A Ministry of Presence

    I remember the late October night, not too many years ago, when the pastor told me that during the baptismal covenant a United Methodist promises to give the church prayers, presence, service, gifts, and witness.   At that time I thought how are your presents and gifts different. It only took my brain a few seconds to come up with the difference between presence and  presents, but still it is funny.

When I applied for the US-2 program, one of the essay questions was "What does ministry with mean to you?"  That was the only question I had left, and I spent two to three days thinking about a good answer.  Luckily enough I had taken Mr. Pascoe's exposition class, so I was able to write a good essay answer.  However, also in said exposition class I learned that works of writing may never be fully finished, works can and should continually be revised.  So today I have a revised answer for what ministry with means to me.

Ministry with is a ministry of presence.  I have continuously been passionate about ministry with children and youth.  So outside of my actual job, I have continued my ministry with children and youth, by being present.  I like to say hi to as many children as I can when I see them in worship on Sunday mornings, and I am an assistant to Sunday school teachers about once a month.  Today I went to children's choir practice.  (With my joy for singing and lack of tonal awareness, children's choir is the place to start right?)  I had fun singing with the children.  Notice I did not sing to the children or for the children, I sang with them.  By participating in choir I bonded with those children in a way that I could not have done any other way.  

That afternoon as I was leaving the church, one of the boys from choir who was busy playing with other boys, stopped and waved shouting, "Bye Cindy!"  Right then I knew I had been in ministry with the children, and that ministry had a far greater impact on the children than a ministry to or for.  

I Can't See Until Sundown

The sun shines so brightly in California.  Every morning for the first 4 hours after sunrise I can't see anything when I look east.  Also every evening I can't see anything from 3 pm until sundown. Even with sun glasses it is just really sunny.

So naturally I had to think about the sun.  I then decided this is a metaphor in defense of being politically moderate.  I decided that the suns visible journey across the sky is like the liberal/conservative spectrum.  If you are facing north, then to your right is east, and then to your left is west.  During the course of the day, the sun travels all the way from the far right in the morning to the far left in the evening.

When the sun is at the far right, I can't see properly.  Likewise people who are on the far right don't see properly.  Also when the sun is at the far left I can't see properly, so people on the far left don't see properly either.

So you can't just be in the middle thinking that everything is all good though.  You see, if you are at the far right, and you look into the sun you cannot see properly, but if you look certain directions you can see just fine.  It is the same if you are on the far left.

When you are in the middle you can see properly looking one direction at a certain time(issue), and at another time(issue) you can see best looking the other direction.

It is important to be able to see something from more than one viewpoint but it is also important to know who you are and what you believe, where you stand, and from there you will know what direction to look and when.

October Starts with O and Ends With Halloween

I like to get to know people.  I like to know when people have birthdays.  There are about five days a year when at least 5 people I know have a birthday.  October 1st is one of them.   I know so many people with with a birthday in October, myself included.

So on this day in October I want to just take a minute to say Happy Birthday to all of my October friends including you Nabil, Rachel, Bethany, Spencer, Schyler, Kaleigh, Josh, Jennifer, Brad, Debbie, Dan, Misty, Owen, Brett, Drew, Roland, Ruth, Kristy, Christy, Steve, Gaven, Julie, Amanda, Michelle, Sam, Julie,Brian, Jessica, David, Mindy, Cheryl, Penny, Liz, Lauren, Megan, Susan, Ashley, Elenor, Carol, Kristina, and anyone I missed.

Obviously October means a lot to a lot of people.  What will October 2013 mean to me?  Well on October 6th 2006, I took my first steps after shattering my femur in traumatic car accident.  I usually do something to celebrate or commemorate that day, thten I celebrate my little O-zone buddy's birthday, then my own, then Halloween, and then October is over.

October begins the downhill slide into Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the new year.  This year in October I want to stop.  I want to remember that I am God's beloved Cindy.

If I didn't name you and your birthday is in October, I am truly sorry, let me know I will give you a shout out.  Speaking of shout outs....

Are You A Mexican or a Mexican't?

Actually I am a Mexicoan, thanks for asking.

This past weekend, I was on a retreat with 30 college students, who seek to live out their faith during their college years.  The time was amazing.  I learned so much about planning retreats and how much I needed to buy of what.  When the college students were asked what was the most interesting thing you learned about someone else, the agreed fact was,"Cindy is from Mexico, that is a town, not the country."

