Have you ever woken up in a bed that isn’t yours and felt entirely lost? It takes a moment to reorient yourself and find your bearing. I have slept in bunk beds, hotel mattresses, church floors, and in stranger’s cars just in the first two weeks of my peace intern program. I wake up and don’t know where I am, then I continue to be a bit disoriented.
And continue.
And continue.
Image description: The view from the mini-van on the way to Christmount. The image features a guard wall with trees and mountains in the background. It also includes a car mirror reflecting the landscape. The overall scene appears to be outdoors with a cloudy sky.
I talked some about place and identity in my last blog post. Place is a big part of who you are and how you engage with the world, and being displaced changes that. I have to admit that it’s difficult feeling so detached from my place. I feel a bit lost. It can be lonely to be the new kid in every room you walk in. But, this week, I was not alone. I had my fellow Peace Intern, Maggie B. Lewis and the wonderful Allisonville Youth and their adult leaders alongside me. So it was easier to feel connected. I am so grateful I got to dip my toe in before splashing into a new space with entirely new people. That will come next week.
Image Description: This photo shows the group in front of Allisonville. There are sixteen smiling people in front of the orange doors of Allisonville Church.
I arrived via min-van at Christmount, the National Conference Center for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) right before dinner. I held this feeling of displacement in my chest, but ate dinner hoping it would go away by morning. We laughed and chatted about what the Allisonville Youth had learned in Spanish class. We discussed the labels on the juice, which were slightly unhinged in the best way. Maggie and I got dropped off at our room and we began to settle in. I still felt lost as I drifted off to sleep.
Image Description: The photo shows a mostly empty container labelled “Blackberry Lemonade Ohhhh Yeah DFW Strong”
The next day we were given our first assignment. Maggie and I, along with some of the Allisonville Youth were assigned to work on a directional sign for the camp. We talked with Rev. Rob Morris about what he was looking for and where it would go and we got to work. Part of building a directional sign is making sure everything is pointing the right direction. We walked through camp making sure we were orienting ourselves correctly, giving our team a chance to understand our place at camp. This task helped me to find my way, both physically and emotionally.
Image description: In the foreground, an Allisonville Youth can be seen painting a directional sign that says “Allisonville”. In the background, Maggie can be seen opening a can of paint.
I realized that despite feeling lost and adrift, my work would help others find their way. It helped me to realize that you don’t have to know every step of your path to begin the journey. That my directional signs would help people in the present and future find their way around Christmount. That in trying to find my way, I had helped others do so as well.
Image description: Allison and Maggie stand smiling pointing and the directional sign they helped build. The directional sign includes locations like Allisonville, Guest House, Swimmin’ Hole, and Guastavino Ruins.
That knowledge helped me to take steps, even if I am scared, I am still able to move forward. After having some big feelings, saying goodbye to Maggie, it was time to take my next step forward and head with the Allisonville Youth Group to Charlotte.
Image Description: The sun setting, filling the sky with purples and pinks over the Charlotte skyline. Optimist Hall can be seen in the foreground, a large brick building.
There is a lot that can be said about the Allisonville Youth. They are passionate, they are competitive, they are driven. I was in awe of their ability to focus on their objective without fooling around, then as soon as it was time to fool around, they did so as much as possible. It was fantastic.
One of my favorite moments working with Allisonville was getting out of the car and hearing two of the high school boys say that they were going to be Good Samaritans. They were complimenting everyone, holding doors open, and being overly respectful at every opportunity. As a joke.
Image description: The Allisonville mission group stands in front of a church building. They are all smiling, wearing matching blue shirts.
Eventually, I asked them if they wanted to read the story of the Good Samaritan and they described it as a “fulfilling side quest”. They read the story and I couldn’t help but think about the journey happening in the story. It is so easy in the chaos of the day to day to ignore those harmed on the road in front of us, but we are commanded by God to not only love and cherish those close to us, but also those we are taught to hate. These boys were being silly, just joking about being kind. But they showed through their actions that they care deeply about those they know and those they will never get to meet. I am so glad to have walked alongside them in this journey and I hope to meet more young people like the Allisonville Youth.
Image Description: The group poses in front of the Christmount sign for a selfie taken by Allison. Above the Christmount sign it says “Camp Lakey Gap Autism Programs”. The group smiles and one youth is giving Rev. Josh Jackson bunny ears.
So, I don’t know exactly where this summer will take me. I don’t know the people I will meet or the jokes they will find funny, but I do know what my next step will be. All I need is to have faith in the step in front of me.
A big thank you to Rev. Josh Jackson, the Associate Minister of Faith Formation for Allisonville Christian Church, who planned the mission trip and was an admirable leader and friend. I can’t wait to run into him again at the Indiana Region’s CYF Conference at Camp Bedford this summer.
Will you pray with me?
Holy Creator,
Thank you for the journey you’ve brought me on. Thank you for the the bumps in the road and the storms that come and go, because they help to see the good moments more clearly. I am so grateful for the people you have placed on the path, the friends, the future friends, and the Good Samaritans. I am blessed to be in a beautiful place every day. I pray for the Hester family. I hope they are able to feel your love during this difficult time.
In your name we pray,
Amen.