Life as a steward

Making new friends for the first time has always proven difficult for me. What makes it even harder for an 18-year old born in Guyana, a small country on the northern coast of South America, is making new friends in a new country.

That is just what I’m doing this week at the Uniting General Council (UCG) in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

 Unfortunately, I can’t say that I’m the most religious person in my church, but I do have a deep love for God and am willing to take part in activities that facilitate the spread of his message to all. Being invited to the UGC as a steward was a stirring moment, but there was a small amount of anxiety after applying, as I had never been so far from home.  

So I made my way to Grand Rapids, Michigan, my first ever trip to the United States, first-ever flight after many years, and first time travelling alone. The almost 17-hour travel was exhausting, but my excitement never ebbed. Finally, after landing at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport close to midnight of 11 June, worry began to set in.

This worry began to fade after bumping into a UGC official stationed at the airport to pick up arrivals.  Being among the stewards was one of the most awkward moments I can recall. Young men and women sat in the lobby of the Calvin College dormitory, engaging in hearty conversations and exchanging fun facts about themselves and their home countries.

Summoning the courage to speak to someone was difficult. Hundreds of things swam through my mind as I tried to convince myself to say “hi” to someone. Luckily, the trouble was saved by another who introduced herself. She was from the Netherlands.

We quickly struck up an easy flowing conversation comparing the campus environment to our homelands. I learned much from her, things so simple I would not have guessed.

It was easier to wait for someone to approach me to chat or “gaff” as we say on Guyana. So it was for the rest of the day; staying quiet until someone said hi.

On Sunday evening there seemed to be a much lighter spirit among the stewards. We chatted and laughed easily, and shared and played games native to our countries. One interesting game from Lithuania involved a transfer of energy. The game allowed me to become open and casual around my colleagues, probably from the energy transfer!

Monday all the work started: My first taste of being a steward. Deciding to volunteer for the communications team was easy, since I was a reporter back home.  I had never taken part in the set-up of a communications room before, but with the help of two experienced women, the work was light and quickly done. I worked alongside a Uruguayan, a multi-lingual Swiss student and a local from Michigan. We communicated easily with the help of the very capable Swiss student, who acted as a translator.

There were times when we would have to make quick dashes to other buildings. This meant going outside, which would normally not be a problem except that coming from a topical country, I had not yet adapted to the chilly weather.

I especially look forward to lunch and dinner times, when we engage in sometimes lengthy conversations and fact exchanges. Did you know that in Sweden, the older folk prefer walking to being driven, and that in Sri Lanka there is only one season? One African steward told me that in certain parts of Ghana girls are not allowed to attend school with hair; they must shave their heads until they are 18 years old.

We discuss each others’ daily lives back home, and I find myself curious about every one of my fellow stewards. We discover differences as well as a few similarities.

We each volunteered to give of our best and provide a fast and efficient service at the UGC. We are having fun and learning as much as we can while contributing to this historic, unifying venture of the church.

By Andrunie Harris, UGC steward