No Boundaries...?

“Every step we get a little deeper…..to climb higher up some mountains…and face the storm…and be totally awesome and succeed because THERE ARE NO BOUNDARIES!!!!” -Kris Allen

Ok, so those aren't the exact lyrics to American Idol Season 8’s coronation song, but that’s the main gyst of that god-awful song we faithful AI viewers endured this year.

Sorry to tell you, songwriter and lame-excuse-for-a-judge Kara Dioguardi, but there ARE boundaries. Specifically it was cultural boundaries that were the topic of conversation at our recent Time For God (TFG) conference.

Language barriers are a huge boundary that separate cultures. The lack of language boundary between English and American cultures is comforting, but it carries with it a deep impact. The language barrier is absent, which means all the other boundaries that separate English and American cultures are all the more noticeable and raw. Differences in relating with each other, communication styles, expectations and cultural values and norms are shoved onto center stage; a center stage that can be foreign and uncomfortable, even if you “know your lines.” Feeling at ease with the language is often paired when gentle reminders that this still is very much a foreign country. While the language barrier remains a central element of these first months for many of our co-workers, Kris and I have found ourselves catapulted swiftly into the heart of some pretty deep and difficult cross-cultural issues. Living, working, and relating (especially to teenagers and my peers) in this culture has brought with it challenges I would have never fathomed initially.

Our conference was a much needed chance for the 12 UK YAGMs and a handful of others to reflect on mission work in the United Kingdom. The UK YAGM program is fundamentally very different from the other programs. “Mission work” and “missionary” carries a certain connotation, one that, no matter how negative or incorrect, doesn’t typically equate heading into a westernized culture to do God’s work. I know that the work I am doing here with SPEC is vital and legitimate, no matter the implications that surround it. Surprising boundaries that go far beyond the English language are complicated. Yet, when these boundaries and walls start to be broken down, the joys of being brothers and sisters in Christ really start to be realized. I am proud to be a part of the UK YAGM, Time for God and SPEC communities. The blessings continue. Thanks be to God!


TFG+ Conference

Just Dance!

I successfully made it through my first traveling experience in England by myself! I visited my second cousin Katie in Portsmouth (southern England on the water) this weekend and had a marvelous time. While traveling by bus and train, I couldn't help but imagine the Amazing Race theme song; especially when I got on a train not realllly knowing where I was getting off. :)

My iPod served as an excellent travel companion. While traveling, I made a mental list in my head that I would now like to share:
5 Songs That Make Me Want to Bust a Move on the Train (or wherever I am for that matter):
1. Simply Irresistable, Robert Palmer (She's so fine..there's no telling where the money went!!)
2. Run It, Chris Brown (He was young but still this is a greattt jam!)
3. My Sharona, The Knack (A great eliptical song too!)
4. Sussudio, Phil Collins (Ultimate 80s cheese)
5. Land of A Thousand Dances- Wilson Pickett (you just cannot NOT dance!)

I dare you to try not to dance to any of these songs! As they came up on my shuffled playlist, some random London bystanders almost got a free Marta show!

Oh--- and I came home with Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, AND mini Reeses cups.... Thank YOU, Victor Osweiler and the U.S base!!! More reason to wanna DANCE!!!



Shinin' my light and bustin' a move,
Marta

Stop! Relic Time....

Wednesday October 14- Marta the American Protestant encounters English Catholicism full force….

The Spec team had our first “outreach” day retreat in a school, St Martha’s, an all-girls private Catholic secondary school. I really enjoyed my assigned session, which was entitled “Lets Hear It for the Girls”- taking a look at female images in the media and the societal perceptions and expectations which result. I felt in my wheelhouse, but only with my session material. Man I clearly am not accustomed to Catholic schools- either here or at home. (It occurred to me my only real encounters with the sort at home were the occasional peak around St. Boniface and basketball games at St. Mary’s.)

Just when I figured this good little Protestant had experienced enough Catholicism for one day, it was a quick turnaround before I was in a SPEC vehicle again heading to Westminster Cathedral. Nothing says “Be respectful and embrace the Catholic experience” more than spending roughly 6 hours praying, worshipping, singing and sitting in silence amidst the main attraction, the relics of St. Therese and the thousands of English Catholics who turned up to see them. (They were in England for about a week....)

