Final Week in Acutan

Well, the end of week two just blew by without me even taking notice, and we're into our final week here in Akita. It's been a busy time, with one day melting into another, each filled with sewing and good fellowship.

Our big excitement was when two more boxes of our quilting fabrics arrived midweek. After more days than I could remember.....Carol says it was 12...of clouds, wind and rain, the ceiling finally lifted enough for the plane to get in. The first time it arrived in late morning, we all put on our shoes, grabbed out coats and ran for the door, getting to the plane just as they had begun unloading the back. Box after huge box came out of the tail of the plane, filling first one tractor drawn cart which immediately headed for the Post Office with its load of mail. In minutes it was back and once again filled with all kinds of boxes and large yellow sacks of packages and mail. Then the pilot climbed along the plane to the front, and opened another hatch, and began pulling all the boxes and bags from there. This plane had come in with no passengers, just filled with the mail back-up. Soon it was headed out again, down the ramp into the water for a short taxi until it lifted out of the bay into the sky. We had not seen any of our boxes, but were told the plane would come in again that day, so we still had
hope. A couple of hours later the plane returned, and again we ran out to meet it. This time a friend of ours, Sonya, was also going out on the Goose, and we wanted to see her off. Again we watched the unloading of the stacks of packages and mail that had been held for over a week in Dutch Harbor because of the bad weather....but still no fabric boxes. I had really begun to worry about having enough fabric for the folks to finish their quilts. Already, some had to use brown fabric instead
of green in the rail fence blocks, because the choices were so limited in the greens, and they couldn't find their "light, medium and dark" for the rail fence. But we were still sewing, and the pilot assured us that he would make one more flight in, and would double check in Dutch Harbor for our boxes. The last plane in landed about 4pm. We watched from the church window, but didn't bother go meet it. About 5:30p we got a call from the Post Office. Kay told us she had some packages and mail for us, but since she was closing up, we asked her to set it outside the door, and Gary would pick it up with the van as soon as they returned from dinner. I can't tell you how happy we all were when we saw those boxes addressed to
Margo, in our hand writing!!! Thank you again, Penni, for all the fabric you shipped me from your stash in CA. They were just what we needed, and the women are enjoy adding them to the quilts.

So it's been "full steam ahead" in the sanctuary. Bernie, Margo, Bea, Marina, Maria and Dawn have all laid out their blocks. Margo is completely done with hers, Bernie has only the border left to do, and Bea will be ready to start on her border today. Three more women from the village began the quilt this week, and Margo will help them keep going on it once Carol and I
leave. There has been fish all week at Trident, so the workers have been kept busy with their shifts, and not had as much time to work on their quilts. But if they keep coming when they can, they too will complete the quilt. Since there are several who are almost finished, they can help the others.

We have also been working with the kids this week. Carol got them all started on knitting, and they are enjoying that. I was amazed to see how quickly some of them picked it up, but Carol is a good and patient teacher, and the kids loved how funny she is. They would all blow into the church like little wild things, and soon she would have them all sitting on the pew, with their needles clicking away. Two of the older girls decided they like sewing better, and I kept them busy with small projects that they could make quickly. Sometimes they would work on something for two sessions, but mostly they liked something
they could complete in one day. Yesterday the kids presented Carol and me with a HUGE patchwork thank you card they had made. Each child had made a drawing and they were all hung together on a large piece of poster board. I was so touched by their thoughtfulness. Carol and I will bring it home so all our quilting sisters in Friday Harbor can share it with us.

Gary and Margo's new van arrived by barge, and everyone is enjoying the ride to and from Trident, especially on cold,
dark, windy and rainy nights. They are so good to go and pick up people for church or sewing, and then taking them back again. It's not a long distance, but when the weather is soggy, it sure makes it nice.

We have had 4 more of the village ladies join in the sewing fun with the Trident workers which is so encouraging for Gary and Margo to see all parts of the community working together. Foreign languages, laughter, story telling, and sharing of family histories and culture. God has brought us into a beautiful and stunning microcosm of his world. Hallelujah! (Carol wrote this)

We are entering into our last week here and leaving our travel schedule in God's hands as weather permits. Pray for safe travels at the end of the week.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support. We couldn't do this without you!

