Peace on the Farm

I spent this past weekend on my grandparents farm. I went up because of the Black Swamp Benefit which helps support MCC. I saw a few relatives and lots of beautiful quilts. I learned a little more about MCC and observed a community where everyone knows virtually everyone else.
I spent the next morning with my three cousins ages 3, 8, and 11; and my grandparents. We picked strawberries and cleaned up around the new construction at my cousins house. On Sunday my eleven year old cousin sang a duet in church showing a talent I didn't know she had. Old hymns sung with only voices were a pleasant respite from the overused praise choruses found in most contemporary churches. I was able to sing one song in German while the congregation sang in English and then we sang In Christ there is no East or West. We are all connected in Christ despite language and cultural differences. The hymns were fitting as both the sermon and the Sunday School hour were taught by MCC representatives. One from the advocacy office in Washington and the other from a young man from Swaiziland.
For lunch we headed to the Pettisville school where my Grandpa attended and graduated, then my mom and her siblings attended and graduated from, and where my cousins now go and will someday graduate from. We were there for a benifit lunch for one of Pettisville's students who was having health problems. We ate in the gym where my mother was on the homecoming court and as we left saw her senior picture hanging with the other members of her class in the old hallway.
Now, no summer trip to the farm is complete without some time in the pond. And sure enough I spent Sunday afternoon on the old cracking foam raft in the pond with my 19 year old cousin and my 11 and 8 year old cousins. Four years ago you would have found the four of us there but this time the 11 and 8 year old had decided they were old enough to push me off the raft and for them to be pushed off as well. And just like summers back in high school, when we were done swimming the four of us loaded up on the gator to head to the woods in search of blackberries to put on homemade ice cream. It was a peaceful and restful Sunday and I was reluctant to leave.
This may be a long description of my weekend that means little to anyone but me :). But my point is not to describe the events but to allude to the love of Christ that is found when we gather together. To show a love that lasts as we grow older, that ties generations together, that ties cultures together. To show that it is in the moments of simplicity and quietness that we are reminded of God's calling us and the response we have given. As my past, my present, and
my future met I found that God is speaking and I desire to listen.

Development

Development – growth, advancement toward a favorable outcome

You may be wondering how my preparation for Ethiopia is developing at this point. Honestly, I am too. Not because I don’t know what I am doing to prepare, but rather because I am not sure what exactly what the favorable outcome these things are helping me advance toward.

We (used in the broadest sense) often talk about development and new technologies as positive influences on our lives. Development becomes an advancement toward a favorable outcome when in fact development is not always positive, nor is it necessarily an improvement. Take for instance the development of a tumor. As the tumor develops it grows until it invades the bone taking away the good and replacing it with bad. I wonder if we sometimes don’t become tumors developing in others, ensuring our own livelihood, but destroying those around us. Once the bone tissue is destroyed we collapse our own support network and our own death is immanent.

When left to our own self interests growth can be rather negative. Development done to soon, in the wrong place, using the wrong methods may temporarily bring life but inevitably it simply destroys. Especially growth where there is no preparation or support structure in place. Perhaps that’s why they added the word sustainable with the word development. Sustainable implies that something will last indefinitely. Sustainable development is growth that looks toward the future generations and how considers how the current growth will impact others. Sustainable development poses a different set of questions than mere development. I want to practice sustainable development.

But the question I posed was not is development good or bad but how am I developing? I am growing in knowledge. I am learning more about Ethiopia, more about culture, more about poverty, more about disease, more about marketing, and more about development. I am developing my thought process on how to better organize my day to spend time in prayer and meditation. I am developing ideas on how to be a better writer. I am developing strategies on how to pack. I am developing theories on how to meet emotional needs while in Ethiopia. Basically, I am working on developing conscious thought processes on how to better develop myself. But is this sustainable development? Its not if I never put anything into action. Its not if I keep wondering if I am developing anything. I think perhaps I best stop trying to come up with the best way to develop and instead act. Act within a realm of accountability. Act by listening and learning. Act by spending time in prayer. And share the results of my actions. But most importantly act.

And yet, I keep getting that question asked of me: are you prepared for Ethiopia? What are you doing to prepare yourself physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually? Keep asking me that question. I can only hide behind evasive answers for so long. Perhaps if its asked enough I will better understand that each little step is part of the preparation process and each person I meet along the way contributes to growth, hopefully toward a favorable outcome.

Hi!
I have returned from Costa Rica. Costa Rica is a beautiful country and my time there was wonderful. I now know how to paint, a great skill to posses. We painted three churches in the San Jose area. We also visited a volcano, an important Catholic Church, downtown San Jose, and spent the night at the beach. The two weeks in Costa Rica were great but I am glad to be back in the States as I prepare to leave in two short months.
I have moved out of my house in Anderson. It has been hard to leave my friends and the town that has become home but the future is exciting. I will be living in Fort Wayne and interning with an organization called Crossroad. This internship will provide me valuable experience that will be helpful both in Ethiopia and when I return and begin the job search. Living in Fort Wayne I will also be able to visit Anderson on occasion.
Preparations for Ethiopia continue. I have received introductions from the MCC Ethiopia team and the other three SALTers who will spend the year in Ethiopia. We will not be in the same city but will be able to connect with one another when we visit the MCC compound in Addis. I am keeping busy with the logistical parts of preparation such as visas, travel itineraries, shots, etc.
I have begun to read up on Ethiopia and am welcome to any book suggestions people may have.
That is my brief update for now. As I settle into the summer routine, I will post more updates.
Blessings