It's a BOY!!!!

Well folks, at least those of you who are still reading this blog, we officially found out on Monday that Baby Rynders #2 is officially a boy!!! There is no doubt about it:)

We are very excited, thinking about a sports themed nursery and making plans for our little boy. The hardest part for us at the moment is coming up with a good boys name. We took our time with Colby and it ended up well, so here's hoping we can work the name magic again.

In Colby's world, life is going good. He is getting ready for his 3rd birthday party which will have a dinosaur theme. One of the big things he (and mommy and daddy) are looking forward to is a new twin sized, Lightning McQueen race car bed. We are hoping once we get this and put it in place, we can get him sleeping in his own bed all night before the new baby comes.

We will keep you up to date as things keep happening, but for now we are all happy, healthy and doing well.

Coming to the Rynders Household in August

Well my friends, it has been a while since either of us has given you an update, must mean our lives are busy:)

Since our last post, we have been working, playing with Colby, living life and having fun. In October, I had my year cancer free scans and oncologist visit and all is well. In fact, I went back in January, and all was still well.

Since our lives were impacted by lymphoma, we have done much to bring awareness and raise funds for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. A little over a week ago, Rob and I both ran, with our friend Andrea, as a part of Team in Training, the PF Chang's 1/2 Marathon in Phoenix. We raised over $6000 between the two of us for cancer research and patient services, AND we both finished the 13.1 miles on a beautiful Arizona day. Thanks to Auntie Pookie and Aunt Tee for cheering us on and watching Colby:)

Perhaps the most exciting news in our lives right now is that we will have an addition to the Rynders clan in early August, as we welcome our second little bundle of joy into our lives. We don't know what sex the baby is yet, will find out in March sometime, but Colby seems to be excited to become a big brother and so far I feel great(I mean I did run a 1/2 marathon at about 12 weeks pregnant!!!)

So, check back every once in a while, we will try to keep things more up to date for you all!!!!

Adventures in Germany Day 7

Talk about an early morning. I slept for about 4 hours last night and then jumped out of bed at 3 this morning to head back to Tegel airport and make my way back to the states. I was greeted in the lobby of the airport by a group from the African delegation and a couple of other Americans. We all loaded up into vans and headed off to the airport.

Once we got to the airport pretty much everything was closed. We actually had to figure out where to go in order to check things in. Turns out in Berlin you go straight to the gate and they take care of everything there. You even go through security right at the gate. It’s actually pretty interesting.

I took a quick little jaunt over to Zurich where I had to go through customs, and then check in for my flight back to Philadelphia. It’s a long flight, 9 hours about and I am currently writing this in the middle of it. Turns out my passport says I went to Frankfurt and Zurich, but never Berlin. Hmmmmmm

A great part of my morning time was that I got to travel with a few people I had not met from Delaware. I had some good conversations about ministry, about the conference, about our time in Berlin and we got to help each other through the airport. I also think we may have another couple people coming to Relevance X this yearJ

I figured today was a good day for some final thoughts on the conference. I feel very blessed to be able to participate in a global event like this. Where youth and young adults come together in order for their collective voice to be heard by the rest of the church. I feel especially blessed because so few people get to experience something like this once and I now have experienced something like this twice. What an amazing feeling to be able to participate in and watch how a group of young people can come together and make a difference in the world.

While we vary in our beliefs, while we are divided over many issues, this week we were able to come together, to be the body Christ. To be one world, one church, one people. It does not matter which side of the debate that you are on. It does not matter if you and I believe the same things. It does not matter the color of our skin, the country of our origin, the background that we have. What matters is that we are one in Christ. What matters is that we seek to live with one another, to understand one another, and to share the love that we know in Christ with others.

It gives me hope that the church can overcome differences, can disagree and can still be one. Our young people of the UMC came together, in a city that had once been divided, so that we could say to the world, we are indeed one church. Thanks be to God.

Adventures in Germany Day 6

A little bit sleepy this morning as we were up so late last night, but ready to begin again. This morning we began again with worship and continued with the legislative assembly, led by one of the co-chairs in German.

While this was going on, I took sometime to go with Marcy and Kayla and we went and did a little exploring of the city and shopping. This included a trip to a Berlin StarbucksJ Yes, it’s true I have now visited a Starbucks in another country. The coffee was just as amazing and truly made me happy. It was nice to spend a little time out in the city without a big group of people as well. And we made it there and back on the bus by ourselves without getting lost, plus we got some nice little souveniers for our family and friends back home.

Upon returning to the hotel we had a delicious lunch and a little break, then we went back into the legislation room. Glen has been busy filming and voting and hasn’t gotten a break so he has gone out to get some lunch and I get to vote as a delegate for a short time. Thanks GlenJ

As I am sitting in legislation I realize that the German translator is quite hilarious, she has a great sense of humor and during pauses, etc. she will often make funny noises or ask us to do silly things. It helps to pass the time as we wait for people to understand in their language what is going on.

As the legislation comes to a close, we are preparing ourselves to have dinner, closing worship and a culturally celebration. Should be good times. And then, I have a short amount of sleep before I leave for the airport bright and early tomorrow morning, 3:30 am, it’s true. But then I will be home on Monday night!!!!!!!!

Adventures in Germany Day 5

This morning began with another wonderful worship service. We were able to participate in singing, dancing, and expressing ourselves in the ways in which we all choose to worship. The speaker was with us from Switzerland and brought us a message of being one with the world.

Following worship we were given a delicious coffee and croissant break. Mmmmmmmm….hopefully it puts everyone in a loving mood as we begin our legislation process where we will remember that we are one, while we are also each of us unique.

One of the most amazing pieces of the legislative assembly this year is that all people, no matter the language they speak were asked to wear listening devices so that people could speak in their own native language and all could be translated as they were speaking instead of having to stop and retranslate.

