Life Lessons

There have been many moments throughout this year that could very well be presented to me in happy little packaging with a “This is a Life Lesson” note on top. Through a variety of indicators, I’m realizing who I am as a person and how I relate to the people around me as a result. Living in a new culture, feeling uncomfortable or confused can often be resolved by the tried and true method of asking questions and standing up for yourself. I’m much more aware of my past tendencies to let things that bother me slide (or worse, grip about them), when some honest and open communication would have been better suited. Having my fellow YAGMs throughout this journey has been comforting as they can often relate. There is, however, such thing as depending too much on those who can understand- when taking some uneasy steps towards communication with those different from you can be wildly fulfilling.

Another one of these life lessons was taught to me and Becca Truland this past week… We spent three days soaking up the luxuries of time away from SPEC, big double beds, and American necessities at my cousin Katie’s in Portchester. (Katie and Victor were gone on holiday.) The familiarity of their “American home” in England was great- until we had to deal with the hidden key and back door we were using for the week. After being frustrated by a foreign English locking mechanism our whole stay, our worst fears became reality when we locked ourselves out the last night we were there. (We even had the key we needed! Don't ask....) We realized we barely knew who to call if you’re locked out in the States. Police? Firefighters? 1-800-Loc-Smth? The whole “This isn’t our house” thing was also a factor. We really didn’t want to run the risk of looking like the foolish Americans. We also really wanted to try to get ourselves in by our own efforts somehow. After unsuccessfully trying MacGyver our way into their front door with a stick and wire, we learned our lesson: You can’t be afraid to ask for help. We received gracious help from Katie’s next door neighbor Anita, and her City Council/Locksmith brother Pete. (When she mentioned her connection we could barely believe it.) He got us in the front door through the mailbox opening faster than you can say Crowbar.

Our frozen pizzas and ciders tasted particularly sweet that night.

Taco Night- One of the many happy, non-locked out parts of our week!

Where Jesus Meets Us...Outside

Spring is slowly but surely turning into Summer here at SPEC! The gorgeous weather, warm sunshine, and longer days are starting to produce more opportunities for fun and fellowship outside! I had a ton of fun on a team challenge session today we call SWAMP. I spent the day watching 15 yr old London lads try to get across land on tires and planks while wearing school uniforms. Entertaining stuff...

What's that sound? Is that the sound of hell freezing over? Ladies and gentleman, I've started to run. I have never nor do I ever intend on calling myself a runner, but I must say I'm getting enjoyment out of said form of exercise lately. Its never for long distances nor could it be achieved without the pounding beats found on my "Run It" playlist. Its something I hope I can keep up for the sake of my health and appreciation for my lovely summer surroundings.

Tonight as I finished my laps, I discovered a pick-up game of football (soccer) commencing. I normally don't pick up anything having to do with athletics- but you DID just hear me say that I've started to run....Believe, people. Believe.

And so--- In the spirit of World Cup year, representatives from England, Slovakia, Hungary, Germany, the Czech Republic, New Zealand, and the U.S of A played a hilariously unathletic yet rousing game of football. With all that worldly spirit, I gave it the all-American try. When you get the choice to sit it out or play soccer (for the first time in 10 years)- I hope you play.

As I was running my usual loop around the property, I came across a Jeep-esque car called a "Frontera" (made by British car manufacturer Vauxhall). I couldn't help but chuckle as I thought about LOMO's summer theme for 2006- "La Frontera: Where Jesus Meets Us" Those of us who taught that curriculum might still be scratching our heads--- but one thing is clear, Jesus meets me at SPEC. This spring/summer is helping me be reminded of this lovely sentiment. Thanks be to God!


Stay tuned to this blog and my monthly newsletters for recaps and musings on my cruise holiday with my parents!

Woman of Steel Wool

The SPEC kitchen has always reminded me of working in the Camp Luther kitchen, but this weekend this was particularly true.

Kris and I volunteered to help wash dishes for a self-catering outside group using SPEC facilities this weekend. It was some Christian organization full of college aged students with real maternal English women as the kitchen staff. There are a slew of different stereotypical English people that often come to mind for Americans. Kris and I agreed these women were Julie Andrews English… So we were entertained.

While being reminded of my kitchen prowess while scrubbing dirty pots and pans, I couldn’t help but reminisce of my weeks in the Camp Luther kitchen. Luther kitchen weeks are challenging, undoubtedly some of the hardest hours I’ve ever worked. They’ve been some of most fun hours I’ve ever worked, too. Above all, I think those weeks bent over the sinks in the July heat taught me a lot about work ethic, hospitality, unselfish servanthood, and attitude.

While there are a lot of things I don’t control this year, one thing I can control is my attitude. This was true for 4 summers as a Luther Staff member, too. You might not like how someone talks to you. You might be frustrated. You might not think you are being appreciated enough. You might not agree with decisions made around you. You might not want to look at another pot in need of a steel wool scrub ever again. But as simple as it sounds, attitude is everything. I am thankful for instances that remind me of this.

