Patrick

Vacation Bible School has started and life is busy! As the craft director I find myself focused on interacting with kids, preparing the materials, and helping the children make of the craft. One kid in particular has meant the world to me these past two days. His name is Patrick. 

Every now and then as I rush from task to task, trying to keep on top of the busy schedule and the changing of plans, I would look down and see Patrick hugging at my leg. His big brown eyes would be staring up at me with his pearly whites grinning my way. In the moment, I was unable to give as much attention to Patrick except for a quick hug. But in those moments that he hugged me I felt Jesus. His loving presence and sense of peace felt like God's way of reminding me- "It's ok, Rose. I've got it all under control. It's ok."  

The beginning of Ft. Myers

Kristin and Ashly super excited about the steak with salsa Pastor Mady made for us. Ymmmm!

Pastor David getting techy and video taping Kassidy.

....and Kassidy made a friend in the process! (a lovely prop for our Medieval themed VBS) 

Participant Josh putting helping set up a webcam. 

Wonderful group of people who went out after church.

Delicious Peruvian food- chicken with yellow sauce. 

My buddy Triston showing off his fish and fries. 

The Team (plus Triston)! Kristin, Josh, Ashlyn, Kassidy, and myself.

Jumping into Experience

And the time has come! Tomorrow morning, bright and early, I leave for Ft. Myers, Florida for 2 1/2 weeks. While there I will be worshiping with Iglesia Arca de Salvacion, serving with four other Youth Venture participants in whatever form needed, and eating lots and lots of tasty Latino food. As I take time to stop, breathe, and reflect before hitting the road, I am reminded that such experiences are a blessing. And that service, in whatever capacity, is an opportunity to build relationship, see where God is at work, and learn more about ourself along the way. I would appreciate prayer for our team (two of us leaders and three participants) as we enter this journey together. Thanks!

Convention 2013

Final scene of No Roosters in the Desert being put on for the last time.

I am really thankful for the opportunity to have gone to convention. Even though I have been going to convention for most of my life, I found myself experiencing and taking it in this time around in a different way. This time I entered convention with a deeper desire to enter in on the conversation. A deeper longing for unity within the church. A deeper conviction that I am being called to be an active member in the body of Christ. I was reminded this time around that the church is indeed broken but that God continues to direct our gaze back towards community. That we find identity from one another and purpose from our meeting together. 

It is my desire to continue growing in my own strengths and abilities in order to more fully serve God, the church, and the world. To take the vision and gusto that I received from convention to become more deeply rooted in my desire for Christ. 

Thoughts from the Desert

A glimpse into my experience at Mennonite Church USA's Convention in Phoenix, Arizona.

 The natural beauty of the desert. I love seeing and experiencing new contexts because of the way God meets us in new and unexpected ways there.

Spending quality time with the cast of "No Roosters in the Desert". A spunky bunch who share a passion for sharing the stories of immigrants. 

This is what the EMU booth in the convention center looks like when they offer free awesome tank tops to youth. Utter chaos. But in a good way.

My favorite part of the set of "No Roosters in the Desert". A replica of a shrine set up in the desert for lives lost on their journey to the U.S. 

I surely consider myself a 'write when the spirit leads' kind of blogger, which can explain my sparatic blogging style. This morning I was feeling the need to, as stated in an old Paraguayan saying, let my soul catch up with me. By listening to that nudge, I hope to best reflect and apply what I have learned from my life experiences. More reflection on Phoenix to come. :) 

May Happenings

"I believe in Christ like I believe in the sun- not because I can see it, but by it I can see everything else"

-C.S. Lewis

Some places I have seen Him....

babysitting

one of my best friends getting married

the relaxing pace of studying at Greenberries

gorgeous sunset after a successful day

early morning strawberry picking with Mom

thought provoking reading by McLaren and Nouwen

Yep- May has been a good one. Next big adventure- train trip to Michigan!!

Exploring Ministry

This summer I have the opportunity to participate in the Ministry Inquiry Program  at EMU. For this internship I will be working at Highland Retreat as a staff chaplain and Christian nurture coordinator. When applying for the internship, I was unsure how qualified I was for the role, but nonetheless excited to learn and grow in a new way. By taking the step to apply for the job, I was in my own little way taking a leap of faith.

