As this semester draws to a close, I realize how much I love living in Ubuntu. I'm probably reiterating a lot of what you've heard already but it doesn't feel like a dorm over here. It feels like a home and a family. It feels so natural. I love that I can sit out in the kitchen to do my homework and I know everyone who comes in and they know me. And when I say I know them, I mean I know more than their name - we know what tests people have coming up and what groups they're involved in. When I came in at the beginning of the year I really only knew one person I was going to be living with, but now we've grown really close which is so exciting! Put a few of us together and we are guarenteed to spend most of the time laughing and joking. Sometimes as I'm walking to dinner with everyone, or chilling in the lobby, or [insert activity] I catch myself feeling like I'm in some movie montage of all the silly good times - you know the ones with the peppy feel-good dance-around-in-your socks music? It's been way better than I ever imagined.
So even though I'm kind of scared for my classes next semester, I've never been more excited about being able to return after a break! I'm excited to continue living with this group of people and for those in our community who weren't here this semester...KELSEY RETURNS!! Woo! I also hope that we can grow from this first semester and realize where we can do a better job, especially in regards to living simply. I know one thing we're working on is buying shower timers (they're like waterproof kitchen timers so no they won't shut the water off on us) so that we can be more aware of how long we're taking and work on setting our own PRs :)
Signing off for finals week. Peace to all this Christmas season!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Andrea: Take a Wild Guess
Sunday was the Peace and Justice Christmas art auction, and it was absolutely wonderful! If you'd like to read more about that, go to: http://www.haitiwaterproject.com/have-a-peace-and-justice-christmas/
I don't want to simply reiterate what I said for the Haiti Water Project blog, but I would like to point out several ways our community worked together really well.
1) Christine and Jennifer were absolute heroes of navigating Marbeck stuff. When we got there I realized we needed easels for the art and I had no clue where to access them, they totally handled that mini crisis! They both did so much running around at the beginning; Christine made like 5 zillion last minute copies of things for me!
2) Jason Frey arranged and decorated the Gallery and it looked so nice! He and Shawn really helped me with getting everything set up on tables. The whole tone of the event was better because of their personal touches- you guys did a great job!
3) Kristen and Devon were my strategy rockstars: I was so frustrated with some of the auctioning logistics (christmas tree vs. ornaments!! ahh- spaz!) Maybe they didn't even notice they were doing it, but they were speaking SO enthusiastically at the event about the art, and explaining different ornaments to people; they were excited about the art and that got other people excited about it too.
4) Erin Weaver: you. rock. She was my insider informant for the music department: she got an add put in the Messiah bulletin. That was her idea in the first place, and it wouldn't have happened without her.
5) Judahchris- I don't know if you know this, but Judah actually made a table for the auction! Jennifer's brother bid on it ;) Seriously though, Judah's mobile attracted so many people's attention to the Gallery.
6) Ethan got like half of his friends over here to help make ornaments on Friday night- that was absolutely fantastic. It meant so much to me that people I barely knew came over here to help with the event!
7) Karla doesn't know this, but she's actually the one who inspired the layout of the bid sheets. She told me a while ago (when she was planning the CUP dinner) that having a nice sign up sheet made everything seem more put together... and she was so right! Several people commented on our snowflake forms. thanks for the idea, Karla!
So there you have it: Ubuntu in action. You guys have no idea how much your support and encouragement means to me. This event would NEVER have happened without you guys keeping me sane. I don't know if I've ever been prouder of our community. you guys rock, and i"m so thankful I live with you.
Also, Judah said that he wants to plan one every month, so... who wants to plan our "Peace and Justice January" event?!
I don't want to simply reiterate what I said for the Haiti Water Project blog, but I would like to point out several ways our community worked together really well.
1) Christine and Jennifer were absolute heroes of navigating Marbeck stuff. When we got there I realized we needed easels for the art and I had no clue where to access them, they totally handled that mini crisis! They both did so much running around at the beginning; Christine made like 5 zillion last minute copies of things for me!
