I am one of those people...

It has been almost two weeks since my last post - sorry for the lapse in time.  Things are continuing to go really well here.  Karl and I are enjoying the work at our placements and are starting to feel pretty settled in our new congregations.  We are so thankful for the support that we are receiving from friends and family all over the world! 

This post is not so much about things I have been doing over the past weeks, but is more of a reflection of who I am and how I am living in this world:

I Am One of Those People

I am one of those people who grew up in Wyoming.  I love the wide open spaces and blue skies that the state has to offer.  There is nothing more enjoyable than being in the mountains of Wyoming:  smelling the fresh air, hearing the breeze blow by and the birds chirping, looking at the magnificent views created by our Father.  I love Wyoming because of the genuinely nice people it contains.  The state is so small and the residents look out for each other as fellow ‘Wyomingites.’ 

I am one of those people who loves running.  The feeling of moving swiftly through the landscape, seeing the surroundings pass by and hearing the activity around you is irreplaceable.  Running allows for the perfect pace of exploring the outdoors (or even cities and towns) – moving slow enough to notice the things around you, but fast enough to want to return later to notice more.  I love running by myself because it is just me, the outdoors and God.  My best reflection and prayer happens when I am running.  Something about being by myself in that motion allows me to think clearly and openly with God. 

I am one of those people who is from the United States of America.  I enjoy the freedoms that America has to offer:  freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of petition, freedom of religion and freedom of press.  Freedom of religion is the best freedom that Americans have.  To be able live a life based upon whichever belief system you choose, without the fear of being beaten, arrested or even killed is astonishing. 

I am one of those people who is at times ashamed to be an American.  America is one of the most wasteful and overindulging countries in the world.  The amount of things that people possess in excess in America is disgusting.  Not everyone in America chooses to live this type of lifestyle, but enough do to give the country that stereotype.  I try to be one of those people who lives a lifestyle to counter the actions of those who overindulge.  I consciously make efforts to live more simply:  take shorter and/or less frequent showers, wear my clothes multiple times between washing, recycle and reuse, put on extra layers of clothing instead of turning up the heat, take public transportation and walk to get places. 

I am one of those people who enjoys being in the kitchen.  There is something about preparing food and sitting down with others to partake which brings people together.  Some of the best conversations and moments happen whilst preparing or eating a meal.  Growing up, my family made dinner and ate together almost every night of the week.  This was the time when we could check in with each other and reminisce about good times and bad.  Christ shared many meals with the people closest to him, and I find value in doing so also.

I am one of those people who is married and is so thankful to have someone to share lifelong love.  In my husband, I have found a best friend to share life experiences, a person whom I can be completely open to, someone to laugh and cry with and a companion to be by my side through hard times. 

I am one of those people living in a new culture.  I have ventured away from the home in which I feel comfortable in order to follow a call to experience God and my faith in a new context.  Living in a new culture has shown me how God is at work in areas unfamiliar to me.  He is present everywhere, and I am encountering his existence in new ways.  Daily I experience people who speak differently than me, sites that are unfamiliar and political issues which differ from those at home.  I am learning about the importance of reconciliation between groups and sides of people who have lived in tension for so long and also learning how this applies to my life and the world as a whole.  God has called us to live as one, breaking down barriers and making peace.   

So, I strive to be one of those people who does not conform, but stands up for their beliefs; one of those people who is filled with the Holy Spirit and lets it work through them; one of those people who challenges the barriers set up between those with conflicting ideals and beliefs; one of those people who enables change; one of those people who follow Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:14-18  "For He himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. "

Karl and I at the top of Cavehill

Patrick and I dishing up some grub....we had dinner with all of the YAV's at our place

A dragon from a dance we saw during Belfast Culture Night

Love in the Kitchen

Jesus Christ calls us to love one another as he loves us.  This love can be shown in many ways:  smiling and saying hello to a stranger, lending a hand to a friend who needs help, taking the time to listen to someone who is hurting, giving someone a hug, and the list could go on forever.  This morning, I experienced Christ's love through a cooking lesson with two of the other volunteers and our site coordinator's wife, Elaine. 

The first week that we were in Belfast, we were going through orientation and had the pleasure of sharing our lunches and dinners with Doug and Elaine.  Elaine was so gracious to cook delicious meals for all of us.  As we raved about how good her cooking was, she offered to give us some cooking lessons.  This morning, we had our first cooking lesson in Karl's and my kitchen.  Elaine taught us to cook lentil stew and scones.  I was so excited to get to bake my first scones in Northern Ireland, and they turned out delicious! 