I recently came across a story in 2 Kings 2 that talks about the start of Elisha's ministry. In the story, Elisha is traveling with Elijah before he is taken into heaven. As they continue on their journey, three times Elijah tells Elisha to stay somewhere because the Lord called Elijah to go. But each time Elisha replies by saying "As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you!". When the time comes, Elijah ask what he can do for Elisha before he is taken away, and Elisha replies "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor" (vs.9). And from this place Elisha picks up Elijah's cloak when he ascends into heaven in his chariot of fire, beginning his own ministry from what he learned from Elijah.

SO why did I just share that whole story? Well- in the same way that Elisha continued to follow his teacher, I too have followed in the ways of  leaders around me. Much of my life I have been a listener, which is good and which I plan on continuing. But how strong is ones faith if they never have the chance to practice what they have learned? Now is my chance to develop what I have learned and dig deep into the challenge, as we are all called to do!

My challenge for us all is how are we choosing to practice what we have learned for the benefit of spreading God's kingdom? Are living out the lives God has planned for us?

A Fully Integrated Human

Oh the beauty of transition. Ha. I'm not the biggest fan at the moment but transitions have always had a lot to teach me. And as I bounce back and forth between my love hate relationship of transition, God has placed helpful pieces of wisdom in the path to guide me along the way.

For one, I was reminded by Pastor Meghan Good from Albany Mennonite Church the importance of choosing to truly live within our modern world. The deliberate act of marveling at the beauty all around us that can only be done "when mind, body, and spirit are present in the moment together". Living life as a fully integrated human being. I am reminded of the moments in life when my mind, body and spirit were one....

a beautiful summer day at Highland Retreat....

running through the rain....

slowly drinking coffee while reading a book in Spanish.

As I give time for my soul to catch up with the rest of me, I find comfort in memories such as these because they remind me what we all must live out all of life's ups and down. Because it by making it through the darkness that the light looks so much brighter. And by making it through transitions in a healthy way that we may learn to live life as a fully integrated human. 

Before you head off on your merry way...

I wish you joy, joy as you awaken each day with gratitude in your heart for new beginnings, joy when you surrender to the beauty of a flower or a baby's smile, and joy, a hundred times returned, for each time you've brought happiness to another's heart. 

The Process of Reorienting

And we are back! It feels good to be home. :)

Looking back on our Cross Cultural, it is obvious to me that our group was blessed with a wide variety of opportunities experiences.

-visiting rural towns in Guatemala such as Coban

-worshiping with school children at the Mennonite boarding school, Bezelel

-living and learning from host families in Guatemala City and Puebla

-visiting ancient sights such as Teotihuacán or Tikal where ancient civilizations grew and flourished

These diverse experiences have all reflected the face of God in perhaps a different way than we were expecting.

At this point, I can only understand and appreciate a part of the deeper meaning behind this experience. Greater understanding of my experience will develop as I reflect on the memories of this past semester. Memories of new friends and host families will reinforce the bondsbetween the global family. With these new insights, I as well as others from my group are given the opportunity to stand in solidarity with our new brothers and sisters in Guatemala and Mexico. To learn from the stranger and start living out a life of gratitude that was modeled this semester. Together with friends and family both here in Harrisonburg and around the world we can learn from one another and work towards reflection God's kingdom.

As a response to our learning and experience in Mesoamerica and the call that our group continues to feel from God in our lives, members of our Cross Cultural were given the opportunity to write a Commitment Statement which states ways that we plan on changing our own hearts and lifestyles as a way of living in solidarity with others that we met this semester. Here are a few of the life style changes that I either want to continue or start as a response to my experiences on Cross Cultural....

Inreach:

1.) Take time daily for silence with God

2.) Extend grace to myself

Outreach:

1.) Participate in community volunteering opportunities

2.) Tithing 10% of income

3.) Keeping in contact with friends and church family from Paraguay and Mesoamerica

4.) Write letters of thanks to influential people in my life

5.) Invite others over for meals and the opportunity to practice hospitality

Symbolic Gestures:

1.) Read spiritually stretching material to remember the importance of not becoming spiritually stagnant

2.) Keep physically active so that I may have energy and spirit to serve and learn

3.)Connect with nature and respect its gifts

These are a few tangible ways that I commit to following in the intention of changing my own heart and mind as a response to what I have seen and experienced this semester. I shares this list so that I may be kept accountable and that together we may grow and learn.

Photo taken at camp last summer that symbolizes for me future growth and learning that only God knows and understands.