All I could really do is to take it all in and continually be in awe of my surroundings and just where this year has taken me. It was beyond amazing singing and reading in that space. As cliché as it sounds, being in a space of such epic proportions is truly humbling. It really was neat to be a part of the 9-10pm and 1-2am SPEC shifts of leading worship and prayer. The religion and history nerd in me was all kinds of excited. Experiencing any form of religion is fascinating for me, although I’m still trying to grasp the idea of Saints… The lifelong Lutheran in me struggled with the concept of people waiting HOURS in a queue to look at/pray/fall to their knees in front of the relics of a woman. I had 6 hours of mind-boggling. I couldn’t get over these crowds. The queue resembled lines for the Millennium Force at Cedar Point. There were vendors selling fish and chips outside. The cathedral was open through the night and even during our late night shift, there was a good 200 people there. Incredible.

At one point I was assigned to read scripture, but I found out the lectern mic was turned off. (Thanks in part to a shabby lookin’ gent in the audience who ran up to say “I can’t hear you!!!”) I joked later that they sniffed out my Protestant blood pretty darn quick. 

At one point, I leaned over to one of my English Catholic friends and whispered, “Alright…so I understand like 30% of this.” I felt like an outsider in a way. But, as I struggled and tried my hardest to comprehend, it made me wonder how much all these adoring visitors truly understand. (My friend said he understood about 50 precent.) There must be some conviction behind your belief if you exercise such devotion….right? My perception of Catholicism has certain baggage- a lot stemming from growing up in U.S culture- where it sometimes seems like being Catholic is something you are rather than something you believe. Where you’re born into it, don’t ask questions, and stray away from the strictness and expectations during numerous stages of your life.

My faith is one built on questions. Questions that sometimes produce better understanding of my convictions, other times uncertainty.
I strive to continually embrace the questioning and struggles and doubt in my head, both religious and secular…. knowing that its OK to feel the urge to interrupt St. Therese’s English visit with a loud, American “Huh????”

Shining my light,
Marta

Laugh It Up, Chuckles...

“Laughing at yourself is a form of humility- and a great way to let go of control.”

I seem to be relating a lot of blog posts to advice given to be at YAGM orientation, but I suppose it’s a testament to the amazing people and organization that made this year possible for me. Knowing that I prepared for this year of service for nearly 8 months, it is assuring to know that all the preparation was well worth it and can be valuable in day-to-day life at SPEC.

If you have been keeping up with my blog, you might remember a little issue I had with my control. This year is helping me explore why I find comfort in it, what happens when I let go of it, and how I can better be a player of this game called life without necessarily having the controller in my hands.

This aforementioned quotable from Orientation merges together two concepts I know a lot about. 1. Control 2. Laughter It’s merging these two together (or perhaps keeping them separate) that has gotten my wheels turning recently.

I’ll be the first to admit that laughing at yourself is not always an easy task. Easier said than done. I’m not sure I can think of a family who loves a good laugh more than the Diehms- and I am thankful that Bill and Sue have instilled such a humor gene in their three kids. (Who else experienced the likes of Stripes, Major League, and Saturday Night Live before/alongside learning how to ride a bike?) I believe American popular culture is part of the problem. (Always easy to blame society, right?) We are surrounded by an ideal based upon laughing and making fun of others…either at their request or their expense. Sure not all American humor is laughing at others, but a type of “glad that’s not me!” laughing mentality clearly is present. Think Ben Stiller in Meet the Parents/Fockers…

But what happens when it is you? Do you become defensive? Do you shrug it off? Do you laugh on the outside while deep down you’re hurt? Do you enjoy it? We are taught that it is healthy to laugh at yourself- but I’m sure we all can answer “yes” to all of these questions at one point or another.

Though I come from a humor-based lifestyle, I have been much more in tune to humor and its implications this past month than I am at home. At home, humor is natural and second-nature. Here in England, as in any cross-cultural experience, humor can cross cultural lines; it can also divide them. Living in community with co-workers from 10 different countries is proving to be quite the social experiment in laughter. Being aware of all of this while still keeping elements of who I am alive and kicking (including what makes me laugh) is essential. Some of the strongest connections I have made thus far at SPEC can be contributed to finding common smiles and humor in unlikely places. Laughter breaks down all kinds of barriers while working with teens on retreat- Teenagers can really benefit from a “laugh at yourself” role model, a role I will continually strive to fill.

