Alternative Spring Break

So I did my first ever mission trip over spring break last week. I had the opportunity to take a group of local college students from my internship to Houma, LA to do some work with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. I have to admit, the PDA people seem to have the whole operation down to a science. You pay about $20 day for food and lodging in what they call a pod. That is short for laminated corrugated cardboard tents. They did have hot water showers and a dining facility. It was extremely comfortable and was kind of like upscale camping. There were other students at the camp from California, New Jersey, Tennessee and New York. It was great getting to know people from all over the country and that provided a great experience for all of the students from our group.


The work was a bit different. Usually the groups go and do heavy demolition or construction for homeowners that have pretty much exhausted all FEMA options and didn't have any insurance. PDA provides labor and some materials and most importantly sitting with the owners and providing someone to talk with developing a relationship. We didn't do any of the construction work. We helped move elderly individuals back into their apartments at Bayou Towers in Houma.


This building is section 8 housing and the roof blew off during Ike and Gustav and had been closed for the last 7 months. We were busy cleaning with the residents and preparing other rooms for them to return back to. They hadn't seen their rooms until last week so we were there when they returned and that in itself was pretty powerful. Many stories and relationships with the residents came from the experience and I can truly say it was life forming for all involved on a multitude of levels. As for the management and the conditions that we saw in the buildings, I am still trying to wrap my mind around how poorly run the whole building was and the way in which the residents were treated was appalling, but don't quite yet know how to put those things into words.

Now back to studying. Hopefully it won't be a month between posts but it is a crazy semester.

At Least I Was There

I know this is a few days late, but I had a lot of work to make up after the Duke UNC basketball game on Wednesday. Unfortunately we lost, but it was a good game and I was in Cameron so that is all that really mattered. Hopefully we will win next year. Anyways, here are a few photos from the game:

Carolina entering Cameron from the locker rooms:


A shot of the action:



Starting Lineups:


Dickie V arriving and hanging with a few of the Grad students in line for the game:



The remnants of K Ville, the Duke student refugee camp for tickets:

Exercise + Donuts = Insanity

So I took a small study break yesterday morning and headed over to the NC State campus for the craziest running event I have ever seen. The Krispy Kreme Challenge. I did this last year as well and really enjoyed the idea and watching everything in action. Plus, all the proceeds go to the UNC Children's Hospital ($35K to be exact). As a disclaimer, I didn't attempt the full challenge, I just go to watch and get a little exercise.

So for those brave enough to give it a go:

Run 2 miles from the NC State Belltower (a local landmark) to the Krispy Kreme
Eat a dozen Krispy Kremes (cold ones)
Run 2 miles back
Do it in less than 60 minutes

You can just imagine what happens to most of the participants and there was plenty of evidence on the street. I have put a few photos from the event below. I must say, it is nice to go to a race that the overwhelming majority don't really care about the time. There are always creative costumes and team names and everyone I met was friendly and joking around the entire run. I even met some USNA types that had gotten liberty just to come and run the race. I plan to run again next year to watch and help out the kids.


Festivities at the Krispy Kreme



People eating their donuts, notice the guy with the duct tape, he taped speakers and an iPod to his body to provide tunes for everyone on the race course.


5200 runners lining up. You can see some of the costumes in the crowd.

This is just plain funny

A friend told me about this segment on Ellen and it is just too funny to not attempt to spread around the internet. I laughed so hard and Ellen's reaction to the comment "I love Jesus but I drink a little" is priceless.

Presbytery Fun

So I got back from LA and the Presbytery meeting late Sunday night. Then I spent all day yesterday and today playing catch up from the trip. I now feel back on track. Amazing what a short weekend trip can do to the study habits. I did get to see some great friends, two of whom are leaving in a few months that I will really miss when I travel out there next school year. I did get to satisfy my Jamba Juice addiction, there aren't any out here, and really enjoyed the 70 degree weather. Especially seeing how it is in the teens tonight with a good chance of snow.

Some observations on the meeting. It confirms my suspicion that the PCUSA is just spinning it's wheels around the wrong issue. I posted about it already on this blog. I just think that we are focusing on the symptoms and not the root cause of the denomination losing its focus. There was a meeting here in Durham about an upcoming amendment regarding ordination standards and the wording was so weak that it would pass the lawyer test, but doesn't really change anything or say anything. I guess, it is just more ambiguity for pastors to navigate in explaining what it means to be Presbyterian.

On a positive note, I got a good feel for what it will be like going for candidacy later this year and ordination next year. We had a number of individuals hit those marks on Saturday and I am confident in my ability to navigate the landmines in the process. Now just to pass the exams in August. I was also very impressed by the theological care and debate around the ecumenical statements that the church proposed. It was nice to see something honestly debated and voted on and then everyone going about their business after the vote. Hopefully that trend continues when they vote on the ordination standards later this year.

Perhaps the most amusing thing occurred on Friday night when there was a high speed chase on the 91 in LA. It started at 2217, but the TV stations didn't go live until 2300 and then kept it live until the arrest at 2332, just in time for Leno and Letterman. It was riveting TV with the commentator in the helicopter narrating and getting everyone excited for the pit maneuver that never happened. The driver hit the wall on his own and then slowed down to a stop and got arrested. Got to love LA in January. Last year, I got to watch the Griffith Park fire on TV all night. Come to think of it, I haven't seen a full news cast at night out there in a while due to crazy events.

Well, time to relax a bit before getting some shut eye and try to catch up on lost sleep.

Submarine Community

Last semester I wrote a paper on how the sub force really displayed the basics of discipline that many churches will never have the guts to seek. As I wrote that paper, I started to develop a mental list of other areas that the military could inform the church on. Granted many of the ideas will be based on my Submarine experience, but as I get into the Chaplain community, I am pretty sure that these ideas will encompass most of the other warfare communities and service branches I work with/in.

I was browsing a submarine blog yesterday and ran across a post that discussed the basis for respect and authority in the submarine world. I knew that only one's ability to perform was the basis for true authority and respect in that world and I am pretty sure that if the church focused on granting the same criteron, who knows how things would turn out. I am thinking there is a very large paper in this somewhere. Maybe later when I have time, if that ever happens again.

I needed this....

A friend posted this on his facebook account yesterday and it couldn't have come at a more opportune time. On Wednesday I had to endure a dedicated pacifist hold court in a small group discussion of our ethics class. Now, in all honesty, I appreciate and want pacifists in the world. They provide a great check on some of the horrors of war and violence. What really torqued me about this guy was his close-mindedness and how he was spouting off about how if you aren't of his belief you aren't really Christian. Talk like that does wonders to further your argument. Luckily, we will have more opportunities to discuss items and hopefully he will start to let others talk. But, this photo really summed up my feelings and gave me quite a laugh yesterday. Maybe I will email it to him at the end of the course. He needs to know that he can mouth off and be close minded because of a number of people laying it all on the line for his rights.