Before a few months ago, I had never thought too much of working with children. Frankly I had convinced myself that kids were like the plague and had to be avoided at all costs. So how does a recent college graduate end up spending her first summer post graduation with 2nd and 3rd graders all day? Well when realizing that I had been selected as a 2016 CAPS fellow, I was overjoyed. This was another opportunity for me to represent Valpo and gain valuable professional knowledge.  As we received placement options, I began envisioning myself at multiple different organizations, all that would of course be a stepping stone on my career pathway while allowing me to serve. But then I had to sit back and truly think of what it means to be servant. Webster’s dictionary says it’s a person who performs duties for others. Most internships require you to “perform duties for others”, so I figured the definition of service in this context had to have a deeper meaning.

So I decided to search for an organization that would truly allow me to serve others. I happened upon Forest Manor Multi-Service Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. Forest Manor Multi-Service Center  is a community based social service organization located on the northeast side of Indianapolis. The center by a group of concerned residents and was originally sponsored and operated by the City of Indianapolis. In 1977, the Center became a non-profit organization and in 1980, they began extensive, much-needed outreach programs to youth and adults. After doing more research, I realized that Forest Manor offered so many services to the community from after school programs to senior citizen programming. This struck a chord within me. This was my opportunity to actually be in direct contact with the community and see tangible results of that service. So after finding my placement location came the task of deciding which area in the organization that I wanted to offer my services. I could have easily been a receptionist but I thought back to the meaning of service and realized that this was not about me at all.  This was about serving others truly and putting my wants on the backburner. Hence my decision to become a lead teacher in Forest Manor’s youth enrichment program. This was a chance to be a positive role model that so many of those children never get to see in their lives. So I put my pride aside and got down to business.

Being a lead teacher in charge of around 25 kids a day is a challenging task.  This is not a job that you can be half-present for. I am constantly engaged nine hours a day and I am pleased to say that it is great! These kids push me to be better every single day. Having 25 young minds watch and listen to everything you say or do really keeps you on your toes. I’m convinced that children are the most brutally honest beings that exist! Four weeks into this experience, I can say that every day brings a new problem to fix, a different child to keep happy, and a new parent to face. I cannot wait to see what the next four weeks brings.

“¿Tu cabeza está corriendo? (Is your head running?)” Asks one of the gentleman in detention I chat with at McHenry County Jail.

“¡Sí!” I reply with a smile. “Yes, my head is running!”

Throughout my weeks interning with the Interfaith Committee for Detained Immigrants (ICDI) in Chicago, Illinois, I have used more conversational Spanish than I have in my several years of studying the language. Speaking in Spanish was not something that I expected to do for my internship this summer. It was not something that was necessarily required when volunteering with the non-profit. However, I quickly learned that even though I was nervous and unconfident with my Spanish-speaking ability, taking the opportunity to use Spanish in conversation was something that made me a better minister to the people I was meeting.

Spanish materials that ICDI uses for pastoral ministry

Every Tuesday and Thursday, I drive to McHenry County Jail and Kenosha Detention Center to participate in pastoral care for men and women in detention. The volunteers that participate in this ministry engage in conversation with the men and women in detention and listen to the stories that the men and women in either facility wish to talk about. The conversation topics are vast. Sometimes the individuals will talk about Copa America and their favorite soccer team. Other individuals will bring up fashion. However, most conversations revolve around how an individual in detention is feeling, how their day is going, how their family is doing, and how their faith helps them stay positive amidst difficulty.

Both McHenry County Jail and Kenosha Detention Center have large Spanish-speaking populations. During my first day volunteering with the pastoral care team, I shadowed many different volunteers to gain an understanding of how conversations usually ran. I quickly noticed that there was a need for volunteers that spoke Spanish, and that many of the Spanish-speaking volunteers were talking with two, three, sometimes four individuals at a time. With the encouragement and support of the many volunteers with pastoral care, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and try a conversation in Spanish.

Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park, Chicago, IL

Since that day, all of the conversations I have had during my time volunteering with the pastoral care team have been in Spanish. Now, these conversations are not free from mistakes. I fumble with my vocabulary. I forget the words that I want to use. Every conversation I have with an individual or group usually begins with the disclaimer, “I’m sorry. I have errors in my grammar and I need to practice, but I want to talk with you and listen to you.” While some conversations end in a laugh or two at my expense, every conversation I have with a man or woman in detention teaches me a lesson. One conversation sticks out in my mind very clearly.