Love and big hugs,
Kitty and Carol

Akutan...Week 2

We have already been in Akutan over a week, and the time has just flown......but the planes haven't, so we're still waiting on boxes of fabric to arrive. We have lost count of how many students we have started, but we have 16 plastic bags (thank you dear Patsi!) of started projects sitting along one of the pews in the church, so we know it's at least that many. People are coming and going all day long, from 10:30 or 11 in the morning, until after 10 at night. We are working with them as they come, and at whatever stage of the quilt they are at. With the Trident work schedule, we are catching them before or after their shifts, at all hours. Trident operates 24/7, so it is not possible for us to have a set class time. Francisca came last night after working an 11hr shift. Her husband, Raul, came in the early afternoon to do some cutting for his on his way to the gym to work out. Now you know why they say, "Quilters always make it work!"

This afternoon we will have the school kids again. They are having so much fun using the machines and just trying different things with the strips and pieces left over from the adult classes. It is exciting to see them get so pleased with themselves over their creations.

The weather had been rainy and windy since the day after we arrived. They have told us that the ONLY two days of sun have been the day our plane got in and the next. We are enjoying the coziness of quilting with the rain driving against the windows, and seeing the surf crash onto the rocky beach. Who could ask for better!

I hope you have been able to see the pictures we've posted on FB. I think they tell the story even better than words.


Thanks again for all your prayers and good thoughts.

Love,
Kitty and Carol

Kitty & Carol Arrive in Acutan

We have now arrived in Akutan.....actually, we got here on Wednesday late afternoon. The flight in was incredible! The Grumman Goose took off from Dutch Harbor and took about 20min to fly across the islands that separate it from Akutan. The uninhabited islands were green and lush below us, and we could see the rocky cliffs that descended into the ocean below. Our pilot took us in a wide circle over the island of Akutan before he brought us in skimming over the water toward Safe Harbor Church, where Margo and Gary awaited our arrival. How good it was to see them! Our luggage had not made the flight in from Anchorage..........a pump had broken on one of the islands, and all luggage was low priority while they got the parts sent out on planes. However, it did arrive the next day, so we were in good shape.

After catching up with Margo and Gary, Carol and I joined them for the walk to the Trident plant where we will eat many of our meals. Of course we had to meet many of the people who worked there and many are friends of Margo and Gary.......it seems they know everyone! The plant is very impressive, and is the largest fish processing plant in the country. There are dorms there where the worker live and they seem really well cared for. They are provided uniforms and these are laundered for them and so is all their personal laundry!! We ate our dinner in the dining room with the workers, and the food was good and plentiful with lots of variety, and choices.

After walking home from dinner, Carol and I decided our day had been long enough.......we had a 2:30AM wake up call at our hotel in Seattle....and begged off Bible Study to go to bed.

Thursday morning we got to sleep in and then have a leisurely breakfast....around 10:30......my kind of morning! In the afternoon, Margo, Carol and I walked into the village, to meet more of Margo's friends, check at the post office for our "lost" boxes of fabric, and visit the school, tribal council, clinic and church. The school was really impressive, with bright, large classrooms, and a big gym. There are only 8 students this year in grades K-12, so even the pre-schoolers were in the large building. There is a married couple, Art and Dawn, who "run" the school, and do a great job with the kids. We will be working with the children on several small sewing projects, starting next week. They will come here to the church to sew, so we don't have to drag sewing machines back and forth.

After returning from the village, we made preparations for the Patchwork Tea Margo had planned for the women of the village and also those at Trident. We had 25 women come for tea and desserts, and had a lovely evening talking about quilting. Carol shared her story, and many women were blessed with hearing it. I think Carol's ministry here will be very important. She is so good at sharing herself and making women feel comfortable and at ease. I feel so blessed to have her with me on this trip. She is great at "going with the flow" and being flexible is very necessary here.....beside which, she's so much fun!

It was decided because of the crazy work schedule everyone has here, we would try running a "round the clock" quilting class. We would offer to teach anyone, whenever it was they were free to come. They only needed to show up at the church, and we would get them started quilting, The women from Trident wanted to start right away, but many of the women from the village wanted to begin after this weekend, when they had the big Akutan Holiday celebration. Two women wanted to start Friday morning, so we set up a 11am quilting time. Well, no one showed up, and when we ran into one of the ladies at lunch time, she said she had overslept. However, we talked with one man at lunch, and he said he'd like to make a quilt, so we ended up after lunch, starting our quilting class with two MEN! By the time we quit sewing two hours later, three women had joined our class. We quilted until about 4, when word came that fish had come in and everyone was called back to work. We're expecting maybe a few more women will come after they get off work tonight, but time will tell.

