A Reflection

As most of you that are reading this know, last summer I was counselor at Ligonier Camp and Conference Center (a Presbyterian camp that is located near Greensburg, PA) for 10 weeks. It was a summer of great change and discernment concerning my faith. At Ligonier, I was able to live my faith out 24/7, in a deep way that I had never experienced before. I lived in a way that I knew God wanted me to, teaching and being taught by my bosses, fellow staff members, and even my campers. It was life-changing for me.

After that, I had serious doubts that I would ever be able to live that way again, at least outside of Ligonier. There, I was so immersed in faith. It was the culture of the place. Away from it, I have struggled to maintain what I gained there.

However, I realized something tonight. I was on assignment for Presbyterians Today at a local Presbyterian church, shooting pictures to be used in an upcoming issue. The event that I was attending was a concert, starting with a guy from the church playing his own music and then featured a band called The Pinkerton Raid, three siblings from Durham, North Carolina. The lead singer, Jesse DeConto, is a writer for Christian Century, a minister, and an author (he just had an ecumenical book on the Trinity published...yes, I bought it. I'm a nerd). He read excerpts from his book throughout the concert, sharing parts of his own faith journey.

As Jesse spoke and played his music, I had a revelation. I am HERE, in Kentucky, to write and take pictures. I was placed here for a very specific purpose. Maybe I don't totally know what that is just yet, but it's there. God has a plan. He intends to use me in the ways that I am best suited to serve Him. Maybe that will be within an urban ministry (something that I am truly contemplating; McCormick Theological Seminary, I'm looking at you), maybe it's as a journalist/photojournalist, maybe it's as a missionary. All of these thoughts have crossed my mind.

It's okay that I don't know. It's perfectly possible that I'll do all three. God only knows....literally. Until I get cued in on that plan, I'm going to go where the wind takes me. For now, that's here in Louisville as a journalist. Which I am totally okay with.

It's a Good Life

There is nothing more gratifying than realizing that what you THINK you want to do with your life is indeed what you REALLY want to do with your life. Writing and communications is the route that I need to be pursuing (there you go, Mom and Dad -- no more changes to the major. I'm done. I hope you're as happy as I am!) and it feels great.

I spent the week writing, editing, going to editorial meetings for the magazine (!!) and learning the ropes of the communications department in the Mission Agency for PC(USA). It was such a joy to meet all the people that I will be working with for the summer; there are some REALLY cool people there! They've traveled, love the same things I love, and are passionate about the church and communicating it's events to others in the church.


"Let me live, love, and say it well in good sentences," is a line from Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar that comes to mind: this internship is truly letting me live (from taking the bus to work some days to doing my own grocery shopping), love the people whose stories I tell through the written word, and  write, whether it be for myself, for you, or for a specific audience through one of the publications that I am working for. And what a joy that has already been for me.

Already, huge opportunities have risen up for me to take. I will be attending the General Assembly of the PC(USA) in just a few weeks as a part of the Newsroom staff in Detroit, I'll get to head back to Mother Fair for the New Wilmington Mission Conference in July (if you're going to be there, maybe I'll see you!!), and in August I get to head to St. Pete's Beach for the Evangelism and Church Growth Conference. I have had the opportunity to edit for both Presbyterians Today (the magazine, also known as PT) and The Presbyterian News Service (PNS). I've written two stories already for PNS, one of which was published last week and the other will be published this coming Wednesday. And, in meeting with the editor-in-chief for PT, I was informed that I will have the opportunity to write various pieces for them, including a feature story that will be published in a later issue!

So, as you have probably gathered, I'm loving life. Between work and my awesome host-family, things couldn't be better.

Thanks for following me in this journey. I hope you all have wonderful memorial Days, and I will be back again soon!

Day One...CHECK!

Well, I made it through my first day as an intern, and without even a scratch. In fact, far from it -- I loved every second! I am already learning so much, and am meeting a lot of people that will help me this summer and hopefully in the future as well.

I started out the day with my usual cup of coffee and headed into the office, where I was handed my ID so that I can get into the building, signed a few papers, worked out some kinks with my email (technology likes to repel me sometimes), and then I dove straight into it all.

