Dancing, Living, Loving, Hoping

I have not written in over a year I felt it only far to my Belfast family that I let you know what I have been up to this last year!

Dancing: Well as you can imagine I have not stopped dancing since I posted last I finished a peace based on interviews form Rita Livingstone’s and Satie Heart. I performed the dance in Utah, and in FL with Braided light dance project. I was a member of there company for the remainder of 2011. I showed my work with them as well as thought dance classes and performed in other work. Over the summer I predicted a Show called “Legend” (the title was so in honor of Jenny) I made 4 dances and Meredith levy wrote 4 short plays. In between the pieces blogs former YAVs had written where read allowed. All together the event had a hundred people there and we raised close to $600 for the YAV program. It was important to me to talk about my time in Belfast with the people who had helped me get there and where my church family. I will be honest it was hard for me to talk about my time in Belfast at first. Not every one wanted to hear and much more than it was great. So I started to heal by dancing and sharing that dance with people I love moved me through a wilderness of transitioning back in to the USA.

see a film of the dance "Wee hearts of the Shankill" http://vimeo.com/23378858

Living: Well I have worked in many places over the last year. I finished up my time at Wolfson children’s Hospital in August. There I worked with a program called Godly Play we told the stories to children whom where chronically Ill. I love this work but hospital work is varying darning. I became close to many of the children and teens. I had one patent a 15-year-old girl. Who I would go and see 2 times a week. She was in the hostel for about 6 months on and off. Her favorite story was the Parable of the great Pearl so at lest once a week if not twice a week I would tell her the story of the kingdom of heaven and how we had to give up every thing we have for it. Sadly in May she went into a coma I held her hand and recited the parable of the great pearl to her and reminder her of the kingdom of heaven. She died a few days later. The power of the Godly play stories in these kids lives I will take with me where ever I go however my heart aced a little to much to stay on at the hospital even thou they would have kept me.

Than I worked at a residential School in VA so I moved my self and my belongs back to VA. There I lived with 10 girls between the ages of 11 and 16. Who have learning difficulties vary similar to my own learning disability dyslexia. I loved these Kids and the staff I worked with. My favorite part was that I got to teach dance and drama for an hour a week. The 10 kids I worked with put on a show at the end of the semester of both dances and plays. I was thrilled to see kids remember line who struggle so much with words. And exploded in to dances. I did struggle there as well I was eating in the dinning hall and with my food restriction with allergies I was just making my self sick and I was not the high energy person I usually am. So when a job opportunity came to work in a church as the coordination of christen formation. Working with Sunday school and youth in the same city as a few of my best friends I felt I was being called to move again.

I now live in my own apartment with a kitchen where I can cook lots of allergy free foods I’m back to baking my own bread. I could not be happier my new church family at Christ Episcopal church of Roanoke has been vary welcoming and they have helped me get set up in a new apartment. My rector is also a Hollins grad and she is smart and cares greatly for the member of the church. I also love the work I am writing a curriculum for the middle school Sunday school class. Meet with youth and plan events like pancake dinner. (I know breakfast for dinner is a little weird in Belfast be we love it!) I also get to keep working with Godly play is the curriculum the church use for Sunday school for there younger children. So far I have enjoyed the people the most getting to know them. I had a youth spoil your dinner night where I got to meet with some of the youth. And we played games like whaaa and I even tried playing the MOO game. When I am not working at the church I am teaching dance class at the Roanoke Ballet Theater.

Loving: Lots of things have also been changing with my family and friends. Rachel spent the summer working with the homeless in NC. She feels a real call to work with the homeless and now feels more of duration in her future ministry she is now in her 2^nd semester of seminary. Meredith is now a senior at Hollins working on her BA in theater she has written a play and is staging it her self and has performed in 4 shows this year. My brother Trevor and soon to be sister in-law are getting married in May and the whole family is in the wedding. Also my parents and the boys have also had a big move. My Dad got a new job as the head of pastoral care in Allentown PA. It is a 23-drive hour from FL where I grow up. My mom has started with a new Church and the twins a new school. It has been a sad times but also a new beginning. However I am still not used to FL no longer being where we will spend Christmas. I am excited to visit them however Allentown is where my Dad grow up so we have family there and my Godparents are there as well. I feel vary at home in VA I get to spent a lot more time with friends whom I have missed the last few years. I feel settled for the first time since leaving Belfast. Rob another Belfast YAV who was in my group and I are now dating He is in seminary in Richmond VA. I love that we now live only a few hours away and can visit and spend time together I was able to here him give a sermon at his home church and spent Christmas spent between each others families. Andy also lives in VA and Rob and I visit with him when we can. Meredith lives 20 mints always and we actually have a hard time believing that when we say goodbye it’s not going to be 3 months till we see each other again. I have reconnected with friends from collage and am dancing again.

Hoping: I am hoping that wherever you are you have been as blessed and have felt the last few weeks. I spent a lot of time in the wilderness wondering where I was meant to live and what I was meant to be doing. Feeling vary lost. However I feel I would not be so grounded now and with a sense of perspective if I had not fought throw so much wondering.

A New YEAR

Dear Friends,

It’s now a New Year. I can easily look back and see right where I was this time last year. I was sitting in a little house on Aigburth Park Road with my good friend Meredith who had just arrived in a Belfast airport along with my house mate Sally. At the time I could not look ahead and imagine where I would be today--or what kind of adventures I would tackle along the way to get here.

I have spent the last 5 months in what the YAV program has labeled the wilderness. I learned all about the wilderness at the YAV reentry retreat in Oct when all of the YAVs went to the Ghost Ranch, a Presbyterian conference center in New Mexico. I got to visit with my Belfast YAV friends all except Nathanial who is now back in Belfast. It was a hard weekend and a great one all at the same time. It was comforting to be surrounded by others who have experienced a similar year as me. It was a weekend filled with lots of tears and laughter. Sadly it was the most recent time I have seen my YAV friends but I am sure it will not be the last.

I have discovered that a part of my wondering in the wilderness has included traveling. When I first returned to the States I did not go straight to FL. I got off in New Jersey where I got to stay with Meredith saw her for the first time since last January. Together we traveled to the city my dad was born in and visited my Godparents and my Aunt Naomi as well as going to visit her grandparents. We spent time in New Jersey with her wonderful family. I than drove her to Hollins and helped her get moved in for the semester, before heading to FL. I also have made a trip out to San Francisco which for those of you in Brittan is a three day drive cross county; luckily I had a plain ticket. There I was reunited with Rachel who is going to seminary out there. I got to visit with all her wonderful friends. We had a great time walking the streets of the city and going on hikes.

When I first got to FL I truly had no plan no places. Luckily my parents have offered me a place to live. And I moved back in to the room I lived in during high school. I spent the first 2 weeks putting things in and out of boxes. Removing objects that felt strange to me and putting out the things that were familiar from my time at Hollins and in Belfast. 5 years is a long time to live away than come back. I am happy to say I have settled in better now. The things that felt foreign and strange are slowly becoming familiar again and bring with them memories of my past. I have gotten a part time job as a Godly Play story teller at the children’s Hospital I worked at in High school. I am very blessed to not only have a job but one where I feel I am doing something positive. I also am contracted to dance with a local dance company here in Jacksonville for a few of there spring performances. My job ends in May so I am still constantly searching for the next step and next places to go. I am hoping to head north. But we will see where the wind blows me.

