In the Mountains of Kentucky

1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us to do everything for the Glory of God. Well, yesterday I got the chance to get a little muddy, wet, cold, and stinky! AND I can say that I enjoyed every minute of it. I was working with a group to clean up a site where the roof had been replaced. So all of the shingles, plywood, tar paper, and aluminum were on the ground. We had plastic we would throw these on and tie up to throw in the truck. It rained the entire time we were there and I'm pretty sure Donna (our vans name) smelled something gross when we got back. This house we were working at was situated back in the hills, there was an older lady there and what looked to be her daughter brought her child over and they sat on the porch as we worked. As we finished loading the truck for the day they were asking to keep the scrap tin and aluminum, anything they could use in the future or take to scrap for cash.
Being back in the hills is a majestic place to be. You can see mountains all around you, everyone seemed to know everyone, and they all worked together. I could see this sense of community when the father of the child took over a pot to either get water or boil it at the neighbors house to fix the son a bottle. That neighbor could have easily turned him away but instead she welcomed him in.

As the day went on and we cleared the stuff from in front of the house, the rain picked up but so did my energy. By the time we made it to the dump I was on a mission and was tossing Rusty bags to throw off the truck. We were working together for the common good of another family. This small task I was able to be a part of really made me feel like I was doing something that mattered.

While I sit and wait on grades to come in, I can't help but to feel as if they are insignificant to the work I have the opportunity to do here. This work is done to give back to an area that has given so much to me. I love the mountains, I love Kentucky, and I love the people here in Appalachia. This trip has just begun and can feel my spirits lifted, knowing that people who need help are getting it, and that people do care.

I also got to speak with the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Hazard, we are staying at their mission cottage and while getting the password to the internet we got to talking about Hazard and the sense of community the people have. She has been here 9 years and says that people think she's crazy, but she is serving the God who has called her to be here and work here. The church is starting renovation in August to better accommodate the groups that come in to work with HDA (housing Development Alliance) since they use their facilities. What a wonderful way to serve not only the community in Hazard by allowing people to stay there, but providing an opportunity for all to see the work of God in those who give of themselves to do things in the area.

I hope I have many opportunities to come back and serve the area.

We will be working on a new construction the rest of the week, and I look forward to seeing the progress we make, to God be the Glory!
Peace from the misty mountains of Kentucky!
KP

My thoughts and feelings as I reflect on a tragedy....

On Tuesday morning when I saw the news of the mine explosion in West Virginia that left 25 dead, 2 hospitalized, and 4 more missing, my heart broke and I couldn't help but think of the community that is left mourning the loss of loved ones. The families who wait to hear if there loved ones are alive or if they too will be planning a funeral service in the next few days. The more I read on this tragedy the angrier I become, not only at Massey Energy and Don Blankenship, but at myself, at the world. We forget that each and every time we flick on the lights, plug in our computers, charge our phones, and make ourselves a cup of coffee, we produce a need for more coal. We put the demand on the companies to produce the product, at all cost. It is sad that it takes a tragedy, that it takes 25 men losing their lives in order for us to wake up and realize how corrupt things really are. It is sad that we are not more willing to stand up for our neighbors, for our brothers (and sisters) who work in the mines daily. Maybe this will not only be a wake up call for the mining companies and the regulators, but maybe, just maybe, it will be a wake up call for all of us. Maybe we will start to be more involved in holding people accountable for keeping miners safe, maybe we will start to care about those who provide the source of our comfort... While playing my flute this weekend I came across a hymn that pretty much summed up my feelings, and it is definitely my prayer as we work towards a world where we all work together in achieving justice, peace, and love. O For A World O for a world where everyone respects each others ways, where love is lived and all is done with justice and with praise. O for a world where goods are shared and misery relieved, where truth is spoken, children spared, equality achieved. We welcome one world family and struggle with each choice that opens us to unity and gives our vision voice. The poor are rich, the weak are strong, the foolish ones are wise. Tell all who mourn: outcasts belong, who perishes will rise. O for a world preparing for God’s glorious reign of peace, where time and tears will be no more and all but love will cease. Keeping all miners and their families in my prayers...One thing is for sure...I left more of my heart in Appalachia than I thought I did...but putting together the prayer service for this afternoon really helped me process the situation and center myself in God's word instead of in the things the news has been posting. So I leave with the scriptures from the prayer service... Why should we care? 1 Peter 3:8-9 Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called-that you might be a blessing. What does scripture say about tragedies? Isaiah 57:1-2 The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away while no one understands. For the righteous are taken away from calamity and they enter into peace; those who walk uprightly will rest on their couches. Psalm 126:5-6 May those who sow tears reap with shouts of joy. Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves. Where is God in this? Lamentations 31:32-33 Although he causes grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone. Psalm 125:1-2 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time on and forevermore. And lastly our favorite, Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Seeing, feeling, and hearing

