We are plain quiet folk and have no use for
adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner! I
can't think what anybody sees in them." ~ The Hobbit
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| Nanzip, Ashlee and Cathy with the gallery of past students...It was great to have Ashlee with us once more to start this school and then to send out this brave Hobbit to a new adventure in a country where reconciliation is needed |
There is a part of me just like a Hobbit and having just
seen the new movie, the Hobbit, a couple of weeks ago with Nanzip, I could so
identify in this season with Bilbo’s beginning response to “let’s go on an
adventure”. But there is also a side of
me like the Hobbits’ that finds out more about oneself in walking into a new
adventure.
So I am going to calling the SORJ 2013, the school of the
unexpected journey. Our band that is travelling together are a more likeable
group than Bilbo’s companions. but definitely adventurers. Eliceli: Brazil; Kate: New Zealand; Kelly: Canada; Rebecca: :Zambia; Sarah :Ireland. That almost covers all the continents. Together with Nanzip and
hopefully soon, Solomon, we have begun the process of becoming a community that
wants to make a difference in this world.
Each has brought their questions and their own stories of
life to this SORJ, and as we begin to study together, we are on an amazing
journey towards moving to Luton and a new home. Since my last update,
our discussions with the Bishop of Bedfordshire and the Vicar of St.
John the Baptist Church have gone very well, and if all continues to progress
as planned, we will be moving to the Vicarage in the early Spring.
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| Nanzip, Ashlee,, Kate, Rabecca, Kelly, Eliceli, Sarah |
In the meantime, we, the SORJ, will start meeting new
friends in the Farley Hill neighborhood and connecting with others in Luton who
work in building bridges in the communities. We will begin to walk our neighborhood
and hopefully despite the cold weather, meet a few people and begin to hear the
stories of those who live in this place.
Farley Hill is a council estate neighborhood and with the
current downturn in the world’s economies, there are major changes being made
in social services for the unemployed but also there are currently fewer jobs
available. In a neighborhood that was already experiencing many difficulties
and concerns, there can be a sense of alienation and further hopelessness. I will share more about this neighborhood and
its relationship to the rest of Luton in the next update and how this fits with
our RW message. Here is the link to the new neighborhood:
In the meantime!!! The school began almost 2 weeks ago here at the Oval, but we
are now going to prepare to move to a new home for possibly the rest of the 10
weeks of the school. A couple who are good friends have offered us their home which is
out in the country but close to Luton. It was an “unexpected” part of the journey. It will give us more flexibility to
be able to begin our work in Luton and for us to adjust to working as a team away from
the Oval. A safe first step!
So this Hobbit is looking around her cozy home here at the
Oval and all of the familiar nooks and crannies of my life, and remembering
lots of good times in this place. I’m
not moving from the Oval permanently yet since we may be coming back here
before the vicarage is ready for us, but this is the first step of change
As Bilbo told Frodo "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your
door," he used to say. "You step into the Road, and if you don't keep
your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to." ~ The
Fellowship of the Ring
Thank goodness that we know that
the one leading the way on this adventure is the Creator of the Universe and a very good
Shepherd. Blessings on your journey
wherever you are right now.
