keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn

There are still a couple weeks until graduation, but I think I'll probably run out of time to do this properly. Though a little premature, this is my note of deep gratitude and farewell to the S-LC.

Dearest friends,

I find it a little ironic and a lot sad that I'm leaving the place that taught me so well to love Grand Rapids. I'm struggling to understand what it means to anticipate leaving a place in which I learned to invest in my city. I'm anxious that I won't be able to convince myself to invest in a new place. Still, I'm excited to start graduate school and to settle into a new place. That I'm wrestling with leaving and anticipating re-planting is a testament to the good work, the kingdom work of the people at Calvin College, I think. As Jeff likes to remind us,  our work in the Service-Learning Center is most truly measured by qualitative evidence.

I've been thinking recently about community and what role community has in shaping people. I'm convinced that communities like the Service-Learning Center cultivate people of paradox, the kind of people who are at once present and kingdom-minded. I know that the S-LC will continue to change and grow, but I'm confident that the people here will always be asking hard questions and pursuing truth. I'm proud of the person that will be graduating from Calvin College on May 18, and while I know that I'll likely find another community that will challenge me and change me, I hope I'm able to hold on to part of the person that's been shaped by this place. I hope that despite the demands of graduate school, I will still leave room for art and challenging reading and good music and service-learning.

Thank you to all the people that taught me to read Wendell Berry (and to disagree with him a little), to the people who introduced me to good music, to the people listened to me rant and tempered my impatience with hope.

Peace.
-Anna

Service-Learning: the HYPEN and what's on both sides

Some days I am amazed at how easy, yet difficult it is to understand the basic concept of the work our office does. Service-learning. It's a 2-fold concept. I mean, is it really that complicated? There's the one part: SERVICE and then the second part: LEARNING.

In my recent ponderings of what service-learning really is and the work of our office, I came up with this somewhat poetic rant that brings to light my recent desire to overemphasize the 'learning' piece of our work:

we are not just 'do-gooders'

we are kingdom-builders who know that we are just a small part of a big, big project that only God can complete
just everyday workers taking part in His big renewal project

we are not just 'doers' and givers
we are learners and takers

we don't go for praise
we don't go just to make ourselves look good
we go to grow and learn

we go to give and see

we go with curiosity and intent to be awakened
to something new, something hard, something broken
we go as an expression of our faith
we go to bring hope and light


After writing this, I realized that all too often we forget to also define service. While trying to emphasize the learning piece that makes service-learning so distinct from volunteering, it became evident that not often enough do we break down what is on BOTH sides of the hyphen. If I were to reason as to why that is, I feel as if it would be because service is something so inherent to many of us. I don't think it unfair to assume that we have all heard the term 'service' before. What's interesting is that our background and understanding of the term might differ from what the person next to us is thinking. That said, think about something for a minute. Think about all the places we hear and use the term/idea of 'service': military service, worship service, customer service, public service, volunteer service, community service, service provider, service center, answering service, public servants, postal service, service professions, table service, funeral service. That's a pretty decent list if you ask me.

So while we all may have different backgrounds, thoughts, and experiences that define our version of service, the one thing in common is that all these kinds of service involvethinking beyond our selves. It involves doing something for the common good and/or for another person.

And guess what? dictionary.com agrees! This web source defines service/to serve as "to help, to give, to assist, to be useful, to supply with aid or information, duty performed to/for another, to act as a servant, something done for public benefit without regard to personal direct benefit."

Now I know most people (myself included) can think of a point in time when we didn't want (or maybe didn't even know how) to think outside ourselves. We were our own world and that world was the most important one. When that's the case, we needed encouragement and we needed someone brave enough to push us into a situation that could remind us that there is more to this world that 'me' and what 'I want' and what 'I need'. This is why I seriously love our StreetFest and ABSL programs - because they get people started on the journey of living as a true servant of Christ.

This got me thinking about the connection between what contexts we have grown up hearing about service and the way we apply it to how we think about service-learning.

For example, one context some of us may be heavily influenced by is the concept of service as 'community service' - as something that someone on probation must complete in order to be relieved from a more harsh punishment by the judge or as a good work someone does to make up for something bad they've done. When we let this context of service influence our view of service, we fall into the mindset that volunteering is something we do 'because we have to' in order to make up for past wrongs (past sins or past wrong doings to a people group or neighborhood).

