Photos: Nazareth

We arrived at the Basilica of the Annunciation close to sunset (around 4:30pm nowadays) and walked around the perimeter of the building before going inside. Around the outside is artwork from around the world depicting the Annunciation.

A beautiful series of stained glass depicting the Annunciation in the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth.

Me standing in front of the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, over what is believed to be the childhood home of Mary. The Basilica is the largest in the Middle East and reminded me a lot of Saint Peter's in Rome.

A system of water ways has long since dried up, but now it's open to walk though.  The YAGMs took many photo opportunities, including this one :)

The YAGM crew took a ride on the Sea of Galilee and our boat guide cast out a net for fish. We didn't catch any fish, but we did enjoy dancing on the boat, which we had to ourselves, for the rest of the ride. The boat offered a nice rest and panoramic view of the sea.

A model of a door from Nazareth Village, a living history museum that recreates life during Jesus' time. Doors like these had a large opening and a small opening. The large door was only opened for camels and carts to get throught the city, the smaller door for people. Because a person would have to duck to get through the door, it offered protection should anyone invade. The smaller door is called the eye of the needle, perhaps what Jesus was referring to when he said, "It is easier for a camel to get through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to get into the kingdom of heaven." Of course, take this with a grain of salt. Check out this site for more on the "eye of a needle" reference.

Mary's Well in downtown Nazareth, where it is believed the Angel Gabriel visited Mary to tell her that she would bear the Son of God (Annunciation). 

The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation (aka: Church of St. Gabriel) which is located over an underground spring that feeds into Mary's Well (pictured above).

Palestinian youth working on a project on a stairway along a main street in Nazareth.  Cue "Greatest Love of All" sung by Whitney Houston: "I believe the children are our future; teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside. Give them a sense of pride to make it easier."

Blessings and Future Posts Promised

I've been pretty silent on here for the past few weeks but hopefully that will be changing. Life has been moving along here quite well; there have certainly been bumps in the road, but it's an exciting road that I'm blessed to be riding on.

I have a few blog posts all lined up, just about written but not yet published, and my hope is to have them up this week. If you have a few minutes during your busy pre-Christmas week and the following Twelve Days of Christmas, take some of them to sit down and read my posts. Until then, here's a short recap of what's been going on...

School has continued per usual, with the students getting extra busy as exams began last week. Thursday is our last day of school (since we have school Monday-Thursday and Saturday, and we will have Christmas Eve off) and that will begin a two week vacation for the students. I'm excited for all of them to be done with exams; they've worked hard and deserve the time off. Of course, I won't mind the breather, either!

The Christmas celebrations in the place where it all began have finally begun! I'll be posting about the Christmas Tree lighting in Manger Square and other events that have taken place.

I've seen and experienced a lot, even in a months time. The weekend after Thanksgiving, our Jerusalem/West Bank YAGM group travelled north to Nazareth and the Galilee. It was an absolutely AMAZING experience and I'm so glad I was able to go. Pictures to come shortly!

Not everything has been sunshine and rainbows (although there was one day when I saw a double rainbow outside my apartment after a particularly rainy hour). In the next few weeks I want to share with you an experience I had travelling with the Bethlehem Bible College Choir during one of their Christmas concerts. Most of the trip was ridiculously fun, but I also witnessed a heartbreaking moment of "just how it is" over here with regards to the Occupation. The strength of the Palestinian people constantly amazes and inspires me.


So get ready for a plethora of posts, pictures, and maybe even some videos. May the remaining days of Advent keep you in patient anticipation and awe at the Incarnation and God's love for us :)

Happy Thanksgiving(s)

Over here I have certainly been blessed with a home away from home and family away from family. Here's a post from Pastor Fred & Gloria's blog which tells a bit about what I was up to over the holidays and some good thoughts...


Happy Advent!

Happy Independence Day

Today I didn't have school because it's Independence Day in Palestine!


Here's a short article that gives some insight into the holiday, such as the question I'm sure many ask when they hear about the holiday: when did Palestine gain their independence?


Happy Independence Day!!!

Q&A Corner

Every issue of my bimonthly newsletter contains the "Q&A Corner," where I answer the questions you've asked. The following two questions appeared in the November Newsletter, and were submitted by two inquiring minds from the States (thank you!). Leave the questions you want to be answered in the comment section below or send me an email. As always, comments and reflections are always encouraged in the comments section of this post.

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Q: Is it making a difference?

A: I appreciate the open-endedness of this question and will answer it two ways. First, is it making a difference to those I am serving? I like to think so. At school I help out teachers with grading, tutor children in class, and do administrative work. Am I absolutely necessary for this work? Probably not; everyone at the school is far more qualified than I am. However, my helping out with little tasks frees teachers up to cover more material or spend more time working on other classroom activities. One day, after simply helping the First Grade English teacher check the student’s worksheets, I was thanked because, if I hadn’t looked at the student’s papers they would have only gotten through one worksheet, whereas we were able to get through two that day. Overtime, that adds up.

Is it making a difference to me? More than I can put into words. Along with the impact the daily life has had on me (there will be more on this in the next newsletter), I am overwhelmingly privileged to gain perspective on the reality in Palestine. Being able to put another piece into the narrative helps me understand the Truth of the situation over here and its vast complexity. It makes a huge difference because, when I return, I will be able to bring these stories and share them with everyone back home. It’s much more impactful to the stories of Palestinians direct from the source than conjecture simply based on what I see from the outside. I know that my future ministry will benefit greatly from my time spent among my gracious hosts.