I do not think Elaine realised how great of an impact she made on me, and the other girls learning the recipes, this morning. The recipes weren't that difficult and complex, and it only took us an hour and a half to cook. But, that time that she took preparing the recipes and ingredients, and the time she spent with us in the kitchen meant a whole lot to me. Cooking is a favorite past time for me, and I have not had much time to cook since starting my work at Whitehouse. That being said, the time I got to spend in the kitchen this morning, in the company of other ladies was wonderful...a bit therapeutic you could say.

Walking in Belfast

I believe that one of the best ways to experience a new place is to venture out on your own two feet.  Since arriving a little over two weeks ago, I have managed to spend a lot of time either walking or running the streets of Belfast.  This is my preferred method of exploration because it causes me to consciously pay attention to where I am travelling, as opposed to taking the bus where my mind can easily wander and lose track of where I am.  Being on foot allows me to take in the smells and sounds of my surroundings as well.   For this blog entry, I am going to tell you about two danders (walks) I have taken.

Mural along the Shore Road

Last Thursday Liz gave me the day to myself and I decided to venture out from Karl's and my flat and walk through various places of Belfast I had not yet seen.  I started the day walking to the City Centre where City Hall is located.  On the way, I took time to notice the many different murals and flags I was passing.  Murals and flags are ways that people of Northern Ireland publicly display their allegiance to political parties or remember events of the past.  Once I arrived at City Centre, I spent time looking through City Hall and its exhibits which focus on the history of Belfast. 

Botanic Gardens

From City Centre, I continued south toward Queen's University and the Botanic Gardens.  Right next to the gardens is the Ulster Museum, so it was my next stop for the day.  The museum has two whole floors dedicated to the history of Belfast and the Troubles.  I focused my attention that day on learning about the history of Belfast, but I will soon be returning to explore the other art and nature exhibits the museum has to offer. 

Taken along the Shore (and below)

Today, I decided to take another walk.  This walk however turned out to be a lot longer than I expected, but it was very enjoyable none the less.  After Friends and Neighbours at Whitehouse this afternoon, a gentleman from church dropped me off at the shore in Whiteabbey.  I was only planning on walking along the shore for a mile or two, but I ended up staying along the 93 bicycle path all the way to City Centre (probably about six miles).  The shore line was very pretty and smelled of breezy sea air.  As I continued along the foot path, I found myself paralleling the motorway...this was not a very enjoyable part of the walk, but I kept going only to find myself in Duncrue, which is a very industrialised part of Belfast.  This was not the most enjoyable scenery either.  But alas, I kept going and stumbled out in Cathedral Quarter.  I came across some neat art pieces and historical buildings, thus making my really, really long journey worth the while. 

There is still a lot of Belfast which I have yet to explore, so I still have many walking or running journeys ahead of me.  Perhaps Karl and I might get to venture out on one together this Saturday when we are off together. 

Albert Memorial Clock

The Big Fish at Donegall Quay

First Sunday with Whitehouse

I woke up this morning feeling quite nervous about my first Sunday with Whitehouse.  I knew I would be meeting a whole lot of people and was nervous about making a great first impression.  A wonderful lady named Anne picked me up for church and brought me right to the kitchen to get a cup of tea before services started.  Immediately I was welcomed by a room full of kind ladies who gave me the warmest hugs I have received since arriving in Belfast!  The members of the congregation are so friendly and really helped me to feel at home in my new church. 

Here is the photo that was projected
during the service for my introduction

I was formally introduced to the congregation during the children's sermon.  My fellow youth leaders, John and Francis, did a little "meet Kendra" interview with the children.  They asked me about my family, what I am hoping to get out of this year of service, where I am from, and what kind of Northern Irish phrases I am learning.  They had the children teach me some words, and it was very fun....we got some laughs from the congregation.

During the message of the service, Rev. Liz Hughes spoke about the importance of church and how church is more than what we do on Sunday morning but is a place where we can join together as family.  This message was so fitting for what I am experiencing right now.  Here I am, in Belfast, so far removed from my family outside of Karl.  I know that my family back home is praying for me and thinking about me, but it is so nice to be surrounded by a loving family inside the doors of Whitehouse. 

After church, Karl and I went to Liz's house for dinner (late lunch), and her husband cooked us a wonderful meal!  It was so nice to sit around the table and join in conversation, starting to form relationships with the people of my new home. 

Lastly today, I attended SWAT (youth group) and met some of the youth of the church.  We spent a lot of time sitting around talking and listening to music, which was a great way for me to start to get to know the kids.  We had a lot of laughs centered around my ignorance to the slang they use, but I think I will start to catch on to the jargon soon...hopefully.  The other youth leaders are absolutely wonderful, and I think that I will be able to learn a lot from them over the course of the year.  They are really good at relating to the kids and have very balanced relationships with them.  All in all, I had a fabulous first day and am excited for what it in store for this upcoming year.