The wilderness is frightening--the number of people unemployed or underemployed is frighteningly high. The number of empty houses on my street because family’s homes were foreclosed is overwhelming. So for now I have given in to the wilderness; fighting the unknown is an impossible feat. One that I have discovered is exhausting. It’s better to just wonder for awhile. The wilderness is always hard and it’s always scary but once you have come out your always stronger than before your went in. So I have enjoyed being near my family-- going to see Taylor play cello--helped Timmy with his technical theater projects--going to movies with Trevor and Kim and being a part of worship services my parents have led. I also got to spend Christmas back with friends I have not seen in a long time including my godson. If the wilderness has so many moments of blessing I can keep facing it.

I spent a lot of time thinking and praying for my friends whether there in California, Pennsylvania, Utah, New Jersey, Virginia, Scotland or Belfast. I am sad that I am not with all these people whom I love and who have supported me along my journey. However I am so blessed to have each of you as a part of life’s journey and will be forever thankful for you.

In Christ and Love Patricia

“Did you forget to pack your teddy or perhaps he wasn’t ready”

Almost all of the good byes have been said and yet agene I am lost for words. I have always been attached to things not new things but well loved things that reminded me of people I love. So I am going end the way I started before coming to Northern Ireland I was asked in my small group to share 3 things I was making sure to bring with me and three things I had to leave behind. The rules are no people our eales I would need two plans. I am also going to add to things I am looking forward to agene and nothing can repeat from the begging f the year.


Things I am looking forward to agene

1. CHACOS, my sandals with I love and have not worn in over a year because it is far to cold hear for them so they where left with Rachel.
2. YELLOW SUMMER SQUASH, I know weird but it is true I miss this food and I could not find it any ware hear
   
3. MY BOOKS, so many books all my books on dance history and my collection of art folios my OXFORED andtaed study bible. Anne lament books and books books books
   

Things I was sure to bring with me

1. JEWLEY, I was given lots this year as gifts but tree peace inparticuler I was give a necklace from the teacher at the primary school where I thought dance class this year along with huge homemade cards from my students. I was given another necklaces that looks a little like a shooting stare from my church family that I will love for ever it reminds me that even though I am going to be far away I will still be under the same sky as my church family hear, than the world seems smaller. Last a bracelet from the bowlers are group of people who just adopted me.
2. A MAP OF THE STATE OF VA, It hung in Andy and Robs flat they are my closet YAV friends. They both grow up in VA and we all went to school there. In a lot of ways if feels as if VA is where I am meant to be going back to like I just did another semester abroad. The three of us would hang out and I would call them VA days. They gave me the map and wrote don’t forget your other home state.
3. A BENNIE BABY DALMATION NAMED DOTTY, It was left on my bed by it owner Meredith in January she brot him with her but sadly he got left behind. But I took good care of him and sadly got very attached. He road in my bag to Galway, Cork, Ayr, Obion, Iona, Inverness, and back to Belfast. I think he is ready to go home to Jersey to be with Meredith and he will get there tomorrow
   

Things I have to leave behind

1. TEA POT, Evelyn gave me a very cute brown tea pot to make tea in I loved it I used it all year and I thought of her each time but I didn’t have room to pack it so it is staying in Belfast for the next sets of YAVs
2. PURPLE WELLIE BOOTS, (rain boots) They where sent in the mail by Rachel for my birthday and I love them to death latterly I ware them so much this spring walking to church and back and in skits for J-team than I put holes in them and well as much as I love them and the reminded me of how much I love Rachel they just didn’t seem very practical to bring home siens the leak and take up a lot of room. So I give them to Caroline because they where to notores around Garnerville to just throw away.
3. MY STIKY NOTE PRAYER WALL, I was my 2nd prayer wall to build and take down. I would write my prayer on them and but them on the wall, on them was a log of a years of prayer for people every where for friends in the states and friends in Belfast and YAVs all over the world. Even though my wall had to come down the payers are never gone they go with me and with that I have faith that everyone I love and all the world will go with me as well.
   

Thank you for all you support for reading this silly blog but mostly for your love
IN Christ and Love
Patricia

Reflection on a year

Well my family is hear and we have been traveling around it is strange to be a tourist in a places that has been my home for a year. My family has teased me about the change in my voice and the praherss I use and because of this they are slipping away. Which means my time in Britten and this year really is coming to an end. A lot has happened this year and trying to pin point moments or places that could talk about does not seem useful. Instead at the end what I have are the things about my self that has changed.

First off there are the odefeved changes like physical changes I have lost some weight this year and they why I dress has changed because it is well cold hear all the time so my FL shorts and camp t’s have retired to sweaters and trouser. And boots.
The 2nd are the changes in my life stile. I learned how to live on my own this year I became independent cooking for my self and budgeting. My diet has also changed drastically. Last October I made escalades and all of a sudden was having trouble breathing and had unpleasant hives. I reallesd my food allergy’s have gotten out of control and that I had to find a way to handle them. So after lots of research and consternation I began to eat an Anti-inflammatory diet. Which has been nick named Annie by Meredith and the Food it self Patriciables by Andy. The basic run down is that allegers feed off of prodigals in inflammation both in ways that help and hinder a body’s respond to food allergies. So I eat foods that help to reduce inflammation like fish, nuts seeds, EVO, and don’t eat foods that coues inflammation such as red meat/pork, wheat, diary, sugar, potatoes, corn, tomatos, citrus fruit. So I eat lots of chicken and fish and have learned to back bread and muffins with spelt flour and buckwheat and honey inside of sugar. I make homemade soup and love cooking new recipes. I also always carry my epipens
Along with my diet I have tried to embrace the YAVs idea of living simple by attempting to reduce my carbon foot print and being conces of where the things I bye come from. Sally and I turned on and off the hot water that why we where not using electricity to perduts hot water when we where not using it. I swished off all electricity outlets on the wall. YES EVEN WHEN we have nothing plugged in to outlets it gives off electricity. You would not believe how much energy it takes to run the little blinking blue light on your TV when it is off. I did not use a dishwasher or dryer once this year hand washing dishes and hanging all clothing on a line. I made sure to only buy eco friendly soups so that the chemicals leaving my house throw the drain would not hurt the envment. I used reusable bags. And even bought toilet roll and kitchen roll made from 100% resxcaled materials. I also read books on climent change and tried my best to shop fair trade and at 2nd hand stores when possible. You may think that’s all well and good but it is expense but like I said I learned to budged this year and I decided that even if it cost more to be socially conches you can do it with in a budget so inside of taking buses I walked places and saved money eating in inside of out. Making it possible to live this way. I hope I don’t loose these habits because they have taken time a long time and it is essay to throw out a can inside of carrying it home to a recycling bin but I have tried to teach myself the value in it.
I have also changed in my views of the world. I have seen first hand that hate for the sack of hate and lack of understanding is very prevalent in are world and that we are a long way away form living together with understanding of different beliefs and ideas. But I have also experacest that as long as there are people who contuion to love and care about this world and it people there is hope of understanding. The reality is it is not going to just go away and world peace really is just some idea beauty queens use in their speech’s for miss America. How ever I did get to witness change this year not in big ways but in the introducing of different ways of working together, such as dancing together. Dancing together causes a group of people to look at them self’s defiantly relates to each other on a new leave one that doesn’t always need words but the feelings that a groups of dancing moving body’s all from different places and backgrounds experience together. In new ideas new ways of viewing and feeling the world change is possible and will continue to be possible as long as we all look for what we can bring to the world that will help other to experiences the world in a new way.
How ever the changes and the new ideas I brought to Belfast is not just where the changes lie I also had to learn to look for the change I had to allow my self to be changes by the new experiences I was receiving by the new people I was meeting who thought and talked and where different from me. Who allowed me to stop and look at my self? I have to remember that I have to change as well if I want the world to change for the better that my ideas and my views are not the same as every one else and that even when I disagree I will be better for stopping and listening and learn from people who have different views from me. Only than can you truly understand your own views.

