Ewe Thina

It is due time I start writing in this blog again!

To preface this blog entry, I must explain... I am now entering into a year of mission with a program called Young Adult Volunteers. It has been such a blessing to be accepted with my late entry. I feel that God has put me in Miami for a reason and I greatly look forward to flying out on Monday and starting work on Thursday! Currently I am in Stony Point NY training with 80 other YAVs that will be serving in various locations nationally and internationally. This week is nearing an end, I have made many new friends, and I have seen God's call in each and every person I have met. His presence is strong, and His message for social justice among us is deep.

God has a lot in store for us all to learn about His people. Not only are we going somewhere to serve, but we are also called there to learn and be served. We are partnering with the people of our sites, not just going their with 'our infinite wisdom of God' but also going to learn from His children. It is not all about ME and what I have to offer them. I look forward to the humbling lessons and the wisdom I will gain from the community in which I will live.

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The title of this entry, "Ewe Thina," is a beautiful song that I cannot get out of my head. I have been singing it all day. So, I find it to be the most appropriate title for beginning this new journey that God has set out before me, especially since "Ewe Thina" means "we walk His way" in a language of South Africa.

We walk His way, Ewe thina... here at training we have had some very intense conversations of race and how that affects power dynamics of a system that is hopelessly inevitable to escape. Within our society I am privileged because I am of the middle class and because I am WHITE. There is nothing wrong with who I am, but one must recognize the forces enable some and disable others. I am a part of the dominant culture and no matter how much I or anyone else in the room of Young Adult Volunteers in training want to escape from the dominant culture... we cannot. As a missionary we play an interesting role of being a "gate-keeper" in which we are able to communicate and work with those in the fringes/ margins and maybe enable them to be a part of the dominant American individualistic society... but that is not always favorable. At least not in my opinion.

It does seem to be discouraging. Yes. But my hope and prayer is that with Jesus we can transcend the differences and work towards community among all brothers and sisters. Jesus did some very scandalous things in His day... let's do likewise!

winter

[2 Corinthians 5: 17-- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come]

winter.

death. 

death all around.

just look at the ground 

there is nothing, no life

no sound. 

only snow.

only white.

but 

be not dismayed 

for the white

of the snow

may be a cruel sight

but 

this sight can be taken

as a new light!

a light to grow

a life out of the snow

a new life

a new creation

for spring will bring

great celebration!

God Bless!

So, the last assignment, Mari-jane and I were driving the Braydon's express... there being too much rain we switched from the train to the bus. 

Our last family that we picked up thanked us and said, "God Bless you two :-)"

I am heading home tomorrow after Animal Kingdom! 

Love, love, love,

AMM

Braydon's Express & Other Nonsense ;)

The other day I was trained in using the wheelchair lift for the train that drives through the Villas to pick up children and their families to take them where they would like to go! Mari-jane and I will be doing that again tonight :-)

Today was rough. Well, this morning was rough... so I still have tonight. Working in the Gingerbread house is not much fun when the people do not appreciate what you are doing and order you around. Not the families, the work staff. Today was just horrible because the first greeting I got was this lady making a confused gaping face at me as if I were doing that to her... Very frustrating. She was not nice, I doubt Mary Poppins would like her ;)

Other than that this week has been very nice. Very rewarding to work with these children. The other night (Wednesday night) I worked with Sam, the make a wish child. He was not all that nice... he called my brother a nerd and a loser, and I was called a stupid idiot... and after I told him that I did not use those words he seemed to shape up :) I asked him if he saw Mary Poppins and he said yes, and I said she was awesome. He did not agree... and then Mari-jane asked, "then who is?" 

...he pointed at me :-)

As Brandon Spencer put it, I just beat out Mary Poppins! 

That was a good high. I will have to take a lesson from Mary and put my best foot forward :)

God is good. I am looking for Him here, I see Him in the children and the appreciative families. This is a good thing Give Kids the World has going on. 

On a side note, I will never ride the Tower of Terror again! MJ, Hayley, and I went to Hollywood Studios yesterday on our day off, and I was terrified... but it was all in good fun :)

Well loves, 

I am afraid this is all for now. I am coming home tomorrow--flight leaves at 7:40 pm.

Miss you all! Save me some sunshine!

-AMM-

day two @ Give Kids the World!

As I write, I am very tired... so forgive me if I write poorly :-)

Today we left at 7:15 am and got to the Gingerbread House at 8 am for business! There were 27 volunteers today, so things ran smoothly. I did a lot of prayer for patience because I was told many times through out our three hour shift of how to do things that I am quick and speedy to do with out being told. I especially needed patience with James, but after I told him what school I go to (MSU) he made a gross noise in the back of his throat and did not talk to me the rest of the time! Yes, I needed patience :)

Other than that it was nice, I enjoyed helping the children with carrying their food. Highlight of that shift was seeing the family of Matthew, Allison, Jennifer, and Aaron! They are so darling!

Our shift with the cafeteria (Gingerbread House) we stayed for another shift because we would not be coming back that evening because Give Kids the World cancelled the night activities due to the hurricane... the weather is hardly different from any other rain. Just a constant drizzle and everyone is freaking out over nothing! It is very silly...

Nonetheless, I worked with MJ in Amberville, which is a game place with ping pong, pool, and an awesome train track! We did not have many visitors, again, due to the rain.

Afterwards we joined Hayley in the Castle (the boys Brandon and Brandon were at the concession stands in the theatre). The last hour of working in the Castle our favorite family came to visit again! Matthew, Aaron, Allison, Jennifer, and their older sister, Mandy, who was too cool for last night's "kids night out."

...

Yesterday night, Mari-Jane and I being over 18 worked with the kids one on one for an event called, Kids Night Out. It was a lot of fun. We started off playing with Tinker Toys. A group of kids built such a large tower that almost toppled all over me! 

After razing the tower we went to the ICP (Ice Cream Place) for pizza and cake. Being that the put in the pizza just as we got there... we started off with dessert!  Yay!

Then we headed off to the Theatre and watched our friends pie others in Double Dare. 

A lot of laughter, my partner Matthew enjoyed it very much, but I was very sad that he was not picked to go on stage at all, especially being that he is the child that is here from Make a Wish. 

We ended the night with some Peanut Butter Jelly Time, YMCA, Cha-Cha Slide, and the Goodbye song from Bear in the Big Blue House! :-)

A very delightful night for all; I even got Matt to dance! 

SUCESS!

That is the news for now loves,

-AMM-

Today I worked with Mary Poppins!

Today was very exciting at Give Kids the World because I followed a photographer around and played the scribe. It was a fun and rewarding task in that I had to keep track of the photo numbers to get the pics to the children later on, and so that involved asking the parents their room number too! when there were a lot of people, as you can imagine dear readers, that was busy fun! Seeing the children with Mary Poppins, Goofy, and Pluto was great joy! They all were so excited. And so was I! I love Mary Poppins! 

She taught me a few of her phrases which I plan to use, so watch out! ;)

I work again later tonight! 

I will report again soon! 

I miss you all!

Love,

AMM

New Chapter

I will be heading to Florida for a mission with Give Kids the World in Kissimmee. Mari-Jane Trombly, Brandon Spencer, Hayley Pendergrass, my brother Brandon and myself will be working with ill children, seeing that they have the best day that they possibly can! 

I will see about writing all of you dear readers while I am there. See what God can teach all of us. 

If you would like to be a part of this...

Pray! We would very much love your support and prayer.

Thanks!

Blessings,

AMM