Freedom to Spend Myself

I used to dream of a job that would allow me (and enable me to afford) to participate in every short-term mission trip that caught my eye. Last summer, I reveled in that dream's fulfillment, as working with Mosaic afforded me the opportunity to be a part of six teams over the months building up to our September launch. Today, I once again counted the blessings that this year's schedule has granted me.

After visiting the new baby of a Louisville friend from the '80's this morning, and between covering the front desk at the RMH over lunch and weeding the new garden at TSW this afternoon, I had a quick conversation with my friend Chris, about this evening's spring formal at RICA. During which he questioned incredulously, "Don't you work?!" "Not on Thursdays," was my cavalier response, but shortly thereafter I was struck by how fortunate I have been this year to be able to say 'yes' to things an ordinary work schedule would never permit.

Serving regularly with the same community partners has given me the chance to build relationships with both the leaders and members of these organizations. As much as I believe God designed us for these bonds, it's going to make it much more difficult to move on, now that I've invested my heart and not just my hands. Tonight at RICA's spring formal I learned that I am no better suited for mixers than I was fifteen years ago, but it is much more amusing to watch the awkward middle school slow dance from the sidelines. My date was our new Mosaic intern, Amanda, who I should probably keep at arms length as well, because I can already see that we are getting attached. But I do agree "tis better to have loved and lost..." and I'm pretty sure that applies to interns and churches, as well as teenagers at their spring dance.

Career Day makes me glad my career is not teaching

Today, I visited one of Mosaic's community partners, Jessup Elementary School, for career day. On a sunny Friday afternoon, when the kids haven't had a real class all day, anyone's gonna be hard pressed to keep them focused, but when you bring a cute dog with tricks into the room, mayhem is inevitable. We spoke to 9 classes of 1st, 4th, and 5th graders. Corona, my furry friend, was a perfect assistant, and the kids were hilarious. Every "question" turned into "Um, one time..." and ended with a lengthy inaudible statement about an animal. After much prompting some of them did actually have questions about being a veterinarian, such as, "Sometimes when animals are too sick to fix do you have to take them to the pound?" And the classic, "Um, do veterinarians have to eat only vegetables?" Hehe.

One student (pictured above) even dressed up like a vet. Most flattering were some of the farewells, my favorites being, a girl who blew me a kiss --it may have been directed at Corona--and one who said, "You rock!"

Teachers, I applaud you! I need a nap and I'm pretty sure Corona will sleep well tonight too.

You may now get comfortable again

...but I hope you won't.
The Get Uncomfortable growth group has officially come to a close. Last Sunday, we visited Frontline, a ministry of McLean Bible Church, to hear Todd Philips, the author of the study, preach. And then followed up with cupcakes, and garlic fries at a nearby restaurant. Tonight, we helped rebuild a playground as our group's service project, and ended the evening with pizza and cupcakes. I can't decide which has been the better marker of a successful small group semester, the level of community we've achieved or the number of cupcakes we've consumed...

The Waverly Playground in downtown Baltimore was burnt to the ground last September, this week ~1,000 volunteers are putting it back together. Participating in this construction made me reminiscent of my other carpentry attempts: assembling many pieces of IKEA furniture, assisting on Southeast's Easter Pageant set, and contributing to the massive chorus of hammering in Help Build Hope, the event where Southeast members framed over 30 homes for Hurricane Katrina victims. On each of these projects there has been at least one step that I have had to dismantle and start over, but as far as I know all the IKEA pieces are still standing, and I sure hope the houses in the gulf coast are. Jesus' career as a carpenter makes me appreciate Him even more!

Mike and Jason moving lumber.

(It was really some kind of synthetic--arson-resistant--wood, probably not called lumber)

Tom, my great partner, who let me feel useful, and asked me if I was a student!
(It must have been the pigtails)

Kate and Charis designing a tire swing.

(I don't think I'd take the first spin if I were you)My friend Debra, the RICA volunteer-coordinator who shared this opportunity with us.The after-party at Joe Squared to celebrate Charis' birthday.

In about 10 days, brand new growth groups will begin and our members will be scattered among five or six different options. But I pray the relationships we've established will continue to grow and the paradigm shift we've had about service will last.

Moving along, but feeling just as far away

So, I wasn't completely successful in my goal of condensing everything I own into one carload, (or even two or three.) But I have succeeded in moving. Small victories. And I feel a personal sense of accomplishment that I downsized enough to tote everything across town single-handedly. Considering it took nine of us to move all my junk up to that third floor apartment last June in the 98 degree heat, I think I've spared a few people the uncomfortable sense of obligation to exchange their blood, sweat, and splinters for free pizza, or some other equally disproportionate trade.

This morning I allowed myself to be poked, prodded, and nearly exsanguinated by a doctor to be cleared to move overseas and serve as a fieldworker for CVM. Let's hope my lab tests don't reveal any incubating Swine Flu germs, I don't think Bolivia's been exposed yet...

