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

'Twas the week before Christmas break

Well… it is safe to say I feel like the past three months or so have literally flown by. Here I am writing my reflection looking ahead to just one full week remaining before heading home for Christmas. Just like the last week of a semester, I feel like my final week in Booneville is tightly packed with all kinds of things that didn’t get done in previous weeks. This mostly due simply to the timing, but it leaves me with a solidly packed week nonetheless.

Among the things that will be keeping me busy:
-My usual weekly activities of square dancing, Boys and Girls Club, BHDC, etc.
-A monthly lunch meeting with the priest from my church and another member of the community
-Good Fellows (ministerial fellowship Christmastime outreach)
-A trip to Heavener, Oklahoma, with Rachel to experience a midnight service and Morning Prayer for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
-A Christmas-themed open house at our house
-A trip to Ft. Smith for a play and bonding time with fellow interns and FUMC (First United Methodist Church) staff
-Christmas potluck at Church

This is just a sampling as I am sure there are many many more things (included, but not limited to packing and saying see you soon’s). While I am not looking forward to the cramped schedule, I must say I much prefer it to projects, exams, presentations and papers. I just hope that, like with school, I do not get too wrapped up in the excitement to go home that I mentally check out of Booneville before our van is headed northbound.

The First Sunday of Advent; or in other words, a new beginning

Today was the first Sunday of Advent; the start of a new liturgical year; a season in which we prepare for the birth of Christ. I find this hard to believe since the high today was in the 70s. I also find it hard to believe that today marks somewhat of a fresh start (liturgical calendar speaking) as there are just over two weeks left until we as interns will take a break, pack our things, and head up to Minneapolis to fly home to our families for the Christmas holiday.

Despite all the doubt and confusion in my mind, I take this new beginning (beginning is actually a synonym of advent) as a reminder that there is always a chance to start over, always an opportunity to try harder. Maybe I haven’t been spending as much time on daily devotions as I would like to … that doesn’t mean I can’t spend that time from this point forward. Maybe I haven’t done so great with meeting our neighbors … but the year is not over, and I can still continue to grow deeper in the relationships I have begun. Maybe I don’t know every Republican, Democrat and some independent candidates stances on all the issues … but I am still learning. (These are the three main goals I have been working toward over the months.)

“… you know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” —Romans 13: 11

Time is constantly passing and we are always moving forward, but that doesn’t mean I am stuck in my actions and choices of the past.

I pray that the Lord awakens me from the places I have been sleeping these past eleven weeks whether they be in my spiritual life or in how I can be serving the community of Booneville to the best of my abilities.

Today is my new beginning.