into the wilderness

Biff and Betty’s Final Appearance

Betty – Biff! Biff! Where are you?

Biff peaks out from tent

Betty – Biff! Do you know where he is? Biff! Where? In the tent? Biff, what are you doing in there?

Biff – I don’t want to go home!

Betty lifts tent flap

Betty – Biff! Come on, we have to get going. We need to go home.

Biff – I am NOT leaving. I love it here. I love going swimming in the lake, and playing games in the Redwood Forest, and cooking in the Canteen...

Betty – I know Biff, but we have to go home. You had fun this week, right?

Biff – Yes, I had so much fun, and I don’t want it to stop!

Betty – Well, we need to get back and tell everybody about the fun we had. You can’t just stay here forever?
Biff – Yes I can. I’m staying right here. Nobody else needs to know.

Betty – But Biff, we have to tell everybody else, so they can come next time and have fun with us.

Biff – So if I tell them, they can come next time? Well, that would be more fun...

Betty – Of course it would! Then there would be more people to play with, and go to the Tent with, and to cook with in the Canteen.
Biff – That would be better. But I really don’t want to leave right now. Can’t we tell them later?

Betty– Well, Biff, I think there is a story in the Bible about this kind of thing. Maybe it will give you the answer...

Biff – what’s that story?

Betty – Well, let me see.... When Jesus was resurrected, he told the disciples to go and tell all people about Him and the stories that He told. They went out straight away and told everyone.

Biff – They told everyone?

Betty – Yep

Biff – So, do we have to tell everyone?

Betty – Well, not right now. We could start by telling the people here? Would you do that?




This past week has been a whorl win of excitement! Caroline Dyers and I took on Garnerville summer program which they call J-team which is like vacation Bible school in the states. We where filling some very big shoes. Margit McGarvy has run J-team for years and years and is one of the most talented and loving people I have ever met. And I have learned a lot form her this year. But Jenny who is her daughter is getting married in a week so she was a little busy this summer. So Caroline and I took it on.

We took on the project we wrote a crulium than works with in the ideas of multbule intelligences. Each kid would learn the same story but in 5 different ways every day. Trying to reach as many different learning types.

We decide to set the theme of camping for the week so we turned the church in to the wilderness. When you walked in to the church you ran in to a campsite, tent, trees a camp stove, a boat, fishing polls. The kids would sit in the groups. We had the beaver, bears, wolfs, squirrels, eagles. There they would meet up with there trail blazer who stayed with them all day walking them fro class to class and joining in the games and activates. We would have a group opening where we started with engerzers so from the states and some form Belfast. Thoues of you in the states be ready for okay do key karaoke and Mr. cow. Than Biff and Betty would show up and usually they would be in trouble and it was often Biffs fault. Where Biff was stuck in a tent or there was rubbish all over their camp sit. Or Biff went swimming where he was not suppose to, and my personal favourite when they got lost not only hiking but from each other. Typically this ended in sending out the campers and trailblazers to come back and tell them about a story that may help Biff and Betty solve their problem.
The camper and trailblazers would then visit the Park rangers at different cheek points for 15 mins than move to the next. There was the tent where they would lesions to the story, there was the cove where there was an arts and crafts, the camp fire was drama where kids got up and acted story’s out, there was canteen where they had cooking class/a sank that related to the story, and the redwood forest where they played games.

We ended each day by coming back together and sing songs together. Andy another young adult volunteer helped us lead music. The week had so much energy around it and we had people helping from different church’s different countries and yet it felt like one big family working with a conmen goal of giving the 40 kids in the room two hours where they could be kids have fun and hear about gods love. To be hosnt I think they way these kids slaw god this week was not in the music or in the story’s or in the decorated rooms but in the devotion of the leaders and Garnerville church from the women who came in every morning to serve tea and coffee to parents to the young leaders who sang songs and did dances right next to the kids and the teachers who cut fruit help lead skits told story’s and played games. On Friday was had a lunch for all the leaders and we enjoyes just being together and talking about the week. I got to now so many people even better than before I have seen the Garnerville member in action and there is nothing they can’t do.

There was so much love around the week and this was evident in the clouesing services on Sunday J-team took the serves the kids showed off their art and acting some of the skits they made. Sang some of the course and yelled there group cheers. After words there was tea for parents and kids and the whole church got to wander in and out of the rooms and see the places the kids where for the last week. Than with out any complaints it was cleaned but packed away in 5 mins because so many people helped.

During the closing severs Biff and Betty made a final appearances. Biff sat in a tent and screamed I not going home. Now I have to say Caroline wrote the skit but getting to throw that fit as if I was Biff is pretty telling to how I feel right now. Patricia also wants to sit on the flour and throw a tantrum saying I not leaving I am not going I love it hear I am loved hear. The thing is I not really sure when it happened or how it happened but this has become my home. At the same time I know that I am not meant to stay I hope there are things I meant to do when I go. Like Betty’s says I hope there are people who need to hear about the things I have seen and learned the one big differences is it feels like I am leaving home like I am now going in to the wilderness and I am leaving behind what feels safe and familiar.

So I am packing up my year into two suite cases and brief case and a gutter case. I am spending time with the People I love hear going to the museum with the Clarks lunch with the McDowell family. Sleep over with Caroline and going to the movies. Had a girls night with Karen and Jenny and Caroline, Making one last dances with Rachel, and hanging with the other YAVs Rob by the way he has the pox’s so I have made bread and brought over soup.

My Family Gets hear in 9 days that day Jenny gets marred. Than Sunday the 25th is my last Sunday at Garnerville and a goodbye party for the YAVs than a first family vacation since leaving for collage and visiting friends in Scotland who I have not seen in 2 years. Than on a plane to New Jersey for time with Meredith than into the wilderness.