During one of my first few conversations in Spanish, I greeted a gentleman in Spanish with my initial disclaimer. I explained that I was a student and was with ICDI as a summer intern. The gentleman smiled and asked where I had learned Spanish. I told him that I was

Winter Room (9th Floor)- Harold Washington Library in Chicago

studying the language in school. For the next half hour, the two of us chatted about different Spanish dialects, the different languages spoken in his home country of El Salvador, and how difficult the English language can be to understand (even for native speaker!). After some time, there was a natural lull in our conversation. After a few moments, my conversation partner looked at me with a smile and asked if my head was running from all of the conversation. I laughed and replied yes. The man smiled and said,

“Parece tan cómoda. Cuando me senté, sonrió, inmediatamente comenzó una conversación conmigo y no pareció nervioso en absoluto. (You look so comfortable. When I sat down, you smiled, immediately started a conversation with me and didn’t look nervous at all.)”

I thanked the gentleman, and assured him that although I might look comfortable, I was incredibly nervous. I had made so many mistakes and I needed to practice more to be able to express myself more clearly.

In Spanish, he replied, “I know that it is difficult, and you might feel like you are struggling, but it means more to me and everyone else  that you are taking the time to speak the language of our hearts. What is even more beautiful is that you let US speak the language of our hearts, and you LISTEN to us. We cannot go outside here. We cannot see or feel the sun. But when you and the other volunteers come here, we can see the sun a little bit. That is a beautiful thing. You volunteers are beautiful disciples and give us hope.”

Chicago Sunrise

The conversation with the gentleman in detention helped me understand my position with the pastoral care team in a new way. The work that I was partaking in was not for my personal comfort. It was to serve others where they were at. It wasn’t as important for me to present as it was to be present.

My head is still running. It is running with questions and curiosity. It is running with new information about the immigration system in the United States. It is running with the memories of conversations had and relationships being made. My head is running, but I do not want to stop now. There is still so much to learn. There are more conversations to be had. And even if the words do not come out perfectly, I hope that I, along with the others involved in this ministry, can continue to bring a light into lives of the men and women in detention.

Many of my peers have described exploring new cities and interacting with new people. However, I have been spending the past 5 weeks inside the building I already spend so much time in, Gellersen at Valparaiso University… Seems I may never leave.

But that’s alright because the University is a place that “prepares students to lead and serve in both church and society”, a perfect place to continue my journey. I search for a balance of engineering and humanitarian work, both subjects I am passionate about. While I am still waiting to see where this journey will take me, my experiences at Valpo have led me to a summer with aqUV through the CAPS program.

aqUV is a new company that manufactures water bottles with UV-C lighting to kill harmful pathogens in water as seen in the picture on the left. The bottle is activated wirelessly, waterproof and can be charged using solar panels. aqUV’s market are campers and hikers as well as developing countries as a part of their philanthropic arm.

I have been given multiple tasks to complete this summer, starting with a design and prototype of a non-mobile solar charging station. The station is casted out of concrete ensuring strength and stability while encapsulating the delicate electronics needed to charge the water bottle (solar panels, a battery pack, arduino etc.). This task included learning about micro controllers, 3-D printing a mold as well as making my own circuit board to go with it shown in the pictures on the right. 

Thus far other tasks included sizing solar panels for a guesthouse and two wells as well as using Monte Carlo Ray Tracing to determine if the UV light is effectively reaching everywhere in the bottle. Where my engineering education increases by the day and the knowledge I already have is tested by the hour. aqUV has toned my engineering skills.

I look forward to implement my work in Haiti at summer’s end and see the balance of engineering and humanitarian work that aqUV has used as the platform of its company. Whether or not aqUV’s balance is compatible with mine, only time will tell. Nevertheless, this summer will give me an opportunity to learn and serve in the best way I can through engineering.

A big component of the CAPS program that really drew me towards it was the service aspect. When I first began to explore all of the placement options, I was sure that I’d end up at a non-profit, because I associated the two words. To be honest, where I’m interning couldn’t be further from a non-profit. Truth be told, I’m working for a big money organization. Venn strategies, my fellowship location, is a public affairs and consulting firm.

Everyone always asks me what exactly is a public affairs and consulting firm. Simply put, it’s a lobbying firm.

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Most of us shudder when we hear lobbying, thinking of outrageous sums of money in politics, people whose voices seem to be significantly louder or more powerful than the average American’s. Big tobacco, the NRA, manipulation, corruption, bribery…these are all things I used to think of when I thought about lobbying. In this I don’t think I was unique.

