First Day Off

This is Jen Scarr reporting from her couch on "Her first Day off"... stay tuned for more information....

Yesterday was a jam packed day of awesome-ness. It started out with 9:00-11:00 bible study for the people who want to learn a little about Jesus before the Food Distribution, or perhaps who just want to be first in line when Food time comes. *shrugs* you win some...you lose some... The important thing is, is that the people who are getting something out of the studies keep coming and talking about Jesus. Some of these people have amazing stories to tell. Living on the streets is no easy deal, living in condemned buildings or buildings on the way to condemnation isn't easy either. But these people, some of whom have young kids, keep the faith in Jesus and have a stronger relationship with him because of it. It blows my mind sometimes.

On the flip side of the conversation, Sister Waverly (The lady who normally leads one of the classes) was absent, so we combined Kevin's class with hers and had a kind of mega class, led by Reverend Dixon. Now, Brother Dixon has his own special way of leading bible study. I think it turned into more of a sermon, preachin' at them instead of talking with them or to them. I guess I'm just trying to fit into a different type of ministry. *ponders* Pastor Belita, pointed out that with the lack of Bible knowledge in that group of people they might need someone to do most of the talking. Who knows? I know God's working in that ministry, so I'll trust him to do what he needs to there. I am looking forward to sitting in on Waverly's class next week, and seeing how she runs it. It'll be interesting to get a sense of different teachers.

After the Bible class, was the food distribution. This week, we served 126(ish) people. I gave out tickets this week and made friends with Nathan and Barbara, both from the Christ Community church. Jo, the guy who runs the event and who prays with anyone who wants it while they stand in line, is convinced I don't have the Holy Spirit in my life because I don't pray in tongues. He tried to convince me again that I needed the Holy Spirit, when I said I did, he informed me that I needed to learn how to pray. *confused face* Oh well, people are just different. It'll be interesting getting to know him through-out the fridays i'll be working this summer.

Once that was finished, I ate some lunch, and then got Office Orientated by Marisel. She the Pastor of Hispanic Ministries as well as the Office Administrator for the church. I am to be working on updating the Directory as well as cleaning up some Hard Cope filing. She introduced me to the machines, and phones, and systems and how they operate. We talked and joked, and generally had a good time. I'm excited to get started. :0)

Then Marisel left, and Pastor Belita showed up soon afterwards. We had some good times debriefing and talking about the day, and my experiences here so far. Before I left, we went down to the Prayer Room (the new pride and joy of First Church :0D ) and spent a little more time talking about Brethren and kids, and we prayed. It was good times. :0)

Now, i am chillin on my day off fixin' to work on getting my guitar fixed, maybe going on a run, watching a flick, maybe finally get some pictures up on facebook, and doing a little devotional time. I'm looking forward to it. :0) Trying to keep myself busy, but not TOO busy. bahaha.

Have a beautiful day peoples!

love

~ME

p.s. Prayer = I am suffering from Homesickness. I miss my friends, family, and of course Matthew....a lot. So I need help dealing with that, and not letting it affect my ministry here. Thanks for praying and being awesome. I love you.

My First Official Day!!!

Dear inquiring minds,

I hope this little bloggie finds you well. :0) Today was my first REAL day at the office. I woke up extra early (not really) and got ready by putting a little bow in my hair (ok.....so it was a bobby pin) and left the house a half hour early!!! (ok....so it was more like....on time....) teehee.

For reals though, I got to church before Pastor Belita and most of the other staff members. But it was ALL cool cause Marisel brought donuts and coffee cause she is a DARLING creature from heaven. hahaha. I then had my first staff meeting EVER. It was pretty cool. It consisted of:

Belita Mitchell (Pastor)
Marisel .... (Pastor of Hispanic Ministries)

Josiah Ludwick (Youth Minister)

Gerald Rhoades (BCM Director)

and ME (intern extraordinaire)

We talked mostly about my job description and how each of them wanted me to fit into thier ministry and lives basically. It was a very good thing for me, since it put down in concrete certain things I am expected to do. Yippee!!! I am really excited to FINALLY get going, and hit the grind. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be super tired by the end of the summer, but it will be WELL worth it. :0)

Then Belita took me with her on some Hospital visits after lunch. We saw Wilda, who was in recovery from neck operation. She had such a great story. So she was sitting in the room in pre operation, and the surgeon walks in and looks at her and says, "You're nervous." And then she just starts bawling, saying no she wasn't cause she knew he was a good surgeon. But he says, "it's okay, I am just the instrument. God's the healer. And the nurse that's in the room with me is also a devote christian, we are looking out for you." And then he gave her a hug. :'0) Awwwwwwwww. We need more doctors like THAT in the world. How cool. She was such a neat lady. I can't wait to see her in her element and away from the hospital.

In the evening, I went to a community meeting called "Weed and Seed" which is a collaboration between Police, residents, and non-profits to make the community a safer, and more beautiful place to live. It was really cool to see a Police force that was hell-bent on doing something good for the community and willing to ask help from the community to do so. It was so different from my perception of policemen I've encountered in the past. I think that South Allison Hill (the community First Church is located in) has the right people in the right places in terms of leadership. In such a broken neighborhood, it's spectacular to see God's light shining. It was encouraging, very encouraging.

