First post from NOLA!

I am now living in New Orleans! The skies are blue and clear, and I'm watching locals walk around in their thickest coats in the sixty degree weather. (Note of Irony: Amanda is now one of the most warm-natured people around. What.)

Getting down here was a pretty nice and easy drive. I saw my first roadkill armadillo (!) just before I crossed into Alabama, and it was easy driving from there. I'm fully unpacked and settled into my wonderful new home:

Oh yeah. I see your envy.

I'm sharing a room with two other women. Elaine I met for about thirty seconds before she was out the door visiting Massechutsess. I've spent a lot of time with Nichol--a fellow music major and fantastic sax player.

So far, I have...

*Had my first "po-boy" (fried shrimp, pickles, mayo, lettuce and tomato stuffed into a hoagie roll,)
*Eaten life-changing grits,
*Been to a free outdoor Blues and BBQ festival,
*Ridden the streetcar
*Had two shifts at Hagar's House,
*Been to First Grace UMC for worship service.

I still have a lot to explore and do!!! I've still only seen a tiny piece of the city, and I'm excited about seeing more of it.

I don't really miss "home," even though I do miss my family and church! I miss my fellow US-2s and Mission Interns much more than I thought I would! I've been keeping in contact with the US-2s, though, which has been wonderful. I'm not quite sure how I'm going to fit into the community here yet. I get the impression I've come here at a strange time. The bottom floor of Hagar's House literally JUST opened, and this is the first time there's been seven women living in the house. It's a very exciting time to be here!

I have a few more reflections about NOLA in general, but I feel like this is a pretty solid update. Hopefully I'll be writing a bit more consistently soon!

More Important than Information

There's a lot I could talk about from our sessions. We've discussed a great deal about poverty, "Theological Diversity," conflict, etc, etc. I mean, as missionary-type people, this would make sense.

But I really don't think in a few months I'm going to remember the flow charts about communities. I'm going to remember doing the Cha Cha Slide with thirty missionaries in a crazy dance party and singing Aretha Franklin at the top of our lungs. (BTW, Missionary Dance Party: Awesome times. There are videos somewhere. I might share them, pending censorship.)

I'm not going to remember my session this morning. (Um...maybe I already forgot it.) I'm going to remember hiking around Bear Mountain with Jen, Erin, Heather, Amihan, Johnathan, Shannon, and David.

I'm going to remember Holli's earnest love of everyone.

I'm going to remember Jennifer's giggle/laugh.

I'm going to remember Helen's shrieking at every new game.

I'm going to remember to roll my "r's" when I say "Rrrrrrrosanna!"

I'm going to remember driving to the get real food (ie: greasy fast-food goodness) in the middle of the night with Bethany and Rachel.

I'll remember Joseph's ridiculous comments to everything.

I'll remember how much I missed Hannah and Rachel when they were gone for just one night.

I think what I've learned here isn't "training." It's the beautiful experience of being around such easy love, such effortless joy, such constant respect and growth.

It's an intense experience, being here and bonding so quickly and knowing we all have to break apart so soon. Really, like it isn't enough that I have to leave everyone I love at home? Now I have to tear myself away from ten or more people who feel like family.

It will be hard, but I'm grateful for this time to spend with everyone. I'm so glad that God has created so many people who are fun and beautiful and loving. And I'm grateful to be a part of it.

What makes you?

In our morning session today, we talked a lot about having a personal credo. To get there, we went through a lot of analysis about what we think about things and where those thoughts came from. I figured I would list some of the questions here. It was an interesting exercise to do--I recommend it.


What do you believe is most important in life?

Using all your capabilities to do all the good you can in the world, and maintaining a connection to the Divine.

What helps you experience a sense of purpose and meaning?

Studying religious texts. Helping a student who's struggling. Standing up for something that matters. Sitting outside. Writing. Being in a beautiful concert.

What gives you sense of wonderment and awe about life and the universe?

The color of the air just before dawn. Moss, mushrooms, things that grow. The crunch of autumn leaves. A harvest moon. A Child's Garden of Dreams. Climbing to the top of a mountain. The feel of muscles pulling body over rock. October.

Some basic and core beliefs or simple truths that represent your beliefs about life that you live by.


1) Everything is connected to God, and through God all things are connected.

2) Knowledge is beautiful and worth seeking.

3) The natural world is a breath away from heaven.

4) People are good.

5) Music is a core need.

6) It is our responsibility to use all our powers for goodness, justice and love.

7) To be dispassionate is death.

We also talked about the qualities we learned from our caregivers, which leads me to another very important point--my Parental Units rock. We're supposed to put together a credo to share on Friday.

What about you? Does any of this speak to you? Or do you have a personal credo you live by?

It has to start somewhere...

Hello everyone! I know anyone who would be reading this already knows the basics about what I'll be doing, but I figure it's a good a place to start as any.

I'm currently at training in Stony Point, New York, to become a US-2 through the United Methodist Church. Basically that means I was admitted to a program through the General Board of Global Ministries to work as a missionary somewhere in the United States for two years.

Once I agreed to that, I took a placement site at Hagar's House in New Orleans, where I'll be going in a little over a week now.

But for now, life in training is great. We get a lot of sessions. Some are wonderful, like a very spirited conversation on diversity in theological ideas this morning. Others not so much, like getting binders full of papers that don't even apply.

Even the parts that are less-than-awesome become better-than-awesome because it's shared with such a fantastic group of people. I reconnected almost instantly with the people I had met before. I'm still getting to know some of the other people, but what I know so far has been amazing.

On the other hand, after I say goodbye I'm not going to see any of them for two years, if ever! (Except Bethany and Jen, who both say they'll come visit in NOLA. Yay!) So that might be a source of reluctance as far as "closeness," but it hasn't been yet. We all have a lot in common right now--similar fears and excitements, passion and beliefs. It makes sense that we'd get along so well.

We're only in day 3 of training, so we'll see how it goes. Hopefully we won't all be sick of each other in a few days...: p