So it has been 6 days now in Albania. We have been helping out with running a Jr. High camp of 130 students. All of the students are Albanian, about 50% speak some english, and about 10% speak very good english. They are fun, caring, very good, energetic, vivacious and passionate. They love to sing songs together, and jump up and down and dance together. It is a very different experience than the camp I grew up at with lots of amenities. Here they have three delicious but not very glamourous meals. They spend some time in the morning and evening listening to speakers and singing songs and then have the opportunity to play in the portable pool (about 20ft/10ft), climb on the ropes course, archery, canoeing, crafts and many more. They also prepare skits, dances, memory verses and songs for the evening program. They are very comfortable being up front and love the opportunity to jump up on stage and share something. Some of the skits and dramas have been really good, even the ones that I would think were "totally lame" back home end up being the most meaningful here. One group did an interpretation to "Total Eclipse of the Heart." They acted out how so many things in life can take us away from being loved by God like greed, pride, drugs, alcohol and other things, but God is always there calling us back to him. And in the end when you give your heart to God he will have the strength and the power to take away all those other sins and problems in your life. These kids know their stuff!!
It has been fun getting to know the students, though the language is very difficult to learn. We are communicating with hand gestures, facial expressions and very, VERY simple words. All is going well and we are so blessed to be here. The staff are amazing and the students are very inspiring. Thank you for your prayers and support. Keep them coming, we have one more week to go.
Peace,
Xhesika (How one girl, Xhoana (Joanna), spelled my name in Albanian)
Friday, July 16, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Albania Mission Trip
Here are two sites which may be informative for you:
1) Mark and Ruthie's ministry "Alongside Ministries International"
http://alongside.org/cgi-local/index.pl?view=albania
2) FPCH's Youth Mission trip blog/page.
http://youthministries.typepad.com/albania_2010/
Thank you for your prayers and support! We'll keep you posted.
Peace
Jessica
1) Mark and Ruthie's ministry "Alongside Ministries International"
http://alongside.org/cgi-local/index.pl?view=albania
2) FPCH's Youth Mission trip blog/page.
http://youthministries.typepad.com/albania_2010/
Thank you for your prayers and support! We'll keep you posted.
Peace
Jessica
Thursday, July 8, 2010
The poem...
This is a poem I wrote in response to the prompt we were given "I put on pilgrim shoes"
I put on pilgrims shoe
on a journey to proove
that we are free to move
closer to the truth.
Like a balm to soothe
the heart that bears a bruise
standing on the edge with one breath left to choose
to take one more step
a leap of faith
a drop of hope.
Seeing I'm not at the end of the rope,
choak-ing out another breath
never knowing how much is left
for.. the path ahead
the journey we must tread
for the hands and feet that have already bled
of the bridegroom to whom we are wed
Fed by bread and wine, fruit of the vine
that someday this life would no longer be mine
A sign, any time I tremble or shake
I remember he died for our sake.
I put on pilgrims shoe
on a journey to proove
that we are free to move
closer to the truth.
Like a balm to soothe
the heart that bears a bruise
standing on the edge with one breath left to choose
to take one more step
a leap of faith
a drop of hope.
Seeing I'm not at the end of the rope,
choak-ing out another breath
never knowing how much is left
for.. the path ahead
the journey we must tread
for the hands and feet that have already bled
of the bridegroom to whom we are wed
Fed by bread and wine, fruit of the vine
that someday this life would no longer be mine
A sign, any time I tremble or shake
I remember he died for our sake.
Siena
Our first "day trip" was to Siena. We saw St. Catherine's chapel, and went to the Piazza Del Campo, the Duomo in Siena and all kinds of other stuff. I wish I had a documentary of these things, I feel like I can't remember half of what we did. It's all very new to me, I don't have a lot of art history to fall back on, or information about Italy. So here are some pictures to keep you interested.
This is one of my favorite statues. It is a Giovanni Pisano of Mary, Moses' sister at the Museo dell'Opera.
This is the lectern where scripture is read... if that doesn't strike fear into the heart of someone reading the word of God I don't know what will!
The Duomo, Cathedral at Siena.
The Piazza del Campo. With our professor, and very gifted artist, Christopher Slatoff (look him up he's awesome!) and my friends Jared and Stefan.
And a picture of the lovely, and bizarre, St. Catherine.
This is one of my favorite statues. It is a Giovanni Pisano of Mary, Moses' sister at the Museo dell'Opera.