Q: Is it "scary" to be where you are?

A: This is a question I have been asked a lot, both before I left for Palestine and now that I’m living here, but I love to answer it because the answer sheds light on the reality of Palestine! Back in the States most of what I heard on the news regarding Palestine was that of violence, something that frustrates me even more now when I try to tell people that I’m living an average life over here. Are there acts of violence? Of course, just like there are in the United States. Yet, I hear much less of murders and violent robberies than I do back home in rural NY and PA. There are certain areas I would not go to at night, or during particular political events; the same as there are areas of Albany or Harrisburg or D.C. I would not go to at night, or during particular political happenings. We hear “Gaza” and think that the situation is black and white. They are either all good or all bad. It’s not that simple. Yet, even when there is violence, one has to look at the whole picture: why was this person led to act in this way? How have we contributed to this despair? 

There is a certain element over here that does scare me, but it is not particular to Palestine or Israel, or even the Middle East. It is the global epidemic that has allowed us to go on not seeing the face of God in our brothers and sisters, the fear of those who seem different than us. The lack of unity and unrecognized humanity is truly frightening, because it is once we fail to see how we are all equal and deserving of peace and happiness that a more tangible “scariness” is birthed.

More Adventures with Food & Language (and an introduction to Eid al-Adha)

I'm starting to realize there is a trend between my language mishaps and food. Luckily this one has a happier ending than the egg episode (which ended up fine, albeit thirty eggs richer)...

Yesterday I woke up to the sound of a rapping on my front door. It was slightly early for my day off, but I thought it could be something important from either my host Grandparents or other YAGM friends. I opened the door to find someone with what appeared to be a screen laying down on the gate in front of my apartment (ok, so honestly, it looked like a silk screening screen, or, for my archaeology friends, a sifter). I was wholly confused. I started to speak in a mixture of Arabic and English to try and figure out what my visitor wanted. I assumed he was there to see my host family (especially since he had that screen). Between the two of us we spoke perfect Arabic and English...unfortunately, neither of us actually understood much the other said. But then, as luck would have it, we began to make sense to each other and he showed that the screen he had was not, in fact, a screen, but a box! A box of delicious sweet bread!!! I bought one and hoped that what I asked him in Arabic was to bring the bread by every Saturday. Unfortunately I was not sure that I had conveyed the verbs and nouns I wanted to and so there was a chance he would either come today, or... not at all.

You see, this week is also a holiday week for my Muslim friends and neighbors: Eid al-Adha, which means "Feast of Sacrifice". It's one of the two biggests feasts of the year (with the other being the Eid after Ramadan). It commemorates Abraham's obedience to God in almost sacrificing his son. During the next few days people will be out in their finest clothes (and from what I've heard, doing lots of shopping...today is like Black Friday in the States). Then families will gather and butcher their finest animal, dividing it into three. One third is kept for the family, another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbors, and the last third is given to those in need.

So, I was not sure if the sweet bread was just being brought around for Eid al-Adha, in which case, next Saturday would not be filled with more sweet bread. [I realize also that "sweet bread" is not very descriptive, aside from you knowing that it is both sweet and bread. I liken it to an Easter bread (also, so very vague), perhaps with a hint of anise, but in the shape of a cinnamon-less cinnamon roll. Or, if you are familiar with the baked goods at Starbucks (I'm giving away too many of my secrets!) it's very much like their sweet bread (Mallorca Sweet Bread) without the powdered sugar (Miriam, you know what I'm talking about!). Either way, it's delicious! Trust me!]

Yet this morning I heard someone calling out in the street that runs by my apartment and I knew that the sweet bread was back! Today I bought five (I'm thinking ahead, see!) and hopefully have ensured that the bread will be back often.

******

I should also add that this episode feeds into the running joke that is more truth than actual joke: At times when I am very hungry (at breakfast or lunch) and need to buy groceries in order to really eat, there seems to always be someone who brings food to my door. It's an absolutely wonderful thing, the hospitality and generosity of people, especially my host family, to bring down an extra plate of something. Last week, my host family (who live in the levels above my apartment), after finishing harvesting their olives, had a traditional Palestinian dish of pasta and some type of bean, a generous portion of which they sent down my way. Again, this morning, I realized I would have to go get groceries before I could have my breakfast. Then, I hear the man selling sweet bread. Perfect timing :)

Link to November Newsletter in Google Docs

In case you haven't received a copy of my November YAGM Newsletter, I've included the link to a version uploaded to Google Docs. Granted, the graphics aren't as stellar...but what can we do, eh?

I hope you enjoy reading the newsletter as much as I enjoyed putting it together. Please send me any questions or comments, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Peace!

Courtney's November 2011 YAGM Newsletter from Jerusalem/West Bank

November Newsletter is Out!

Have you received your copy of the my November Newsletter?! Hopefully so, but just in case you haven't, shoot me an email (or post a comment to this post) and I'll get one to you ASAP.

"Who needs a newsletter, it's just the same stuff as the blog" you say? Oh, but it's not! The newsletter features NEVER BEFORE SEEN articles on the Olive Harvest, How to Get Your Visa in One Year or Less (which would have been a much more interesting and fitting title for the article than what it really is), and a Q&A section featuring the questions YOU asked!

