day seven: Yale Divinity School

Today I visited Yale Divinity School. To say that YDS is an incredible place would be an understatement—I so enjoyed my time there and look forward to returning for a visit during the academic year. Today I had an abbreviated, summer campus visit that included a meeting with Admissions, an overview of Financial Aid, and a campus tour. Based on my conversation with Admissions, it sounds like YDS would be a great fit for me; its identity is strongly rooted in both the church and the academy, which reflects my own identity and call. YDS is shaped both by faith and scholarship, and that is an exceptional combination! Further, YDS boasts a faculty in biblical studies that is unparalleled— all it takes is a walk into the bookstore to see the contributions of the YDS faculty to the field. And if that is not enough, the campus is gorgeous and the people I met were incredibly warm and welcoming. From what I can tell, Yale Divinity School is a place I would love to live, learn, and grow in knowledge and faith!

Glimpses into YDS:

Marquand ChapelThe front of Marquand ChapelIt has three organs—this is just one of them!On the Divinity Quadrangle

days three, four, and five: Lancaster Theological Seminary

They say time flies when you’re having fun, and that was certainly the case this weekend in Lancaster, PA! We arrived in Lancaster in time to have lunch with my wonderful roommate, Bethany, and her family. After lunch we visited for a while, and then we headed to my Aunt Marianne’s house where we stayed for the weekend. On Saturday night we went out to a great local place where we got to catch up with Bethany and laugh harder and louder than is appropriate in public. But we didn’t stay out too late, because we were up early on Sunday morning to join Bethany for worship at her home church. After that, Megan and I ate some good Amish food for lunch and headed to my cousin’s house to visit and catch up with their family. We ended our weekend with a delicious dinner out with my aunt at a great restaurant in downtown Lancaster called The Pressroom.

Of course, while the weekend was great fun, the real purpose of our trip to Lancaster was to visit Lancaster Theological Seminary (LTS). My campus visit was today, and it could not have been a better experience! My morning started with an interview with the Director of Admissions, followed by a meeting with one of the Hebrew Bible professors and a campus tour. From the moment I walked on campus, I was warmly welcomed into the LTS community and engaged in great conversation about my journey so far and how LTS could be the next step in that journey. I liked the campus and LOVED its location in a great part of downtown Lancaster. Another big plus is that LTS has affordable housing available on campus. I am planning to visit again during the school year so I can sit in on classes, but as of right now LTS seems like a good possibility for me! Across the board, as I spent time in conversations and on campus, it felt like a place I could call home.

Some glimpses into our time in Lancaster:

Megan and I with Bethany at her house!The Brasserie in LancasterThe three amigas together at last!

Out to dinner at The Pressroom downtown

Megan and I with my awesome aunt!
LTS!

Chapel/academic building

Library

Fantastic reading room we found!

Gorgeous chapel!

day two: Eastern Mennonite Seminary

Today’s visit began bright and early with 8:30am breakfast with the Director of Admissions here at Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMS). We had a great breakfast at A Bowl of Good, the fantastic organic/local restaurant here. After breakfast, we had a tour of the seminary building and I met with one of the homiletics professors at EMS. Then I met with the Assistant Dean to talk about the degree programs here; it was especially interesting to hear about the different tracks available in the MDiv program. After that meeting, we headed to Subway for lunch with one of the current United Methodist MDiv students here. Finally, I met with the admissions counselor from EMU’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP), where I could pursue a MA in Conflict Transformation along with my MDiv at the seminary. Overall, it was an enjoyable visit. While I had a great deal of information before I visited, nothing replaces the experience of visiting campus and getting a “feel” for the environment of the school. Tomorrow morning we head to Lancaster, PA to spend the weekend with my family and my wonderful roommate before heading to Lancaster Theological Seminary for a visit on Monday!

seminary road trip: day one!