We had an exciting experience this afternoon for our cultural excursion. We got to go to the Holocaust Memorial, the German Parliament and many other historic Berlin buildings. We had to go through security at the Parliament building, and my pedometer of all things set the security off, so I had to get wanded. Pretty crazy since it has never set anything off in any airport.

Once inside the building we had a great guided tour of the building and what it means to be part of the German parliament. We also got to go and see the large earth friendly dome on the top of the parliament building. It was all in all an amazing tour. And, on our way there we got to see the Olympic torch being brought through the city of Berlin, for the youth Olympics. It was pretty cool.

Following our tour we got to go to an amazing little United Methodist Church that had prepared a pretty authentic German meal for us including potato salad and schnitzel. We had great hospitality and learned about the amazing ministry of a church in Germany who is doing outreach to children, families and everyone in their area. It was a wonderfully cultural experience.

Now we are back in the big room finishing up some legislation and then going to bed for another day of legislation tomorrow.

Today we dealt with some of the difficult issues surrounding same sex unions in states and countries which allow them. We did our best to remain civil with one another, recognizing our differences as well as trying to work within the bounds of unity. I believe that the votes here at our Global Young People’s Convocation are what will be similar to the votes at General Conference 2012, it saddens my heart to see that the direction we are headed as a church seems to be further and further away from unity and more toward division. It also saddens my heart to know that perhaps this may be the beginning of a new phase in the United Methodist Church in which we find different parts of our denomination going their separate ways.

On a personal note, ask Marcy or Glen, it’s true, I have acquired a stalker here in Germany. That’s all I will say, you can ask me or them for detailsJ

Adventures in Germany Day 4

This day was quite the adventure. We woke up and left the hotel by 8:45 with our boxed lunches in hand. We hopped on some charter buses and headed to the historic Berlin Dome Cathedral to have an ecumenical worship service. The Cathedral is Lutheran so they were represented as well as a Baptist Youth Pastor and then the United Methodists from all over the world. It was an amazing service. The dome itself is beautiful as you will see in the pictures. But the most amazing part for me was that the Russian delegation was sitting behind us for worship and it was so cool to hear words spoken in either English or German and then translated behind us in Russian. It was just neat to be reminded at that time how global we truly are as a church.

And this was the theme for worship. One church. That no matter where we are, what branch of Christianity we are from, or how we worship, we truly are one church in Christ. It was a great reminder that we are the ones who decide what church should be and if we do not make a decision than that also falls on our shoulders.

Following the service in the dome, we divided into our tour groups and were set out on the public transportation systems of Berlin. Let me tell you get groups of 30-50 people on and off the right trains and buses is no small feat, but I don’t think that anyone got lost.

Our first stop was the Eastside Gallery, which is the only remaining portion of the Berlin Wall that is still standing. This is probably about a mile long walk of wall that has been painted by various artists depicting their feelings and understanding of the wall and its effects on Berlin. Some interesting, beautiful and weird artwork, but a really neat experience. It was amazing to me how much of the wall they had left standing in tact as a reminder of what was.

Following this we crossed over the river and hopped on another train to a little artsy community with interesting shops and restaurants. We stopped and had some Kabob Pita. MMMMM, MMMMM, Good. Then we poked our heads in and out of shops. It was a good time, but lots and lots and lots of walking.

Following this we made our way on foot to a local United Methodist Church where we were given dinner by the church members and then told the history of the area and the church. We ended this time together with a Vespers type service. It was really neat to hear and experience what it means to be United Methodist in Germany. We had the pleasure of having the pastors son sit at our table and tell us some interesting insights as well.

Overall a great day, one filled with much adventure and much walking. Now I am ready to get some sleep so that I can get up and experience more tomorrow.

Adventures in Germany Day 3

This morning, after a good night of much needed sleep, breakfast began at 8am. Did you know in Germany that you can get meat, cheese and potato salad for breakfast? I was less adventurous and had a fried egg, bacon sausage and kiwi. Oh and of course, lots of coffeeJ

Following breakfast we went into worship where a wonderful Russian Praise Band led us in music. We celebrated being in unity with one another as Christians and a pastor from Russia brought us the message. He used an amazing example of the Holy Spirit working in our lives better if we are united with one another in Christ. Look for me to use this in church sometime soon. We concluded the service by celebrating our unity through Communion. Bishop Wenner, of Germany led us in communion with the German language.

Following worship we were briefed on the rules for the legislative assembly and how all of the voting and legislation will work. A lot of this was review of how we do things in our annual conference, it was good clarification for us and for those from other countries. The thing that I am most looking forward to tomorrow is that we will be worshipping at the famous Berlin Dome for church. Now a short break for lunch followed by breakout legislation groups.

The afternoon consisted of legislation discussion and recommendations for the whole body at the legislative assembly which will be on Saturday and Sunday. We had some free time after our committee was out and so I did a little bit of mingling and little bit of exploring the hotel and a little bit of relaxing and talking to my boys at home.

After dinner they had what is called a ministry fair. This was a cool way for us to see some of what other churches are doing and to get information from the general boards and agencies relating to youth and young adults. Overall this was a pretty cool experience, got to see some interesting things and various ministries were able to sell things for their programs, etc.

We ended the evening with a Western Jurisdiction delegate meeting and it was cool to see all the youth and young adults come together as a group and talk about representing not only their individual conferences but also representing the Western Jurisdiction and presenting a united front to the rest of the global church.

It was a long day, and tomorrow promises to be even more involved as we will be spending the entire day outside of the hotel and doing things in the city. Should be pretty fun and exciting.

P.S. as I write this it is raining outside my window. Hopefully it won’t be rainy all day tomorrow as we do our sight seeing. I kinda forgot my umbrellaJ