Thank you all for your messages, and all your prayers and thoughts. The support is wonderful for us, and we are so happy you "are there". Please continue to pray that our fabric arrives. We have shipped over a dozen boxes up here over the last two months, but less than half have arrived yet. There was no plane in today, so there probably won't be any more mail here until Monday, and we may be out of fabric by then!! Our batting did arrive (Thanks, Elsie Campbell!) so we're thankful for that. We had them send a "tracer" on the boxes yesterday at the Post Office, so maybe they will arrive next week.

Until next time.......

Kitty and Carol

A Final Gathering

Becce and I would like to invite you to another gathering. We will meet at noon, on Thursday, September 2nd in the library at Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church. Bring your own brown bag lunch.

Pastor Joe Bettridge has offered to administer the Briggs-Meyers Personality test just before our gathering. If you wish to find out your personality type and how it impacts your calling, please arrive at 11:30 a.m.

Thanks! I can't wait to see you all again!

Chapter 10 The Ordered Life

Here is where the rubber really meets the road for me! I long to live an "ordered life." One filled with space to be, and space to grow. One of the quotes that has been important to me this summer from my time at Regent is, "In trying to spread myself around I am never truly present."

Smith talks about the "freedom" of order, and how this freedom comes not so much from "time management" as it does from "managing ourselves." He talks about Sabbath, and community and solitude. He writes, "Therefore, we must reslove before God that we willl not take on more work or responsiblity than we can fulfill with a calm and serene heart, free of hurry and rushed busyness" (pg 188).

I have to admit I am like a dog lapping up water for dear life when I read this sentence. Is it possible to live like that? Is he just pulling our leg? Is he a hypocrit? How does he live?

**Gordon Smith is going to be teaching a class called Spiritual Discerment the week of May 23-27, 2010 at Regent College. Maybe some of us can go together and take it.

My "call" for the year is to see if (as an extrovert who loves people, places, and things) this sentence can be lived out. I long to know. This chapter is going to be my devotional reading all year, and the paragraph on pg. 196 under Courage and Calling, will drive me to my knees as I seek God's way. I'll let you know how it goes.

What about you? What are you taking away from this summer's study? Share with our Blog friends and we will be talking about this in our time together.

Thanks for a great summer and the joy of searching out life together.

Becce

Chapter 9 - Working with and within Organizations

Hey, we are almost done. Next week is our last week and then we can plan another Face-to-Face to finish up the summer study.

This chapter will be more or less important to you depending upon your job history and current work. Those of you who have worked with or within organizations know the trials and tribulations of working with other people. But you also know the joys of working well with other people to accomplish great things.

Smith begins the chapter by saying, "We fulfill our vocation in partnership with others" (pg 163). And that "mature character includes both the humility and courage to live by our own conscience and the ability to live and work with others with grace, patience, and kindness" (pg 165). Then he goes on to list distinctive character traits we can nurture in order to be effective in our partnerships with others.

Question: Where are you primary skills, capacities, and strengths? Where and in what ways do you have need of others?

Discribe the best partnership (of people and skills) you ever experieinced. What was it like? How did it feel to be part of this group of folks working together?

Chapter 8 - Problems

Chapter 8 is about being emotionally healthy enough (in our real lives) to not screw up our lives so that we can even think about seeking a vocation. I have a great deal of this chapter marked and underlined. Things like "First, we should not be surprised by difficulty" (pg 143). And, "...life is not fair" (pg 143). Or how about, "...it is clear (to who?) that we need to make sense of difficulty and to see what significance it has for our capacity to fulfill a vocation. As we shall see, there is hardly anything more critical to personal and vocational development than the nature of our response to difficulty, setbacks, rejection, disappointment or suffering. The evidence that we are responded effectively is that we develop emotional maturity and resilience" (pg144).

Personally I know this is true. I know that my greatest growth is coming out of great pain...but I hate it! At least...I did hate it. But more recently...as the sharpness of the pain is less intense, I am beginning to be grateful for the grow that has resulted from the pain. I still am not thankful for the pain. That may never happen...but for the growth, I am grateful.

How would you describe your relationship with that pain that is forcing you (or has forced you) to grow?

We will be studying the book of Romans this year in Community Women's Bible study. This chapter looks at Romans 5 and 8. "...suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope" (Romans 5:3-4).

Chapters 7 and 8 Wisdom and Problems

We are going to get caught up a bit by doing two chapters in one week. Chapter 7 is about how we learn and about the need for wisdom. When I was a Regent College this summer my professor (Susan Phillips) told the class that as we age we lose some of our capacity to remember facts (like names, places, etc...anyone else noticing this?). But in its place comes a greater capacity to integrate the wisdom we have gained in our lives with our actual experience.

