Sitting outside at home in New Hampshire with my big hat, book and ice tea I think I must look like the picture of happiness, and while I am very happy to be home I am also very much missing my friends back at Boston who are finishing up their internship. I was not able to finish with them because I am leaving for Texas for a wedding and rides made it impossible to get picked up in time unless I went home a day earlier than my flight. Anyways, enough with the excuses, I could not go to Texas without saying my utmost thanks to our internship leaders, but also to my fellow interns who I have learned so much from. Starting out we were all so different but as we got to know each other we not only realized our amazing abilities to waddle like penguins but also our ability to put our differences aside and realize our common goal was to show Gods love to people and do our best to follow him. I know that I have learned a lot this internship, and I am excited to try and work on all these things the rest of the summer. I think something I learned is that God can seem really complicated, and it can be really hard to try and figure out why he wants us to do things. But thats just us being human and complicating things. God is pretty simple. He loves us. But not just the love that we think we know, or the love that we feel for others. No, God loves us perfectly, and guides us perfectly because well... he's perfect. I know this seems really obvious, but I've learned to trust God this summer, and its only because I've learned how perfectly trustworthy he is.
To my fellow penguins, I am so thankful and I have really enjoyed being challenged by you and also just to have you as four new friends!
Love,
Alexis
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Go take a hike!
(posted by Brennan)
I am reminded to keep a strong mid-game as we took a hike with the team.
We are entering into the last two weeks now and it's sad to think about.
We've built a sturdy team that's willing to do what it takes. So we put our best foot forth for the end game.
I am reminded to keep a strong mid-game as we took a hike with the team.
We are entering into the last two weeks now and it's sad to think about.
We've built a sturdy team that's willing to do what it takes. So we put our best foot forth for the end game.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Frisbee Tournament Fundraiser
(Posted by Brennan and Alexis)
Come play frisbee after church in the fens Sunday, June 19th at 2PM to raise money for the Peterborough Senior Center. It will only be $5/person. It will be incredibly fun!! You don't have to come with a team but are welcome to come with friends! Teams will be organized as people come.
Why are we raising money?
The Peterborough Senior Center (just a 3 minute walk from church) needs help financially to continue running because they are losing funding from some of their largest supporters. Any help we can provide will be greatly appreciated and have a positive impact on the Fenway community.
You guys should come, it will be an afternoon of fun while supporting the Senior Center. Thanks everybody!
Come play frisbee after church in the fens Sunday, June 19th at 2PM to raise money for the Peterborough Senior Center. It will only be $5/person. It will be incredibly fun!! You don't have to come with a team but are welcome to come with friends! Teams will be organized as people come.
Why are we raising money?
The Peterborough Senior Center (just a 3 minute walk from church) needs help financially to continue running because they are losing funding from some of their largest supporters. Any help we can provide will be greatly appreciated and have a positive impact on the Fenway community.
You guys should come, it will be an afternoon of fun while supporting the Senior Center. Thanks everybody!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Come On Everybody!
Don't you want to be a part of the kingdom?
... and this is why we all love David!
Props to Kelsey on the drums.
(Posted by Brennan)
... and this is why we all love David!
Props to Kelsey on the drums.
(Posted by Brennan)
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Obedient in the small
(written by Kelsey Rae)
Last week Roger Dewey came and spoke about his life and community. He and his wife moved into Dorchester over 30 years ago with the expressed purpose of being an advocate for peace in one of the most violent neighborhoods in Boston, ridden with racial and social strife.
He touched on a lot of topics, but one thing that stood out to me was his trust in starting small. When he learned that some of his neighbors didn't have adequate heat for the winter, he raised some funds with his neighborhood group--Christians for Urban Justice---for fuel and weatherproofing their home. Eventually, more people heard about the outreach and needed heat for their homes, so they were able to raise more money and provide for them too. In the last ten years, there has been a federal backing behind their efforts, so they were able to distribute pamphlets that instruct how to weatherproof homes.
In all of this, I was encouraged by his humility to just help out wherever was needed. He didn't have this huge plan of starting an organization; it just evolved as he took it step by step. It reminded me that the Lord has the big picture in mind, but we just have to be faithful in the small things. He may never lead us to accomplish "great" things--the most important thing is obedience in the small, daily tasks.
Last week Roger Dewey came and spoke about his life and community. He and his wife moved into Dorchester over 30 years ago with the expressed purpose of being an advocate for peace in one of the most violent neighborhoods in Boston, ridden with racial and social strife.
He touched on a lot of topics, but one thing that stood out to me was his trust in starting small. When he learned that some of his neighbors didn't have adequate heat for the winter, he raised some funds with his neighborhood group--Christians for Urban Justice---for fuel and weatherproofing their home. Eventually, more people heard about the outreach and needed heat for their homes, so they were able to raise more money and provide for them too. In the last ten years, there has been a federal backing behind their efforts, so they were able to distribute pamphlets that instruct how to weatherproof homes.
In all of this, I was encouraged by his humility to just help out wherever was needed. He didn't have this huge plan of starting an organization; it just evolved as he took it step by step. It reminded me that the Lord has the big picture in mind, but we just have to be faithful in the small things. He may never lead us to accomplish "great" things--the most important thing is obedience in the small, daily tasks.
Monday, June 6, 2011
God's Training Me Himself
(posted by Brennan Cooke)
I am constantly reminded that God is putting to use all that I have learned thus far in life and will continue to teach me more for what's upcoming in life. I just hope I can absorb all that is being taught to me and not lose any of it!