Another way we often view service is in the context of worship. We attend worship services at which we engage in communication with other believers and with God. We enter the space and choose to open our hands and hearts to give and receive love and fellowship. When this concept and way of thinking about service is applied to volunteering we begin to see service as an act of worship, rather than a requirement. Serving in this mindset is an expression and outpouring of our faith - we choose to do it. We serve and give of ourselves to others because Christ first gave himself for us. He thought beyond himself and what he wanted and what would be easiest for him to what the world and all of us sinners needed.

'Voluntary service' is yet another term and context we commonly use to think about serving. While I think that many people would argue that 'voluntary service' is an oxymoron of sorts, I am not afraid to disagree. Not all service is voluntary; or rather, not all service is done out of free will. The reality is that sometimes we are forced to give our time and energy. We don't want to do it. We grumble, we complain, we show up and do what we have to do so that we can go home. The mind blowing piece here is that true service - service where we are joyfully engaged and seeking out opportunities to learn and grow and interact - is the real voluntary kind. The rest is just a kick off to the real thing as our hearts become pushed toward change - motivated and humbled to think beyond ourselves.

In summary, I guess the point of all this writing that I'm doing is to remind us that every piece of the phrase 'service-learning' is important and meaningful - the 'service', the 'learning', and the hyphen that joins the image together in a beautiful connection.


Peace and Blessings Always,
Emily

A Week to Remember

Believe it or not, we are now three weeks post-spring break. It all seems to have gone so fast, and there are even times what I forget that it ever happened because it seems so short in the grand scheme of time. Hearing the stories and experiences of others has been wonderful, but I can’t help but feel that my trip was the best (doesn’t everyone think that, though?) I had originally thought I would spend this time talking about my experiencing with coordinating the trips, but I find myself instead drawn to talk about my own service-learning trip to New Mexico.

The “service” part of the trip was to promote higher education to Native American students: we visited many schools and talked with many students, but it is hard to know if our presentations actually sparked any interest in the possibility. For me, the “learning” part of the trip was exponential. I was blessed to see learn, see, and participate in some of the Navajo and Zuni traditions, language, and culture; see and hike the magnificent beauty of the landscape (three times!); and to hear individual stories of challenge, hope, and inspiration. No words can explain the incredible and dumb-founded awe I within for the entire 8-day trip and no number of pictures or stories can detail how life-changing the experience was.

Due to delayed flights, our group missed our last flight from Phoenix to Albuquerque on the first day. Instead, we (well, Noah) made the 5-hour drive to Gallup. This initial test of flexibility was one of the greatest things that could have happened for us. The drive was crowded, long, and a blast of making life-long friends. I probably will never forget listening and singing to Disney in the backseat with Alicia, getting pulled over by a Navajo cop, or trying to capture the “perfect” picture of a cactus.

And don’t even get me started on our group’s addiction to the card game Monopoly Deal… seriously… like, we still get together when we can just to play… it’s a problem.

So what did I learn? Well, here’s just a quick few points:

• Berniz likes her Starbucks. Seriously. She would get it 24/7 if she could. And I’m not exaggerating.
• New Mexico is beautiful! The colors, weather, and landscape just scream the glory of God’s creation. I wish I could sell my house and car, and just roam/hike its desert landscape for the rest of my life.
• I don’t have to leave the United States to experience a new culture. Before spring break, I was sure that I would travel abroad and teach to teach in new cultures. It turns out that I don’t have to leave the United States for such an experience. Who knew? There is so much diversity and need here in the United States, whether it is acknowledged or not. We don’t need to travel abroad (and spend thousands of dollars) to have that eye-opening experience our society promotes. Now, I’m struggling because I have no idea whether God is calling me abroad or not. I’ll just have to wait and see where He takes me.
• There are so many good people in this world. We spoke with dozens of people who have dedicated their lives to serving in a community with high need that pays less than other places. Their love, compassion, and dedication to community are wonderful stories of God’s active presence in our world. They are my idols!
• I’ve made some incredible friends. You can’t experience something like these and not feel eternally connected to those who walked beside you in this process. In fact, we are currently planning a trip to Frederik Meijer Gardens, just for kicks and giggles. If nothing else, our addiction to Monopoly Deal will keep us together. Sam, Noah, Alicia, Berniz, Nikita, Tonisha: I love you all so much and I think of you as my family. Thank you for making this trip so great!
• There is so much about Native American culture that is not being shared with the dominant society today. My sheltered little world seems to be shrinking relative to the diversity of the world around me. I had no idea that there were so many Native Americans around today, and I certainly had no knowledge of their culture. Guess what: just because they live on a reservation does not mean that they live in teepees! It’s sad that this was news to me.