This is so exciting, I can barely contain myself! I'm going to go read it now, you should too!

Peace and comfort to you on this All Saints Day :)

An Egg-cellent Finale

Please pardon the really lame pun, but it's true! I have finally finished my 30 eggs from two weeks ago! I am currently boiling the remaining eight (two accidentally cracked :( ) to keep for breakfast and lunch tomorrow and the day after. I'm not exactly sure if these last eight eggs will be unspoiled, since I've never had to keep eggs for two weeks, but I'm sure the "expiration date" phenomena is more of a commercial ploy than a fact (!).

So thank you to all who sent me suggestions on various egg-based dishes. The post on about my egg story received the most comments I've ever had! Keep them coming, I love to hear what you all think and which types of posts you enjoy!

Peace and blessings to you all as this month comes to a close :)

With love from Palestine,
Courtney

Transformation

Egg Salad, Boiled Eggs, Scrambled Eggs, Deviled Eggs, Macaroni Salad, French Toast, etc.

After volunteering at the school today, I decided to grab some groceries on my walk back to my apartment. It was a splendid idea and I love making the most of my trip home. I gathered up a shopping basket full of food and made my way to the deli section where there were mountains of eggs in giant egg cartons. This is it, I thought, it's my time to shine. I'm going to use my Arabic to order my eggs! And so I did, I ordered a whole dozen. Although I probably only needed six, I thought it would be worth it to get the extra now and have them in my fridge when need be. The gentleman helping to pack my eggs (in the carton with the pastic wrap) even gave me the option of which section of eggs I wanted. I didn't know the difference so I said I would take the bright white eggs in the larger container.  I went around the corner to grab my newest and final parcel for this grocery voyage and met with the man giving me quite a few more eggs than I thought I had asked for. I didn't count, but I thought, a dozen and a half or so, perhaps? That's nothing to make him rewrap the eggs for. 


Needless to say, I am now sitting with thirty bright, white eggs in my fridge, trying to come up with recipes to use them. Next time, I think I'll let go of my pride/embarrassment and just say that I don't really need two and a half dozen eggs. Oh, and I'm having French Toast in the morning ;)

C'est la vie! Roll with the punches...or eggs, as the case may be!

Embracing Mistakes

Have you ever done something, gone along with life like everything is peachy, and then realized you inadvertently hurt someone or otherwise screwed up? Sometimes there's not much you can do aside from trying to brush all the shattered pieces of glass into the same bucket and pray for the best, having faith that God is right beside you, guiding you.

Me? No, I never make mistakes! (I can't even pretend to not laugh at that.)

All month, in fact, all my life, I've made mistakes. You, too? You don't say! And all this time I was down on myself for being a unique peculiar oddball imperfect woman...you say that's all of us? (Minus the woman part for some.)

Sometimes you can fix these blunders, sometimes you can't. Either way, the only thing that keeps the peace within me is having faith that God will carry us through it (not without some effort on our own part, of course) and help us to grow from it. Lesson(s) learned...and new ones learned...and then more learned...


C'est la vie, eh?

Perhaps it's the History Major in me,
but I think letters are that much more
beautiful when they have crossed out
words and ink blotches.

Life certainly hasn't "stopped" while I've started this most recent journey. A new chapter in a book can still have typos. Hopefully not the same ones over and over, but small blotches, or what seem to be blotches, along the way. In the end, you can still have a brilliant book, complete with it's minor, unique spots and spurts and misspelled words. Sometimes, even, these misspellings become new words (seriously, Shakespeare created words so why can't I). So, this month I'm going to focus on embracing my metaphorical (and completely literal) misspellings and embrace them less as personal failings and more as ways of seeing the world in a new way and learning and looking forward from my mistakes. I encourage you to try this challenge with me :)

"I do not at all understand the mystery of grace-only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us." -Anne Lamont 

 

Christianity is a verb

One of my fellow YAGMs in Malaysia posted this short video on Facebook (Check out Elizabeth's experience this year as a YAGM at her blog). I love it, both in style and in content. Take a few minutes to watch it, maybe pass it on.

What is the point of graceful salvation? Simply put, I believe it means that because you don't have to worry about your own salvation (that whole birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ thing has already been taken care of for you), you can look outside yourself and focus on acting as an agent of change and work towards fixing the broken parts of this world that we live in right now. Being a Christian means you follow Christ, and Christ never stood still...

Brief Update

I've known for quite a while now that a blog post has been long overdue. To be honest, it's been difficult for me to find something to write about. Yes, yes, I know there are millions of new experiences and quite a lot, I'm sure, that you're hearing in the news. However, one thing I've learned, very quickly, is that life isn't black and white. I could talk about many things of interest, but I would not feel as if I am doing them justice. With that being said, I hope soon to write a bit on the political happenings over here, as I have seen and experienced them, along with other posts, of course.

Until then, know that all of the YAGMs are very safe. We of course have safety precautions and plans, but please know that things are very calm over here (the news does tend to sensationalize protests in any part of the world). There is an air of peace, but still determination, on the whole of those at the rallies and protests for Palestinian statehood.

It is a very exciting time to be in Palestine :)


Until my next post, here are some pictures taken during these first few weeks. All of them are in or looking at the Old City of Jerusalem.