Taking off my wristwatch

Taking off my wristwatch is an old habit one that started in the 6th grade. There was a dress code for dance class. Hair was in a bun with a hair net gelled back no loess end and absolutely no bangs or hair in faces. Pink tights and black leotards, with pink ballet shoes or point shoes. Or if it was modern class black tights rolled up to my knees. There was also no jewelry or panted nails so every day I got in to the habit of taking of my watch and putting it in my tennis shoe so I would not forget it as I ran to math class after dance. It became a ritual a habit that was just apart of whom I am. My very first dance class at Hollins I was in the dressing room and I asked what the dress code was and the other women all older than me just smiled and said there wasn’t one. It funny how habits die hard I had to wean my self in to being comfortable dancing with out the leotard and tights. First by warring trouser on top of my tights and leotard than I started warring a shirt over as well, till finely I was confidant dancing in clothing similar to what people would wear to a yoga class. I also cut bangs in to my hair for the first time my senior year. Now you really would have to pay me to put a leotard back on. Taking off the watch and putting it in my shoe has stuck how ever. It’s the dance class habit from six grad that has stuck.

I realized this on Wednesday when I took off my watch and stuck it in my shoe as I walked in to the pro dance class I take with Maiden Voyage Dance Company. Taking off my watch is practical yes, it does mean I will not scratch up the flour and not wearing it makes it essayer to move. It also means I let go of time for that hour and a half I not checking to see how much time is left or if its getting close to when I need to get on the bus all that matters is the class. I try to dance as best I can and let go of schedule and list of earned that have to get done. I also try to let go of every thing that came before and the harder one for me right now the future. Inside I try to dance in the present I try to find a flow where all that matters is the sequences of movements where the hold world would be crashing around me but all I know is the dancing.

I have four weeks lefts working at Garnerville and Good-bye have already begun. I was given one of the nicest goody byes from my students at the primary school. And we had are final dance class together. Thursday was my last after schools club and today I am have a party get together for the group of dancer I have been working with at church. I’m trying to take of the wristwatch. Trying to give the people I have worked with my completely present when I am with them. I will not lie it hard it so hard. I am fearful of the future not knowing is scary not knowing what I will be doing who I will be near is stressful. How ever I have not been forgotten. I have loved the people and places I have worked with this year and even thou I do have to think about time I have to fill out job applications. And think about health insurance and how to pay the bills. I am going to do my best to take off my wristwatch and be present with my Belfast family.






This moth I traveled to London with Andy and his friend Katie we had a great time. I took professionals drop in class at the places contemporary school of dance. We went to museums and slaw a couple of shows including Henry the IV at the Shakespeare glob.

I do have some very exacting things to look forward to as well my Family is coming very soon in 4 weeks! My parent and my brothers are coming over and I can’t wait to share with them the places and people I have grown to love. We are also going to travel and spend time with good friends in Scotland. Than I get to fly to the states and see Meredith and Rachel and that moment when I give them each a hug and probably cry like a baby can not get hear fast enough.

All I want is to dance and help

I have been very busy the last moth or so. Work has been excited with several different things.

We had a Sunday school away weekend at a place called child haven. We took the kids there and played games, made crafts played rounder’s (which is really just baseball it took me a few hits how ever to figer that out) worshiped together, rolled down hills. And made daisy chains. I had a great time will all my Garnerville friends the leader had a tendency to stay up very late chatting.

Also we had our childernday church services this past week where I was coned in to teaching a school from camp Montgomery. One with dance moves and sounds. I secretly loved every min of it. It was also one of many ends that are beginning to happen. I realized I would not be a Sunday school teacher in the fall. I am going to miss the later of the other teacher’s trumdisly not to mention a huge number of kids who have made me laugh and played ever game I taught. I feel I belong with this group of people. They have become my family.

Even though things are ending as the school year comes to another close I still have lots to look to before I return to the states. I am still teaching in the school on Fridays so I have dance class to prepare. I am even giving the school assemble this week. I am also co leading and creating VBS for the summer it called J-team at Garnerville. And I am very excited for that it is the first week of July. I am also in a dance for film by a local Belfast coregerfer who I have met at the dancer research base hear in Belfast. We start rehusing Thursday. And I have great YAV friends hear to hang out with for another couple of months. I went to Lisburn this past weekend to visit my friends Rob and Andy.

Andy is helping me by collaborating and composing a score for a dance I am make based on interviews I have had with older church member in Belfast. I am interested in childhood memories told 70 years later. What things remain what and is the facts left in or memory’s and how have exercised changes are views. I am hoping to turn it in to a dance for film. Before my time in Belfast runs out.

My groups of dancer at church are doing something very exciting. Rachel for my Birthday gave me a book called “An Alter In The World” by Barbra Brown Taylor. (Rachel is so good and know just what I need to read) it all about seeing the holy in the every day the chapter I read to the dancer was on god in nacher in the natural alters God has made. SO They are making the dance. I had each for them go out side and find an object study learn as much as the y could about it. Than make a solo around there object. And they are some of the most bueful dances I have ever seen. They are simply and thoughtful each step they take is mindful. It makes me want to be 12 agene almost.

Also my family comes at the end of July and we are going to travel till mid august together which is exciting. However the time after that is scary I am not sure where I am going or what I am going to do. I would rather keep living in these moments. Than move into the unknown that is so donating. I was very distort about it today I was talking to Meredith and was asked “well Tricia what do you want to do what will make you happy” and I answered that I did not know. It all seems so dark and with out any light at the end of the tunnel. I am so blessed to have friends who love me even when I am grumpy and afraid thank Meredith, Rachel, Mom, Dad, Andy, Rob, Peter, Aunt Fonda and every one else who has listened to me frit and worry these last few months I love you all.

Funnily how ever this evening I found comfort in my own words. The class of 2010 websites are up on Hollins dance and after looking throw them being very prod of my friends and there work. I vested my own web site and reread my artiest statement. It’s posted below. I found the words I wrote last year to be the same this year. I think dance is my vehicle for change. And how I am able to view the world what that means I have NO idea. But I find some comfort in realizing I do have an idea of what I am good at and how I make a difference.





Artist’s Statement


Not an end but a new beginning


I have quite a few works but I don’t want to talk about them individually but instead about why I choose to dance and make dances. I have been dancing for as long as I can remember. Not dancing would be similar to not breathing.


I like process, not just my own, but also others. I like the time spent in rehearsals and in movement class. It sustains me when I enter a studio. I leave every thing else at the door.
I make work that reflects my history. I find an idea that I am interested in and try and learn everything there is to know about it. I research a subject as if I am writing a research paper, but instead of writing a paper I create a dance. I often look at what is next to the idea instead of the idea itself. I choose a process or a game that best fits the idea in order to create movement. It’s different with each dance.


The ideas come from my family history, cell phones, Dr. Seuss, and musical theatre. Often my dances are commenting on these ideas and how they have affected my life, or many people’s lives. I believe you can say things in dances you could never get away with in words. Dancing is how I have gotten through a world that is so heavily dependent on words. But words are so often misunderstood and mixed up or spelled wrong for me. But my dancing body always seems to say what I ask it to or it informs me what it is thinking.


