Who is this Stevie girl, anyways?

I want to use this blog as not only a means to communicate parts of my experience as a Young Adult Volunteer in Tucson, AZ, but also as a means for questions and conversation.

This blog will showcase lessons I've learned, stories I've heard, or sometimes just a walk through of my day. As my mom informed me, it's very "stream of consciousness." As a result, sometimes what I post will be thought through and make sense, and other times I may not realize that I'm leaving out important parts of the story- please advise me if you're lost!

I've realized not all of you reading this know my story, my background, or anything about me other than I am currently doing something with border ministry somewhere in Arizona. So here's a bit about me:

Hi, I'm Stevie. I graduated from Austin College (in Sherman, TX) with a degree Media Communication, and minors in Latin American Studies and Spanish. I'm excited to be working at Borderlinks as part of my 2010-2011 year as a PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer. In particular, I'm looking forward to developing relationships on both sides of the border and learning in concert with the delegations I will be facilitating in my role as a Program Organizer. I am also excited to put my degree to work and broadcast the stories from the border in my work with the "Ver, Pensar, Actuar" newsletter.

I am embarking on a journey. In this next year of service with YAV I will experience new opportunities for growth, see the world in a different light, and be challenged in ways I have yet imagined. At Montreat Youth Conference last summer I felt truly moved and inspired by Rev. John Fife's accounts of working in ministry in the Tucson border area. He described the dire situations, the struggles, and the hope the immigrants had in a better life in the United States. His stories of selfless compassion and living by the greatest commandment- “to love your neighbor as yourself” called to me. Join me on my journey as I explore the call of the gospel in the social and political realities of the border area.

Please comment, question, negate, explore, and learn along with me.

It's going to be

This morning in church at Southside, we sang "Here I am Lord" AND we had ice cream afterwards.

It's going to be a good year.

Today I walked into a coffee shop down the street from my house and David Allan Coe was playing.

It's going to be a good year.

Yesterday I almost fell off of my bicycle because I was laughing so hard with good people.

It's going to be a good year.

Thursday I got to make cookies at work.

It's going to be a good year.

Helmets and salsa lessons sometimes mix.

It's going to be a good year.

It's going to be a year. A year full of challenges, stories, learning, bonding, crying, smiling, translating, interpreting, reflecting, anticipating, mixed emotions, and excitement.

A good year.

Biking tucson!

Top photo is all six of the YAV house residents' bikes together.
The middle two photos are of a community art project called the Bike Sanctuary.

The bottom photo is me and my new bike! I'll be using it as my main way to get around town.

Rules of Life

How do I want to be in daily prayer?
Be still
Reflect on concerns/hesitations and know that God is present with me during them
Rejoice in the happy moments, and recognize the joy of God's companionship in the sadness, anxst, sorrow, and hard times
Pray for others with others and alone
be intention in reflection and communication with God
The five finger prayer

What practices will I use to allow god to form me spiritually?
Reflect daily
Study the works of those who have studied before me
interpret those works and the Bible with an open mind and honest, personal reflection
Break comfortable routine
Keep an open mind to allow the Spirit and others to me me.
Confess

How will I live out me call as a Christian in a hurting world?
Have mercy
"Pray for the opressor" (MLKJ)
Live simply
"Be sign of joy and love for others" (Taize)

Some excerpts from my roommates Rules:
"Climb Mountains, dream bigger, jump higher"

"Practicing radical acceptance"

"Be a sign of joy to others. Practice gratitude"

"By the power of God, fear nothing, die daily, and practice truth"

Feeling Free

"Be still and know that I am God
Be still and know that I am
Be still
Be"

Reflections on a time I felt truly free.

These moments of feeling free revolve around beauty surrounding me- sometimes through the people around me, sometimes through the beauty around me, and sometimes both.

a few times I felt truly free:
The car ride back from Austin with a few good friends, blasting Pam Tillis' Maybe it was Memphis.

Laying on the beach in the middle of nowhere for hours and only seeing two other people.

Commissionings

First photo- the Kiva style sanctuary of Southside Presbyterian Church
Middle- door to the church- First Presbyterian Church of Ossining
Last photo- our group at the marina

In the last two Sundays, I have been commissioned into service as a Young Adult Volunteer twice more.

Fifteen or so churches in the local presbytery of Stony Point commissioned groups of volunteers. Jorge, who introduced himself as George, drove Aaron (who is serving in San Antonio), Meredith, Luke and me from Stony Point to Ossining Presbyterian Church for the 10:30 worship service. Jorge was very kind and welcoming. We stopped along the way to take some photos- both of the Marina and of the scenic overlook.
We arrived at the church at 10:00 am and met Linda, the pastor. The church is big, beautiful, and full of history. It was started in 1763. During the 1970s, according to Linda, the church was in its prime- with over 700+ members filling the pews. Now attendance dwindles, and membership is around 100.
Those small numbers didn't matter though. The character of the church has been preserved. I walked into the church sanctuary with 30 other strangers, and immediatly felt welcomed. This church had never met us before, but that didn't matter, and they opened their arms to us. We were given the time normally devoted to the sermon during the service to present about the YAV program, what it means, how we got involved, and what we'll be doing while there. After the offering, we walked out of the sanctuary, down the hall, and spoke to those at the Spanish service. This was a welcome surprise for both us and the church. We, the four YAVs, didn't know there were two services at the same time at the church- one in English and one in Spanish. The church didn't know that two of us spoke Spanish fluently, and would be able to tell our story in both languages. The pews of the small chapel were packed. We sat, elbow to elbow, listening as the congregation expressed praywers of sorrow, joy, excitement, and anguish. During the open time of prayer and sharing, we were invited to share with th econgregation again. This time in Spanish. Aaron and I talked a little about the program and what we'd be doing. I tried to say that I'd be serving as a translator, but it was difficult as I had forgotten the Spanish word for translator. Aside from that little flub, I felt really encouraged and supported by this new congregation. The service was a great experience. The character and personality of the church was tremendous. But what really struck me about this expereince was the spirit of the people around us. The congregation was warm and welcoming.

The fourth commissioning was this past Sunday at Southside Presbyterian Church. Again, it was a really great opportunity to share our story with a new congregation. This time, a more local congregation with which we can hopefully get involved. The church is set up like a Kiva, which was also really neat.

Benediction from back home

"Now, as you leave this place,

May the living Lord go with you.

May he go behind you, to encourage you;

Beside you, to befriend you in obedient ministry;

Above you, to watch over you;

Beneath you, to lift you from your sorrows;

Within you, to give you the gifts of faith

and hope and love;

And always before you, to show you the way. Amen."
-Rev. Blair Monie


These words have been resonating with me throughout the week.