This is the lectern where scripture is read... if that doesn't strike fear into the heart of someone reading the word of God I don't know what will!
The Duomo, Cathedral at Siena.
The Piazza del Campo. With our professor, and very gifted artist, Christopher Slatoff (look him up he's awesome!) and my friends Jared and Stefan.
And a picture of the lovely, and bizarre, St. Catherine.
What first?
I can hardly think of what to post first.
Right now I'm missing Orvieto a bit, and the wonderful students and professors I studied with so I will take a moment to touch on that.
For two weeks in Orvieto, Italy (a quaint little town built hundreds of years ago on top of a bute), we stayed at San Paolo Monastery. Each morning we would gather for lecture, and a few days we shook it up and traveled. Our lectures were mostly composed of Theological and Art History regarding the art works of Bernini, Giotto and ministries of St. Catherine, St. Claire, St. Francis and many more. I won't bore you with all the details, but I will post a handful of pictures and share a poem I wrote.
Here are some pictures from around town in Orvieto and the Duomo there. I really found the front of the Duomo fascinating because even before you entered the dorms of this ancient cathedral you were walked through the entire history of man, the gospel messages, the passion of christ and final judgement. The front of the Duomo is a compilation of a couple different centuries and represents a vast array of theological ideas.
Right now I'm missing Orvieto a bit, and the wonderful students and professors I studied with so I will take a moment to touch on that.
For two weeks in Orvieto, Italy (a quaint little town built hundreds of years ago on top of a bute), we stayed at San Paolo Monastery. Each morning we would gather for lecture, and a few days we shook it up and traveled. Our lectures were mostly composed of Theological and Art History regarding the art works of Bernini, Giotto and ministries of St. Catherine, St. Claire, St. Francis and many more. I won't bore you with all the details, but I will post a handful of pictures and share a poem I wrote.
Here are some pictures from around town in Orvieto and the Duomo there. I really found the front of the Duomo fascinating because even before you entered the dorms of this ancient cathedral you were walked through the entire history of man, the gospel messages, the passion of christ and final judgement. The front of the Duomo is a compilation of a couple different centuries and represents a vast array of theological ideas.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Italia due
Buon giorno amicci,
Today I woke up and traveled across town to the Vatican. I sat out in the courtyard with hundreds of other tourists, priests, nuns and catholics from around the world. As I sat watching the people standing in line, sitting in the courtyard, feeding the pigeons and playing in the fountain I thought about the anticipation we all brought into that space. From classic pictures to a spiritual longing we all were anticipating an encounter or event. I didn't really look up what to do in my time there, so I sat around until the 12:00 service. In the courtyard we only saw about a half an hour of prayers and music. I think I will return on Wednesday for the morning worship service and to look at the Basilica Museum.
I am learning I need to do at least some planning in advance, but not always.
I returned to the hotel and took a nap, because I can and that's what you do when it's hot and humid outside! When I got up, and after browsing my email and facebook I took a walk around town for some food. I arrived (not on purpose) at the Santa Maria Marggiore Church. I thought I was walking in the direction of the Colosseum but I was going north, not west... What is amazing about the whole thing is it's hard to go any direction without running into something historical, magical, eventful or exciting! There were many tourists here, and a youth-choir outside singing for fun. I walked inside just like the handful of other Churches I have gone to over the past two weeks, but there seemed to be a different atmosphere here. It was a "smaller" (less "historical") Church and so it seemed to have more active ministry... ugh I hate writing that because I feel my impressions are unfair... I don't know, it seemed different. Maybe it was because I wasn't there to listen to lectures or travel with other students. Maybe it was just me. (Even though I took my camera with me and took these pictures).
After the Santa Maria Church I stopped across the street for dinner... shikolata and panini, yum! Yes, I felt a little strange taking pictures of food while I was dining alone (eating alone is the hardest part of traveling solo).
Just as I was walking up the last stairs from the Metro to my hotel, there was a man singing and playing his guitar. This is a common occurrence but this guy was different. He placed himself under an archway which meant his voice and guitar resonated clearly for much farther than if he were out in the open. He had a beautiful voice and sang catchy songs in italian. I stopped to give him some change and he stopped singing to thank me.
Then, I went and took a walk in the park, which is right across the street from the hotel, I found out that it is the weekend of Rome's 7th anual Film Festival. So I picked up a movie listing and made plans to return for the 9:15 showing of "Simple Things." A Russian film with english subtitles, which was also translated into Italian... for subtitles of the subtitles. It was a dark film, a little slow, but pleasantly hopeful in the end.
