bingo and bagels

Today is Sabbath. That means it is a full day when I get to relax and chill. It started this morning really well. I woke up later than usual and stumbled downstairs. Some of my roommates were up and had already had a devotional together. I fell into a chair, read the paper leisurely, and drank a cup of tea. I was sitting with Lu and Amy just enjoying each others presence laughing and eating chocolate when we suddenly heard a disturbing squeaking noise. We have had a mice problem for a few weeks so we just assumed that the circus of mice had set up a party in our kitchen and were having a good time. Lu went into the kitchen and discovered that a baby mouse had gotten stuck in one of the glue traps we set up in the kitchen. Up unto this point the glue traps we set up had been unsuccessful in the area of catching and killing mice but today one mouse finally succumbed to the temptation of the month old trail mix sprinkled all over a bed of toxic glue. Lu was very emotional about the baby mouse that was squeaking with all that was in it. She rushed out the front door and tried to free it by pushing it off the glue with a spoon. Nothing worked. Lu overcome with emotion decided that if she were in the mouse’s position that she would want to be taken out of her misery instead of starving to death. She then proceeded to kill the mouse. So that is how my morning started. With death. But it has been good since then

Last night all the Philly area teams got together for training. We talked about our love languages. I discovered I am not so much a fan of physical touch. I tested as strong in words of affirmation and acts of service. I was not too surprised. I do take it pretty personally when people don’t do the dishes or pick of their crap. It was good.

This week was good as well. My neighborhood has really started to feel like home. My housemates are really starting to feel like family. It’s a good shift though. I already feel like these people are rooted deep into my life after being with them only a month.

I played bingo with senior citizens this week at the senior program from catholic social services. They were hilarious. I had to call out the bingo numbers and they really could not hear me and were very concerned that I was calling the wrong numbers or playing favorites. I also accidently spilled all the bingo balls all over the floor and interrupted a heated round. They were ok with this but not ok with the fact that we hadn’t brought lottery tickets for their birthdays or bagels and cream cheese for them to eat.

I have not talked a lot about our church yet and there are several reasons for this. One is that I still don’t know exactly what to say. I am working out a lot of things in me. I am learning a lot about how differently people see and love God. Stay tuned for more thoughts on that.

Something else beautiful happened today. My housemates and I have stumbled upon this group of about eight adults with special needs that live in a care home across from the library. These are beautiful people and I really love spending time with them. There is one lady who I first met as Rhonda but who sometimes asks to be called Tina. She also told me that the she wrote a Beyonce song, and she is a great dancer. This morning I had to go to the library to pick up some books I had ordered and I ran across Rhonda/Tina. She was so excited to see me and I was really excited to see her as well. She walked with me to the trolley stop and showed me her pocketbook (this means purse for those of you who come from my part of the country) that had lots of funny wonderful stuff in it. When the trolley pulled up she gave me a kiss on the check and we parted ways. It was a wonderful to start the morning.

Peace until next Sabbath
rebekah

frozen hams and henri nouwen

Today marks the one month mark of my journey here in Philly. It seems crazy to think that I have really been here that long. It has been incredibly good though. I already feel like I am a completely different person than the one that left Amarillo, TX not to long ago.

This week I started my community service to the SW Philly neighborhood. I am actually volunteering three different places. On Mondays I will work with Sister Rita and Sister Jean teaching immigrants English. These nuns are pretty much amazing. They have lived in SW Philly for around 20 years and have such beautiful hearts. They have a small office that they operate a food pantry out of. In the office was a pretty impressive looking fax machine/copier. Sister Rita quickly informed me not to be impressed that she had no idea how to work it. Oh sweet nuns.

On Tuesday and Wednesday I will work at Catholic Social Services. The two ladies I will work the closest with names are Fran and Lola. I will be working with their senior citizen’s program called, “senior smiles”. I think I am going to suggest that they change the name. Not really, but the thought has crossed my mind. I already got to do lots of research for information to give the seniors on who to vote for and where to get free flu shots. I am sure I will be very good at bingo before the year is over.
Thursdays I will go to Southwest Community Development Corporation. This is a huge resource for the people in Southwest Philly. They can get help with house and utility payments, and take GED classes. I will be working specifically with their job placement program. I will help people who come in apply for jobs and write resumes, which I am really excited about. SWCDC also shares an office with The Globe, a local newspaper in our area. They informed me that they want to publish an article about my roommates and I. Which could have the possibility to be really hilarious, I will keep everyone informed.