But the truth is, any interest out there likely has someone who lobbies on behalf of it. For interests both good and bad, there is somebody or some group out there lobbying for policies that protect or further that interest.

Lobbyists are not experts themselves on whatever subject matter is at hand. A lobbyist’s job is to act as intermediaries between private businesses, churches, coalitions, whomever wants to affect policy change, and those with the power to enact change. We know the ins and out of D.C., whether it be Capitol Hill, various government departments, think tanks, we work to develop strong coalitions and formulate the plan of attack. A successful lobbyist usually begins his or her career working on the Hill, and building their professional network-something that is crucial in the lobbying world.

Along with creating coalitions and meeting with political officials, we have to create a portfolio of documents to educate policy makers as well. As an intern, I work mostly with setting up the meetings and helping to collect the appropriate information. My tasks range from performing basic research, to putting together unintimidating yet informative documents to educate others on our cause, to attending relevant hearings or markups of a bill.

A hearing on a Mental Health bill I                     recently attended.

The service that we provide to our clients varies depending on both the client and the interest. In the case of my current project, which I am unfortunately unable to divulge, we are serving not only the companies in the coalition themselves, but truly all of their employees. The actions that we are taking on the Hill, if successful, could potentially save about a million US jobs in the long term.

For the longest time I struggled with feeling like I wasn’t performing the service aspect of the CAPS program. I’ve had to rewire my brain to understand that what Venn does is indeed is a service to many. Working at a for-profit company doesn’t mean that I am not providing a worthwhile service. Saving US jobs is a service to each individual who holds that job, and by extension a service to their family.

DC is a fantastic place to spend your CAPS fellowship. Life in DC moves fast, and there’s always something (free) to do. Whether it’s Jazz in the sculpture garden on a Friday night, shopping at Eastern Market and running into former President Bill Clinton, exploring local artwork, or seeing the Nats play (Go Cubs!), you won’t be disappointed in this city!

Meeting former President Bill Clinton!

Go Cubs!

Even though I am only starting week four, I feel like I belong, like I have made great strides, like I have become a part of something pretty awesome. Where I work is different than what I am used to. When they said it was a small office, I assumed it would be like other places worked before- an office with 12-15 people. Just enough to get to know everyone pretty well, and maybe even a few would become friends. Well, when I got here on my first day, I arrived early, but the door was locked. Feeling slightly embarrassed, I made my way back to the car to wait another 30 minutes before trying again. After that, I was able to get in. That’s when I met Laura, the legal assistant/paralegal/doer-of-other-random-things. She introduced herself, informed me that Zac- the attorney and executive director would be late due to a last minute meeting, and showed me around the office. It was not the size of office I was used to. It only took a few minutes to realize that this was only an office of two (well, now three).

In that moment, I was surprised and not sure how the next few months would go. However, it did not take long to realize that having fewer people in the office would give me the opportunity to develop unique relationships with intelligent coworkers and work closely and ask questions of people who have more life and work experience than me.

Also, Charitable Allies is a small office, but one that has a large client base and makes a big impact in the nonprofit world. That meant that starting on day 1, I was given part of the workload, the ability to take on big responsibilities and learn about the legal world in a way I have not been able to before. I was essentially given a case to work on throughout the summer. Along with other responsibilities like writing news articles and doing work on policies for other charities and nonprofits, I will have time to build a case with evidence for one of the firm’s largest cases.

The last four weeks have brought opportunities, friendship, some challenges, but a lot of opportunities to learn. Within one week, Laura and I had found many similar points of interest and now, I consider her a friend. On day one, we realized that in addition to both being Valpo graduates, we also went to the same high school and are from the same side of town. Now, she has shared not only information and knowledge about the legal world and the work that she has done over the last several years. I definitely look forward to more time to get to know her and growing in a work relationship and friendship.

Opportunities for learning, for networking, and for doing meaningful work have been abundant. Just this week, I shadowed a county prosecutor who let me go to court with her and allowed me to ask questions about her career path, her education, and things like work-life balance and finding a calling and purpose. Last week, I was able to attend the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance conference where I met professionals in the philanthropy world at community foundations, trusts, and more and got to attend various sessions learning about the intersections of philanthropies, nonprofits, improving quality of life, and more.