SPEC recently purchased a new MacBook. One of my jobs this week was to get it out and become acclimated, read the manual etc. I am in a committed and content relationship with my PC--- but I don’t doubt Mac Photobooth’s ability to be an amazing cross-cultural laugh fest. Irina from Germany and I were the first to test it out. Laughing until your belly hurts and tears stream down your face from images of your own distorted face….that, my friends, is a lesson in humility and letting go of control!

Ohhh and don’t get me started about words and phrases getting “lost in translation”
From German/Hungarian etc. to English but also U.S English to English.
Take note:
“Trousers” are to England as “pants” are to the United States.
“Pants” are to England as “underwear” is to the United States.

In the event of a rainy day in England (likely), if American Marta exclaims, “Ahh my pants are all wet!!” (It has happened)….. well then, American Marta has learned yet another lesson in laughing at herself. You can only imagine the variations of the pants/underwear hilarity. (Go ahead—think of more—especially you, Gretchen Diehm.)

I will embrace the merging of my two current favorite concepts, letting go of control and humor. If you are familiar with the range of Marta laughs (“Woody the woodpecker”, big ole belly laugh, silent “nothing coming out” smirk, high pitched wheeze…), rest assured they have all been introduced to the SPEC community and are alive and well!




I will open up the floor for dialogue. Hint Hint: leave me a comment!
Do YOU benefit from laughing at yourself?
Do you agree that it is easier said that done?
Can you have control and laughter simulanteously?
I’d LOVE to hear what my blog readers have to say!!   (Perhaps I’m just longing for my discussion-based Capital classes?)


I dedicate this blog post to my fellow YAGMs— many of whom I have shared several tears of laughter and distress. I pray that you all are finding humor in your day to day lives worldwide. Hugs to you all!

And to Heidi Torgerson-Martinez—who provided this insight initially - and who remains one of the biggest supporters of my attempt at keeping the “control key” far away from the tap of my typing fingers.

Shining my light and laughing at myself,
Marta

Showing Up With My Beads

Teenagers really just need you to be present. I am a month into my year serving with SPEC with three retreats under my belt. All three of these retreats varied in size, duration, and schedule. While there are many different variables that differ from retreat to retreat, one variable remains constant as a member of the SPEC team. The most important thing for Marta Diehm is to show up.

I remember discussing this aspect of YAGM work at our Discernment event and at Orientation. Americans live in a culture of productivity and achievement. As a result, there are a ton of identities we carry. An element of being present to those you serve requires the courage to let go of the identity we carry. All of our credentials, achievements, and life goals aren’t as important as who you can be to the people you serve. A “ministry of presence” develops once we focus in on the quality of relationships of our servanthood.

For the 15-17 yr olds I have been working with the past two weeks, it is most important that I show up ready, willing and available. I don’t come with all the answers. I don’t come with an agenda to push. I don’t come so that they may sheepishly follow my lead as the person “in charge.” I come as who I am in order that might be themselves too.

This past week I experienced two very different retreats. The first was a three day residential retreat. They were the kind of teenagers that are thoroughly enjoyable; bringing with them chuckles, poignant moments, and an incredible desire to take in the experience of being at SPEC. They were motivating, engaging and made me feel pretty darn good about myself and the retreat as a whole.

A few days later a 1 day retreat came in to the site. The retreat was a requirement for the students; they were rowdy, sassy, uncooperative, and just plan distant. All the YAGM training in the world can’t prepare you for a purposely loud, disruptive fart in the middle of a meditation session. There are only so many tools that can equip you to lead a session on prayer with six 16 yr. old boys, one of which signed the sign-up sheet as “Vin Diesel.” Once another snidely made a “I don’t believe in God….I don’t pray….no one can tell me otherwise” comment, I quickly found myself up a creek without a paddle, but rather with a cutesy little prayer-bracelet activity.

Turns out, the 6 boys were surprisingly excited about making the bracelets. (I didn’t check the men’s bathroom afterwards; I wouldn’t be surprised if one of my rainbow bead bracelets went the way of the urinal.) Nonetheless, it is in situations like these that I am reminded that the young people I’m working with are not the “lost” ones. They aren’t the product of my mission. I don’t have a check list of goals. I don’t get a report card at the end of the year grading me based on successes and failures. It is in this environment that I can let go of some of the drive and control I held so preciously onto throughout my years in college. My presence and availability to these young people is what matters the most. I’m truly enjoying myself as I engage and am engaged simultaneously. With all of this prayerfully in mind, I will continue to show up…..with my rainbow prayer bracelets in tow.

Shining My Light,
-Marta