After a meeting, I headed off to work and began organizing all the commissioners for the General Assembly of the PC(USA) in order by presbytery (I never realized how many there were, holy smokes), edited my first story for the Presbyterian News Service, and learned how to stick stories online so that they can be distributed out to everyone that reads them! It's a lot simpler than anticipated, so that's positive.

And then, my oh-so-wonderful boss Jerry took me around to meet people in the building, always a fun experience. I work with the coolest people, and they all have such wonderful stories.

It's going to be a great summer, I can tell already. Hope all of y'all are doing well, and I'll check back in soon! Love always from the Bluegrass State!

Guys, I'm Home!

So....I made it to Louisville! My dad and I had a nice long car ride during which we listened to a lot of music, made a lot of really random stops (Two outlet complex's in one day? I mean...okay. Whatever it takes), and talked about the future. You know, since I kind of graduate soonish. By soonish I mean in two years, but it has been my observation that time keeps passing by faster and faster. So whatever will be next is going to be next sooner rather than later.

Anyway, so here I am in Louisville! I'm moved into my first housing location, where I will be staying until Monday when I move into my more "permanent" home. Conveniently, it isn't far from where I currently am. Even more conveniently, the space that I am renting belongs to my boss (or one of them, anyway). So that certainly makes commuting easier.

Even though I don't truly start until this coming Monday, I went into the office on Tuesday to go to a few meetings and get the lay of the land at the Presbyterian Center. I hadn't been there since I was in elementary school (aside from when I had my interview), and it was so nice to be walking on somewhat familiar turf. Even just being downtown was amazing, I feel so at home in Louisville. Sorry mom and dad...suburbia doesn't quite match up to city life. It was good to grow up in, but being able to walk everywhere and have so many options of things (both food-wise and entertainment-wise) is pretty freakin' awesome.

Anyway, the office. I work with some great people, all of whom are passionate about the same things as I am: writing and the church. It's wonderful, and I feel so welcome. It's going to be a great summer. I have my own cubicle, there is a kitchen, my advisor Bethany's office is right by mine should I have questions, and everyone is excited about my being there.

On top of that excitement, I applied for a waitress/hostessing job at my favorite restaurant in the city, Mark's Feed Store, and got called back for an interview. So THAT'S pretty cool. I have my interview on Sunday, so good vibes being sent my way would be solid. It would be nice to have a second job, both to keep me busy in the evenings since I don't know too many people my age around here and to be able to save a little extra money this summer. But we shall see!

Until I start work, I'll been doing that stereotypical college thing called "Netflix binging." Who knew that "Once Upon a Time" is such a great show?! I'm addicted, and have no shame. It certainly is keeping me entertained until I start work.

Well, I think that's it for now. Y'all take care of yourselves, and I'll check back in soon.

Why are we here, again?

Alright. So, here I am, about to finish up my sophomore year of college. It's been a whirlwind of craziness, from changing my major/minor combination, having my heart broken, realizing what I really want to do with my life, discovering (at least a piece) of what God's plan is for me, losing one of my best friends in a car accident and...GETTING AN INTERNSHIP. Yes. An internship. In my old Kentucky home, nonetheless.

And I repeat, so here I am, about to finish up my sophomore year of college. Tomorrow, I will attend my last final (more like presentation period), load up the car, and camp out in Youngstown until Sunday, when my dad and I will make the trek down to Louisville so that I can begin a new chapter of my life as an intern with the Presbyterian Mission Agency. There, I will be writing, editing, and helping to revamp The Mission Yearbook, Presbyterians Today, and The Presbyterian News Service.

Crazy stuff, right? I'm 20 years old, and in just one week I will be working, doing what I want to do for the rest of my life.

And that, ladies and gents, is the real reason that I am here right now. I am inviting you to share in my journey this summer, and probably beyond this summer, as I figure out my life. The only thing that is truly certain is that I will be doing it all with a pen (and laptop, and smartphone, and maybe someday tablet) in hand.

Here we go...cheers to Summer 2014, folks!