Smith writes, "In the end, no one will care how successful you were, or how much you accomplished, or how important you were or what roles you had. All that will matter, the older we get, is whether we are wise women and men...the pursuit of wisdom provides focus and integration to our learning for the wise person is mature in relationships as well as work..." (pg. 138).

Question: How does one embark on a journey to gain wisdom?

A Big Question

So...if you were not afraid, what would you be doing?

(Yellow Island in the spring)

MYERS-BRIGGS TYPE INDICATOR ® INSTRUMENT

If you are interested in completing the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator ® Instrument, Rev. Dr. Joe Bettridge is a certified test administrator and is willing to facilitate any Courage & Calling book study participants who wish to take the test. Joe is offering a small group session where he will administer, score and explain the rest results.

The Myers-Briggs will help you gain insight into your personality type. It can help you understand how you best communicate and identify your greatest strengths and abilities. Knowing your Myers-Briggs 4 letter personality type will enable you to better hone your vocational choices so they fulfill and enrich you rather than sapping your strength.

Since I have just returned to the island from vacation and Joe and Becky are about to leave, scheduling the test might be a couple weeks out, but now is a good time to start collecting interested persons. If you'd like to take the test please email me. In the email please indicate whether you prefer a lunch time meeting like we did last time, or if morning or late afternoon suit you better.

Thanks!

Chapter 6 - Finding the Courage to Follow Our Vocation

A lot of this chapter is about facing our fears. Fears of being honest with how we have lived so far. Fears about our own limitations. Fears about the future. Fears...fears...fears!

Smith writes, "It takes courage to pursue our vocation, the courage to be - the courage to be true to who we are, even if that means living on the edge, living with risk, living with less security and less influence and less power - because to pursue our vocation means that we have chosen the way that is true to who we are, true to ourselves, true to our call" (pg 123).

This summer I am working through what I feel to be God's new call to me to learn and practise the art of Spiritual Direction. For me this means making my life smaller rather than bigger. It means learning to take a long, loving look at what is real in my life so that I can help others do the same. Practically, what this means is having to say "no" to things I love that fill up space. I am told I need space in my life to pursue this call. One of the books I am reading lays out a process of discernment in which they ask you to place yourself on your deathbed looking back over your life at the descision you are currently making. From this end of your life perspective, what do you wish you had chosen? In a way it is asking, "What regrets do you NOT want to have?"

Courage...I guess we have gotten to the meaning behind the title of the book.

Quote: "Acknowledging our fears does not in itself make us courageous or justify our actions. But it is a start. When we acknowledge our fears, we can ask if they are legitimate; we can ask if we are really living in faith, hope, and love, or whether our fears are nothing more than rationalizations for actions tat are less than noble" (pg 122-124).

Ok..go for it...Honestly...can you name some of the primary fears you have that might be holding you back from embracing your vocation? And...realistically...are there ways you can be gentle with yourself and help yourself begin to overcome some of these fears?

Thanks for sharing.

Living in the Present

Getting stuck in the past (whether it is from resentment, envy, past glory, or whatever), seems to be a killer when it comes to working out our present vocation. Smith writes, the ability to be "fully present" to the current situation, to the current moment, to the real circumstances of our current life mission, is a major growth step God asks us to make as we learn to think vocationally.

How do you think this works, and why do you think Smith makes such a point about it?

Becce

Chapter 5 - Thinking Vocationally

I really appreciate the conversation on recent posts. I thought Charlene's question about how we lose our focus was honest and I would guess most of us have experienced a season of "focuslessness." A time when we are in transition. One of the gems I gained from my week at Regent was an assurance that getting us back focuses is really something God promises to do for us (Jeremiah 29:11-14a), our part is a willingness to let him clean us up enough so that focus is again discovered.

I have also been thinking about Jill's comments at our Face-to-Face when she asked if "acceptance" of where we are is a type of giving up of our dreams (Jill, is that what you were saying? Can you state it better?). Whoa...there is a discussion! Is acceptance the only way to move forward, or is it a kind of resignation?

Give those questions a go if you want...
But as we move into Chapter 5 we address the issue of how we view our work.