For me a dance “lives” not necessarily on the stage but in the interactions between me and the dancers I have asked to work with me. Just the fact that they are willing to spend the time to come and play my dance making games is an honor. At some point you have to let go of the dance and let the dancers hold the dance up. They are the ones on the stage. I try my best to create a rehearsal space that is healthy and useful for both the dancers, who are my friends, and myself. I hope they leave feeling that I value their time and ideas.


All I want is to dance and help. It is impossible to change the whole world. But with hard work and planning it is possible to make change in this world. I believe dance is the gift I was given as my vehicle for change.


“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living. It’s a way of looking at life thought the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life’s realities.” –Dr. Seuss


“Public art hence becomes a vehicle of connection, a means to realize and recognize the common, a medium for people to gather together to reflect on the very idea of being together.” – Randy Martin

"You're the strangest person I ever met, she said & I said you too & we decided we'd know each other a long time."

April disappeared I am not sure when or how it came and went far to quickly. Last Month Rachel came to visit she was meant to have stayed here for a two weeks spending some time is Scotland with a friend than time with me in Belfast. After that her mother came over and met her in Dublin and the traveled together for a week. However the craziest thing happened a Volcano erupted in green land and I got to keep her for another week! Which I love but for two tried travelers who where expecting to go home it was trying.







Rachel spent some time with me and the other volunteers we hiked cave hill. We also went on a day trip up the north cost with Leslie who I grow up with and danced with in FL she had come to






Belfast for a wedding. I also took Rachel to the St. Gorges Market which is where many of the volunteers and I meet up many of a Saturday morning to eat hear live music and look and lots of venders sealing hand made crafts and freshly backed bread.

After an extra night in Dublin and we discovered that they where not going to be leaving Ireland until a week after they where meant to go home. We came back up to Belfast. Rachel’s mom enjoyed having a kitchen I don’t think I was allowed to wash a dish all week. Together they explored the city as I went to work. We also spent a day in Bangor and the folk museum. I was also Luckily enough to have them here for my Birthday which was incredible because I felt so loved. I was made to ware a great big butten that said it my birthday today and I had salmon cakes for dinner and a spelt and blubbery cake.

I also felt very loved from all my friends here in Belfast. My church family spoiled me I was suspired with Parity by Karin, Jenny, and Caroline. Where I was made Salmon and asparagus for dinner (there is a paten there) and a melon cake with candles. These three women whom I work with at church I some of the most loving friends who love Garnerville and the Youth there all three of them are so active and sing in the choir. We also have a good thing going called girls night where ware comfy clothing and which TV.




The other Volunteers also all came over to my house where Rachel and her mom cooked a great dinner. I’m so glad I got to share my friends with Rachel and vise versa. I'm blessed to have time with all of them. I was very sad to see Rachel and her mom drive away but I think God know we would appreciate the time together I mean what else could explain the Volcano?

strangers

Last march I was in a conference room that was set up for worship with about 70 strangers. I was there because I felt like I had no where else to go because the places where I wanted to stay I had grown out of.

I could no longer stay at Hollins. This was already in contrast, because at one point there was an opportunity to levee early which I considered manly for finances. I never really wanted to levee not in the August of 2008 or in May of 2009. Hollins was my home the people there had become my family we didn’t always agree but what family does. Some times there was sorrow but there was also joy, meals in the dining halls, hours spent sitting on the flour discussing dance and art and dreams. I felt intelligent at Hollins, no I could not spell or do times tables but I could discuses dance theory, theology, ancient art, and I was creating dances. I build a community for my self in my chaplaincy studies class and with the first year christen fellowship. With the dancer I dances along side and created with, the fencing club on epic drives to torments. Hollins was home.

last march I was sitting in a room with 70 strangers at a placement event for the young adult volunteers. I didn’t have any problem with the idea of going abroad. How ever one of the first things that was asked of us was to let go of are current community we where asked to turn off are phones for the week and not visit friends. We where asked to let the 70 strangers in the room be our community. I have to say I hated this idea and to be honest I broke this in several different ways. I went to visit a friend who went to seminary in Kentucky. I also had internet and would send emails home. I didn’t mind the idea of going abroad. How ever the idea of giving up my home my community terrified me. To be honest I tried the hole no contact thing for the first night. I was in tears but only after messaging a good friend and visiting with my friend Mike did I realizes. That it would be ok I was able to cheer up after that. I got to know my roommate Sara who is now in Peru whom I love and is my prayer partner for the year. I remember being able to laugh with people at meals and towards the end of my time worship became powerful and meaningful.

I came home to Hollins sat under my dorm hugging a friend still completely unsure of what was happening I was going to N. Ireland not because it was a life long dream but because I could not stay in the place I loved.

Last Friday I was teaching my dance class at the school.The dance club kids have come so far they worked on making up there own dances in small groups. And are able to inprov with out feeling self-conches and they laughing and smile the whole time. After school I walked up to peter and Alas for dinner before heading down to church for “The east end show” a choir contest for charity that the choir had work so hard to put together to raise money for Ecuador and Alshimors research. I helped the choir with movement for there songs and I danced not in ways I usually do, but I danced with the GB girls and with the SN@G member dressed as potato and I was asked to dance a solo. I was sounded by happy faces people who are my friends who tease me about trying to merry me off so I can get a visa to stay in Belfast. I was laughing and enjoying my self. The last song the choir sang in the show was from the musical Joseph. I was standing in the wing looking up at the people I have grown to love and realised with out knowing it I let my self have a new community one I love and one I feel that I am apart of. I feel the same as I did last march apart of a community I love but have to leave. Luckily I broke the rules, the same friends I wrote to last march I continue to write now. I also have many new friends. I have my Belfast YAV friends some of whom came to watch me dance this past week. And I have my church family. I am afraid of there not being a community next year. I worry that they is not one waiting for me but I look back at the communities I have been apart of and who supports me and I realizes that I have always been taken care of even when I’m afraid because leaving places has not meant leaving people, given the time 70 strangers are no longer strangers

February

My work here never cesses to be filled with verity. February is one really good example of verity.

On the 14th I lead worship. I wrote out the lituray and prayers. The theme of the Sunday was "God at work" so God in the work places. I fond out some cool things. For exmaple the word vocation means a calling. I like thinking about work as a calling. Maybe our job is not so different from out vocation if we are called to work weather reuality, Nursing, or accounting what does that mean? God goes with us every where we go not just to church or Bible study but work as well and we need to rember God in or work places. I also thought a lot about gossip how we threat the people we work with. I gave a children's sermmon using "is it nice, is it true, is it nessery" the idea being before you speak about some one else go throw your head is what I am saying kind? is it really true, do I know for a fact that so and so has gained 10 pounds? is it nessery do I need to be saying this at all? will it help someone? will it better lives by talking about a person in this way? I used tooth past to show that we can't take the things we say back like tooth pasest words once they are out they will not fit back in the tube. I thought a lot about people who can't find work. Lots of my friends who just finsed school can't find jobs in there feild and men and woman who have worked for years have lost there jobs becoues of the "credit crunch" as they call it here in Belfast.