Hello from Harrisonburg, VA! Today we made it from Ohio to Virginia, and tomorrow I’ll be visiting Eastern Mennonite Seminary. We made good time and got to Harrisonburg in time to explore campus a bit this afternoon and have dinner tonight at a restaurant that serves organic, locally-grown food. So—day one has been a great success! I am looking forward to my visit at EMS tomorrow. I am especially curious about EMS, as they offer a dual degree MDiv/MA in Conflict Transformation four-year program. So— the seminary road trip is underway! I can hardly believe that I am really on this journey—both in terms of the road trip and my journey of faith and call that is leading me to explore seminaries all over the country! But I could not be more humbled and content and hopeful—God is good!

A few glimpses into the journey so far:

Tunnel in PA

Lost on a (beautiful) mountain in WVA—the first of two mountains we didn’t mean to climb today!

Oh hey, Virginia!

Virginia mountains!

Our view for several hours.

We got peaches!

Eastern Mennonite Seminary

Campus near EMS

Views from the top of the mountain we accidentally climbed on campus at EMU while we were searching for the prayer labyrinth…We found the labyrinth!!The most delicious organic and locally grown spaghetti in the world (well, at least in Harrisonburg)!

Day one—check! Looking forward to the next eight days as I journey with friends—new and old—and the God who weaves these many adventures together into the (surprisingly) beautiful tapestry called life!

trailers, new friends, and a seminary i swore i’d never love: reflections on my time in Columbus

I had plans to spend a couple weeks on a mission trip this summer, but at the last minute some complex circumstances forced me to stay home. The circumstances surrounding this decision have profoundly impacted my faith and forced me to struggle with what it means to live that faith in broken places and situations. Broken is really an understatement. These circumstances have consumed my mind, my heart, my tears, and my prayers. I have so many unanswered questions.

Shortly after I made the decision to stay home, I got a phone call about an opportunity to serve on a mission team in Columbus, Ohio. This mission trip happened to start on the same day I had planned to leave. I had a feeling that God was up to something, so I started packing and two days later I headed down to Columbus.

The first few days of my trip were spent working on a mission team with some fabulous people from St. Paul’s and Monroe St. United Methodist churches in Toledo. I never would have imagined that I would make new friends in Toledo on a trip to Columbus, but that’s how God works! Our mission team served in Hispanic ministry at a trailer park. Half of the team put on a VBS for the kids at the trailer park, and half of the team built 12 new porches for families there. I helped with crafts at VBS, and it was lots of fun! Not only was this mission trip an opportunity to serve God & neighbor, it was also an opportunity to build relationships with wonderful people across the connection! Throughout the weekend, I had so many conversations and experiences that pushed me closer to the heart of God. I know God better because I had the opportunity to serve (and live!) alongside these great people for a few days, and that is a beautiful thing!

The second half of my trip to Columbus was spent visiting LOTS of my favorite United Methodists. I have so many wonderful friends and mentors who live in Columbus, and Annual Conference is usually the only time we have a chance to visit. But since I was in the Methodist center of the world (not really, it only feels like that), I planned to see them…ALL of them. I spent three entire days visiting, drinking coffee, sharing meals, worshiping, having great conversation…with too many people to count! It was wonderful. If you were one of the people who shared that time with me, thank you! Thank you for hospitality, for encouragement, for laughter! Thank you for engaging me in my call, for sharing in my journey, and for sharing your journey with me.

On my way home from Columbus, I stopped at Methodist Theological School in Ohio for a campus visit. My mom went to seminary at MTSO, so I’ve always sworn that I wouldn’t go there. (just like I always swore I wouldn’t go into ministry…) But I actually liked MTSO…a lot. Being on campus made me want to spend more time there. I think I would be very happy there, which probably cracks God up as much as it cracks me up. My seminary search is far from over, but for now I’ll just keep laughing and we’ll see what the future holds.

This trip to Columbus turned out to be the highlight of my summer. I wasn't even supposed to be in this country that week, let alone in the state. But from the moment I arrived in Columbus until the moment I left, I knew that I was exactly where God wanted me and exactly where I needed to be. It was perfect. And I guess that’s how God works...only God could transform a complex, painful mess into a perfect, beautiful week.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
   so are my ways higher than your ways
   and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
-Isaiah 55.8-9

Pray Peace. Make Peace. Live Peace.

Katie :)