This post is in honor of all those faithful servants of the Camp Luther kitchen- past, present, and future! (In particular two of the finest masters of the kitchen I know- Stefan Diehm and Matt Plank.) Many your steel wool always be plentiful, your sprayer always powerful, your music always rocking, and your attitude always ready to roll!

A Bit of an Update

Hello Blog Readers!

Happy March! Thus begins my 7th full month here. Incredible! All 28 days of February came and went fairly quickly- and as far as SPEC time goes- it was abnormally abrupt due in part to our week long half-term break the 3rd week of the month.

That week I could be find tooling around the great country of Denmark with my cousin Katie and fellow YAGM Becca. With limited luggage, a Tom-Tom, and a dream in our heart (I'm still trying to figure out what that dream was exactly...) we took to the open Danish road. I am happy to report we did meet along the way the man we had originally come to see, Matt Plank. We spent 24 hours in Hamburg, Germany escaping Danish prices and giving Matt a change in scenery from his Watermark Denmark tour schedule. That and because Germany is sweet. If I'm to spend a good chunk of my life explaining my name and my parents' unusual choice in naming their children names from a heritage they know little about- well then golly- I'm going to experience that heritage fully! I achieved this by eating plenty of pastry, Haribo, finding a statue of Martin Luther, walking up the "sex district" known as the the Reeperbahn and trying in vain to find a touristy trinket with my name on it.



More on our Denmark/Germany experience in my March newsletter- which I hope hits inboxes within the next couple of weeks.

All in all--- we're truckin' right along through the year here- Plenty of retreats and happenings to keep the community spirit alive and its members busy!

If you happen to stumble upon this blog but do not currently receive a free subscription to my newsletter, "Marta in the UK Monthly"- leave your email in the comment section and I'll add you to the list!
Shining my light,
Marta

Check Me Out

At the start of every SPEC retreat, we go around and introduce our team. We share some things about ourselves and such.... some stick to one intro, I often randomly share whatever it is I want to that day. Oftentimes funny stories go over well- and this month brought me one I now found myself sharing in my intro....

A handful of us had gone out to "Home Base", a Lowes/HomeDepot type store to shop for paint for SPEC's redecorating project. While there, I picked up some Frebreeze. (Nothing like spraying some casually on your sheets and clothes!) I made my way to the check out. That is, what they call in England a "till." I have become very aware of this fact. I am becoming more confident at tills now that I have a firm grasp on the shapes of all the different English coins. As I approached the till at Home Base, there was a good lookin' guy behind the counter. Probably too young for me, but I digress....
I stepped up to the counter and not thinking twice asked, "Can you check me out??" While this question might come out a little funny in the States, it came out a lot funny in a country that doesn't even call it a check out. The poor chap looked confused...until I broke the silence with my All-American smile. He eventually said, "Ohhh! Are you from America??" (My All-American smile worked!) We continued some small talk-- the exchange is often the same.. I mention I'm from Pittsburgh he replies with something he knows about Pennsylvania (usually Philadelphia)-- yada yada yada. I think he was smitten.

And that was the day I stood with Frebreeze in hand and asked to be checked out by a young man at an English till.

My First Sermon.

I was asked to give a message at one of the evening worships at our Time For God Big Conference last week. I didn’t hesitate in saying yes; after all, I just spent a ton of money (sum not to be disclosed) on a Communication/Religion degree from Capital. Might as well apply my abilities to communicate religion! I received a generous and motivating response from my peers at the conference. Here it is for my fans at home. Especially Rev. William B. Diehm…this one’s for you!!

My dad is a fisherman by hobby and a Lutheran pastor by occupation. Faith as it relates to fish has been a big part of my Christian life. I always knew the biblical fish stories well. I’m also pretty familiar with fish trinkets suitable for fishing pastors on the Christian bookstore market. I’ve experienced being in church when I’d rather not be AND being out on the lake in my dad’s boat when I’d rather not be. I secretly enjoyed the latter so much I became quite the daddy’s little fish skinner/cleaner.
I’ve always paid most attention to the idea of being “fishers of men.” It was always such a crazy thing to imagine as a kid….casting off, feeling a huge bite, and reeling in a human. I now can acknowledge and appreciate my dad as the amazing fisher of men he is; an inviting and compelling pastor who has amazing gifts and talents in ministering to people. At this stage in my life, another part of today’s text stood out to me.

In Matthew it says that, “the disciples left the boat and their father and followed him.”

I actually became teary-eyed when I read this text. I cried because I am a naturally emotional person but also because this image is a very significant part of my year. Through this experience, I am fairly certain of one thing….

This TFG year is about me leaving my boat.

My “boat” is all the things I leave behind this year. I am leaving behind family, friends, my accomplishments, my American culture, my daily routine, expectations, other possible plans and much, much, more.
As I consider what it might mean for each of you to make the commitment to be a TFG volunteer I ask you- What are the "boats” you are leaving behind to follow God and say “yes” to this year?
Relationships with others are a large part of what I leave behind. I also have made another discovery about this year. One particular “boat” in my life is my university education. I worked hard for 4 years and I graduated last May. I am proud of my achievements, and my education remains important but it doesn’t really matter to the young people that come to SPEC.
The teenagers I work with at SPEC care more about my abilities to listen, laugh, play games, stay up late, enjoy their company…all things I can do. Oh and they also like my American accent!

