Getting to Know You
A Top Ten list is a fun and effective way to share some information about oneself. Beth and Andrea use it a lot in their classes to get to know their students and to have students get to know each other. They thought this would also be a creative and informal way for FMC’s new pastor, Jonathan Landis, to share some interesting information about himself with the congregation. Here is what he wrote—with the caveat that the items are in no particular order. Enjoy discovering the many sides of Jonathan.
I lived in Guatemala, Honduras, and Venezuela while on assignment with Eastern Mennonite Missions’ YES teams and am fluent in Spanish. I have been to Mexico five times, Canada three times, and the Czech Republic twice. I have also visited Belize, Argentina, Aruba, Germany, and Austria.
I worked at Reading Hospital, which has the busiest Emergency Department in PA. I completed my four units of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) with Penn Medicine’s Lancaster General Hospital.
I enjoy hiking and backpacking and would like to hike the whole Appalachian Trail someday. I’d love to hear about trails in and around Indy, too. Also, I find spotting birds while out in nature almost as exciting as the hike itself.
I enjoy reading, especially fantasy, classics, and the occasional mystery novel. I appreciate good dialogue and character development and stories that engage me emotionally. Often, I read four books concurrently, so be careful when loaning me books: it will take me forever to return them.
I love music. I studied music education as an undergraduate and learned to appreciate many styles of music, though I gravitate most to music that calms and soothes me: jazz, classical, folk, indie, show tunes, and fusions of multiple styles.
Sports: As a spectator, I especially enjoy watching the Olympics. I like that the sports announcers explain what is going on and that emphasis is placed on the human-interest stories of the athletes. As a participant, I prefer sports I can do to foster my well-being and inner balance, such as running, lifting, and yoga.
I love cooking. I find it to be stress-relieving and another creative expression. Baked goods and sweets—I have a fondness for those, too. But I try not to have them around the house—too much temptation.
I think board games are fun, especially the complicated ones that take a good half hour to explain and have fifteen ways to earn points. I’m also here for pen-and-paper games that just require a group’s collective creativity. Together we can be hilarious.
I would say that I am a movie person rather than a TV person. Give me a narrative arc that evolves and resolves over three hours rather than meanders over fourteen seasons any day. In terms of genres, I have a fairly wide taste, but I don’t really watch horror movies and am picky about comedies.
I have a lot of interests (as you can see from this list). One last one I’d like to mention is my interest in people—yes, that means you. I find people interesting and look forward to getting to know you all and to finding lots of points of connection.
Bonus Item (*perfect for playing the Mennonite game?): My parents are Steve and Judy Landis. I have a younger brother, who lives in Lancaster and a younger sister, who lives in Philadelphia. I have six niblings (nieces and nephews). My brother has four little girls: the oldest is eight, the middle child is six, and the youngest two are four. My sister has two boys, aged five and two.
*Editorial aside
FMC Movers and Shakers help Jonathan Landis move into his new home in Indianapolis.
Photo Credit: Elsie Koop Liechty
by Jonathan Landis, Donna Haines, Beth Goering, and Andrea Krause in collaboration