I have also lead 2 of Gernville's all age worship times. We try to have the first part of the serces when kids are still in the room be a time that reaches every one. So the 1st Sunday of the month is a worship time together, 2nd a traddishnal object lesion or childern's talk. 3rd is dance/drama/ multisensory. 4th is other or any of the above. I used a beanie baby to talk about how God loves us just as childerns love there favourite stuffed animal. When they are lost there whole world stops till they are found. God loves us when we are dirty and have holes and are broken, and if we are in the washer getting a fresh start he will wait next to the maushen untill we are clean. For the presybteran weman sunday last week I build a Gernville maushen I had different member come up and make a movement and a nose they had to conect to the person in front of them. At the end they all did there movement one after the other. I used lots of different people from different groups in the church to talk about the body of Christ and how we need lots of kind of people to make a church work just like a meshean has lots of different parts.

This month I have been helping the choir get ready for a big concert in March. I also have started working at the school more on Fridays. I teach dance class to the preschool students in the moring lead a trust and insctive games with older kids (these are group building games I would us at camp) in the afternoon I teach dance to the P1 than have my usale dance class after school. I am also teaching a dance class onces a month in the commuinty center. I still go to all of my regler things Bowling, Childsplay and friendly club are in full swing (last week I was the entertament at friendly club so I did some reading). Also GB is geting ready for there big display so I have writen a play and am making a dance for them. One Big project I have been working on the last few month is a Sunday school teachers training day (it is tomrrow) I have been working together with the youth worker at another church. I am nervies about it but I love the Gernville techers and I hope it shows how much I aperchat them and that I just want to suport them way I am here.

Earlier in the month the YAVs and I had one of our retreats we went to the beach for a day on the west cost of Ireland. We also went in to Derry and herd a lot about the troubles there and how the people lived during that time we looked at murals that have been painted in an artistic responses to that time. We also drove a long the noth cost we stopped at the Giants causeway. It was a refusing time. A time to share storeys with friends, and rest as well as learn and grow. the pics are from that trip

Here and there

Well I now have lived in Belfast Northen Ierland Long enough to have picked up the slang words and some times the ascent. I have been here long enouth to fall in Love with the people I work with and another church family. I have been here long enough to miss my friends and family back in the states desperately but also dread the idea of leaving behind my new friends and home here in Belfast. It's an unusal feeling really.

I had a fantastic January becoues I had the best of both worlds. One of my best friends Meredith who is a sophomore at Hollins this year came over for the month she was doing an indapented study for her H-term she wrote a play based on the Dockers strike in 1907 it like 120 pages long it ver impress and smart. I got to not only got to spend time with her but I also got to show off all the things I love about Belfast and my church family here. Having her here help to high light all the things I knew I loved, but I could really seen them when pointing them out. I took her to church where she got to see me give a some what descent retelling of Horton hears a who for a childerns sermon. Also she went to bowling club with me and got to meet the group of peopl who have really adopted me. She really left an impression on them when she bowled by holding the ball with both hands and swing it between her legs. Also I was able to bring her to a SN@G meeting.

SN@G is our youth fellowship group at Grenville SN@G stands for Sunday nights at Gernville. It was named SN@G more becoues the youth wanted to here SN@G said in church it is a slang word for making out in Briton. All of the leaders are volunteers and have to be under 30 there are 5 leaders including me Jenny, Carline, Gram, and Karen. I became close to them on a weekend retreat we took the youth to. I also love the kids we have about 10 to 15 youth that come each week and we have a lot of fun. We play games including Wah, and a game called the moo game. Than we have a Bible study. There is always a lot of laughing.

I loved having Meredith here we went down south to Cork and Dublin. She also spent her 20th birthday whith me. She got to meet all of the other YAVs. Some how me being here is more real now that she has seen where I am, and meet my friends. I put her on a plain to go home on wednesday and I am heart broken. I realized as I put her on the plain how much of my heart is back in the states with her,my family, Rachel,my other friends dancing at Hollins, St. Andrews, and the list goes on. At the same time I realized in July I will have to leave another part of my heart in Belfast with the Bowlers, SN@G members, Peter adn Alsa, the community centre kids, and my students in my dance classes. So for now I am telling my self that time with Meredith was so worth the heart ace of another goodbye and in April I will have the nest of both world's when Rachel visits, and than in the summer when my family comes to visit. Than I am not sure what I am going to do becoues I will miss my Belfast family just as much.

Love you all where every you are

Patricia

Christmas in Belfast

Well I promised to be better about writing blogs but I am falling miserably. I siad I would write next about SN@G the youth group but I have decided to postpone it and talk about Christmas here in side.For the most part Britain celebrates Christmas like they do in the states but every thing is just slightly differnt. It like waking up in your own room but every thing is moved two inches to the left.

The Christmas corals have ether a differnt tune than I am used to or different words so I am usaly confused. In the end they give me the same worm feeling of Christmas. Starting with Cold wheather, it snowed the sunday befor Christmas. Like churches in the states they all celebrate Christmas differently. Grenville has a Nativity service on the 4th sunday of advent. We perpared for this for a month with extra rehusale on Friday nights and during sunday school. It was very cute and the kids worked hard to luern there lines and songs. I may have made a guest aperinse.

That same night Gernville has a Carols by Candlelight services. It was beautiful we read the nine scriptures and carols I got to read Isaiah9. The only word that triped my up was Zeal but luckily Jan taught me how to say Zeal my frist year at Hollins, so I did ok. The services was lovely and reminded me of Hollins wight gift serves.

A Chrsitmas eve services is not traditional in prodstent churches here. Gernville doesn't have one. but my Friend Lindys church does so I went to there 11;30PM carols services. she gave the message. It is traditional for churches to have a Christmas morning services. On Christmas moring the familys come to church and the kids bring there new toys. We sang 3 carols and I gave a childern's talk.

My Christmas was really nice. Sally and I decorated the house with decorations we found up stares so no fear we had a tree. Christmas eve I was invited to Peter and Alsa house Alsa is Swedish and they celebrate Christmas on Christmas eve. She cooked a traditonal Swedish Christmas meal. With smoked salmon and potatoes and anchovies and lots of other alsome stuff. I really enjoy spending time with there family and feel very at home around them. After the party I came home and talked to my parents, Rachel, and Meredith on the phone. I will not lie this made me very home sick I missed my family and my cloes friends and St. Andrews a lot on christmas eve. On Christmas morning I was over whelmed by things to open but it was not the gifts that where incredible it was the fact that I really have made so meny wonderful friends here. I felt loved and was fluded with kind faces and hugs I was not lonely at all for Christmas I have such a wonderful church family here in Belfast. Christmas day I went with Peter and family to his sisters' house for a traditional Christmas turkey dinner. Than on Boxing day which is the day after Christmas I went to another familys houes from church and had a great day and another turkey dinner. Needless to say I am any thing but lonely or hungry.