2) Jason Frey arranged and decorated the Gallery and it looked so nice! He and Shawn really helped me with getting everything set up on tables. The whole tone of the event was better because of their personal touches- you guys did a great job!
3) Kristen and Devon were my strategy rockstars: I was so frustrated with some of the auctioning logistics (christmas tree vs. ornaments!! ahh- spaz!) Maybe they didn't even notice they were doing it, but they were speaking SO enthusiastically at the event about the art, and explaining different ornaments to people; they were excited about the art and that got other people excited about it too.
4) Erin Weaver: you. rock. She was my insider informant for the music department: she got an add put in the Messiah bulletin. That was her idea in the first place, and it wouldn't have happened without her.
5) Judahchris- I don't know if you know this, but Judah actually made a table for the auction! Jennifer's brother bid on it ;) Seriously though, Judah's mobile attracted so many people's attention to the Gallery.
6) Ethan got like half of his friends over here to help make ornaments on Friday night- that was absolutely fantastic. It meant so much to me that people I barely knew came over here to help with the event!
7) Karla doesn't know this, but she's actually the one who inspired the layout of the bid sheets. She told me a while ago (when she was planning the CUP dinner) that having a nice sign up sheet made everything seem more put together... and she was so right! Several people commented on our snowflake forms. thanks for the idea, Karla!
So there you have it: Ubuntu in action. You guys have no idea how much your support and encouragement means to me. This event would NEVER have happened without you guys keeping me sane. I don't know if I've ever been prouder of our community. you guys rock, and i"m so thankful I live with you.
Also, Judah said that he wants to plan one every month, so... who wants to plan our "Peace and Justice January" event?!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Andrea: blogging duty
I was so relieved when I saw that it was my week to be on blogging duty. I know what you're thinking, and no! It's not because I don't love cleaning the toilets and showers...
This week is so crazy for me. I have Capstone homework out the wazoo, all kinds of odds and ends of things for other classes, and the Peace and Justice Christmas auction (among other things) is this weekend. I've been feeling really nervous about the PJC auction because it got here quicker than I was expecting and now all the little details (that I'm SO good at anyway *roll my eyes*) need tied together. bla. I'm so thankful for all the Ubuntu support though- last night we had such a fun craft time and we made some really fun ornaments. I'm hoping tonight goes just as well.
In other news: I would love to have a hot cup of tea to hold in my frigid corpse-like hands right now. Unfortunately, at this moment, every single mug is dirty because everyone's week is just as busy as mine. I can't decide if I should take a break from homework long enough to wash all the dishes or not. Does it make me un-ubuntu if I wash only 1 mug? ...probably: ugh, the things we do for our addictions, aye? Dishes, here I come!!
This week is so crazy for me. I have Capstone homework out the wazoo, all kinds of odds and ends of things for other classes, and the Peace and Justice Christmas auction (among other things) is this weekend. I've been feeling really nervous about the PJC auction because it got here quicker than I was expecting and now all the little details (that I'm SO good at anyway *roll my eyes*) need tied together. bla. I'm so thankful for all the Ubuntu support though- last night we had such a fun craft time and we made some really fun ornaments. I'm hoping tonight goes just as well.
In other news: I would love to have a hot cup of tea to hold in my frigid corpse-like hands right now. Unfortunately, at this moment, every single mug is dirty because everyone's week is just as busy as mine. I can't decide if I should take a break from homework long enough to wash all the dishes or not. Does it make me un-ubuntu if I wash only 1 mug? ...probably: ugh, the things we do for our addictions, aye? Dishes, here I come!!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Shawn: Thanksgiving
Wow, thanksgiving is an evolving word in my vocabulary. The basic definition is simple-giving thanks or praise. But how it is defined in terms of when where and how are taking on new life of their own. For example, can sleeping be thanksgiving, something created by God for us to do. And so is good sleep praise, but is not-so-good sleep not be praise? And if we do something that doesnt bring praise to God, isnt that a sin? So shouldnt we find something more beneficial with our time?
