The Peacemakers

The loving community of people I have found myself surrounded by here at May's Chapel UMC has been nothing short of wonderful. Today I had the opportunity to settle in with a sewing machine next to around 20 other women and sew. These ladies not only sew lap quilts for the shut ins and home bound members of the church but also go crazy making crafts. I couldn't help but think how these ladies are the "bread and butter" of the American church. Where on earth would the church be without these seasoned women who patiently take the time to do something for others simply out of love? These ladies have banded together to make a group called the "Peacemakers." They meet once a month to piece together and quilt fabric that has been donated. They are a stand alone group that has grown out of May's Chapel but they are self funded through donations. 

As we sat around a long old wooden table enjoying all the delicious food they brought from home for lunch I heard tales about the "olden days." The woman who sat next to me was in her seventies and told me about how she makes jam from kudzu. As I enjoyed her homemade blackberry pie she then told me about all sorts of yummy treats she makes at home. This woman married the love of her life at the age of sixteen. Sixty one years later they are still happily married. 

I experienced hospitality in Greece and even Macedonia but there is nothing in the world to me quite like southern hospitality... and homemade comfort food :)

Maiden, North Carolina

This summer I am living in the thriving metropolis of Maiden, NC for a few months. I have been assigned to May's Chapel UMC as their pastoral intern for a few months before I begin my Masters at Duke this August. 

Maiden has all of 3 traffic lights, 1 supermarket, 1 gas station and what feels like 10 churches. I feel like half the town is clergy. To let you understand the cultural vibe in Maiden I must first explain (what I think) is the favorite past time of locals... I have seen at least 15 people in the last week rocking out mowing their lawns on riding lawn mowers with headsets with antennas that might pick up the radio from mars- these people are serious about their grass and hay. 

Yesterday I went to a local Christian organization that helps people pay their bills when they fall behind. I was sitting in the waiting room with a retired nurse from May's Chapel UMC helping give free blood pressure tests. This very large African American man walks in the door and heads over to get his bp checked. Afterwards while standing in line he whips out his harmonica and with one hand starts pipping out some of the best blue grass music I have ever heard. He started singing old hymns between his harmonica beats. In the middle of this waiting room with about 30 people in it he sang the story about "a man from Galilee" beautifully. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. 

I'm staying in the basement of this couple who are members of the church. Later that same day as my bluegrass encounter in the day I was sitting in the grass next to the house talking to my sister. As I hung up the phone and stood up I looked over and saw I long skinny black snake. I went to the front of the house and asked Guylene if Jimmy was there to get him to take care of it, which he wasn't, and I told her about the snake. Without hesitation she grabbed a hoe walked around the the side of the house and chopped its head off.

I did not know what to expect in a small town. I've had Miranda Lambert's song stuck in my head for days. I've learned in 6 days that it could not be more true. Dave, the pastor at May's Chapel, said that someone could sneeze at one end of town and someone on the other end of town would say bless you... it's that small.

Now I'm sitting in a locally owned coffee shop in Newton, a larger nearby town, in a coffee shop named Zander's. Zander's has local Carolina coffee, wifi, a cool artsy vibe and a giant chandelier when you walk in the door. I love it. I think one of my missions on my off days is to find local coffee shops around the town of Maiden this summer. So far its been really fun and interesting. I've learned the best places to find local pottery.