Beemer Mennonite, Freeman Academy, and a minor health crisis

Hello all,

This past weekend, the Seeds team was in Beemer, NE. It was another great time of meeting wonderful people, and having good conversations. I can't express how gracious and kind our hosts have been this summer, and it was more of the same in Beemer. Pastor Lewis Miller, gave us a taste of Beemer culture by taking us out to eat at the local Beemer cafe. It's a place to experience, and the food was so good. We also got to take in a Nebraska huskers football game on Saturday afternoon (another huge part of Nebraska culture.) Saturday evening we had a CPS/I-W seminar where 3 different men shared stories from their alternative service experience. Matt does a great job of leading this seminar, with his expertise knowledge and ability to recall random facts, and also is able to push the different men to think critically about their experience and how they were changed by it. Sunday morning, we had a joint Sunday School session between youth and adults, where we further explored the word shalom as God's holistic vision for peace (much more than just the absence of war, but includes peace with God, ourselves, others, and all of creation).

The Sunday morning service went good too. We have done this service at many of the churches, so it feels like we have a come a long way from the first couple Sundays! After another amazing potluck meal, I led an afternoon workshop on Anabaptist history, and it's relevance for us today as we talk about what the early Anabaptists believed.

We couldn't stay long in Beemer, sadly. We had to pack up quickly and head to Freeman, SD, where on Monday we led chapel at the Freeman Academy, and also talked in the high school Bible classes. Despite being really tired that day, we were glad to be able to get to the school.

Now we are ALL trying to re-coup from a last couple busy days. Unfortunately, we also are trying to recover from sickness that has plagued our team since early morning Tuesday, September 9th. Yes, there is small crisis right now. Last night, Matt, Elizabeth, and myself all got really sick, and today, while we are doing much better, are all still feeling it. At about 2:00 AM last night I was so sick that all I could think about doing was to call my mom (who is a nurse and was up at the time, because she works the night shift. ) Of course, with my luck, I didn't have cell phone service- thank you South Dakota! Anyways, a big thanks to Stacy and Jeremy Waltner, who have so kindly let us crash at their house while we try to re-coup!

The one thing about being sick is that it makes you even more grateful for good health- something I usually take for granted.

Til next time,

Randy