"Got a job yet?"

Hello friends!

Thanks for coming to my blog. Many of you know that I just graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Family Studies & Human Services. Here's photographic proof:

Since graduation, everyone has been asking me the classic “Got a job yet?” question. I smile and say that I’m going to spend a year volunteering (I’m not ready to grow up just yet!) Anyway, in late August, I will be moving to Chicago for a year of service through the Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) Program.  The YAV program is part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Mission Agency. I will be joining over 70 other young adults at 16 sites both here in the US and internationally. I am very excited to embark on this new adventure, and am confident that it will be life-changing in many ways.

Here is an overview of the YAV Program:

The Young Adult Volunteer Program is an opportunity for persons between the ages of 19 and 30 to explore their call to the work of Jesus Christ. This one-year program offers participants the experience of both mission service and mission learning. Each program site shares common components which enhance the experience, i.e., orientation, service, prayer and Bible study, leadership development, and an end-of-term retreat. While sharing these program elements, each site uniquely challenges the participants to explore their relationship to God, to the church, and their ministry in a broken world. Participants are challenged by the practices of intentional community living, simple lifestyle, and devotion to prayer and service. Each site’s unique form of service provides an opportunity for learning about the mission of today’s church to the world.

I will be living with other volunteers and working at two social service agencies. One of these agencies, Grace Seeds, is a nonprofit that helps alleviate hunger in their community by sharing gifts from their gardens. My other site placement is not definite at the moment, but I do know that it will be in the field of youth development; possibly coordinating an after school program. I am very excited to join these organizations in their ministries and am confident that the Lord will bless my work there.

I created this blog as a way to stay in touch- to keep you all posted on what I’m doing and what the Lord is doing through me and my team. I hope that this will be a good tool to keep everyone updated on what I’m doing and give you an idea of what you can pray for.

This upcoming year will certainly be quite an adventure, but I cannot do it alone. I hope that each of you will consider supporting me in some way. Here are a few ideas of how you can do that, but these are just a few of the possibilities.

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Your Prayers: Pray for me and the people with whom I will live and serve this year. Prayer is an incredibly powerful tool and would be very much appreciated!

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 Your interest in my year of service: I will be keeping a blog (online journal) throughout the year to reflect and inform everyone of my experience. Visit my blog at sentsc.blogspot.com.  (Good job- you’re here!!) Ask me to speak at your church when I return. I will be most willing to share how the Lord is working in Chicago!

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Your words of encouragement: Staying in touch and simply letting me know that I’m in your prayers would be very much appreciated!

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Your financial gifts: The Presbyterian Mission Agency is dedicated to this program and takes on a great financial burden to host volunteers. I am asked to raise $3,000 for my year of service, which is only a fraction of the actual cost. If you are able and willing to give financially, please send your checks to the address below. Put my name and ECO # E052053 on the memo. If you wish to give electronically, go to http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/yav/support-yavs/ and click on Chicago.

            First Presbyterian Church

            1400 N. Main

            McPherson, KS 67460

Thanks for stopping by, friends! More to come soon!

Blessings,
Clarissa