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

Meetings, Running, Naps, and Nemo!!!!

Good Evening you wonderful lovers of all that is good,

*The picture is of the 2009 MSSers. From the left: Marcus, me, tricia, Bethany C.,MaryAnne, Marian, Tim, Bethany F., Hannah, Chelsea, and Jessica in the purple on the end.*

Today was a gooooooooood day. I had to get up a little extra early this morning to that Belita, her husband Don and I could go to the Annual Conference Breifing at the Constantinople church of the Brethren.....oh it's not called that.....Costagna???? Costogna... Costers. Oh dear..... Somebuddy set me straight please... lol.

Anyway, whilst we were there, I drank coffee and met some really awesome people who knew some interesting stories about my mother. ;0) Also ran into my Uncle Ed, whom I haven't seen in awhile. It was good to connect with him....I'm looking forward to seeing them some this summer in my time off. I also ran into Dennis, Bethany Clark's mentor, it was cool seeing a familiar face. He's gonna set Beth and I up with some free tickets to Hershey Park so we're gonna go to that. :0) Sometime... should be good.

The rest of my afternoon was pretty restful. I went on a run around the neighborhood. That was interesting, and I'm just glad I didn't get lost. :0) Then I got back and had a good conversation with Heather my hostess, then I slept for 3 hours, and woke up just in time to catch my mother, father, and sister on Oovoo. It was good to see them, and talk to my sister. I miss them muchos grandes. Now I am watching Finding Nemo, and blogging to you folks!!!

Interesting point of fact: I learning a little about the Brethren today, as I am sure to do every day for a while. lol. Our Moderator spoke at the meeting this morning and mentioned Acts 15. He refered to it as the first conference of the Christian people. and so...curious, I looked it up and so it was!!! It was the first time a group of christians got together to discuss disagreements and seek the answers to questions, as well as report on the good things each ministry is doing. It was pretty cool... I'm gonna go back and read it again. :0) Yay for meetings!

I am also trying to decide which book of the bible to go through on my quiet times this summer, any suggestions? I'm thinking Acts....perhaps Paul's Letters, or maybe the Prophets. I just don't know.... *ponder ponder*

Well I am going to be off and finish Finding Nemo, and then do some reading, possibly talk to my lovely boyfriend, and then hit the sack. I'm excited to go to Church tomorrow and meet all the people I'll be working with this summer. There are two services, 9.00 and 11.15. They are holding a reception for me during the regualr sunday school hour. It should be a good day. :0)

I love you all, and I hope you have a good weekend!!!

Love

~ME

P.s. Cultural Difference of the Day: there are cows.....EVERYWHERE. and Amish folk. We passed a buggie on the way to meeting this morning. I took a picture. teehee.

Accidental Tour of Harrisburg

Good day to one and all!!!

I hope you are all well. Just thought I'd check in and give a little introduction to my day. :0)

I worked with Pastor Gerald this morning in the BCM (Brethren Community Ministries) parts, doing food distribution and the like. I was introduced to quite a few characters that I am looking forward to getting to know as my Friday Mornings are spent helping them out. People start lining up for the food at 7:00am when the weather permits, and they normally let people in at 11:00am after the optional bible study for those collecting food. I am amazed to say they get through everyone by 12:00pm and close up shop.

At one my Grandparents arrived for me to take them to the airport, since they are letting me borrow thier car for the summer! (Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!!!) We managed to get turned around quite a few times before we made it to the airport, but luckily we did! Yay!! I then took my own private tour of PA as I tried to find my way through the hood and back home where I am staying.

This evening, I went with Heather (my hostess) and her son Tim (4) and his friend Tomas (5) to a Strawberry Festical at Ridgeway COB. It was a lot of fun, but MAN Tim and Tom were incredibly hyper and gave me a whole new respect for Heather. She is an incredible mom to be sure. I ate Strawberry Shortcake was content with my existance. :0P

Well I am off to go to sleep, I have a big day tomorrow. Belita and I are getting up wicked early, and traveling to a neighboring COB for an Annual Conference Breifing. Need to be ready to go by 7:15am, that's 4:15am CA time. Pity me. ;0)

Love you all!!! I'll write again tomorrow, if time permits.