Having a conversation with a close friend, Vicky, she spoke some wise words into my life that I feel like anyone could hold onto. "It is as if God himself is holding onto all the different strands of our life in his hands, working them together into his plan, letting nothing get wasted. Even though we may think some things are (or were) pointless, He is intertwining them all in our lives and making something more amazing than we could ever imagine!" (Not word-for-word quotation.)
And yesterday's service at Fenway Church was a real practical encouragement. (Thanks David!) I am working another job on Wentworth (aka WIT) campus in the Community Learning and Partnerships (aka CLP) office as the New Students Civic Engagement (aka NSCEP) program coordinator and wasn't sure how it would be to go from full focus on discipling to having to give my attention also to this position. But David's message about bringing Jesus to the work place and trying our best to follow Him there to really sat well with me. God likes work and gave it to us, so I should love it!
I have been working there (CLP at WIT) already for a year during the academic year anyhow and had a lot of awesome training in the non-profit/professional/office/etc field in my position which has served me well while I am doing my internship and working with other nonprofit community partners, and also my knowledge is increasing working in these new places. I love it! I wonder what (in the long run) God is preparing me for!
I am constantly reminded that God is putting to use all that I have learned thus far in life and will continue to teach me more for what's upcoming in life. I just hope I can absorb all that is being taught to me and not lose any of it!
Having a conversation with a close friend, Vicky, she spoke some wise words into my life that I feel like anyone could hold onto. "It is as if God himself is holding onto all the different strands of our life in his hands, working them together into his plan, letting nothing get wasted. Even though we may think some things are (or were) pointless, He is intertwining them all in our lives and making something more amazing than we could ever imagine!" (Not word-for-word quotation.)
And yesterday's service at Fenway Church was a real practical encouragement. (Thanks David!) I am working another job on Wentworth (aka WIT) campus in the Community Learning and Partnerships (aka CLP) office as the New Students Civic Engagement (aka NSCEP) program coordinator and wasn't sure how it would be to go from full focus on discipling to having to give my attention also to this position. But David's message about bringing Jesus to the work place and trying our best to follow Him there to really sat well with me. God likes work and gave it to us, so I should love it!
I have been working there (CLP at WIT) already for a year during the academic year anyhow and had a lot of awesome training in the non-profit/professional/office/etc field in my position which has served me well while I am doing my internship and working with other nonprofit community partners, and also my knowledge is increasing working in these new places. I love it! I wonder what (in the long run) God is preparing me for!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Painting day in the fens
(written by Kelsey Rae, photos by Brennan Cooke)
Today I got to teach a low-key class on Impressionist Painting for the Peterborough Senior Center. Obviously I was stoked, because it involved being outside in a garden, painting, and being with amazing older adults who had such a welcoming, teachable attitude. We were able to relax in Olga's garden, one of many in the Fens Victory Gardens, and one of the prettiest for sure.
Many of the women hadn't started painting until recently, that is after age 70. It is truly inspiring what people can do with a little time and budding interest. Olga, the one pictured below showing her painting, said she is spurred on by community--the network of friends that have grown as a result of the Center has helped her to continue doing what she likes.
I think we all learned some things, and we were all grateful to be outside on such a gorgeous, mild day.
Mental Models
(Written by: Alexis Cupp)
Today we learned about Mental Models, and how a prejudice deep inside us can change our perception of different situations in our lives. These mental models can be positive or negative and it can cause us to act a certain way without us even thinking about it. We talked about how an underdeveloped or misconstrued mental model can cause us to be ineffective during community development. This week we are supposed to look at ourselves and find our own mental models, and find out how they effect us in different situations so that we can be more self aware of why we act the way we do.
This idea of mental model has actually been on my mind for a long time, I first came to terms with it during my Political Anthropology class this past school semester. We learned about Orientalism which is an idea developed by Edward Said that describes the way that the West subconsciously looks through a filter that changes their perception of Eastern cultures, and how this has led to a wrong idea of what eastern culture is like (think Aladdin and Indiana Jones). Ever since that class I have thought about how I view other cultures and how my perception changes my idea of what they are like. However it was not until today that I was able to think of not only how I can filter my perception of other cultures, but also how I have different mental models that effect situations in my daily life. I am inspired to look deeper into my life and see how these mental models effect my relationships with my friends, family and especially God. I hope this deeper understanding will not only make my relationships better but also that it will help me to have the right mindset to effectively solve the root causes of problems in a community.
Today we learned about Mental Models, and how a prejudice deep inside us can change our perception of different situations in our lives. These mental models can be positive or negative and it can cause us to act a certain way without us even thinking about it. We talked about how an underdeveloped or misconstrued mental model can cause us to be ineffective during community development. This week we are supposed to look at ourselves and find our own mental models, and find out how they effect us in different situations so that we can be more self aware of why we act the way we do.
This idea of mental model has actually been on my mind for a long time, I first came to terms with it during my Political Anthropology class this past school semester. We learned about Orientalism which is an idea developed by Edward Said that describes the way that the West subconsciously looks through a filter that changes their perception of Eastern cultures, and how this has led to a wrong idea of what eastern culture is like (think Aladdin and Indiana Jones). Ever since that class I have thought about how I view other cultures and how my perception changes my idea of what they are like. However it was not until today that I was able to think of not only how I can filter my perception of other cultures, but also how I have different mental models that effect situations in my daily life. I am inspired to look deeper into my life and see how these mental models effect my relationships with my friends, family and especially God. I hope this deeper understanding will not only make my relationships better but also that it will help me to have the right mindset to effectively solve the root causes of problems in a community.
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