Wake me up when September ends.

As September is winding to a close, my work at Trinity is being to wind up!  All those Wednesday night church programs are in full swing, and the attendance is higher than Trinity has seen in years.  There are more children than we know what to do with, which a wonderful problem to which we will soon have a solution.  I've started to really understand what my work here at Trinity is going to look like, and what I need to be doing in the office on a day to day bases. I enjoy having some type of rhythm, it makes sense to me.  I am just more and more excited to be in this place everyday.  It's as if I am slowing pulling back the barriers and formalities to discover the heart of this place, the life that keeps it afloat, when it sounds like there are several times the doors should have been closed.

Something I have been trying to avoid is my longing for things.  I miss camp, I miss Marty, I miss home and my mom, I miss the mountain air, I miss Buckeye games, I miss Leah and Wittenberg Wednesdays... I do not like how often I find myself thinking of these things, talking about them.  I want to live here, now, in this moment.  Though I must say, this has been a much easier transition than some of those in the past and I'm happy here, which is very helpful.  I think that it is important to acknowledge those important things from ones past and be grateful for how is has shaped you.  I guess the real struggle I feel is to not forget the past but not look back.  I don't want to turn into a pillar of salt, thus causing my own demise by my inability to look ahead.

At home, things are going well.  Living in community is always a struggle and has its own unique challenges.  I would say the honeymoon is over and I would say that within the next month our pseudo-community will unfold into chaos (according to the natural progression of community given to us in our pre-LVC reading).  A part of me looks forward to it, for like silver we too must be refined by the fire. Until then, I will enjoy the calm before the storm.

Here We Go

So now I live in Omaha, NE. I have for 20 days now.  And I thought to myself, "Maybe I should start a blog so people can read about what I'm up to." So now I am sitting at my desk blogging...

 To catch you all up to speed; I am living in Omaha, NE as I complete a year with LVC (Lutheran Volunteer Corps).  This entails me working at a placement site, living in intentional community, living simply and sustainably, as well as working for social justice. Or as more simply stated in the LVC mission statement: LVC is a community of faith working for peace through justice.  Sounds like some pretty lofty goals overall, but then again I have always been an overachiever...

I work at Trinity Lutheran Church. My job description is ever growing as we discover the gifts I can bring to this place.  Right now I am working on developing programs for the youth of the Nile congregation (a partner congregation of Trinity comprised of refugees from South Sudan and their American born children), I will be overseeing Sunday School, assisting with confirmation and Alleluia Kids (a music program for children in 2nd-6th grade), as well as general office things.  Pastor John would also like to use this year to assist me discern my call to ministry, which means I go along with him and Pastor Liz to meetings, visitations, and other pastory things.  As far as I can tell right now, I'm really going to enjoy my year with Trinity.

I also have the pleasure of living with five people from across the USA also working in Omaha. It is nice to have a built in support system of people who understand the struggles and challenges that this year bring as they too live it.

Well, that is what is happening in a nutshell. In the future, expect more insightful and thought provoking updates as I struggle with the questions of life... or something like that, we'll see.