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TAMVU, TAMEU, TAMWU!  Food and Community at Redeemer House

TAMVU, TAMEU, TAMWU!  Food and Community at Redeemer House

At National Orientation, our LVC leaders succeeded in preparing us for the challenges of communal living.  As a house, Redeemer spent hours considering our communication styles, our conflict resolution skills, and the goals and expectations we had for ourselves.  However, nothing could have prepared us for just how much fun we would have!

For cynical folks like me, this introduction may seem extremely canned and insincere.  Don’t get me wrong, like any LVC house we have ongoing debates, struggles, and conversations around how we want to live, where our priorities lie, and how to spend our money and time.  But I really must emphasize how much we like each other at Redeemer.

The main way we display this love for each other is through food.  As a house, we have committed to sharing three home-cooked meals a week.  We prioritize not just the shared experience of eating the food, but also cooking together and finding sustainable ways of obtaining food that also benefit our neighborhood.  For example, on Saturday mornings you can probably find at least three of us at a neighborhood farmers market or stocking up on free produce at a nearby food bank.  Our host congregation, Redeemer Lutheran Church, also provides a fantastic example in sustainable food practices. Redeemer has a community bread oven and a community garden, so it’s not unusual for us to enjoy some fresh wood-fired pizza or for Bex to come home from work at Redeemer with baskets of tomatoes, kale, and more.  

(In fact, we’re rolling in so many free vegetables, eggs, and watermelons that we’ve had to freeze a lot of it and stock it in our upstairs refrigerator.  In our quest to eat it all before it spoils, we’ve come up with a very simple motto — TAMVU, TAMEU, TAMWU! There’s always more veggies upstairs, there’s always more eggs upstairs, there’s always more watermelon upstairs.  These are fun acronyms to yell out when you’re looking for something to cook with; you should try it some time.)

Meanwhile, you might imagine cooking together is a great way to demonstrate service toward your fellow housemate.  Watching my housemates cook, however, is also a simple way to learn more about giving and taking in a community relationship.  Where I fail, my housemates are there to help me. If I don’t know how to brown beef, for instance, Theresa is there to assist me.  Isaac is incredible at making basically any breakfast food, Elshaday can fix a mean curry, and I’m still thinking about the egg bake Grace made for dinner one night.  (As for me, my specialty is keeping Redeemer House well-stocked with homemade chocolate chip cookies, fudge, soft pretzels, salted brownies, and more baked goods.) We all have the gifts that we use at our placements every day to connect with others and benefit the neighborhood, city, and world around us, but food preparation is an easily-overlooked way to get to know someone and how they experience the world.  It’s a privilege to be able to come together and experience that at least three times a week with my LVC housemates.

Thanks to the bonds we’ve built through the simple act of feeding ourselves, we’ve developed a tight-knit community that also keeps a list of our weird quotes on the fridge, is eagerly awaiting a free family portrait session at our local library, and is throwing an Earth Wind and Fire-themed party on September 21st.  We are able to engage in deep conversations while washing the dishes or watching Netflix, and we are fueled and ready to participate in LVC and live out its core values. Food makes the work of building community easier and more fun, and I am so glad we decided to prioritize it. As we settle into north Minneapolis and begin to lean into the spiritual, emotional, and physical work ahead of us, it’s relieving to know that the hard work of building community now is worth it and Redeemer House has a solid foundation supporting us.

Dylan Walker, a St. Olaf College alumnus, is serving this year at Redeemer Center for Life in Minneapolis, MN.

2018-09-20
By: Dylan Walker
On: September 20, 2018
In: Volunteer Blog
Tagged: Community, Minneapolis, St. Olaf College, Twin Cities, Volunteer
Previous Post: Eight Electric Volunteers, One Cozy Bloomingdale Home: Catch the Latest from the Bonhoeffer Burrow
Next Post: Junia: Two Programs, One Home

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Lutheran Volunteer Corps (LVC) is with Little Friends For Peace and 7 others.

2 weeks ago

Lutheran Volunteer Corps (LVC)
The impact of the Lutheran Volunteer Corps is made possible through a powerful partnership among placement organizations, dedicated fellows, and generous supporters. Our placement partners are mentors and collaborators who provide fellows with opportunities to engage in meaningful work. Fellows bring energy and fresh perspective to their roles.At the heart of LVC, the fellows choose to live intentionally, serve wholeheartedly, and grow spiritually and personally throughout their year. Their courage to step into unfamiliar spaces, embrace challenge, and live out their values inspires transformation. The guidance and support they receive help them deepen their understanding of service.None of this would be possible without the unwavering support of our donors, who help us sustain meaningful change. Your generosity ensures that this work continues. Together, we are building a stronger community every year.Apply Here to Become a Fellow>>> lutheranvolunteercorps.org/the-program/#Apply Here to Become a Placement Partner >>> lutheranvolunteercorps.org/the-program/# ... See MoreSee Less

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Lutheran Volunteer Corps (LVC)

3 weeks ago

Lutheran Volunteer Corps (LVC)
Little Friends For Peace (LFFP) is a powerful force for good in the D.C. community. Their mission is to break the cycle of violence by teaching people how to live with peace at the center of their lives. Through after-school Peace Clubs, summer Peace Camps, and in-school programs, Little Friends for Peace reaches thousands of kids and adults every year.🧘‍♀️🧘‍♂️Little Friends For Peace started as a small neighborhood program and has since grown to reach communities around the world. Founders MJ and Jerry remain actively involved, teaching peace both here at home and abroad. The legacy of Little Friends for Peace is a powerful movement centered on healing, love, and justice.👥As a placement partner, Lutheran Volunteer Corps (LVC) places fellows at incredible organizations like LFFP. As a Fellow, you’ll dive right in, helping run peace camps, leading workshops, and mentoring kids and adults. LVC will actively support you on this journey of making a difference during your year of service. Lutheran Volunteer Corps is a vibrant community that gives our fellows support and connections to help their careers thrive. So come along and join the Lutheran Volunteer Corps >>> lutheranvolunteercorps.org/volunteer/ You’re in for a life-changing ride! 🕊 ... See MoreSee Less

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