Reflection Group

We had our monthly reflection group meeting last week, July 9 at Duck UMC, NC. Duck was a nice place with the beach in view and some historic spots like the Wright Borthers museum in Kill Devil, it was a perfect toursit spot. I started appreciating the good side of having to drive an hour or so just to meet with my shoolmates and friends and reflect upon our experiences in the ministry. You get to go places and you get to see beautiful spots. More than that I found it very helpful to have a group of friends that you can share your experiences with. It refreshes me to hear stories, reflections and insights about serving in God's vineyard especially knowing that these people also share the same experiences that I have. I could only hope that these kind of reflection groups would translate into covenant groups when we all become ordained clergy in the near future, that we may have a venue to old each other and grow together as we serve our Lord.

Living as a Community

November 24, 2007

I moved to an apartment in Bedford Street. The apartment is a 3 bedroom unit and I would be sharing it with Daniel and Inseo, my classmates in the seminary. I have no trouble living in an apartment with other people since I lived most of my college and med life with my classmates. What's interesting with this new setting is I would be living with two other people with cultural backgrounds totally different from mine. What is more interesting is that we would be living with our families together.

Yes, my family would be with me. They came here early Novemeber and that is one of the reasons I had to move out from my host family. I had to find a place for me and my family. God is so gracious in using my friends who readily offered their place so I can have a place where my family can also stay.

This set-up would work. Financially, it is cheap enough that I can afford it. The location is close enough to Duke. The place is safe and secure enough. Plus I would be blessed knowing I am living with my family. And when I say family, it's not just my wife and daughter, but that I would be livng with my Christian brothers and sister.

Sharing the Communion

I was serving communion one Sunday. The communion was by serving a piece of bread and a small cup of grape juice. Each parishioner falls in line to receive the eucharist. However, some mothers carrying an infant and the elderly who could not walk remain in their seat and wait to be served. So after serving communion to those able to fall in line, I started walking towards those who remain seated. I first offered to a 90 year very old man who I believe could not even swallow his saliva as I can see him salivating. He took a very small piece of bread, ate it and swallowed it fast. He then took the small cup, and with some difficulty, sipped just a little that it was still more than half full. Usually, after drinking the cup, they just hold on to it or put it in the back of pews. But I was surprised when the old man returned the small cup, still with his saliva lining the rim of the cup, back in my serving plate . Then I moved to the next person, a sophisticated young woman holding a baby. This lady was known for being so fussy. Anyway, she also took a very small piece of bread and ate it with style and poise. Then she took the small cup and drank all of it. Before she could finish the cup I realized that it was the same small cup that the old man had put back in my plate. Oh no! I said to myself... I don't know if I would laugh, or feel bad, or what... It was too late now...

Friday Nights

It's Friday night. Sabbath day for most of us. I mean, it's rest and recreation day. The Div school is encouraging students to go to the State Fair. My friend is having a pizza dinner at his place. There's an opening party at the Dillo patio. Where did I go? To the Dillo Patio. Everybody else went as a group to those other activities but I went alone to the Dillo Patio. Why? Well, the state fair requires one to buy a ticket to be able to enter the fair. I don't have the money to buy a ticket, so can't go there. The dinner was supposed to be a potluck or bring a donation (monetary or food). Again, I don't have money and I don't have any food to bring, so can't go there. The Dillo? They were having a grand opening and so food was free. Now, that's something I can do. Just show up and have free food. The free food lasted only till 8pm so that's a plus for me. That means, I won't have to stay late. See, not everything is bad. God's grace is always abundant. God always has better plans for me... a free dinner and an extra time to relax... that's my kind of Friday night.

International Luncheon Meet

All the international students in the Divinity School and the Religion Department gathered for a fellowship lunch today. I was hoping that it would be an organizational meeting for an international students group but no one raised it. However, we had a great time just meeting new friends, having fellowship with each other and learning more from each other. Some of the students voiced out their concerns, problems and joys since we came in here. I was particularly touched by Beth's testimony on her struggle to reach out and help other international students without offending them. I understand how difficult it is to try to help someone without sounding so invasive and demeaning to the other person. I could also relate to Sam's story about delayed scholarships. It has always and is continuously happening to me. Like for me, I have been expecting since last month that my Methodist scholarship will arrive but have not even until now. So, basically students like us who rely on scholarship for our daily expenses have no money to buy food. I don't know how I am able to survive this situation for the last two months, I think only by God's grace. But I guess it was Judy's words that best say how international students feel alienated here. It also describes how lonely it could be for international students to be away from home. She said, "it is not in being by myself in my room that I feel lonely, actually that is where I find solace... but it is being amongst all the other students here in the school that i feel most alone."

Fall Break

It's Fall break.

There's nothing to do. There' no one around. There's no one to talk to. There's no where to go.

It gets pretty boring really if everybody leaves for home but you get to stay. That's my life in the seminary. I would have loved to go to the homecoming ball games. Duke is playing Virginia Tech (doesn't matter if they win, we watch for fun). Again the weekend would also be a nice time to go to the Carolina Fair in Raleigh just to have fun. But you cannot have fun doing activites that are supposed to be enjoyed as a group. So, I'm stuck here in my room... reading and writing... and reading and writing again... Sigh.......

Paper Back

I got my paper back and I got good grades. I guess that means I was right. She just wanted us to write better. I hope I can continue to improve my writing and in proving my arguments. So fall break is coming, and I hope to write better papers for the next half of the semester.