There are three statements that have been stuck in my brain over the last week or so, as we met and made friends with the people in Appalachia, as they shared their hopes, struggles, concerns, and joys with us I couldn't help but realize how much I see God in people. We are made in the image of God, and when people open themselves up and share themselves in the ways these people did, I realize how possible it is for us to be be God's image in the world.
I have always been an outdoors type of person. The more we hiked around Appalachia the more I realized just how content I was with being in God's creation. My escape from the daily struggles of life has always been to go out and surround myself with nature. After seeing the mountains destroyed all for the sake of coal (again partially my fault) I wanted to just get away, and the next morning I did. Rosa and I climbed the mountain at 5:30am to watch the sunrise. It was beautiful and I could feel God more than I have anywhere else. What does that mean you may ask? It means I turned to Psalm 125:2 and realized that what was written by the Psalmist was true for me. "Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people now and forevermore."...When I felt like the mountains of life were crumbling around me, God was there, my spirits were lifted and I found hope in the fact that God is still God, God is still good, and God is still in control.
The last statement is that I hear God the loudest in scripture. When the going gets tough, when I just want to run away and hide in the woods, I take my Bible and I go. When I want to be alone, it's not that I want to be all alone, I want to spend time just me and God. When I have no answers for what is going on in life, God's word does. and Isaiah 55:8-9,12 is where I found the answer to the posed question of where is the hope for the things we were exposed to in Appalachia?
⁸For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. ⁹For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. ¹²For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

God is in control not us and God's creation speaks to us. The mountains being destroyed ripped a part of my heart out, it made me angry. It made me feel like I slack in the area of being a good steward of the earth. But at the same time, there is a peace about being in a God's creation, that God deemed good.

I don't know what all of this means, I just know it has been placed on my heart and I need to continue sorting through these ideas. And that I will, until then, may you live in grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...

Lenten Blessings,
KP

Goin Home to Kentucky!

"Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone." -Titus 3:1-2

"Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it." -Hebrews 13:1-2

As we leave for Appalachia in the morning, these two verses will be ever present in my mind. We are called to love as Christ love, we are called to reach out and listen, serve, respect, and befriend others. We are called to do this humbly as Christ did, after all "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (somewhere in the NT). As we leave for the mountains and head into the heart of Kentucky our prayer will remain that our hearts and minds be open to the lessons God has in store for us, that we make friends with those we come in contact with, and that we develop a love like none other for the people in Appalachia so that when we return in the spring we do so with grateful hearts for all that Appalachia is going to do for us in this next week.

Look for a midweek update (if we get to the Library near where we are staying....Until then, may the Peace of Christ be with you!!

Lenten Blessings,
KP

Blessings

So this week has just begun and it has been FULL of blessings! I guess when you have a Sunday morning sermon that reminds you to "sum" your blessings at the end of each day, you begin to notice them in abundance!
This weekend my Grandma and Aunt came up with my younger cousin to visit me! They also attended church on Sunday with me as I was accepted and welcomed into membership at Trinity United Presbyterian Church (major blessings). The opportunity to take part in a Service Learning Trip has been offered and I am looking to leave on Saturday to go to Appalachia and learn more about the people there, in the spring we will go back to do some service work. Then today I received an email informing me that I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve on the Leadership Team of the Academy of Preachers (Festival of Young Preachers).
It is amazing how time and time again God has opened opportunities for me to continue to grow in service and relationship as I continue to discern God's call. A friend of mine the other day said "For some reason you resist God's call"...I wrote back saying "I promise I quit resisting!" Why is it that we resist what God sees as best for our lives? Because it is scary!! My supervisor the other day was talking about how 5 years from now I could be leading a church, that is a scary thought! With that said, it is also a very exciting thought! For so many people to see gifts that I had and shed light on them, it affirms what I feel, what I hear God saying to me. I have been blessed with a love for people, a love for the church, and a desire to serve the God I love...and with that I have been blessed with leadership skills that continue to develop and continue to be put to use time and time again. I also have a gift of relating to people, over the years people have come in and out of my life in various situations, and for the most part I have kept relationships with people of all ages. Especially the interns from LPTS who worked with my youth group over the years. They are very special people who have continued to play a huge part in my discernment process, and continue to serve as a sounding board for me and I for them.
During the last week, I have been collecting my thoughts for a paper I am writing for a class. While thinking about the paper I came up with some questions that may help me write it and I sent them to some of the interns, some teachers, some mentors, and a few other people who have been a major part of my life, and I was surprised at how many people were so willing to answer back and give me new insight to the person I've grown into over the years. It is a blessing to know that I've been a big enough part of someone's life that they would all take the time to do this for me.
Blessings, they make us happy, they make us thankful, and they make us realize how much of an impact we have on each other. In the next week and a half, I will be realizing just how blessed I am as I travel to a part of our country where they do not have quite as many material blessings as we do, but they are so thankful for what they do have and it will only shed light on the smaller things that we have to be thankful for.

