Setting Sail (S.O.S.)

If you had seen the state of my room this afternoon—clothes and chargers and travel documents strewn everywhere except in my suitcases—you would have found it hard to believe that I’m leaving for Ecuador tomorrow! In the morning my parents will drive me to the Harrisburg airport (don’t worry, I’m not actually traveling by sea) where I’ll catch a flight to Atlanta, and assuming all goes well, touch down in Quito at 8:15pm central time.

While S.O.S. could certainly refer to the stress caused by my packing procrastination, it is

also the acronym for my blog title, Seeds of Service. After my parents and ChatGPT helped me to generate many potential website names, I landed on this one because it encapsulates what I hope this upcoming year will involve—planting and cultivating seeds of sustainability, community, and hope through service (as well as planting literal seeds in the gardens at FBU!).

But even before I have left home, I have been seeing the ways in which my decision to enter BVS and go to Ecuador is the result of seeds that others have already planted and watered.

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BVS was started 75 years ago due to the initiative of Brethren youth who were

passionate about service. The seed planted by those young people grew and has spread to positively impact communities across the globe. My unit is the 333rd group of volunteers to serve through BVS! You can read a short article on the COB website that shares what 333’s orientation was like and lists the names and placements of my fellow BVSers. (Unfortunately, it leaves out all the Barbie movie references and other silliness that took place during the week.)

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Last week, I had the privilege to visit with Jim and Elaine Gibbel, Hank Herr, and Kathryn Riegen, all of whom served in Ecuador through the COB over 50 years ago. In fact, they lived and worked in the Llano Grande community, not far from where I will be staying! While there are no longer any churches of the Brethren in Ecuador, FBU is an outgrowth of the sustainable investment of Brethren like them in the local indigenous community. It was a joy to hear their stories, see photos, and jot down greetings I hope to be able to share with old friends who are still close to their hearts despite the distance of miles and years.

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On Sunday, I was blessed by a consecration and commissioning service at Lancaster COB. In the Spanish-speaking service, Pastor Selma and members of the congregation anointed my hands and feet for service and prayed over me, asking for protection, strength, and fruitfulness during my time in Ecuador. It was a powerful reminder that while I alone am weak, through God and with siblings in Christ, anything is possible. In the sanctuary service, Pastor Don (aka my dad), led me and the congregation through a series of questions where I committed to serve in a way that bears witness to Jesus and the church committed to support me in prayer. To end the service my mom (accompanied by LCOB’s incredible organist Margaret!) sang a rendition of the Celtic blessing “May the Road Rise to Meet You,” which is traditionally sung at the end of BVS orientations. If you’d like to view the brief commissioning service, you may do so here.

Thank you for reading, and for being a part of my journey. I will leave you, dearly beloved, with the lyrics of “May the Road Rise to Meet You.”

May the road rise to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face.

May the rain fall soft upon your fields.

Until we meet again,

May God hold you in the hollow of God’s hand.