A Taste of Home

I can't believe I haven't written about this yet, but a few weeks ago my mom came to visit me here in England. I had been waiting for this day for a very long time; the day my mom would come to visit. In fact, I had a countdown on my phone since Christmas. As each day passed it was one day closer to being able to see my mom. When February finally came round I could not shut up about the fact that I would get to see my mom this month. I’m sure everyone in the house and in the office got sick of hearing me saying that my mom was coming to visit. The night before she came, I couldn’t sleep because I was just so excited for her to finally be here! I went to the airport and waited for what seemed like hours for her to get off the plane and then she finally came! I was so excited to see here I didn’t even know what to do with myself. The week she was here had to be one of the best weeks this year. We spent some time exploring Salford and Manchester, took a day trip to one of England’s oldest cities, Chester. For two days we went down to London and saw some more sites. We also had the opportunity to meet up with some of my fellow YAGMs in London. The week of course went too fast, but I know my mom and I both really enjoyed what time we did get to spend with each other.

It was nice to get a taste of home, even if it was a little taste of all the things that are waiting for me back home. Not only did my mom bring herself to England (obviously) but she also brought me other little pieces of home including real American peanut butter and even a box of my favorite girl scout cookies! While I know the whole point of this year is for me to immerse myself in this country and make this year my life, but it's always nice to get little reminders of where you were just a few months ago. I know things have probably changed back home and many fun events have happened. Everything around me can change, but I know that one thing will always remain. My family and friends love me and I love them. I can go half way around the world and I know in my heart that they all support me and still care about me. I don't think I ever properly thanked them this year for standing by me, so this is my chance to say it.

To all my family and friends, thank you for always being there for me and loving me every step of this once in a lifetime journey. I know it probably hasn't been easy and believe me there isn't a day that goes by you aren't in my thoughts. I also want to apologize for not being the best at communicating this year... I most definitely have dropped the ball on that one. I hope you all know though how much you mean to me. I can't wait to come home and be able to share all of my memories from this place with you and create even more wonderful memories together. I know that I can always count on you all and that if I ever need you, you are only a phone call/ Skype call away. Thank you for grounding me and making me the person I am today and for letting me spread my wings and do the things I have wanted to do in my life. I hope I have made you all proud.

Lent: A Time to Reflect, Refresh and Renew

Happy Lent everyone! I'm not sure it's exactly an appropriate sentiment, but we're just going to go with it. Since I'm working for a religious organization, I've been thinking more about this idea of Lent. Maybe the other reason I've been thinking about it so much is that I went into a school just last week and talked to the students about the whole idea of Lent. This is probably the first year I've spent so much time thinking about what this time of year really does mean to not only the church as a whole, but to me as well.

When I think about Lent, the first thing that comes to mind is Jesus. I know that's probably the "duh-statement" of the day, but it's the truth. Many of us know that the 40 days in Lent are representative of the 40 days and nights Jesus spent in the desert fasting and being tempted by the devil. For those of you who might not have known that, congratulations you learned something new today. Since Jesus suffered greatly during this time and denied himself many things, that's where we get these ideas of fasting and giving things up for this period of the year. Giving up things, in my opinion, has two different purposes. Number one, by denying ourselves things we really enjoy like chocolate, ice-cream, television, Facebook we start to be able to imagine how Jesus felt in the desert. While the first week or so might seem relatively easy, by week three or four the cravings can become intense and all you want to do is raid a candy store or just check Facebook for two minutes. I'll be honest with you all, besides one year when I gave up Facebook, I've never been able to keep a promise I've made for Lent. I have a hard time denying myself things for a long period of time! I know that' bad, but I am bound and determined to keep my promise this year. So, besides helping us feel a tiny bit how Jesus felt in the desert, this idea of giving something up during Lent sometimes can free up our time. I know when I gave up Facebook, I felt like I had so much more time to do other things! But, the one thing I didn't do with all this new found time is spend a little more time talking to God. I know that in my daily life, I didn't talk to God as much as I should have. I am thankful for this year in the sense that I have been given the gift of time. More time to spend with God, thinking about who I am, but I'm getting off the subject...oops.

So, the whole idea of Lent is a time for us to give up something to not only to get a little taste of how Jesus felt, but also to free a little extra time maybe in our schedules to spend with God and maybe figuring out some of these mysteries of life.

