SOLFUL Experience...

Proper Posture
by Lisa Mo

Reconciliation. It is Newsong’s one word vision. What does reconciliation mean in relation to people, to brothers and sisters in Fullerton? I was not thinking upon these lines as I signed up for Summer of Love Fullerton (SOLFUL). In fact, I am embarrassed to admit that I did not have the best attitude to volunteer. I thought, “I suppose I could spare one morning out of each week to help out.” It seemed like a minimal requirement for participation. And I did feel some obligation to participate since NOC was heavily involved in SOLFUL.

On the evening of Monday, June 14th, God changed my poor attitude and shifted my perspective. In an arid, hot, dim-lit, tile-floored room that fits 15 people comfortably, about 50 members from various north OC churches were packed, some of them streaming out of the narrow door. I glanced around and saw eager, anticipating faces of different ethnicities, young to mature. As the SOLFUL coordinators described the upcoming program, I felt I caught a glimpse of beauty, a glimpse of the church as who she is meant to be, in a spirit of unity and purpose. The crowdedness and heat evaporated in light of the beautiful, radiant bride of Christ around me. Simply amazing.

And as I walked to my car after the orientation, I saw apartments stacked beside each other—noisy, roach-infested, populated. Even in the midst of what some may call a street of poverty, I sensed God’s tender love for this Garnet neighborhood and was thankful that Solidarity had embraced them with it.

During the first couple weeks of SOLFUL, it was a humbling experience. Tommy Nixon, a member of our speaking team and executive director of Solidarity, had asked our group of volunteers to assist the moms in the community in running an arts, crafts and cooking program for the neighborhood kids. He cautioned us that the moms might try to hand over the coordination to us, but our role was to assist them only. I remember thinking, “That’s awesome!” But I didn’t know that it was going to be difficult for me to take a back seat. On the first day, I had to resist giving suggestions. I had to remind myself that I didn’t know better. I didn’t need to fix anything. I was there to experience and learn. Value the neighborhood moms’ ways of interactions, their management styles, and value them.

God tends to teach me lessons in multiple ways (perhaps I am not a fast learner) and so it was in this case. At one of our debriefing meetings, a volunteer asked if Solidarity had ESL classes for the neighborhood parents. I knew she had good intentions. English proficiency is an obvious asset (After all, I am an English teacher by profession). However, her well-intended question made me reflect on this point: “We’re still trying to help them.” And then a can of other thoughts opened up. We—middle-class, well-educated, socially advantaged, privileged groups—want to help them. Does the neighborhood see us as better? Have we put ourselves on a higher playing field by default, by having the attitude to help?

These questions reminded me of Jim Gustafson’s posture during his workshop session at VIBE 2007 (Newsong Alliance Conference). Jim has been an entrepreneurial missionary in Thailand for over 35 years and spoke on incarnational ministry. At one point in his talk, he bent his knee and stretched out his hand to demonstrate his posture to the Thai communities. He often approached them saying, “We want to be a part of your community. Show us, teach us.”

Even though the image of the bended knee and outstretched hand has been deeply etched in my mind these past three years, I’m still learning how to adopt that posture and I have that opportunity in SOLFUL. I wonder if this posture is also part of what reconciliation looks like. Are we willing to learn from others? Are we willing to value them and their ways? Am I?

I’m sure many other SOLFUL participants have had eye-opening experiences. Would you please consider sharing them with our NOC Community? Email us at noccomm@newsong.net.