Today I woke up and traveled across town to the Vatican. I sat out in the courtyard with hundreds of other tourists, priests, nuns and catholics from around the world. As I sat watching the people standing in line, sitting in the courtyard, feeding the pigeons and playing in the fountain I thought about the anticipation we all brought into that space. From classic pictures to a spiritual longing we all were anticipating an encounter or event. I didn't really look up what to do in my time there, so I sat around until the 12:00 service. In the courtyard we only saw about a half an hour of prayers and music. I think I will return on Wednesday for the morning worship service and to look at the Basilica Museum.
I am learning I need to do at least some planning in advance, but not always.
I returned to the hotel and took a nap, because I can and that's what you do when it's hot and humid outside! When I got up, and after browsing my email and facebook I took a walk around town for some food. I arrived (not on purpose) at the Santa Maria Marggiore Church. I thought I was walking in the direction of the Colosseum but I was going north, not west... What is amazing about the whole thing is it's hard to go any direction without running into something historical, magical, eventful or exciting! There were many tourists here, and a youth-choir outside singing for fun. I walked inside just like the handful of other Churches I have gone to over the past two weeks, but there seemed to be a different atmosphere here. It was a "smaller" (less "historical") Church and so it seemed to have more active ministry... ugh I hate writing that because I feel my impressions are unfair... I don't know, it seemed different. Maybe it was because I wasn't there to listen to lectures or travel with other students. Maybe it was just me. (Even though I took my camera with me and took these pictures).
After the Santa Maria Church I stopped across the street for dinner... shikolata and panini, yum! Yes, I felt a little strange taking pictures of food while I was dining alone (eating alone is the hardest part of traveling solo).
Just as I was walking up the last stairs from the Metro to my hotel, there was a man singing and playing his guitar. This is a common occurrence but this guy was different. He placed himself under an archway which meant his voice and guitar resonated clearly for much farther than if he were out in the open. He had a beautiful voice and sang catchy songs in italian. I stopped to give him some change and he stopped singing to thank me.
Then, I went and took a walk in the park, which is right across the street from the hotel, I found out that it is the weekend of Rome's 7th anual Film Festival. So I picked up a movie listing and made plans to return for the 9:15 showing of "Simple Things." A Russian film with english subtitles, which was also translated into Italian... for subtitles of the subtitles. It was a dark film, a little slow, but pleasantly hopeful in the end.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Italia 1
Hello Friends, Ciao.
I am writing from the beautiful, ancient, eternal, bright, and humid city of Rome, Italy.
The next dozen or so posts will be totally out of order, just a stream of consciousness, but they will capture the amazing moments and memories I have made here in Italy.
Tonight, I took the train from Orvieto (which will be featured much more later), to Rome. I had to get 8 blocks from the train station to my hotel, and try and return a laptop cable to another student. Everything worked out and happened, almost magically, in 4 hours. I still can't believe I was directed to walk left, not right, and I only asked for directions 1 time!
Seriously, if you don't know how directionally challenged I can be you'd be IMPRESSED. I am.
The hotel here is beautiful, I'll post pictures later (for now I just need sleep... and to put my tired swollen feet up!).
What a beautiful city, and thank you God for protecting me and keeping me safe in my crazy travels.
Tomorrow, the Vatacan and a moment with the Pope. (I told grandpa I'd say hello for him, and maybe light a candle for him... maybe I'll just send him a postcard). I miss him.
Ciao bella,
J
I am writing from the beautiful, ancient, eternal, bright, and humid city of Rome, Italy.
The next dozen or so posts will be totally out of order, just a stream of consciousness, but they will capture the amazing moments and memories I have made here in Italy.
Tonight, I took the train from Orvieto (which will be featured much more later), to Rome. I had to get 8 blocks from the train station to my hotel, and try and return a laptop cable to another student. Everything worked out and happened, almost magically, in 4 hours. I still can't believe I was directed to walk left, not right, and I only asked for directions 1 time!
Seriously, if you don't know how directionally challenged I can be you'd be IMPRESSED. I am.
The hotel here is beautiful, I'll post pictures later (for now I just need sleep... and to put my tired swollen feet up!).
What a beautiful city, and thank you God for protecting me and keeping me safe in my crazy travels.
Tomorrow, the Vatacan and a moment with the Pope. (I told grandpa I'd say hello for him, and maybe light a candle for him... maybe I'll just send him a postcard). I miss him.
Ciao bella,
J
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