Lent is a time for us to reflect.

A time to reflect on our relationships with others.

A time to reflect on our relationship with God.

A time to reflect on our lives as a whole.

A time for us to really think about anything and everything. Time to think about the good, the bad and the ugly (not the movie, although Clint Eastwood is kind of amazing).

Lent is a time to refresh.

When we set time aside for ourselves, to just be still it is amazing how refreshed we really can feel. As hard as it is for many of us to set everything aside and just be, it is something I've come to find I cherish. Even if it is for twenty minutes, this is the time I use to just realize that whatever is weighing me down doesn't probably matter as much as my mind likes to make it seem.

Lent is a time of renewal.

When Jesus died on the cross (Good Friday) and rose again (Easter Sunday) he gave us new life. We all know this, they tell us this in church almost every Sunday, regardless of whether or not it is during Lent. Despite the fact that I know this, I don't think I have ever fully realized what this statement means. To be completely honest, I'm not sure I ever will be able to understand that. I don't see how I am worthy to receive such an amazing gift. We all receive new life because of the sacrifice Jesus made and as hard as it may be to understand why, I think I need to just be thankful for the gifts He has given me through his death on the cross.

So, through out these next 40 days or so, okay less than 40 at this point, I hope you take some time to reflect, get refreshed and renew yourself through the gifts that God has given us.

And Then A Hero Comes Along...

I know this may seem like a very random post, but it is actually something we talked about last week in school. I was working with year 8 students (12-13 years old) on Monday and Tuesday and we were talking all about heroes. The day started with the students getting a chance to think about what qualities, for them, make a hero. Of course, many of their minds wandered to super heroes and all of the special powers they possess. The ability to fly, lazer beams shooting from their eyes (very popular believe me or not), super strength, super speed, the power of invinsibility, all things I'm sure would come in handy at some point or another in our lives. Of course, they also included more human qualities like bravery, courage, determination, etc. They all were given the chance to share with the entire group what made their hero so great. Some groups were more enthusiastic about the task than others. In the end, there were some very interesting heroes ranging from the very bizarre, non-human heroes to heroes that were a combination of the groups real-life, personal heroes. Then, came for my moment to shine! Now was my time to share with all of the students who is my personal hero and I would like to share that with you all as well.

If you've ever seen the movie Megamind there is a scene where Roxanne (news journalist) and Bernard (Megamind in disguise) start talking about what a hero really is. Roxanne believes that heroes aren't born that they are made. The two of them talk what exactly makes a hero. They come up with three qualities for a hero: strength, bravery and determination. With those three things anyone could be a hero Megamind says. It's a very simplified explanation of the scene, but I hope you get the picture. The line from that movie I really like is the fact that heroes aren't born, they are made. Anyone can be a hero. Everytime you smile at someone at school or when you're walking around town, that makes you a hero. We all have a person or people in our lives that we look up to and want to model our lives after. While people like Gandhi and Nelson Mandela inspire me, there is one person that I truly hope I can be like and that person is my mom. For me a hero is someone who is not only strong and brave, but also someone that is compassionate and selfless. She gives so much of herself everyday and never asks for anything in return. My mom has been through so much and yet is still able to stand on two feet with her head held high. She is everything I hope to be and more.

Being a hero is much easier than most people think. Being a hero doesn't mean saving the world; it's about making a positive difference in the world around you. You can be a hero just by taking the time to talk to someone you might not have talked to in awhile. Even a simple hello to a stranger can make you a hero to that person. I truly believe that we are all heroes and that we are all called to be heroes to one another.

I hope in this new year that I can be a hero to everyone I meet and inspire someone as much as my mom has inspired me.

This Year I Promise To...

