Tales from a Church Basement: Mennonite Disaster Service Trip

     Minot is a small city in North Dakota.  Last July, a huge amount of rain by the Souris River flowed south, causing over 11,000 people to be evacuated.  The ground was so saturated with water already that this additional rain proved devastating for the community, destroying thousands of homes.  
     Last week I went with Mennonite Disaster Service to Minot with a group of CMU students to help in the rebuilding process.  We were housed in the basement of a local church and worked in different groups helping rebuild homes.  
     The week was one big party.  We would wake up at 6:30am, go to work at 8am, get back at 5pm, and then eat supper and hang out until very late.  I got the chance to make friends with people I don't see often in school.  

Here's what stuck in my head about the week:

1.  Having only three showers in a single bathroom that had to therefore be designated as a men's or women's washroom at any particular time.  After working for 11 hours straight.  With a tiny hot water tank.  7 women.  4 men.  You get the picture.  Long waits and cold showers for most.  

2.  We were working on the home of a wonderful lady who brought us cookies and Sunny D and coffee every day at 3pm.  It was the highlight of our day.  Then, one afternoon, the members of another of our crews came over on a break.  Which was great.  Except they proceeded to be so happy and excited and make so much noise that the lady heard the noise and decided not to come that day.  Grrr...!

3.  We also had some really late nights.  2-3am when we had to be up at 6:30 in the morning.  What did we do with our time?  A Monopoly game (with one player who stated flatly that she did not want to play but then played anyways and refused to sell any of her properties to anyone), Criss Angel videos, and talking.  Lots of talking.  About the flood, about how the people were doing in Minot, and about why some of the long-term volunteers were here.  It was interesting being exposed to a very different perspective.  

Carrying bunk beds into a church.

I know it looks like an MDS promotional picture, but he actually is having this much fun.

     CMU school trips like the MDS one are like the "icing on the cake" in our university experience.  It's cool to be able to help others, and to go representing our school.  

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Theologies of Power

     What do you think of when you hear the word power?   Do you get a postive or negative image?  How do you see power dynamics at school or at home?  
     These were some of the questions in my head when I signed up for the upper-level Biblical studies course Theologies of Power.  It's taught by Irma Fast Dueck, who teaches Practical Theology.  The readings for this course were so interesting that I wanted to share some insights:

1.  Generally in arguments or conflict situations, each person firmly believes that the other has more power.  Fear of how the other person will use their power is one of the main motivations for inappropriate behaviour. 

2.  The Myth of Redemptive Violence.  Redemptive violence is the belief that violence brings peace.  According to theologian Walter Wink, this is the most widespread "religion" in the world.  It can be seen in children's shows where the hero destroys the "bad" person, and they disappear.  Violence brings peace.  In reality, violence tends to continue until someone refuses to return evil for evil, and thus stops the violent cycle of "getting even". 

3.  Although the term "power" carries a negative meaning for many people, the term can be seen as neutral.  Power is an energy that exists in relationship with others that can be put to good or bad use. 

     This course is pushing me in many ways.  I'm hoping that it will improve my leadership skills and provide a more positve view of power generally.


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Have Faith

     The room was packed.  Residence students and commuters as well as over forty prospective students lined the room as pastor Doug Klassen took the stage.  Doug had been living at CMU all week while he ministered to students, listened to their problems, prayed with them, and gave several talks at chapel and Wednesday Night Worship.  Now he was giving his final chapel talk before leaving for his home in Calgary.  
     Some time ago, Doug had received a hospital call.  As he hung up the phone his heart sank, because he had just been called to the delivery ward.  He walked in the door to see a young woman in tears.  Her baby was more than a month premature and she was about to go into labour.  Doug sat down and asked her what she wanted him to do.  
     "Pray for me and ask God to stop the delivery," she said.
     Doug put his hands together, and started to pray.  "God.."
     The woman clasped his hand.  "Look at me," she hissed.  "Look me in the eye.  Do you actually believe that God can do this?"
     "W..well yes."
     "No, no no.  Do you actually believe that God can stop this delivery?"
     Doug found his resolve.  "Yes.  Yes I do."
     And Doug started to pray.  "God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, I beg you to stop this delivery.  Please assert your power over this situation and save this child..."
     He prayed for several minutes.  The trembling didn't stop.  Then he took a Bible and began reading through Psalms.
     Doug walked out of the room an hour later.  The woman was asleep.  Later he found out that she had been discharged without incident from the hospital.
     There are, of course, many possible explanations for this story.  Perhaps Doug calmed the woman down, saving the child.  Or maybe she wasn't actually about to go into labour.  But this story isn't new.  Doug has seen miraculous things like this enough times that he cannot but believe that God has real and undeniable power.
      But do we actually believe that?  Do we as Christians actually believe that God has power over situations, so much so that God can cause positive healing in people's lives that we might not have ever thought possible?  Because until we do, Doug says, any sort of change that we attempt in our churches in order to draw people in and to be truly relevant to them -- all of that will be of limited helpfulness.
     What will help?  Doug's answer is simple.
     Faith.


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Pastor in Residence

     We have had Pastor Doug Klassen with us all week as our Pastor in Residence.  CMU brings in a pastor for one week every year.  It's an opportunity for students to learn about pastoral leadership first-hand, while also being able to take in some talks and maybe ask for some wisdom.  
     Doug is from Foothills Mennonite Church in Calgary.  He talks about the various nudges God has given him along the way towards becoming a pastor, and also the unique challenges that leadership brings.  Speaking to the CMU student leaders, Doug focused on how one lives with the tension of being a leader on campus - being a Residence Assistant, or Commuter Assistant, or a member of Student Council.  He advocated direct communication, humility, and avoiding an overbearing style of leadership.  
     Doug spent some time in the Blaurock this week, which is the student run coffee shop on campus.  I managed to catch the tail-end of his time yesterday, and over Tim Hortons doughnuts we talked for half an hour, even though he said he only had about ten minutes.  It's good to have him on campus, and I look forward to hearing him speak in chapel today!