North Cackalacky

Well, we did travel to some wonderful spots this week. My group went to Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, NC as well as Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. We met with great groups of students in each place and I really enjoyed hearing the stories of how God is working in their lives.

Here is a picture we took with two of our ELCA Churchwide colleagues on the campus of Southern Seminary, where we have been meeting and staying. They are, from right to left, Paul Hanson (Fund for Leaders in Mission), Jonathan Strandjord (Vocation and Education Unit), Tom Henderson (Southern), Mark Olsen (LTSG), Louise Johnson (LTSP), Ron Olson (Luther Seminary), Jenny Tomalka (Southern), Heather McClintock (back) and Ruth Prieto (both from Wartburg), Shari Ayers (Trinity), me, and Joy McDonald-Coltvedt (Chicago). I can't express how much I will miss these fine people.

South Cackalacky

Greetings from Columbia, South Carolina! I have been here since Sunday evening for the Annual Meeting of the ELCA Seminary Admissions Directors. In the days since I announced my leaving of this call, I've been dreading having to say goodbye to these good and faithful people. Three of them have been in this work longer than I have and are true mentors for me. Six others have joined this group since I did, and it has been wonderful to get to know them in their ministries in and on behalf of the church.

This afternoon, we split into two groups for traveling to some colleges: Lenoire-Rhyne, Appalachian State, Clemson, Newberry, and USC. In these visits, we'll meet folks who are engaged in their college or campus ministry setting and who, in one way or another, are preparing to live out the vocation to which God has called them. For some of them, this means seminary. For others, of course, it doesn't. We cherish the time with all of them as we seek to continue/expand Martin Luther's tradition of living vocationally.

More later . . . :)