I know I am a few days late in saying this, but I just want to wish everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR! I am still in shock how fast this year has gone. It seems like just yesterday I was sitting in Iowa with my roommate ringing in 2011. When I think about this last year I can't help but to think about how much my life is changed in just twelve short months.
I started the year off right in January by starting my final semester at Wartburg College and had one of the most amazing experiences during my student teaching.
In February, I decided I really did want to avoid the real world for a little longer and applied to become part of one of the greatest programs ever (that would be YAGM.. in case there were any questions).
Just a few short months after that in April, I met some of the most incredible people in Wisconsin at the D.I.P. event for YAGM (so many acronyms, it's a little crazy). In that same month/ same weekend I found out where my next chapter of my life would be taking place... In ENGLAND! I was also reassured because I knew I would not be alone over here and that both Jess and Britney would be coming along with me.
May was the month that I not only had my last class at Wartburg, the college of my brightest days, but somehow I actually graduated!
Skip ahead to July when I got to spend four glorious weeks at home spending time with my family and my friends before setting off across the ocean for twelve months.
About the middle of August, I was finally reunited with all my fellow YAGMs for the last stage of our preparation for this wonderful journey we are on now. It was such a great experience to be all together... all 50 of us sharing this common path of our lives. All united in this desire to share ourselves and our talents with people we had never met before.
September brought much adjusting and learning about a new place and a new job. It brought nine new roommates and new co-workers.
October brought twinges of home sickness and a much needed reunion with my YAGM ladies and a splendid holiday in Bath.
When November rolled around it found Jess, Emily and I in the kitchen for about six hours cooking up a Thanksgiving feast for twenty six people. That time made me see how much I truly have to be thankful for.
December brought with it one packed month at work and the sudden realization that I would not be with my family at Christmas. It also brought with it a wonderful English Christmas full of Christmas crackers, Christmas pudding, turkey and a family from Liverpool that showed me the true meaning of Christmas. They opened up their home to me and for that I will forever be grateful.

Now that 2011 is in the past, I am looking towards the future and what this year can bring. Putting Christmas aside, New Year's has to be my favorite holiday. While the fireworks are always spectacular and the pure happiness in the air is always a welcomed feeling, for me, it means so much more. New Year's is a chance to start over. Everything that happened the year before is gone... done... you can't change it even if you tried. We are all given a clean slate... a fresh start. Every year, I make New Year's resolutions and I can count the number of resolutions I've stuck to on one hand. This year, instead of making resolutions, I am making promises. For me, the word promises sounds much more "unbreakable" than resolutions. So this year, I have made promises to myself. I have promised myself that I am going to communicate more with people back home and with my fellow YAGMs around the world. I promise to care more about myself and take time to really explore what this whole experience means to me. I promise to build deeper and more meaningful relationships with the people around me. All of my promises are written on a piece of paper in my journal and will be hung up on my wall soon. They will stand as a reminder to myself that these are the things I have promised... and you can't break a promise... especially to yourself! I hope this New Year can be as wonderful as you want it to be and that you aren't afraid to make promises to yourself.

With a thankful heart

I know this is a little late, but I wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. While the Thanksgiving tradition is not celebrated over here in England, that did not stop me and two other YAGMs from cooking up a dinner that would go down in history as one of the best Thanksgiving meals the United Kingdom has ever seen. Two lovely ladies came up to visit me the weekend before the actual day and we spent a good seven hours or so, in the kitchen, cooking up a storm! The menu was as follows:
Appetizers
- Deviled eggs
- Spinach and artichoke dip
- Butternut squash soup (we didn't cook this ourselves)
Main course
- Turkey crowns (hard to find a whole turkey big enough to feed 27 people before Christmas here)
Side dishes
- Stuffing
- Sweet potato casserole
- Green bean casserole
- Cornbread pudding
- Mashed potatoes (got a little too overzealous with the number of potatoes... oops)
- Rolls (not homemade, but still delicious)
- Gravy
Desserts
- Apple pie x2
- Pecan pie
- Pumpkin cheesecake

It was so wonderful to be able to share this moment with all of the people I work with. For many of them, it was there first Thanksgiving experience and I hope that the experience for them was as enjoyable as it was for me.
We all know that Thanksgiving is not only about coming together to enjoy great food and great company, but also to remember all of the blessings God has given us in our lives. Before the meal actually began, I read a poem that I remember my mom had on our fridge when I was growing up. It's called "Everyday Thanksgiving"

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings,
Thank you, Lord, that I can hear.
There are many who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible,

Thank you, Lord, that I can see.
Many are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising,
Thank you Lord, that I have the strength to rise.
There are many who are bedridden.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned and tempers are short, my children are so loud
Thank you, Lord, for my family.
There are many who are lonely.

Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced,
Thank you, Lord, for the food we have.
There are many who are hungry.

Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous,
Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work.
There are many who have no job.

Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest,
I thank you, Lord, for life.