The Ninth Station on the Via Dolorosa (Old City, Jerusalem). For those who participate in walking the Via Dolorosa ("Way of Sorrows/Grief/Suffering") and remembering the Stations of the Cross, this is the place of remembering  the third time Jesus fell on his way to Golgatha. You can see the wooden crosses many faithful walkers have left at this station (taking a wooden cross into the remaining stations is not really possible, methinks). This image, and the fact that these crosses represented one aspect of the faithfulness of Christians really hit home.

While touring the Old City a few weeks ago, I was able to see quite a bit of archaeological sites (which always seems to be mixed in with the modern life of Jerusalem). This here is a replica of part a mosaic map of Jerusalem, known as the Madaba Map, which dates to the 6th century AD. There is a lot of symbolism throughout (and it really does work as a map if you know what you're looking at). The church depicted bottom center is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

A picture of the Dome of the Rock looking in from the East. On the far right of the city walls (about halfway up the picture) you can see the Eastern Gate (aka: Golden Gate) which is believed by many to be the gate which the Messiah will use to enter Jerusalem. For many Jews this means the Messiah, for many Christians this means the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (as well as the memory of Jesus entering through this gate on Palm Sunday). I can't do justice to all of the interesting things about this gate, but do note that it is now sealed (as it has been for about 12 centuries). There is also a cemetery in front of the gate (those buried there believed they would be among the first to be raised). Perhaps more on this later; this gate and the Temple Mount and Al-Aqsa Mosque are of keen interest to me.

We made it!

By the grace of God we have arrived and received a very warm welcome from folks at the Lutheran World Federation. After some volleyball we stopped to watch the sunset over Jerusalem; it was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen...

The sun setting over to Jerusalem, as seen from the Mount of Olives.

An excerpt from "Thoughts on Solitude" by Thomas Merton

                                   My Lord My God,
                                   We have no idea where we are going.
                                   We do not see the road ahead of us.
                                   We cannot know for certain where it will end.
                                   Nor do we really know ourselves,
                                   And the fact that we think that we are following
                                   Your will does not mean that we are actually doing so.
                                   But we believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
                                   And we hope we have that desire in all that we are doing.
                                   We hope that we will never do anything apart from that desire.
                                   And we know that if we do this,
                                   You will lead us by the right road
                                   Though we may know nothing about it.
                                   Therefore we will trust you always though we may
                                   Seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
                                   We will not fear, for you are ever with us,
                                   And you will never leave us to face our perils alone.

"Hello Chicago!" [Photo by Laurin-Whitney 2011]

I'm leaving! No, really...I'm actually leaving this time!

After quite the rollercoaster of emotions waiting for approval of our visas, waiting to physically get said visas, and needing to find flights to Tel Aviv (Hurricane Irene changed things up a bit), I am excited to say that our group of six is finally off to Jerusalem. It doesn't seem completely real, yet. Although I've been getting hit with waves of realization: over 40 weeks living in the Middle East.

Tomorrow morning we will pack into a van and scurry off to O'Hare to catch a flight to Frankfurt and then to Tel Aviv. We will be greeted by our wonderful Country Coordinators, Julie and Jeff, and then off to do who-knows-what as we go through our orientation. I've already been feeling the warm hospitality from the community that awaits us; it sounds as they are as excited to meet us as we are to meet them.

Please continue to keep the six of us in your prayers as we travel tomorrow and begin this new journey. Keep your eyes pealed for more blog posts soon, hopefully full of pictures!

As-Salamu Alaykum

(Peace be upon you)

I saw the following on a poster at the ELCA Churchwide offices and loved it. I hope it speaks to you as much as it has to me. I feel as if it explains a bit about what I feel called and empowered to do with my life in some capacity.

"Passover Remembered" by Alla Bozarth-Campbell

Pack nothing.
Bring only your determination to serve
and your willingness to be free.

Don't wait for the bread to rise.
Take nourishment for the journey, but eat standing.
Be ready to move at a moment's notice.

Do not hesitate to leave your old ways behind-
fear, silence, submission.
Only surrender to the need of the time-
love justice and walk humbly with your God.

Do not take time to explain to the neighbours.
Tell only a few trusted friends and family members.
Then begin quickly, before you have had time
to sink back into old slavery.

Set out in the dark.
I will send fire to warm and encourage you.
I will be with you in the fire, and I will be with you in the cloud.

You will learn to eat new food
and find refuge in new places.
I will give you dreams in the desert
to guide you safely to that place you have not yet seen.
The stories you tell one another around the fires in the dark
will make you strong and wise.

Outsiders will attack you, and some follow you
and at times you will get weary and turn on each other
from fear, fatigue and blind forgetfulness.

You have been preparing for this
for hundreds of years.

I am sending you into the wilderness to make a new way
and to learn my ways more deeply.

Some of you will be so changed by weathers and wanderings
that even your closest friends will have to learn your features
as though for the first time.

Some of you will not change at all.

Some will be abandoned by your dearest loves
and misunderstood by those who have known you since birth
who feel abandoned by you.

Some will find new friendships in unlikely faces,
and old true friends as faithful and true
as the pillar of God's flame.

Sing songs as you go,
and hold close together.
You may at times grow confused
and lose your way.

Continue to call each other by the names I've given you
to help remember who you are.
Touch each other,
and keep telling the stories.

Make maps as you go,
remembering the way back from before you were born.
So you will be only the first of many waves
of deliverance on the desert of seas.
It is the first of many beginnings-
your Paschaltide.