I am in awe of Judah and the late nights he puts into his studies, specifically his exegetical. I enjoy sleep too much to much to work late into the night (i'd love to put a time on this like 3 or 5 or an all nighter, but truth is i'm always asleep when he is working and it seems like he is already up when i get up). His work ethic is increadible and i know that he finds joy in what his is studying and disecting.
Brains, what an amazing tool. I think this is what i am most thankful for. For all the uses it has and for how complex it is. From controlling our thoughts and thought process, studying, analyzing, memorizing. It controls our emotions, our senses and even our body movements. Where would we be without it.
But while i am grateful and thankful for something that makes me who i am, should i not be more thankful to Him (apologies to the people who dont like to see God in masculine forms...i still havent found a way around that) who created that individual part of me? I still struggle to atribute the events and circumstances around me that i can physically see and know, to a God who controls them, a God i cannot see, know, and the hardest of all, understand.
But while i struggle to comprehend His (again...sry 'its' just doesnt cut it here) ways, i can be confident that if i follow His ways, i will not be forsaken, abandoned or forgotten. He never fails, never comes up short, and is never wrong in action or judgement. And in this i can most certainly give praise.
Now i dont believe that sleep is wrong, even if it isnt the most restful sleep, but sometimes there are other important things to do. While i have heard that many people have said it will be a relaxing break and they are looking forward to catching up on sleep, this is not where i stand. I am looking forward to catching up with friends and family, and this will most certainly mean late nights and stories and events that last way into the night.
I am also grateful for Riley Crt. You guys are like family to me and I couldnt see myself anywhere else this semester. You have made me think in ways i never expected i would have to, but it has grown my understanding and confidence of not only who I am, but also the world around me. Take care on break and may God bless the people and things you are thankful for.
SY
I am in awe of Judah and the late nights he puts into his studies, specifically his exegetical. I enjoy sleep too much to much to work late into the night (i'd love to put a time on this like 3 or 5 or an all nighter, but truth is i'm always asleep when he is working and it seems like he is already up when i get up). His work ethic is increadible and i know that he finds joy in what his is studying and disecting.
Brains, what an amazing tool. I think this is what i am most thankful for. For all the uses it has and for how complex it is. From controlling our thoughts and thought process, studying, analyzing, memorizing. It controls our emotions, our senses and even our body movements. Where would we be without it.
But while i am grateful and thankful for something that makes me who i am, should i not be more thankful to Him (apologies to the people who dont like to see God in masculine forms...i still havent found a way around that) who created that individual part of me? I still struggle to atribute the events and circumstances around me that i can physically see and know, to a God who controls them, a God i cannot see, know, and the hardest of all, understand.
But while i struggle to comprehend His (again...sry 'its' just doesnt cut it here) ways, i can be confident that if i follow His ways, i will not be forsaken, abandoned or forgotten. He never fails, never comes up short, and is never wrong in action or judgement. And in this i can most certainly give praise.
Now i dont believe that sleep is wrong, even if it isnt the most restful sleep, but sometimes there are other important things to do. While i have heard that many people have said it will be a relaxing break and they are looking forward to catching up on sleep, this is not where i stand. I am looking forward to catching up with friends and family, and this will most certainly mean late nights and stories and events that last way into the night.
I am also grateful for Riley Crt. You guys are like family to me and I couldnt see myself anywhere else this semester. You have made me think in ways i never expected i would have to, but it has grown my understanding and confidence of not only who I am, but also the world around me. Take care on break and may God bless the people and things you are thankful for.
SY
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Jennifer: Questions
When I got "home" today I walked into the lobby to two of my housemates having a deep, honest discussion about what might be deemed "faith struggles". And while yeah, I had homework to do sometimes there is nothing better than just sitting down and listening to my housemate's conversations. That might sound a little wierd but it's true - I love listening! I have all these thoughts running through my head but I'm usually not very eloquent so I just sit and soak it all in.
