YAY HATS.

Molita & Sarah with the hats we made.

     Yesterday Molita and I were able to give these 24 hats to a woman at our church to donate to a local hospital. It has been a fun project for the two of us to work on and think about all the newborn babies who will get to wear the hats. And just to be completely honest it has been a wonderful project to work on during the last semester of our senior year. There was instant gratification of seeing a complete project, while we have so many unknowns and things that are left unfinished (trying to figure out what next year will hold).
     The woman at our church was surprised to see how many hats we had made, we had told her that we had made a bunch of hats and she told us that she thought there would be six or eight and then we dumped a pile on her. It was fabulous. I am proud to be active and worshiping at St. John's in St. Donatus. For a smaller church they sure do care about the community and world around them. I am thankful for the ways that the people of St. John's have taken in so many of us seminarians.
     What are you or the congregation that you are active in doing to help serve the community in which you live? I love hearing ways in which people are serving their community and God is moving in and through people to care for the world around them.

Yesterday

     Yesterday was one of those days that, as seminarians, we have dreamt about since before we even begin seminary. It was reading and research days here on campus and I stuck around campus for the break. The day was as normal as an empty day on campus could be. Most milestones here on campus are marked by: the community gathering, the community upholding in prayer, the community worshipping, and the community rallying around the days events. This one however was semi-unexpected and as I walked down to my mailbox I had no idea what I was going to find. I got to my mailbox and did the normal, squat down and was excited to see that there was something in my box, I am semi-convinced that my mailbox is a black hole for what can feel like weeks at a time.

     I spin my lock to open the box and naturally couldn’t get it to open, so I tried again (3 times) and finally opened my mailbox. I was expecting to find a letter from my mom, my grandma, or another loved one, I could see that it was a larger envelope (the kind that holds a full sheet of paper) and so I was trying to think through what my mom may have mailed me that she wouldn’t have wanted to bend. When I looked at the envelope I realized that it had come from the Northeastern Minnesota synod! I was surprised and anxiously opened the envelop there standing in the hallway, not a person in sight and no one could be heard.

     As I opened my envelope I found a letter from one of the assistants to the bishop describing a bit of what I would find behind the letter, A CONGREGATION’S PAPERWORK! The moment was surreal, I couldn’t believe what I was holding in my hand. A congregation’s paperwork describing themselves and a little bit about what they are looking for in a pastor. The assistant to the bishop has sent my name and paperwork to them and their paperwork to me?! This is a step in the direction of taking a first call.

     I realize that just because this is the first set of paperwork that I have gotten it does not mean that it is the call I will take, but it is still something to discern. I must discern, the congregation must discern, and together we will see what God is calling us to do. Is God calling us to journey together or is God calling another to live and serve amongst these people and calling me elsewhere? Time will tell.

     While this doesn’t really seem like a very big milestone it was one that caught me a little off guard, while I knew the paperwork might be on its way, it was still a surreal experience. It is hard to believe that while I look forward to graduating, it is a little strange to think that my classmates and I are now the candidates being sent out to congregations all across the United States. I am excited at the ways the Spirit is moving and calling us and meets us in all the unknowns that are before us. I am nervous and unsure at the same time. I trust the Spirit’s moving and guiding, knowing that the Spirit is everywhere and I am being called to live alongside God’s people in a new place, and the Spirit is already there working and moving, and will be there while I am there, and will remain when I am called elsewhere. God is present, God is moving, and it is humbling to see the ways God is moving and that God is in fact calling me to love and serve a particular congregation.

Infant Hats

Amy, Julie, me, Molita

The two hats that I made. (Sorry about the poor picture quality, I took it with my phone.)

Yesterday at St. John's Lutheran in St. Donatus, Iowa the women of the church had a "project day." A few folks brought their own projects and a few folks made cards but the majority of the group learned how to loom baby hats. There were a couple women and girls who knew how to do it and taught the rest of us how. It was humbling to have girls probably 8 and 6 teaching me how to loom hats, but they were amazing teachers for sure. I was a skeptic at first that I would be able to figure it out. But I ended up making a hat and a half during the morning and finished my second hat last night. They were very easy to make once we got started, Molita was even able to do it with her arm casted, she only needed help with one part.
      Today I decided to see if I could jazz them up a little bit and add a flower and a button to each of them. I had never tried to crochet flowers before, but with the help of the internet and someone else's blog I learned how to make little flowers and then inserted the button for the center. I am excited to think about all of our little hats going to a local hospital to keep new little babies heads warm. I am particularly excited that my hats are not pink but with the addition of the little flower and button I was able to make them a little girly. I also am particularly fond of Molita's orange hat. Amy got a little fancy and made some type of a rimming on hers. I am excited to try and make a couple on my own and either give them to friends or donate them to the hospital. I love being a part of God's mission in the world and being able to give a gift to people I don't even know.
  I am thankful for people who teach me new skills, share new patterns with me, are patient with me while I learn how to do something, and teach me how to do particular things in order to create something new. I pray I am able to pass on some of these skills to others as well.

    Well its official. I have been assigned to the Northeastern Minnesota synod and it comes by complete surprise. I was under the impression (as were several of my friends who had been assigned to region 3) that eastern Minnesota was not taking any candidates due to a lack of openings. This must not be true, due to being called there. I will also admit that a piece of my heart had committed to either the western side of Minnesota or one of the North Dakota synods or even South Dakota. These preferences were mostly based on the high number of my friends and family in this area. Although I a not opposed to Northeastern Minnesota by any means.
    My synodical assignment comes with mix emotions and feelings (which is true of pretty much everyone who is assigned). I am excited to explore and learn a new area. I am excited by the prospect of living near a lake (I love being out on a lake). I am excited about first call and the ways in which the Holy Spirit moves and works in all people. I am nervous because I am a native South Dakotan who LOVES to see my horizons, NE Minnesota has a lot of trees and while I enjoy camping for a weekend in such locations I have never fathomed living there. It'll be interesting. I am also a little bit sad that I don't have any friends already up in that area and that none of my classmates were assigned to that same synod. I am a little saddened by the distance from my family and many of my friends. In my heart of hearts I was hoping to be close enough to one of my relatives so that I could drive to them on major holidays, while I greatly appreciate people who on internship invited me into their homes for holidays, it isn't the same as being with family, being a guest during holidays is hard for me. I know I will need to develop new traditions and figure out what it means to celebrate the holidays as a single female living in Northeastern Minnesota.
    I trust the Bishop has something in mind for me or knows of some calls opening up. I am anxious to talk to him or one of his assistants. I have my fingers crossed I'll hear from someone this week to let me know what to expect and can maybe grant me a glimpse into what the future may hold.
    "Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and you love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen." (One of my favorite prayers out of the ELW)