Entering into the nonprofit world was not something that I was new to four weeks ago. I have worked in three since I’ve been in college. But seeing it from the outside, from a legal perspective, and the philanthropy that makes this experience a unique opportunity to explore even more career paths that my life could take. I am looking forward to more weeks of learning, working, and developing relationships.

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

This week marks my second interning with the Urban League of Northwest Indiana through Valpo’s CAPS fellowship program and so far the experience has really been like no other work experience I’ve had so far.  Coming in to this internship I really didn’t understand what the Urban League does, but I’ve since learned a great deal about their work in the Northwest Indiana community. Basically, they have three core areas- education, employment, and diversity and inclusion. They hold several large events like a college fair in the fall, and a diversity and inclusion luncheon, as well as sponsorship events with other community organizations. In addition to these they also work on a smaller scale, by helping connect individual clients with services in the community related to housing, food pantries, and employment.

One aspect of the Urban League that I find really fascinating is that although they only have two paid employees, they perform so many tasks in the community. A lot of this is through the hard work of their employees and board members, but also many volunteers that come in on a regular basis. That is probably the most inspiring thing I’ve witnessed while working with the Urban League so far- that there are so many people coming in to help without compensation but simply because they want to help and find the work important. These volunteers do work that is critical to the agency, and there is also a strong community dynamic between all the staff and volunteers who know each other so well, and that’s been really great to be a part of.

So far a lot of my work has been on the “front lines”- or basically working at one of the four front desks which are accessible to clients that come in and we are all tasked with answering the phones for questions related to different services. One of the most rewarding things I did today was through a phone call as a student called with questions related to a scholarship application and I helped walk him through the process. The greatest independent task I’ve been working on the past couple weeks is organizing a donor list with contact details about all the various donors, and donations the Urban League has received presently and in previous years. I will also be helping to organize the college fair throughout the summer.

Although I’ve learned a lot my first couple weeks at the Urban League, there is so, so much more to learn and I am excited to continue this process and further contribute to the amazing work being done here.

The outside of the Urban League building.

Me at my office for the summer.

The “front lines” seen when walking into the Urban League offices.

I have had the opportunity to immerse myself in many different facets of the non-profit world during my internship at EMPOWER Porter County. I’ve done research, developed an initiative with co-workers, and presented ideas to possible collaborators. The majority of my time spent at EMPOWER was in the office, scrolling through existing youth development programs and filling my mind with case studies and facts. This was an extremely valuable task, as it taught me how much time it takes to really understand and become knowledgeable on a subject. It also taught me that research and Google searches alone are not enough for me to be inspired or to get my brain (0r heart) moving. I learned that communication and meetings are absolutely essential in the non-profit world to generate ideas, share experiences, and provide incredible insight that will ultimately make the project you’re working on a success. The meetings didn’t begin until the last third of my internship but it was certainly the most encouraging and exciting time. I, along with my supervisor and co-worker Mychal, met with numerous community leaders and professionals, all giving us extremely valuable feedback that helped shape our youth initiative. A meeting that sticks out in my mind was with Garner Tullis, the founder of Our Greater Good and former pastor of Bethel Church. After our meeting with him, I felt a renewed excitement for our project and a refresher reminding me why this project is so important to our community. His passion and heart for people was infectious and uplifting. He shared with us about his mentoring program with Our Greater Good and gave us some insight into how the mentoring process develops. While I learned a lot about how to proceed with our project and where we might have hurdles, I was overwhelmingly encouraged by the meeting. I think that’s how non-profit work is so rewarding. Yes, it is hard work and sometimes the payback is few and far between. But working collectively with other like-minded people towards the benefit of others is the most fulfilling position to me. I most definitely want to continue work in service when I graduate.

Here are a just a few realizations that I’ve come to over the past few months at EMPOWER:

• It is sometimes hard to stay motivated in an office environment when it’s YOUR responsibility to get work done. Put your phone away, make some tea, and stay focused.
• When presenting an idea to an individual or group, it usually takes several “tries” to refine your presentation so that people understand and respond well to it. Sometimes you have to have a few rough “pitches” to learn how to read people and tweak the communication style appropriately.
• Both using research and conducting research are both persuasive elements in the non-profit field.
• It takes a lot of different brains and experiences working together to formulate a proposal. It’s all really confusing and fuzzy for a while until you begin talking to people and putting more organized elements into the project.
• Ask for help and direction (sooner rather than later).
• Lastly, I realized that the non-profit world is full of extremely kind and passionate people are have a heart for others and I truly am blessed to have met so many of them.

