Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not there.

"We're all mad here." - The Cheshire Cat

It seemed to come out of nowhere. On Friday, it looked as if we would finally be able to say we had spent a wholly productive day. But, because the work in the week prior had been sporadic at best, no matter how glad we were to have oodles to do, we perhaps weren’t quite mentally prepared. Thus began the delightfully mad, mad weekend.

We printed and reprinted, counted and recounted registrations, folded roughly 800 brochures, cut nametags, sorted flyers - all this in preparation for (drum roll, please) Summer Camps! We had to find some way to relieve the taut nerves that were building up, and thus the silliness began to tumble over in waves. Goofy quotes and sarcasm reigned supreme (for a sampling of the lunacy, check out Allison’s facebook videos posted on Saturday). At long last, we three interns, Allison, Katherine, and myself, were finished with the work day and determined to come back to the office to finish everything early Saturday morning. What you may ask, was our logical next step?

A sleepover of course! Yes indeed, it makes perfect sense to have a sleepover with one’s girlfriends the night before one plans to be back at work at 7AM – on a Saturday morning no less. And so, dear reader, that is precisely what we did. Our good friend Jessi, also from Abundant Life, was the perfect addition to our posse. Pure giggly girliness was the name of the game that night. Love letters and flash mobs, outlandish marriage proposals and popsicle-filled banter filled the air. Finally we settled into our sleeping bags with a movie playing in the background at the entirely sensible hour of 2:30 AM.

Saturday morning rolled around and we rolled out of bed and rolled into the church parking lot approximately at 7:15 AM, mind you this was only after a compulsory doughnut and coffee run. Paperwork followed and wonder of wonders, we walked out of that office at 9:45 AM.

Hinkley Lake was calling Allison and my name that afternoon, and I must admit this gorgeous basin has captured my imagination. The lake and surrounding forest is utterly lovely and inviting. Families were swimming and enjoying the summer sun, many were strolling down the trails with their friends and dogs, and a number of fishermen were sitting along the water’s edge waiting for that elusive tug on their lines. Mere words can’t describe how enchanted I was by this little body of water; I simply am. Allison and I thoroughly enjoyed rambling along the lake and something tells me it won’t be too long before we find ourselves underneath the shade of those same trees again.

The last day of our delightfully mad, mad weekend could be compared to a little kid’s lunchbox packed to the brim. You see, we three summer missionaries were literally wheeling from one activity to another. Some of the things that kept us busy were utterly delectable in their “spiritual and edificatory nutrition”, while others weren’t such savory tasks but were absolutely vital to healthy preparation for the summer. Further pursuits were more standard fare, but we were indubitably blessed with sweet icing on our Sunday cake. Finally, just as I am a bit drowsy following a well rounded lunch, I was fittingly worn-out at the close of the day.

After this past Sunday and spending two weeks at Abundant Life, I’m learning that their church community is exceptional. The pastor, the leadership, the youth group, those wonderful people tirelessly giving of themselves behind the scenes – they’re a gentle and passionate picture of Christ’s church. His body. Their faith and belief are so beautifully simple and sincere. (And by simple, I mean not an overcomplicated, incessant pursuit of a hidden, earth-shattering theological meaning. Truth is truth; it will never change and God has laid His truth out pretty plainly if only we would take a look.) No wonder they are having a strikingly indispensable impact in their corner of the world.

Of course, I can’t talk about the people at Abundant Life without mentioning Katherine, Jessi, and Allison. These ladies are remarkable and the kind of friends who I know I needed this summer. To intently strive after God is what their hearts long for and they are so open and honest about the things that are blocking their way. They’re teaching me to be the same.

“Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.” Proverbs 27:9

What joyfully pleasant perfume God has given me in these three this summer!

PS: Tomorrow at theatre camp the gospel will be presented. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will open the kids' eyes and hearts to how much they need God's forgiveness and restoration in Him. Also please pray that we volunteers will be empowered by Christ and point the way to Him in all our interactions with the kids tomorrow. Thank you so much!