Remain true to the mystery.
Pass on the whole story.
Do not go back.
I am with you now and I am waiting for you.

A foretaste of the feast to come

Since Wednesday me and my fellow YAGMs have been in Chicago going through orientation to prepare us for the next year. We've learned about the Accompaniment model of ELCA Global Mission work, self-care, health and well-being, YAGM/GM policies, and cross-cultural relations. For the week we're staying in University of Chicago housing, but hosted by the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Chicago, and it's been pretty fabulous.

Sara, Michelle, and I celebrating the approval of our visas!

Yesterday, however, was one of my favorite adventures so far :) After our afternoon session on health and well-being, we were told by Heidi, our director, to drop our stuff off in our rooms and head right back to where we had been. When our country group, Jerusalem/West Bank, had all arrived we were given a 24 hour bus pass, some directions in the form of riddles and sent off to find where we were going to be dining. We had to turn our cell phones off and rely on figuring things out ourselves and asking people if we needed directions.

My friend, Kaylyn, had a similar experience earlier this summer before she went on a missions trip to the Ukraine: when she arrived at the airport, her group had to navigate without using English, doing different tasks before arriving at her destination. After hearing about our task in finding our restaurant, I got a bit excited at having that same experience, too.

Needless to say, I saw a lot of Chicago. It didn't take us very long to get to the restaurant, but it did require a few bus and El Train transfers. At one point we had decided on getting off at a certain stop, but realized at the stop before that we needed to get off there instead. Our team worked well together, and all went smoothly.

This photo doesn't do my Chicken Schawarma
justice: it was so colorful and tasted AMAZING.

Then we found our restaurant, Chickpea, a Palestinian cafe. I cannot explain to you how good the food was, but suffice to say I am extremely excited about the cuisine I'll be experiencing this next year. I can't remember what everyone ordered, but Sara had a delicious (I would know, I tried a bit) dish of Musakhan -chicken, onions and pita- which is the Palestinian national dish. The chicken was amazing, like a meat pie.

I, however, went with my staple: Chicken Schawarma on hummus with pita. It was absolutely amazing, and the presentation was good, too. There was baklava on the menu but I was too full to indulge (I know, many of you know how full I must have been to pass up baklava).

Our group had a lot of fun spending time together and getting a small glimpse at some of what we will encounter this next year. It has certainly whet our appetites and filled us with more excitement :)

Chi-town

Ye olde Windy City. It's actually been quite overwhelming, as far as the city goes. I arrived here on Wednesday after saying goodbye to my parents at Albany International, switching planes and meeting a friend (fellow Jerusalem/West Bank YAGM, Michelle) in Baltimore, and flying into Chicago Midway. It was good to meeting Michelle in Baltimore, and it made travelling to the University of Chicago's campus, where we're staying this week, much less stressful.

As I've mentioned in earlier posts, we were aware that the six of us going to Jerusalem were still awaiting our visas to be approved, and we received an email on Monday acknowledging that even after the visas had been approved it would be another 1-2 weeks until the visas arrived in Chicago at the consulate where we could get them in our passports. So I knew upon leaving home that I was going to be in Chicago a little longer than the original one-week orientation. We met as a group, as the other countries had or will, with the wonderful director of YAGM, Heidi, who did her best to assure us that they had plans for us to learn Arabic, start readings on our country's history/current events, and otherwise start our Global Mission experience. Yet, I left the meeting feeling a little more than bummed that, to be honest, we didn't know when the visas would be approved or if the wait would cause us to go home in the stead.

The days have been gently filled with presentations, so far on the Accompaniment Model (more on that in a later post) and Cross-cultural Competencies, time to socialize with our fellow YAGMS, both in small group settings, as a large group, and informally during our free evenings. The programming has been really great, not only in what we've had presented to us, but also in regards to the amount of stuff we have each day. Wednesday afternoon I went to sleep shortly after our evening chapel service, and Thursday (after our meeting as a Country group and discussing our current predicament and feelings about such) I decided to stay in and re-charge with some "alone time" both because there had been a lot of extroversion and also because the news about the visa had finally started to really bum me out.

Today, however, has been fabulously better than yesterday. Perhaps the best day ever. After breakfast and our morning devotions we found out that our visas have been processed!!! It was the *best* news ever, and when Heidi told us I felt all the emotions I hadn't felt the past few days flood me: excitement, anxiety, fear, sadness, relief, and joy to name a few. I felt my eyes tear up; it was finally real. We're going. Soon.


Today has progressed pretty nicely since hearing the joyous news of our visa status. This afternoon I went with a good sized group to Grant Park, in the downtown area of Chicago, for a free dance music concert. There was supposed to be cajun dancing (perhaps there was and I didn't realize), but it seemed to be mostly waltzing (which looks awfully similar to polka--I can strike that off my bucket list!). We all graced (or humiliated) the dance floor with our presence; I danced with friends and a few nice and willing (and need I say patient) teachers. It was a blast!

I'll post more tomorrow or Sunday about some of the great things I've learned in presentations this week while at the YAGM orientation, but until then, may you have patience and peace-of-soul as you give control over to God.

Airports

[Note: This was written 17 Aug; sorry for the delay in posting!]

Flying. I have a love/hate/love relationship with it. I love the airports, the excuse to take long naps during flight, arriving in a new place, but the actual moving on a speeding bullet through the air isn't really my favorite thing in the world. Now you may be thinking to yourself, "Courtney, you're just scared! Suck it up, be a woman!" but, alas, it is something all together different. Something that makes me feel nauseous, irritable and fuzzy-headed: circulated air. No, no, I won't write an entire post on the ills of circulated air, I've said my piece.

