Burning, but not consumed

In the early morning hours of August 2, 2002 Whitehouse Presbyterian Church was completely destroyed by arson. The picture you see above is the rebuilt sanctuary of Whitehouse, reopened in 2005. The church sits in a "no man's land" area between Catholic and Protestant communities. After the fire, people from all surrounding communities poured out support for the church community. During the rebuilding time, worship was held in the main hall and church membership actually increased during that time of change and uncertainty. Rev.Liz Hughes is the minister at Whitehouse and the first Sunday after the fire she spoke on Chapter 4 of 2 Corinthians, "God in his mercy has given us this work to do and so we are not discouraged." That work Liz was speaking of was work to be agents of Christ's peace in the community. Not only has Whitehouse rebuilt itself physically, but spiritually there is a sense of renewal that I can feel since I have arrived. The worshipping community is a broad spectrum of ages and worship includes opportunites for all to worship in various styles, yet it is seamless in transition from praise music to traditional hymns, and scripture reading to modern book study. Whitehouse hosts programs throughout the week ministering to different ages, different communities, and different abilities. I am so excited to be a part of it and have been overwhelmed at ways I have seen Whitehouse challenged with God's purpose since I've arrived. Most of all, I have been touched by the congregation of Whitehouse. From my first Sunday here, I've been adopted by "new mums" and old men who kiss me on the cheek. They are a unified force of love, reaching out to everyone with renewed fervor each day. I've experienced it, because they've reached out to me and continue to, wrapping me closer with banter and conversation. I feel so genuinely blessed to be at Whitehouse and learning from this powerful group of God's people. They are living the motto of Presybterian Church in Ireland, arden virens sed, burning but not consumed.

This week has been full of clubs and groups starting activities. Monday night I went to Girls Brigade for the first time and got to see all 4 age groups. Girls Brigade does scripture study, arts and crafts, physical education, and solo routines for display later in the year. It was great for me to see some of the girls I had met in Contact Club (youth group) and other church activities. Tuesday I started at Whitehouse with the Seniors Coffee Hour and Healing service. There is something that is so nourishing to the spirit to be in the church during the week and be still to pray. Tuesday night I went to Youth PHAB club at 174, which is a part of the disability project. We made bagel pizzas, fruit kabobs, and nachos. Sitting around a table with fruit falling into yogurt is a great way to laugh and get to know one another. Wednesday was the Alpha dinner. Alpha is a 10 week course at Whitehouse where you have dinner, watch a video, and have discussion. It is meant to be an introduction to being a Christian and an open forum for people to question and discuss Christianity. Non-threatening is key and open discussion is encouraged. I look forward to how God will work in the small group of youth I may be leading there, because I have heard that last year (their first year doing Alpha) was a truly amazing experience. Many of the groups bond so tightly that they continue to meet through the year. Thursday morning was the Seniors Lunch Bunch where I enjoyed a stirring game of Beetle drive (you roll a dice and if you get a certain number you draw that part of the beetle, first person to have a whole beetle wins) and enjoyed a seriously large lunch. This group of seniors comes from many different communities. Now you all know that I have a soft heart for older folks, so this is one part of my job that I am very excited to do, get to know these people and their stories. I've already heard about one man who stole logs during a coal strike in the 1920's and how he was running from the police carrying huge logs. Quite good craic! :) (funny stuff) So today is Friday, which is the day I'll usually write my blogs, which I promise to do more often! I am going to the afterschool project in a bit, just like I do each day. I'm enjoying this group of young people, most of them are about 8-9 so they are filling a space in my heart that would normally be for about 24 third graders. I've taught them to play kickball, though I'm not nearly as good at it as Mrs.Hill!! Yesterday I helped some of them with their homework and it felt like water to my soul to be teaching, if only for a minute.


Above is a picture of the 174 Trust bus and a few of the kids from the afterschool project. In a staff meeting on Wednesday, someone requested that that signage, which we were taking pictures of to show the donor, be removed. Participants from Catholic/Nationalist areas who were being picked up for the disability project might be in danger of being stoned if the words "Presbyterian Church" were left on the bus. Even though 174 is known as a cross-community organization, it was sobering for me to be reminded in such a real way that we are here not to promote our own agenda or our own religion or set of beliefs. We are here to have genuine relationships with people so that we can learn from others. It feels so selfish sometimes that I will gain so much from them when I head back to the states, but what, I often wonder, will I have left in their hearts?

I'll leave you with these final thoughts. On Monday we went with Doug to a seminar to launch reserach on peace education in Northern Irish schools. A group of people were evaluating the existing peace education and making recommendations. I was fascinated and invigorated, remembering the fire that inspired me to apply to this program. There is so much to be learned in multicultural education all over the world. There is truly a kind of fight we are all missing, all too focused on other battles to see, the fight for the peace of the coming generations. Peace building is a global network, founded in respecting differences at a young age. My challenge this year, is not to forget that fire that burned brightly enough for me to fill out an application, quit my job, leave my family and loved ones, and cross an ocean. I'm here because I truly believe in children and I believe in respecting differences and I believe in peace and reconciliation. In the words of Neil Postman, "Children are the messages we send to a future which we ourselves cannot see."

