Well, it's day two of the second residency and all ready things are taking twists and turns that I never expected. This year Gerhard (from Germany) and I drove down together - a 10Hr. trip! Everything went very well, even the border crossing where they were so interested with Gerhard that they almost forgot to ask for my passport.
We learned that two people have withdrawn from the program. With Bennie's death in January of this year that means we're down to 23, however the good new is that we picked up a returning student who'd taken some time off.
This year it's all about how we preach where as last year it was more about what we preach. So far we've been talking about the similarities between theater and preaching. It was really funny to watch some of my class mates learn how to relax and release the tension in their limbs. Then there was the exercise of making motorboat noises with a lips. It's an amazing thing how relaxing your chin and opening up your throat can increase the invitation, clarity and authenticity of what you're saying, let alone enegising the facial mask. A whole new vocabulary is becoming second nature and I can't wait to work with the Parish Project Group (PPG) again this year about how preaching is also a performance.
It's amazing how familiar my colleagues have become. Getting here was like running into really great friends that you haven't seen in a long time. It was great to get teh hugs and questions about how things were back home and how things were with the great folks of Christ United, Lyn. This truely is an amazing program that brings together folks who might not otherwise be in conversation with one another, let alone living togehter!
We have a memorial service for Bennie tonight and his daughter will be there. I'm sure it will be very emotional and meaningful for all of us.
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