Today the conversation focused on the church as it is in America today. We feel upset by what the church has become and by the faith that it teaches. We feel frustrated by the Bible and the way that texts are taken out of context. We are unsure about everything that our faith ever meant to us and struggle to find some wreckage of the past that we can hang on to but even then we aren't sure that that is what we want. We don't know if we can still call ourselves Christians. We are afraid of doing the exact same things we argue against. We have so many questions. Is that ok? Although we struggle, I feel encouraged because we struggle together. Even though we don't know what we believe I feel blessed because know we are struggling with something important. I know there has to be a place for this somewhere in the church.
In some ways I'm scared. I'm a sophomore and pretty much everyone else in the house is a senior. They say that when they were sophomores their faith was "so rock solid" but now it's tumbling down around them. I know I'm not at the same place as them, but if I'm close - who will I be when I leave Bluffton? I know I won't be the same person I was when I came. But, I think that's a good thing. And maybe, you have to completely demolish what was there before you can begin to build something new.
Ubuntu is in that process of trying to build something new. I wish everyone could have the experience of living in this community - I really feel like we are each others home :)
There is so much more to say as always but that shall suffice for tonight. I need my sleep - this weekend Jason, Kristen, and I are going to the SOA/WHINSEC protest at Fort Benning, GA. None of us have ever been before so keep us in your thoughts!
Today the conversation focused on the church as it is in America today. We feel upset by what the church has become and by the faith that it teaches. We feel frustrated by the Bible and the way that texts are taken out of context. We are unsure about everything that our faith ever meant to us and struggle to find some wreckage of the past that we can hang on to but even then we aren't sure that that is what we want. We don't know if we can still call ourselves Christians. We are afraid of doing the exact same things we argue against. We have so many questions. Is that ok? Although we struggle, I feel encouraged because we struggle together. Even though we don't know what we believe I feel blessed because know we are struggling with something important. I know there has to be a place for this somewhere in the church.
In some ways I'm scared. I'm a sophomore and pretty much everyone else in the house is a senior. They say that when they were sophomores their faith was "so rock solid" but now it's tumbling down around them. I know I'm not at the same place as them, but if I'm close - who will I be when I leave Bluffton? I know I won't be the same person I was when I came. But, I think that's a good thing. And maybe, you have to completely demolish what was there before you can begin to build something new.
Ubuntu is in that process of trying to build something new. I wish everyone could have the experience of living in this community - I really feel like we are each others home :)
There is so much more to say as always but that shall suffice for tonight. I need my sleep - this weekend Jason, Kristen, and I are going to the SOA/WHINSEC protest at Fort Benning, GA. None of us have ever been before so keep us in your thoughts!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Andrea: Feels Like Home
Two weeks ago I was in New York City for the MCC-UN student seminar. I learned so much, but the whole time I was there I was feeling homesick for my Canton-family and also my Ubuntu-family. New York is such a cool place, but its easy to feel very small there- I started thinking about what an awkward transition time this phase of life is. It's getting harder and harder to clearly identify where "home" is.
After a very very long drive back to Bluffton I dragged my 1000 lbs suitcase up three flights of stairs and wrestled it into my room. I slept in the next morning so no one was here when I woke up. I made myself some breakfast and was amazed at how quite Riley Court is when its completely empty. After a half hour or so I heard some people coming in the door downstairs so I poked my head into the hallway from the kitchen and said "hey guys, I'm back." And my heart smiled as I listened to my Ubu-family run up the stairs yelling "Andie's home!!!!" Between giant bear hugs I realized that my friends were right- Even if this is only home for a little while, its still home. And it was good to be back.
After a very very long drive back to Bluffton I dragged my 1000 lbs suitcase up three flights of stairs and wrestled it into my room. I slept in the next morning so no one was here when I woke up. I made myself some breakfast and was amazed at how quite Riley Court is when its completely empty. After a half hour or so I heard some people coming in the door downstairs so I poked my head into the hallway from the kitchen and said "hey guys, I'm back." And my heart smiled as I listened to my Ubu-family run up the stairs yelling "Andie's home!!!!" Between giant bear hugs I realized that my friends were right- Even if this is only home for a little while, its still home. And it was good to be back.
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