Love

~ME

p.s. Cultural Difference of the Day: The traffic lights are WAY smaller, and street signs...... what street signs? I've been guessing which streets are which.....some ally ways are also named as streets....even though they are allys... Thank you Harrisburg, PA. ALSO. The speed limit on the freeway is 55mph. Good thing to know. ;0)

AND ALSO.

there are loads of one way streets... it can be confusing.

Harrisburg, PA

Dear every awesome person,

(to the right is a map of PA and Harrisburg is the star...the picture is really small, so if you can't see it....i'm sorry.... but it's there I promise!!!)

I have arrived!!! This morning the interns and mentors bid each other goodbye and flew/drove our separate ways. It has been quite the last few days. :0) and the next few days and into months is sure to be quite busy and exciting as well. Belita and I worked out my job description last night at the hotel. My responsibilities are as follows:

Youth Ministry (yippee!!!!!!)
~to participate in youth group sunday nights helping out Josiah (the youth director)
~leading devotionals
~sharing in leadership and fellowship activites (games, etc.)
~brainstorm/develop new ways to reach the youth with Josiah
~teach/lead youth sunday school.

Worship (whaaaaaaat???)
~planning the 11:15am worship with Marisol and Josiah
~rehearsing/participating in the service (singing, playing guitar)
~develop other means of participation (dramas, etc.)
~announcements (9.00am service)

Pastoral Care (oh yeeeeeeeah....)
~accompany and assist Pastor Belita in home visits and hospital visits.
~shadow a chaplin @ the Brethren Old Folks homes & and do visits with Belita there. (One Day)

VBS/Christian Education (this should be interesting....)
~coordinating and providing leadership, as well as transportation. (will become clearer as the week approaches.)

BCM (Brethren Community Ministries)
~TBA

It was at the BCM part that Pastor Belita looked at me and said, let's stop there for now. hahahaha. So I will NOT be lacking in things to do this summer and will most likely take work home with me at night to do and keep myself busy.
She showed me all around the church today once we got there, and let me tell YOU. The building is a MAZE. hahaha. I was talking to one of 3 Jen's in the building, and she said she's been there nine months and still hasn't figured it out yet. So It's a lost cause. teehee. But I'm up to the challenge.

I had two AMAZING things happen today.

#1 On the freakishly small plane we road today, I had the privledge to sit next to a man named Eli, who was on his way to pick up his son, Alex so they could spend some time together. He is a program scrambler person who keeps bombs from blowing up by scrambling signals. He's been in Iraq for quite sometime....lol. However in his off time he likes to "pimp out" cars. make them into muscle cars and race them places. He's head over heels in love with his son who is 5 years old, and loves his Daddy just as much. I absolutely loved talking to him. And at the end of our conversation I asked to pray for him, and he said.... SURE! lol. It was great. So i prayed for him and his son, and afterward we got to talking about how green PA is. It was really cool. I've never done anything like that before.... it could become addicting. This is what I get for listening to Jesus!!! :0D

#2 Immediately after being shown the church layout and being introduced to a lot of people's office doors. lol. I was asked to attend a graduation party for the BHA. I thought it was a graduation for a high school kid...but it turns out to be graduation party for a young woman with a very young daughter who graduated from thier program!!! This program helps homeless and indebted single moms to get back on thier feet in two years. This woman, Liz, did it in one. Her testimony was amazing.... she had been through so much. lol. famous line "But I never blew anything up!!" :0D It was a very touching story, and a great way to be introduced to the community. I love success stories.