• You will be the one connecting people one day – that day is closer than you think
• A good manager should be training their team to take his/her job
• The difference between humility and humbleness / ignorance and stupidity
• Be confident in your abilities, but do not be arrogant
• Constantly balance between your wants and your needs
• Dream big but be realistic
• One organization cannot do it all

These nuggets of wisdom were casually, but carefully, stitched into the fabric of conversations with the CPO, CSO, CFO, CEO, Directors, consultants, and other members of the NLCS family. The ‘life lessons’ listed above come from a very long list of things I learned during my 8 week CAPS Fellowship at National Lutheran Communities and Services. (I would love to share the stories that accompany the bulleted list above, however I do not have space in this forum. Please ask if you are curious!)

Behind the scenes of our video shoot. I was able to help interview the Chief Philanthropy Officer, Kathryn Baerwald.

 I developed many skills because of my work with NLCS; some of which  include – producing a video, researching end-of-life care, creating donor profiles, communicating with grantee sites, etc. It was through these tasks and wonderful conversations that the purpose of the CAPS Fellows Program became wonderfully clear – we are ALL called to a life of service. This fellowship program calls students to  action and provides a pathway to discern that call.

“You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.”  ~Woodrow Wilson

Throughout my time at Valparaiso University I have had a myriad of opportunities that have called me to action – alternative spring break trips to Washington D.C. and Selma, AL, studying abroad in Costa Rica, SALT projects in Fall and Spring semesters, a variety of classes, and this fellowship program. Each of these opportunities, and countless others, have identified a need and challenged myself and others to get involved in that cause.

The CAPS Fellows Program is unique. It enhanced an internship into a discernment process, simultaneously connecting me with distinguished alum and building my resume characteristics. I learned the power of listening and how to ask difficult questions, during ‘Reflect-ins’ with other fellows. I gained confidence in my abilities but was humbly reminded of my reliance on others’ expertise. And I gained a deeper appreciation for the opportunities and experiences I have had and how those have shaped my Calling And Purpose in Society.

One of NLCS grantee sites quoted the hymn We Are All In One Mission in their grant application and I have been continually impacted by the following verse:

We all are called for service
   To witness in God’s name;
   Our ministries are different,
   Our purpose is the same:
   To touch the lives of others
   By God’s surprising grace
   So every folk and nation
   May feel God’s warm embrace.

This theme has extended through every aspect of my summer. It holds true in my work, in the mission of NLCS, the work of all the CAPS fellows, my conversations, and what I hope for in the future. We are all called to some form of service – those forms are unique and different but we all hope to affect change and do it with grace, love and compassion.

Hiking in the Appalachian mountains with other CAPS Fellows and wonderful friends!

The delicious cake from our send-off party on the last day at National Lutheran Communities and Services.

My last full day at EMPOWER Porter County was a beautiful summer day. The sun was shining, there was a cool breeze, and beautiful cotton candy clouds littered the blue sky. My supervisors, Heather and Kaye, decided to take me and my coworker, Faith, to lunch in order to celebrate our last day together as a staff. Panera in hand, we sat outside to enjoy our meal. It was at this time that Heather asked us the question:

“So what do you two think you learned most from your time with us?”

I mulled the question over in my mind as I chewed my flat-bread. I looked out at the businesses across the street from us. Parking lots filled with nice cars and people with full wallets, ready to spend their paychecks on haircuts, electronics, mac n’ cheese, or some craft supplies. If my time at EMPOWER had taught me anything, it’s that not everyone has those opportunities, and as I finished my lunch and felt my stomach filling, I remembered the stories I had heard of kids going to school hungry, or being made fun of for only having one T-shirt. EMPOWER made me aware of my own privilege and blessings in my life. I had a great education, great parents, and great mentors. But not everyone has those gifts. Some people have to work hard everyday in order to learn, care, and survive. And some of them have to start learning these difficult lessons when they’re no older than six. When I was six, I worried about which episode of “Rugrats” would be on when I got home from school.

My point is, it’s easy to forget that people struggling to succeed actually exist. In the Valpo campus bubble we get caught up in getting a good grade on a paper, or getting that one really cute girl to notice us, when down the street there is a seven year old kid who has to take care of his/her younger siblings because mom is at work. My time at EMPOWER made those struggles tangible for me. I learned not every character is the same. Not every story has the same starting chapter.

