The past three weeks have been filled with “formation”- basically training, community building and preparation for the SPEC year. I now know I am a part of the SPEC Centre team, comprised of 8 volunteers who will be working with young people aged 13-25. The Loft Team is SPEC’s Children’s Ministry project working with 7-14 yr olds. The third SPEC team is located in the east side of London and are appropriately named SPECeast. Of the three SPEC YAGMs, I am with SPEC, Kris is up here with me working with The Loft and Becca is in London with SPECeast. It is nice to have the support and companionship of fellow YAGMs while each contributing to and experiencing a different area of SPEC.
To conclude this SPEC education portion of my blog…. SPEC is affiliated with the Catholic Diocese of Westminster, which includes most of London and the northern country I’m in, Hertfordshire (pronounced Hart-ford-sure). SPEC has two meanings: It first comes from the Latin words “Speculum Vitae” which mean “mirror of life.” It is also an acronym for Spiritual, Personal/Peer, Educational Community. Growing up amidst American Lutheran ministry my entire life, it has been wildly interesting and enlightening to be a part of British Catholic ministry now! I will save some Protestant/Catholic thoughts for another time- but it is worth saying now that it’s been amazing to be welcomed with such loving ecumenical arms here at SPEC—and our differences in practice, theology, worship, etc. has already proven to only add to the riches and experience of this Global Mission year.
On to less logistical info! I had begun to really start feeling the itch to start working! In my mind, time to stop talking and start doing! Fortuately, this past Wednesday/Thursday was our first SPEC retreat—a retreat for about 90 Year 12s (American equivalent= HS Juniors) from a Catholic school in London. Starting in Year 12, the students are beginning “sixth form”, the final (optional) two years of secondary school. It is during these two years they hone in on like 3-4 subjects. From here, they go on to university.
It was a excellent and successful two days of team builders, educational sessions, worship, food and fun. The differences in the educational system are there, but these young people were the sixteen we all know and love. Confused, peer-pressured, defiant, horny, insecure, sports-obsessed, timid, moody, hilarious...need I continue?
In all honesty, while I know I have gifts and experience working teens, I know I carry some personal mess and apprehension into this full year of working with 14-18 yr olds. I believe it is natural to have such concerns because lets face it, teens are tough; not unlike how BEING a teen was tough. A challenge with Camp Luther teens was always the age difference. I was 19/20/21 and trying to lead campers who were only a few years younger than me. After experiencing this week with a small group of 15 young people, I’m beginning to understand two things I have working for me. Being on the brink of 23 allows me to be more removed yet empathetic for all that teenage messiness and joys. Strangely enough, being a foreigner is also going to be a great angle to experience. Not being from here allows me to remove myself from all my former-Marta achievements/experiences/culture so that resting too much on my “American laurels” is not an option. Beyond some of the young people digging talking to me about American pop culture/sports), it was nice to feel like it was really a non-issue to them. Through all of this, this past week affirmed just how much I will be able to contribute and receive from this ministry.
Memorable exchange from my week:
Me: Who are some of your favorite bands?
Music-loving Lad: …on the top of my list is Metallica.
Me: Alright!! Totally—I saw them in concert!
Lad: (eyes widen like saucers) Wow! I’m jealous!
(later in the conversation…)
Lad: I love Def Leppard…..don’t tell me you’ve seen them too!
Me: (Laughter) Yes.
2 of the approx. 7 bands I’ve seen live made this kid think I’m rock royalty! Haha. Good thing—cause I doubt he’d be as impressed with 98 Degrees…..
Shining my light,
Marta
SPEC Staff from our first retreat:
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