If you lived here

I have a new home- it's a house! This house has been hosting volunteers for over 20 years, so we are known in the area. I will tell you more about La Jara later, when I know more about La Jara (it's small, but hard to get to know).

Here is our kitchen. There's lots of storage and we often find fun random things from years past!

This is our living room- I can't wait for winter and using the fireplace!

We have a little front room where I like to sit and read, Chloe will sometimes play the piano which is nice.

This is the "green house" AKA storage room for bikes and recycling. We recently reaaaallly cleaned it up, it was getting pretty bad.

My room! It's nice and big with lots of storage! I love the windows with lots of light and birds outside!

Livin' your life without a care in the world

Sorry about the last couple of posts being so heavy, although I hope not too depressing. I'm going to try to cheer you up with lots of photos!

My day to day is not always so intellectual. In fact, I think this is the most stress free time of my life- it's awesome! During the week, I go to the gym, have a knight night with friends around the valley, knit more in general, read, have dinners with my housemates, go to the coffeeshop (run by a volunteer group, La Puente... I should tell you more about that group later), and hang out with my housemates when possible.

This weekend, I went with La Puente to pick carrots from a field after it had been harvested (gleaning) to bring to their food bank. Saturday night we went to a Mariachi concert which was quite interesting and I realize that I live in a totally different part of the country. Every month we get $10 each for Education/Recreation fun together (Ed/Rec), this was our first outing together for that. Here are some highlights:

Now I want to give you a little insight to the one girl I live with, Chloe (yes, I should introduce to all of them...). Before the show began, we had some good old fun with the camera:

Here's us being annoyed 13 year old whose parents made them come here:

Now, we're our grandparents:

OK, I had to channel my 20 year old excited self for this one:

Oh yeah, totally hipster, right??

Just classic:

Today we tried to take the San Luis Valley train, which is a pretty popular attraction around here. However, there's this thing called "Valley time" and lifestyle, so it didn't end up going. We putzed around Alamosa in the morning, then played softball again- this time I joined in, not so pretty. Here are some photos of us getting excited to take that train that never came (and those are not our trains the photos, fyi). Whatev....

On Sunday Morning

If I can't dance, I don't want to be a part of your revolution! - Emma Goodman (an anarchist from the early 20th century)

Everyone's favorite topic: Church! Oh gosh, just kidding, this is another personal and complicated thing. I will say that it can be such a beautiful place and can mean so many different things to different people.

I've just recently heard this saying (but totally didn't surprise me): "The most segregated hour in America is at 9 am on a Sunday morning". Oh, this makes me so sad. What are we to do about it? I started to look into trying to go to a Spanish service, but my options would be basically only Catholic or Pentecostal; and both make me quite uncomfortable. To be honest, I'm not sure what to do about it at all. Church is segragating even within the same "culture". "Oh, I'm PCA, not PCUSA"; "We have communion every Sunday, not just the first one"; "We sing Hymns, never praise choruses", etc. Please forgive me, but I'm guilty of thinking (and, yes, saying) these things.

Here, in Colorado, living and working with a few Mennonites, we attend a Methodist church. I have never gone to a Methodist church before. At first I wasn't feeling the whole thing, but it is growing on me. That's another thing about church: it's a relationship, it changes as you get to know it more (good and bad, up and down). It's an older crowd which I was missing in Chicago, so I'm really enjoying that aspect. It's not the cool hipster church (that would look a little funny here) and the pastor isn't super intellectual, but the people love God and support (emotionally) us doing volunteer work. I think it's a good change for me.

However, something I am pretty excited about is that we (my housemates, a past volunteer, and the coordinator of our house) are going to be involved in starting a Mennonite (Anabaptist) fellowship group. The reason we are going to a Methodist church is because there is no Mennonite church out here (well, there is one up in the town I work in, but it's one of the more conservative "our women don't work outside the home" communities of Mennonites). One thing I was excited about doing this program was seeing what Mennonite churches are like because I think people (it seems more so in the northwest) have a picture of a certain type of Mennonite (see note about the community in Center) and I want to see what it's really like. I have been in mainly Presbyterian/Reformed churches during my life as a Christian and I'm excited to see a different side of Christianity.

I had a joke before I came out here that I needed to do certain things (hehe) before "I become a Mennonite". A few friends were concerned by this, asking "Are you really going to become a Mennonite??". No, well, what's that supposed to mean? As much as I identify with the Presbyterian (yes, Church of America), I don't really identify AS a Presbyterian. I think I'm a Christian and happen to like certain churches. Gotta be honest, though, I am a fan of denominations and think they serve a purpose. I think there is beauty in "organized religion" (I feel the same way about organized political parties) as opposed to chaos and no standards. No, I'm not a fan of legalism, but I think you can be organized without being legalistic (pretty sure Jesus and the first Christians were fairly organized... not oppressing). I just wish they didn't divide people as much as they do, we should all be united (there's my idealism coming out, not sure what that would look like even for myself).