So if it’s not clear yet, spring break was wonderful. Life-changing? Yes. Fun? You betcha. Challenging? Without a doubt. Would I do it again? Well, duh! As we drove away from Gallup, where we stayed, I assured myself that my experience was not over. I was not saying “good-bye” to New Mexico, but “see you later.” Someday I will return, whether that’s when I’m retired or in 1.5 years when I graduate. God’s hands were not with us on this trip. God was with us on this trip. 

-Nic

Photo Contest!

Show us service-learning through your eyes!  Submit your original pictures of service-learning and you could win $50 to the campus store.  There will be one winner for each of these categories   spring break trips, ABSL (service-learning for class), and most "liked" on the SLC facebook page (can be absolutely anything related to service-learning).  

Submit your photos to servicehyphenlearning@gmail.com with "Photo Contest" in the subject line.  Please include:  

• your name and the names of others in your picture
• the organization you're working with and the reason you were serving there
• a caption (1-3 sentences) telling us the significance of the photo, how you served and/or what you learned.  

Submit as many photos as you like!  Deadline is April 17.  

   

*If you submit photos of the faces of anyone who is not a Calvin student, we will seek permission from the agency to publish that photo.  Please be aware that if permission is not granted, your photo will not be eligible for the contest.  

A Prayer for the Service-Learning Center

We thank you, Lord

For decades of faithfulness and support from both college and community partners.  For the vision of Sharon Draft and Jan Veenstra in 1964, and for many others since then.  For creativity in teaching and learning, and for meaningful academic learning matched with effective and respectful grassroots-led positive social change.  For the opportunity to work together as we yearn for a more just world.  And for the chance to learn alongside one another in a place of compassion.

We Pray

For the Service-Learning Center:

We pray for a creative imagination – one that sees our community, city, and world, clothed in hope.  We pray that we may be humble students of the neighborhoods we live in, learning from the joy, sorrow, and love of the people who live in them.  Give us the courage to practice faithful presence and contemplative servanthood. 

We pray that your Spirit will enable us to use our gifts for the flourishing of our fellow students, our faculty and community partners, and especially the poor, both in Grand Rapids and around the globe.

We pray for student leaders – past, present and future – in the Service-Learning Center.  We pray for our covenant pledges and our hopes.  We pray that your Spirit will nourish us and bring us closer to you and to each other.

We pray that all students might be inspired to act out their faith and pursue opportunities to serve.  We pray that they might also learn what is required in passions relative to already present hobbies and interests beyond, and in so doing, be shaped into people committed to kingdom-building work and lives of service and action beyond self.

For Academically-Based Service-Learning:

May the Social Sciences and Contextual Disciplines Coordinator facilitate service-learning in order to open minds to reflect and question, open hands to serve and open hearts to love.  May there be compassion and mercy; discomfort, challenges and growth.  May there be strength, hope and courage; humility, justice, and learning.

May the Natural Sciences and Mathematics Coordinator create space for thoughtful and attentive science, computer science, math, and nursing majors to express their care for the community and passion for their subject through academically-based service-learning. May professors and courses involved in this service-learning engage in grace-filled service and intentional reflection for full learning. May the witness of these students and professors cause others’ hearts to be softened to the needs of their neighbors.

May the Education Coordinator share the vision of pursuing shalom in reconciling God’s Kingdom through Calvin education students who serve in local schools as teacher assistants. May the students discover their calling as educators who shine the light of Christ in love through the deeply rooted sorrow of the community. May the passion of the Education Coordinator and Calvin students spread through the community like wildfire through the Holy Spirit.

May the Language, Literature, and the Arts Coordinator truly facilitate student learning in their courses.  May there be investment, integrity, and intentionality so that students experience a reciprocal relationship with those they are serving. 

