Monday, January 9, 2012

2012: It is now 2012.

So I have not been diligent in my blog posting, this is obvious. However, it is a new year and I am rededicating myself to the process. Therefore, as is the regular fashion we will do a small rewind of 2011/from the last time I blogged.

Last you heard from me I was just beginning my 2nd YAV year. It was the first day of September, and the summer heat was still lingering in the city. I was getting to know my new six roommates which grew to eight. The happiness I felt to be back in my city, and amongst fellow YAVs was strong and vibrant.

Soon, the NFL lockout ended and Who Dat nation was ready and excited! We are now in the second round of playoffs and ready to take another win against the 49ers. On a more personal note I was beginning to get things rolling with my work here at Chinese Presbyterian Church. However, I was struggling with all the work I had done in my last YAV year and finding where my work for this new time would be. I focused on youth and reaching out to the Chinese immigrants in our church.

October peeked into the scene faster than you can say, BOO! And I took our Chinese youth to the pumpkin patch at First Presbyterian Church! 

They had a great time throwing away all the pumpkins that were no longer good, and we did our best to communicate across our language barrier. They are truly joyful and helpful youth.

Following our pumpkin patch outing, I began to hit my own rough patch. I was having a hard time getting all my youth on the same page, and participation was waning. My confidence was also waning.


However, Halloween was close and I knew that my good friend was coming to visit and I would get a chance to have a good time with my roommates as the city would be celebrating. 

Well don't you know it, but next came November. The weather began changing just a little bit. By a little bit I mean the humidity let up and the 70 degrees began to stay the steady temperature. This when my Pastor and I begin to talk more about where I can focus my energy and I start to find a slight momentum in the approaching holiday season. November also means, Fall Retreat!

So all is YAVs and my fellow community members pile into Carlos (our van) and our Site Coordinators spacious prius (that is sarcasm the prius is a tiny yet fuel efficient vehicle.) We head over to Austin, TX for a chance to see Austin Seminary's campus and the wonderful Smoot house where we lodged. We also visited the capitol building!
From left: Eric, Allison, Jillian, Emma (me), Ashley, Lauren, Bueana, Tyrone, Laura. 
It was a great retreat and I was feeling much better about my direction in my year.

Next came December, and I was pulling out poinsettias to decorate then church. There were children's gift bags to assemble and the annual "Journey to Bethlehem" at Parkway Presbyterian. Before I knew it I was on my flight to Raleigh, NC to see my friends and family. It was a beautiful and happy time as usual and after the New Year came I headed off to Montreat, NC for the College Conference. I went to the conference to recruit new YAVs.
I had a great time in Montreat trying to stay warm and learning some new things. I will go into more detail about the conference in my next blog post (I think it deserves it's own page).

Which brings me to today. I had an amazing Skype conversation with the ladies of Cann Memorial Presbyterian. Being a Presbyterian and a member of a church is a special thing. It is easy to lose sight of that with all the day to day difficulties of being a member of a church. But those ladies keep me grounded in a community that shows me love and keeps me going.

I am also running around to get things together for a Martin Luther King Jr. service day, and beginning the plans for a Women's Retreat. So stay with me friends, and pray with me too. It is a jungle out there full of snares and confusing paths but He sends us each other, and that is where we find grace.

Hence my diatribe...and Happy 2012.

2 comments:

  1. What a blessing you are!

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  2. Good post twin. Esp the picture with me in. haha jk. Sounds like you are continuing to do great things as always. Look forward to seeing you again soon!

    KT

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