I am reminded everyday of all of the blessings that God has given me. I thank Him for the fact that Ican leave my life behind for a year and know that no matter what happens my family and friends will be with me every step of this incredible journey. I am thankful for the fact that I can financially do something like this. I am thankful that I don't have financial pressures that would deter me from being able to have this life changing experience. I am especially thankful for my mom who has stuck by my side when I decided to move halfway across the country to attend college and she even supported my decision to move 7,000 miles across an ocean for a year knowing that she would only get to see me once in twelve months. She is my rock and one of the very few constant things in my life. I thank God everyday that he gave me such a wonderful mother and friend.

More blogs to come soon... so many more things to talk about...

Diving right in...

Well, I have officially been in this wonderful place known as England for a month now. As I look back on this past month I can't believe how fast it has gone by. I feel like I'm finally starting to get a grip on life in England. The first two weeks were spent doing what they call "INDUCTION" which is British lingo for what we Yanks would call "ORIENTATION". To say that these two weeks were packed with information would be an understatement. Not only was I learning about Just Youth, I also learned about Catholicism, the order of priests that work with Just Youth (the Spiritans), England in general, and I also began to learn about the nine other people I am living with. It's hard now to recall all the specific things I learned, but I'm sure it's all (okay... maybe the majority of it) is stored somewhere in my brain. Some notable events from those two weeks are: my first English "cinema" experience with the other volunteers; getting lost in Manchester (for the first time); going on a day long walk through the English countryside; and going to visit England's oldest city (Chester).

Now, some of you may be freaking out about me getting lost in Manchester, but I did what the very wise and wonderful Heidi told all of us YAGMs to do at Orientation... I looked and acted like I wasn't lost. I knew two things while I was wandering around Manchester: 1) I knew I needed the 93 bus and 2) that I needed to find the Red Hot Buffet (that's where I KNEW the 93 bus stopped at) So, for about 45 minutes I walked around trying to find this bus stop. During my wanderings, I found another bust stop good ol' #93 came to! I was so excited that I had finally gotten myself "unlost". I saw the bus coming around the corner and I couldn't help but smile knowing how awesome I was! The bus got closer and I became even more excited at the thought of finally being able to get home! Then, the bus did a funny thing... it drove right on by me! I was so confused as to why it did this! The smile immediately left my face. I now had to come up with a new plan. I started to walk away from the bus stop and wandered back into the middle of the shopping centre... trying to remember how to get to the Red Hot Buffet. To try and make this story a little shorter, I eventually found the bus stop and got home. The next day as I was recounting this story to my boss she asked me if I had signaled the bus to stop. I must have had a very confused look on my face because she started to giggle and tell me that the buses don't stop unless you signal them to. So, I learned that in England, you basically have to hail a bus like you would hail a taxi in the States! I felt a little silly, but it was a learning experience. Ever since then I have remembered to "signal" the bus.

One thing that I thought would be challenging that I have actually found quite enjoyable is living with so many other people in one house. There are nine of us total (soon to be ten) living under the same roof. Two volunteers are from Ireland, one is from Germany, another is from Sweden, and there is another from the Philippines. There are two priests in the house as well. One is from Nigeria and the other is from Tanzania. Last, but not least, is a Christian Brother from Ireland. It has been great getting to know all of them more and working with them in such a unique setting as Just Youth. We have some good laughs making fun of each other and where we come from. It is all meant in good fun, of course. I can already tell that saying goodbye to these people at the end of the year is going to be very difficult, but I shouldn't be thinking about that yet! This community is truly what I like to call, " A mini U.N."

I have been in to schools a total of three times so far and I have loved every minute of it! Last week we did two "Discovery Days" for year 7 students (11/ 12 year olds). Basically, what a Discovery Day boils down to is there is a theme for the day (Get Connected was our theme) and we have different activities that try to help the students "discover" more about that theme. It was great fun and I can't wait to go back into the schools. I think the funniest part of the two days for me was how interested the students were in the fact that I was from America. They all knew right away where I was from! At first that kind of shocked me.. how could these kids know where I am from based on my accent? The more I thought about it, I realized that if someone from England were to come into my school back home, I would know right away where they were from. But, the FUNNIEST moment was when two boys came up to me during a game we were all playing. The one boy looked up at me, with excitement in his eyes and said, "I've never met an American before!" It was made all the more adorable by his accent (which has not gotten old yet for those of you who might be wondering). He made me smile every time I saw him through out the morning. The other boy proceeded to tell me that he had only met two other Americans before. I asked him who they were, knowing that I probably not know who they were... boy was I wrong! He said that he had met Tom Hanks and Robin Williams! Are you kidding me?!? It's so funny to think that I am now the third American he has met and I in no way compare to those mega stars! I was sad to leave the school on Friday. Though I had not gotten to spend too much time with them, they will forever be in my heart as the first students I got to work with.