I hope you all had a wonderful blessed Christmas full of Gods love and grace. Have a happy new years

In Christ

patricia

Girls Brigade

Well there is not really any thing like what is commonly known as GB in the states. The closest thing would be girl scouts. It a christen organization I have add a brief history from there web site.

The Girls’ Brigade was formed in July 1965 by the union of 3 organisations ...
The Girls’ Brigade (formed in Ireland in 1893)
The Girls’ Guildry(formed in Scotland in 1900)
The Girls’ Life Brigade(formed in England in 1902)
All 3 organisations were designed to provide weekday activities for members of Sunday Schools and Churches. As these 3 organisations grew and developed they extending into many countries around the world.

In 1965, the 3 organisations merged to form the Girls’ Brigade as we know it today, now operating in 61 countries and islands around the world. Apart of my job and weekly routine is being a leader of the 241st company ant Garnerville. I have to say I have never been apart of any thing like it other than the few times I went to Newton’s on Ayr’s GB in Scotland a few years age. The girls and leaders where uniforms; and have two big formal events a year. The enrolment ceremony and end of year display, at the display they get badges they earned. On a Tuesday the explores come first there are 6 of them they are aged 4 to around 8. We colour, dance some, play traffic lights, duck duck gooses. Some times they do projects like back biscuits (cookies) or paint. Than the older Girls come I am in charger of teaching scripter’s to the Jrs they are aged 8 to 10. I love this I lead a very similar Bible study to ones I would lead at camp. We play games that help lead us in discussion after the stories and I like the girls. I also am helping get a play and a dance together for there big end of the year display. We start getting ready for that after Christmas.

Last Sunday was our enrolment serves. Peter asked me to help him plan the serves which was really exciting. We used the idea of a cloud of witness that yes the girls are members of the GB but that they are apart of a huge support network that God gives us. We had the girls do an egg on the spoon races up and down the aisles and each side of the church was to cheer a team on. This was to show that there are lots of people cheering us on where we are wining or losing. Peter lead that then I gave a message on three woman who are apart of our cloud of witnesses. I read a story on St Brigit, Harriet Tubman and last I ask one of or church member Evelyn to answer a few questions for me. Evelyn did so well and the girls sang there song really well.

I was also given a leaders uniform on Sunday I have never worn a uniform before and I was unsure about it. But the gift of the uniform made me feel as if I was apart of something. And now on a Tuesday I have a polo with my initials monogrammed on it as a reminder that I am also a member of the cloud of witness God has given me at Garnerville.

Love, Patricia

Fit me in Somewhere

Today I got letters from kids in the WOW (Worship on Wednesday) at First Presbyterian Church in Lake City, FL Also this week I got a beautiful card from the Love circle at my home church St. Andrews. The Love cercal has always been kind to me they sent me cards the whole time I was at Hollins. I was so excited to seen one slip throw my letter box. I also have gotten letters from my family, Sally teased me about the existents of a Halloween card. Also some of my close friends have send amazing care packages filled with every thing from instant Irish accent spray to spelt pretzels my new favourite snack food. (Wheat free)

Each letter and email and face book note has been I reminder that I am in no way alone. When I first stood at the front of St Andrews and said that I was going to N. Ireland. I had no idea that some many people would stand behind me. You all are the biggest part of this Journey. That is way I am very sorry I have not been keeping up with my blog post. So I am going to do a series of them this week.



For the first I would like to talk about the N. Ireland YAVs fall retreat. All ten of us pilled in to the Garnerville mini bus, and drove the 3 hours to Donegal Ireland. It was my first time in southern Ireland (the part that is not Britain). We stayed in a house of Lack Elis next to the blue stack mountains. It felt a little bet like Hollins which made me feel at home.

During the retreat we did many things for the most part we just enjoyed the company of each other, because we are so spared out that we really don’t see each other that often. One day we went on a hike up pilgrims path. We also visited the little town of Donegal and took a trip to a very cold beach.

One of my favourite parts of the trip was that each of the four house was asked to lead a worship why we where there. This was my favourite because so many people are so musical talented it turned into a jamming sessions. I even lead a few songs. Below is a poem I read. Sally and I based our worship time around it.

Fit me In Somewhere
By Gerard Kelly

Fit me in somewhere

In this giant jigsaw, God,
Somewhere in this work of art
You’re working,
Select a space my shape can fill
And with a puzzle maker’s skill
Let my contours find their fit without contortion.

Teach me which patch I am, God,
In the cosmic quilt you’re quilting.
Show me where my square of selfhood is of use.
Let the colourful complexities
Of the pattern that is me
Find their purpose in the placement that you choose.

Show me my position, God,
in this group photograph.
Stand me where you want me to stand.
Put me next to whom you will.
Make me stand, for good or ill,
Precisely in the place your plan demands.

Tell me what I am, God
in this body you are building:
a tongue to taste,
a nerve to serve,
an ear to hear.
Give me grace
to not be, gracefully,
the parts I am not called to be
and to play with elegance
the roles I’m given.

Fit me in somewhere
In the gint jigsaw, God,
Somewhere in this work of art you’re working.
Weave your wondrous tapestry
Until the twisted, tangled threads of me,
Surrendered to your artistry,
Form an image that is beautiful to see.

I like the idea that we are all just peaces in a puzzle and we all have some where we fit. And we can fit with out changing our selves. I also like knowing that we are not meant to do every thing. Some times we will not be cast. But there is still a part for us. We just have to keep auditions till we find our part in the play.

Love Patricia

P.S. next blog coming soon on the girls barraged, to be followed by a blog on SN@G youth group.

Dancing on my own

Well it is hard to believe I have been here a month and a half. It seems short to me but a few of the church members have said really only a month and a half it feels longer. I would say that I have getting very used to them being around as well. I really love the church people every one from the friendly lunch club that meets every fourth night for the older member, to the childsplay play group for mothers and toddlers.

This church seems to have such a sense of hummer about every thing they do and I feel that I will learn so much from them as well as be teased endlessly. I came here honestly because I not sure what I am meant to be. Or what God wants from me so in a lot of ways this is a year of discernment. I have not figured that out yet at all. I have discovered that I am happy both working in the church and dancing but I am not happy at all only with one in fact I begin to resent the other. If I am only in the church not dancing hurts mentally and physical and I just mop around and am very unhappy. That is how I spent the first few weeks here. Dance is where I feel a seans of self. It’s who I am and how I learn about the world. But only dancing and not reaching out to the community and all Gods people also makes me feel just as worthless.

So this is what I am doing to help calm some of these feeling. Out side of my work as a volunteer I have joined the Dance Resource Base this is a kind of dance union. This group help me to find class in the area I take a contemporary class (modern, if I said I wanted to take a modern class here I would end up in a hip hop class which Kristina would find funny) I take a profchions class on Wednesday nights they only people in the class are the Maiden Voyage company members (this is a locale contemporary company the name comes after a ships fist voyage the Titanic set sail on if Maiden voyage and sank it was left about 5 min walk for the studio). The class is a good class and for 2 hours I feel like my self. The DRB will keep me up to date on shows in town I have a ticket to see DV8 this Thursday.