So, tonight we had our first little meeting about the church. It felt really exciting to be part of something new and different. They are all Mennonites and excited about being back with Mennonites, but said they would accept me! It, of course, had a cappella singing (this is a standard of Mennonite churches) and we basically just discussed a few verses in the Bible about unity (actually stuff I talked about here and in the post about MVS!). As I learn more about what it means to be Mennonite or Anabaptist, I will try to keep you up to date. It seems like a great group of people and I am excited to see what is going to happen! Here are some photos.

A little something refreshing

I don't think I've shared this with a ton of people, but I think I can say I am officially a vegetarian now. Well, I like to call myself a "convenient vegetarian", meaning if it's inconvenient (at someone's house for dinner) I'll eat meat no problem. Also, I will eat GOOD meat; meaning, I know where it came from, what it ate, and how it was raised and killed. These days that's a little harder to come by with our meager food budget. However, when you're a known volunteer group, people around townreally seem to appreciate that sort of thing and willsometimes hook you up with great things- like a free grass fed, organic chuck roast from the actual farmer! Como se dice "awesome"? Here is our final product: Pot roast with veggies from our CSA for Sunday night family dinner!

Anyway, back to the vegetarian thing... you might recall that I was vegetarian from about 5th grade to freshman year of college. Although, my parents made me fish and chicken, so really just a red meat vegetarian. There were various reasons for this through the years, but the reason I started eating meat again was because I got annoyed with feeling rude at people house's. This next round has started because it is just getting sort of hard for me to hear all these stories about livestock farming and then support it and put it into my body. I didn't think I ate all that much meat in my life, but after thinking of things to make for dinner, I'm realizing how much I did use recipes with meat or it's weird to really think of a main dish and protein without meat (it's getting easier though). However, for the past couple of years, I have been able to buy decent meat from places like Whole Foods, so I think I could still do that, if I am ever in that position again. However, I would love to get local meat, from the farmer (oh, I'm getting spoiled here!). I think that ordering at restaurants is probably the hardest, but luckily I don't go to those much these days; this is because there are just so many more choices on the menu with meat, but I'm trying to expand my horizons.

I think this a deep issue, and I know that food choices are complicated and personal, so I don't want to shove anything down anyone throat as this isn't a pressing issue for me. If you meat, I think that's fine, just as I hope you think it's fine if I don't want to. I just want to share (and be held to this, especially at restaurants, hehe) changes in my life and thoughts I have with you. I will say though, I'm really enjoying it and feeling all around healthier.

And, here are some photos from my weekend, which includes the Monte Vista (a nearby town) Potato Festival and a game of softball (played by my friends, not me... my mom's "pep talks" have ruined me of softball, sorry mom):

It all comes full circle

A few years ago, I spent some time at a place called L'Abri in Liss, England, about an hour south of London. This was fabulous! I don't think I've really felt more at home in Christian community than there. And, I'm pretty sure that was the last time I "lived" in Christian community. It's a place to step out of regular life and take time to really think about things and ask questions- that's a big thing there, asking questions. You spend your days reading books, listening to lectures, talking to others, and working around the house. Well, I have learned something really exciting this week- you can get the lectures online, right here! This was one of my favorite things out there and now I can have without the community- hehe, just kidding! You can listen to everything from Francis Schaffer's collection to Grace Chicago Church's music director- yes, I listened to James' lecture when I was there and it was pretty good. This is going to be a great resource for all subjects relating to faith and religion, I highly recommend checking it out no matter where you stand these days on those subjects. Very interesting.

Another thing that is bringing me back to that trip to Europe is Taize. I had the chance to spend a weekend at the Taize community in France, which was an interesting and great experience. This evening, I went to a Taize service in Alamosa (the booming metropolis that is our closest town, of 9,000 people) with a few friends. These services are usually held in Catholic churches with an emphasis on being ecumenical, which is a fantastic idea (more on my thoughts on denominations later...).

You've been inside too long now

One of the major reasons I left Chicago (and was willing to have a placement in the middle of nowhere Colorado) was I want, no NEED, to be outdoors waaaaaay more than I have been in the last 5 years. The main thing I've done so far here is biking around deserted country roads with my housemate, Chloe. Well, this weekend we had what I have called "The Initiation Hike". It was our first hike as a group (well one guy missed out, but two people from last year joined in) and we apparently didn't know what we were getting ourselves into. We should have guessed from the directions from a friend to "turn off the highway when there are two roads to side" and "just drive until you can't and get out and walk up the mountain". Well, we think we turned off the right road, but it never ended. So, we just pulled off the road when we could and started walking up the mountain. We were the "La Jara Trailblazers!" Seriously, no trail and learning that objects are further and bigger than they appear. It was quite a bit of fun with friends, though. Minus my one mishap, we all got up and down the mountain. The terrain is really interesting here. We are about 15 minutes to New Mexico, so it's more desert than forrest, so the we were exposed to the sun for the most part. Since there was trail, we were getting pricked by cacti left and right. And, we had to watch out for rattlesnakes (which I really think I saw one... and ran). Does anyone have experience with high altitude? Well, it makes a difference when exerting effort, for the worse. I may be a little out of shape, but it definitely makes you breathe a bit deeper and take things a little slower. However, it will make hiking in lower altitude easier after being used to this! I am looking forward to this being the one of many, at least the one of a few the rest of this season and many more next year!