Puebla

And here we are in Puebla, on the second leg of our journey. For the next month we will be studying, and living in the beautiful country of Mexico. Mornings consist of a two hour culture class, two hour one on one conversation and going home for the evening with our host families.

During this time I have been aware of the 'thin places' all around. A thin place, as defined by Eric Weiner in his New York Times article " Where Heaven and Earth come closer" explains a thin place to be a location where we become our more essential selfs. Where one is able to loosen their grip on life and breathe. Where heaven and earth seem to come closer. A few thin places I have experienced in Mexico include...

Drinking a cup of coffee on the bustling streets downtown.

Worshiping with others at my host parents church.

Basking in awe of the beautiful boys choir as its melodies sailed through the Cathedral of Mexico City.

As we near the end of our journey, I find my self relating to Kierkegaard when he explained that "travel, like life, is best understood backward but must be experienced forward". Though I may find my self worn, tired, and filled with information- it does not mean that God has revealed everything I need to have learned. As I type this, I am trying to remind myself that by experiencing the forward motion of travel we may better understand the upside down kingdom of God.

Free Travel

And we are back from our week of FREE TRAVEL! Here is a little review of the adventures of Emily and Rose....

Day 1: Travel to Rio Dulce

Our current state of being after 5 hours of a Guatemalan style traffic jam.

Early Thursday morning, Emily Hedrick and I headed off on our bus ride to the city Rio Dulce. Little did we know, a crash along our trip would leave us in a 7 hour trafic jam with 6 kms of back up both directions. What a way to start off! :) Nonetheless, we got to our hotel safe and sound and were ready for the adventure ahead.

Day 2: Relaxation in Rio Dulce



View of the port by our hotel.

Our day in Rio Dulce consisted of reading, relaxing, swinging in our hamock, watching the boats on Lake Isabal, swimming in the pool and reflecting on our time thus far in Guatemala.



One highlight of our trip was trying yummy foods during our travels. Some of our favorite dishes included the typical Guatemalan breakfast, Coconut bread, Tapdo (a typical coconut milk seafood soup dish filled with shrimp, crab, fish and clams), and authentic Italian pasta.


Day 3: Livingston



Beautiful view of Rio Dulce during our two hour boat ride.

The next morning, we headed to Livingston, a Caribbean town on the coast of Guatemala famous for its unique Garifuna culture. One of the only ways to reach Livingston is by boat on the Rio Dulce. Due to heavy rains the night before, the ride was a wet one and by the end we were happy to make it to dry land.

Day 4: Adventures in Livingston



Getting ready to take a traditional dug out boat to our next destination on the tour- the beach.

We were lucky to find a steal of a tour for a free day in Livingston that took us on a walk through town, a hike through the jungle, a canoe ride, beach side stroll, swimming at Los Siete Altares (seven beautiful waterfalls) AND a packed lunch. What a blessings it was to get such an adventure packed day of fun in Livingston!




A panoramic view of one of the swimming holes at Los Siete Altares.

Day 5: Travel to Semuc Champey

For a planner like me, this was a difficult travel day. :) We spent the whole day heading back down Rio Dulce, waiting for our shuttle to our next destination in Semuc Champey, and traveling the bumpy, muddy roads for six to our remote hotel. The craziness of the day´s travels was well worth it when we made it to...

Day 6: Semuc Champey



A birds eye view of one section of the falls at Semuc Champey.

Day six of our free travel, Emily and I devoted to our time exploring the park of Semuc Champey. As we visited the pools, waterfalls, and natural beauty surrounding Semuc, I felt blessed to have the opportunity to be awe struck once again by God and his power.

Though this post does not give a complete view of our experience, it does give a taste. I am thankful for the opportunity to connect to Christ through the backwards learning that travel has to offer.

¨Travel, like life, is best understood backward but must be experienced forward¨ -Kierkegaard

A Review of Guatemala

It is hard to believe that our time here in Guatemala is almost over. Here is a little review of my favorite memories from Guatemala. :)

The times of peace and insight during our travels.

Visiting awesome sights filled with history.

Getting to know and respsect our two leaders, Don and Ester Clymer.

Having the opportunity to pass time with one of my best friends, Peyton Erb.

Soaking up the stunning natural beauty of Guatemala.

Getting to know my host family and in particular my host brother, Juan Carlos.

Spending some awesome times with our group.

The blessing of community support on my birthday.

