Unlikely Teacher With A Hard Lesson

So story time:

Every Monday and Thursday at the NOAH project we provide bag lunches for any and everyone who would like to join. This obviously being my first Monday was of course a learning experience. I love these days though because they are great opportunities to just talk to people! So I was working at a station to check people in for services and a man named, we will call him, Tim comes to the table and we strike up a conversation. Tim is a fascinating man and little did I know he would challenge me in huge ways.
Tim asked what I studied in school and upon answering Religious Studies I knew I had struck a vein. However, Tim did not react the way I had usually encountered...his first question was why? And a tirade ensued asking why do I feel I need and education on something that the lord promises to equip us with? Tim was passionate about his stance that it is not education that I need but experience! Upon chewing on this whole situation I have not regretted in any way whatsoever my education, but I have just been more encouraged that this placement in Detroit is where I should be. Tim challenged me and called me out and I think he had some really important points that a church and believer sometimes can forget...
 We are not called to simply learn about God and his love and Jesus and his sacrifice and simply hold it in and "ponder" it formulating the best articulated theology. Instead as Tim said at one point take it to the street, take it to the darkness not to convert but to just encourage.
And upon walking away Tim turns to me and says I'll be here Thursday, I expect you to have memorized to Bible verses! Maybe we can all learn a little from Tim, looks like I need to go memorize scripture...

Picture of the week #2

So this week there are tons and tons of pictures, of the first week in Detroit...

However, I wanted to share an adventure that we had yesterday (Saturday) where 6 of us packed into a car and drove the three hours to the Lake Michigan! It was an awesome day at the beach and as you can see very different from anything in North Carolina!

Lake Michigan

Night Skyline into Lake Michigan

The Big Move

So I know this is a little late, but I thought it would be a great idea to go through the last couple days now that I have been in Detroit for just under 72 hours!

Monday
This was the start of my journey as I left around 10 in the morning with my good ole friend Ann Watson and we drove to Columbus Ohio! Once in Columbus we were able to meet up with a fellow Young Adult Missionary Brittany Browne (who will be leaving for Geneva, Switzerland) and her fiance, Syl Eddy! This was just an awesome time together to see what it looks like for friends just to be together prior to going to our placement sites!

Tuesday
I ARRIVED IN DETROIT!!! After about 12 hours of driving I finally made it! I met up at Central United Methodist with my co-workers and began to become acclimated to the city. The rest of this day was pretty fantastic as I was just learning more and more about the city, my job, my house and what the heck a "Michigan left" is (if you don't know then that means you have not encountered this oddity...your not missing out haha)!

Photo of the Week #1

A little late for the picture, but took this on the way! More posts to come!

Support!!

So it has been just a little while since my last post and so very much has happened since that strange day in Washington Reagan airport, as I was waiting for my flight home. I have had so many fantastic conversations, challenges, enjoyable moments and unavoidable difficult goodbyes! I have been making my way around the state to different cities where I have been able to see the people that mean so much to me are living! I have made my way from Charlotte to lincolnton, Boone back to Charlotte to Greensboro, Durham and now I finally make it to Raleigh. What a trip and what encouragement I have found. So I suppose that is what this post is about. It is about encouragement. Anout the people who have found value in investing in my life and that I also invest in. The more I think of the coming move to Detroit the more I have come to realize that the move is not simply a matter of me moving away but a bridge being formed. I have so very much support from so many different places here and I hope to do that support justice by connecting the support and encouragement that I have felt so very strongly here to those I meet in Detroit. So I suppose I just thank you so very much for reading because just by reading my scattered thoughts you are supporting me and supporting those that I have yet to meet in Detroit, MI!

Here is a little point to ponder a little morsel to chew on that has been brewing in my head for a little while: what does it look like to be a united or connected church? Does it mean we must all believe the same thing? Can we all believe the same thing?

Goodbye Training!

Well this is the last day of training and we are heading home! What a time of training! 3 and a half weeks of talking about worship, difficult issues, cultural differences, program specifics, United Methodism and some of the most controversial social issues that the world encounters today certainly takes it out of you! It has been an exhausting three and half weeks but the issues discussed,  conversations had and the friends made have made these past weeks priceless! I just want to take a few moments while waiting in the DC airport to say thank you so very much to all the people who have made this opportunity possible. And to the staff of Global Ministries, and my fellow missionaries that I have grown and been challenged with this has been a beautiful process and I hope we continue to challenge one another and work towards a more just world and a church moving towards the heavenly kingdom on earth. 


Here is a quote from a couple days ago I tweeted it but I simply love it and I think it needs to be passed around!
Give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. However, what if we do not even allow the man access to the pond? 
A beautiful depiction of what social justice can look like!