Welcome to Belfast!

The time was about 8:30 AM, the day August 30, and the place Belfast, Northern Ireland.  Continental Flight 94 hit the ground with eight anxious young adults aboard.  Those eight young adults being myself, Karl and six other individuals from around the U.S.  We arrived in Belfast extremely tired but excited to see our new home for the upcoming year. 

Doug and his wife, Elaine, picked us up with a car and a mini bus, loaded our luggage and drove us all to our houses.  We quickly stepped into our new homes, dropped our luggage in our rooms and proceeded to the next house.  At the last house we visited, we took a moment to enjoy our first cup of tea and scones (biscuits in the U.S.).  The rest of the day was pretty much a blur, as we spent it trying to stay awake in order to adjust to the time change. 

After getting a full night's rest, we all set off to begin touring each other's volunteer sites for the next three days.  As we stopped at each site, we toured the premises and learned a bit of the history of the neighborhood and about the community involvement of each site.  It is amazing how complex the conflict between the people of Northern Ireland is and how deep the Troubles have touched the communities that we will be working in.  I have a lot to learn about as the year goes on.

My site, Whitehouse Presbyterian, was the second to last stop for the whole group.  By this time, I was very anxious to see the church, reconnect with Rev. Liz Hughes, and meet others in the congregation.  In fact, I was so excited to see the church that I ran the 2.5 miles to and from to get a sneak peak the morning we were scheduled to see it.  (By the way, I had to be very conscious about which way the traffic was travelling when crossing the street). We got to the church and were welcomed with open arms and hugs.  There were a number of folks from the congregation there to meet us, and they were so hospitable and friendly!  I will be attending my first worship service this Sunday and will get to meet the youth group in the evening...I can't wait!

As an end note, here are some fun words that we are picking up and pictures from a walk to Scrabo (a tower outside of the city):

boke=puke
skint=broke
craic=fun/entertainment
biscuit=cookie
jumper=sweater
bap=bun/roll
come by you=pick you up

Hope and Fear

2011 YAV Group

I am sitting at Stony Point in New York right now writing this post.  We have been at orientation since Monday, August 22, and it is almost over!  I can't believe how fast this week has gone by and how much I have experienced in this past week. 

Throughout this week, I have met an array of new friends and sat in on so many helpful sessions with these wonderful people.  We have joined together to explore critical cultural competency, safety and gender issues, relationships, self-care, what makes me tick, communication and conflict, globalization, and culture shock.  These orientation sessions have provided me with the opportunity to consciously think about my fears, worries, hopes and expectations for this year ahead. 

Since arriving at Stony Point, I have gone through many emotional highs and lows.  During our training, I realized that I haven't really thought about the emotional implications of this year until I got here.  This really scared me.  I was scared about my personal self and health, about Karl's and my relationship, about my relationships with the family and friends staying behind, and about feeling worth something in Belfast.  These fears are definitely fears that I will be carrying with me throughout this next year and the rest of my life, but I have hope that the Lord will help me through.  The Lord will provide me with strength and the people in my life to help me through all of my fears.  This does not by any means mean he will make things easy for me, but it does mean that I can always be hopeful that I am not alone in my fears and struggles.  With that said, I want to leave you with this Psalm which gives me hope:

⁷ I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
⁸ I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
⁹ Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
¹⁰ because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
¹¹ You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.  

The time has come

Well, it is officially only two days until Karl and I leave for orientation in New York and nine days until we leave for Belfast!  I can't believe that our year in Belfast is finally here. 

As we are making our final preparations to leave, I can't help but feel a multitude of emotions....anxious, scared, sad, excited, blessed...to name a few.  Karl and I have been spending the majority of our summer travelling around to various locations in Wyoming and Colorado to spend time with our family and friends whom we will miss so dearly during our year in Belfast.  God has blessed us with wonderful families and friends, and we are truly thankful for the relationships that we have here.  It is going to be extremely hard to get used to the idea of our family members not being a short drive or simple phone call away.  But, as difficult as it is going to be to live so far away from our family and friends, I am looking forward to all of the new people I am going to meet and walk with in my journey of faith.  God calls us to be in relationship with each other, and this year is going to provide me with countless opportunities to join in relationship with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  I cannot wait to break bread and share conversation with my fellow YAV's, serve side by side with members of White House Presbyterian, and learn about myself and my faith with the people of Northern Ireland. 

In two short days, Karl and I (along with about 60 other young adults) will be arriving in New York to join together in preparation for our year ahead.  Please pray for our safety, for peace of mind, body and soul, for open and loving hearts, and for the will of God to be fulfilled through our time as YAV's.