I know this post is long, but just hang in there a little longer. It's been awhile since my last post and many things have happened....

I learned a very important lesson on Friday when we were in the school. The day before (which would have been Thursday) I was so focused on making sure the students got their reflection sheet done that I forgot to do one very important thing. I forgot to actually interact with them. I felt myself go into "teacher mode". I became so obsessed with them completing their "assignment" that I completely neglected the real reason I was there. I had forgotten to connect with the kids! It was hard for me to not be in teacher mode around these kids because that's what I had been trained (so to speak) to do when I was around students. I felt terrible when I realized what I was doing. Thankfully, I still had the next day to try and correct my mistakes. Friday turned out to be 110% better than Thursday. I took the time to sit down with different groups of students and talk to them about where I was from (they were all SO curious about America) and I also got to learn a little bit more about where they were from. At the end of the day, when we were evaluating the day, I mentioned this to the rest of the team and one of the leaders said that sometimes it's more important to take that time to connect with them than it is to make sure whatever task you are doing actually gets completed. I got into this mind set that these were my students and I had a lesson plan and I needed to accomplish all of my objectives or I would have failed them. When in reality, I failed them when I failed to take the time to connect with them. Hopefully, this lesson sticks with me and from now on the connections I form with the students will be my first priority! Sorry for the long post, but I'm done now. Stay tuned for more exciting adventures from ACROSS THE POND.

CHEERS!

"Come walk with us... the journey is long"

So, I have been trying for the past week to sum up my feelings about all of this into a blog and right now words seem to be failing me. Instead of me attempting to convey what exactly is going on in my head, I figured I would share a poem with you that I feel very accurately describes not only how I feel, but the journey I am currently on. This poem was read at the very first day of training for Young Adults in Global Mission

Passover Remembered... by Alla Bozarth-Campbell

Pack nothing.

Bring only your determination to serve

and your willingness to be free.

Don't wait for the bread to rise.

Take nourishment for the journey, but eat standing.

Be ready to move at a moment's notice.

Do not hesitate to leave your old ways behind-

fear, silence, submission.

Only surrender to the need of the time-

love justice and walk humbly with your God.

Do not take time to explain to the neighbours.

Tell only a few trusted friends and family members.

Then begin quickly, before you have time

to sink back into old slavery.

Set out in the dark.

I will send fire to warm and encourage you.

I will be with you, in the fire, and I will be with you in the cloud.

You will learn to eat new food

and find refuge in new places.

I will give you dreams in the desert

to guide you safely to that place you have not yet seen.

The stories you tell one another around the fires in the dark

will make you strong and wise.

Outsiders will attack you, and some follow you

and at times you will get weary and turn on each other

from fear, fatigue and blind forgetfulness.

You have been preparing for this

for hundreds of years.

I am sending you into the wilderness to make a new way

and to learn my ways more deeply.

Some of you will be changed by weathers and wanderings

that even your closest friends will have to learn your features

as though for the first time.

Some of you will not change at all.

Some will be abandoned by your dearest loves

and misunderstood by those who have known you since birth

who feel abandoned by you.

Some will find new friendships in unlikely faces,

and old true friends as faithful and true

as the pillar of God's flame.

Sing songs as you go,

and hold close together.

You may at times grow confused

and lose your way.

Continue to call each other by the names I've given you

to help remember who you are.

Touch each other,

and keep telling the stories.

Make maps as you go,

remembering the way back from before you were born.

So you will be only the first of many waves

of deliverance on the desert seas.

It is the first of many beginnings-

your Paschaltide.

Remain true to the mystery.

Pass on the whole story.

Do not go back.

I am with you now and I am waiting for you.

Sorry the post is so long, but I felt this poem needed to be shared. It sums up all the things I will learn on this journey and also some of my biggest fears about it as well. I know the road God has called me to take will not always be easy, but if I hold strong to my faith in Him then nothing is impossible.