3rd Day, May 9: Working at Forthspring

At our first breakfast at Farset, Ruth came in to greet us and the repeat participants lavished praise on the new showers and sinks in the bathrooms in our rooms.

Then we convened in our meeting room and had two wonderful devotionals (for the price of one?) one from Mary Alice and one from Paula. 

First we tried a couple of potential songs/hymns for later in the week. Mike and Pat gave us a rundown of the travel, work, and participation agenda for the next few days. 

After we walk partly down the Roman Catholic side of Springfield Road and partly down the Protestant side of it, we arrive at the Springfield Road Community Center. Chris and Emma gave us an orientation to the building, a familiarity of some of the activities during the day, and an orientation as to the activities we could volunteer for.

Then all you know what broke out...you know...work. Deck pressure washing to get the slippery moss off it.

       

Painting in the Springers toilet room. 

Weeding, lots of weeding.

Construction of a hut in the back.

Lock and door handle repairs. Printer relocating to meet code including CAT 5e cable purchase and installation. Planning for the next day's work. 

Mid day-ish there was time to pray with the tea ladies who devoutly pray for you and many, many people in need of prayer.

After that we were fed wonderful homemade soups and sandwiches by three ladies who are participating with others under the guidance of Emma in a community project called MUMO meaning “Moving Up and Moving Out.” They are learning to cross community boundaries, provide support and love to each other, to develop skills leading to independence and empowerment, and to support the community appropriately to the needs. 

We had enough soup and sandwiches from lunch to bring those to Farset for dinner.

Black taxies were our transport to Saint Peter’s Cathedral. One group was in a taxi whose driver tried to take a short cut but encountered closed gates. In the end, the driver had to drop that group off at the rear of the cathedral which wasn’t really an imposition. However, the rest of us were surprised to see that group walking from another direction to the front of the cathedral. 

At Saint Peter’s Cathedral we participated in a meeting which is part of an ongoing series entitled, “Journey in Understanding.” This is a gathering of Christians without regard to church or denomination who focus on the reading, consideration, and discussion of Christian issues. Tonight we heard one person, Mike Thomas volunteered, read Acts 4:5-21. Then we sat in contemplation. Then a new person, another person also named Mike, read the same scripture. After more contemplation, we were broken into 9 groups of 5 people and discussed the scripture among our small groups. I noticed it was fun to hear the different perspectives in my small group. Then we came back together to hear the scripture read another time, by a young woman from North Dakota, and I had to agree with the Irish folks who said it is very interesting to hear the different people read. The emphasis by each was different and that causes you to hear different aspects and think different thoughts from the same reading. More contemplation and then a final session of open speaking to the large group.

After all that we were invited by the hosts to tea or coffee, and “biscuits.” 

Black taxis home and all will rest well tonight as the effects of jet lag fade and the active work we did today imparts us into the local rhythms. 

Submitted by Rod Aldrich