I do love airports, though (for the most part). Before heading through security, my parents and I grabbed some breakfast in the airport and talked about some of our previous travels and the number of airports we've been through (16 for me; I consider those merit badges). There are some that I've really enjoyed (Philly is one of my favorites, even though everyone always seems to hate it, tied with Albany) and some that are less than desirable (Newark comes to mind; although any airport that charges for wifi is lame-o in my humble opinion). But even in the worst of conditions there is something magical about airports (seeing people from all walks of life and from all over the world; and I always manage to see a monk or nun in full habit--I feel safer flying with them). Seriously! I could write a poem about 'em! ...but I won't.

I've just arrived at Baltimore via Southwest, where I will have a few hours until my flight around 1:20 to Chicago Midway. Greeting my hungry eyes was an Au Bon Pain, one of my favorite little cafes (I'm fairly certain that it was an Au Bon Pain in Oxford when I studied there that hosted me quite a few times). The food at airports has to be my favorite, because you *could* eat healthy...but all the other options are so much tastier! No matter what, I always treat myself when travelling. A sandwich, a coffee, or maybe some Junior Mints (perfect to settle that slightly churning mid-air stomach). It's like a vacation... (I have yet to get one of the airport massages, but rest assured I feel that is in my future either on the way to Jerusalem or on the way back at the latest)

So there you have it, I managed to write an entire post on the first leg of my flight. Makes me hopeful that I'll be able to post a lot each week :) 

Please continue to hold all the YAGMs in prayer as we descend on Chicago like the flock of eager beavers we are, as well as my parents as they plan my coming home party ;)

Almost Gone

"You're not waiting for life to begin, you've begun it!"

      -My dental hygienist

In less than 24 hours I will be enroute to Chicago where I will have pre-departure orientation for a week before flying out to Tel Aviv.

Wow.


I've gone through a ton of emotions already and know that there are a few more yet to come. I'd appreciate your prayers as I travel these next few weeks, not only for me, but for my family as well (and, of course, my fellow YAGMs and all those awaiting our arrival in Jerusalem).

One emotion that has popped it's head up is that of frustration. We sent our visa applications and stuffs in at the end of May, but are still waiting for official approval to get the visas placed in our passports. Everyone is working super hard on our behalf, and I know things will get done...but it's not in my nature to not worry. Luckily, everything is out of my hands, so there really isn't much I can do. Actually, there isn't anything I can do. What this means is that our group will be staying in Chicago after our pre-departure orientation for 1-2 weeks while we await final approval and such. I've never spent time in Chicago (flown through and left) so perhaps I will have some time to explore "The Windy City".

All this to say, thank you for your prayers, please continue them! I'm excited to get to Jerusalem :)

Fundraising Update: WE DID IT!

It's been a crazy few weeks with a last minute fundraising rally, but we did it! Together we have raised over $4,000 for Young Adults in Global Mission, which will go towards my year of service in Jerusalem/West Bank. I can't thank you all enough for your support, not only monetarily but in prayer and vocal affirmation; it is a very humbling experience.

So,
       Thank you
                  Thank you
                                    Thank YOU!


I couldn't be doing this without you, and for that I am grateful. To God be the Glory!

My Placement :)

The moment we've all been waiting for (or, at least, I have!) has finally arrived! I just got an email detailing some of what I will be doing during the next year and where I'll be doing it.

An idea of where the two cities are in relation to each other.
Note: Bethlehem in between and Jerusalem to the north!

So, you want to know? Fine, fine, you've twisted my arm...

Starting in September I will be volunteering at Beit Sahour School, with the plan that some of this time will also be spent devoted to the music program at Dar Al-Kalima. Both of these schools are run under the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. Of course, you're probably thinking, "Where in the world is Beit Sahour? I've never heard of that before." Beit Sahour literally means "Place of the Night Watch," which hints at it's long history with shepherding. "Oh, shepherds. Sounds exciting," you say in a flat voice. NOT JUST ANY SHEPHERDS! Beit Sahour contains the place where the angels told the shepherds of Christ's birth. You can't see my reaction to this news, but know it involved lots of excited jumping up and down :)

I've mentioned in other posts that I will get to chose my secondary placement (everyone is placed at a school for their primary). This will happen once I get there and get a chance to explore my options.

I'm super excited right now, everyone! I can't believe that in a month (exactly as of today) I will be in the Middle East. I will be embarking on my adventure, the result of which only God knows. This is such an incredible journey, won't you join me?

Fundraising Update: We're not done yet!

Thank you to all who have helped me in my fundraising for my mission work this upcoming year! I am deeply humbled at the love and support (some by people I have never met), and your faith in the Holy Spirit to work through me and my fellow YAGMS. Together, you and I have currently raised just under $3000, which goes towards my transportation, housing, food, small weekly stipend, health insurance, and orientations. It has been such an adventure seeing how people have come together to help me, through fundraising events like our Improv Comedy Night and Musical Benefit Concert this past Spring, and just by hearing a little bit about the journey on which I am about to embark.

But I'm still $1000 away from my goal!!!