That brought me to reminiscing about an exercise we did during our missionary training.  We wrote a poem with the theme of 'Where I am from.' so as promised, here is my poem/psalm

Cindy's Psalm 

Where I am From

I am from a beautiful sanctuary in a town full of empty industrial buildings.  This town has a rich history, a struggling present, an uncertain future, and the smell of burning soybeans fresh in the air.  

I am from a hand built multiplex that smells of popcorn, platter grease, and sanitizing solution.  I am from the ball fields with grass and dirt stains on my clothes.  

I am from family hugs, early mornings, and Dr. Pepper.  I am from writing letters to people in my own house, math homework, and Mom's chocolate chip cookies.

I am from a small liberal arts college in rural Missouri, where I found a place in the front pew of a wooden white church.  I am anchored in Christ and growing in grace while serving others.  

  

This I Believe

Miracles do happen. 

Social holiness cannot stand without personal piety.  

Personal piety cannot stand without social holiness.

There is no sin that can separate a person from the grace Christ offers.   

The Trinity.

This past week or so people have been telling me there views and these are things I know that I believe.  I was really shocked when someone told me that social holiness is more important than personal piety.  She went on to tell me that personal piety isn't even important.  IT IS.  

Just thought I should post this to let you all know that I am still doing ok, and spending lots of time thinking through theological questions, so one of these days I will post deep, well organized thoughts, but not today.  Today you simply get a small list of things I believe.  

Swimming in The Spirit

Today is September 7, a little over a month ago I was introduced to the concept of swimming in The Spirit. This was a children's sermon about how the Holy Spirit is all around you.  I have done a lot of "swimming" lately.

First, and most literal, I have been swimming in an actual pool.  A few weeks ago at a local Farmer's Market, a girl convinced me that all I had to do was show up at a nearby pool, and I could swim.  So I showed up, with only a swimming suit and a towel.  My only knowledge of swimming competitively is from watching the Olympics.  The coach got me set up with some goggles and a swim cap and taught me how to actually swim freestyle.  Swimming in a pool is good for my soul, it is good for my muscles, and it reminds me to continue to swim, in The Spirit.

Next I have been swimming in garbage.  Don't worry not literally, but if you know my enthusiasm for dumps, you might think this has been something I enjoyed.  I did, but for a different reason.  At my job there is an intentional multifaith living community, for students at the University of California Davis.   This past weekend was a move out and move in weekend, so the dumpster was completely over flowing.  So bravely I vested myself in garbage attire and went to sort out the garbage and the recycling. While I was doing this, someone noticed me and asked to help, so he went to work breaking down boxes for the recycling folks to pick up.  As I was helping him break down the boxes I realized that even though we had two radically different faith backgrounds and beliefs we shared two things; an enthusiasm for garbage, and the realization that cardboard boxes are a genius invention.

Finally,  I have been swimming in The Spirit.  I have been going to a new church and signed up to help with Sunday School and Youth group.  I am working thru a devotion.  I have found spiritual "mentors," and I have found time to honor the Lord with my work as a missionary and the community coordinator here in California.

With that all being said, I also really miss my friends and my family in Missouri.  However, just like Dori says in Finding Nemo, "Just keep swimming"  that is what I will do, just keep swimming, in The Spirit.

The Lord Turned My Sandals into Jordans

First I need to give a shout out to Praiz.  I listen to his CD, as some of you may know, over and over and over and over.  One of the songs on his CD is called On Jordan's Stormy Banks,and a few songs later there is a song called On Jordan's Stormy Banks, part II.  On Jordan's Stormy Banks is a hymn that was written in the late 1700's.  I think but am not sure, that Praiz put some artistic rendition stuff in there, especially in part II, but I don't in any part own any rights to this music, I am just talking about how it has impacted my first week as a missionary.

On Jordan's stormy banks I stand/ and cast a wishful eye, is the first line of the song, and that is how I felt when moving to 433 Russel, home of the Cal Aggie Christian Association, which serves students at UCDavis.  I was standing on a sort of metaphorical river bank, just looking at what place the Lord had prepared for me.  Jesus is already present on the University of Davis campus, so what do I need to do to allow ministry to happen through me, that is the question that I was wishfully trying to answer.

After my first week here, I realized that the Lord had turned my sandal into Jordans.  (which is a line that you can find in On Jordan's Stormy Banks, part II.)  My sandals that I had brought from Missouri with all my love. wisdom, and passion for the gospel, have been turned into infinitely cooler shoes (personally I prefer Nike or Adidas) when I put them with the "sandals" that everyone else has brought here too.

What I offer to the table is important, and with what the other people that work here offer, we are amazing.  I am excited to let Jesus work through us and see how this school year goes.