100 Wells

I'm in New Orleans with a group of 16 youth & adults from Windsor Heights Lutheran Church; the congregation I serve in Des Moines, IA.  I invited our group participants the change to offer their reflections throughout the week on koinonia.

Water, created by God, is essential to our existence on this earth.  Water can save lives, water can take lives.  

For the Practice Peacemaking Day I learned about carrying water.  Most of us walk into a kitchen or bathroom, turn the faucet on and KNOW that hot or cold water will gush our.  As much as we want, whenever we want.  

My task was to carry a 5 gallon jug of water one-tenth of a mile. At points along the way, poster told four different stories about the paths people take to get water.  My storyline followed a mother who had to make a choice each day, go for the water herself or send her daughter.

If the mother went, that meant she had fewer hours in the day to work at her many family duties.  If the daughter went, she would miss school that day.  What a choice! 

About halfway around the course a volunteer placed a round red sticker on my arm.  “That’s a mosquito bite,” she said.  “At the end of the course, you will need to be checked to see if you have malaria.”  This was a way to introduce people to the ELCA Malaria Campaign, which, by the way, we have already begun at WHLC.  

At the 3/4 mark, we had to climb some stairs with the water jug to simulate uneven terrain.  Then rounding the corner toward home, the sign informed me that I had fallen and now should drag my foot to indicate a leg injury.

With a few last steps, I completed the journey.  The final sign informed me that a typical trip to get water would be 2 miles or more, 20 times my tiny trip.  Oh, and I forgot to tell you that the 5 gallon jug weighed 41 pounds.  Ouch, it was very hard to carry.

As part of our offering, this Youth Gathering Group gave $250.00 to the 100 Wells Project.  The totals from each Synod are being tracked all week.  I’m excited to hear how much will be raised.  

The power of water is still being demonstrated here in New Orleans today.  Our service project was delayed for 3 hours due to torrential rain and street flooding.  Our group was wishing we could sent this storm to Iowa, and the group we worked with today from Ohio, had the same thought for their parched state.  I wonder how the power of water will change people’s lives tomorrow?  I pray that we can make our goal of 100 Wells and start to raise funds for the next 100.  

Peace, y’all. 

Pastor Robin.

Youth Gathering Reflections - Day 1

I'm in New Orleans with a group of 16 youth & adults from Windsor Heights Lutheran Church; the congregation I serve in Des Moines, IA.  I invited our group participants the change to offer their reflections throughout the week on koinonia.



The bus ride started with a walk across the street to the Kum-n-Go to get nail polish remover for Kirsten...they didn't have any.

We then loaded the bus and headed to the back and got situated, then we left for New Orleans, LA.  It start out with Megan being really hot.  Then we met some interesting people sitting in the seats in front of us.  They seemed most interested in our friend, Petir.  We attempted to sleep on the bus as we drove through the night.

Then we arrived at the Convention Center, which caused a major Chex Mix situation.  (Don't ask)  The adults went to orientation while we went into the huge Interaction Center.  While in there we saw Allison and Caitlyn from our church, who are volunteering with the Gathering.  We went to play mini-golf, but quickly noticed that mini-golf was something we weren't the best at.

From there, we went to our hotel to check in.  While waiting for an hour to get our room keys, we played spoons and other card games.  After putting our stuff in our rooms we took the trolly and walked to Dooky Chase, where we ate lunch.  We learned that the founder was the inspiration for "The Princess and the Frog"!  We had a delicious meal of authentic New Orleans food, laughter and conversation.  The walls were covered in various art pieces collected over the years, all very native to the culture of New Orleans.  Walking back, we felt with our skin color and a big group, we definately look like tourists.

Parts of New Orleans look renovated and new, while some places distinctly show the damage of hurricanes, along with the large poverty here in the city.  The southern accent has been fun to listen to, along with all the different pronunciations of "New Orleans".

We are back at the hotel now, relaxing and getting ready for the Superdome tonight.  We are all very excited and can't wait for the fun to begin.

     ~ Julia, Becca, Emily, & Kirsten

Back to the Crescent City

I’m headed to New Orleans to spend the week with 35,000+ people for the ELCA Youth Gathering.  I have the privilege of leading a group of 11 youth and 5 adults from Windsor Heights Lutheran Church.  We’re traveling on a charter bus with participants from Zion (Muscatine), Shepherd of the Cross (Muscatine), and Gloria Dei (Iowa City) Lutheran Churches. 

