This past weekend, we had a retreat at Daytona Beach, on the
Atlantic Ocean side of Florida. It is not as beautiful as the Gold Coast in
Australia, but the retreat was still a wonderful time being in the beautiful open. God created
both, after all.
Daytona Beach
Unlike most traditional retreats back home, we had very few
formal sessions. Instead, most events were social activities that allowed us to
get to know each other better: mini-golfing, s'mores around the campfire (when
it’s 85 degrees at night), paddle boarding, and of course time at the beach –
just floating in the Atlantic Ocean <3 We did have worship, devotionals, time in the Word, and heartfelt sharing, but that was only a small portion of the weekend. The most intense activity was creating a list of norms
for our community as HQ (Headquarter) Interns:
- We seek to welcome and intentionally include others.
- We seek to honor and exhort one another through grace, truth, and love.
- We seek to know each other and be known as individuals.
- We seek to prioritize growth and humility by walking with the Spirit.
- Have FUN and eat food together!
It was a difficult 2-hour session, as the 17 of us created expectations we had for our community while simultaneously learning to function as a team, composed of unique individuals with different ways of thinking and processing information. We had a limit of five statements, so we decided to make the
last one. And we did that last night! Monica and Emily (two other interns)
hosted a potluck dinner, and we all had good food and laughed over all the
crazy answers people submitted for Quiplash (a group game writing quips for
prompts). But I am getting ahead of myself.
17 Interns
On Sunday, we watched the sunrise, symbolizing the beginning
of our year together. The staff said that we also watch the sunset together at
the end of the year, symbolizing the end of our time together (and everyone
cries). But either way, I’m really excited to spend this “day” with everyone here!
While this retreat was very refreshing and enjoyable, it was
my first time being in a position where I was in a place where American
majority culture was so dominant. I’ve never felt so out of place, which has
been a very different experience. I felt so comfortable in Australia and
Uganda, but perhaps only because I knew I was a visitor, and my differences
could be tolerated. But I’m in my own country, standing out as a minority and
representing my culture (or the culture of an entire continent?) because of my
heritage. It was the first time I realized how deeply rooted I am in my
cultural background, and it will be interesting as I learn to navigate representing
and owning my ethnic identity here in Florida and at Cru. At certain moments
during the weekend, I also felt left out and forgotten, but that’s probably
more of my introverted personality than ethnicity.
I’ll be honest, coming back from the retreat, I felt a
little lonely. My housemate was right; the hardest thing for Jennifer last year
(she’s a 2nd year intern) was the fact that no one knew her right
away. I felt like nobody here really understood or knew me, and I was unknown
and forgotten.
These were the thoughts running through my mind as I looked
through the group pictures. I was wearing the dress that Aunty Jenny (my
Australian aunt) had given me, and sent her pictures, thanking her for the
dress and partnership. She instantly replied:
“So amazing, I was just thinking and praying for you this
morning. Then you line me! [blowing kisses sticker]” (Line is a messaging app,
also used as a verb. Stickers are like emojis but WAY cuter)
This was such a God moment. He gently reminded me
that I am fully known and loved, that people remember me and pray for me. Tears
rolled down my cheeks as the truths sank deep into my heart.
I am
We have orientation this week! Today was the first day in
the office, and we learned a lot of different things about Cru from the staff of different departments. In addition to sessions with lots of
information, we interns also have the opportunity to share our 5 H’s: Heritage,
Hero, Hobby, Highlight, and Hardship. It is a tool that helps us share our
stories and open with one another. It helps us with our 3rd
norm: We seek to know each other and be known as individuals.
Cru Headquarters
This is the building I'll be working in. More about orientation and field ministry opportunities coming up! Not gonna lie, but Florida storms make very beautiful clouds.
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