Celebration 2010

One of the best things about this Project is the community within our group. There are seven girls and four leaders, and we all have gotten close pretty quickly. It's such a blessing to be around other women who are seeking God above all else. It's wonderful to be able to be vulnerable with each other, and in the past week and half that I have been here God has used these girls to encourage me and affirm me as I am being stretched and challenged.

It's funny how, coming into something like this, I knew what would challenge me and what would be difficult. Yet, when evidence of my pride slapped me in the face, I was still overwhelmed. I know how I want to grow, but it's still so hard to go through the refining process. I am thankful for it, though, and ready to continue on that path towards spiritual maturity.

A couple of updates on intentional friendships: Suzy and Kaela came to our Cru worship meeting this past week! The message was about church and how it's not a building, it's a body - and our speaker talked about common problems with the church, which is exactly one of the things Suzy has struggled with, so that was exciting! Both girls are planning on coming to our Open Mic Night tonight at Waffle Company (a waffle-and-coffee shop near campus), and hopefully they will come to play ultimate frisbee with us Sunday night as well!


Also, for the past four days, I have been volunteering with Celebration 2010, a biannual Native American event. We have been folding and moving and organizing merchandise, setting up chairs, checking wristbands at the door, and other odd jobs that need to be done. Yesterday, I spent four and a half hours working at the retail table, which was crazy. I am learning a lot about Native American culture, though. There are three "nations" in this area - Tlingit (pronounced more like Klinkit), Haida, and Tsimshian. I have gotten to hear a lot of history concerning these tribes. The majority - especially the older ones - are turned off to Christianity due to some past history of European and even American "missionaries" invading the area and putting the children in boarding schools. Anything about their culture was deemed evil, and much of their language was lost. However, we have had good opportunities to just listen and hear stories and serve, showing the love of Christ through our actions.

And I have gotten to see some pretty awesome dance groups and costumes. I kind of wish I was Native American so I could wear the moccasins and the headbands.

Another girl I became friends with is Elle. I met Elle while working the retail center at Celebration. She is college-aged and goes to Brigham Young University and is Mormon. When things were slow we got the chance just to talk to her and hear her perspective on the Native American culture. We can tell that she likes hanging out with us, and she seemed really interested in playing ultimate frisbee with us on Sundays, so we exchanged numbers and I am really hoping she comes as well!