This place....is so different from anywhere I've been in my entire life. i have never lived in such racial diversity or such economic diversity. One street is beautiful and then you blink and the next street is a different world. I saw this is the Philippines and it shocked me, here it's mind blowing. How do people not know about this??!? It's heartbreaking. and I'm like 1000% sure this summer is going to stretch and change my heart in all sorts of ways. 1000%. It's so new.... and different. I hope I never get used to it, and this discomfort in my heart remains until the conditions change. :o)

Tomorrow, I am going to hang out with BHA (the gradutation program thingy) in the morning and follow the Director of that around. THEN. my Grandparents are coming to Harrisburg First, and spend the afternoon with me and then they are lending me thier car while they are in California for my sister's graduation and annual conference. :0) Huzzah for tomorrow!!

Well I'm going to go to sleep now....big day tomorrow.

Love to you all! I miss you dearly.
Love
~ME

p.s. Cultural Difference of the day- It's REALLY green here!!!!!!!!! There are so many trees and green things.....and moisture.....and green things.....

Happy Mentor Day!!!

Hello you wonderful people (some of whom are confined to the couch in sickness...i love you Kristi....)

Today was Mentor Day, which means all the mentors for us interns arrived. Including the ever wonderful Mother of mine, and my own mentor, Pastor Belita Mitchel. It was such great fun meeting these incredible beings and getting to hear their stories of call and struggle, joys and rewards. I have discovered that they are all comedians! hahahha. Just kidding, but they all have great senses of humor and when they are in a room together its like a bundle of joy. They all love Jesus so much, and are so excited to share their summers with us that it's very encouraging. :0)

We, The Interns, even sang a jazzy song for our mentors to show them that we were happy they had arrived. :0D It was pretty sweet..... got a good laugh.

Tonight over all the other nights, I was hit with the realization that this summer is going to be so hard for me. Mostly on the cultural side. I am a white girl. a very white girl.... it's okay... I ad mitt it proudly. But having said that, I have never been immersed in African American or Hispanic culture beyond t.v. shows like Fresh Prince of Bel air and Family Matters. I am already learning significant cultural differences, that if I am not aware of them, could get me into trouble around the congregation. One of my friends looked at me tonight and said, "I think you got it hardest."

yay.

It's going to be a very different summer. a VERY different summer. So i ask your continued prayer for my sanity and the ability to adapt well to a completely new culture. A culture of diverse race, culture, and living situation (city vs. not) and such things. I am getting a little nervous...especially preaching to such a different congregation than the one I'm used to. I'm really hoping I don't say something that could end up reflecting badly on Pastor Belita or the COB or myself. *sigh* Yay challenges!!!! At this point i am very thankful for my past experiences with culture shock in NZ and the Philippines...so I at least know what to expect to be happening inside of me....maybe not on the outside....but on the inside to be sure.

Well it's nearly 11:00 here, so I need to be signing off and going to bed. But i must say before I go, that I am really enjoying the community of interns that I have found here in Elgin. I think we are gonna turn into a pretty neat support group for each other this summer as we all go our separate ways and for this I am eternally grateful.

I love you all, and I miss you dearly.

Happy Mentor Day!

Love

~ME

Worship: New Insight

Heylo Friends and Familly! I am a blogging machine!

So Today is roughly Day#3 of MSS orientation and man it's been a blast so far. Today we talked about worship and public speaking, as well as had a session on preparing for the summer...ya know...dos and donts. :0)

Jonathon Shively led the worship discussion and i found that I agreed a lot with his aspect of worship. He really stressed beginning each worship service (music, theme, sermon) with a scripture of your choosing or from the Litergury (a collection of scripture, dedicated to each sunday of the year....there is a NT, OT, and Psalm and Epistle for each entry.) We talked about the importance of reading clearly and with meaning. What stuck out most to me was this quote:

"Worship is not about with hits you, it's about what's gonna hit them."