For Student-Based Service-Learning:

May the Residence Hall Community Partnership program engage students and community partners in building reciprocal relationships where service and learning takes place.  May the CPC coordinator facilitate discipleship with the CPCs and empower them to facilitate service-learning and thoughtful reflection with their peers.

May the Spring Break Trip Coordinator provide students with a wide range of opportunities to challenge themselves through forming relationships with and engaging in communities outside of Calvin College. In doing so, may students develop an excited attitude of servanthood, a new perception of community, and a greater awareness of the large world around them. May the trips also allow students to practice humility, leadership, and teamwork with a Christ-mimicking mindset.

May the College Access Coordinator discover the beauty and courage within Grand Rapids high school students. May they choose to resist racism, the one story, and preconceived ideas. May they inspire dreams and desires of pursing a college education. May they be filled with joy when life appears hopeless. May they love even when it’s undeserved. 

May the Special Projects and Student Organizations Coordinator help inspire students to act out their faith and pursue opportunities to serve and learn beyond what is required in passions related to already present hobbies and interests.  May doing so shape them into people committed to kingdom building work and living lives of service and action beyond self. 

And for our ties to the community:

May the Communications Coordinator facilitate the opportunities and resources needed to be actively and humbly engaged in the Grand Rapids community.  May students have the courage and willingness to participate and share stories of reciprocity, struggles, learning, and hope. 

  

May the Partnership Development Coordinator connect students to communities in order to pursue justice and equality, and to become more familiar with the kingdom of God through local congregations. May they learn how to live in community and build strong, loving relationships in Jesus’ name.

May the Transportation Coordinator not only aid students in travel, but in a discovery and deep understanding of the blessing that service-learning on themselves as well as those they serve. May you provide safety on the road for our drivers and students as they go to placements throughout our city.

And may the Research Coordinator not only learn, but teach others about the importance of knowledge through their work.  May they open the eyes of students to the city of Grand Rapids as a place with a rich history and a beautifully diverse community.

We ask you, Lord

To bless our investment in the lives of student leaders that they might go out from here to serve the building of your kingdom here on earth.

To bless the systems and processes we create; may they be invisible in facilitating service and learning and never impede anyone’s participation.

To bless our community partners; may they be a blessing to their communities and teach our students to care for people and places on the margins.

To bless our voice in the college and beyond; may we point to your kingdom and hold your people accountable to our calling to serve.

To bless our planning.  Give us wisdom to know how best to serve our campus and community into the future.

Impatience is a Virtue

I'm unable to ignore Lent when I enter the nave of Grace Episcopal Church where I worship on Sundays. The table that's normally decorated with colorful cloth and flowers is covered only by an off-white canvas. Sundays begin in silence followed by a communal confession of sin: 

Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.

During this season of Lent, it's especially appropriate that my patience is being tested daily. In the fall, I applied to graduate school, and I've had responses from every school I applied to except the one I most want a response from. No matter how much I will myself to stop checking my e-mail, I inevitably check it close to one hundred times a day. Each time is wrought with disappointment and anxiety. My anxiety over graduation only amplifies my impatience to know what's coming next. Where will I go? What will I be doing? What is to become of my relationships with friends, mentors, family? As I've reflected on Lent, I realized that this season is as much a time of impatience as a time of waiting. Will Easter come as Christ promised? Will creation be renewed? There must be a kind of holy impatience inherent in Lent. Despite my own impatience and anxieties, I am constantly reminded that apart from my own desires for my future, God desires good things for me. With the hope of that promise, I wait impatiently for the day when I can say again, "Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Alleluia!"

Slippers

:::Slippers:::

There once was a boy who worked in the SLC.

He was as cute and cuddly as a bumble bee.

At first appearance, he looks professional.

After all, his spring break planning skills are quite exceptional.

But please do not be deceived

Because I’m about to tell you something that will make you peeved

He sits at his desk with a sneaky expression

And listens to his staff members complain about their feet's compression

For under his desk, his feet lay content

Enveloped in his warm fuzzy slippers, freeing his feet from torment.

Isn’t this just SICK?!!

The culprit’s name is Nic.

 

 

 

{{With love, Leesha}}