Sarah Seeser

"So what is Mission Year and why are you going?"

I am “doing” Mission Year because I feel like this is the next step of my life. After the Urbana 2006 conference especially, I knew that I wanted to serve for a year, in an urban area, partnered with a church, and working in the community. This next year of my life is ideal because I just graduated from the University of Iowa in December 2006, and I did not have any long term commitments to anything. I knew if I didn’t do it now, it likely wouldn’t happen.

Mission Year seemed to fit the best into what I was looking for. Its values and program set-up were great. And, when I described what I was looking for in a program, tons of people told me about Mission Year.

About Mission Year

Mission Year is a year long urban ministry program focused on Christian service and discipleship. We take teams of young people, place them in an area of need, and help them to serve people and create community. We are committed to the command of Jesus to “love God and love people,” by placing the needs of our neighbors first and developing committed disciples of Christ with a heart for the poor. Learn more about our first year program…

Sarah Seeser's Blog

Gun control... pshh! / May 1, 03:30 PM

So there is not much more i can say then what Jordan already said. I’m speechless. Read his blog and check out the articles.

http://www.missionyear.org/blog/jordanleahy/not-good

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Catching up / Apr 28, 03:03 PM

The last week has been a whirlwind. And I’m not complaining.

J, one of my newest comrades, and I hung out last monday and had a great time. We tried to make our way to the lakefront, since it was like 75 degrees and we had nothing else to do that day. Instead, we walked around for an hour or so, getting in trouble from Millenium Park security and petting dogs. When we realized we were not going to reach our destination that day, we decided to chill in the grass and just enjoy being outside. We had some good conversation and a restful afternoon before we had to head back downtown. What a blessing it was to just be able to relax in the sunshine with a friend and take our time about things. One of the best times I’ve had in awhile.

Tuesday-Thursday at work were quite busy. Yolanda, our director, was about to go on maternity leave, so we had lots of meetings and planning parties to try and get the summer squared away before she left. I am real excited about some of the things we have planned for the month of May. I am in charge of crafts and things, so we are going to paint flower pots and plant seeds in them, as well as make some fun bags. I am really excited about the field trip we are planning to the Garfield Park Conservatory. Its so beautiful there! And its free, which is always a bonus. Plus, mother’s day is in May (May 11th, in case you have forgotten..) and the staff are treating the ladies to a spa day. Hair and nails done by various staff members. And, we’re having good food! :)

Friday night was sooo busy, but lots of fun. After work I got about an hour of rest (yay!) before J came over and we went to a worship conference at my church. That was until 9, and then Nick, Jordan and I went downtown to the ESPNZone to watch game 3 of the Suns v. Spurs in round one of the playoffs. I love NBA playoff-time. It reminds me of college days when Tony, Gabe, Calvin and Michael would stay up watching basketball and eating Papa John’s instead of doing our homework and studying for finals. :) The Spurs won (and are now 3-1 in the series with game 5 Tuesday in San Antonio). I was sooooooooooo tired when we got home though!

I’m gonna cut this off here since I am running out of time at the library. I’ll be back though, don’t you worry.

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Romans 14 / Apr 28, 02:05 PM

Back by request..

I apologize for the lack of blog entries lately. My dear friend Jessica reminded me that at least one person is reading my blog and would like to see some updates. :)

There is a lot of my mind, so I’ll try and post a couple short ones, just to break it up a bit. To start, I think I’ll talk about Romans 14.

Romans 14 has been on my heart a lot lately. I read it about two weeks ago, kind of at random, and then read it again the next day. And the next. Then I read it to Lindsey one night last week when we were having some quality time. It keeps coming back to me. One of the reasons I like it a whole lot right now is because it deals directly with what I have been struggling with.

Romans 14
The Weak and the Strong

1Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

5One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

9For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 10You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.

And no, I am not particularly talking about eating meat and not eating meat. I am talking about all of the differences between myself and my team, myself and my neighbors, myself and the ladies at the shelter, myself and EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS WORLD. We have no authority to say who is right and who is wrong. God is the judge of that, and too often we like to put on that hat and decide that some people are right, and some are wrong. I like verse 4 where is says “who are we to judge someone else’s servant?” Who are we?? Who do we think we are playing God? The best part here is that Paul is writing to the church. He’s not writing to the Gentiles, the people who did not know God (at that time). The church has some serious issues nowadays because they think they can play God and decide who is going to heaven, and who is not. Or who is worthy to sit in their church, and who is not. Or even who is worthy to be spoken to with respect and love, and who is not. Come on people! We need to get our act together. Because God is the ultimate Judge (vs 10) and I’m sure He’s not to thrilled with us at the moment with all this nonsense.

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last week in a nutshell... / Apr 8, 02:02 PM

last week was so busy, but so good. everyday there was something going on after work, which was a handful in itself. Tuesday evening Shawn came over for one on ones with our team. Its always good to talk to someone who has a different perspective and can both encourage you and admonish you at the same time. Thanks Shawn.

Wednesday Lindsey and I had some time to chill and talk – catch up in the last week or so. We ran a few errands, and then had tea at Argo. I drank my first whole cup of tea ( I am not a big fan of caffeinated drinks, or things that taste like dirt ;) ).

Thursday night was spent at the Chicago Fire Soccer game with some of the youth staff and high school students. It was a lot of fun to hang out – despite the nearly freezing rain, which I am paying for now. But, the Fire won 4-0, and despite Lindsey and Jordan’s ideas that it couldn’t have been that good of a game, I had a lot of fun.

Friday found Lindsey and I at India and Tony’s house for the evening. The church had a girls night out Friday night at India’s, and since they live 45 min away, India picked us up on her way home from work. We had a good time fellowshipping with about 10 other ladies, and then spent the night at India and Tony’s, which was a treat. Saturday morning we stopped for breakfast on our way into the city and had some really good conversation about race and racism. I declare that Tony is one of the best question-askers of all time. He asked us about our families and their opinions of non-white people, when was the first time we heard the N word, and how our opinion of black people has changed since we got here (if it has). Its been a long time since I talked that honestly with anyone about race, despite the fact that it is usually a topic of conversation in our house. The questions that Tony asked are those that people usually shy away from – especially if the people having the conversation are of different races. Good job Tony!

Saturday afternoon Lindsey and I met Joyce (a former guest of the Joshua Center) and headed to Navy Pier. It was the first time for Lindsey and I, and Joyce enjoyed being our “tour guide.” Jordan met us there, and we had some quality time in the sunshine. Joyce had been having a rough time recently, and we were glad to be able to spend some time with her, outside of work.

Sunday was a good day! Church was amazing; it was clear the Holy Spirit was moving that morning. It was so refreshing to be in the midst of it. We rode our bikes to the park after church and played frisbee and/or played soccer, and then had bible study outside! Yay for nice weather!

This week is going to be good, I can tell already. Tonight Jordan and I are hanging out. Wednesday Lindsey and I are going to Mariko’s for dinner – and she is always fantastic. A good start, a good start. Lets see how we finish out, shall we? :)

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Spring Break pics / Mar 24, 10:30 AM

here is a picture from my friend Tinka’s birthday celebration last night. This is Alison, me, Jessica, in the back, and Tinka and Rachael in the front. We made earrings and then went out for some pizza. :) Yay for birthdays. And friends. And friends’ birthdays!