Fish and Chips: A Cross-Cultural Perspective

Tonight after Doug, our site coordinator dropped us home we decided to venture out to have fish and chips (fries) for dinner, a traditional Northern Ireland/UK meal. We had heard of a place just down the Antrim road that was popular with previous YAV's and were excited to try it. We made the walk, commenting on various things and trying to look the correct way when crossing the street (Libby rescued me once earlier today when I looked right instead of left). We walked in to the place, a carry out only, and the queue was formed around the sides of the entire inside, almost out to the door. The man at the fryer called across the line to us, "You?" I ordered breaded fish, which is apparently smaller than normal fish, and a small chip. After awkward moments waiting in an increasingly long line, we got up to the cashier. I had my pounds counted out and ready. Libby's meal came, Alison's meal came, but then they skipped over me and started taking money from the man behind me. I was confused and repeated my order, this time flustered enough to say "fries" instead of "chips." The women at the cashier took my money, gave me change, and assured all of us that everything we ordered was in the bag. We left, not sure of what really was in the bag only to get home and realize that we had everything we needed and that we had ordered extra chips, because fish automatically comes with chips. We had more fries than even the GFPC youth group could handle! But after our stomachs were full and we had swallowed our mild humiliation, we all silently resolved that this was the first of many experiences.


These first few days, Doug has been giving us an orientation. We started on Tuesday with some basics about the house such as: light switches are turned on up instead of down, turn on the cooker and hot water before trying to use them, "bleed" your radiator if its not working, and almost everything can be recycled in Northern Ireland so save it all in a bin. Wednesday we started out visiting my placement at the 174 Trust and then at Whitehouse Presbyterian Church.



Being in the places I'll be working makes me excited, because I look forward to connecting with people and doing the work I've been dreaming about since last February. Right now Doug is keeping my schedule in an undisclosed location, but from the things my site supervisors told me, I am looking forward to the challenges, growth, and joy they will afford. We also visited Libby and Alison's placements and got history and information along the way from Doug and Elaine. Yesterday, we registered with the National Health Service (all by ourselves) and got some of the historical background with a little jet lag mixed in. Today we visited the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and met the Clerk and the folks in the Youth office. I have so often been greeted with, "You're welcome" which can come as a bit of a shock to a Southerner who uses that as a reflex response, but I always do feel welcome in a genuine way and I am so grateful.


Today's fish and chips experience reminded me about one of the million reasons I felt led to take this crazy journey. As I stood in line and felt silly I thought about what my students from other countries or cultures must feel on a daily basis. When I'm trying to figure out my bus route, or count my money before I step up so I don't look incompetent, or trying to remember which is the correct word to say I think of how overwhelming it must be for a child who is drowning in the unknown. I am able to laugh with my other housemates about our communal frailty, but what about the second-language learner, or the child from a lower socioeconomic status who doesn't know the hidden rules of a society, or just the person who can't read social cues who struggles to find their way- what then for them? God is so good to remind us that we are all visitors. Our home is not earthly and the best we are called to do is love one another freely while we are together. I hope in the coming weeks to laugh at my failings and foibles, but mostly to reach out across cultures and seek first to understand rather than to be understood.

In closing, I know you will enjoy the funniest moment from "orientation." In the car today, I asked Doug if it was alright to wear pants to church or if I should wear a skirt each Sunday. To which he replied, "Well, I hope you always wear pants, but it is definitely appropriate also to wear trousers." Pants in Northern Ireland...are underwear.

My love and best to you all. Please keep the emails coming, they are an exciting surprise. We also receive mail directly at the house and I will be excited to send you airmail in response. Thank you for your support. I do truly feel that you are in this experience with me and hope to make you feel connected to God at work in Northern Ireland.

Yes, the city is a bit windy!

Before I left someone asked me if Chicago really was windy, since it's nickname is "The Windy City." I've visited before and didn't notice much about the climate so I decided to take note this time. I was warned that it would be "hot and humid." So I packed a few of the outfits I would wear in South Carolina at this time of year. "Hot and humid" to people from this area though, means 70-80 and warm when you stand in the sun. We've enjoyed really pleasant weather this week and yes, a bit of wind. Today is was rainy for the first time and all of us going to Belfast joked about how we better get used to it! My new lightweight hiking boots have already proved useful.

Though initially when we arrived we were all ready to get on the plane, the time here in Chicago is proving (just like my Mama said) to have God's purpose infused in each experience. We have heard a lot about how to discern our own preconceptions of cross-cultural ministry and what we will do with them in our year of service. We have examined our attitudes about other cultures, people, and religions and thought about what also we hope to accomplish in our year of God's service. It has also been a time, free from the flurry of preparations, to talk with others who are sad to leave people they love, nervous about not being prepared for the task, scared about not having Burt's Bees chapstick, excited about serving others, peaceful about the hand of God in their lives. God uses each moment, even the ones where we feel stalled out, to show us that He is the author of the journey. I just hope to appreciate the beauty of the orchestration enough.

Thank you to all of you who have supported me! To everyone who called to say Happy Birthday! I had snickers cake and an embarrassing birthday serenade at lunch, so don't worry. Thank you to those who are praying for me. I truly carry you in my heart already, even at this early stage. You spur me on and I am so grateful.