Being Uprooted Right Before Christmas
Thirteen months of SOOP [Service Opportunities with Our Partners] have passed more quickly than we expected. In each of the five locations where we served we met newcomers to the US who inspired us and challenged us to be more like them: humble, grateful, resilient, hopeful, patient, and loving.....unlike the vocabulary our government and even some church folks apply to them. We worked side-by-side with many churches and organizations who are tirelessly extending their tables and homes and hearts to make room for these brothers and sisters from lands near and far. What have we learned? We can get by with a lot less 'stuff' and still live fully. We can worship in many different settings and still sense God's presence. We can adapt our skills to new ways of doing things. We can gauge our energy levels and stop to rest when we need to. We can make deep friendships even if we are physically in the same locale for only a few months. We can live