 Many of you have asked me, "How was the mission trip?” You might have gotten a response along the lines of “it was great!” or “our youth are amazing!” or “it was one of the best I’ve ever been on.” While all true, those answers fall short. How do you summarize a week of spiritual growth, laughter, hope, challenges, systematic oppression, culture shock, hard work, little sleep, and intangible moments of grace? As much as I love to talk, I am at a loss for words to describe the transformational experience of spending a week at the Rosebud Episcopal Mission (REM). Every single day we were stretched outside our comfort zones and lived by the REM motto Semper Gumby (always flexible). Each day we built stronger relationships with members of our group. We laughed and played and at night we tried to get some sleep despite the symphony of snoring. Most importantly, every day God was made known to us. You will get to hear more of these stories from our youth at a Special Summer Forum August 11th at 11:15am. Until then, I’ll try to give you a better answer to “how was the mission trip” by using the same questions that our kids will be answering when they share their stories with you at the Forum.  What is something you did (work or fun) while on the Mission Trip? Many of us worked at the wood barn helping to split freshly cut trees for the Fire Wood for the Elders program. Yes, FRESHLY CUT trees! Trees so fresh, when you tapped the splitter into them, water came out. Many elders have wood burning stoves to heat their homes but are not physically able to cut the wood they need for the long winter, they rely on their relatives for the wood. REM gives wood away to those who need it during the cold South Dakota winter. Walking down to the wood barn that first day, I felt that I was walking on holy ground. It is a sacred act to chop wood for strangers so they might have warmth and hope in the midst of a bleak winter. Our youth worked so hard and they did so from a place of love and faith. It was truly inspiring to watch.  What is one thing that you learned? Every day we were at Rosebud, we had the opportunity to invite someone from the community to speak to us and teach us about the culture or life on the Rez. We learned about beading, the Lakota language, and games. We stumbled our way through traditional dances. Made fry bread and Indian Tacos and learned the history of the Reservations, food rations, and the oppression that the Lakota people live with every day. With all of that, what I learned was the capacity for compassion and understanding that our youth have for their neighbor. At times, their eagerness to learn, to listen, and to understand took my breath away. I am humbled to work with these teens and feel blessed to be their partner in ministry.  How did you see God? For those of you who know me well, you know that I am NOT a morning person. I am known for being rather grumpy until that second cup of coffee kicks in. On one of these extra grumpy mornings, we headed up to the little chapel on top of the hill for Morning Watch. We already had a Semper Gumby moment of needing to be flexible and change plans for the day. I wasn’t exactly in the mood for the walk or the singing or really anything that wasn’t me going back to bed. Once we settled into the pews, Robbie Carlson the 1st Cong. Greeley youth leader, asked for song requests. We sang a few familiar tunes and ended with a youth ministry classic “Sanctuary.” Lord prepare me, to be a sanctuary Pure and holy, tried and true. With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living, sanctuary for you. As we sang, I could feel the Holy Spirit descend upon us. It moved me to tears. As the song ended we sat together in the stillness--as though God was saying in the midst of the busy week "Be still, and know that I AM God."  What are you taking home with you? How has the Mission Trip impacted your life? On the Rez, hope is tangible and it looks like chopped wood, split by strangers. Every group who comes to the Rosebud Episcopal Mission spends time splitting wood at the wood barn. Every group takes home a piece of wood that they split so that they can tell the story of Hope on the Rosebud Reservation. This is what I take home with me. I bring home the hope that people will know they are cared for because their homes will be warm this winter. I have brought home the hope of young people who are living out their faith and answering God’s call to love your neighbor as yourself. It is easy to lose hope when you are listening to the news, but I have seen hope. It is a piece of firewood, it is a van full of teenagers driving to a mission trip. Hope is the people of God living out their faith, helping a neighbor in need, loving God and one another. Hope is alive. So, how was the mission trip? It was great. Our youth are amazing. This was one of the best mission trips I have ever been on. Grace & Peace, Mandy
