This is the question that was going through my mind at 4 AM this morning as I lay there listening to 23 teenage girls and 7 adult ladies adjusting, turning in their sleep and the sounds of the semi-dark gym with the light from outside shining through the door across from my bed and my lovely Exit sign night light shining brightly in my eyes. Of course, it is also not quite enough light to reach around quietly in the dark and rustle through my suitcase in search of the really cute "Dream" night mask I bought at Walmart prior to our trip! The same cute mask I didn't find until this morning when I was looking for something else under my cot before heading out for our second day of work! These youth trips create a sense of deep thinking about a lot of things....The main thing I was thinking was that despite all of the above, there is NO PLACE I would rather be spending my time in the summer except to travel with our youth to do mission work, fellowship, and worship on the annual youth trip.
OK....that's it...I am officially addicted and I admit it freely! No therapy needed thank you very much!
Our fourth day in Anchorage and our second day of work at the Alaska Children's Services started off with a fantastic treat of a warm breakfast prepared by the Prairie group! Hot, warm biscuits with sausage! YUM! Definitely a nice treat from cold cereal and fruit. Thank you, thank you. We plan on repaying the favor on Monday morning.
We headed out to our sites to get started on our day with a little cooler temps than the day before and I think a little less energy as well. After a brief meeting and conversation about needs, areas of work and info about a few new projects to start, we were busy as beavers making a new dam! Except we weren't getting all muddy and wet....well, wait.....I take that back.....some of us were... and we were cutting down trees.....just not with our teeth!
Just as we were dispersing ourselves to the areas of work we were interrupted by the excitement of a moose siting near the edge of the woods! Say the word "MOOSE" and see how fast people dash with wide eyes and cameras ready! Apparently not fast enough as Mrs. Moose was gone by the time most people got to where she was seen. Back to work people....nothing to see here!
As work was underway there was a buzz about a bear siting! Wow! Two different wildlife sitings in less than 2 hours! Again, work was suspended briefly as people rushed again to see the bear --- From a SAFE distance of course! Not to worry all you moms out there, no bears or teenagers were harmed or in any danger during these sitings! Sorry....no picture of the bear for the blog as I didn't get there in time to actually see said bear. Of course when I left to go visit the other site to take photos guess what happened!?! Yup, another bear. I was starting to think they were just making it up but one of the kids from Prairie saw it and took a photo with his phone, so I guess now I have to believe them about it. Maybe I'll get to see then the next time they come around. Phew, thank goodness there were no other siting than those three today.....we would have gotten no work done at all.
The crew working on the ice rink finished taking down the final metal posts and even got to work out some positive aggression by taking a sledge hammer to the concrete. The flower box crew by the front entrance finished building a new flower box and planting some flowers, the crew working on the playground got the area totally clean from all old equipment and the crews working in the prayer garden and clearing the woods made a lot of progress. The crews at the other site also made a lot of progress in building the worship gazebo, chopping logs and clearing the grounds. Gotta love Lumber Jack! Ooooh.....Aaaahhh.....boy are you strong!
There were a few problems with power tools today but those are all things that our skilled and determined leaders worked on remedying so that work could continue. You guys ROCK!
The only notable injury today was with Chris again----gee wiz, some people will do anything for a little attention! While helping with clearing the wooded area he had a little body placement problem and ended up falling on a log and cut his knee on part of it. Pretty good gash but I don't think we will have to cut off the leg or anything. He wanted to tell people that he got it fighting off the bear to safe all the children but I suggested maybe that would make a few parents just a tad nervous so he gave up on that story.
After our work day was done we stayed for dinner with the youth residents from both the girls and boys sites and then were invited to stay and participate in a Drum Circle Worship experience.
Some of our youth had experienced a drum circle before but probably not like this one. That was truly a wonderful and spiritual worship experience!
Psalm 150
Praise the LORD, Praise God in his sanctuary; praise Him in his mighty heavens.
Praise Him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise Him with the sounding trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre,
praise Him with the trimbel and dancing, praise Him with the strings and pipe,
praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals .
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
After this very passionate, loud and joyful reciting of this passage we participated in a smudging and prayer ceremony to the beat of the main drum in the middle of the circle. The drum is played by four people in unison. Sage is set afire in a sea shell and then blown out to create smoke. This smoke is then use to "bathe you in the cleansing sage smoke and a prayer said over you and for you. Following the smudging the real drumming begins with a call and answer type chant/prayer. As the leader recites and the people answer people get up and take over the drumming, then other drums are added to the mix as well as rain sticks and other drum type instruments like hitting a piece of paper on your lap, clapping your hands together, banging on your chair or stomping your feet in a rhythm that compliments the main drums. Occasionally someone would start dancing in the middle of the circle adding to the passion of the moment.
The worship ceremony was then ended with a led meditation with the drums in the center keeping the beat and the narrator guiding the meditation as well as using a rain stick. It was a very powerful experience.
One passage that stood out to me during all of this drumming, clapping and dancing was this section...
All: Put your ear to the pulse, the drum of creation and listen to the heartbeat of the universe......
One Voice: The space of silence between the beats is where you hold hands with the invisible.....
All: Quiet the noise of yourself and rest your head on the pillow of life. Listen and you will hear the pulse of the Creator.
One Voice: So many differences, yet all from One Spirit. Some are here to make music and some are here to touch God. Some came to be together while others came to be alone. Some came for the joyful noise and some for peace and quiet. Some came to heal their souls and others just for fun. Here it doesn't matter which, here we are of one accord.
Below are a few quotes from the youth on today's experiences.
*"The day was long. Up at 7:30 and work all day. Chopping wood building a gazebo, etc. We had a lot of fun but did lots of good work. The drum circle was pretty cool to see everyone react together and have a sense of community." - Jack Hagen
*"The drum circle was very exciting and interesting. All different types of people, we don't entirely know each other but we were all bonding through spiritual music." -Taylor Goodman
*"My God moment was when I was getting smudged. I could feel and see the bond that I had with God!" I was proud of that moment." -Cole Dvirnak
*"My day wasn't too hard. I was bummed I wasn't well enough to help out today but it was fun to see all the projects from the other work sites. It was great to see all the progress everyone else has made. I think we completed the tasks faster than they thought so there wasn't too much to be done today." -Katie Cornell
*"I feel like the drum circle was really fun and successful. However, I didn't like how people were really talkative and running up to the drums. Though, what really impressed me was the end and how spiritual it was! I love the overall experience!" -Bonnie Robbins
I will just close this with the last verse of the call and response from the drum circle...
One Voice: We are building something of beauty and energy and Spirit that not one of us could have conceived. Ending each piece with laughter....or with silence. Feeling so alive, and in the moment, and so connected.
All: And we travel as One. Supporting one another without a word. When it's time to go, we pray we can bring a bit more of our drum circle hearts into the world.... Because the world has much to learn about community, about Love, about grace, about being of one accord.
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