Count your blessings, and thank God for all that you have.

Lenten Blessings to you,
KP

Lay It Down

So on the way to church yesterday, on the way to the first Sunday in Lent, on the way to celebrate the installation of new elders and to celebrate becoming a member of an awesome community of believers...I heard this song. I felt it is very appropriate for Lent, very appropriate for new beginnings, and a wonderful prayer.

May it be a meditation for you in the coming days as we journey with Christ to the cross, and anticipate the empty tomb of Easter morning...

Lay It Down-Connersvine

Listen to my humble cry

Listen to my earnest plea

Here my voice as I am calling out

I’m on my knees again

I don’t wanna go away

From this holy holy place

I guess I’m saying Lord I lay it all down again

All of my life I’m happy to lay down

In light of your glory

All of my life I’m happy to lay down

In light of your glory, in light of your glory

And when I wake up in the night

And I feel you in my room

Something in your voice is drawing me to follow after you

To a place where I belong far away from incomplete

Where I give it all to you because you gave all for me

All of my life I’m happy to lay down

In light of your glory

All of my life I’m happy to lay down

In light of your glory, in light of your glory

In the morning when I rise again (Lord I lay it down)

In the evening under skies for you (Lord I lay it down)

Everyday and all my life for you (Lord I lay it down)

All of my life I’m happy to lay down

In light of your glory

All of my life I’m happy to lay down

In light of your glory, in light of your glory

A reflection...

A reflection on what you may be asking? Well a reflection on water, on baptism. This is in connection with yesterday's blog and reflecting on my baptismal vowels. Today at Spirit Place (Thursday prayer time) we had a station where we reflected on our baptism. I am very thankful, when I reflect on baptism I obviously think of those questions that were asked of me, but I also think about my Grandpa (Papa). It was from him that I learned what it meant to be a humble person, it was in him that I can remember thinking "this is what a reflection of Christ should look like" (no he was not perfect, but he was faithful, humble, soft spoken, loving, and gentle), it was Papa (and Grandma) who made sure we made it to church on Sunday mornings, it was Papa who sung hymns throughout the day and week, it was Papa who was a deacon in the church, it was Papa who stood with me during my baptism and confirmation, it was Papa who encouraged and supported me in everything I did.

Today as I stood at the station, a bowl with rocks and water, a reminder of the waters of baptism. A good reminder of the fact that through Christ we are made clean, our hands are washed and our lives are made new, we are welcomed into a new community, one of believers and brothers and sisters in Christ. It was in reflecting on my baptism today that I was reminded of the fact that I am rooted in Christ, that through this Lenten season I realize that I fall short of the glory of God, yet, I belong to God through Christ I am forgiven and made clean.

It is in reflecting on my baptism, my relationship with God, and even my relationship with my Papa, that I remember where my roots are and at the same time I look forward to Sunday. I look forward to professing faith in Christ to a new congregation and promising to do my part as a member of their church but more importantly as a member of Christ's church. I have to admit, today as I stood there, thinking about my Papa, I know he would be proud of the woman I am today and the woman I am growing into. I know always and forever I will be Papa's girl, but I also know I am a child of God, I belong to the one who knew me and formed me in the womb. I belong to the one who knows my thoughts and feelings, I belong to the one who knows my faults. I belong to the one who loved me enough to send Christ to the cross on my behalf, the one who is merciful enough to give me the opportunity to approach the throne of grace and seek forgiveness.

I miss my Papa, I always will, and each time I remember my baptism, each time I remember the promises I have made, I get to remember the man who was the best example of a Christian that I know. I get to remember my #1 fan, and I get to look forward to continuing to serve and grow in Christ. Knowing I serve a God who provided me with a wonderful role model for many years.

May you reflect on your baptism during this Lenten season, knowing that yes you fall short, but Christ is there to fill in that gap. Thanks be to God!

KP