Reflections: Trip Leader

Vanessa, trip leader:

 

 

This year was interesting for me because I had the chance to experience the trip from a different perspective. I saw service projects from an outside perspective, even if I was participating. My first priority was always planning and making sure everyone else was having a fulfilling service trip. It was a difficult balance to not only making sure everyone was getting the most out of their trip, but also not getting too caught up in everything so I could enjoy my time as well.

The trip was also about sacrifice. Spots for volunteering were given up so that others could participate where they wouldn’t otherwise, among other reasons. Most people assume how simple planning the trip was by just seeing the complete schedule, but getting there was a journey in itself.

What does it mean to be a leader? What is leadership? These are some questions I asked myself before and after my trip to New York City. I definitely had come to the realization that I wasn’t going to be perfect and everything wasn’t going to always go as planned, but it would be OK. A lot of people see what goes on during and after a trip but not what goes on beforehand to prepare.

 Planning consisted of countless phone calls and emails all the way from Kansas to New York City, all for five days of service projects. Communication was the most frustrating, yet rewarding, part of planning. Scheduling service projects for seventeen people to serve at the right days, times, and venues was also quite a task. Between Catholic Worker, Transfiguration’s after school kids’ program and food pantry, the Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center, and Trinity Food Pantry, we had a full schedule on our hands.

The reward of being the trip leader this year was seeing everyone have a good time. Hearing everyone tell you that you did a great job and how they appreciated your work is what it is all about. You learn a lot about yourself when you are put in charge of a group this large and have a whole week to organize. Miscommunication happened along the way, as did other setbacks, but it was all worth it. I learned that in the midst of drama and struggles, you can push through it all. Everything works out in the end, and in this case, it most certainly did.

                                                                                                           

                                                                                                -Vanessa Jo Sanders

                                                                                               

Reflections on Tuesday 3/20

Maggie:

On Wednesday night, we discussed Martin Luther’s doctrine of the two kingdoms (or two reigns) of God. Luther’s doctrine teaches that God is the ruler of the whole world and that he rules in two ways; via a worldly kingdom (secular government) and a spiritual kingdom of Christians that spontaneously and voluntarily obey the gospel. We looked at three religions’ outlooks: Lutheran, Mennonite, and Roman Catholic. Although, the three world views were different, they all had the same common theme-Christians should direct their political energy to where Jesus did: helping your neighbor and take the side of the poor and oppressed.

After breaking into small groups, we discussed which perspective we each related to. It was interesting to listen to other’s points of view and to see how others’ life experiences have changed their outlook on the topic. We had a few topic questions to discuss that brought up varying ideas and opinions. One of the main themes was the difference between government and non-profit run programs. One example that was discussed was that Joseph House. This organization is part of the Catholic Worker Movement which helps feed the homeless. The government has very strict restrictions and expectations regarding soup kitchens or restaurants.  Joseph House tried to avoid declaring themselves as a “soup kitchen” and decided to take the approach of having “open doors and letting friends come over for lunch.” The workers told us about how it had worked for awhile, they would just pay the fines as they would occur. However, they had just applied and received a permit. They have mixed feelings about this, because they like not having to worry about random visits, but regret that they have to change their way of doing things just because of government regulations.

While it is obvious that there is a definite separation between church and state, it is more difficult to see where the line is drawn for Christians.  As individuals, we have to decide how active we will become in our government and whether or not we choose to have God as a center of that decision. As we continue this week in our service projects, we will continue to look for guiding principles in our civic engagement. The major question for us as we continue this week is how we should engage (or disengage) in the worldly kingdom.

Collage

Last night, each member used oil pastels to create a collage themed around light coming through the cracks.

Reflections on Tuesday 3/19

Madeleine:

Theology of the Cross

March 19, 2013

There is so much suffering in the world. Today our group watched a world that enables others to suffer.  We saw those who are starving, people who have no place to go, and children whose families lack the means to give them limitless possibilities. Yet they all had hope, and in some ways perhaps they are the lucky ones.

