Becky Barbrow and her 4th Grade class.

From Becky Barbrow...

To my dear Trinity community,

I was a Trinity member last year. I'm happy, grateful, and honored to have met Andrea Baker during my time there. She connected me with the Episcopal school system in Honduras, where I now teach the fourth grade.

As I reflect on my time in Honduras so far, three major influences come to mind: school, neighbors, and nature. Each has impacted me so that I've grown in ways I hadn't expected. (Admittedly though, I had no idea what to expect in the first place!)

School

I often think that the fifteen students in my fourth grade class are teaching me more than I am teaching them. Practically speaking, I've learned a lot about effective teaching strategies and classroom management techniques. I've learned that an ostrich can grow to be 108 inches tall. I've learned the strengths, weaknesses, and preferences of my students. What I'm most thankful to be learning about though is also what challenges me the most: patience. Learning and practicing patience has been immensely rewarding and helpful (yet obviously difficult at times!) However, giving second chances in class (and third and fourth chances), sitting with struggling students at recess, and spending extra hours after school figuring out fun and interesting ways to teach material have all paid off. I still have an infinite amount to learn about teaching. But I suppose the more patient I am, the more I will be able to learn!

Becky playing guitar.

I am glancing through my journal at the moment. In the past four entries, I mention how much I love my students, and I'm noticing lots of exclamation points in here. I'm glad to say, my students are bright, happy, and eager. (And hilarious sometimes... One of my students sings to me every morning. His favorite artist is Lady Gaga. You should see his performances! Priceless.) Being around a population of human beings who laugh and smile so often is having a notable impact on me. I wonder if they realize how much they're helping me grow, too.

That being said, now that I have been their teacher for five months, I am seeing improvement in their English conversation and comprehension, and also in their understanding of math (which was always my favorite subject in school, so I am especially happy about that). That's one of the coolest parts about being a teacher for me right now.

Neighbors

Life in Honduras is driven by relationships. Neighbors rely on and actively support each other. They stop and chat, they want to know how you are doing, they can't wait to tell you about what their kids said that morning. At any given moment, I have at least two plates in my cupboard that don't belong to me because a neighbor has brought me some of their tomales, tortillas, or pastries. Their generosity still impresses me, even though I've been here for a several months. I hope it is rubbing off on me!

Nature

I miss Trinity tremendously. When I lived in Sacramento, Trinity helped me feel close to God through engaging with others and with scripture, and through serving. I felt challenged and supported at the same time. Since I am not fluent in Spanish, I often find that attending church here does not fill the same niche that it did in Sacramento (although it is definitely improving my Spanish comprehension!) So I have sought out God in yet new ways. In my students - of course! But also in nature.

Fortunately, experiencing nature is really accessible here. It's pretty easy to take a weekend trip to a rainforest or an island or the mountains, and on those trips I have felt very, very close to God. Intellectually, the earth fascinates me. It has challenged me physically, too. Spiritually though, there's nothing like it.

I remember going on a hike in a national park. It down-poured for probably an hour, and then mysteriously cleared up. After another hour or so, we came across a little clearing, rounded a corner, and came across a huge waterfall. It seemed as tall as (and far more majestic than) a skyscraper. It was the sort of experience that gave me a fierce sureness that I must keep seeking nature. I have a hunch that forests, rivers, oceans and mountains (God's magnificent creation!) have a lot to teach me about being a human.

I think about and pray for Trinity all the time. I'm outrageously grateful for everyone I met there. I hope to visit this summer before returning to Honduras to teach another school year.

Until then,

Becky Barbrow

Libby Kovacs, PhD, Facilitator

Scott Peck invites us to travel toward spiritual growth. Join me in developing the structure and process that will support and encourage us along the way as we travel through the challenging experiences of life, love, and our relationship with God.

February 16: Part III Continued - Growth and Religion

February 16: From Global to Specific: Welcome to Trinity Cathedral.

Palm Crosses

There is a basket in the Narthex for collection of your prior years Palm Crosses. These will be burnt and used for Ash Wednesday. 

Seeking Young Adults Seeking Confirmation

Begins today upstairs in Classroom E, 10-11:30am

Young adults aged 15-22 are invited to join one of two paths toward Confirmation by Bishop Beisner. Contact is Rev. Anne (amckeever@wavecable.com).

Path A, begins this Sunday, February 19th, and culminates in Confirmation at the Easter Vigil on April 7th.

Path B, beginning April 15th, culminates in Confirmation on May 26th.

Come, Help Veil the Crosses

Tuesday, February 21, 3:00pm

In preparation for Lent, all the crosses in the church will be veiled.  If you would like to help, see Sue Clark or come to the church at 3:00pm on Tuesday.

You can stay and enjoy a great Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper when done.

Thursday Night at the Cathedral

Lenten Series Begins February 23

Evening Worship at 5:45 - Community Dinner at 6:15

Film Series on the Environment - Assembly Area

Presented by T.R.E.E.

February 23: The Last Mountain:Coal mining through mountain-top removal to fuel electricity.  All are welcome-No charge-Post-Film Discussion

St. Benedict's Toolbox for Lent - Conference Room

Presented by Rev. Anne McKeever

Trinity parishioners who have taken a previous TNAC St. Ben's class or attended Trinity's Practical Tools Women's Retreat are invited to join us for this six-week "graduate" level look at the Rev. Dr. Jane Tomaine's book, St. Benedict's Toolbox. Please bring your toolbox handcrafted by our own saint, Harry Katzakian. We'll discuss new ways to use our existing tools and add some new tools to make Lent 2012 special.

Early Church History, Doctrine and Creeds - Room A

Presented by Dean Brian Baker

Lenten Gospel Readings and Reflections in Small Groups - Room C

Meet with a small group once a week to read and discuss the upcoming Gospel readings during Lent. Explore your understanding of the stories and share your own connections to them. Learn from each other how these Gospel stories can enrich our Lenten journeys.

Thursday Night Group: 7-8:30pm, led by Canon Lynell Walker and Randy Knutson, MDiv.

Contact Rev. Anne at amckeever@wavecable.com if you would like to join or start a group.