River. It was one of the best firework shows I have ever seen and a great welcome! Everything has been wonderful so far and I'm hoping it will only get better. Cheers!
I arrived in London last Thursday, the 6th, at around 11:00 in the morning London time. Since then life has been a whirlwind! Settling into the house, working at the club, working at the church, trying to get a lay of the land, sightseeing, getting over jetlag, and drinking more tea than I have in my entire life; the past five days have been crazy! They have been good crazy though. I'm still trying to take everything in, process, and figure things out. I've been working without a schedule as my supervisors and I have not had the chance to all sit down and figure it out, but soon enough I will know when I'm supposed to be where. I'm definitely enjoying it though. The work, the people, the sights, I think I'm going to have an incredible year!
I received a great welcome to London and so far the city seems amazing! The people have been extremely kind, patient, and willing to answer any and all of my questions. London seems like a great place to be. I even saw part of the firework show for the closing ceremony of the paralympics over the Thames River. It was one of the best firework shows I have ever seen and a great welcome! Everything has been wonderful so far and I'm hoping it will only get better. Cheers!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Stuck in Traffic
I've been watching a lot of Chicago traffic from my hotel window that looks right out to the interstate. It seems that more often than not, there is a traffic jam where cars are moving 5 mph or slower. Rush hour is never ending here.
From working at the welcome center I know how irritated people are coming from Chicago. The horrible traffic they had to deal with, how it took them hours to get from one side of the city to the other. They see it as a stress. It's not surprising, sitting in traffic feels like you are wasting time, makes you late for work, it sets you back in your plans for vacation, it keeps everyone confined to a small space for what seems like hours on end, but traffic jams are out of your control. There isn't much point in getting angry, upset, or complaining because it's not going to change the situation.
The thing is, being stuck in traffic doesn't have to be a horrible thing. If you are alone in the car it can be that time you need away from everything, maybe not the most relaxing setting, but it gives you time to think. I don't think it ruins vacation plans, the point of many vacations is to spend time with the family or people you are traveling with, what better way then to spend extra hours in a car together? Being stuck in traffic isn't a waste of time, but rather can be a blessing, giving you the time you need for you or that extra time with loved ones.
Waiting for my visa is kind of like being stuck in traffic. As I watch traffic creep by my window I think about the waiting that I am doing. I can't go anywhere until "traffic" clears up. Rather than get upset or complain I've been looking for the blessings. I'm blessed to have another lovely UK YAGM to keep me company as she waits for her visa. I'm blessed to have the ELCA taking care of me with a great staff that checks in at least once a day. I'm blessed to be in Chicago and have the opportunity to explore the city. Most of all, I'm blessed to have the first glimpse of what I believe will be a recurring theme for this year: I'm not in control. This may be God's way of reintroducing me to the idea that He has the control, we have been down this path before, but this year, I don't think He is going to let me forget.
Being stuck in traffic sucks, it really does, but I'm going to try and enjoy my traffic jam, because I can't control it and traffic will clear up sooner or later.
From working at the welcome center I know how irritated people are coming from Chicago. The horrible traffic they had to deal with, how it took them hours to get from one side of the city to the other. They see it as a stress. It's not surprising, sitting in traffic feels like you are wasting time, makes you late for work, it sets you back in your plans for vacation, it keeps everyone confined to a small space for what seems like hours on end, but traffic jams are out of your control. There isn't much point in getting angry, upset, or complaining because it's not going to change the situation.
The thing is, being stuck in traffic doesn't have to be a horrible thing. If you are alone in the car it can be that time you need away from everything, maybe not the most relaxing setting, but it gives you time to think. I don't think it ruins vacation plans, the point of many vacations is to spend time with the family or people you are traveling with, what better way then to spend extra hours in a car together? Being stuck in traffic isn't a waste of time, but rather can be a blessing, giving you the time you need for you or that extra time with loved ones.