Which Literary Character Are You?

A few years ago, I filled out one of those funny little quizzes which magically (and completely and utterly accurately, mind you) tells you which literary character you're most like. I bet you'll never guess who my literary twin is:

I have to admit, I was a bit giddy when I first saw this silly quiz's conclusion; I've always liked her and her story. I'll admit it, I'm a bit of a dork. Haha! Here's what it had to say:

"You are Alice, from Lewis Carroll's timeless masterpiece. You're an inquisitive person with a great sense of empathy and compassion. You have a deep, but quiet, love for others, especially the less fortunate. Some might criticize you for being headstrong, but most see your boldness as an endearing quality. You don't always fit in with the rest of society, but you follow your heart, and you have a good head on your shoulders. Although you occasionally have to struggle to find your place in the world, you never compromise your integrity. You are who you are, love it or leave it." (I'd also add that my curiosity often distracts me or gets me into scrapes, but it can lead to learning new and wonderful things as well.)

These quizzes are inevitably are ridiculously flattering. Yeah, they're pretty silly, but I have to admit they're a little fun too.

So I have to ask, what quizzes results have you had that surprised or delighted you?

"What is the use of a book, without pictures or conversations?" - Alice

And so here, my friends, is a picture.

I found this one online and it made me laugh. It fits perfectly with the idea behind this blog; apparently I'm not the only one who thinks curiosity kills complacency!

"Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end; then stop." - The King, Alice in Wonderland

This summer, I set my sites high. No more checking tickets and distributing playbills on the fringes of the theatre world for me. Ah, no! This summer I was determined to find a theatre opportunity that I could sink my teeth into – somewhere behind the scenes where I could design and create and assist someone in bringing to life those fantastical tales of the stage!

Fast forward to April; reality had set in. There I was grasping at straws trying to find something, no almost anything to do in the realm of theatre. My list of options was shrinking by the day. Noah the Musical with The Sight and Sound Theatre in Branson only took on local theatre students. I had filled out applications for the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, The Muny, The Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, and The Guthrie, but my small pool of recommendation letter writers had been quite busy with mid semester projects, and so those three ideas slid off the list. So finally, there were the Egypt, England, and Los Angeles options, each brimming over with adventure and fantastic possibilities. I kid you not, none, no not even one of these responded to my scores of emails and phone calls.

Resignation set in. I would simply have to continue working at my regular job in St. Louis and content myself with volunteering with a few theatres here and there. But of course, you know that’s not the end of the story. About a week before spring break, I was clearing out my messenger bag when I came across a business card. It was from Pastor Rockwell Taylor of Abundant Life Community Church in Cleveland, Ohio. I remembered that my church had partnered with them on their VBS camps, and that they had a theatre ministry. I wondered… An idea was forming in my head of maybe going out there to Ohio for a couple of weeks during the summer to possibly help with an upcoming production and in the process learn how their theatre outreach worked. Yeah. Why not? My curiosity got the best of me, and I had nothing to lose.

I put in a call to Pastor Taylor and by the end of the conversation he had invited me out to come out to Cleveland for the whole summer.

Fast forward eight weeks and here I am in Cleveland in the midst of planning and coordinating for theatre and sports camps, theatre workshops, and ministry outreach. Already I’ve contributed in (very) small part to Abundant Life’s 82^nd Street Theatre performances of “Pride and Prejudice” which took place the first weekend I and my partner in crime, Allison, arrived in town.

Each day the little ins and outs of the 82^nd Street Theatre are coming into focus, and I’ve been inspired by the stories of how it has impacted lives for the better. Anyone would have to be in denial to miss what God has done through 82^nd Street Theatre, and I can’t tell you how excited I am to learn as much as I can and poor myself into the good work that has been set before me. I could have ended up doing something completely different this summer, but God knew where he wanted me. He even used my goofy little curious and inquiring quirk to get me here.

“I'm in charge of all this - I run this universe!” – Job 41:11

“ I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Yep He’s definitely got it under control. Thank goodness!