Arrival and the Hills

Flying to the Bay went well - mainly spent sleeping, listening to Juanes, and reading Harry Potter 1 in Spanish. We were delayed a little because it seemed every plane wanted to leave JFK at the exact same moment, but we made it nonetheless. At the San Fran Int'l Airport I made my way to baggage claim where I was greeted by a sign bearing my name which was held by Montira, staff of Gum Moon AWRC (http://www.gbgm-umc.org/awrc/index.htm) and former Summer Intern/US-2. I was grateful for her helpfulness in getting me out of the airport and onto BART and into the city as well as answering some of my basic questions and sharing some of her story.
We navigated through the crowds of people exiting the subway on Market Street, and the first things I noticed as I surfaced was a beautiful clear sky and rainbow flags - what a glorious greeting! And then we walked to Gum Moon, which is up a hill or two (or three). It was later that night when I was enjoying dinner with Gloria my supervisor, Eva the bookkeeper, and Tammy my coworker that I realized it was a little ridiculous to travel that far on foot with all of the baggage I had - but we had a good laugh because of it. All of the people I've met so far have been very gracious and just seem to emit a good aura. I'm very grateful for their kindness and for the peace I've felt that has helped me land into this new reality.
Today I went to Tammy's church (Cumberland Presbyterian Chinese Church [CPCC]) which is on the same block as Gum Moon, where I attended the Youth/English service as well as the Sunday School afterwards where I again met some wonderful people who greeted me warmly and who I look forward to seeing and getting to know more. At one point in the service though, there was a time when California was compared to Sodom and Gomorrah because of the tolerance of homosexuality - which was hard to hear because of what I've experienced and studied in what the Bible says as well as my own life experience. At first I was caught off guard, but as I've reflected on it throughout the day I've remembered that my theology isn't the same as everyone else's and that it is necessary to respect people (simple enough right?). I think this past week in NYC training and learning how to practice God's mission in sharing paths with others has and will help me see points of view that are not my own and also to acquire different lenses to see the many realities that make up this world.
On another note, tomorrow I will be meeting the rest of Gum Moon's staff as well as more orientation about what I'll be doing for the summer. As of right now, I'll be working with the after school program until the summer school for children in grades 1-6 starts later on in June. I'll be teaching arts and crafts as well as being a mentor and taking the children on field trips and such. I'm really grateful and excited to be working with children, and I can't wait to meet them.
This past week I've been able to see where God is taking me and how he has blessed my life with so many good people and opportunities, as well as moments of doubt and pain which I know will help me relate to others. I'm very fortunate to have this opportunity and I get a good gut feeling about this way of life - living in a manner of doing God's mission, of letting others share their lives with me so that I may join them in solidarity in their suffering and their joys, and to help create a fullness of life for all people because we are all His creation and we all have a spark and flame that is something greater than we can ever truly comprehend.