Have you ever felt a "slave" to your work? I have. In this chapter Smith shares a very liberating thought. There appears to be a number of advantages for us as we grow to think vocationally (pp. 96-99). They are:

We are free from comparing ourselves to others (that would be a relief!).
We are free from artificial standards of excellence (another sign).
We are free from the burden of trying to please everyone (sign me up!)
We are free from the urgency and the tyranny of time (take me home!)
We are free to love ourselves and others.

Of these freedoms...which do you long for most intensely?

Becce

Sabbath Keeping

I am currently in Vancouver BC studying at Regent College. For me this is a real Sabbath.

Here is a fun (although terrifiying) question: What would an ideal Sabbath day look like for you?

Want to give it a go?

Chapter 4 - As Unto the Lord

Well, I see now that I read back through our original calendar that we are a week behind...oh well. We will go along as we are and then the last week of August have another face-to-face and talk about our experience this summer with Courage and Calling.

During our discussion at Charlene's home we spoke of the desire that our work/life be meaningful. In this chapter, Smith writes that we all long that our work be "meaningful and significant, work that brings us joy." ( pp. 83-85) And he mentions at least four qualities Paul mentions in his letters to Timothy about vocational integrity:

Excellence (doing the very best you can do with what you've got).
Truth (integrity, honesty, humility...that sort of thing).
Diligence (a commitment to get up everyday and do what you have been called to do).
Generosity ("Generous service enables those we serve "to grow, mature, stand alone, and eventually give as we serve one another in interdependence." A false service, on the other hand, creates dependence.
Sabbath (Sabbath is not a "day off." It is a calling to rest).

Go ahead...reflect on these aspects of your life. Then go back to that wonderful question in chapter 2, "What brings you joy?" Take time to reflect on these qualities as they relate to joy in your life and work.

ummm...the rubber is meeting the road for me. How about you?

Becce

Faith Development

Here is a quote that jumped off the page at me: "...vocational identity is a critical dimension of our faith development" (p.57-58).

So... what Smith is saying is that our faith journey gets stuck if we do not begin to get a grasp on our "vocation." This is a very radical statement! It reminds me of something an artist told me once. She said that most people never learn to draw any better than they drew at age 12, because after that age, it takes concerted effort, humility, and desire to want to learn to draw.

Do you think many of us go along in our spiritual lives hoping we will grow but do not put in much effort to make that happen? Or if we do put in effort, it may be down "spiritual rabbit trails" (my word not Smith's) like evolution vs. creationism; or when Christ will return (not that this are not important...but these types of discussions do not seem to help us grow up spiritually). Do you think that getting a grasp on one's vocation is really a major key to living a spiritually abundant life? Whew...what do you think?

Becce

3- Chapters of Our Lives

This week we are looking at the idea of how our life changes...but in many ways stays the same throughout our life. Smith observes that adult life can be divided into three distinct phases: adolescence into early adulthood (which happens in the mid twenties), early to mid-adulthood, and then mid-adulthood through our senior years. Smith writes that this last phase begins around sixty years of age.

During this chapter he talks about individuation from parents in the first phase, moving intentionally into our vocation in the second phase, and finally in the third, growing into a place where we can provide wisdom and bless others.

Here are some ideas I would like us to converse about:

"...the same vocational questions actually follow us through the whole course of our lives: Who am I, and who has God called me to be?" Question: How important do you think these questions really are to us on an everyday basis?

and

"The primary question we need to answer at all times (in all the phases) is this: 'What is God calling me to do here, in this place and this time, so that I can be a conduit of life and grace to others'"? Question: If you were to ask yourself this question in specific about your life right now, what would your answer be?

finally,

If you are in the third phase, what deep desire or longing can be expressed in your life now, that may not have been possible earlier?

Happy Reading...and we would love to hear what's rumbling around in you as you read.
Becce

Good Time Had By All

We had a great meeting at Charlene's on Friday. It was really interesting to hear how people were reading the book, and what comments of the author where sticking in people's thoughts. We talked about our identities and how they are shaped. The idea of vocation being a form of identity that comes from God rather than forces around us was encoureaging, but still seemed a distant reality to others.

We also talked about how we can accept who we are (under the discussion of "a crisis of confidence") and still hold on to dreams of who we could become...we talked about where these "dreams" come from.

We are beginning Chapter 3 this week...so keep reading. We love to hear from you.

Becce

Face-to-Face Meeting

With the input of those who responded to the recent group email, we have decided that the group face-to-face meeting will be in my home on Friday, July 9th at noon. Please bring a brown bag lunch. I will supply dessert and iced tea (unsweetened, but I have a sugar bowl).