A few people have asked, "Courtney, what will you do if you don't reach your $4,000 fundraising goal?" My response has been to answer that I'm not too concerned about raising the money, since people have already been so supportive. Yet, there is still a little ways to go, and so I've thought up a few possible things I can do if I fall short...

1. Learn how to walk on a tight-rope. Tie rope between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials in Washington, DC and walk across while reciting the Gettysburg Address.
2. Find a violin and attempt to play on the street until people pay me to *stop* playing!
3. Sell my siblings...
4. Sell my Dad's car! (He's none too pleased with that idea)
5. Continue to write blog posts about the remaining amount to be fundraised!


I'm excited to let you know that the deadline for donations has been extended to August 15th! You can send in your tax deductible donation by check made out to "Good Shepherd Lutheran Church" (with "Courtney YAGM" in the memo line)! Email me at cty (dot) weller (at) gmail (dot) com for the mailing address. Your donation will join other's in helping me reach my $4,000 fundraising goal, which is almost half of what it costs to send off a Young Adult in Global Mission. 


So to recap: Thanks for your support! There is still time to contribute financially to Young Adults in Global Mission (every amount helps!) and extend your (or your church's) ministry of service abroad. The new deadline is August 15th, but please send your donations in early!!

Just Over a Month Til Departure!

As each week goes by, I realize that the newest leg of my journey is almost underfoot. I will leave on Aug 17th to fly to Chicago for a week of training and orientation, followed by my flight to Jerusalem (I'm guessing I'll be flying into Tel Aviv?) on the 24th. Then it begins! Can you believe it?!

I still haven't found out my exact placements for work, but I do know a little about what I'll be doing this next year. My primary placement, where I will spend most of my time serving, will be at an Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) or affiliated school. I'm pretty excited for that, although I realize it will be a really new experience for me. I'm sure I'll be challenged (long ago did I toss out my ideas of being in any K-12 school). I don't know what the options are, really, for my secondary placement, and I'm not even sure we get to choose those before we arrive. I'd really enjoy working in something that utilizes oral history, recording people's life stories, maybe something advocacy-related or working with refugees.

Until then, as some of you may be wondering, I will be in Newport News, VA finishing up my Clinical Pastoral Education, which is a requirement for my Master of Divinity degree. I'm serving at Mary Immaculate Hospital, which is part of the Bon Secours Health System, and having my class time at Maryview Hospital in Portsmouth, a sister institution. The work is challenging, but good, and I really appreciate my co-workers. I've learned a lot about chaplaincy, Christian ministry, and, of course, myself. At this point in my life I don't feel particularly called to chaplaincy (although, if there's anything I've learned so far in life, it's to "never say never"), but I highly respect those who are, as well as the nurses and doctors they serve with. There are many ups and downs each day, but I feel that my CPE experience has helped to prepare me for my time in Jerusalem.

This summer I've been able to visit
a lot of historical sites and museums.
This water lily was in a Japanese Garden
at the Nofolk Botanical Garden, VA.

One of the most helpful skills I've polised thanks to CPE is that of conversing with strangers. As more of an introvert, I've never been extremely outgoing with people I do not know, especially those whom I have no connection with whatever (not even a mutual friend or known common interest). Each day I am forced to get up the courage to knock on a door (oh, the anxiety I feel when the doors are closed) and introduce myself, trying to start an conversation and build a basic relationship. That's EXACTLY what I need to be able to do in Jerusalem. I hope that I can go there and really talk with people, learn their stories, build relationships (oh, how I want to start sermonizing on trinitarian theology right here, but I shall refrain). I figured I'd learn a bit about myself, perhaps better discern where God is calling me vocationally, but never did I imagine that I would be forced to learn the skill I've always wished to foster, but never had the guts to go for. Talk about God knowing your inmost thoughts and desires!

So there you have it, a small update to satiate your ponderings. I'll be posting shortly with a fundraising update, but this has been for those of you who are eager to hear a little bit more about what's going on inside my head.

Special Thanks to Christ Lutheran in Gettysburg, PA

A very special thanks to Christ Lutheran Church in Gettysburg, PA, for their generous support of my Young Adults in Global Mission ministry. I visited Christ Lutheran a few times during my undergraduate years at Messiah College and very much appreciate the welcome I received then, as well as the hospitality the church gives to the Seminarians now. I remember Pastor Herr remembering my name during Communion the first time I visited after meeting me briefly before the service began, and that meant so much and has driven me to try and remember names, especially when serving a church.


Christ Lutheran has also supported YAGM in the past, particularly another young woman who served in Jerusalem/Palestine a few years back and has been so very helpful and supportive to me during my YAGM experience answering questions. Thank you, Marta!




I am so very humbled for the support from Christ Lutheran and am excited to continue their ministry in this part of the world.


If you or your congregation would like to know how to support me during my year of service in Palestine, visit the "Ways to Support" tab near the top of the webpage! Donations need to be in by July 27th (contact me if you would like to donate but need an extension).

Less than two months until I'm in Jerusalem/West Bank!!! I'll have packing and planning update soon!

Chocolate in Bethlehem

For those of you who share with me a love of chocolate, you will be pleased to know I plan on visiting this store at least once :)

Read about the West Bank Chocolatier located in Bethlehem...

The 2011-2012 YAGMs

[2011 Discernment, Placement, and Interview Event]

[Lake Geneva, WI  //  17 April 2011]

The 2011-2012 Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGMs) after finding out our country placements, along with the Country Coordinators. Six of us young women will be going to Jerusalem/West Bank, along with our two Country Coordinators, Julie and Jeff.

