Emotions

Hello, friends! Greetings from my very messy kitchen. Someday, dishes will not be the bane of my existence... but today is not that day.

Anyway, tonight I want to share with you some positive emotions I've felt since arriving in Enid.

1) Satisfaction.
I came up with the idea for a coffee mug fundraiser. The youth decorate the mugs and sell them to raise money for the National Youth Gathering. Not only are the youth having all kinds of fun decorating the mugs, but the congregation is eating them up. It's so nice to see an idea come to fruition that nicely. Hence, satisfaction.

2) Gladness.
During confirmation class on Wednesday, one of the youth asked, "Are you only here for a year, like our intern last year?" I said no, I'll probably be here for a long time. They replied, "Good. You'd better be here for a long time!" On a related note, one of my students saw me outside of church on Saturday and came up to give me a hug. Another kid gave me a drawing last week that said, "For Mary, the church loves you!" (Actually she spelled it "cherch" but it works.) Hence, gladness.

3) Nostalgia.
I'm enjoying seeing bits of myself in my students. One of them asked why we do memory work in confirmation, and I went back to my own confirmation class when I asked my teacher the same question. I'm making some home visits to students, and the way they interact with their parents and siblings draws me back to my childhood. It reminds me why I wanted to do this so badly -- to share with others what helped me when I was growing up! Hence, nostalgia.

4) Excitement.
Because holy cow, I have a call! Even after a month of getting down to business, the concept that I am a called and commissioned minister of religion is incredible to me. Hence, a LOT of excitement!!

That's all from me tonight. I hope you are all well, wherever you are!