I also learned that people can be more interesting than any character I could ever come up with. In the many meetings we had as a staff, we met with CEOs, program directors, professors, doctors, pastors, and parents. It was easy to assume what each meeting would be like, how everyone would behave, the pleasantries, the facades. But what made the meetings exciting to me was how every person was such a character. They told jokes and stories that made me understand why they do the work they do. They made funny facial expressions and asked questions. They were real people. It’s always so easy from the outside looking in to identify somebody from their title. “I’m the CEO of the local YMCA.” But his name is Bob, he likes to wear polos, and tell a lot of jokes and talk about sports. He’s not just a CEO, he’s a person with feelings and motivations just like anyone else. The superintendent isn’t just in charge of the school district. She cares about each and every kid. She is a Green Bay Packers fan and when she couldn’t find her flyswatter, she chased a fly around the office with a toy baseball bat. It’s these unique stories and quirks that made my experience at EMPOWER so rewarding. I think it’s so easy for us to forget that people are people, and not just the positions they hold or the profession they follow.

So as I swallowed my last bite of flat-bread and cleared my throat, I looked at Heather and Kaye and said:

“Ooof…where do I begin?”

It’s now been a week since my internship at Concordia Place ended and now that I’ve spent a few days sleeping in and watching Netflix instead of working, I’m starting to prepare for my senior year at Valpo and also the years ahead.

Throughout the whole summer, I was asked the typical “What do you plan on doing with your degree?” or “What are you doing when you graduate?” You know, the questions that people ask you from the moment you start looking at schools. For years, I have felt like I’ve needed to tailor my responses more to what people want to hear like “I’m thinking about becoming a teacher” or “I’m thinking about law school.” Because with a History and Latin double major, those are the job options that people expect from me. And I convinced myself that those were my future career options. But I realized that I really didn’t want to be a lawyer or a teacher. I don’t want to settle for what people expected of me. I want to do what I want to do.

Some members of the wonderful Advancement team and myself.

This past year I spent a lot of time learning about social injustices in our country. I participated in events and discussions and tried to figure out what my part in the fight is. During this searching, I started to think more seriously about working in a non-profit that serves the community, but I wasn’t quite sure how that would work.

The reason I’m so grateful for this fellowship is that it gave me the opportunity to figure out how I could follow what I was being called to do. I watched some of my friends struggle this summer with figuring out what they were called to do while I found myself reaching a clearer and clearer picture just by going into work every day.

Working at Concordia Place I learned more about what it means to run an organization. Not just becoming educated about the issues, but what it really means to work in the non-profit sector. I found myself doing a little bit of everything during my internship- things like researching foundations, writing grant proposals, designing signs, entering donor information, helping with volunteer events, social media- anything and everything that did something to help the organization grow. I worked on a lot of projects that had more to do with the day to day running of an organization and I really enjoyed doing all of that work.

A sign I created that more importantly has some statistics about Concordia Place’s year.

One of the conversations I have had with a few of my peers is “What if we don’t feel like we’re changing anything?” And this summer, I was lucky to live out these questions. Concordia Place, as an organization, does wonderful work, and while I wasn’t directly working with the kids or teens or seniors, I was contributing to the overall mission. Some days, it didn’t always feel like I was doing anything. But I was. I had the unique experience of entering the CEO/president’s donor interactions which was a bit tedious and boring, but I got to see what a CEO/president does on a weekly basis, and this information was also important for advancing Concordia Place as an organization.

I’ve always been a firm believer in the fact that every bit counts, and this summer, I got to live that out. Large change isn’t going to happen without all the people on the ground- in the offices, on the streets, wherever and anywhere there is some work to be done. We’ve got to start there and then work our way up, and I feel called to be one of those people.

One of my last days, my alumni mentor and I visited the Chicago Botanic Gardens. She took me to the Japanese Gardens and walked me over a bridge that was a zig zag because according to some Japanese folklore, evil spirits have to walk in a straight line so they can’t follow you over this bridge. She took me there so I could start my senior year fresh and ready to go without any evil spirits behind me, and I am. I’m ready to go and do what I feel called to do and what I want to do. I’m ready and the CAPS fellowship is to thank for that.

The bridge at the Botanic Gardens.