If you did not receive the group email, please respond to this post via email using my email address quilly@quilldancer.com so I can send you my home address and driving directions. Please also RSVP to this invitation (either here or in email) so I will have an approximate head count.

Thank you! Becce and I are looking forward to this gathering.

Charlene

Meeting Face-to-Face

Hey everyone...how about getting together face to face next week? I know some of you live away from Friday Harbor (so we will take notes), but it might help those of us who are in FH to look each other in the eye and share our thoughts about the book...and then also have Charlene give us another tutorial on blogging. Besides...it is always fun to have a party!

If you would like to get together for a brown bag lunch next week at Charlene's (she has invited us) quilly@quilldancer.com on either Tuesday 7/6 or Friday 7/9, please e-mail Charlene and let her know what day is best for you. We will be discussing Chapters One and Two.

God bless you all.
Becce

Greetings from Floridia!
Thanks to those of you who are sharing some of your thoughts about Courage and Calling. For the next two weeks we will be looking at Chapter 2. I think this chapter is one of the most incredible chapters in any book I have read regarding finding one's place in the world. The part that just blew me away was the idea that my vocational identity is aligned in some way with how I uniquely see the pain and brokenness of the world.

I would love you all to share if and how you identify with this idea. Does one of the way Smith describes connect with how you see the world's borkenness?

Let the Discussion Begin

Hello all. During these first two weeks we will be looking at the Introduction to our book and the first chapter (this longer span of time allows folks to get their books).

Introduction: In the Introduction Smith sets out a three-part understanding of "calling." He writes, "First there is the call to be a Christian...To be a Christian is to respond to the call to know and love God and to know and love ourselves." Smith continues, "Second, for each individual there is a specific call - a defining purpose or mission, a reason for being. Every individual is called of God to respond uniquely through service in the world." Finally, he concludes, "...there is the calling we face each day in response to the multiple demands on our lives - our immediate duties and responsibilities."

As part of the third understanding of call, Smith says, "But not all the immediate and legitimate needs that I face are necessarily my responsibility. I may be 'overhearing' God's call to another. The danger is always that these daily and immediate needs would crowd out our capacity to respond to our unique vocation."

As we begin our discussion, let's look at this three-part understanding:

• 1) How do you respond to this division? Does Smith's description of our "Christian calling" (To be a Christian is to respond to the call to know and love God and to know and love ourselves) surprise you? In what way?


• 2) What are your current "immediate duties and responsibilities?" Do you identify with his warning about these duties crowding out our capacity to respond to our unique vocation? How has this happened in your life? Did you notice that tricky little word respond? Does this imply that figuring out our "calling" is not so much about our action as it is about our response? ummm....


• 3) As a back door way to begin our discussion about our "unique calling," I would like you to remember a time when you were involved in some activity during which (and after which) you reflected upon that experience and said "I loved doing that!"
  
  So what do you think? Try to keep each response to 2 to 3 paragraphs.
  

God bless each of you - Becce

Online Meet & Greet

Hi everyone out there. Thursday evening a group of us met at FHPC. We all left excited about what this summer will be for us as we read this book together. We are going to start slow in order to let folks get their books. If you have your book, go ahead and read the Introduction and Chapter 1.

As we are getting organized, let's also get acquainted. If you would like, please give us a quick introduction to yourself (what you want us to know :)), and a short bit on why this whole topic interests you.

I'll go first. My name is Becce Bettridge. I live here in Friday Harbor and have for almost 3 years. I love it and love the people here who have become very dear to me. I read this book for the first time as part of a Spiritual Formation program I am participating in as part of my study to become a Spiritual Director. I have always been very "busy" for God, but in this new season of my life, I want to move into what I do through the doorway of who I am. This idea of "vocation" helps me do that.

I am Charlene Amsden. I have only lived in Friday Harbor since January. I moved here from Honolulu, Hawaii, but I am originally from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. I spent most of my growing up years in the PNW and its inland empire. It is good to be home again where the air is fresh and crisp. I come to this study seeking direction from God in this new season of my life. I am looking forward to the coming weeks as we study and grow together.

So enough from us . . . anyone else? Introduce yourself in the comments. (If you don't know how to do that, please see the previous post.)

How to Comment on This Blog

Hi, I am Charlene. Welcome to the Summer Reading Group. As we gear up to get started, everyone will need an identity in order to comment on this blog. There are any number of ways to get an identity, some more invasive and time consuming than others.