Waiting for my visa is kind of like being stuck in traffic. As I watch traffic creep by my window I think about the waiting that I am doing. I can't go anywhere until "traffic" clears up. Rather than get upset or complain I've been looking for the blessings. I'm blessed to have another lovely UK YAGM to keep me company as she waits for her visa. I'm blessed to have the ELCA taking care of me with a great staff that checks in at least once a day. I'm blessed to be in Chicago and have the opportunity to explore the city. Most of all, I'm blessed to have the first glimpse of what I believe will be a recurring theme for this year: I'm not in control. This may be God's way of reintroducing me to the idea that He has the control, we have been down this path before, but this year, I don't think He is going to let me forget.
Being stuck in traffic sucks, it really does, but I'm going to try and enjoy my traffic jam, because I can't control it and traffic will clear up sooner or later.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Practicing Patience
As I neglected my blog for most of the summer while trying to prepare for the year ahead, it suddenly crept up on me and my year as a YAGM has officially started and the next step of my journey has begun.
I came to Chicago August 15th for a week of orientation that was exhausting; so much information and such an emotional roller coaster. It was great being with the other 56 YAGM as we are all going through this together and in the short time we have known each other, we have truly become a family. After spending hours at a time hearing about all of the possibilities of things that could happen to us over the next year it became overwhelming, but as the week continued the excitement was growing. Closing worship was amazing as we receieved blessings, anointed our hands for the work to come, and sang together in a way that brought tears for many and sounded like a call of hope. By the end of orientation we were all ready and as prepared as we could be for what is to come.
On the 22nd most of the YAGM left for their countries of service. I am currently still in Chicago. I am waiting for my visa which is either still in New York at the British consulate or hopefully on its way back to me so I can fly out. One would think that getting a visa to the UK would not be as difficult as it has been, but it has been awful and now I am stuck waiting. It was hard watching everyone else leave, but apparently it just isn't time for me to go yet. As soon as the visa gets here I will be headed to London where my placement is anxiously awaiting my arrival.
Luckily I'm not alone in Chicago and it really isn't a bad place to be stuck for a couple extra days, there is so much to do. However, I am so ready to go! I am excited to get to London and begin work, but for now I just have to wait. I am trying to use the days I am here to practice my patience. Not only is it a good life tool, but I think that in the work I'm going to do this year and as part of this leg of my journey it is going to be very important. Everything is going to work out and soon enough I will be on a plane crossing the pond to my new home for the next year (I can hardly wait)!
I came to Chicago August 15th for a week of orientation that was exhausting; so much information and such an emotional roller coaster. It was great being with the other 56 YAGM as we are all going through this together and in the short time we have known each other, we have truly become a family. After spending hours at a time hearing about all of the possibilities of things that could happen to us over the next year it became overwhelming, but as the week continued the excitement was growing. Closing worship was amazing as we receieved blessings, anointed our hands for the work to come, and sang together in a way that brought tears for many and sounded like a call of hope. By the end of orientation we were all ready and as prepared as we could be for what is to come.
On the 22nd most of the YAGM left for their countries of service. I am currently still in Chicago. I am waiting for my visa which is either still in New York at the British consulate or hopefully on its way back to me so I can fly out. One would think that getting a visa to the UK would not be as difficult as it has been, but it has been awful and now I am stuck waiting. It was hard watching everyone else leave, but apparently it just isn't time for me to go yet. As soon as the visa gets here I will be headed to London where my placement is anxiously awaiting my arrival.
Luckily I'm not alone in Chicago and it really isn't a bad place to be stuck for a couple extra days, there is so much to do. However, I am so ready to go! I am excited to get to London and begin work, but for now I just have to wait. I am trying to use the days I am here to practice my patience. Not only is it a good life tool, but I think that in the work I'm going to do this year and as part of this leg of my journey it is going to be very important. Everything is going to work out and soon enough I will be on a plane crossing the pond to my new home for the next year (I can hardly wait)!
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