And, just to put this out there, I don't really condone "trailblazing". Trails are there for a reason, that we can enjoy the wilderness while the animals make home around it and the mountain only has to deal with one trail of people stomping on it. More than likely my one and only trailblazing experience, but it is quite the adventure!

Hey Baby!

Last night my best friend, Brenna, delivered her first baby! I was so proud of them for not finding out the sex, but now they know it's GIRL- Flannery Jane Richmon. Yep, I'm reeeeeaaallly wishing I was in Seattle right about now, but excited to see the little girl (and it will be nice to see Brenna and David, I'm sure) at Christmas time!

I remember first hearing about her while I was in Chile at the beginning of that trip, I yelped and started tearing up in this internet cafe, to the point where I felt I needed to explain to the stranger next to me. I ran around this small town trying to figure out how to make a phone call (hadn't set up my skype account yet) and finally spent 1,000 pesos for a minute conversation to express excitement and joy (ok, ok, it was only $2US, hehe), but it was wonderful. I bought more things for her on the trip than for her mom (or myself, or anyone else really)! As I'm an only child, my friends are SUPER important to me, so this is a pretty big deal. I'm just so excited for this new adventure for Brenna and David- and I'm excited for Flannery to be a part of my friendship with Brenna. I do always say I appreciated my last job (and main interest) as a mother/baby nurse because I can hold conversations with pregnant women and moms because I know what they are talking about and have my own opinions as well! Hey, it's true...

So, CONGRATULATIONS to my dear friends Brenna and David, can't wait to hear all about it!

Get on the ball

My weekend, so far...

Greener Pastures

Some of you might be wondering what exactly I got myself into here or what's the deal with the volunteer aspect. Let me explain as much as I can.
I'm working with a volunteer organization called Mennonite Voluntary Service (MVS). This is a national program through the Mennonite Mission Network (sort of the same thing as the Mennonite Central Committee, just a little different focus) that sets up volunteers with placements in communities around the country. What I really like about it is that they work with organizations (or, as in my case, government agencies) that are already there instead of coming into a community and saying "this is what you need", setting something irrelevant (or great, but not sustainable), then leaving. The main mission of the program is promoting social justice and service (according to Glenn Beck, that would mean they're socialist and communist, so where do I sign up?). We spent half our orientation having anti-racism training, mainly focusing on issues relating to Hispanic populations. It was pretty interesting as that is the main population where I work and live.

So, there are 6 of us out here in La Jara all volunteering in different capacities around the valley. We get small stipends from the agencies that are all put together and we basically share everything. We share our food budget and a couple cars, for example. Each of us gets $50 in spending money for the month- which actually is fine for this area, but the people in NYC get the same amount which would be pretty much impossible. It is really neat to be reading Acts and seeing how this was how the first church community was operated. I'm not saying this is how it should be or everyone should live like that, but it is an interesting thought and idea. This is also not to say that I'm going to do this for the rest of my life (sometimes I freak about the fact that will be for 2 years), but it gives a different perspective for how I view community and resources.

Part of all this is to "identify with" poor America. While this isn't fully possible for me and most of the people in the program, it gives me a chance to step back and consider other people's lives and how my decisions are made (and how they affect others). It also makes me want to be involve in work that changes lives and communities, as I am changed by them as well. I think that's key in working with a population outside of your own: I'm not here to rescue you, but to understand you and be changed to work with you.

Another thing I find interesting (and with good intentions) is that we're not out here to "save" anyone. Obviously when I tell people here that I'm a Mennonite volunteer, various thoughts probably come to their minds. I've been really intrigued by the spread of the Gospel and speaking "in the name of Jesus", but not really sure where I fit into it or what that means in this world. It is not my "mission" (in the sense that we have a mission in this world, religious or not, it's what drives us to do what we do) to be out "spreading the Gospel", at least that is not how I feel called. I think these can be totally worthwhile callings (how else would be people know about Jesus ever?), but there is a time, place, and approach for this. It is just so unfortunate that a few loudmouths out there have ruined it for the rest of us Christians.

This was just to clarify some misconceptions that people might have (Mennonite?? what the... yeah, I'll explain more about them later). Please, if you have any questions, concerns, disagreements, comments, encouragement, experiences, etc... feel free to enlighten me! I'm out to do something different, this is new to me, I think have good intentions, and I'm open to conversation. It can be a beautiful thing.