New year, new schedule, new ministries

Being a northerner living in the south, I continue to struggle with wrapping my head around this weather. I went home for Christmas where I largely spent my time bundled in coats and scarves, then I flew to Minneapolis where there was snow everywhere. But now I’m in Arkansas. There’s no snow in Arkansas. I don’t think I’ve even worn a scarf since I’ve been back.

My logical mind knows only about three weeks passed between our departure from and return to Booneville, but the northerner in me doesn’t know what to do with January highs in the 50s. Weather-wise I feel like I’m in March, maybe even April.

This is all so confusing because in a lot of ways I feel like hardly any time has passed at all. Everyone remembers me and notices my return. Starting today, I’ll be getting back to what I have been spending the past 3 or 4 months doing … with a few additions and rearrangements (all of which I am excited about).

Last week Katie, Rachel and I checked out the senior center in town. It is a place we had been invited to but never gone to … and I’m wishing we had. We talked with some women there and agreed to start coming in one day a week. They seemed very enthusiastic about having us there, and I am looking forward to getting to know the seniors and hearing their stories.

This additional ministry will rearrange my schedule slightly, but I consider the adjustment to be well worth being able to do beginner line dancing on Thursday afternoons at the center.

Also coming up for me in this new year are additional responsibilities at the Boys and Girls Club in the form of assistant coaching a 3rd and 4th grade girls basketball team and lesson planning and teaching SMART Moves.

In a lot of ways my three week hiatus has made everything new. My shared king size bed seems bigger (though maybe Rachel would disagree); I have new resolve to keep in touch with friends, family and fellow GreaterWorks interns; and after months of us trying to make plans with Will (a former Booneville GW intern) we have finally been able to spend some time with him.

So with all that is new, what is even harder to wrap my head around than the warm weather is the fact that I only have about 15 weeks left in my community. 15 weeks that will probably fly by. 15 weeks that I could miss if I blink and forget to really be in my community.

So my challenge to myself is to appreciate these new ministries and opportunities as new ways to get closer to my community and love it more.

Peace,
Becca