the jam session

i decided that i was going to write more about my experiences at field work. today i want to tell you about be. be is a bad@$$ and i don't say that lightly. i mean he really is too cool for school. he dresses in all black usually and has all sorts of chains hanging from his pockets. most likely, he'll be wearing a big ol' belt buckle and probably some sort of hat. he loves country music and he loves talking. i'm serious, this guy talks non-stop. actually, he went to go visit his parents down in florida a few weeks ago and everyone in the house was so excited for the peace and quiet. 

be and i have a very playful relationship. he is like the big, older brother i never really wanted. every time i come over, he always makes us a cup of coffee. be is the reason why i can actually drink straight coffee these days. i just couldn't turn a cup down. for the past few months he has been asking me to play guitar with him. the only catch is, be doesn't know how to play guitar. well, he thinks he is the best guitar player in the world. and it makes sense what he does. he gets out his boombox and his favorite cds and strums along with someone who knows what they are doing. unfortunately, sometimes, no, a lot of the times, his amp is much louder than the music playing. and so we hear throughout the house loud power chords with not so much chords in them.

but be loves to jam and he really is a rock star. he has a great stance and can sing along to most any country tune. towards the end of our jam session, be brought out a red folder with some chord music. 'here, let's play some camp songs,' he said. so i looked through the few sheets he had and recognized ones like 'the sheep song' and 'Lord, i lift your name on high.' but my favorite song to play was 'Jesus loves me.' i had convinced be to unplug his guitar, since mine wasn't amped either and we just sang over and over the simple song. if only all worship was that unadulterated. 

hallelujah

i haven't talked much about my experience with field work this year, but yesterday was really beautiful. i help out at home for adults with developmental disabilities. some days i still wonder what exactly i'm supposed to be doing, but i hang out and love the relationships that i have been growing with my new friends there. 

seven folks live in this house with seven very unique personalities. i'll have to write more some other time about my experiences with everyone individually. but yesterday i sat in church with pf. she continues to win my heart, although she can be quite the turd to her roommates. we all go to church together but we don't always sit in the same pew. pf enjoys sitting by herself. i don't blame her and she was actually the first person i saw when i walked in yesterday, so i sat with her. pf can read and write pretty well, probably the best in the house. so following along in church isn't too bad. and i love her singing, especially the songs she knows.

yesterday morning, the worship leader introduced a new song "that's why we praise Him." i like this song alot and it reminds me of 908 and leading worship back in college. i was even a little frustrated cause i felt like they weren't singing it fast enough. but the song was new for pf and it was hard to follow along. finding herself words behind as we sang through the verses, i could tell she was getting fed up and beginning to trail off. i quickly put my arm around her and said "this next part, all you sing is hallelujah." and she did... the most beautiful hallelujahs i've ever heard.

he came to live, live a perfect life,

he came to be the Living Word, our Light.

he came to die so we'd be reconciled,

he came to rise to show his power and might.

and that's why we praise him,

that's why we sing.

that's why we offer him our everything.

that's why we bow down and worship this King,

cause he gave his everything, cause he gave his everything.

he came to live, live again in us,

he came to be our conquering King and friend.

he came to heal and show the lost ones his love,

he came to go prepare a place for us.

halle, hallelujah. halle, hallelujah