Through it all, we must be reminded that leaving our boats behind is a commitment much larger than ourselves. A commitment that is worth it. No matter how challenging, scary, frustrating, or lonely it is to leave our homes behind. No matter how much you might want to curl up on the floor and cry at times….
There is no situation, struggle, joy, place (or placement) that is beyond the loving reach of God. Just as the first disciples hesitated, saying “yes” might still continue to feel difficult at times through this year and throughout our lives. I hope the commitment you made this year is fulfilling. I pray we all can find the light of Christ in a variety of ways this year, both expected and unexpected. Know that the love and grace of God will be with you as we all continue the journey and say “yes” to the call. May you find it was well worth leaving your boats for!

Some Mail and Some Games

I am about to fuse together two completely different trains of thought. Consider it a 2 for 1 deal after my lack of blogging over the past month or so. Everyone loves a Twofer!!


First off. I’d like to share a little story of my week. My pigeon hole (mailbox) at SPEC has 2 primary functions. It serves as a place where Mags (our office lady) puts mail addressed to me. It also serves as a general storage area for random junk. (I work in the main SPEC building but live in another one next door.)

I’ll be honest in saying that the latter of those two functions is the more popular. Beyond the monthly bank statement or an occasional note from a fellow volunteer, mail I receive is pretty few and far between……until January hit. This rush of mail SHOULD have hit in December. Why I am just NOW receiving a letter Stefan addressed the 14th of December is beyond me. But I don’t care. Between my mom, Gretchen, Stefan, Nikki, and the Zauggs, I think I got a total of 7 birthday/Christmas cards!! (most arriving when I got back in January by no fault of my loving relatives). How awesome is that!

On to my story of this week---- my birthday card from Stefan arrived this week. As I tore it open and found that he included a Sheetz magnet, I began to cry. A lot. I don’t think I EVER have gotten a birthday card from my brother. And just like reading my other cards, there is something special about my family’s handwriting. Its script I don’t see that often, and its surprisingly comforting. All my cards (including ones from Connie P. and Stephani!) are now hung proudly on my wall. Thanks to those who bombarded me with cards this season. I am thankful…through my tears!



TOPIC CHANGE!!

I’d just like to give another shout out to Sue A. Diehm. There is no doubt in my mind that Sue Diehm (and her Outdoor Recreation Bachelors degree…haha) instilled in me a love of games that remains central in my life. I bring this up because I was reminded of a very simple fact this weekend on retreat. Board games, card games, outdoor games, puzzles etc. have a way of bringing people together. Maybe my love for gaming makes me a little biased- but I really think its true. Even if sitting down and playing a board game wouldn’t be your dream Friday evening, most people at least have enough of a competitive nature to get sucked into playing. This weekend I brought out SET and Bananagrams (speed scrabble) and rounded up a nice little congregation of 13 yr olds who really enjoyed playing. We had so much fun!! (I finally found a really good way to explain SET!!) It felt like a Sunday or Friday evening at Camp Luther.

I like to think that the stakes are a lot less when playing a card/board game compared to a sport. People are not as likely to turn beat red with embarrassment or not try for fear of failure. Of course, that is coming from a gal with little to no athletic bones in her body…but with a gaming-spirit that was fostered from a young age! I’ve come a long way from Racko, Disney Yahtzee, Labyrinth, and Discovery Toys games. I’m taking my love-of-games international- with flourishing results!

(I’d like to conclude by saying that if you are my friend and get married in the next few
years, your wedding gift may or may not include 2 wooden-boxed classic board games.
You’re welcome.)



My 23rd Birthday scene. Complete with Bananagrams.

Recruitment Season!

My reasons behind sharing this information are threefold:
1. I believe in this program!
2. This is my first January in 3 years I won't be recruiting girls for Pi Phi Epsilon. My recruitment skills would become rusty if I didn't do this!
3. I forgot to add this little blurb in my January newsletter!


If you know any ELCA Lutheran between the age of 19-29 currently scratching their head, looking dumbfounded, or freaking out about what to do with their lives next...might I suggest this little 'ole program for which I'm a current participant?

http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Global-Mission/Engage-in-Global-Mission/Global-Service/Basics-of-Global-Service/Young-Adults.aspx

That's a lot of the information you need to know. I got started with the initial application process right around this time last year. Please let me know if I can answer any questions or be a YAGM mentor to anyone you know who might consider applying.

I will conclude in saying that I have always considered myself in amazing hands with the Global Mission program. Everything from the application process, Discernment weekend, raising funds, orientation, paperwork--- I don't think you'll find a better abroad-service-year organization out there!

That's all from me now. If you are one of few folks who read this blog but aren't currently on my monthly newsletter list, please send me your email and you'll be a subscriber!

Shining my light,
Marta