February

Something that I attended for the first time this month is the Winchester Soroptimist Social. These are held one Monday each month in the St. Swithuns Chapel, led by a group of older women who sponsor different organizations throughout Winchester that focus on supporting women in various ways (refugee centers, inclusion / gender equity in sports, abuse and addiction resources). While I was very much the youngest person in the room, I really loved connecting with them all as we share similar passions. They have asked me to be a speaker for them in the summer months, to share more about my synods partnership in Tanzania and how that led to my YAGM year!

This month, Sue Dorrington came to give a talk. Below I share her incredible rugby background a bit more, which is what convinced me to go to the talk..as the sport is a growing interest of mine! But, what I didn't know walking into the space, was how much Sue and I would be able to connect personally. Sue heard my accent as I chatted with women I sat by, and she came directly up to me and said "you are from Minnesota! I am from Minnesota!" Sue grew up in Orono and set off to the UK with only $100 at the age of 23, to pursue playing the game of rugby and find herself. Sue throughout explaining her journey to where she is now (in the World Rugby Hall of Fame) would become very emotional sharing and her reaction to tears was very similar to mine, "oh this always happens, but I just let it and don't try to explain why anymore". She was so relateable to my own insecurity! Even her discussing quiting sports because of not being in the friend group, family dynamics as the youngest child, and how people feared her joy and motivation for life.. all of this felt so REAL to how I have always felt in different settings. There was a moment at the end of her talk where she wanted to give advice to any mid- 20s girl trying to figure out where she will go and what she will do, and in that moment we locked eyes and both started crying as she was finishing her sentences. She said in her advice "Go explore! For yourself, expanding your community and the differences you'll make. Don't doubt yourself or worry about what others might say, you are capable and you won't regret all the growth that happens in those experiences. God's got you". I was meant to be in that room. 

I am excited to share I will be attending the Womens Rugby Guiness game in April, England vs. Ireland! I will get to reconnect with Sue and see her deliver honorary pins to the Red Roses to resemble the progress made accross the world towards people valuing womens rugby.

Anglican Confirmation Service

We have officially wrapped up our confirmation small groups and held our first confirmation service of the year! Throughout the Winchester Cathedral service, I caught myself grinning uncontrollably, of course with a few tears, because of how proud I was of all the girls I had gotten to know over the last few months in such a faith- filled way! 4 of the girls were also baptized during the service, making it extra meaningful to support them as their mentor! I had the privilege to give communion alongside the Bishop during the service. It felt special to me as I contributed to the church community in a way that I would back home. One of the biggest things the Chaplain and I remind the girls of throughout each week is that they do not have to get confirmed at the end of the course, the course is meant to be a form of discernment, so the girls took their decision to confirm their faith very seriously. I had a few girls taking the course knowing they would not be confirmed yest this year but still wanted to come as support with friends, we also had one drop out a few days before the service and asked to do a few more one on one sessions this year before the spring service because they felt they needed to explore their spirituality more. I found this approach to confirmation to be invaluable, as it was never treated as just another thing to check off a to- do list just because family wanted them to. I learned alot from this alone, and how there needs to be less internal and external pressures for ourselves, it felt great to support girls with those conversations and have a good life reminder that I can be easier on myself with the "what's next" in my own faith journey.

Lyon, France! YAGM Mid- Year Retreat

Towards the end of February, I flew into Lyon, France to begin my YAGM mid- year retreat. This was especially exciting to me because it was a combined retreat for people placed in the UK and in Hungary; I got to see some of my closest friends for the first time since orientation last August! We were welcomed by Pastor Peter Hanson and Sarah Grow, who serve through the ELCA. It was a meaningful connection to make with them as we share ties with my home church (St. Andrews- Mahtomedi, MN), where Peter was ordained & Peter and Sarah were married there! The conversations with them were invaluable to me, as I got to hear their stories of lifelong global mission work, recieve their advice to "DO IT!" if it still lingers as an interest post- YAGM, and talk about both our experiences in Tanzania which is where I feel especially called to through Bega Kwa Bega. It was awesome to get a walking tour from them on our first day, and end our final night of the retreat with a meal in their beautiful home. 

We spent the rest of our retreat in the Taizé Community, where we were able to grow in our individual Faith through options of community prayer, song, silence, personal reflection and sharing. I really enjoyed designated space to internally process all my growth this year in my personal life, to sit in silence was rejeuvenating and everything I needed without really knowing that going into it. Since I am just returning from Taizé, and found it to be a transformational experience for myself, I will be sharing this more in the coming weeks under its own tab on my site.... stay tuned!