I grew up under the assumption that the congregation only wants to know about what's hitting and changing me. Which is guess would be true, as a young person in the congregation the elders and others do want to hear about your God Journey, but that changes as an Adult in Leadership....and that changes for me this summer and a visiting Summer pastor at Harrisburg First in PA. Its about getting the feel the congregation, listening to them, listening to thier needs- spiritual and otherwise, then catering to that as God tells you to. It's a completely selfless act, being a pastor. Accepting responsibility for your own spiritual growth and then being responsible in a way for kick starting and guiding the spiritual growth of the community you are serving. It's so much more than I thought it was. I'm falling in love. :0P I think this is a dormant passion of mine that is being awakened like a hyper Frankenstein. Let's see if it catches fire during the summer. I'm really looking forward to the challenges ahead, good and bad.

I picked up a book today called, "The Irresistable Revolution" by Shane Claiborne. So far i've only read the introduction and forward, but it looks like a book i'll identify with. He talks about a faith that burns in our hearts and then pours out through our hands into this broken world. It's sure to be an interesting read. :0D I'll let you know my thoughts about it as I get deeper into it.

Prayer/Updates:

Thanks for the prayers! I've actually started fitting in pretty well into this group of people. I had a moment yesterday when I realized....as much as they are Brethren....i am too. I didn't realize it as much. As I'm talking with these extraordinary men and women, i'm discovering that they have the same passions I do. They have the same future vision of the church as I do. They care about the same things, and long for the same things, and they want to do it all with me and Jesus! It's been mind-blowing....completely....so thank you for your encouragment and thoughts!

**I would like continued prayer for the congregation I am going to be ministering in. Belita, as well as the other mentors (like my mommy!!!!), flys in tomorrow. I ask prayer for her patience and love as she guides and teaches me. I ask that I am also patient, and understanding of her.

**COURAGE. my assignment to myself this summer is to take a few risks in terms of ministry and Jesus. I'm terrfied and excited to tackle these future goals....whatever they may be....

Thank you so much for reading and for loving me! It means a lot!!!!

Love,

~ME

Shaped by Story

Hello all you wonderful people!!!!

It's Day two in Illinoise, and I am already learning so much. The people I am hanging out with are wonderful....a little quirky, but I think i'm liking it that way.

This morning we went to Church at Highlander COB (Church of the Brethren), and it was Youth Sunday! Yippee! So the high school kids ran the worship centered around a conference theme of "More Than Meets the Eye." It was really cute, and I enjoyed the music a lot. It's been really refreshing to be back in a Brethren environment with hymns and smiling faces. heehee. Not that smiling faces and hymns are not present else where in the world, it's just very comforting and...familiar.

After church we had a bible discussion with Micheal Novelli (who is going to be a father of two tomorrow morning at 9:30am!!! lol....His wife's going in for a C-section. He's really happy to get the opportunity to be a father....again. teehee.) His ministry was youth based for about 15 years and now he's into writing books and helping other youth pastors with teaching methods. Chris is going to get us all a copy of his book... I think he's my new hero.... :0D

He teaches based on story. Not like personal story, but by taking old testament scripture and putting it into story form. He then tells the story to a group of people and asks intentional questions afterward. He told the creation story to us...and new insight came to me through that telling. It was SO COOL. I want to figure out a way to use it this summer. I really connect to that kind of ministry telling.....oh man it was fantastic. :0D

Well kids, that's all for now. We are on a break between the afternoon session and dinner. MAN am I hungry. The time change is brutal...and the best part is....once I get used to it...I fly to PA and then to CA and then back to PA. Three different time zones in a matter of a week. 0_0

oh yeah.... I'm in for it. But I am having a lot of fun so far. It's looking to be an awesome experiance.... and I am also looking forward to food.... so I best depart.

*The picture is of the cover of Micheal's Book.

My love to all you back home, I miss you dearly,


Love
~ME

p.s. I led worship this afternoon, and it actually went really well!!! Even with my busted "e" string. :0D I was super happy. I ended up using Romans 8: 35-39, told a story about my mom (buahahhahaha) and then played then "Your Love is Deep." So far, I got good feedback. :0D