So I get on the CTA Blue Line, sunglasses on my head, planner and pen in my purse, and cellphone GPS ready to guide me once I get at my stop. I couldn’t look like I didn’t know where I was going; city people know when you aren’t from the city. Fortunately, I found Erie Neighborhood House no problem. In fact, I was 45 minutes early… you don’t want to be late on the first day. But I also had not intended to be that early. I met with Micaella and Emily, the two women who will be serving as my supervisors this summer. So far so good. I later met Jane and Stephanie, two other women who I will be working with this summer too. Okay, I can roll with this. I got a good feeling about being here. At the conclusion of my first day, I asked Micaella if I should meet at her office the following day. She immediately corrected me, “our office.”

I have been at Erie Neighborhood House in Chicago working with the Health and Leadership Programs (HLP) Department for two weeks. I immediately felt welcomed and a part of the team. I do not feel like an “intern” – getting coffee and making copies – but instead I am completing tasks and brainstorming programming ideas that will impact the lives of the community we serve.

West Town, one of the location where I am working this summer, is a predominantly Latino community. On my second day at Erie, Jane and I spent about an hour and a half creating a summer program for 7th graders in the area. I found myself pulling from not only my social work knowledge, but from my programming experience from when I worked as a Resident Assistant in the residence halls. It was super cool! I am sure many undergraduate students can relate to this feeling. While you are in school and taking classes related to your major or not, you find yourself questioning, “Will I ever actually use this?” Before heading to Erie I was terrified that all of my knowledge would fly out the window; that I would not remember anything that would help me at this placement. I was definitely a pleasant surprise to see that this was not the case!

In addition to West Town, I will be spending the other half of my time at Erie’s Little Village location also serving a predominantly Latino community. I am still acclimating and finding my role at this location, but from the moment I walked into the building I knew that powerful, impactful work was taking place all around me; I could feel it. I am very excited to see what I can contribute to this energy at Erie House in Little Village.

I get off the CTA Blue Line back at my home stop. Shortly after, my parents come to pick me up and of course they ask, “How was your day? What did you do?” While I would love to explain to them how cool the women I work with are and how similar our personalities are, or the conversations I had about advocacy, future plans, and not needing to know what I want to do for the rest of my life, or even about how effective and important the work we are doing is, I simply respond with, “It was good. I worked on programs today and met some of the participants in the programs.” It would be quite a long conversation if I wanted to express to them just how cool Erie House is and all the things I have been learning!

As the summer continues, I look forward to understanding more about Erie House’s work and its impact on the community we serve. I am excited to get to know Micaella, Emily, Jane, and Stephanie better and to work with them – not as an “intern”, but as a part of the Erie House team.

I wander the streets of Baltimore, searching for the bus stop. Is it this street? No. That other street? No. Maybe I passed it. Turn around, try again.

I find the bus, I board, I anxiously observe all the other charmingly dressed workers on their way to the office. I get off a stop too early. I walk in the hot sun. I finally arrive.

I am greeted by one of the friendliest people I’ve ever met – my supervisor, Folabi. He gives me a brief summary of who everyone is in the office and what they do. I am introduced to my cube and it is here I remain, working diligently for some of the most passionate, loving people I’ve ever met, for a mission I could not agree with more.

This is the end of my third week at Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS). As I slowly began to settle into my surroundings and remember names of coworkers, I also began questioning my passions, my desires, my purpose. Why has God lead me here? Why do I feel unsatisfied with my work? Do I have hidden expectations that have not been met? How do I befriend these strangers in all walks of life? How do I stand for the mission of LIRS when I feel so isolated in my simple “intern” tasks?

These questions are not new for me. I have had similar moments of pondering in past internships. So why was this happening again? Before I reveal the answer, I would like to share the mission of LIRS and my part of role in it.

This organization’s mission is to assist in the resettlement process of refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers. When refugees come to the United States, they have no legal rights, are often placed into detention (essentially a prison holding cell), cannot understand a word anyone says, are often separated from other family members, and are given little support and no guidance by the U.S. government. If their case is approved by court (in other words, they are fleeing from a legitimate fear), they have three months to find housing, a job, and learn English before the government cuts all funding and support. This is where LIRS steps in. Their work, in a nutshell, is partnering with Lutheran churches and other organizations all over the country to provide community support to these refugees as they are beginning the most grueling process of their life.

The work done here is faith-based, as Christ speaks of not turning our back to the stranger. My eyes have been opened to the magic of this commitment, as I discuss projects and outreach strategies with coworkers and interact with refugees. The domino effect of the work done in this little Baltimore office extends on forever, and it was not until joining my coworker at a function in Pennsylvania that I was able to catch a glimpse at the fruit of their efforts here. It is a beautiful, holy waterfall that flows from this office – my frustration and questions as I mentioned previously stemmed from not understanding this waterfall, this trickle-down effect. Why should I feel satisfied sitting in an office all day on a computer? In the summer!? I thought I was out of my mind when I began this cubicle job (and maybe I still am). But if one thing has been at work in this office, it is the Lord.

With coworker Amanda in Mechanicsville, PA, after a long day of speaking with Lutheran pastors about LIRS

My tasks have no meaning by themselves. Why am I stuffing name tags for three hours? Well, it is because refugees will wear these name tags as they present their stories to White House staff in the White House on World Refugee Day in hopes of tapping into the powerful emotions of those people that write immigrant legislation.

So, what is my answer to the questions written above? I will never be satisfied in a job if I am seeking worldly gain, such as recognition or experience. The tasks I complete will never satisfy me unless I recognize the power behind each one of them. I am working for an organization that acknowledges the coming Kingdom of God, and this has brought me peace. My efforts are not for myself or even for the refugees I help. Rather, every stroke of this keyboard points to God and His glory, for the purpose of sharing His love and spreading the Gospel “to the ends of the Earth”.

A beautiful view of the city of Baltimore