I am so grateful for these experiences thus far. As we head into free travel, I hope to take the time and reflect on these once in a life time opportunities.

My Best Friend in Guatemala

About a week after I arrived in Guatemala my host family hired a new auydante (or house help) named Epep. Epep is a 25 year old mother of two from the province of San Marcos (about five hours away from the capital). She left her two daughters and family to come to the city for work, which is not an unusual thing for someone from the countryside to do. From the beginning, Epep was a bubbly friend and wonderful company.

Over time we spent many moments talking over hot cups of incaparina and pan dulce. Epep and I share a strong desire to seek and serve God in our communities, which has made conversation with her very easy and life giving. I am so thankful to have someone here with whom I can discuss life. Not only that, but Epep reminds me daily the importance of relying on God for daily strength.

One of my fondest memories with Epep so far was the day I came back from the local landfill with CASAS. My mind that afternoon was filled with thoughts on inequality of the world, which I shared with her. After listening to my disjointed thought process, she reminded me that despite how unfair or unjust our situations here on earth, we are all given the same choice to follow Christ. That someday we will all be given the same judgment and opportunity to be with God. What a testimony Epep showed to me that day, as she exhaled the glory of Christ within the hardships and difficulties of her own life.

Epep and I passing time together in the kitchen.

A Stranger Within the Familiar

This weekend our group went to visit Tikal National Park in the region of Petén, Guatemala. After a day traveling and visiting Tikal´s Mayan Ruins we headed to our hotel for the night, Gringo Perdido (or lost gringo). This rustic lake side hotel gave our group the opportunity to relax, reconnect with one another, and overall have a fun time.

I was suprised to find myself actually feeling like a stranger in this Westernized hotel. While there, I felt diconnected from the local culture, people and spirit. I felt out of place and unable to engage in conversation with the locals. Here the hotel workers were use to keeping disconnected from the visitors. I on the other hand wanted to engage in conversation with the people working in the kitchen as I heard them sharing jokes together. I think the biggest reason I felt the desire to join in the conversation was because of my previous experiences in Paraguay. Why coulden´t I connect with those around me in the same way that I engaged in conversation there? In this moment I felt on the outside within a ¨gringo¨culture, trapped between two worlds and unsure where to go.

Reading for my EMU class thus far has been very helpful as I work through feelings of being a stranger within the familiar. Henri Nouwen states that we must remember not to derive knowledge from the center of who we are, but from the center of who God is and find life from the Divine Life. David Smith in his book ¨Learning from the Stranger¨ has reminded me that ¨to be a Christian is to hope, trust, and participate in this work of renewal and reconciliation and to seek, with God´s help and continuing forgiveness, to order our own lives in its light¨(p. 57). So as I come to points on this journey where my own self feels out of place or disconnected, I hope to continue deeply participating in seeking God´s grace, order and divine life. That within the sense of unfamiliar I may continue to learn and grow.

Lakeside view of our hotel, Gringo Perdido.

Lesson of Generosity

This weekend out group climbed the active volcano called Pacaega. Not everyday you can say that you climbed a volcano! It was amazing. Sights like this remind me of how awesome a God we serve.

But what impacted me the most was what happened when we finished our climb. When I was walking to the bus, a 12 year old girl named Melissa started walking beside me trying to sell me a walking stick for 5 quetzales. I started to engage in conversation and during this time I told her that I thought the bracelet she was wearing was beautiful. She smiled a beautiful grin at me and took that same bracelet off her wrist and placed it on my own wrist. I was shocked. How can she be giving me this bracelet so freely and generously? I searched my bag for something to give her in return, but all I had was my empty lunch bag, a water bottle and my camera. It seemed like such an ironic situation, that she was able to give so freely and I was not able to give her anything. And not only that, but that she did not want anything in return. When I returned to the van I remembered the walking sticks she was selling and quickly called her over to buy one. As our van drove away I called out to my new friend "Adios Melissa!!" and was left with the image of her big brown eyed smile.

Melissa taught me an important and priceless lesson that day. Generosity is a sign that God is at work. I am so thankful for the example Melissa served today for me. The gift of generosity is a priceless treasure that I too want to live out in my life.

The bracelet Melissa gave me and the stick I bought from her.

Pictures from Life

Me and my classmate Louise eating our lunch at a Mayan Ruins site.



Some classmates showing off their host family bio at CASAS.



My host parents and I at Atitlan on our way to San Marcos (sorry it is so dark!).