Special Thanks to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Glenville, NY

A very special thanks to my home congregation, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Glenville, NY, for their generous support of my Young Adults in Global Mission ministry. This congregation has supported me as a Seminarian, not only financially, but also through both prayer and ministry leadership opportunities, and has continued to support me on my newest venture to Palestine through a substantial monetary donation. I am so very humbled for all of their support and am excited to spread the ministry of Good Shepherd to another part of the world.


If you or your congregation would like to know how to support me during my year of service in Palestine, visit the "Ways to Support" tab near the top of the webpage!


Three months until I'm in Jerusalem/West Bank!!!

Fundraising update!

I am absolutely blown away and sincerely humbled at the support you have all shown me since I first announced my impending year of service in Jerusalem/West Bank. From voicing your well-wishes to attending the Improv Comedy Night and Global Missions Benefit Concert, from sending cash anonymously in the mail to handing me checks on the street, I can't thank you enough for your prayers, encouragement and financial support.

I'm so very proud to announce that I am over 1/4 of the way to raising the $4,000 I need for my year of service (which covers airfare, housing, food, basic health insurance, a small bit of pocket money, and training). As of tonight, the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg community alone has raised over $1,000! This brings the grand total of funds raised to over $1,300! AMAZING!

Additionally, I've also tentatively been considered for a speaking engagement in the Fall of 2012! That is both exciting and mind-blowing! A SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT!!!! Wow! It pays to know pastors!

That is it for now; I must update the email list for my newsletters that will go out over the next year. If you're interested in being added to the list, contact me at the email located in the "How you can support Courtney" page :)


Salaam (peace)

Discernment, Interview, and Placement Event

When I DIP, you DIP, we DIP!

To be quite honest, I was excited for the Young Adults in Global Mission Discernment, Interview and Placement retreat, not only because I would learn where I would be living for the next year, but more importantly because I was flying to Chicago and then spending the extended weekend in Wisconsin, which means only one thing: CHEESE! Even if they decided to not place me for whatever reason, I would at least be able to say that I had been to Wisconsin (and Illinois), two new places for my bucket list map.

I would recap all the reasons I'm participating in YAGM, and why I'm excited for Palestine (Jerusalem/West Bank; whatever you prefer), but I feel that is covered fairly well in the page entitled, "Meet Courtney" at the top of this page.  I have many expectations: many good, exciting ones, but also some anxious hesitations. All I really know is that I'm going to be challenged, and I will grow. Honestly, who knows where I'll be in a year? Hint: Not me!!



What I really wanted to post was the story of how I was placed, or at least, my end of the story. I went to the DIP event having a slight preference for the UK program, but a secret fascination in going to Palestine. After the presentations on each program I had absolutely *no* idea which country I would prefer. I knew my parents would be less stressed if I went to the UK, but each program sounded amazing.

Then I had my 45 minute interviews with the country coordinators and a Global Missions representative. My first interview was that Friday evening, with Julie for the Jerusalem/West Bank program. Unlike what I was hearing from a lot of people, I was not even slightly nervous. They had said it was informal and I was trusting the Holy Spirit to be guiding the process, so why be nervous? I just had to talk about my experiences! After talking with Julie and Robert, the Director for Mission in the Middle East, I felt like the West Bank program had been designed for me! Sure, there were going to be some real challenges, but some of the opportunities I might be able to participate in were perfect. I could possible be doing work with oral history and advocacy, which was exactly what I wanted to do. It was so amazing I called Cait right after to gush about how God-sent it seemed the experience was. I couldn't, and still can't believe it. It seemed like Palestine was where my heart was being led. It could not get any better. Or so I thought.

Then I had my interview with Crissie and Sunitha for the UK program and it had a different feel than the West Bank interview, but it went really well. Spectacularly, in fact. Again, there were opportunities that seemed tailor made, where I could direct a multicultural and interfaith community center of a church. That is absolutely something I'm interested in pursuing long-term, and hearing that such a position actually exists has been very exciting for me. Wow, how could I choose?!

As part of the process, each participant was able to voice if they felt particularly called to a certain placement or if they had a strong preference for one place over another. We could write such opinions on an index card and it would be taken into account during the deliberations. We weren't guaranteed of our first choice, but it could help in the decision making process. This was it. I could, potentially, influence where I would spend the next year. I could preference Palestine, knowing that it would stress my parents out, but challenge me in so many great ways. Or, I could preference the UK, with the hope that I'd get a multicultural or multifaith position that could really help me discern that aspect of my life, but with less of a built-in challenge (seeing as I have studied there before). So, really, how could I choose?!

Actually, I couldn't. And I didn't. I submitted my card acknowledging I had some reservations about the stress on my family if I was placed in Palestine, but that I was willing to encounter the challenge to the best of my ability. Then I left them with the following words, with which I shall end this post. It has honestly been one of the most helpful and calming things I've heard, that really helps me when I get stressed out (shout out to Pastor Chuck and Pastor Jim!) and so it seemed only fitting that I offer it up as my only desire for my year of global mission service:

In the words of a wise pastor:

Ooh, ongawah, Father's got the power

Sayin' shing-a-ling, Jesus do your thing

Ooh, ahh...Spirit light my fire.

-------
(Thank you to all my sisters and brothers in Christ who inspire me each and every day).