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Growing up, my extended family alternated who hosted Thanksgiving Dinner. It was a dance between mom’s side and dad’s side, grandparents hosting and aunts and uncles hosting. The years my parents hosted were a mixed bag. The best part was getting all the leftovers filling our fridge, the worst being all the prep work that went into the meal. My mom is an amazing woman, but you don’t mess with her when company is coming over. My brother and I would take turns hiding from mom as she tried to get us to help out. He was better at hiding than me so I got a lot of extra chores. Not that I’m still bitter about that... After all the hours of cleaning, baking, cooking and setting the table we would sit down to eat together. My mom would always marvel and bemoan how much work went into the meal and how quickly we all gobbled it up. All that prep and we’re ready for our post-dinner naps in 20 minutes. This hectic pace is how the holiday season seems to go. It is lots of work, planning, traveling, stress etc. -- and it's over in the blink of an eye. The radio is already playing the songs reminding us "it’s the most wonderful time of the year" yet sometimes it is hard to enjoy the season. Between the to-do lists, decorating, shopping, holiday parties, travel, end of semester exams, short days and long nights the time between now and New Years can feel rather overwhelming. In all the hustle and bustle it is the slow moments that we tend to find the most meaning. Holiday comes from an old English word meaning Holy Day. In the midst of the busyness it’s really hard for me to remember that. These are holy days, holy moments of love, gratitude, and community. Too often the Holy Spirit is crowded out of these days by the busyness of the season. I wonder what it would look like if we gave ourselves permission to slow down this holy-day season. What would it look like if we gave ourselves permission to let go of some of the to-do-list? What would happen if we didn’t worry about the food or the decorations being as perfect as Grandma would have done them? (My Grandma Joyce could beat Martha Stewart in a decorating or baking competition any day; I did not inherit that skill). What if we spent less energy on presents and more energy being present? This holiday season, starting with dinner on Thursday, I’m going to intentionally slow down and be more mindful. I am going to give myself permission to enjoy the season and not spend all my energy preparing for it. I will spend more time connecting with friends and family and less time chasing the latest sale or instagram decorating trend. How will you spend your holiday season? How will you put the holy back in your holidays? Grace and Peace, Mandy :-) AuthorDirector of Christian Formation for Children & Youth, Mandy Hall began her ministry at Plymouth in August of 2014. She is originally from Michigan where she followed her call to ministry to become a Deacon in the United Methodist Church. Her passion is helping young people grow in faith in creative and meaningful ways. Read more.  “Where did summer go?” This is the refrain that I have been hearing from families, teachers, and really just about everyone the past couple of weeks. To be honest, I have been wondering about the disappearance of summer myself. I’m not feeling all that prepared for September to happen later this week. I keep hoping that somehow I’m mistaken and we’re actually still in July. Where did the time go? Why does it feel like the business of fall is creeping into our lives earlier and earlier? I could spend some time sharing with you the exciting things that we have instore for the Fall- the Sunday school classes that are starting up next week, the WRYE report and car wash that are just around the corner. I could share with you opportunities to connect with the Christian Formation programs both in and out of the classroom. Instead I thought I’d take some time to pause, reflect and be still for just a moment as time flies and our schedules continue to book up. When we were kids a timeout was punishment, now it feels like a gift. Go to your room, no phone, no email, sit and be. That actually sounds really nice right about now. It reminds me of my favorite bible verse to meditate on from Psalm 46 “Be still and know that I am God.” Sometimes we just need to slow down and rest in the loving presence of God. Otherwise we end up like one of those old cartoon characters that is running so fast they aren’t able to see what’s going on around them and they run right off a cliff. It’s only when they stop to look they realize there is nothing there and they fall. How often do we get so busy we lose track of what’s important? How often do we keep running for the sake of running only to realize we’ve gone way off course? “Be still and know that I am God.” It doesn’t mean stop everything, stop trying to make a difference, or 'give up and let God,' God commands us to pause, refuel, and check in with the Holy. It reminds me of a podcast I listen to, “Levar Burton Reads.” You might know Levar Burton from his role in Roots or Star Trek: The Next Generation. If you’re from my generation you might remember him as the Reading Rainbow guy. Every week he reads a different short story, just because he loves to read. Before every story he invites the listeners to take a deep breath with him. It’s just one moment, one pause in the business of life, one breath. Yet this one breath feels like a gift each time and I am frequently reminded of the gift that is being still in our busy lives. So, before you move on to the next thing, let’s slow down, take a deep breath. Be still, and know that God is with you. Grace and Peace, Mandy :-) AuthorDirector of Christian Formation for Children & Youth, Mandy Hall began her ministry at Plymouth in August of 2014. She is originally from Michigan where she followed her call to ministry to become a Deacon in the United Methodist Church. Her passion is helping young people grow in faith in creative and meaningful ways. Read more. |
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