Yesterday was the last day of my fellowship with Water to Thrive (W2T) and tomorrow, I’ll be boarding my ninth plane of the summer headed back to my family. Did you get that? Nine planes. Now, I wish I had recorded the exact airtime that amounts to, but a rough estimation comes out to just short of two full days above the clouds. For anyone who hasn’t seen what I’ve been up to this summer, I’ve been in the wonderful heat of Austin, Texas. Before settling here for the summer, however, I went on a two-week trip to Ethiopia with W2T where we toured the country and experienced the results of enabling and empowering rural communities through the gift of clean and accessible water. It’s fascinating for me to think of the amount of time I’ve spent in planes this summer, because it wasn’t so long ago that I had little interest in traveling. I was comfortable with the environment in which I grew up, and I guess that explains why it’s less than a three-hour drive home from school. I am beyond joyful that I ended up at such a fantastic university that made me aware of and prompted me to go to places I hadn’t considered before.

The cover sheet for the BPD.

In my last post, I reflected on the idea that being partially immersed into another culture, especially in another country, can influence your perspective and how you understand and share that perspective with others. I have continued to grapple with that idea this summer through discussions with other CAPS fellows and conversations with those in the office. I have been especially fortunate to consider this through my work on a Best Practices Document for W2T’s implementing partners. The BPD, as it has been conveniently named, will serve as a guideline for implementing partners of W2T. Its purpose is, in part, to “ensure efficient and effective service delivery while maintaining desired quality standards.” Thus, it is a resource that will be available to NGO partners as well as a way for Water to Thrive to evaluate the quality of services that their partners provide to rural communities.

Thomas and I on the last day.

The idea of the document might sound really great, and in our research this summer, Thomas (another W2T intern) and myself have seen that there is a whole network of great resources out there for non-profits and NGOs that aim to accomplish something similar to ours. However, we have come to realize that those who work in international development must be very mindful of the role that we can play. Thomas has a saying that goes: “Never do for somebody else what they can do for themselves.” It has become something that we keep constantly on our minds as we write the document because in the area of rural water supply, failure to work by that saying has caused many water projects to fail far sooner than they should. Many good-intentioned and qualified people have worked, individually and through organizations, toward providing clean water to those who need it, and have failed to fully grasp that it is community initiative, not just expert outsider influence, that allows for sustainable projects.

As we’ve proceeded with the BPD, we’ve wrestled with identifying areas where we are at liberty to require, or should rather just recommend. We’ve also come across areas where we ought not try to offer anything because either we don’t know, can’t understand as Americans, or need to leave it completely open for the community to decide. To try to account for this, the above mentioned idea of community initiative has formed the basis for the BPD. From the selection of the location to the long-term maintenance of the project, the community is to be fully involved. The communities to be served are chosen by Water to Thrive partners based on their need, but also on their willingness and ability to manage and maintain the water point. All beneficiaries of the water are required to pay, if they are able, a small monthly amount of money that is saved toward a maintenance fund, as well as used to pay a guard who ensures that the water point is not abused. All W2T projects are required to have Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) committees. These committees start to form before construction even begins and members take on different roles to manage the water point, as well as prompt community members to make decisions that are in the best interest of all. The community is expected to contribute to the construction of the project in different ways. That may include providing laborers or even paving a road for construction vehicles. In the experience of Water to Thrive, these initiatives along with many others have led to successful and sustainable projects.  My hope is that Thomas and I were able to communicate humbly, accurately, and clearly and that the BPD may become a useful resource for W2T’s partners.

Working for W2T this summer has been invaluable to me in many ways and taught me countless lessons. I’ll just write about a few. I’ve learned how to be a better team member, as Thomas and I have needed to come to mutual decisions about the best, yet realistic, procedures. I’ve learned to struggle with a tough task, to make a plan and make deadlines, to improvise when information is lacking or an email response won’t come. I’ve learned about the constant need to put aside initial perceptions or ideas that I feel like should be used, and rather place focus on what may really be best for communities. I’ve learned that success is sometimes found in the process more than at the end. I think this last one has been the most encouraging, since we didn’t write all we wanted to into the document. It’s been an incredible journey this summer, though, as I’ve worked with great people in the office and in Ethiopia. I’m sad to leave so early, but excited to see how the experience and lessons learned this summer guide me forward.

What do you want to be when you grow up? This question rings through the days of childhood and is littered with the hopeful responses of “doctor”, “fireman”, “teacher”, “astronaut” – all things big, bold, and exciting, with the promise of a new adventure around every turn. I personally aspired to sing and act on Broadway…a dream that was somehow transformed into the world of health care. I suppose that dancing on stage and “dancing” into a patient’s room are one in the same, right?