On my way home i decided to stop at the grocery store to get supplies. lol. ya know...ibuprofen, peanut butter, jelly, bread...the basics. ;0) And I got lost in the grocery store!!!! hahahahahha. I couldn't find bread for the life of me and actually asked two people before I was able to locate the correct isle. Phewie. It was intense. And all the while it's getting dark outside, and I don't feel all to comfortable trampin around harrisburg in the dark...so I make it to the line. And end up having a little conversation with my cashier. She was a nice girl, who seems to have gotten herself in a fix with her pregnant best friend and her current boyfriend. She was ready to tell me her autobiography....and probably would have if there hadn't been a line. But man, she was so interesting. I think i'll try to find her line the next time I go.....

I am continuing to read this book "Irrestiable Revolution" by Shane Claiborne...and let me tell you. This author has my attention. Some favorite quotes are:

"Over and over, when I ask God why all of these injustices are allowed to exist in the world, I can feel the Spirit whisper to me, 'You tell me why we allow this to happen. You are my body, my hands, my feet.'" (pg 65)

"When we truely discover love, capitalism will not be possible and Marxism will not be nescessary." (pg. 164).

Over all, so far - i'm feeling that this 'ordinary radical' has a lof of good things to say and shares my genuine passion for people, the word, and trying to share it in action and voice. At times, it feels like he gets a bit preachy, and pulls of a few guilt trips. But honestly, if i were living the way he is... i might say the same types of things. His call mirrors Jesus in a very literal way. He lives in Community with a few others who pool thier money and support each other. They share everything, cars, grocery bills, rent, everything. It seems to work really well for them, and they do thier best to live simply on purpose. Opening up thier doors to whoever, whenever. Helping however the Spirit leads them. It's a different and radical way of living....but at the same time. it shouldn't be so radical. It should be normal for chrisitans to live that way. ya know? But so many of us are tied to our comfort. *ponders* I have never been a fan of money... and part of me would gladly give up all i have to live with those who have nothing, and yet have everything at the same time. In a way, I am doing that. Pastoring does not offer much in the way of payment, but who needs money when we got Jesus, community, and Agape. I would rather die starving full of love, than full of food and starving for company. Jesus's words are gut wrenching.... convicting... challenging. It's a life style. He asks us to join a hard lifestyle.....living simply, and walk humbly with God. *continues to ponder*

What do you guys think?? Especially those of you who have seen a few more years than me? what are your thoughts??? How have you struggled with stories about the rich man who was called to give up everything, and walked away instead? How it applies? if it applies? Let me know.

Well kids... it's been an awesome day and i am looking forward to tomorrow. :0)

Keep walking, steppin', and running toward Jesus!

Love,

~ME

p.s. Prayer: Tomorrow is the Food Distribution at First Church and we serve up to 180 families bags of needed food. There is a Bible study before the distribution, pray for high attendance and that people walk away learning something useful and touched by the very heart of God.

i am also starting office work tomorrow, so pray that I fit right back into my office niche and do my people proud!!! :0D

There and Back Again

Dear wonderful and beautiful readers of my written..er...typed word,

How are you guys doing? I hope your summers are treating you well so far. Mine's been a blast....but i am happy to be staying in the same time zone now for two months. yippee!! Normalcy!!! ...kinda.

So as many, if not all, of you know....i left my placement sight two? days ago to see my wonderfully awesome little sister graduate from high school. It was SUCH a wonderful time. I spent most of it with my darling boyfriend, and my family. I enjoyed laughing with my Aunt (who apparently is easily startled by the sound of my mother sneezing), talking with my Grandma and Grandpa, getting to see Shane, Gloria, and Baby Hailey, and OF COURSE watching my baby sister walk across that Bonita stage all growed up. :'0) Happiness. It was also cool to see Allison Vana (a second little sister) walk across that stage, as well as Trevor Peugh, Katie Hart, Liz Redd, and countless others. I am so proud of you guys!!!

Honorable Mention: It has been a life goal of my Dad's to get me and my sister through high school with out moving anywhere, cause we moved around every four years when i was a kid. So Congratulations Daddy you did it!!! Thank you so much!! I loved High school, and I think Ashlie did too. Thanks to Daddy AND Mommy for waking up early to give us rides, and being lax with curfews, and allowing Ashlie and I to grow up the way we needed to. Developing as God wanted us to. You two deserve trophies, and certificates, perhaps even gold stars. I love you both.

So i get home today..... at around 7.00pm and go right to church....i sing in the praise band (all ready to go for sunday)...I travel home and it's starting to rain HARD. lol. But no worries!! I got home with out using my Map Quest Paper!! Woot woot! It was my silent victory today. So I get home and Heather is watching "So you think you can Dance?" a modern dance show on T.V. that is similar to American Idol, only with dancers. So we watch that, and once that's over I turn on the light to head down to the basement and see something shiny....um.... "Heather the basement's flooded." She says, "No it isn't." Then she looks down there....and sure enough....about an inch or two of water was seeping in through the storage closet. HHAHAHA. I thought it was funny, Heather appreciated my sense of humor but didn't find it funny herself. lol. So she turned into Superwoman, and shop vac-ed the whole floor. 0_0 So it's all clean and dry for the time being. Luckily none of the water made it to my bedroom side of my living area, so none of my stuff got wet. That was happy. :0) But it was exciting, and so Heather's husband John is going to fix everything up tomorrow while I'm at work.

And now Matthew is calling me, so I'm going to end this blog. :0) I love you all, and I can't wait to hear from all of you.

Love Love LOVE
~ME