Several of us got together last night (Thursday, May 27th) and discussed the idea of having one, whole-group login I.D. so I looked into that this morning and it just isn't feasible. It would actually require more work and more explaining then what I am about to share.

First, if you already have ANY of the following accounts: Google (gmail); Live Journal; TypePad; AIM; OpenID; or WordPress, the user name and password for that account will work on this blog.



On the webpage below the comment box you will see a drop-down menu beside the words, "Comment as". Simply pick the ID you want to use and sign in as you would normally sign into your account. If you do not yet have one of those accounts, keep reading.

Of the five choices available, the fastest, easiest, least personally invasive way to get an account is to visit WordPress.com and create an account. The steps are quite simple:

1. Go to WordPress.com
2. Near the top, right-hand side of the page click the orange "sign-up now" tab.
3. Type in your "user name". This is the name we will see when you comment. My user name is Quilly.
4. Type in your password and confirm it. Make it easy to remember, you will have to use it often.
5. Type in your email address. WordPress will never send you spam. I have worked with them for years and use them on my professional website.
6. Check that you've read their fascinating terms of service.
7. Choose "just a user name please"
   
8. Click on the "next" button.

At this point, if you have a very common name, WordPress is going to tell you that it has already been taken. There is no way I could just sign in as Charlene. You may have to be creative. (For instance, I could be Char1ene -- using the number 1 in place of the L in my name.)

Once your name has been accepted you'll be taken to a screen that asks you to update your profile. Feel free to write as much or as little here as you wish. You may supply only your first and last initials if you wish, and fill-in the "about yourself" with the comment "Book study participant". You will be able to edit this section if you ever change your mind about what is written there.

Before you can save your profile, you will have to check your email and confirm your email address. After confirming your email and saving your profile, you will be lead to the log-in page. Go ahead and log in but you will just be taken back to the front page of WordPress. Don't worry about that. Just pop on over here and post your comment.

In the future when you wish to login, just come directly to the blog, choose the WordPress option and type in your user name. You will be prompted for your password.

If you can't seem to find the comment box, don't feel bad. It is a common problem. On this particular blog template the comment box is near the bottom of the post. In the screen shot below I have underlined the comment box in purple.


If you are having problems and need to talk to me personally, just click on my name -- Quilly -- it will take you to my profile where you will find my email address. Drop me a note. I check my email several times each day.

Relax and enjoy. It is easy once you get past the learning curve, and I'm here to help.

Charlene

Summer Reading Group Meets on May 27th

The Summer Reading Group (Courage & Calling) will meet for a study introduction on Thursday, May 27th at 6:30 p.m. in the Presbyterian Church Library. If you would like help with the "technology" part of this online group, please come and we will be happy to help you. Details of this group are posted on the Christian Women's Network web site as well as this blog.

Welcome to the Summer Reading Group

Courage and Calling
An On-line Summer Reading Project

Introduction

As Christians we are called to be part of what God is doing in the world here and now. But as we participate in God’s purposes in our time, we automatically become part of something much bigger than ourselves which spans all time and space – we become part of God’s plan for all humankind. “Yeah, right,” you say. “So how does that work on a daily basis for me?” The answer lies in an understanding of your life as VOCATION.

God has called you – first to Himself, to know and follow Him, but also to a specific purpose, a particular reason for being. According to Gordon Smith, the author of the book we will be reading together, this “Second Call,” defines our purpose or mission in life and is often termed vocation, from the Latin root meaning “calling” and it has implications for our work and occupation, but its ramifications reach far wider to include our giftedness and our weaknesses, who we are, and how we live with other people.

“Do I have a calling? And if I do, how do I live it out in the midst of all the challenges of my real life?”

These and other questions will be the focus of our on-line reading group for the summer. Come join us…who knows…it may change your life.

Procedures

Book. Each participant will be responsible to getting a copy of Courage and Calling: Embracing Your God-Given Potential by Gordon T. Smith. This book is in print and available from on-line book sellers or by ordering locally.

On-Line Connection: Each week June 6 through August 29 Becce or Charlene will post thoughts about what we are reading and some questions for participants to think about, on our blog http://christianwomensnetworksji.blogspot.com (graciously loaned to us for the summer by Christian Women’s Network – San Juan). Participants will be invited to share their own insights and questions, respond to other’s posts and generally enjoy a simulating conversation around this amazing idea of being “called” by God and what it means for you.

Reading Schedule:

May 27 – 6:30 p.m. Face-to-Face meeting for study introduction and for anyone one wanting help with the “technology” part of participation in an on-line class.

