A Hope. A Prayer. A Dream.

Methodist Federation on Social Action: My undergraduate degree was in International Relations and International Politics. Yet my campus minister liked to joke that in addition to our ‘official’ degrees, we were also being awarded degrees in United Methodism. In reconciling. In love. In advocacy. 

There is a natural convergence of these ‘degrees.’ A natural convergence of the issues which are addressed within the realm of International Relations and a Global Church: Environmental policy, nuclear energy, the Israel/Palestine conflict, the war in Afghanistan, political relations with China, peace and conflict resolution. These are not only political and diplomatic governmental concerns, but also political, diplomatic, theological, spiritual and religious concerns....

Charged. Rooted. United. Reflections from General Conference

OnFire: the young united methodist justice movement: Charged. Rooted. United.: I work everyday with children and youth. Usually, when they ask me how old I am and learn that I am ‘already 24!’ I am automatically ‘old.’ And yes, from a child’s perspective, I am old. Especially when many of the children with whom I work have parents just years older than myself. 
 

Stepping beyond my daily work environment where I am ‘old,’ it is quite different to be here at General Conference, where one of my main ‘identities’ is linked with being ‘young’ and being a ‘young adult.’ Looking at the faces of the delegates, the volunteers, the agency staff, the marshals, the pages and the press gathered here in Tampa, I am young. We, the young people, are underrepresented as part of the global church gathered here....

Photos from Tampa

Welcome to Tampa! Here is the view along the river nearby the convention center.

 The swag acquired on GC2012 Day 1:

 Young Adults and friends here as part of the Love Your Neighbor Coalition:

 The 'Tabernacle,' headquaters of the Love Your Neighbor Coalition:

 

A reminder about the injustices of immigration and the conditions which refugees and people sans papiers:

Breaking the Radio Silence: A German spring

A recognize that my blog has been neglected in the past few weeks. Such neglect has not been the result of a lack of things about which to write; rather such neglect stems from a lack of time to fully formulate my thoughts in a readable and presentable manner, particularly as so much seems to have filled the past five weeks.

Therefore, in breaking the radio silence, I wish to update you all not with words, but with photos, through a photo gallery glimpse into my German spring and the accomplishments and tasks that have occupied my time these past weeks:

Connecting with Nathan the Wise

during a visit to Wolfenbüttel as part of our staff weekend

away in the country at the end of March.

Following the 21.0975 km tour through Berlin on April 1...

The view from the Siegesäule (Victory Column) during
a Berlin history tour with the Kindertreff Learning Club on Maundy Thursday.

A sample of the masterpiece eggs created during
an afternoon of dying 36 Easter eggs with three friends on April 7.

And the Easter baskets created to share with my friends on Easter.

Easter weekend was also devoted to sewing projects; following
Easter weekend, I am now the owner and wearer of these three skirts.

"And you should also live" - The theme for the North German Annual Conference held in Berlin April 12-15.

The coming weeks will continue to be busy. On Monday I fly to Tampa, Florida for two weeks to take part in the United Methodist General Conference. But from Tampa, I plan to post updates on the happenings at and adventures of General Conference. So, until then, I am signing off. But next time, the radio silence will not perpetuate so long.