(CAPTION: What we have here is apparently the Universal Health Institute, found in a random hallway some where in downtown Chicago behind an Italian restaurant. The girl in the photo is ny friend Megan, who often gets mistaken for my sister...)
Dear friends and family,
Can I just say once more, I love Chicago. And I love seminary. This is truly the place where God wanted me. It's such an amazing feeling of peace here, but it's not without challenge. I find that I am discovering new things left and right, it's amazing.
I've filled my schedule with lots of things, but I do have study time, promise. First, I joined the choir. It's easy enough, I just show up and sing and we sing at worship every Wednesday night in chapel. I also was elected as a student deacon by my peers. Which I'm super excited about. We're going on a retreat in October to a retreat center associated with the Poor Handmaidens of Jesus Christ. It should be a restful weekend of prayer and discernment which I am looking forward to. This weekend I completed a training session to work as a volunteer at the Center on Halstead. It's an amazing place that really brings together community. I'm going to work with their youth and I start my second training session for that in October. I'm also going to work a few hours a week with the South Chicago YMCA doing some life guarding, that is if we can get the schedule worked out.
So I know it seems like I've got a lot on my plate, and I do. I still have to visit churches to find a church home up here. I'm looking for something with lots of different people and a worship service that isn't the same as what I am used to. I have lots of options and plenty of time to find a place to call home while I'm here before I do my field studies in my second year.
My classes this semester are Pilgrimage in Faithfulness (PIF), Intro to Biblical Studies (IBS), Hebrew Exegesis 1, and Queer Fear and Faithful Dissent: The Church and Homosexuality. The last class is with my advisor, Deborah Mullen. She's an amazing woman to talk with. We share dog photos.
I've been exploring Chicago a bit. I've been to Millennium Park to see the sculpture, I've seen the Chicago library (WOW!), I've been to the lake, gone to see downtown, and so on. Last night I went with some friends to a fundraiser for a local church in the Presbytery up here, Wicker Park Presbyterian, and we saw a great comedy show by some very talented actors. Afterwards we went for food and drinks and then made our way home.
Public transportation has been interesting to learn. I left my car in Atlanta with mom so I've either been biking, walking or taking the bus, subway or train everywhere. It's been quite an experience and I've enjoyed it. It brings me closer to the community. I can't shut myself up in my car; instead, I walk and meet people and take the dogs places. It's quite lovely.
I can't tell you all how wonderful this all is to me. I love seminary and can't believe that I'm in a place where there are such different yet like-minded people here to do the same work as me. This is truly where God wants me to be and I'm doing my best to keep on doing His work. Whatever that is.
I hope that this finds all of you well. I miss the south but not the humidity.
Cheers,
Shelley
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