Quick random updates on life off Chester Ave
· My housemates and I received two hams, 12 ears of corn, and a box of tasty cakes (the northern equivalent of Little Debbie) from a friend yesterday.
· I am currently working on a 500 piece 3D puzzle of THE WORLD. I saw the puzzle the first day we moved in and I resisted working on until this week.
· We have several mice in our house. Several. We set up about 12 traps yesterday. Gross.
· I have really cool neighbors that can cook really good Jamaican food.
· If you want dreadlocks, it is not necessary to stop washing or brushing your hair for several weeks (something one of my roommates found out this week).
· Henri Nouwen has some pretty profound words about belovedness.
· The girls I live with really like sugar, skip-bo, and skateboards (not really, but it seemed to fit)
· We have decided that America and Great Brittan are equal in their level of evilness through means imperialism.
· I have been told that I should pretend like I am at a football game when I am at church.
I guess that is it for now. I would love to talk to anyone on Fridays (my Sabbath). So just call me up. I will leave you with a quote from Nouwen on what I am learning a lot about right now all courtesy of our great city director Caz.
“This experience was and in many ways, is still the most important experience of my new life, because it forced me to rediscover my true identity. These broken, wounded, and completely unpretentious people forced me to let go of my relevant self-the self that can do things, show things, prove things, build things- and forced me to reclaim that unadorned self in which I am completely vulnerable, open to receive and give love regardless of any accomplishments.”

Only love,
rebekah

our dining/kitchen room

my housemate amy with the guitar she is so skilled at playing...immaculately.

Our living room.

some pictures...moore to come

Southwest is the Best.

My neighborhood is great. I was talking with one of my housemates today and discussing how it is really starting to feel like home. Today two of my housemates and I travelled up to the University of Pennsylvania campus for our day off. It is only 15 blocks from our house, but it feels literally worlds away. So here I am spending my sabbath talking on the phone and getting on the internet. It feels good to relax.

Next week I start community service. I think i will spend mondays with some nuns teaching english to undocumented citizens. Tuesdays and Wednesdays I will work for Catholic Social Serivices with their food bank and senior citizen program. Then on Thursdays I will volunteer at Southwest Community Development Center doing whatever they need. I also might work with adult literacy one night a week. So my schedule is full and things are really starting to get going. As the weeks go by I am sure that I will be busier than I can imagine. I have already walked more than I ever have in my life. Hopefully it will work as a built in workout system.

I miss you all. I hope I have some funny stories to share soon.

Oh there is one funny story. I met a girl named angel as Cornerstone Christian Academy. I had just met her and I asked her to tell me about herself. She immediatley said, "well when I was five my dad took me to Dave and Busters...." and went on and on about the trip to Dave and Busters and never gave me any personal information about herself. Funny.

love love love
rebekah

Sorry it has been so long since I have updated. Life has in general been pretty crazy. I have officially been here two weeks and I am almost positive that I love living in Philadelphia. The neighborhood is of course very different that what I am used to. If you want more of an idea just google or wikipedia the area of South West Philadelphia and there should be some information there.

This past week and this week will be spent in training and in getting to know our neighbors. I am also trying to pin down where I will serve the community in the mornings.

We have some really cool neighbors on our street. On Saturday we got invited to a Jamaican Bar-b-que complete with jerk chicken, curried goat, and ox-tail. It was an adventure for sure. I will try to post more stories later as they come up. Today is actually the first time I have checked my e-mail since I have been here so my Internet access is sporadic.

Hope everyone is having a great week in Texas!

Rebekah

Here I Am!

Just a quick note to let everyone know I am in my house in Philly. I have great roommates and will spend the week training and learning more about the city. As soon as I can I will post pictures of the house.

P.S. My day off is Friday if anyone wants to call!

Peace
Rebekah

this. is. it

As I write I am almost completely packed. With the help of my dad (a very skilled packer) and space bags, (exactly what they sound like, bags from space) I am on my way to Philly with the contents of three suitcases to last me one year. Packing has been a challenge. Its hard to look at everything I own and try to decide what I will to need to exist in a climate that is very different than Texas.
Today my mom and dad and I will drive to Dallas where we will spend the night tonight. Early tomorrow morning I will board a flight to Philadelphia, and from that point on who knows. Pray that I will have a smooth transition and that my housemates and I will get along well. On Sunday I will be heading to Atlanta for training so who knows when I will see a computer again. Have faith if you don't hear from me for a while...I will surface in the real world eventually!

peace,
rebekah