What are your plans after graduation? Similar to the question presented in childhood, this question is also saturated with curiosity, hope, promise, and adventure. It can be daunting when faced with the prospect of formulating a response that meets the expectations of the asker. One may feel as if their path of study is a step towards life changing work, or at least the fulfillment of a personal passion that will also pay the bills, until met with the response of “oh…that’s nice…and what do you plan to do with that?”

Having embarked on a path towards nursing, I cannot say that I have ever received the aforementioned response when sharing my career choice. Instead, I am often greeted with comments of approval, head nods, and smiles. It is invigorating to have found a profession that I am passionate about and proud of, one that seeks to serve in a multitude of ways.

But the question still remains, is this my calling? Is this my purpose?

During my fellowship at National Lutheran Communities and Services I was surrounded by an array of intelligent and impressive people who each possessed a contagious passion for the mission and ministry of the organization. Each staff member was equipped with a unique set of gifts and traits that enabled them to contribute to the service of our communities and beyond. It was here that I observed the beauty that is found in the convergence of differences, of the powerful things that can happen when individuals learn to share their talents and rely upon those of others as well, acknowledging that no one person has all that is needed to complete the mission – be of an organization, or in life.

It was here too, that I was reminded of the multifaceted layers of all people. Our Chief Philanthropy Officer is an avid angler, and a great sports fan. Our Chief Financial Officer has a passion for 80s music and singing through the halls. Our Chief Strategy Officer is most at home at sea, and can often be found sporting a colorful bow tie that relates to his love of the water. At first, some were surprised to learn of these characteristics, amazed that a lawyer would be found knee deep in waders, or that an accountant could possibly have an upbeat personality. And yet these enjoyed pastimes are only glimpses into the entirety of the people who became my family for the summer, mere glances at the intricacies that compose the ones who invested in my life and taught me more than I could have ever imagined.

Just as we have a tendency to silo off the abilities of the people we meet, I believe that we have the tendency to isolate the definition of one’s calling or purpose. It can be so easy to categorize – he is a researcher, she is a sales clerk, he is an artist – all the while failing to realize that who the person is, and the way in which they influence others, extends beyond far more than the title of one’s profession.

Yes, it is true that I hope to gain the title of a nurse. I also hope to invest deeper into health and human rights policy and work in population health. But these ambitions are specific directives. They themselves are not the overarching calling or purpose of my life.

Discovering the joys of sailing with my summer family.

This summer has helped me to see that calling and purpose are not static concepts. Rather, they are fluid, and will change and grow as does my life and understanding of it.

While I hesitate to assert a specific calling over my life, such as a calling to a career, I do believe that there are core aspects of my calling and purpose that will always remain, even if the expression of them changes. Three of theses characteristics were made evident this summer as I was enveloped in an atmosphere of stewardship, community, and life-long learning.

Regardless of where I may be or what I may be doing, I will always be called to be a steward of the time, talent, resources, and relationships that I have been given by God. All of life is a gift, and as such, the calling follows to make good of what I have been given, to be responsible in all that is placed before me and around me. The circumstances will change but the responsibility will remain that all of my life may bring glory and praise to God.

Following in this is the call to community – to live in community, to create community, to recognize the community around me. The summer has been filled with reminders that who I am is a compilation of the countless individuals who have had an influence in my life, both positively and negatively. It is impossible to claim sole responsibility for any aspect of my life. Rather, each step that I take is one linked to community, the communities I am a part of, and the communities I will help to create. Our calling is embedded within the network of human relationships, and the community that I found at National Lutheran Communities and Services helped to reiterate the incredible things that can be done in a supportive, empowering, and loving community.

Breathtaking views of the Appalachians

Finally, I believe there is a call to life-long learning. To claim complete knowledge is an impeding arrogance that will prove destructive in any endeavor. NLCS taught me the value of admitting ignorance, of pursuing curiosity, of recognizing that there are endless opportunities to learn, and individuals to learn from. A life of constant learning creates a forward momentum that is contagious and dangerous – dangerous in the endless possibilities that await.

The questions of life will always continue. After graduation the queries will shift into that of what do you do? What is your vocation? While I will never have a concrete answer as to what my calling and purpose in life is, my fellowship this summer helped to reveal that such an answer is not required. My calling and purpose will always be fluid, carried forward by dynamic and overarching traits for which I am responsible. The questions will change, but so too will the answers. And for this, I could not be more grateful.