Last night while watching the fantastic movie, Bella, I became a bit more concerned than usual, that I'll never fit into the Latin culture. Impenetrable barriers such as their taste for spicy food, dancing, tequila, soccer, and of course--the only area in which I have any hope (and little of that some days)--Spanish, all stand in the way of me losing the "gringa"-status and being seen as anything but a tourist. Oh well, I'll keep working on it, but until then:

"“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me."
-2 Corinthians 12:9

Going, Going, Gone!

Well, not quite in auction-fashion as the title would have you believe, but through a series of events this past week, I've nearly downsized to my goal. After our final Get Uncomfortable small group meeting last Thursday a few of the group members went through my library, wardrobe, and furnishings and participated in my personal redistribution of wealth program.

I love seeing friends and strangers take some of my favorite books. Knowing that Harry Potter, Princess Buttercup, Howard Roark, and Rhett Butler will continue to entertain and inspire long after I'm far away is comforting. But the most fun part for me is when people tell me these gently used goods will remind them of me, for instance Channelle says every time she throws something away in my old trash can she'll remember to pray for me. And when Charis and Kate adopted a couple of my hoodies with "Spears" embroidered on them I was so touched and reassured to know that even though I'll be out of sight in Bolivia, my ministry won't necessarily be out of mind.

On Saturday, we put together a very large multi-family yard sale. Although the snowcones and baked goods may have done the most business, it was a gorgeous day to hangout on the lawn and get to know some Mosaic families a little better. After the stream of shoppers stopped flowing, we packed up our merchandise and I dropped off an SUV-sized donation to Goodwill. Now, if I can just keep from acquiring anything more (that stop in Barnes and Noble yesterday may have been ill-advised) I'll be in great shape for a few relocations over the next couple months, starting next week...

"A man there was, tho' some did count him mad
The more he gave away the more he had."
"He that bestows his goods upon the poor
Shall have as much again, and ten times more."

-Paul Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress

Our first Easter!

Although I wholeheartedly agree with the statement on the inside of this adorable card from my parents, "It's all about Jesus." I still feel a little sad for the Easter bunny. He just looks so pitiful... But I guess it probably relieves some of the pressure.

Sunday may have been Mosaic's best day ever! Christmas is still my favorite holiday, and the virgin birth is nothing to take for granted, but as Christians, the resurrection is our true cause for celebration. As Carl shared in our pre-service huddle, "This is why we're here, Easter is why we started Mosaic!" He obviously meant sharing grace and forgiveness through Jesus' sacrifice is why we're here, but the Easter service itself was a pretty encouraging reminder of what God has in store through this growing church plant. Our largest crowd of locals thus far, 160 people, gathered to worship together at our most exciting, upbeat, and dynamic morning service yet.

Before we settled down too much from that rush, some of us joined two other local churches in hosting an Easter block party for Southwest Baltimore through the HOPE Ministry. Mosaic volunteers prepared more than 200 almost-too-lovely-to-eat treats to follow the dinner served by the Vineyard and gospel message shared by Bethel Church. Besides the yummy desserts Mosaic also contributed our corn hole game and the biggest hit of the party, our moonbounce! I wanted to include a picture of me being pummeled by blood-thirsty 5 year olds, but the pile of kids made it impossible to prove I was the one wrestling for breath underneath. Playing monster in the moonbounce was probably the most fun half hour of my week! I think the rest of the Mosaic volunteers would agree that serving at that party was the best way we could have celebrated Christ's ultimate act of service 2000 Easter's ago...

"...just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many."
-Matthew 20:28

Aging Reluctantly

A couple weeks ago I turned 29. Which doesn't feel a lot different from 28 but it sure sounds worse, mostly because I don't really like prime numbers. A few things have happened since the year flipped over in my internal calendar...

Friday, I went to a an awesome concert. Two of the guys on Mosaic's worship team are in another band called One Minute. About 10 people from Mosaic, and a lot of people from elsewhere, went to cheer them on at a really popular venue in Baltimore, Rams Head Live. Having been out of the club scene for so long, and knowing it was an all ages show, I left my ID in the car. The ticket guy's insistence that I had to prove I was over 21 to be stamped, and the aroma of the large black X's marked on my hands was enough to whisk me back nearly a decade to the days when I was labeled thus regularly at shows.

The next morning a group of us went to RICA to love on the teenagers who live there, via high intensity childish sports. I literally, cannot remember the last time I played tag. It had also been too long since I did a somersault, played kickball, or jumped rope. As we were leaving the director thanked us mentioning that they love anyone under 30. A few of us groaned a bit as that number is just around the corner, but I'm pretty sure if all it takes to entertain those otherwise surly teens is to run around a gym like a foolish 20-something I should be able to pull that off for many years to come.

And finally, as the landmark of 30 knocks at the door, I've set a personal goal to like, or at least be more tolerant of, all foods by that milestone birthday. In pursuit of this dream I've recently eaten raw celery, ingested raw onions, and even purchased raw peppers. Knowing that Bolivia will be filled with scary foods and the expected courtesy that I will swallow them all with a gracious smile. I'm pretty sure that for the sake of the gospel, Paul endured hardships even worse than cilantro.

"And He said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." -Matthew 18:4,5