June 7 – 19 (2 weeks) Introduction and Chapter 1 The Content of Our Lives & Work

June 21 – July 3 (2 weeks): Chapter 2 Seeking Congruence

July 5-10 (1 week): Chapter 3
Chapters in Our Lives

July 12-17 (1 week): Chapter 4
As Unto the Lord

July 19-24 (1 week): Chapter 5
Thinking Vocationally

July 26-31 (1 week): Chapter 6
Courage and Character

August 2-7 (1 week): Chapter 7
The Capacity to Learn

August 9-14 (1 week) Chapter 8
The Cross We Bear

August 16-21 (1 week) Chapter 9
Working With and Within Organizations

August 23-28 (1 week) Chapter 10
The Ordered Life

Sometime the last week of August or first week of September we will have another Face-to-face meeting to process our summer’s journey together.

How to Join and Maintain Contact with the Group

You can connect with the group through our blog either by clicking on the blog address here, bookmarking it as a favorite or subscribing to an RSS feed. You can subscribe to the RSS Feed for the blog and receive e-mail whenever a new post is made. You can do this by adding an RSS feed to your incoming mail. The RSS feed address is:

http://www.christianwomensnetworksji.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss.

Instructions for adding an RSS Feed to Outlook 2007 or Internet Explorer, click here. Other e-mail software may also enable you to subscribe to an RSS Feed both on PC's and Macs.

If the RSS Feed does not work for you, you can simply bookmark the blog and visit it regularly.

Facilitators

Becce Bettridge - I love to read, garden, and hike…I am not so fond of church committee meetings, gossips, and liver. My greatest joy is sharing God’s Word with those who desire a closer and deeper walk with God, and I am very much looking forward to the conversations we will have this summer. My most recent adventure is taking me on a very old path…the path of spiritual formation. I am learning what it means to lay my entire life down before the Lord…challenging territory for all of us!


Charlene Amsden – I am a writer, a teacher, a talker, a story-teller. Like Becce I am not fond of church committee meetings or gossip, but do like liver and onions if it is cooked just so … yum. Right now I am in transition in my life and trying to come to terms with who I was and who I am now supposed to be. Wherever my prayer and study takes me I am certain there will be teaching as well as learning involved because both are my passions.

Oasis Africa Institute and Drs Gershon and Gladys Mwiti

Meet them in person Wednesday night, the 31st, at the Mullis Center at 7PM.

Gladys and Gershon are natives of Nairobi, Kenya. They received their advanced education in clinical psychology and leadership from Fuller Seminary here in the United States. They returned to Kenya and spent the last five years working in their fields of expertise.

Gladys operates a counseling and training center in Nairobi with outreach to neighboring countries. She has been responsible for the training of all high school teachers in Nairobi in how to deal with the trauma in students as the result of the post election violence in 2008. She has been retained by companies to work with their employees to deal with inflamed tribal issues as a result of the same violence. She is the head of the Psychology Association of Nairobi and on numerous committees worldwide that deal with trauma. Gladys brings an uncompromising Christian perspective to all her appearances. She appears frequently on Nairobi television dealing with trauma, abuse, and family issues.

We partnered with Oasis Africa last summer in the quilting project in the district of Mashaka. Gladys and Gershon had identified this desperately poor community without hope to be the focus of an empowerment project, beginning with the establishment of a school for the youngest children of this rural slum. Our own Kitty Sorgen and Jill Urbach took their skills and talents to Kenya to work with Oasis to teach 24 women caregivers how to quilt. The results of their training hang in many of our homes today. It is a project just entering the marketing stage of production with much work still to be done. A glimmer of hope is starting to burn in this dark area because of the expertise and obedience that Gladys and her staff and our volunteers have brought to bear in Jesus’ name. It has been exciting for our community to be a part of this wonderful effort.

Gershon meanwhile has been involved in leadership issues and training across Kenya. Gershon has a passionate love of his country. He has been appointed to be the chairman of the National Values Committee, a group charged with identifying the core values of the nation and bringing them forth into national awareness and influence. They will present their “Moral Vision for Kenya” at an all day conference on April 10th headed by the President of Kenya. Gershon is positioned in a powerful place of influence to fight corruption, crime, and injustice. Gershon’s life of integrity, dedication, and sacrifice uniquely qualify him to be used “for such a time as this”. Even with these responsibilities he has a heart for even the lowliest man in his nation. Gershon is dreaming of equipping poor rural men with basic hand tools to be used by small teams in construction projects to create jobs and build esteem.