For the next few days, the folks from WHLC and I will be posting our group’s experiences from the Gathering here on koinonia.  A few quick-hit items to mention before we get too far into the week…

• ·      In addition to the 16 participants attending the Gathering from WHLC, our congregation has 4 additional people serving as volunteers who are working behind the scenes for this event.  (Dwight DuBois with Grand View University, Hannah Parker working the ropes course with Luther College students, and Caitlyn Reinders and Allison Ullestad working the 80,000 sq. ft. sports portion of the Practice Peacemaking Interaction Center.)

• ·      There are 933 youth and adults attending the Gathering from the SE Iowa Synod – the third largest synod group. 

• ·      Each of the 35,000+ participants will complete at least 4 hours of service projects around the greater New Orleans area.

• ·      Speakers I’m most excited about – Shane Claiborne, Nadia Bolz-Weber, and Yeheil Curry.

• ·      Musicians I’m most excited about – Lost And Found, Rachel Kurtz, and AGAPE.

• ·      The Gathering making digital strides by making the Guidebook and an interactive map available as a smartphone app.  Super helpful. 

On Shepherds and Flocks

The job of pastor is becoming increasingly difficult.

Pastors and seminary students are encouraged to establish healthy boundaries with the congregation and avoid workaholic tendencies, only to enter into congregations that wish (even expect) the clergy person to function more like ubiquitous über-pastor of yesteryear.

Add to this dynamic, most mainline churches are declining in membership, worship attendance, and financial resources.  In many circumstances, the pastor becomes the scape goat for the great shrinkage that is taking place.

"If only my pastor preached more relevant / compelling / understandable sermons..."

"If only my pastor made more house calls..."

"If only my pastor had a more engaging personality..."

"If only my pastor spent more time in the office..."

"If only my pastor spent less time in the office..."

It's no wonder why 1,500 pastors leave the ministry every month.  [source]

There are many reasons why I don't feel called to serve as a pastor (even though I feel called to serve the church as a lay person)...and one of the biggest reasons is that congregations are becoming increasingly destructive to clergy.

I came across a fascinating Patheos article that addresses these, and other, concerns about the state of the clergy / congregation relationship. It's an excellent read for anyone affiliated with a church at some level.  There are a lot of grim stats from various denominations that I found to be particularly intriguing.

It is, in most cases, the job of pastor to care for the institutional needs of the congregation (programming, worship, executive-level decisions, etc.) and the personal needs of its members (counseling, hospital visits, birthday greetings, anniversaries of the death of loved ones, etc.).

I wonder, though, by comparison...

...how many people in a congregation see it as their duty to care for their pastor's personal and professional well-being?

I'm curious what would happen if more church members took it upon themselves to pray for their pastor...offer their time and talents to helping the pastor with tasks...advocate for their pastor when fellow parishoners are being "mean sheep".  How might our pastors and our congregations change for the better if more sheep assumed the task of caring for the shepherds?

Great Cloud of Witnesses

Over the course of the last few months, I've been engaging in the discipline of running.  I enjoy getting outside and covering a lot of ground with my legs.  I feel more in tune with my body when I consider my breathing rhythms, stride length, back posture, and overall energy exertion.

I've been an on-again / off-again runner over the last 20 years, with the last 5 years being completely off-again.  I'll spare you the excuses for this lapse into slovenly, gluttonous behavior and just say that it's been far too long since I've been running with any regularity.

Last August my friend Jake decided to take up running...the same week I developed an incredibly painful case of plantar fasciitis.

I worked hard to get my foot / heel healthy so I could run with Jake.  After a couple of months, I was ready to start running with my friend...the same week he became too sick to run.

Throughout the tropical Iowa winter of 2011-12, I ran a few times a week with the goal of completing a 10K while I was visiting New Orleans in early February.  I was pleased to complete this race...the same week Jake received a diagnosis of Hodgkin Lymphoma.

I returned from New Orleans feeling proud of running a 10K, but also horrified that my young friend had cancer.  As he and his wife prepared for months of treatment, I was helpless to do anything but be present, buy an occasional cup of coffee, and offer prayers.  Eventually, I came up with an idea -- I should run a 20K in an attempt to raise money to help Jake offset the cost of chemotherapy, radiation, etc.

Thinking a handful of people might throw in a few bucks each, I hoped I could help the Bouma's by bringing in a few hundred dollars.  (Every little bit helps, right?)  I was astonished that, over the course of the campaign, nearly $1,500 was pledged from friends, family, and even a few strangers.  Inspired by their generous support, I continue to pound the pavement in preparation for the 12.4 mile run.

