This last year, after finishing up classes in Winona, MN and returning home to complete an internship at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center in the Spinal Cord Injury and Disorder Unit and find employment has brought back a lot of memories.
Growing up in Hudson, a town where my parents have lived for 25 years, they know a lot of people. The Chief of Police lived across the street from my parents when they lived in town. His son babysat my brothers and I. I in turn babysat his younger kids. I once was walking through the lunch line and the woman ringing me up at the end mentioned how I looked just like my mom, Beth. Working in town, I am able to catch up with people that I haven't seen personally in years. We have attended the same church for 20 years. A lot of people know my brothers and I. Because Carter and I are only 18 months apart in age, we spent a lot of time together growing up. We were both involved in band (Marching, Jazz, and Concert). Carter was involved with choir and the plays, I played Rugby and was involved in other activities. Growing up, Carter and I didn't necessarily appreciate how close we are in age. However, this next year, we get to serve through Young Adults in Global Mission the same year. As I have asked around, it is almost unheard of that siblings serve the same year. Many have served consecutive years or with several years between. However, past volunteers have told me it is almost unheard of for siblings to serve the same year. While at Winona State University, I got involved with an ELCA Lutheran campus ministry. The Lutheran Campus Center (LCC shares space with a coffee shop, Mugby Junction. For coffee loving Lutherans, this was ideal. Almost every meeting, someone walked in with a cup of coffee from the coffee shop. My first year and a half at Winona, I was at Mugby Junction almost everyday, studying or catching up with friends. With it being right across the street from campus, it was a convenient spot for many students to stop between classes. One of the baristas happened to be involved with the LCC and found out I was ELCA Lutheran. Almost every time she saw me after that, she invited me to come join them at worship or their fall retreat. I finally agreed and attended their fall retreat. That was it. I attended alot of worships and got involved with leadership the next year. But Kelly, the girl who invited me, continued to have a big impact on my life and involvement in the LCC. The year after she graduated, Kelly served with YAGM, serving in Scotland. Without Kelly, I would have never found out about the LCC or YAGM. Kelly has now since started working at our campus ministry. When I found out I was accepted to our Discernment weekend, I texted our campus pastor, letting her know that she now had at least 2 students serving in the same program. Not long after that, I received a text from Kelly. She was so excited to know someone serving after her. She was a huge support through the entire weekend of discernment, cheering me on from a far and answering questions continually that entire weekend, as well as afterward. Now sharing that my brother and I will be serving together within a few thousand miles of each other, it has been incredible.
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Elaina JohnsonI am from a town on the border of Minnesota and Wisconsin. I grew up in Hudson, WI, where I had the privilege of returning after graduating from Winona State University with a degree in Therapeutic Recreation. Archives
December 2016
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