Jackson trip: OCHS chapel service.

Today was a big day for the Jackson team and its leaders (i.e. my roommates and myself). Arriving at school at 6:45 is not a regular routine for this California teacher...but today it was not an option. We found out last Thursday that our Jackson team would be presenting our annual "Jackson team reflection" chapel today. That is not a lot of time to practice. We had been anticipating this chapel since we arrived back in Cali, but nonetheless, we did not realize how soon it would sneak up on us. In addition, we had our parent/supporters night this evening. Chapel and parent/supporter night were supposed to happen on separate days...but...

A few weeks ago I was asked to come speak at our church's mid-week small group "breakout" session for elementary students. My topic was "Missions: Being an ambassador for Christ." Well, folks, you guessed it: that night was tonight. I brought my guitar (always handy), and spoke to the kids about my trip to El Salvador, and what it means to be an ambassador - that it requires humility (point one), patience (2), understanding (3), and over all, love (4). I then taught them the song, "Jesus es el camino" which means, "Jesus is the way" - it's a super easy song to learn, a guy who I used to live in the dorms at Calvin with taught it to me years ago and I still remember it! Timely topic to speak to kids about, I would say...

To recap: today I got to school at 6:45am to go through chapel stuff (staging, etc.). I taught Spanish like a trooper (who only has to teach 6 more days!!!), helped chapel run smoothly (and was super impressed with our kids!), brainstormed/planned for parent/supporter night, quick ran home to re-apply make-up and eat, spoke to kids at church, went to parent/supporter night, arrived home. Oh, and after school my roommates (and co-leaders for the trip) said, "Hey Allison, wanna play a song or two on guitar tonight?" Um...yes....but not by myself! I summoned the drumming skills of a student who went to Jackson with us - so as to drown out my mediocre guitar playing.

I am sad that my family and close friends could not be at our chapel/supporter night. It was a powerful testimony of the work that God is doing in our kids' lives. We started the "chapel" with a clip from The Passion of the Christ - the scene with Jesus in the garden. Our theme for the trip/chapel was "Do Hard Things" - which is exactly what Jesus did throughout his entire life, even unto death. We talked about the complexity of Jesus' death (see previous blog post) and how it always comes back to Jeuss doing the hard thing. The style of our chapel was monologue/parallel questioning. I am proud to say the script was student-driven. It contained excerpts from student journals, blog entries (ocjacksonteam.blogspot.com), and honest questions the students had after experiences and discusions in Jackson. As the students read, one by one others walked down the center aisle with a blindfold that had a word painted on it - symbolizing all the things that "blind" us from bringing justice to the world. A few examples were Apathy, Empty Rituals, Racial Differences, Fear, Silence, etc. Then towards the end when students read monologues about how God began to change them in Jackson, and their hopes for a renewed call to justice upon their return to California, students took off the blindfolds and set them at the foot of the cross. (During the morning chapel we had a student actually carry a large wooden cross down the center aisle and place it in the front...couldn't really do that for the parent night).

As I listened to the students speak, what struck me was their honesty and vulnerability. In front of their peers, teachers, parents, and many others, these kids shed some layers and allowed their brokenness and questions to surface. After months of early morning classes, retreats, and a week in Jackson - I have come to truly love and cherish each one of these kids. Their growth spurs my growth. Their vulnerability allows me to be vulnerable. Their joy becomes my joy. Is that not the essence of true community?

I wish I could share the entire script with you - but I only have a hard copy here with me. Maybe I can post it tomorrow from my school computer. To end, I'll post some of my favorite parts of the script:

(In the words of a student): "Change doesn't just start by wishing something would happen. We can't transform and be transformed if we sit back and watch our old life continue on. The reconciling of our hearts, our minds, and our communities starts when we turn to Jesus first. To the very person we made hidden to begin with. Once we do this, the change will occur that the Lord desires. His name will be known. His message will be heard. His love will be shown. The scales will fall off those who have been blinded. And ultimately, He will be made recognizable."

(poem from a student): "Who am I, Lord that I should be called a rock in your house when at the crucial moment I became as sand, shifting, yielding...under the weight of a supposed danger? Who am I, Lord, that you should choose me, call me out, instruct me to follow? Did you not know how I would falter? Did you not know how I would doubt? And yet, perhaps, in the end this is not about me at all."

If you want to know more - just ask...I will be glad to testify on behalf of the work God is doing among this community. To Him be the glory. Amen.