Over the course of this next year (Aug 2012 to Aug 2013) I will be blogging about my time as a PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer in Tucson, AZ. I am volunteering with the intention of finding a deeper understanding of God's love as it is presented in different settings around the world. Thus far, that hope is coming to fruition.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Laramie UPC Day 4 - C'mon In Cafe, Clonard, Disabilities Club

Tuesday (4 weeks ago today!) was Laramie UPC's fourth day in Belfast and it started early (by the standards I've become used to)! We met at Woodvale Methodist at 9:30 for a presentation from Margaret (the minister at Woodvale) on working on a peace line. She also talked about the Shankill community and the problems that plague it. It is a difficult place to minister but there is certainly hope in the area. That was Margaret's main message. Hope. The Shankill is a community that sees about a 50% unemployment rate. It is also steeped in history from the Troubles and that history is something the people live with each and every day. There are few, if any, people in the community that were not affected by the Troubles in some way.

After our visit with Margaret, we worked at the C'mon In Cafe, Woodvale's community cafe that is on each Tuesday. It was a great thing that the Laramie group was there because a number of our normal volunteers were either sick or on holiday and the extra hands on deck sure were helpful. The group helped out in the kitchen washing dishes and preparing plates as well as on the floor taking orders. When not helping, the group was sitting and eating with those who come into the C'mon In Cafe each week. It was a great opportunity for both the folks of Laramie and folks from Belfast to share about each other's lives and homes.


Marcia and Ray
Carole chatting with a local (Brian)

After helping with the Cafe, we headed through the gates of the peace wall to Clonard Monastery. I've mentioned Clonard before, as that was where the Good Friday Peace Walk started from that I blogged about earlier this year. At Clonard we met with Ed who was incredibly helpful and insightful! He gave us a great tour of the facilities and then engaged in a terrific theological discussion with the group. Multiple people said that this was one of their favorite parts of the mission trip.



Tuesday evening found the group back at the 174 Trust to help with the Disabilites Club that is on. I write this blog almost a month after this happened but doing so has allowed me to better understand the impact that the group had that night on many of the kids. The week after Laramie left, one of the kids asked me if Nikki (she did mention her by name) and the rest of my friends from the week before would be coming. It broke my heart to say no. But later, when we were playing with water balloons, the girl again remarked "I'm going to get Nikki so good with a water balloon next time I see her!" Elizabeth on the other hand made a different type of impact. She spent a lot of the night with one of our girls who isn't very verbal or active. Elizabeth was able to give this girl attention and work with her in ways that the typical volunteers we have (high school students) wouldn't be able to because they don't have the training or feel comfortable in that role. All in all, it was amazing to see the Laramie group at work that night kicking footballs around, getting their faces painted (can't tell you how awesome that was Sarah!), and overall helping the kids have a memorable night. Day 4 of the mission trip was truly a fantastic day in Belfast!

Colleen painting Sarah's face!

and Richard is down for the count!
Jason joining in on a game of Chasies
Patty with Caitlin and Gemma
Carole enjoying a game of Connect 4