The real measure of our wealth is how much we’d be worth if we lost everything—J.H. Jowett

On Monday I was working in a soup kitchen and a man came through the line. He was homeless, in need, and yet, he seemed so hopeful.  He told us a little joke after asking for a seeded-bagel. His hope brightened my day and made my service worth something. He had an abundance of hope where there was none…in a situation that seemed hopeless.  In worldly goods he had nothing, yet he was worth more than the richest king.

I myself feel privileged to be where I am, in college and able to afford the things I need. I watch these people who seem to have missed the invitation to the banquet of abundance, and it breaks my heart. I know I can never really understand the pain of severe poverty, yet I feel a tear of compassion them: a desire to help in any way that I can. I will never be able to understand, but easing the pain is a job I can undertake.

The pain has value. Saying that God only wants us to be happy is a popular idea because it makes us feel good. But how can someone  appreciate the good times without the contrast of the painful ones? God suffered and writhed in pain upon the cross for us. His sacrifice means everything and  it ought to ground us, to make us whole.

It could be said however that as a middle-class girl who lives in abundance I glorify the poor: making their strife sound romantic and necessary. Not everyone can be in need. That’s impractical, but someone has to give of themselves to sacrifice time, money , and abilities. These offerings also make people treasures because they are a measure of worthiness when nothing is left.

Someday, I pray that it be a long time from now, when stand before God and  all worldly goods and successes slip away. The only thing left is God and I. I want to be able to know that I honestly am a treasure of God.

We ended the night with prayers for our world. Each of us created an oil pastel masterpiece that showcased what we thought was important. In the end, light slips through a broken world. It heals what it can. It works as Aspirin for pains the world suffers.

Reflections on Monday 3/18

Randy:

Monday we spent time at Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Church working at the
soup kitchen. This was an amazing chance to speak to people with whom I would
not have a chance to normally converse. However, this leads to the revelation that
this is a personal barrier that I had set for myself. I recognized many people that I
have had the privilege to speak with from my trip two years ago. I was surprised
by the fact that some of the same people who had brightened my day on my first trip
were still around and cheerful as ever. If someone who has spent years homeless,
or struggling, can have a positive outlook, why do I struggle with meaningless
decisions or setbacks in my life?

I have found little reason for the general perception of the negative New Yorker.
Most of my interactions and perceptions of interactions with the others in our group
have been very positive. Anything from someone stopping at a clueless tourist
taking a look at a map and aiding them without being prompted, to people simply
holding the door for others. They are amazingly simple, and generous gestures in the
world today.

Nobu:

I found Transfiguration Lutheran Church very meaningful to me. We spent the day
making 144 meal packs to give out. For a somewhat small amount of meal packs
this took quite a long time to complete. We stayed there until around 4:00 PM.

The most surprising thing that happened was when I saw a little boy and give a
simple “Hello” in Japanese - "Konnichiwa." The smile that came from the little boy I
found very significant, almost like GOD was there in that moment, from a simple
smile.

LCM Group Covenant

LCM has created a covenant to uphold during the trip:

http://popplet.com/app/#/826672

Pilot

Greetings,

This blog details the happenings of the annual Lutheran Campus Ministries trip to New York City, occurring during Spring Break of 2013.  The purpose of this trip is to serve at volunteering opportunities across the city, appreciate the non-Kansas environment, and reflect on the experiences rendered.

The group, consisting of 17 members, will sleep on the floor of Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish, located in Lower Manhattan.  During the day, members will trek out to different volunteer opportunities such as the soup kitchens at Trinity or the Catholic Worker, an after school program at Transfiguration Lutheran located in the Bronx,  and the Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center.


The rest of the day is open for members to explore the city and enjoy the nuanced New York culture.
Each night, a discussion will be held to reflect on the day's experiences and discuss them through topics of Lutheran theology.  These group discussions will bring up themes Luther and other church fathers have pondered upon, with the intent of cultivating a better understanding of these topics and expanding members' worldviews.  Members will write reflections on the discussion each night as guest writers on this blog.

Throughout the week, paradoxes of these theological topics will be emphasized.  A quote from Luther summarizes the paradoxical nature of the trip, with members seemingly both vacationing and serving: 

"A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject of all, subject to all."

Getting past the medieval language, this statement would seem to raise queries appropriate for the trip.  What is freedom? What is servitude? Are we, materially privileged middle class folk, freest through serving?