I also could rent space cheep. I don’t need space because the church hall is huge and it free for me to rehearse in. It has a wooden flour because it an old bad mitten court. I improv in church last Sunday and working in the old bad mitten curt was a good place to rehearse. I have started a new project it still in the research stage and I will ask my friend Maddi to come in and rehearse with me soon she went to ADF a few summer ago.

We are starting a dance group at the church I have employed one of the youth who also loves dance to help we hope to get started next week. I also have found was to bring dance to the community’s I am working in a primary school. Later this year we will be putting on a show down town with the local Catholic primary school as a way to try and integrate the two community’s Just having family’s sit together from a Loyalist and Unionist back ground in the same theatre watching they kids in perform is a huge brake throw and goes to show that art can and will make a difference in this messed up world.

At the same school I teach and dance class every Friday and it is probably my favourite out of all of the dance things I am doing. The kids are actually enjoying it and improving. I teach a regular class with a worm up, than we go across the flour, we work on a combination, and we end with working on imrprov skills throw games. These kids out side of school have a ruff home life and some people really turn there noise at them but I Love teaching to kids like this there is such a seen of award when the improve and enjoy dancing the clap and carry on. I hope to have some of my friends come a play live music so the can experience that was well. This is different than kids who have every thing they don’t value it as much.

It also Hollins Fall dance concert this week!! So Merde to all involved. And I hope that if you can that you get out to see the work

Love and peace

deaming together

Well I have been getting in to the swing of things. Gernville is literally a church on the Hill. You can look out over the lock and she the mountains on the other side. Also it is right next to a cow pasture. I have falling in love with this Church Family. The members a busy with the goings on of the church from Sunday services to fellowship groups and doing things for the community. I feel very lucky to be places there.

I get along with Peter fantastically he is working to help church’s in east Belfast write a mission stamen on how each church is mission oriented. The presbytery is asking all the church to write one. He took me to a workshop that he was running that help people from different church come up with ideas for there stamen or more importantly look at the missions they are already involved in or areas that could use there help.

My job was to hand out nametags a table number that split up church member and had them sit with other churches. The workshop was set up coffee style . It was really interesting to me because I got to here about what other churches in the area where doing about here about some of the mission work in the area. It was interesting to see big and small church dreaming together.

Time Table

This week was my first full week of work. I work in a Garnerville Prysbtern Church and in the welfare housing estate called Knocknagoney. It is a unionist (protestant) neighbourhood. Its an area where the kids and youth just don’t have a lot to do and not very many resource. I work in the community centre and in the primary school which is like elementary school. I will be helping the school join with a neighbouring catholic school in January to put on a play together as part of trying to integrate the kid from unionist and loyalist family’s. Below is my time table and of big things that will go all year and how they went this week. I do a lot of other things for the church as well and am busy most of the time.

Sunday:

church at 11:30 (I teach the P2-P3 Sunday school class. They are 5 and 6 years old. I had 3 kids in the class we share the same room as the preschool class. I share with another teacher we each take two weeks the brake for two weeks. I was told that I was not starting till next week but it turned out that the other teacher is on holiday (vacation) so I taught on Sunday last min. It was fine I am quick on my feet. The kids are so little they didn’t notices.)

Lunch so far I have been invited to lunch at a different family’s house every week

SN@G; which does mean making out but also means Sunday night at Garnerville. It’s the youth group. Last Sunday we had an opening welcome back BBQ where I was tricked in to mooing in a game called the moo game. They have about 5 volunteers who lead youth.

Mondays:

10:30-3 usually have a meeting in the City with the rest of the YAVs and Doug.

8:30pm bowling with some of the church members this is not really part of my job. But I like the people the have been meeting for 25 years and the bowling ally no longer charges them.

Tuesday:

9 to 12am Help with Childsplay it’s a free play group the church puts on for people in the community. Care giver and toddlers come and just play and chat and eat pancakes.

12-1 meeting with Peter he is my supervisor and the minster of Garnerville.

6:30-8:30 girls brigade I don’t even know really how to explain this. It like girl scouts but not at all. There are almost 30 girls who attended. I will be teaching dance with them.

Thursday:

2:30-5pm I work in an after schools club at the Knocknagoney community centre. My first big project helping kids make butterfly masks for the butterfly parade in Oct. I will also be teaching dance there

8:30 fellowship group, It a group of church members most of them are closers to my age and I don’t lead any thing I just participate.

Friday

9am school assembly at Knocknagoney Primary school about once a moth I help with the schools assemble. I give a small talk.

2-3pm every Friday I teach a dance class at the Primary school they told me that I would only get 6 or 7 kids on a Friday. Close to 30 showed up. I think it going to be my favourite time of the week but I am going to have to find a way to work with such a big number.

Saturday= DAY off (today I meet up with other YAVs at the Market in the City)

with not for

Well all 9 Belfast young adult volunteers have made it here safely. We got her last Monday and moving right into our house. Sally my housemate and I, live in a small but cute little house. It is close to the Titanic quarter of Belfast. It’s also close to where C.S. Lewis grow up. Its one of the poorer areas of town it is in a loyalist part of town which means there are Meany union jack flags flying everywhere left over from the bonfires in July but it is very safe. There is a cinema near my house and some shops and a cafe.

My group of Young Adult Volunteers is probably the loudest group that was at orientation. Almost every one is in the performing arts in some way or has been in youth ministry. So we are all very out going. We also are very musical we sing where ever we go and there are four guitars here between all of us. There are five girls and four boys.

Sense we got here on Tuesday the YAVs and Doug Backer (my site coordinator) have been riding around together in a minibus. We have gone to visit all of the places we are going to work for the next year. We all work in a Church but many people are also working in community outreach centers. We have spent a lot of time talking about the idea of doing serves with people instead of for people. When you do something for someone often the person who feels the best afterwards is the person who is doing not the person receiving. So the goal of the YAV and the places we are working in, are trying to work with the people that it serves. I think this is a hard thing to learn, its essay to give money or old clothing but giving time listening to someone. When are schedule are filled with meetings, rehearsals, classes, fencing, church meeting, dinners to cook and what ever else fill up are time.

A lot of churches we visited here have become aware that most of the people attending there services drive in to church and are not the people who live right out side of there doors. Many of them have started to reach out to these communities. This does not mean evangels they are not trying to find new members to fill seats or hit people over the head with the Bible. The churches reach out with out ever bring up faith with the idea that God values all people and so they want people to know they value them to. Many places have opened after school drop in or help people figure out how to get welfare benefits they have play group for young mother or grandparents raising kids. Looking back I don’t really know the people out side the doors of where I have lived either. So I am struggling with these questions and I challenge you to do the same.

Who lives in your community? Who is out side the door? On the other side of the foodlions check out? What school do there kids go to? Where are they from? Listen to them.

How can you work with them to show them you value them like God does?

In Christ

P.S. these are pic of me at a place called Scrabo tower and sally infront of our houes