Then, two weeks before the race, I tweaked my knee while moving furniture for an elderly lady from church.  (Likely story, I know.)  An unofficial "diagnosis" from a doctor friend of mine pointed to a possible tear of the lateral collateral ligament or the meniscus.  Determined to make the race happen despite this possible setback, I rested my legs for two weeks and strapped on a knee brace the morning of June 2 for the Dam to Dam.

As I ran through the countryside north of Des Moines, I thought of Hebrews 12:1-2, a favorite Bible verse of many runners.  I considered the "great cloud of witnesses" that were supporting me in my running and supporting Jake in his cancer journey.  I recalled the far-too-many people in my life that are currently fighting against cancer...and the millions more around the world whose names and stories I don't know.

Throughout the race, a few people stopped to ask me about #BoumaLymphoma, which was written on the back on my shirt.  They offered kind words of affirmation and encouragement.  Even better, my sister, wife & children, and Jake & Libby got up early on a Saturday morning to meet me in several places along the route; cheering me on as my sore knee might have otherwise gotten the best of me.

I crossed the finish line far slower than I had hoped (2:05:00)...but with all my limbs fully intact and a heart full of gratitude.  I thought of how the months leading up to the race, coupled with the event itself, had brought about a significant spiritual awakening for me.  Maybe it was just the "runner's high".  Or maybe 2012 is a year of renewed meaning and purpose for me as a husband, father, son, brother, friend, and minister.

Regardless, I'm thrilled by the imperfect way that everything came together so perfectly.

The next race on the horizon is the Color Run -- and I will be proud to run that race with Jake, Libby, and my sister Kara!

Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Amen.

Bouma Lymphoma Donations

My friend Jake Bouma has lymphoma and is in the midst of chemotherapy treatment in an attempt to cure him of cancer.  I'm running a 20K race on June 2, 2012 as a way to raise money to help Jake and Libby cover costs associated with his treatment.

It's come to my attention that several people have attempted to make a donation on the Bouma Lymphoma page, but an error within the Fundly site has made it impossible to do so.

So here's the plan...

If you would like to make a donation to support my 20K race training and help the Bouma family pay for Jake's cancer treatment, please indicate the dollar amount of your pledge by:

1.  Leaving a comment at the bottom of this post.
2.  Sending me a Facebook message
3.  Emailing me at [erik(dot)ullestad(at)gmail(dot)com]

Once the race ends I will contact you with instructions of how to honor your pledge.

Thanks to people who have already donated at total of $1,410 to Bouma Lymphoma:

• Bunz Family -- $150
• Ken Bouma -- $100
• Steve & Ruth Ullestad -- $100
• Shelly Theiman -- $100
• WHLC Men's Bible Study -- $60
• Kala Zanoni -- $50
• Paul & Lorice Amlin -- $50
• Krista & Adam Kilgus -- $50
• Matt & Claire Thompson -- $50
• Anonymous WHLC members -- $150
• Joelle Hanson -- $50
• Chris & Beth Olkiewicz -- $50
• Eric & Beth Carlson -- $50
• Dwight DuBois -- $50
• Tracey Hirst -- $50
• Chelsvig Family -- $50
• Stephanie Wherry -- $30
• John Ambroson -- $25
• Campbell Family -- $25
• Dick & Joani Wilberg -- $20
• John Wagner / Paul Soupiset -- $150

Will you add your name to this list?

Bouma Lymphoma

Cancer. 

It's an ugly word.

Most people know someone who have received a cancer diagnosis.  It just happens that my good friend and fellow youth minister, Jake Bouma, was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma in February 2012.  In early June I will be running a 20K (Dam to Dam) as a way to show my support to Jake - and I hope you'll consider joining me in showing your support.

Jake and his wife, Libby, are exceptional people...the kind of people that give of themselves in beautiful ways.  Jake works with high school students.  Libby is a social-worker who is studying to be an elementary teacher.  They have chosen servant professions, and you don't get rich in that line of work.

I've created a page for people to make donations to help Jake and Libby pay for the medical costs (chemotherapy, radiation, prescriptions, etc.) associated with his lymphoma treatment.  Additionally, 10% of all money raised will go directly to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

If you are willing to consider sponsoring me, I'd be most grateful.  Training for this race requires a lot of alone-time logging miles.  Without the support of friends, family, and people I've not even met, these long runs will be difficult.  

Please check the Bouma Lymphoma donation page for updates on my training and on Jake's treatment.

• If you're feeling generous and give $5 per km ($100) you will get your name on my race day shirt
• If three people donate $10 per km ($200) Jake will shave my head.

Thanks for your generous support!